Holy crud! Reinventing Sonic?! That game is MINE!! MINE I TELL YOU!! Oh, Sonic Riders...*yawn*

LOOK AT ALL THOSE ROBOTS!! THAT LOOKS SO FREAKIN' SWEET!!

I hope a Revolution version is announced when we know more about the thing. PS3 didn't really interest me (though they've got time to change my mind there), and having two Xbox 360s is redundant (and just the one's not very likely, since that one would be my Dad's). After all, given all the Nintendo-support the Sonic series has gotten of late, it'd be a bit odd to completely jump ship NOW. Or, at least, an indication that the Rev's anything BUT a standard game console.

Freakin HOT Graphics: Check.
Pish. It'd look about par for the course, maybe slightly worse, if it came out in early 2004.

I mean seriously, what have we got here...

Alright, a reasonably long draw distance (although they're probably using forced perspective and it's nothing we haven't seen since Black & White), some average-looking trees, a bit of colour bloom... yawn.

Ew! If it weren't for the fact that they're using the exact same character model (maybe a tiny bit updated) as in Heroes, I might rate it somewhere around Max Payne 2.

Ohh yeahh... check out that low-res ground texture! And those cardboard-cutout grass tufts! And that rock that seems to obtrusively jut out from the completely-level, non-normalmapped ground! Very... um... average! For 2002, that is.

Look out, John Carmack! They're busting out the motion blur! Too bad we've seen the exact same effect in countless other games!

How the hell can they call this next-gen without wanting to cut their wrists afterwards?

You know, if these graphics are considered BAD by today's standards, something tells me today's standards are set a little too high. For better or worse, at any rate.

I still think it looks fine. I guess that's all that really matters...

Well, I think it looks pretty great. But you just go right on thinking those cheery thoughts, Cycle.

That one blurry shot screws my eyes over royally but everything else looks fine. Just don't give me a darn game where I fall off the edge and I'll be happy...oh yeah and a well behaved camera would be nice...

Well, I think it looks pretty great.
Sure it does... by Sonic standards. I mean, seriously -- have you seen any other next-gen titles? You know, like Gears of War, DOA4, Elder Scrolls 4, Fight Night 2006, UT2007, Hellgate: London, FEAR, or Myst 5? This is hardly next-gen. I figure it'd be passable as an early-to-middle GameCube title. And hey, whatever man -- if they want to launch this alongside such titles and call it next-gen, that's fine, as long as it doesn't suck. And if the last few years are any indication, Sonic games make sucking an art form. And if the fact that everything Sega has ever said about any product they've ever announced in, like, ever has been an outright, bald-faced lie is any indication, Naka's promises are about as empty as my coffee cup. Which is why I'm going to sleep now. Kthxbye.

It looks pretty cool, and I'm with SH, I hope it comes out on the Revolution seeing as how Revolution would probably be cheaper than PS3 and X Box 360(which, looking at Wal-Mart's web site, is $579.06 for a bundle pack ). BTW, does anyone even know how much the Rev will be or the PS3 for that matter?

Holy Crap

Those graphics are beautiful .The one with Sonic surrounded by those shiny robots look awesome.An now let the speculations begins.

Everything looks awesome n_n I'm really excited!!! I hope that this time... they take their time with this next gen Sonic game... and make everything TOP quality... to become NO LESS than what Sonic the Hedgehog was BORN for
o.o; I'm talking like a comic book...
Anyway.....
Yeah... I hope that the next gen game will make a Revolution appearance as well. It's the only one of the three systems that I want to buy and that I will ever buy x3;

I think it looks amazing to be honest. Montion blur aside I mean thats a gimmick Sonic surely doesnt need along with slow motion.
So that tech demo shown at E3 is a game. Now.
So just Sonic...good.
It seems Sonic is going to Disc 4 Of Shenmue 2.
Those robots are cool.
Naka and Oshima together again. meh really. Oshima was in charge of Blinx and Pinobee (I think) and they were the butt of everyones jokes. I dont even think Naka had anything to do with Adventure 2, Heroes other than he's famous with nerds slap his name on. I do think he designed the Advance 3 team thing and Billy Hatcher. Izuka was behind Adventure 2 and Heroes and as long he stays 250 feet away from this game it should be good.

