When it comes to Sonic games, we're rooting for them. After all, the mascot's recent form is often unfairly portrayed as terrible, when in reality there was one awful game - the game that shall not be named on Wii U - in recent times, but the past couple of generations has delivered games that range from ok to rather good. The slump isn't as bad as some like to pretend, it's just that the Blue Blur has struggled to deliver a definitive game in quite some time.
We're hoping that Project Sonic 2017 can deliver that, and will cry salty tears as we set aside our Nintendo systems to try out Sonic Mania on rival systems (gasp!). But fans are also trying to fill the void, and an impressive 3D Sonic effort is making waves on YouTube.
It's called Sonic Utopia, and a demo features a large open area, with Sonic having plenty of speed and some nifty moves at his disposal.
It's primarily the work of 'The Great Lange' and Murasaki Fox, both major Sonic fans and evidently talented individuals. The demo can be downloaded by anyone, but at the moment the website hosting it is melting - keep an eye on this page if you want to try and grab it. You can also listen to the demo's track on Soundcloud.
Do you like the look of this, bearing in mind that it's an early demo at this stage?
[source youtube.com]
Comments 56
It doesn't take much to make a Sonic ripoff that is better than the real thing these days.
But that does look fun!
Maybe better than sonic 06 but that's about this,
This demo is medicore at best. It's too open for its own good. You basically have to try to encounter enemies.
A game like sonic needs some linearity.
Oh and that green hills texture gets kinda nauseating with the combination of camera angles used and speed.
This looks pretty cool. It kind of reminds me of Sonic Lost World's Zelda Zone in a way.
I heard it lacks a map though, which I think is strange. The world seems pretty big, so I'm surprised there isn't one.
This looks amazing. Well done sir
The music is nice. but the game lacks soul. Too large with nothing to do.
But it'll get better I suppose. I'll be keeping my eye on this
I don't like the idea of open world with Sonic, it just seems boring to me.
Why can't people try to improve on the 3D formula in Sonic Heroes and such? Those early games had the best controls and a decent sense of speed. All the 3D fan games I see are always trying to recreate the 'boosting' formula, that IMO got old after Sonic Unleashed.
@Xaessya I was just about to remark that same thing
Looks like a cool demo, if anything Sonic is fast as it should be and look like a ton of fun to control (althought you can't judge a control scheme before trying it XD).
@liljmoore I think it was meant as more a proof of concept.
The controls look rather tight however those loops look like they could be annoying if not done right.
Open world, 3D platformers are HARD to do well. A game like this is a game designer's Mt. Everest. But there's enough good stuff happening here that I want to continue following it. A SEGA intervention where they onboard the project and pay for future development would be great.
In regards to Sonic Boom, I had heard that it had a grand vision during development. Shame it turned out the way it did.
Throw in a chao garden and I'm in.
D@mn, Sega... you just got served.
Wow that is cool. To bad something like that wasn't made back when Mario 64 was around. I always was a Sonic fan along with Mario. It's sad to see what Sonic has become in it's lows of video games.
If SEGA could pull something like this off in a way that makes the level / world design "purposeful" and full, it could really be incredible. ...though I guess that's sort of what Sonic Adventure attempted. I bet it's hard to maintain the feel of the classic games in a more open-world type, but, if they could finally crack the best way to do that, I'd be on cloud nine.
It's too open for my tastes. It just feels boring not running into many enemies. The physics are great and the visuals/music are fantastic. Perhaps making the game slightly more linear may actually help it in the long run.
This looks like the core of what Sonic Adventure should have been. A bit too open, perhaps, but I doubt it was meant to feel like an actual level or anything. (Or maybe it could have Super Mario 64-style goals? That might require unprecedented draw distance though...)
Looks awesome!
This looks great, but I'm pretty sure many people including myself would easily get lost. Also when Sonic was running through the loops I didn't really like the way the camera angle went.
That looks fun!
Well yeah, an uppercut to the jaw is better than some Sonic games.
This looks really cool though!
Looks amazing. We need a game like this. Meanwhile, Sonic Mania on PS4/Xbone. Hope it comes to Switch.
I'm really enjoying the music. Never got much into Sonic, even though I understand it has great games. I always thought that the thing fans liked about it was the high speed, 2D linearity and tons of ways to explore and beat the same course.
