Sonic Generations Megathread

Here. In the interview with Jun Senoue at the bottom. And here's the rest of the article. It doesn't say they have to pay, but it says they haven't been allowed to change them before.

 

I remember that, and as soon as I saw that I instantly thought of Sonic Advance 3's GHZ remix.

 

Advance 3, Adventure 2 and Battle. The lack of GHZ music in Chronicles may or may be worth mentioning too, I'm not sure. Seems like they do have to get special permission each time they want to use any of the S1/S2 music, except the drowning theme.

 

Oh, in somewhat related news, that Sonic the Sketchhog app released today

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sonic-20th-anniversary/id438613275?mt=8

It's a cute little time waster. Essentially think of Robot Unicorn attack only slower and without the boost button. STRANGE ISN'T IT?

 

Crashes on my 2nd gen Touch everytime I try to play it. Lame.

I can't get over the fact that even though they treat Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles as one game, the only part taken from Sonic 3 has been the 3DS boss battle, which is different from whining about one level over another from a single game. You can't tell me Sonic 3 did not have any memorable levels over Sonic & Knuckles. It just seems hard to shake the feeling that there's been something out of the control of the designers that prevents them from any levels from an entire game save for the very last thing you do in it.

 

Part of the deal SEGA made with Masato Nakamura was that in order for him to make the music for Sonic 1 he'd get the full rights to the music, this was a move made out of cowardice from SEGA as they were still struggling at the time and needed a boost, which Sonic was to be. The deal carried over for the second game, and he was let go so they could bring Michael Jackson in for the more American Sonic 3.

Jackson's estate doesn't own the music for Sonic 3, his name doesn't even appear in the credits for crying out loud. Howard Drossin, the musical director at SEGA Technical Institute at the time, was told he'd be working with Jackson, and the next day found out he wasn't working with him. How much effort do you think went into Jackson's contributions of the music director of the whole studio didn't even get to meet him? Yes, his team may have worked on the game to an extent, but his estate owns no part of the game or they wouldve sued SEGA long ago as Michael never wanted his work to be shown incomplete.

 

Wasn't the licensing of Micheal Jackson's songs given to Sony Records, at least at the time of him making Sonic 3's music? (Unsure when that was the case; I heard this from from either Gene or GerbilSoft; most likely Gerbil.) If that's the case, then Sony's music on Sony's game station would make sense unless SONY's more "Mine GTFO" than I thought Edit: disregard this :S

Weeeellll it's a little bit of both; I saw Sonic 3 levels not getting in complaints and remembered when people bitched about the list and wanted to end that before it started, but yeah licensing issues probably aren't too much a problem if the game was "re-re-re-re released" on multiple systems. Though where was it documented SEGA used that as an excuse? Honestly they could have picked any levels from the games, but chose Sky Sanctuary for reasons we'll likely see, and Mushroom Hill probably because of the 3ds max render video everyone loved (compare the two and minus the different colors and less background trees, they're very similar... That's been said though).

 

One of the big "what ifs" I have in my mind, is "what would a Nakamura Sonic 3 have sounded like?".

 

If the music rights in Sonic 3 were the problem, they could've just remixed the PC version's music. Obviously not a great alternative, but something.

On the flip side, I don't feel like there's anything really missing that a Sonic 3 level would fill, outside of the old videogame tropes of sand/snow levels (which have been done in like every game anyway so who cares).

They've done a great job of reinventing the levels for different tropes so far, most of which take cues from Sonic 3 (balloons and flying battery chase in Rooftop Run, underwater poles in Seaside Hill, etc.). I wouldn't be surprised if Planet Wisp essentially becomes Launch Base with a Sonic Colors skin.

 

I actually thought this too as soon as I read Kail's post. I could only imagine that it would probably have/sound like an evolved S2-styled soundtrack.

*EDIT*
For example, I feel that many times in Sonic 3&K the tracks' moods were based on what was currently happening or the current situation, unlike Sonic 1 and 2, whose tracks seemed to be more about the atmosphere of the actual location. This doesn't work with every stage, but its especially visible with Hydrocity Act 2, Flying Battery, and Sandopolis, (for Sonic 3) and stages like Sky Chase, Hill Top, Marble Zone or Wing Fortress (for Sonic1+2). Therefore, tracks like the ones for Flying Battery would probably have a slower tempo, and a more industrial-sounding melody akin to Metropolis Zone.

 

Kinda sucks that there won't be any new stages playable at TGS, for the public anyways. It's just GHZ and then CE again, and I've already played both at PAX. Maybe we'll still get a stage reveal trailer, but I'm not holding out hope.

