Sonic Riders 2 & 3, Additional Spinoffs Confirmed

Gamerguy · Dec 1, 2005

Kikizo Games had an exclusive interview with the higher-ups of Sonic Team today. They discussed Sonic Rush, Sonic Riders, and the next-gen Sonic the Hedgehog game. Although the full interview has not yet been published, Kikizo has provided us with a summary.

"These days the consoles are becoming much stronger, and on the PS2 it's pretty much entirely about 3D games. But I think there's still space for 2D, especially on the portable systems like DS. I want to keep this tradition going as much as I can for our videogames. Personally speaking, I think 2D games would be preferable for many users. I believe that in 2D games, say for example shooting games, you have to be careful of the slightest space on the screen and think in terms of how many pixels of space you have to manoeuvre. 3D games are never going to be like that; they are often very much about more fluid action. I think 2D games are more fun a lot of the time. However, from the graphical point of view, more than anything else, gamers will usually go for 3D. Our best hope is to have both coexisting."
- Akinori Nishiyama, Director of Sonic Rush
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Kikizo stressed that Sonic Team heavily prefers 2D titles over 3D all across the board. No big surprise there. Perhaps more important is that Nishiyama told Kikizo that a sequel to Sonic Rush would be made if there was enough demand, and he thinks gamers are already expecting it at this point. We can probably expect a Sonic Rush 2 announcement sometime around the release of Sonic Riders.

Speaking of Riders, Takashi Yuda (the game's director) claims that Sega decided to make another Sonic racing game by public demand. I don't know what public he's listening to, but either way, he thinks that the game will be very successful and promises that we'll see full blown sequels to it on next gen consoles. This confirms the report from EuroGamer a couple weeks ago, however, no mention of a PSP Riders was made. It's still possible, though, so don't rule it out. But read the fine print again: sequelS, with an S - that's plural, meaning more than one. We can expect at least two more Riders games on the next gen consoles.

The biggest piece of information is that Sega is exploring other spinoff possibilities for the series. Given the poor history of Sonic spinoffs, this could be good or bad. Yuda says:

"We're also trying to see if we can come up with more Sonic franchises - not just racing games like Riders - but other ideas as well, something suitable for fans. So, I don't think there will be a Sonic Golf, for example..."
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Yuda probably doesn't care about the two Sonic Golf games on mobile phones, but "suitable for the fans" makes me excited and concerned at the same time. As Sega become more involved with its fans (Shadow contest, anyone?), they might take more of our suggestions into consideration. On the other hand, they might listen to the wrong audience. Here's hoping for an Eggman game.

Rika Chou · Dec 1, 2005

If only they would make a 2D games that is NOT for a handheld.

Guess Who · Dec 1, 2005

The compromise would be to make an entirely 3D game from a side-scrolling perspective. The levels would be entirely polygonal, but you would see it from the side, and the level designers from Rush could design the levels like that. Pretty graphics combined with the old side-scrolling perspective and level design.

LOst · Dec 1, 2005

Rika Chou said:

If only they would make a 2D games that is NOT for a handheld.
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No console supports fully 2D other than Nintendo DS. Of course you can make a side scrolling 3D game, but perspective will lower the quality of the textures, especially in OpenGL.

Heran Bago · Dec 1, 2005

Sonic Mega Collection+ doesn't count as fully 2D?

Tweaker · Dec 1, 2005

Heran_Bago said:

Sonic Mega Collection+ doesn't count as fully 2D?
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No, it used an emulator.

And since when does the GameCube not support 2D? Can it not simply use paletted sprites? Or is there a catch?

Heran Bago · Dec 1, 2005

Still, it emulates full 2D. That gives me enough to think that the console supports full 2D if it can emulate it. Even if it's not directly, there are ways to get to it.
Alien Hominid is completely 2D, right?

Kikizo stressed that Sonic Team heavily prefers 2D titles over 3D all across the board. No big surprise there.
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Puyo Puyo Fever 2 kthx.

Perhaps more important is that Nishiyama told Kikizo that a sequel to Sonic Rush would be made if there was enough demand, and he thinks gamers are already expecting it at this point. We can probably expect a Sonic Rush 2 announcement sometime around the release of Sonic Riders.
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No suprises here.

EXOGGEDDEN · Dec 1, 2005

Tweaker said:

Heran_Bago said:

Sonic Mega Collection+ doesn't count as fully 2D?
Click to expand...

No, it used an emulator.

And since when does the GameCube not support 2D? Can it not simply use paletted sprites? Or is there a catch?
Click to expand...

They'd use textured quads if they want to do 2D nowadays. At least that's how 2D games are done in Direct3D =P

Xian · Dec 1, 2005

What about Legend of Zelda: Four swords Adventures? Was that not pure 2D?

EDIT: clarity

Elusive · Dec 1, 2005

I don't like the use of '2, 3 ... additional spinoffs' in the article being used so loosely. This could simply mean the single game's going multiformat.

