Sonic and the Secret Rings

[Smashchu]

Its a 3D Sonic game, but what makes this one special is that it may just be the kick in the rear the franchise needs.

The game seem to be doing what the franchise always needed, Speed and Control. In the other 3D games any instance where you go fast is just a rollercoster ride. Here, you can go fast and still be in the driver's seat. Of course, there will be some part where it feels the need to go auto piolet, these seem to be few and sparce.

Mix in some upgradable skills and multiplayer minigame and you just might have the best 3D Sonic game to date.
Handss on look
Videos
(srry if only Corey is allowed to post here, not sure if their is a special rule).

[Nester the Lark]

Nope, there's no rule that says only I can post here. It's an open forum. Post away!

I'm definitely interested in this one, but I'll be cautious. When Sonic Adventure first came out on the Dreamcast, it was not only a 3D Sonic game done right, but it got the blue guy back on his feet after losing his way in the 32-bit generation. It wasn't perfect, but it was a step in the right direction, and any sequels would surely improve on any shortcomings.

Except they didn't, and as far as I know, they still haven't. They're just kind of stuck in 1999. But I like the back-to-basics approach to Secret Rings, and previews have been optimistic, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of it.

The thing with Sonic Team is that I don't think they really have the technical prowess to properly execute their game designs. They're not exactly an elite developer. I tend to think that things will get better now that Yuja Naka is gone, but I don't really know.

[kirbychu]

Sonic Team has two big problems... first there's their American branch. They made Sonic Heroes and Shadow The Hedgehog, and... they aren't particularly good. They come up with a few cool ideas, but don't quite go about them properly.

Then there's their Japanese branch, who are great, but tend to rush games through their development to coincide with upcoming events (Sonic Adventure 2 - Sonic's 10 Anniversary, Sonic The Hedgehog - Sonic's 15th Anniversary)

The games aren't bad. But they're not great, either. The problems in them are easy for me to overlook, but I know lots of people who get very frustrated by certain things in them. To be honest, I mostly find myself sticking with the series for story, new characters (OMGBLASPHEMY), Yuji Uekawa's art and Jun Senoue's music. For me at least, the fun I get from those is worth wading through the bad stuff. That and... the little guy was my childhood hero.

I have high hopes for Secret Rings. But not high enough to allow for disappointment. I'm still waiting to find out just what it's about...

[Smashchu]

coreywoods said:

I tend to think that things will get better now that Yuja Naka is gone, but I don't really know.

What do you mean?

Also, Sonic Team has done a lot more games but only Sonic has lived on as a long standing franchise.

[Nester the Lark]

smashchu2 said:

coreywoods said:

I tend to think that things will get better now that Yuja Naka is gone, but I don't really know.

What do you mean?

Well, I guess I'm implying that a changing of the guard might freshen things up a bit. I really don't have a basis for placing a lot of blame on Naka, but I think he lost his touch. Compare recent games with earlier games. Will the current Sonic games, Billy Hatcher or Phantasy Star Online: Episode III be held in high regard the way the old Sonic games, Ristar and Nights Into Dreams are? I don't think so.

[kirbychu]

Although I love Billy Hatcher, PSO Episode III was one of the biggest gaming diappointments of my life.

[Fryguy64]

I'm always disappointed by the 3D Sonic games, even if I can't quite put my finger on why. I think it's a combination of over-responsive controls and samey level design. I want to love them but they make it so difficult

[Smashchu]

They do. They just don't seem as interesting as the 2D one. I think they lost touch of what made it good. It needs to be fast and frantic, and the 3D ones just don't deliver.

[kirbychu]

I don't think that's the problem... Both the Adventure games seem faster than the 2D games ever were, and they're fairly frantic if you're doing tricks at every opportunity...

Of course, that's only in Sonic/Shadow's stages. Other characters' stages aren't generally fast or frantic at all, and that's where boredom sets in. In SA2 I'm usually only playing Tails' stages (which are basically all the same) to get to Sonic's next stage, where I can actually have some fun. Shame, since Tails' stages in SA were actually fun. Especially Sand Hill. ;D

[Fryguy64]

I actually prefer the slower paced stages. The Sonic stages are fast, sure, but that's half the problem. You have to memorise the route as you go, as spikes and enemies are dropped right in your path, and (unlike the 2D games) you're not given much chance to stop.

Give me Big the Cat's stage any day. ;D

[kirbychu]

I guess that's the reason the slower stages are there. Sonic fans pretty much unanimously detest them, but most non-fans do seem to like them better.

[Manspeed]

That's a general problem concerning today's Sonic games, especially those made by developers that Sonic Team outsource to.

There's either too much speed and not enough platforming, or too much platforming and not enough speed. They've also forgotten the unique physics engine that separated the old Sonic games from the games around them.

[Smashchu]

I would just perfer them to stick with the 2D games and perfect those. I'd love some multiplayer racing. Also, so fgar none of the 2D games disapointed.

[Manspeed]

Except the Sonic Advance series and Sonic Rush, which were crap.

[Smashchu]

What are you talking about. Sonic Rush was awsome. It was finally able to add the speed that the 2D always wanted. It was a bit easy because of this, but trying to beat levels fast because fun and addicting.