[LevelSelect]

Aw, thanks Sega, eye-candy just in time for Valentines.
Makes me think of this appropriate song:

(both versions to hono(u)r the continuing Sonic CD story)

I think the screenshots are pretty snazzy and all, but now I feel the skepticism creeping in like last time.
(I wonder if I can still manically air dash through these levels, too)

I shouldn't have looked at the screenshots, but hey hey what can I do?

[Tanks]

Dunno' if its been said yet, but has anyone pointed out that they've basically given Sonic Fan Remix a nod with those backgrounds there? I know there's no real way to prove it, but when I see 3D backgrounds like that and then remember back to how SEGA removed Sonic Fan Remix to prevent it from interfering with S4E1... I dunno. Maybe its just a coincidence. Then again, SEGA wouldn't have given two shits to change up the art style (basing it on the idea that the music and physics were the primary gripes) if it weren't for something as threatening as a more visually pleasing Sonic game floating around out there...

[OSM]

Of course, even Yuji Naka thought Sonic Fan Remix looked better and more professional than Episode 1.

[Mike Arcade]

Tanks, on 14 February 2012 - 10:29 PM, said:

Dunno' if its been said yet, but has anyone pointed out that they've basically given Sonic Fan Remix a nod with those backgrounds there? I know there's no real way to prove it, but when I see 3D backgrounds like that and then remember back to how SEGA removed Sonic Fan Remix to prevent it from interfering with S4E1... I dunno. Maybe its just a coincidence. Then again, SEGA wouldn't have given two shits to change up the art style (basing it on the idea that the music and physics were the primary gripes) if it weren't for something as threatening as a more visually pleasing Sonic game floating around out there...

If one thing can be said, it's that Sonic Fan Remix up the antie for Sega! I hope that's still going along just fine...

Anyway, the screenshots look AMAZING!!! If the gameplay really is improved then this is gonna be good, if they remaster Episode 1 in this style then we got some business! Seriously they should for consistancy reasons, maybe have the Episode 1 physics in as a cute little extra? :D

[Rika Chou]

Tanks, on 14 February 2012 - 10:29 PM, said:

Dunno' if its been said yet, but has anyone pointed out that they've basically given Sonic Fan Remix a nod with those backgrounds there? I know there's no real way to prove it, but when I see 3D backgrounds like that and then remember back to how SEGA removed Sonic Fan Remix to prevent it from interfering with S4E1... I dunno. Maybe its just a coincidence. Then again, SEGA wouldn't have given two shits to change up the art style (basing it on the idea that the music and physics were the primary gripes) if it weren't for something as threatening as a more visually pleasing Sonic game floating around out there...

Not just the backgrounds, look at the grass in the first level.

This post has been edited by Rika Chou: 14 February 2012 - 11:02 PM

[Ritz]

Naean, on 14 February 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

I really am not personally seeing how this looks "awful".

I agree that there are certainly anti-aliasing issues in several of the screens, but it still looks like a massive improvement over Episode I. And that's not just because we can see the sides of platforms now, either. The overall art style just looks better to me, and it seems like a substantial amount of more effort was put into the production of the graphics. Even Lost Labyrinth Zone, which I thought had some of the best visuals in Episode I, looks rather bland now in comparison to Episode II's visuals.

You want to talk about art style? This is the most realistic 2D Sonic game yet, would you consider that desirable? The only thing in any of these screens that couldn't feasibly exist in reality is the Miracle Egg, and that isn't helping to distinguish the zones from one another. E1 has this beat for variety- we have two poorly tiled coniferous forests for backdrops, except one revolves around stone structures and the other is filled with wooden planks.

Are we sure a Wii port still isn't happening? Really looks like they had that platform in mind.

[Solid SOAP]

Episode I is announced:

"The graphics look too plasticy! There's no way this could possibly exist in real life! CHANGE IT SEGA!"

Episode II is announced:

"Too realistic! THIS ISN'T SONIC ANYMORE!"

Sonic fans are the best. Say what you want about the physics, gameplay, whatever, but the graphics look fine. Gorgeous, even. Sonic has never been 100% cartoony or 100% realistic, with the exception of Sonic CD, the classic games all had graphics that maintained some degree of reality to them, especially Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The environments in that game were all incredibly realistic, with realistic forests, deserts, ice caps, etc. This is no different in art style to Sonic 3, really.

[Jason]

No, I think the Wii version was thrown out first. Frankly, the fact that the game now has 3D backgrounds leads me to believe that's the Wii may have actually been responsible for crippling the graphical style of Episode I with its paltry 40MB limit. Without that restriction, the game can flesh out some fidelity.

[Naean]

Ritz, on 14 February 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

You want to talk about art style? This is the most realistic 2D Sonic game yet, would you consider that desirable? The only thing in any of these screens that couldn't feasibly exist in reality is the Miracle Egg, and that isn't helping to distinguish the zones from one another. E1 has this beat for variety- we have two poorly tiled coniferous forests for backdrops, except one revolves around stone structures and the other is filled with wooden planks.

Are we sure a Wii port still isn't happening? Really looks like they had that platform in mind.

