Sonic and Sega Retro Message Board: Iceguy - Viewing Profile - Sonic and Sega Retro Message Board

There definitely are quite a few interesting ideas here! Plenty of inspiration sources, although I'd rather see them as further character development, or maybe origin stories or something similar.
I have to say though, Tanicius' idea, while very well developed, I think it sounds... too mature? I don't know, the idea of all sorts of wars and terrorist organizations and whatnot just sound too serious for what I'd personally expect in a Sonic game. I mean, let's bear in mind the target audience for Sonic; everyone. The first Sonic games were light-hearted and everything, it was only Yuji Naka's questionable design choice to give Sonic the illusion of difficulty and maturity. Difficulty could've been implemented as something real rather than just an illusion, by clever level design and gameplay styles that are easy to learn and relatively hard to master. Think of Sonic Robo Blast 2, for example. At least pre-2.0.

But let me come back to the topic.

I personally wouldn't reboot characters, but I'd much rather go back in time and somehow influence the development of certain games. I'd start with Sonic Adventure and its realism. Arguably, the realism thing started in Sonic 3, but there it wasn't so serious, and besides, shortly afterwards Sonic: Flickies' Island was released and we got our checkered hills back.
Anyways.
In Sonic Adventure, I'd tone down the realism. A lot. I wouldn't have it on Earth, but rather on whatever planet Sonic actually lives on, and NPCs wouldn't only be humans, but also other anthropomorphic animals. Honestly, I felt Adventure was so out of place because of this. I'd have the artistic style much more like, well, Sonic. Like how it was done in most of Sonic Heroes. You know, checkered hills and cool themes and funky layouts and stuff. I'd love to have Station Square as something more like Grand Metropolis and Emerald Coast and Windy Valley more in the spirit of Seaside Hill. And of course, less scripted events and more polished collision system, but that's a different topic.
And tone down on the story's seriousness too, dammit. I mean, this is Sonic. Wiping out a tribe of echidnas and destroying a city doesn't feel Sonic at all. I think this was inspired by the Saturday morning Sonic cartoon, which I didn't like either, because it seemed to be more like an anti-communist propaganda that came too late than anything. And didn't feel Sonic. I'd keep Tikal and Chaos, because it is an interesting story, just... not so serious. And perhaps make it simpler too, so that all the characters except Gamma would play through the same levels with their own, only slightly differing gameplay styles. Gamma would have his own story and levels and stuff.
No, I haven't thought of any specific storylines or anything. Sorry to disappoint. I do think though that Big's personality should be more about being laid-back and relaxed than about being clueless and dumb. Speaking of Big, maybe he'd have some shorter and slower alternate routes in levels that'd enable him optional fishing (anyone played Chantelise?).

That's all I have for now. I have depression and it causes me troubles to focus. I'm tired.
Hope I made sense though.

I'm gonna post here for the sake of my exposing my signature to you guys.

Esrael, on 19 May 2012 - 05:52 PM, said:

Bob dangit, Esrael, I'm downloading the third file in this topic.
On a more serious note, welcome back! I'll give this a try, since it's got such awesome feedback and everything.

Zinos, on 15 May 2012 - 01:32 AM, said:

I always thought that there are the anthroes, like Sonic, and the other animals, the "normal" animals are so small and stuff. You know, since they're so tiny and stuff in the first three Mega Drive games too.
That brings up another question, how do they make food like meat?
;A;

Zinos, on 14 May 2012 - 08:24 AM, said:

Topic description said:

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