Also, while Sonic may flop sometimes, the official Twitter account is just the best twitter around, then comes Phoenix Wright's with the burger remarks
If you guys are bored with the demo, try finding the Labyrinth Zone section.
OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS REMIX!
Sonic world anyone?
https://sonicworldfangame.com/
@Xaessya If only Nintendo displayed that attitude towards fan-made freeware.
Every materials that is Sonic related seems fan-made nowadays. At this point Sega might as well put Sonic in the public domain. Doesn't seem like that IP is raking them money anymore.
looks fun
This isn't bad, but not great either. If your love of Sonic begins and ends with the Genesis days, this game would look good, but for a Sonic fans like me that loved playing the Genesis era and the modern era, the game looks very dull. I do like how they made the world look big, and how Sonic will go fast through a loop than fall in the sky to fall in another loop (near the 2:25 mark, I think), I thought that was neat. At best, this could actually be a really cool Sonic 1 remake.
@retro_player_22 Sonic makes them more money than you would think...
Huh. 3D sonic games don't have to suck. You learn something every day.
(Satirical post was satirical).
Q
Either I'm drunk, or that video had bery choppy editing...
The use of space and sense of speed works pretty well here, good work I say
I would play the heck out if a Sonic game that was like this! Seems like the gameplay is more suited to a Mario 64 style game
There's been some really well designed or programmed Sonic fangames, but none of them have creative levels or anything really worthwhile. Including this, apparently.
I actually think that Sonic Lost World has better control than this demo.
@hoshinosammy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CS9AyAdSjs
I think this looks great. The sense of momentum is exactly what Sonic games have been missing. The sense of freedom and the natural flows are exactly what a 3D Sonic game needs.
Wow a sonic game that actually understands the mechanics of sonic....and it's the fans!!
@allav866 Sega allows these games to stay up because fans handle their franchises better. Heck, they don't even trust Sonic Team to make Sonic Mania.
WOW! That is by far the best I have ever seen Sonic in a 3D world. Seriously! And it looks insanely fun. SEGA need to hire these people. Brilliant!
@Trikeboy AM2R.
Looks cool, but honestly I tire of how every article related to Sonic on this site always touts every fan-game as "better then the real thing," or can't ever mention the controversial quality of the series, or whatever. Can't we ever have anything somewhat positive on Sonic here?
While it's well done, I also don't think it's "better then the real thing," as said above, Sonic needs linearity. An open world is pretty easy to get lost in, and it looks difficult to tell where you're supposed to go. The areas also mostly look the same, with very few enemies, items, and such with little platforming variety.
I understand it's just a demo, and not finished yet, but it's a li'l much to say it's better then a real 3D Sonic game. Frankly, I think the hub areas of Sonic Adventure 1 are still better designed.
@Xaessya Ninty could learn a thing or two from that.
@allav866 That was a copy of their already existing Metroid 2 Return of Samus.
I love the lack of linearity this has compared to other 3D Sonic games like Heroes. You can go as fast as you like while freeroaming in vast and open lands. This is perfect!
This looks like the 3D leap of Super Mario 64 but for Sonic The Hedgehog! Looks like it has good, versatile controls and freedom that tickles your imagination.
It could do with some more constraints, friction, things to reach for.
Looks like you get lost very quickly!
@Gridatttack megamix is both incomplete and a romhack- though it is a really good one
@ninty-love It can still be considered as a fangame (even if it's a direct edit of the game)
Though it might be incomplete, it show that some projects made by fans are good. (in reply to the user I quoted the video)
@Gridatttack Some might be better than SEGA in some areas, but in overall creativity and general new ideas SEGA is always ahead of them.
Not putting down fangames, Sonic Robo Blast 2 is an excellent example of a good fangame, and I totally recommend playing it... but the majority of them don't have much, er, soul to them.
@Gridatttack Also, hey, I played your romhack of NSMB back when I had my flashcart-- excellent work!
@ninty-love Well, yes. Though my main reply back to the first user was that not all fan games are bad though.
And oh wow! Nice to hear that! Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
First time I've seen someone recognize me from that in other places that have nothing to do with ROM hacking
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