Yes, I would actually consider that desirable. Why? Because it's something fresh and different in a 2D./2.5D. Sonic game, and I think it (visually) has been executed quite well.

The fact that a lot of what has been seen can exist feasibly in reality doesn't automatically put me off, and frankly I don't see why it should. Don't get me wrong, I really do like some of the surreal and unrealistic level tropes and graphics in other Sonic platformers, but that doesn't mean to say that much more realism-based levels and graphics won't work because they're not far enough from reality.

I'm fond of the realistic environments I've seen because they actually look fun to play, and are not realistic-looking in a boring sort of way.

As for "poorly tiled", again, I'm not seeing it. The tiling looks fine to me.

And as far as WiiWare is concerned, I think-- no, I'm almost positive that SEGA/Dimps/Whoever would have to seriously water down the graphical fidelity and quantity of objects in order to fit the game into the WiiWare's rather ridiculous file size constraints. I'm really glad that SEGA decided to drop the Wii for Episode II, because frankly it would have almost certainly hindered the game at least graphically, if not music wise too, for all platforms. Because being honest, we all know that the last thing SEGA would want to hear is Wii fans bitching that their WiiWare version of Sonic 4 Episode II is too watered down compared to the other platforms, so SEGA would also limit the amount of stuff put into all the other platforms in order to minimise the chances of people raging about platform bias.

[Lobotomy]

A SEGA after my own heart <3. Thanks for finally listening.


I really hope they don't have Meow Mix Soundfont music, but after looking at these screens, I'm sure this'll have a better soundtrack too.

[TheInvisibleSun]

Ritz, on 14 February 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

Naean, on 14 February 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

I really am not personally seeing how this looks "awful".

I agree that there are certainly anti-aliasing issues in several of the screens, but it still looks like a massive improvement over Episode I. And that's not just because we can see the sides of platforms now, either. The overall art style just looks better to me, and it seems like a substantial amount of more effort was put into the production of the graphics. Even Lost Labyrinth Zone, which I thought had some of the best visuals in Episode I, looks rather bland now in comparison to Episode II's visuals.

You want to talk about art style? This is the most realistic 2D Sonic game yet, would you consider that desirable? The only thing in any of these screens that couldn't feasibly exist in reality is the Miracle Egg, and that isn't helping to distinguish the zones from one another. E1 has this beat for variety- we have two poorly tiled coniferous forests for backdrops, except one revolves around stone structures and the other is filled with wooden planks.

Perhaps there is inter-continuity among the stages? As in the Aqua Garden Zone transitioning to the Carnival Ice Cap Zone. Coupled with the idea of the Miracle Egg constantly being built in the background as you progress, it certainly would make sense.

[Lanzer]

So what does Ken say about all this? Is he raging and telling people to C&D showing off those pics or is this all justasplanned.jpg?

[Dark Sonic]

^I believe I saw one C&D on the Sega board, but that could have been a joke seeing as how the topic is still open. Seems like a nice Valentines day gift so it could be intentional.

The way I see it is that this game looks closer to DKC returns then Sonic 4 Ep 1 (Before anyone goes batshit insane, I said "closer" not "This looks exactly like DKC returns"). This is not an issue really, but to have 4 levels of somewhat DKC returns, and environments that look like there 3D models, would probably result in a game over 40 MB. Last time they could just bastardize the music and get away with it. This time they're not letting the Wii drag the quality down for everyone else. Sega should be applauded for trying to deal with Nintendo's awful WiiWare system, but I salute them and their choice to retain quality.

I like this games art style. No, it's not Sonic CD's random environments or Knuckles Chaotix's random environments with the addition of pastel colors and jizz filters in the background. It's like Sonic Rivals or what Sonic 3 would be like if it was made today. I don't see how this is a problem. In fact, staying as far away from Chaotix art styles is a good thing to me (CD style is good, but I feel like it risks looking cheesy in 3D due to the blocky nature of the environments). I think they made the right choice here. Even this games rehash looks better then all of Sonic 4 Ep 1. It's even tricking people into thinking it's an original level (Some people believe the rehash environment is one we haven't seen yet. I don't know how you can't tell that it's not aquatic ruin but it is).

Oh and on a random note, Modern Metal Sonic's 3D model looks like some kinda evil c3po nightmare. Ugly shit.

This post has been edited by Dark Sonic: 15 February 2012 - 12:00 AM

[Solid SOAP]

Yeah, if there's one thing that they're doing right so far is that the game is visually very appealing. The snow stage alone proves that Dimps are capable of making nice looking levels with variety and flare, considering it's just one stage and we're already seen Sonic running down snowy hills, racing across highways and carnivals all in one level is really cool.

[W.A.C.]

Not only are the graphics are a massive improvement, but the the environments look more interesting and the game actually has new ideas instead of being a complete utter rehash. At the same time, I have to wonder why didn't they just the engine from Sonic Generations. That game looked better, Classic Sonic played well, and it would have saved them a lot of time. Making an entirely new graphics and physics engine doesn't make any sense to me at all. Oh well. The online co-op excites me and it'll be fun to play as Tails again in a brand new Sonic game.