Vertical Slice: Make Room for Sonic Boom

87 Comments

1. This is exactly what I have been saying since the announcement. No where did anyone say that the Sonic Team wouldn’t adapt the story and character designs from Sonic Boom. If it was implied by comments by Sega’s PR team consider it spin!

   In my opinion this is Sega’s top management looking at the Sonic Team and saying I think a western team could do better. If it works out Sonic Team will essentially learn from Sonic Boom how to make successful Sonic games. They will use the Sonic Boom template so to speak for at least the next few games.

2. Honestly, I can see both versions of Sonic working together, just look at what happened when the Megaman X sub-series launched along side the Classic Megaman series, both series still had games coming out, and that eventually led to the Zero sub series as well as the ZX games and even the Battle Network spin-offs.
   I don’t see why the same can’t be done for Sonic Boom and the main Sonic series, heck, SATAM and most all other Sonic TV shows were totally different from the Genesis games (save for Adventures which tried a bit to look like the games) as well as the comics being completely different and people have accepted those and the TV shows.

   1. Sure it works in theory. But everyone is acting like it’s a reality. It is not this is the new one and only Sonic the Hedgehog and people need to see that.

   2. Agreed, I don’t see why some people think that both canons can’t coexist together and that one Sonic forcefully have to cannibalize the other (ala the One), specially since both canons are being developed by different studios, also I think is great because now both studios will have more time to work in a new game and release them every two years (one year BRB, the next Sonic Team and so on) and Sega won’t force Sonic Team to release one game every year.

   3. You ironically countered your own point. Just look at where Megaman is now.
      They split the fanbase ‘causing the very specific Megaman sales to plummet like ass. This is the last thing we need for Sonic.

      1. I agree with jeffery.

      2. The fanbase is already split enough with people preferring the comics over the games and liking the classics only and all that.
         At least with the Megaman series, they kept most all their main games from Classic to X, Zero, and ZX, they kept the main style of gameplay the same without huge drastic changes that people hate. The only series that changes things up would be the Battle Network/Star Force series and Legends which was a side-series of RPGs instead of a main platfromer.
         The only reason Capcom isn’t making Megaman games is because of their own stupidity to cancel every single great idea they have in the works and not even think about trying to bring them back, thus pissing off fans.

3. I wouldn’t mind them adapting some features from this new franchise if it means consistent continuity, and I wouldn’t mind seeing some features of the redesigns attached to the main games as well. But regardless there’s no way, no way in hell will I support the complete revisions of Knuckles and Eggman. In its own series, fine, but even then I still hate them.

   The one character who I want to completely keep all the new changes is Amy, though. She’s REALLY needing this. Tails isn’t half bad himself. Sonic I’m a bit questionable on, I don’t think he needs new accessories added to his default design and his legs are a tad bit too long. I couldn’t care less about the blue arms, though.

   On that note, Sega undoubtedly already have plans for games for the next couple years. So yeah, they’re not just making plans to replace the existing game canon by any means. Adding new things from Sonic Boom into the main canon I won’t mind as long as its fits well and doesn’t stray too far from the series roots.

   The notion that a strong character has to look buff in order for kids to see that a character is strong is stupid, ridiculous, and is a blatant stereotype that should be f—ing done away with. Just my two cents.

   That said I don’t mind the look of the gameplay for the new game, and I’ll hold my reservations about the cartoon until I see more of it. But I can’t see them erasing the old continuity at all. Maybe adding some elements from it later to the main series if they turn out popular.

4. SEGA definitely isn’t going to make HD remakes of Heroes or Shadow. Those weren’t popular games like the Adventure series.

   Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a test. By saying it’s separate allows it to not be an issue if it totally bombs, or is torn apart by the public. Things can just go back to normal like nothing ever happened. However, if it’s extremely successful, then things may pan out differently.