Touch wood. lucky rabbits foot. four leaf clover and everything.

Cycle, you make a lot of good points. But dude, it's a CARTOON game. They don't exactly have to have, or have room for, ultra-realistic graphics. I really don't like that Sonic model, but what are they gonna do? Give Sonic 3,000 individual little spines that realistically move in the wind? And the grass, it doesn't necessarily have to be realistically modelled. I wish it was, it'd look cool as all hell if it moved in the wind or moved when you moved past. And that ground in the grassy field shot, yeah, it's very lo-res. Hopefully this is just because of an early version.

But anyways, like I'm saying man, it's a cartoon. It doesn't have to be uber-realistic. It could look better, for a new system, I think we can all agree (I doubt many of us love that uber-shiny Heroes-esque model/skin).

About the motion blur: To me that looks more like something that appears for a second when you like break the sound barrier or something. I dunno.

And, I honestly think that these are kinda early screenshots, maybe like one early level or a cutscene or something. (I mean, seriously, the one where he's really high over the land, it doesn't look like it'd make for great gameplay at that moment.)

Wow, Naka and Ohshima together again. This should be interesting to say the very least.

This is going to be the biggest Sonic game since Sonic Adventure. And the series definitely needs a kick in the ass.

The original Sonic Adventure provided a top notch relaunch to the Sonic franchise. Then Sega managed to screw it up by growing complacent and following it up with subpar games (Sonic Shuffle, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Advance 1-3, Sonic Battle, Sonic Heroes etc).

Let's hope that Sega don't make that mistake again.

In my humble opinion, this is by far the greatest move that Sonic Team has made with the Hedgehog.

To be honest, I have been dissappointed with the recent games of the hedgehog (though I enjoy them all personally) -- but the "feel" that I once felt with the blue blur has felt missing in these 3D games.

Now, they're doing a move I've been wishing them to do for years -- reinventing the old school games in 3D. This is what'll help them get the hedgehog going solid in the third-dimension, and we may actually be getting some real solid games this time.

Is anyone hoping for a reinvented Sonic 2, or even better yet (I think), Sonic 3 (& Knuckles) ? Imagine being Hyper Sonic, or all that goodness in this next generation glory.

As for the recent comment on the graphics, you'll have to expect that. I seen the other next-generation games. They're beautiful -- but they're not perfect. This is the best we've got the hedgehog, and I think we should REALLY appreciate what they're doing right now, if we arn't already.

As also mentioned before, yes, it is a cartoon-style, therefore we wont see insane details. I mean, seriously, imagine Sonic the Hedgehog in real-life detail, instead of cartoon. If you're on the mindset of my own ... that'd look quite odd, don't you think?

I love this style they're headed for, and I again love the decision that they've made.

Sonic Raiders ... that was random to me, I did NOT expect it, but it'll probably be fun -- though I think they should've made something else; like a Knuckles sidequest. 😛

I hope they don't f**k this one up.

According to Sega, Naka will "create the most intense sensation of speed ever experienced in videogames" with "an innovative combination of art, physics and game design."

The 'rebirth of Sonic' will offer an unparalleled sense of speed that is only possible using the processing power afforded by the new systems."

I hope that isn't empty boasting.

If it weren't for the fact that they're using the exact same character model (maybe a tiny bit updated) as in Heroes, I might rate it somewhere around Max Payne 2.

Uh...No. It looks nothing like the Heroes model.

Wow, Naka and Ohshima together again. This should be interesting to say the very least.

Yep.

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Now, they're doing a move I've been wishing them to do for years -- reinventing the old school games in 3D. This is what'll help them get the hedgehog going solid in the third-dimension, and we may actually be getting some real solid games this time.

Is anyone hoping for a reinvented Sonic 2, or even better yet (I think), Sonic 3 (& Knuckles) ? Imagine being Hyper Sonic, or all that goodness in this next generation glory.

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You've completely misinterpreted what they said.