I'm losing faith that there will actually be a PC version, since it has yet to get an official unveiling, and the game has 2 months left until its release. But maybe it'll finally get announced at TGS, or maybe it was canned silently.

Also, I for one always considered S3&K one game, so it doesn't bother me that they didn't opt for having 10 stages for HD, and 8 for 3DS. Frankly, 7 for handhelds and 9 for consoles (Sonic himself only had 10 stages in SA1, not counting minigames like Sky Chase act 1 and 2, or Sand Hill. SA2 had 11, if you want to count Sonic and Shadow's stages, plus Sonic's portion of Cannon's Core. 7 levels in Heroes, if you want to count all secondary versions of stages as the "Second act"- ie, Seaside Hill and Ocean Palace as the same level. 9 in 06, because Sonic didn't have a part in EotW, due to being dead. 9 in Unleashed. 7 in Colors.) are sort of the usual fair anyways, so I was expecting at least one Sonic game to miss out on the celebration (In retrospect, Sonic games haven't had more than 9 stages since SA1 and SA2, excluding Heroes if you insist on separating the similar-trope levels due to their different names).

We should consider us lucky that CD's getting representation at all, considering how often Sega tends to ignore it (though that seems to be changing, judging by the upcoming port, and its importance in Generations and S4E2).

 

If that happened I know many people, including myself, who would go nuts over that. SEGA, MAKE IT HAPPEN~ <3

Actually, this is why I like Sonic 3's music more than 1 and 2's (inb4 everyone here hates me). I also sense a degree of atmosphere in the level in most, if not all of Sonic 3's music, actually. Angel Island is a beastly song and has a jungle vibe to it, while it has that almost innocent first-level-of-the-game feel to it... Until act 2 (<3 the separate music for each act) where it becomes a little less happy (only slightly) while retaining its jungle feel.
Don't get me wrong though; I love Sonic 1 and 2's music. Most of the music works, but in my opinion some tracks are a little lacking for the level itself. For instance: Death Egg. In Sonic 2, the music sounds like something from a psychotic carnival, which is almost what Carnival Night Zone did (bumper herp derp). But... For a whole stage? I wouldn't like that music for that kind of purpose. As an intro to a boss fight that sounds better and is intense, that's one thing, which is why I like how Death Egg as a stage got canned (even though a full length act would be pretty awesome... Just not with that music >.>)
Sonic and Knuckles, on the other hand, handled this pretty well in my opinion. Even though the song is short and repetitive, it's good for what it is: the music for the last stage in the whole game... As well as a fortress you've knocked down twice, but now back with a vengeance. And CHEAP ASS BOSSES (at least the first miniboss). Then is the final music for both games... For that they both work so eh.
Flying Battery Zone gives you a vibe that you're on a deathtrap of a ship, which you really are. Wing Fortress just gives you a vibe of you being in the sky, and as the last stage in the game, that really doesn't cut it for me personally. There's no essance of danger emphisized in the music. Flying Battery's fast paceness and the like give you the sense of "damn, I gotta move!" I dunno, maybe it's just me.
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You're wrong actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StD3g1WFcBo

This video proves they see them as two different titles. The reason Sonic 3 gets no representation is because they're lazy and wanted only 3 levels per era.

 

I don't see why it's worth bickering over. Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles are two games when it gets Sega more money, and one game where it means they have to do less work. It's that simple.

 

Off-topic, but I played Sonic Colors on PC using Dolphin (I have the retail wii copy ripped to usb and then dumped) and It's really, really fun!
I love how there's the upbeat music and sonic goes through the stages and the music fits with sonic trashing enemies, going up springs, and the little things like the 'score' thing on the screen where you boost against all of egg mans robots!
Also I found controlling Sonic on the keyboard very responsive and fun! (The wii version is good, but I had to recharge my wiimote more often, hence it's not an issue with the game/wii) I love how you can boost and you have momentum in the air and on slopes!

I felt though that the menu lacked features, but that's part of the simple, uncluttered system (which I hope the 20th anniversary game will give us more than just menu's).

I'm gonna pre-order Sonic Generations because it looks awesome, and I want anyone from Sonic Team to know that Sonic Colors/Unleashed was a right step forward for 3D, and there efforts are well spent, while Sonic Generations is taking it one-step further with improvements, multiple paths in layout, classic sonic, new items and a whole lot more! All what we want, and hopefully a PC version coming out!

I can't wait! And thank you Sega and Sonic Team for bringing back all those years of nostalgia and for making Sonic!

 

Well, this one-ups the 10th anniversary SA2 pack.

 

Only in Europe? I died a little inside I want it all.

 

They're still hiding the PC version, at this point I'm inclined to believe they're not going to make it for real :|

 

Wow, it's as if game companies these days just don't want my money.