Sonic Heroes - your questions answered!

NiktheGreek · Sep 17, 2003

NOTE: before we begin, you should remember that these questions were all asked by members of Sonic Classic, Sonic Cult and SSRG.

1/ Any slowdown?

Yes, there was. None during regular running around, but there were two main occurances that would trigger it. the first was running around a loop, which slowed it down a little. Also, when you were hit, the game would grind to a screeching halt.

2/ Adventure Stages?

There are 2 available, so far. The Green/Emerald Hill type level (classed as "Easy" in the demo), and the rail grinding level
(Classed as "Hard").

3/ Does the character go solo at any time? What is it like?

Nope, not at all.

4/ How long are the levels?

Fairly, the Easy level takes around 6 minutes to do, the grinding level takes around 8 or 9!

5/ What powerups are around, and what do they do?

The regular powerups are around, and they do exactly the same as before. Noticeably, the invincibility power-up is missing from the current levels, although the 1-up isn't - it has a brand new generic icon and is useless in the demo.

6/ What enemies appear?

There are several different robots, ranging from guard bots to flying green things. All take MULTIPLE HITS to destroy, 3 each.

7/ What is the new Metal Sonic called? Any other info?

No info on that, sorry.

8/ What are the controls?

Left analog stick/ D-pad controls movement, shoulder buttons do nothing in the demo. Triangle and Circle switch characters, Square does the characters special attack and X is the "Action button".

9/ What is the gameplay core like?

Solid, really. Imagine it to be like SA1, with a new grinding system (it's not mush like SA2's) and the team play. Team play is good, adding a new level of thought to levels and bringing back the old school S3K feel a bit. Also, the fears of the game doing it for you were unfounded - it only does it rarely, when absolutely necessary.

10/ Any special stages?

Not that we saw.

11/ Can I play as super forms?

Not in this demo.

12/ What are the stages called?

At present, the stages have no names. (If they're called "Easy" and "Hard" in the final, I'll eat my hat)

13/ What are the moves like?

Sonic can do a spin attack (think SA1's), tornado whirl (jump and press square, Sonic and compadres whirl around, holding the enemy in place) and light dash. Knuckles can do a fire dunk (jump and press square, Knuckles will throw the other characters - you can vary between 1-2 hits), punch and can roll his compatriots. Tails can merely fly, poor bugger.

14/ Any new modes?

Not that we saw.

15/ Textures? (waxed and polished is bad sez Koji)

The characters are a lot less shiny looking in real play, and the textures are good quality.

16/ Level Design: how explorable are they? Are they linear, or are there many different ways of getting to the end?

Fairly linear, think City Escape from SA2. (Nik sez: for the first level, think Twinkle Park linear - linear, but feels large in places. The grinding one is totally linear)

17/ What are the end of level markers like?

It's a giant ring with a weird symbol in.

18/ Any bosses? What like?

Not that were in the demo.

19/ Hidden Characters?

Not on show

20/ Shadow stuff - shots, info on story, etc.

Not in demo.

21/ Does Vector swallow his friends and spit them at enemies?

He wasn't in the demo, so we don't know.

22/ Any new levels that are currently unseen?

Nope, the 2 we played are both known.

23/ How does Team Rose play? What does Big do? Does he slide down the poles on his ass?

We could only play as Team Sonic, unfortunately.

24/ Can Tails run independantly, rather than flying all the time?

He can run, but not independant of the other 2 following him. If you're controlling him, he has to fly.

25/ Does Omega have any other weapons?

Again, we could only play as Team Sonic.

26/ Any small animals to be found?

Not that were in the demo.

27/ How is the camera?

Good when playing the game, but it messes up in the cannon section - you'll see all three character models meshed together, inside the cannon.

28/ How many n00bs did you school at the game?

None really, but we first in line anyway. XD

29/ UK box art, what will it be like?

Not a clue.

30/ What do you find cool that we haven't asked?

There are buttons in the grinding stage, that you grind towards, and that's the end of the rail. You think "Oh nos", but when you hit the button, it switchs the rails to a completely different location! There are also enemies actually while you're grinding (trains rushing along the rails), and the team-playing nature of the gameplay is excellent - it adds a degree of thinking not previously required. Also, the old-style power-up boxes are cool.

31/ Is there any talking? How good is the voice acting?

The speakers weren't functional, sorry...

32/ Are there any PS2-specific features?

Not that we saw, but the character switch icons were of a Triangle and a Circle. These will obviously differ between consoles, but that's about it.

33/ Does it feel strange playing Sonic on a PS2?

Yeah, it does - to be honest, the controls weren't bad, but it was crushing for Nik... (Overlord says: No, it feels perfectly natural! =P)

34/ Could sophie1x0 actually comprehend the game?

No. It's too complicated for someone with only one brain cell. XD

35/ Have they fixed the wall-stoppage bug?

Yes, they seem to have done.

36/ Hopping on the rails - why? What does it achieve?

It speeds up your character! Also, you slow down if you DON'T keep doing it.

37/ What is that title screen like?

We've got a rather nice shot of that...

38/ Any features that have no use or are restricted in the demo?

Not that we saw.

39/ Any bugs/glitches to speak of?

Plenty! First off, we have the "fall through the floor" bug which entails your character falling through the ground whilst landing from a ramp. Secondly, characters can mesh with rocks and stuff, like SA1. We also have: camera bugs, graphical glitches (the loops flicker badly when far away) and other shiz.

40/ Does character-switching activate speech?

Not that we could hear, but the sound was practically non-existant at the show... :-(

41/ Does the team select screen exist, and how many slots are there?

Nope.

42/ Is there a ranking system implemented?

Not that we saw.

43/ Do the teams have different strength/flying/speed stats?

Can't tell you, we only got to play as one.

44/ Is Mighty mentioned at all?

Nope, not in this demo.

45/ How close is the first level to Green Hill?

Sort of, but it's closer to Emerald hill.

46/ What is the music like?

Again, sound problems, you'll have to judge for yourself from the music already ripped.

47/ Why did Rouge's boobs shrink?

Because Zophar stole them.
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Sonic Heroes - your questions answered!

NiktheGreek

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