I don't think Ohshima's back in Sonic Team so much as GameSpot recognizes him as the actual character designer for Sonic, really.

If he IS back, though, then yes, this game is probably going to rule. Or at least not suck.

IGN said "As always, Sonic guru Yuji Naka will be heading up the brand new project with special assistance by original series character designer Naoto Ohshima". But then there's a good chance they're wrong. =S

Oh well, it would've been cool.

Oh, that's interesting...

The gamespot one only mentions Ohshima in passing, but if IGN think he's properly involved...

Oh, and, before anyone else replies to that:
The first person to say the IGN is ign----- joke gets scootered

I'm feeling rather optimistic about this. This is an earlier look at it though; hopefully they can make some room for improvement. And while the Sonic series has been traditionally cartoonish, I can see where Cycle is coming from: heavens knows how long I've wished that they would give Sonic and company actual elbows and knees rather than bendy limbs. I could rant about this, but I'd rather not.

I must admit I am incredibly impressed with the screens, especially with the one with Sonic in the air. I'm impressed with what looks like to be the scale and freedom of that particular level. If it's on rails (say for example in SA2 City Escape you couldn't go left or right down the other roads, even though it looked like you could), then i will be very dissapointed, but initial thoughts are that it is going to be something very special indeed.

To me - this is the last chance saloon for Sonic Team. Their output from 1991-2001 is the stuff of legend, but after that it was like a downward spiral. They cannot fail this time.

Oh and Cycle - the game has just been announced for goodness sake, surely it's going to be better in the final product? I may be wrong about this, but are the pictures not from E3? If that may be the case then they are rather old yes? If not - it still looks pretty damn impressive to me.

On that picture from Sonic facing a whole bunch of robots, you are wrong TheCycle! That ground background looks extremely realistic. That ground has a touch of CG, not cardboard.

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I may be wrong about this, but are the pictures not from E3?

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You are correct. Once I get to my computer I'm going to attempt to link the movie for all to see. Unless of course someone else out there has this movie. Anyone?

Keep in mind these are only very early screens of what could be the game. So the graphics will be much better, im expecting something special. Although im not holding my breath, but if naka is saying how he wants this game to be special, then im expecting them to put alot of effort into it. Seriously, after this quote from gamespot "According to Sega, Naka will create the most intense sensation of speed ever experienced in videogames" with "an innovative combination of art, physics and game design." I hope they mean that.

The Robot King

Cycle, name one current gen gaming console title that has that quality of ingame graphics. Because I've obviously been playing the wrong games.
My god how absurd some people are in their expectations and recollections. What do you expect? A sodding real life looking hedgehog? Have you even seen the tech demo in motion? Maintaining that quality of graphics at that many frames of speed conveyed in the demo is quite a feat that NONE of the current gen systems have even showcased before, ever. Hell who knows how good the final product will look. But even so, I'd be content with just this level of conveyance.

Anyway heres the demo, its from E3 by the way and the game is currently only 50% completed.

http://www.xboxyde.com/leech_1399_en.html

If it doesn't work keep trying anyway, eventually you'll get a conncetion. The video may take a while to download for some people as well.

I want it on Revolution...

You say you want it on revolution?

Weelll you knoowww. We all want to change the world.

I'm talking about Nintendo's new system, whose final name doesn't exis yet. It's codenamed "Revolution".

Man, that joke just FLEW past you didn't it?

I know Revolution is a Nintendo console. I was quoting a Beatles song.

This is the game i'm not gonna hype up. All this next-gen stuff is going to make me sick. It's almost overwhelming. I'll end with, Sonic may be find his way back into gamers rooms across the world with this one.

The blur mode is CRAP. The lines make it look sleazy. I hope it's vasly improved for the foinal product. I want something like the blur of XGRA when you break the sound barrier.

Admittedly, the likes of the grassy ground could indeed be a lot more impressive, but I'm guessing that if you're going to have a massive stage passing by in the blink of an eye, it's okay for it to be a bit less detailed than it could. However that said, I would enjoy being able to be wowed upon deciding to slow down and take a look around.

