Well... It looks like it was precisely in Uekawa's 2D art where Sonic's not-smile started: At least Tails' model doesn't look like this: =\
While the Adventure artwork is not so good, at least it is more colourful and cartoony than those bland, plastic models from Unleashed onwards. The only issue I see with the Adventure style is that it is infantile; this works on GBA games, but not so much Sonic 4. I also do not see the issue with them experimenting with different art styles. I would rather something new each game than a standardised, stale mess.
I totally disagree. I think it's good that we've got some coherence within the style of the games. Lately since Sonic Unleashed I've felt like we've been back in "Sonic's world", and not jumped around every single game by differing art and character models. By far the worst was 2006's. Personally, my favourite art style is the cartoon Adventure/Advance style- nice colourful and vibrant looking characters with nice detail without going too over-the-top. They're also often based on existing poses from the original series, giving us that feel that they're older, but theyr'e still the same old characters and personalities. They used this style for Sonic Adventure, Adventure 2, Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic Advance 1, 2 and 3, Rush and Rush Adventure, and more recently Classic Collection on DS.
Well this essentially sums up the issue. What if someone does not like the new style? At least before there was a chance a different style of art would be appealing. For example, I liked the Riders art in the first game. Sonic Unleashed Sonic characters I have absolutely no interest in. They are boring and artificial looking. Sonic is too tall and skinny with a cunt face, while Tails looks like a skinny nerd with High Functioning Aspergers. Robotnik has some sort of Down's Syndrome tiny head. I would rather something entirely new or even the childish looking Adventure art over this. Ideally it would be the original art style or the Classic Sonic style in Generations, but for whatever unfathomable reason they did this. I am quite confused over why they made Classic Sonic then abandoned it. It feels like all the progress made with that (and in part Sonic CD which they mixed into Sonic 4) has been randomly thrown away for no good reason. Classic Sonic is a bit too cute/young looking, but at least it has charm, and the cute look of the characters is appealing on its own.
I bet they didn't scrap classic Sonic for good, rather they already started Sonic 4 off with Modern Sonic, why would they change it now? It wouldn't be consistent, and this isn't even series consistency here it's an episode of the same game. It can't be too different from the previous one or else it's an entierly different game. Like Sonic 4 or not, it'll try to be as consistent as possible, although it may use some improvements. (I feel like episode two might have an option to toggle classic Sonic on and off though, now that the surprise of Generations is over. We'll see though) Honestly I think Sonic may see another slight redesign for next generation consoles, so there may be a couple more games with this model before they go for something else (Or if they have the power they'll start using the model they use in CG cutscenes). I see classic Sonic becoming the toon link of the series. It'd be stupid to scrap him now that they brought him back and pretty much everyone loved the model. I mean I like the Unleashed models enough, but as far as all of the models are concerned the mouths are strange looking (I like that they gave Sonic a side mouth though, that I thought was a necessary addition), and beyond that, Sonic has too much ass brow, Tails looks derp, Metal Sonic looks like he has some kinda C3PO awkwardness, and Knuckles head is too flat. Oddly enough the rest of the characters are fine IMO (except the mouths), but unfortunately the rest of the characters aren't as important as the ones that have the awkward in game models. The reason I like the Unleashed models is because IMO they're the best looking modern 3D models so far. (Although Adventure 2's weren't too bad). Sonic Adventure's were some kinda strange hybrid, which didn't work well for Sonic IMO (Tails and Knuckles looked fine though), Heroes looks kinda like the Unleashed models but their heads seem too big (Tails looked better though), Sonic 06 had some of the worst in game models of them all, they all looked Derp, Sonic and the Secret Rings has a very derp model for Sonic as well, and that model is used in the olympics games. Oddly enough, Smash bros brawl had some of the best models for Tails and Knuckles that I've seen, however they were just background props. Wasn't a fan of the Sonic model though.
