[GeneHF]

I propose Sega sit down and watch some Wile E. Coyote cartoons. Those tend to have some fun with American Southwest desert landscape.

[Dark Sonic]

GeneHF, on 29 January 2012 - 12:48 PM, said:

Lambda, on 29 January 2012 - 11:54 AM, said:

Blue Blood, on 29 January 2012 - 11:02 AM, said:

Lambda, on 29 January 2012 - 10:40 AM, said:

Honestly, I hope we don't get a desert level... they always seem so boring...

Take that back.
(snip)

An American desert stage would be really cool.

That looks alright, though the level design seems alot like generic Dimps--

Backbone Entertainment did the Rivals games.

Swing and a miss.

Regardless of who made the level its still straight line zone the game. That's the problem here.

[Vinchenz]

Well its straight line zone because the game is meant to be racing-styled gameplay.

[FuzzballFox]

Vinchenz, on 29 January 2012 - 02:38 PM, said:

Well its straight line zone because the game is meant to be racing-styled gameplay.

..and Sonic 2?

[Lambda]

Dark Sonic, on 29 January 2012 - 01:36 PM, said:

GeneHF, on 29 January 2012 - 12:48 PM, said:

Lambda, on 29 January 2012 - 11:54 AM, said:

Blue Blood, on 29 January 2012 - 11:02 AM, said:

Lambda, on 29 January 2012 - 10:40 AM, said:

Honestly, I hope we don't get a desert level... they always seem so boring...

Take that back.
(snip)

An American desert stage would be really cool.

That looks alright, though the level design seems alot like generic Dimps--

Backbone Entertainment did the Rivals games.

Swing and a miss.

Regardless of who made the level its still straight line zone the game. That's the problem here.

That's why I said "LOOKS like generic Dimps", I wasn't sure who made it, but it was still just a "hold right to run around a rollercoaster". Backbone or not, it's still following the design principles what Dimps uses.In other words: BE FAST AND LOOK COOL!

But, as I said, I'm sure a good desert zone COULD be done. Just so far there hasn't been any that had anything that I found interesting or original. And it's not just Sonic games either! Mario desert stages are bland as well. The most recent 2D Mario stages have had wirlwind gimmicks, which is helpful, but still not enough to make it interesting, in my opinion.

This post has been edited by Lambda: 29 January 2012 - 06:23 PM

[Crasher]

Super Mario Bros. 3 had a Whirlwind gimmick. Or atleast in it's remake, Super Mario Advance 4.

So it's not that recent.

But if they incorporate the mine cart gimmick again (INB4 rage), it might make it interesting. And also being chased by a boulder, in a mine cart....

Yeah, stop listening to me now.

[SomeSortOfRobot]

I wonder how much dev time they're getting with this. I think that might have been the problem with EP1.

Or maybe not, I dunno. I'm no researcher, dammit!

[SteelBrush]

If they were to do the mine cart again, they could do it similar to how Triple Trouble did it, where you had to spin dash to activate it.

[Blue Blood]

SteelBrush, on 30 January 2012 - 07:27 AM, said:

If they were to do the mine cart again, they could do it similar to how Triple Trouble did it, where you had to spin dash to activate it.

Why would they do the minecart again? The way it was done in the final console version was fine anyway. It was just like a rollercoaster ride with jumping.

This post has been edited by Blue Blood: 30 January 2012 - 07:57 AM

[SteelBrush]

Blue Blood, on 30 January 2012 - 07:38 AM, said:

Why would they do the minecart again? The way it was done in the final console version was fine anyway. It was just like a rollercoaster ride with jumping.

The problem with it was that it wasn't very interactive and it felt out of place. I was suggesting a better method of implementation if it was reintroduced as part of a western desert trope.

[OSM]

I just hope the soundtrack is far more enjoyable this time. I cannot stand Episode 1's music direction at all.

It just sounds so cheap, and the songs themselves aren't very good either. Maybe a few Splash Zone themes and Mad Gear, but that's not saying much. The melodies are just far too short and loop way too soon. I'm not a music major so I can't say much other than that. Sonic Team has always been infamous for their excellent music, there's no reason Sonic 4 should be the blacksheep with the less than stellar soundtrack.

[Lambda]

Crasher, on 30 January 2012 - 01:51 AM, said:

Super Mario Bros. 3 had a Whirlwind gimmick. Or atleast in it's remake, Super Mario Advance 4.

So it's not that recent.

Okay. Well, I just knew that the New Super Mario Brothers games had some. But now that you mention it, I DO remember the one in SMB 3.

[dsrb]

OSM, on 30 January 2012 - 12:56 PM, said:

I just hope the soundtrack is far more enjoyable this time. I cannot stand Episode 1's music direction at all.

It just sounds so cheap, and the songs themselves aren't very good either. Maybe a few Splash Zone themes and Mad Gear, but that's not saying much. The melodies are just far too short and loop way too soon. I'm not a music major so I can't say much other than that. Sonic Team has always been infamous for their excellent music, there's no reason Sonic 4 should be the blacksheep with the less than stellar soundtrack.

Yeah, basically. The songs have some potential, but that's mostly ruined by the bad instrumentation and their extreme brevity. (And the fact that the first game had some pretty short loops is not a good enough excuse!) Sort those two things, and that'll be a start.

[Eric Wright]

SomeSortOfRobot, on 30 January 2012 - 05:44 AM, said:

I wonder how much dev time they're getting with this. I think that might have been the problem with EP1.

Or maybe not, I dunno. I'm no researcher, dammit!

Episode 1 was in development for over a year. they took a long time to ensure the game was a "worthy" successor and "proper sequel to the classic games." And we can all see how well that turned out (GARBAGE). The fundamental production of the game was flawed by people who had no clue about what they were trying to achieve, much less what their own target audience was hoping for.

If nothing else, they've had plenty of time to reflect on all the criticisms and hopefully will have pulled their head out of their ass the second time around. Only time will tell, but it's not worth holding your breath on Episode 2... I'm personally not following its development with any anticipation what-so-ever; I expect it to be more typical Dimps tripe, and maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised if it turns out decent. I didn't pay any attention to Colors when it was announced, and it turned out to be fantastic... though, I didn't have any prior expectations. Sonic 4 had a lot to live up to, especially if it was supposed to follow Sonic 3 & Knuckles... Episode 2 not only has the same thing to live up to, but has a lot to make up for as well.

[cornholio857]

Eric Wright, on 01 February 2012 - 02:43 PM, said:

Sonic 4 had a lot to live up to, especially if it was supposed to follow Sonic 3 & Knuckles... Episode 2 not only has the same thing to live up to, but has a lot to make up for as well.

One thing I noticed about Sonic 4 is this (others have more than likely seen it too):

Ep 1 tried to ride off of S3&K. "The Sequel to S3&K, the sequel you've waited 14 years for."

Ep 2 is now riding of Sonic CD. "The Rebirth of a villain." And also the tagline for the XBLA/PSN release of Sonic CD, "See where it all began." (In reference to Ep 2)

If Ep 3 happens I wonder what Sonic title Sega will try to link it to.