Also, 'for the fans' seems an oddly vague phrase to use. Which fans? The majority of the Sonic game buying demographic - 10-18 - or the few nerds who've cracked open their ROMs?

ICEknight · Dec 1, 2005

Guess_Who said:

The compromise would be to make an entirely 3D game from a side-scrolling perspective. The levels would be entirely polygonal, but you would see it from the side, and the level designers from Rush could design the levels like that. Pretty graphics combined with the old side-scrolling perspective and level design.
Click to expand...

That would be awesome and would probably make them earn more money than the games they're currently releasing since they would be pleasing different fan groups at the same time.

The Mighty Boosh · Dec 1, 2005

ICEknight said:

Guess_Who said:

The compromise would be to make an entirely 3D game from a side-scrolling perspective. The levels would be entirely polygonal, but you would see it from the side, and the level designers from Rush could design the levels like that. Pretty graphics combined with the old side-scrolling perspective and level design.
Click to expand...

That would be awesome and would probably make them earn more money than the games they're currently releasing since they would be pleasing different fan groups at the same time.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of Kirby 64. That game was completely [Well, mostly] 3D, with 2D gameplay.

It was awesome.

Gamerguy · Dec 1, 2005

Elusive said:

I don't like the use of '2, 3 ... additional spinoffs' in the article being used so loosely. This could simply mean the single game's going multiformat.

Also, 'for the fans' seems an oddly vague phrase to use. Which fans? The majority of the Sonic game buying demographic - 10-18 - or the few nerds who've cracked open their ROMs?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was referring to Riders as a spinoff and saying that more spinoffs were on the way. Maybe it's not clear enough.

Techokami · Dec 1, 2005

LOst said:

Rika Chou said:

If only they would make a 2D games that is NOT for a handheld.
Click to expand...

No console supports fully 2D other than Nintendo DS. Of course you can make a side scrolling 3D game, but perspective will lower the quality of the textures, especially in OpenGL.
Click to expand...

It is possible to make a completely 2D game on the Nintendo Gamecube. A good example is Nintendo Puzzle Collection (Dr. Mario, Yoshi's Cookie (or whatever the hell that game was called), and Panel De Pon remastered), a Japan-only game. The Trasher (of Sonic CulT and MFGG fame) ripped sprites from it with an emulator: here and here.

Heran Bago · Dec 2, 2005

The Mighty Boosh said:

ICEknight said:

Guess_Who said:

The compromise would be to make an entirely 3D game from a side-scrolling perspective. The levels would be entirely polygonal, but you would see it from the side, and the level designers from Rush could design the levels like that. Pretty graphics combined with the old side-scrolling perspective and level design.
Click to expand...

That would be awesome and would probably make them earn more money than the games they're currently releasing since they would be pleasing different fan groups at the same time.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of Kirby 64. That game was completely [Well, mostly] 3D, with 2D gameplay.

It was awesome.
Click to expand...

Konoa 2 kthx. Some of the most detailed cell shading ever too. Up there with Dark Cloud 2.

Techokami · Dec 2, 2005

On the subject of Riders, what will happen if the first one bombs? They will be making worthless sequels and lose money, it seems.

On an off-topic note, this is my last post, as my trial membership has now run out. Lightning, push the admins into promoting me, or else you won't get your Windows Vista/Longhorn/Whistler Betaaa[size=-1]a[/size][size=-2]s![/size]

Shadow MK2 · Dec 2, 2005

If they remade S3K as a 3D game with 2D gameplay, and added in voices to the cutscenes, that would be awesome. Actually, it would just be awesome if they made any new Sonic game like that. It's good to know that Sonic Team prefers 2D games, I mean, the 3D games were good, but the 2D were definetly better.

Vangar · Dec 2, 2005

Shadow MK2 said:

If they remade S3K as a 3D game with 2D gameplay, and added in voices to the cutscenes, that would be awesome. Actually, it would just be awesome if they made any new Sonic game like that. It's good to know that Sonic Team prefers 2D games, I mean, the 3D games were good, but the 2D were definetly better.
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*Soinc defeats Eggman for the first time in Sonic 3, then runs to the bridge*

Knuckles: Ha ha ha I am going to make you fall!
Sonic: Fall? Oh no
Knuckles: If you press jump right as I drop the bridge you will not fall
Sonic: Ok, but I need to fall to go on.

*falls*

In other words, no voice acting! :P

Heran Bago · Dec 2, 2005

I've been saying "2.5D Sonic game plz" sice I was a turd trial member here.

edit: I have a serious problem typing out "Sonic" as "SOnic".

IcePak · Dec 2, 2005

Oops, sorry for the double post. I accidently hit the post button, but when I checked this topic before adding my next post, this one didn't appear, so I continued with the new post. Then I discovered this. Any mods who want to delete this post, please go ahead and do so.

Damn, now I've wasted one of my posts. Oh well...

Read my following post for what I was actually going to say in this post.

Sonic Riders 2 & 3, Additional Spinoffs Confirmed

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