WarTraveller

Meeeeeee?

Sonic has never done well in his native country. He's been far more popular overseas. I guess someone like Mario has him truly beat. Or it could come down to marketing. After all, Sega of America managed to make Sonic popular worldwide when Sega of Japan couldn't even hack it in one country.

On the plus side, Sonic's popularity in Western markets will likely mean that this "flop" won't affect them or Sonic as a franchise much.

Not as much as Mania being the unstoppable hype train that it is, anyway...but that's an argument for another topic.

12 hours ago, Mike Arcade said:

How do you think a Sonic Adventure 3 would fair today?

Good question, glad you asked it.

STORY:

1. The story would likely focus on aspects of Sonic Adventure 2 in the same way SA2 focused on SA1's story; it's its own thing, but in some way, it connects to previous plot points (Chaos and the Master Emerald, for example).
2. I'd set the story somewhere between where 06 was supposed to be and Unleashed; Unleashed's opening does at least hint that a massive adventure happened before the opening happens. It would also explain where the others may be (either resting or recovering from injury) and why Sonic just has the Chaos Emeralds on him from the start.
3. To that end, perhaps Eggman would not be the main villain. He'd still be a massive part, but the role of Big Bad would be moved onto someone else. Perhaps not a new villain, to avoid creating just another Character of the Day. I kind of want to say Infinite when he still had his squad, maybe to better flesh him out and set up his motives to work with Eggman and kick Sonic around like a rag doll. But that probably shouldn't be so, because I feel like it'd just end up creating a massive plot hole. That way, Eggman would still be a threat, but still capable of kicking off the events of Sonic Unleashed - perhaps using the events of this game as a gambit to lure Sonic into his trap.
4. And since it takes place so quickly after 06's retcon, perhaps there could be a subplot that the villain at hand could be causing fragments of the old timeline to end up in the new, second-reboot timeline (like how Crisis City ends up in Sonic Generations - perhaps this story could set that up).
5. The story structure would be like Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic 06; a story mode for Team Sonic, one for another team (either Dark or Silver and Friends) and then a Final Story tying it up together.

CHARACTERS:

1. For Protagonists, we would have the classic three; Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, all playable with different but similar playstyles. Perhaps other characters could be playable for certain side-missions or one-off stages (like playing as Amy in a mission where she has to rescue Sonic from captivity, or something).
2. Supporting cast would most likely be Team Dark and Team Rose - the former having more prominence than the latter. Silver may also be a part of it, but I'm not sure about that one.
3. Antagonists would include Eggman and Orbot (or SA-55, classified as a prototype here) and maybe a prototype version of Cubot as well. As said above, another Big Bad would usurp Eggman and give Sonic the most trouble.
4. As for new characters, it's hard to tell. It would be hard to insert new characters into the Unleashed timeframe, where the world is still mostly based on Earth. A new human character would tick everyone off and a new Mobian character would look a bit out of place. It would be a good place to reuse the Avatar system, but that would create a pothole - Forces makes it clear that it was the first time that a random guy joined the Sonic team.

GAMEPLAY:

1. Gameplay would be a mix of Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Forces - similar 2D-to-3D gameplay as the Boost games, but with a few crucial differences between them to change it up just enough. The characters are as follows;
   1. RUNNER - Sonic: Straightforward running through the stage. Probably wouldn't be Boost as Forces proves that Sonic Team isn't quite that good at it after all. A return to Sonic Adventure style gameplay, but on the same 3D and 2D planes as the Boost games to streamline and simplify the gameplay. Upgrades would include a firey spin dash (to replace the Somersault from SA2), an upgraded Homing Attack, Light Ring Dash, maybe even Super Mode.
   2. GUNNER- Tails: A massively streamlined version of Gamma's gameplay, but without the time limit. Rather than being in a big mech, the player would be in a sort of exo-suit that allows them to move more freely and fluidly while still having access to the multi-hit launcher of previous games. Upgrades would include upgrading the single-shot Vulcan Cannon to a machine gun, shields, booster rockets and more.
   3. FIGHTER - Knuckles: REMOVE THE EMERALD HUNTING GAMEPLAY. That is and forever will be a pain in the backside. Instead, make them closer to the Werehog gameplay - move along the stage, beating up enemies (though in this case not every fight is mandatory), with certain Mini Boss enemies holding the Emerald Shards (or whatever will replace them). Perhaps outsource the gameplay to Platinum Games and make the stages dynamic and setpiece-driven - much like Forces' stages. Upgrades would include Shovel Claws, more moves to use, perhaps Health and Damage boosts, as well as maybe a projectile weapon.
   4. SHOOTER - ???: A First Person Shooter, albeit a rather basic one that takes inspiration from the older FPS gameplay - the player has a selection of weapons (Pistol, Shotgun, Rifle and so on) with unlimited ammo but the need to reload. These stages would not adhere to the time-based scoring and grading system and would be slower experiences, mainly to serve the story at the proper times.
2. In a mix from the norm (And yet closer to Sonic 3&K), each level can be played with any playstyle - not only will certain paths through the level adhere to what character you're playing as, but certain parts of the stage can only be accessed by other characters with specific upgrades - a small amount of Metroidvania style gameplay in order to increase replayability and better place hidden items like Red Star Rings. However, the stage would need to be completed with the proper character first, mainly for story reasons.
3. Bosses, however, WILL be character-specific unless other characters fight the same boss for story purposes. Rival Battles will likely be reserved for Runner characters only, while the other gameplay types will have more bosses in return.
4. No Special Stages, the Emeralds will be collected as the story continues. Each one gives a certain item to the player, be it new moves or upgrades for each character playstyle, or perhaps opening certain bonus stages. Red Star Rings, rather than automatically unlocking content, can be used to buy either extra content or upgrades for characters - extra stages will be attained on the number of S-Ranks the player can attain.

That is just about all I have right now. It's all off the top of my head, so a lot of its missing details, but I think I still came up with something good. But please, prove me wrong in the replies below. Thank you.

I've been listening to this for days on end someone please help me.

12 hours ago, Mike Arcade said:

How would you handle the Wisps and would they be recurring in the series?

The way they are handled in Colours is fine, I wouldn't change any of it. I do kind of appreciate that Sonic Team handles the Wisps as more than just Character of the Day type stuff, but there is no reason nor any solid justification for them appearing in other games (outside of Runners, but that is of questionable continuity if it's not just outright non-canon), so they would not return unless there was a Sonic Colours 2 or something.

3 hours ago, Wulfsbane said:

, it's just they milked Minions so hard there's a subreddit called 'Minion Hate'

Yeah...that's kind of what I'm afraid of with this, uh, revelation. Minions are beyond ear-grating...but imagine how Illumination would handle the Toads!

Well, actually that's unlikely. Nintendo being Nintendo I do think that they will exhibit near draconian control on what and what won't go in the movie, in one of the few circumstances where that will probably be accepted.

15 hours ago, Akessel92 said:

Hmm... personally I would either pick mobius because the only other places of video games are the worst places. (I.e. Rapture or Columbia from the bioshock series). 

You mean the world where a man with plot armour and no intelligence is constantly trying to turn you into a robot? I would disagree.

I'd probably go for Unleashed-Era Earth. Lots to see and do, and you're not exactly going to die because Sonic will be able to save you no matter where you are.

This game sucks and wastes all of its potential, is what I'm trying to say.

Even though I haven't said anything yet.

OH yeah, I'm and I'm planning on explaining WHY I think the game wastes its potential. Buuut not right now. I've got coursework to do.

1 hour ago, Wulfsbane said:

The ones that give Sonic a hard time because it's Sonic are GameInformer & IGN.