"What if someone doesn't like it?" Then said person is shit outta luck, and other people get to enjoy what they get. It's nearly impossible to please everyone. You don't like Unleashed's design? Damn, that sucks. Are the designs shit? To you, yes, although I don't know why (they're essentially 3D renders of the Adventure art... And Classic in Generations is in a similar style to Unleashed's style...). To me? They represent the characters very well. You don't like my opinion? Well too bad, I'm not changing it, like how you're not changing yours :p And Classic Sonic was a 1-off for Generations, and Sonic's sprites in CD were already there and as they were, so no sense in changing them just to have Modern Sonic in CD. So there really isn't "progress being thrown out the window," just game-specific asthetics being different for varying games. Which happens all the time. I like Paper Mario's design over normal Mario since it looks kinda like what "Classic Mario" would be, but do I think Nintendo's throwing out progress for not making that design the permanent design choice just because it's a style I like better? Of course not, so I don't see why you do with Sonic. And yes I know Paper Mario is a spinoff series, but for the purpose of example... :p
Moving on from the whole deviation of art style... I wonder how SEGA will implement Tails in this game. Will he be a secondary playable character, an NPC sidekick, a playable sidekick, or both?
Maybe they'll do what they did with Sonic 2 GG, but he gets kidnapped by Metal Sonic instead of Eggman. Unlikely, but it's a possibility.
Pretty confident he's playable. Why would they make such a huge deal of Tails' return if he was a NPC sidekick. He's been in that boat since Unleashed that's nothing special, and for a game with little plot, a NPC sidekick is useless. What would he do? I bet it'll be like Sonic 2 Genesis. You can play as Sonic alone, Tails alone, and Sonic & Tails. I mean, when they were remaking Sonic CD, did they make a big deal out of Amy Rose's return to 2D gaming? No. She was a plot device, but not really important. Tails, however, is one of the big sellers here, and is included on the title screen. To pull a Sonic 2 GG would be absolute bullshit in this day and age since Tails is no longer a new character, he's been a series staple since that game was made. He's not special enough to be on the title screen and not be playable.
What I meant was that will be be a standalone playable character only, or will another player be able to jump in with another control and play as Tails on the same screen as Sonic at the same time? I really hope they do this- it always added to the playability of the others. My brother would always be Tails and lift me to areas difficult to reach.
I mentioned that in there, I think he'll be playable by himself. Since all games excluding Sonic 2 Genesis, Sonic Pocket Adventure, and Sonic Rivals give Tails a separate moveset then Sonic, he has potential to take different paths. He'll probably be able to fly and not have a homing attack, which is a good thing since that means less forced bubble chains or else Tails won't be able to get across without smacking into a bubbles. It also adds some potential path variety. I mean Dimps gave Tails the power of flight in the Sonic Advance series, I don't see why they wouldn't now. Whether or not Tails can carry Sonic though is something I don't know. Only times he did this was in Sonic 3 and that one time in Sonic generations. Every other time he followed Sonic he just flew to get back to him.
My older brother always made me play as Tails in Sonic 2 lol. On topic, I honestly cannot see SEGA not having Tails as being the 2-Player controller/CPU like it was in Sonic 2-Adventure/Advance. However, I can see them having Tails Alone mode unlock-able though (which I really don't want)...
The way they're hyping up Tails's appearance, he had goddamn better be a playable character. If he's not this will just confirm this episode will be lazy and half-assed too.
They've got no business hyping up a character who should have been expected in the first place. They'll act like Knuckles is going to be a big fucking surprise in episode 3, when really they should just put him in episode 2 and end the Sonic 4 saga for good!
There won't be an episode 3, so it's highly likely there won't be a Knuckles in Sonic 4. Unless they consider supporting the complete Sonic 4 duology with DLC. Is that a possible option to expect?
I am not sure why it is, but Sonic fans always think this way. You might not be aware, but that 'person' is millions of people. I guarantee you that this version of Sonic you see on the title screen of Sonic 4 is not an endearing character. It lives solely on the legacy of past successes and in no way could it launch a franchise or sell a console on its own. It can probably maintain the remains of the franchise, but that is it. Try not to put too much value into something that is a poor knock-off of something else. People who prefer what it is based off of have better taste. The whole reason it looks like the Sonic 2 title screen is to lure in those other people. It cannot sell on its own merits alone. Also I am intellectually challenged for getting into this again. Because discussing the art style of the logo is so deviating compared to random, baseless speculative theories. Of course Tails is going to be playable. To know how exactly, I guess we have to wait for some real content to be announced. Until then there is a logo to over-examine.
I think there would be anger in the community if Tails was teased and then only appeared as an NPC. I'm not expecting Tails to be able to follow Sonic, although I would like to be proved wrong, I think Tails will have his own story to play through, similar to Knuckles in S3K.
Um...Tails had the same story as Sonic in S3K. Although you had the power of flight, it was a bit redundant with no variation. DERP. Can't read, please delete.
