Hmm, you got a point. But then there's the scarab, which hints to an Egyptian desert. Did Ken just, gasp, lie to us? =O
Well an Egyptian Pyramid doesn't necessarily equal Sandopolis. Obviously Pyramid Cave and Mirage Road don't resemble Sandopolis much beyond the basic trope they are.
God forbit if someone put a Goomba, Koopas or a Met in a game. They seem to bring new stuff to the table and that's cover one of the problems with Epi I now the other one is the gameplay it self, those were the major problems, those made the game to be a Sonic1+2 smaller and done wrong.
Doesnt Sega realized that we could care less for the art in the game at this moment. What we want to see is actual gameplay vid with the Sonic physics showcased so they can finally shut down the naysayers, myself included, that they fixed the engine.
In looking at Sonic 3 closely, I realized something simple. It doesn't even matter if it sort of rehashes a previous theme—what matters is that the new zones have a 'story' to them which ties them together as a unique theme. Sonic 4 EP 1 was just a static path covered in reused badniks with each stage sort of shallowly reflecting some old gimmicks, without being creative. Therefore, random images of badniks doesn't really tell us anything—it's how they're used, not what they look like.
Dunno what you're talking about, I definitely care at this moment if it looks better (and more original) than Episode 1.
Personally, I care about the art, but I don't care about it as much as I care about how the game will play. I definitely trust SEGA with the art direction much more than I trust them with gameplay and physics. The gameplay could certainly make or break my decision to buy the game.
The art can be changed quite easily the physics engine on the other hand needs to be addressed early on because what the player can do decides the direction of the level design. Meaning that if the physics is bad and SEGA show it to us a few months before release then it wont be fixed.
Oh look. Screenshots of the game leaked onto Xbox Marketplace. EDIT: All the screens mirrored here in case they're removed. Spoiler
Quick recap if they are removed: Spoiler Aquatic Ruin Something which resembles Ice Cap A carnival level with rollercoasters in the background. Metal Sonic is here A realistic Oil Ocean? Co-op moves? Sonic & Tails are together in every screen Sonic 2 Special Stages? EDIT: Spoiler http://I.imgur.com/petue.jpg Is that the Death Egg in the background? http://I.imgur.com/LMIcQ.jpg Is that the Italian flag lol
Spoiler Snowy Carnival? It's been awhile since that was done again, also is that planet in the background...Little/Miracle Planet? Also Metal Sonic stole mah rocket!
I'm sorry, but that look amazing... and the fact that is uses a new engine means it's MORE likely to have new (fixed) physics!
Huh, well it's an improvement visually I'll give it that though some of the elements are surprisingly realistic like the trees in the tornado screenshot and most of that oil ocean like level screen. In fact the whole general art style and colouring seems that way, not sure how I feel about that. Also Bubbles homing chains confirmed! :T Still, not bad. Really intrigued by the planet in the background, miracle planet?
now THAT is how you start building hype. I'm now interested. Show me video and I might just be sold, especially with Spoiler having Little Planet in the background :D