 

And a few Youtubers, of course. Though there it's more because Sonic is sadly a bit of an easy target. I'm sure SEGA should probably do something about that. And not in the "lol we suck" memes on Twitter.

To avoid going on a rant, it's good that they do see what's wrong with the franchise...so why don't they DO something about it?

20 minutes ago, Polkadi said:

The game has been officially released! Go on out and join the Freedom Fi-- Resista-- Uprisi-- Who are they now?

 

Uh, SEGA-branded Cheerleaders, I think. 

16 hours ago, Wulfsbane said:

Point there, but didnt a lot of reviewers refuse to adjust Yooka-Layle's score after the Day 1 patch?

1

They did indeed. And then they wonder why people don't trust their reviews anymore. Hmm...

To be honest, I'm sort of not surprised Sonic Forces got a 5 from them. First of all its a game reviewing website, so its kind of their job nowadays to give our little blue hedgehog hell. Secondly, Sonic Mania was a gigantic critical darling, given 9 or 10/10s across the board. Different games for different fans they may be, but most reviewers don't take that into consideration; Forces has a big set of shoes to fill, regardless of its completely different mindset.

Yep, Bubsy should've just stayed dead.

Yeah, good luck listening to a vinyl on the bus. Perhaps Walkmans but with vinyl will come back in style.

6 hours ago, F07E said:

I might get it, maybe, probably, definitely.

Apparently it's pretty bad. What a shock. 

Does anyone else think this retro regression is getting in any way out of hand? What casual Sonic just happens to have a Record Player sitting around? 

7 hours ago, TheRedStranger said:

So far what do you all feel about the art work?

Artwork as in the comics or the concept art? For the comics, it's not bad, and a breath of fresh air after years of Yardlys work. 

7 hours ago, Wulfsbane said:

Well, we're all rather tight knit.

Yes, but that means we have the opposite problem. Need a few more people on the forums, after all. 

You DO know we'll get a load of trolls chomping at the bit to do that, right Mike? 

Oh hey, Omega is in the game! I'm not sure he was even in Generations.

And the best is that this project WON'T be Cease and Decisted into non-existence!

7 hours ago, Polkadi said:

I hope they'll have him localise in a future game. Or have him write. We already know he can write leagues better than the Pontaff duo.

Considering some of the stuff they've written, that's not exactly a compliment, is it?

I'm kind of surprised that they didn't invite Flynn to write the game himself, they seem to love him so much.

On 9/14/2017 at 4:25 PM, Akessel92 said:

However, I do see one problem that needs to be addressed. "The big green emerald in the room" if you will. Why is knuckles is leading a resistance movement when he already has responsibilities to a certain rock? Unless that is explained I am not convinced and I feel is rather a jerry rigged role in comparison with experiences of a now defunct sonic related  property and characters. 

It's almost as if SEGA forgets the Master Emerald ever exists or something...OH WAIT.

Anyway...

Moar music for Sonic Forces. Is it me, or is the soundtrack for this game a lot more...experimental?

On 10/10/2017 at 12:22 AM, Ishapar said:

Leave him alone, or work more with his character development.  He's a creature created to be the ultimate lifeform with no relations and no purpose other than being used:  that's got to tax on a guy.

Hmm, interesting. That's something that SEGA's never actually managed to do anything with. Maybe because they're allergic to storytelling.

Next question, though the previous one is still open;

Okay, what about Silver? The character that got the short end of the stick when it comes to...everything. How would you handle Silver?

Just a quick side note, this thread doesn't turn up in the activity page. Well, the messages don't at least.

But, yeah, Flynn returning was kind of certain. Doesn't mean I wanted him to return, but it was just kind of expected. I think a lot of people would throw a fit if he WASN'T included. But honestly, I don't really want the IDW comics to fall into the same literary trappings that Archie was victim to.

Oh that's great, then. No attempts to force the film to be another iteration of those chipmunk films then. Fantastic.