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Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 video game)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by BlazeHedgehog (talk | contribs) at 05:12, 4 May 2006 (→Known Features: Clean-up; I don't think this city is at all related to Westopolis). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Template:Future game

Sonic the Hedgehog
Next-generation sonic
Developer(s)Sonic Team
Publisher(s)Sega
Designer(s)Yuji Naka, Shun Nakamura
EngineHavok
Platform(s)Xbox 360/PlayStation 3
ReleaseJune 2006 (speculative)
Genre(s)Adventure/Platform (speculative)
Mode(s)Single player (speculative)

Sonic the Hedgehog (also called Sonic Next-Gen or Sonic 360 to differentiate it from similarly-titled games) is the name of the next-generation video game featuring Sonic the Hedgehog to be released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 sometime in 2006. It is being developed at Sonic Team, directed by Shun Nakamura. It's to be the tenth game of the main series.

It was revealed during a press release on September 9, 2005; Yuji Naka hinted that this game will be a recreation or a retelling of the original Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog, using speeds "only capable on next gen systems", though his comments could equally refer to the design-process and not the storyline itself returning to its roots. Its release will mark the 15th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, just as Sonic Adventure 2 marked the 10th. This would tenatively pin the game's release date at June 23rd, 2006.

Among the new innovations revealed are the incorporation of passing time, including the realistic movement of the Sun, as well as highly detailed characters and landscapes (in one demo, a tree was shown in game with mushrooms growing on it). Yuji Naka has stated that the general theme of the game will be "What if Sonic were real?".

Sonic the Hedgehog is currently scheduled to appear at E3 2006, exactly one year from Sonic the Hedgehog's original closed-door demonstration. [1]

Known Features

  • There are at least two levels in the game - one is a grassy ruin, while the other is a decaying city reminiscent of Westopolis from Shadow the Hedgehog, the damage likely caused by Doctor Eggman's invading robot army. [2]
  • The detail level and draw distance have been upped considerably. In the demo, Sonic was seen running around fields, forests and canyons that seemed to go on for miles in every direction. High-res textures everywhere and surround Sonic. Each blade of grass is drawn as a single object.
  • A Day/Night cycle has been implemented. As the player progress through the game, time slowly changes from dawn, noon, dusk, night time, and back to dawn again in real-time. Everything in the game casts shadows based on the position of the sun or moon.
  • The basic features of previous Sonic games return; Rail Grinding, Springs, Dash Plates and the Homing Attack were all shown in the Demo. It is unknown how much this move set will be changed for the future.
  • Yuji Naka has stated that this game will capture the most realistic sensation of speed ever, a feature only possible on Next-Generation Systems. This could be seen as a parallel to how NiGHTS Into Dreams was designed: capturing sensation of flight.
  • The Havok Physics Engine has been implemented, giving robots and debris realistic physics as objects crumble, fall and bounce around the playing field.
  • In previous Sonic Titles, character models were constructed with about 1,500 polygons. While still in debate over the validity of the claim, a recent issue of Gamepro said that player models in this game will be composed of over 1 million polygons each. [3]
  • Sonic has new combat moves, such as a move that resembles a breakdancing kick. [4]

Rumors

  • The Day/Night Cycle, Incredible Draw Distance, and the promise on the sensation of speed all seem to suggest that this game will be shifting away from the straightforward level designs seen in Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes in favor of a more cohesive world; somewhat like the Adventure Fields in the original Sonic Adventure, but on a much larger scale with a greater depth of gameplay.
  • The game may star Sonic, and Sonic only. Yuji Naka has stated in interviews that it would be interesting to do a game that stars just Sonic, but that fans also complain when their favorite character doesn't make an appearance - leaving him currently undecided on the issue.
  • It has been rumoured that, in addition to Yuji Naka directing the game, Naoto Ohshima (the original character designer for Sonic and Eggman) is returning to provide some form of input on this game as well.[5] Masato Nakamura (the original music composer for Sonic 1 and Sonic 2) was implied in an IGN preview, but it turned out to be Shun Nakamura instead.
  • Super Sonic may be fully playable, considering his appearance in the initial demonstration video. In previous 3D Sonic titles as well as Sonic Rush and the Sonic Advance series, Super Sonic was only playable during the final boss encounter. In the classic games, Super Sonic could be playable at almost any time, assuming the player had at least 50 rings and all seven Chaos Emeralds.
  • Originally, the game's designers were considering giving Sonic fur or individually animated spines, but this idea was dropped in favor of a more traditional Sonic.[citation needed]
  • On January 20, 2006, IGN published a report claiming that sources close to SEGA had revealed that SEGA is working on a separate Sonic the Hedgehog game exclusively for Nintendo's Wii.[6]

References

  1. ^ The Big E3 List: 2006 Edition, by IGN
  2. ^ Scan from OXM
  3. ^ GamePro scan
  4. ^ PSM Scan
  5. ^ GameSpot article mentioning Ohshima
  6. ^ IGN story
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