The soles of Sonic's shoes should be grooved like they were in SA1, and he could do with a bit more of an actual texture (Shadow in particular looked his best in SA2, IMO. The quality of his 'fur' texture wasn't amazing, but it still looked neat and gave his appearance a bit of 'depth'. Compare a detailed picture of SA2 Shadow to Heroes Shadow - he's just not as good, I reckon. No big deal I guess, and yeah, it's not a complete product yet, after all - but I'm one for details. ^-^

I'm hoping that they actually do manage to 'reinvent' Sonic competently and aren't just talking bull again. They were saying Heroes would hark back a bit more to classic Sonic (though I do realise they mean it more strongly this time) - all that ended up meaning was chequered hillsides and no human NPCs in sight (as they failed in recalling the classic streamlined, fun gameplay).

Don't get me wrong, despite the fact I don't really like playing Heroes, there's always something for me to enjoy in each Sonic game. In talking about this new game on another board, there was discussion about some wanting the games to return to the original story of the older games, to which others said that there really wasn't much of a story to speak of. I said the following;

Maybe when 'story' is said here, it refers more to the type of things Sonic is up against and the places he goes. A lot of people don't like the more 'real/our world' locales, numerous so-so characters (I like Big and Cream, etc, but they're kinda just there), mysterious pasts that bring about a zillion questions, and the human-populated world that the Sonic series has established since its last 'reinvention' in the original Sonic Adventure. Personally, I like both the old style and new style of the Sonic world and believe they can coexist, perhaps with one game taking place in areas and dealing with subject matter more akin to classic Sonic, and then the next game to be based more in the current world of Sonic (with its gun-toting hedgehogs, 'realistic' human cities, military organisations, multitude of new characters etc). Sonic travels the world, I don't see why it can't just be assumed the area he's in has had more (or less, depending on the particular game's chosen style) human intervention/progress/exploration/whatever.

So I do like a lot of the Sonic world as it is nowadays, but there is so much to it that is irking as well, and it'll be good if we manage to drop a bit of dead weight with this new game. Go in a different direction, but not forget everything that has been established post-SA1 - just handle it more carefully and sensibly.

The robots in this are the kind of thing I've wanted since forever. They make sense as an evolution of Eggman's current robots (E-series were kinda like evolved Eggrobo, then the E-2000 series were the first robots to start looking like the cool deadly kind of robot I want Sonic going up against. You know, the type of cool-as mechs that have almost become cannon fodder in anime these days. They've been around in anime long enough for that to happen, yet Sonic's always had more cartoony style machines). I really loved the large white mechs in Sonic X episode 1 (one punched Sonic into the air). I want more of that, robots like Kiddy Grade's Donnerschlag, etc.

I still want to see oldschool style badniks in addition to cool 'realistic' robots, though, as I have much love for them. They simply need to be boosted to present more of a threat - faster, stronger, smarter. Have a Buzzbomber's shots be quicker and more explosive (see the original Sonic anime), have a Crabmeat's claws look deathly sharp and capable of really crushing something, it's body look like an actual armored 'hull', and it's legs capable of carrying it at the speed real crab's legs can!

Please pull this one off with care, Sega. I want to be able to look back on this one in the future and still adore it as I do with the original Sonic Adventure - but it'd be even better if this time the memories didn't come with other memories of problematic cameras, collision detection, and wonky animations, etc.

Cycle, name one current gen gaming console title that has that quality of ingame graphics.
I'll name a few: Resident Evil 4, Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Tekken 5, Fable, MGS3, Metroid Prime 2, Dead or Alive Ultimate, Burnout 3, and Prince of Persia 2.

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You've completely misinterpreted what they said.

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Wow, I did. LOL. I suppose I was a little overly excited -- but hey, I think it would be a good idea if they DID remake the old games (Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, maybe even Sonic CD).

Not only would it further help them capture the old style, but it'd also be great to see with these types of graphics and in 3D glory! I know I'm not the only person who wants to see the Super Emeralds in use again, and Hyper Sonic.

Are those screenshots in-game graphics or CGI? I don't doubt they are, those camera views just give off that impression, besides that shot of Sonic in the motion blur evading robots.

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I'll name a few: Resident Evil 4, Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Tekken 5, Fable, MGS3, Metroid Prime 2, Dead or Alive Ultimate, Burnout 3, and Prince of Persia 2.

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But, as you said yourself, they're pretty good for Sonic standards, especially when compared to other console Sonic titles currently in development (Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Riders), which basically run on the Sonic Heroes graphics engine.

Since the game is only in development as well, there's still a chance they may improve the graphics, if they so desire. I'm just glad they finally got around to actually improve them for once, instead of just reusing it.

Well from what I understand...the pics are from a cutscene running on in game graphics. So in-game graphics.

Well, it IS next-gen, HS2k3... >>;
So most of the screenshots ARE in-game. Or else they're cheaping out BIG time

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I'll name a few: Resident Evil 4, Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Tekken 5, Fable, MGS3, Metroid Prime 2, Dead or Alive Ultimate, Burnout 3, and Prince of Persia 2.

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You've got to be kidding me. Here this is for you.

http://youlose.ytmnd.com/

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You've got to be kidding me. Here this is for you.

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And this is for you.

"According to Sega, Naka will "create the most intense sensation of speed ever experienced in videogames" with "an innovative combination of art, physics and game design."

The 'rebirth of Sonic' will offer an unparalleled sense of speed that is only possible using the processing power afforded by the new systems."

I hope that doesn't mean it's going to be the Sonic Advance 2 of the 3D Sonics. All speed and timing on a flat running course, and no actual platforming. But if it's mainly speed, then I guess we can count on Sonic being the main character (who knows what Shadow will be doing after his main game ), because I can't imagine someone like Amy going as fast as Sonic (looks at Sonic Heroes, but realizes that doesn't count). Speaking of which, that gigantic, open field could be the next adventure field. A big open field like that is perfect for it.

Well hello there Andy. Welcome to the Mofo. You have now been sucked into the craziest, zaniest, and most comfortable place on the net. And be sure to make a welcoming thread in MF Central, i'm a little hungry and you look delicio-. >_> *clears throat* And Wonderbat, I didn't go to the link that you were responding to but is that necessary?

Thanks for the friendly greeting.

Cool it,

Theres no need to act childish like you did.

So please stop in future.

Thank you

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And Wonderbat, I didn't go to the link that you were responding to but is that necessary?

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Absolutely.
I was responding more to the fact that the guy is obviously out of his gourd, but If anyone else objects, I'll link the pic instead and put up a warning or something.

(Sighs)
I never judge games by screenshots. Something can have the highest-res screenshot in the world and be completel and utter crap, or look fuzzy and uninteresting and turn out to be great.
I've seen games made in 2001(Max Payne) that I consider to have better graphics than games made this year (KOTOR2). This is not because of the resolution og the graphics, but how they're used.
Personally, I ahevn't seen any Sonic game of any kind have levels the size they're hinting at, with the number of enemies at once they show. If they're really going to pull that off, good for them- I, for one, am not about to complain about seeing a 3D Sonic game with the ambition I've been wanting the company to show since Adventure.
If it's an end to linear levels and stuff that isn't much ahead of Super Mario 64 in game design, about time. Let them call it "next-gen" if they want.
And graphics do not the game make. Really.

"Sonic Next" is going to be called - wait for it - "Sonic the Hedgehog".

So are we assuming that this is definitely a remake of the original game?

As a big damn fan of the franchise, this gets two thumbs up, and several toes too.

Quit the illin', and just revel in the next level of sonic-tainment - the series has never looked so good. Oo

Sure, maybe the GFX ain't as top-notch as it could be, but then think about the fact it helps keep the game running fast...who's looking at the scenery when they're being chased by dozens of rampaging robots anyhow? 😛

Damn, I NEED this game...

Sonic the Hedgehog

They just couldnt call it Sonic Adventure 3 could they . So this will be Sonic the Hedgehog 4, right?

Aren't they just calling it 'Sonic the Hedgehog' for now - until they properly coin it, or has it been officially confirmed somewhere that it will indeed be called simply Sonic the Hedgehog?