   1. You do know that Heroes and Shadow are part of the Adventure series, right?

      1. And those perspective games aren’t as popular as Sonic Adventure 1 and 2.

5. “But there’s no way on Earth that Sega would be so foolhardy”

   I certainly don’t see why not. This is Sega, remember? I mean, I love Sonic, and I sincerely want the best for Sega, but when it comes to the little blue dude, they can be as dumb as cows. I say this in love.

   Anyway, I really don’t see the issue in having two canons. For one, I see no evidence suggesting that two canons means they’re splitting the franchise globally between different regions. I think they’re testing it in the west, sure, but I highly doubt Sonic Boom will be the only iteration of sonic we see over here for a while. I’d estimate they would publish globally with the original canon, and test the waters with Sonic Boom in the west, though only at first if it’s received well.

   Of course, that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible they’re doing away with the old sonic…but boy I sincerely hope not. Most of the new designs are pretty unbearable–for me, anyway. If others like them then more power to them. They’re just too wonky, cliche and exaggerated for my tastes. What is the fascination with making sonic taller? I dunno.

   I wish the best for the blue blur, and really only time will tell how things will pan out. Things were looking up for a little while there, here’s hoping they didn’t flush it down the bowl.

6. I think that that is looking a bit too deep into things. I personally believe the idea of two separate canons existing at once. Legend of Zelda has done the same thing a hundred times, so why should this be any different. I can agree that fussing over small things like the redesign is ridiculous, but I find nothing wrong in wanting to get something new WITHOUT having to give up what is familiar. It is likely that SEGA is basing their future plans on whether this game and series is successful or not, but I doubt anything as extreme as a full-on reboot is in the works. And at this point, while it’s too soon to count Sonic Boom out, it’s also too soon to herald it as a good move. It has just as much chance being good as it has being the worst decision SEGA has ever made so far. We have to wait until game is released and the show is further along to really make a proper assessment as to whether this movement will be so great that SEGA would actually consider dropping their bags and ditch the modern continuity in favor of this one. Multiple branches of this series CAN exist, it’s been proven again and again. I’m willing to give this branch a chance, but I am in no way prepared to give up the main branch that I have grown so fond of, and there are many out there who feel the same. If anything, I’d rather have both. More kinds of Sonic is better than just replacing one for another.

   1. I mean pretty much this. Look at other series that have done the same thing, like Megaman with his countless spinoffs. At the end of the day though classic Megaman and Megaman X still ran along side of whatever the hell else they made. Now this isn’t nearly as drastic, but there’s no reason why Sonic and Sonic Boom can’t coexist.

      Also I feel like if they wanted to replace all current Sonic with Sonic Boom designs, they’d have forced Archie to do it with their comic after the reboot, otherwise why would they have gone through the trouble of redesigning everyone just to scrap the thing 6 months later? Plus, Modern Sonic still has a presence among society. This isn’t Pacman, who was pretty much forgotten and could reboot like that with no one noticing. They still got all the other merchandise and the comic and the games and the thanksgiving balloon. It’d be downright stupid of them to start over.

      1. You know what this is? This is SatAM or Sonic X with a video game involved. It’s only shocking since it’s been over 20 years since Sonic has seen any Western sort of spin off. Before that Adventure days, SoA always used AoSTH Robotnik for all the merchandise and what not. Sonic had a mohawk for at least 5 years and Tails was brown for some reason. In the end though it had absolutely no effect on the games beyond the box art sometimes, and even those used a variation of Japanese Robotnik. Hell those old cartoons sorta had games based off them, I mean look at Spinball and Mean Bean Machine.

         The only difference I see now is that instead of Sega using Sonic Boom for everything in the west like back in the 90s (Modern graphics and CG renders and whatnot make it difficult to pull the stuff they did back then. While one could use their imagination to make Sonic 2 Sonic look like the box art Sonic, you’re not going to spin Modern Sonic into looking like Boom Sonic), they’re going to separate the two franchises much like they have done with Classic and Modern merchandise. Sonic Boom won’t be advertised as Sonic the Hedgehog, it’ll be advertised as Sonic Boom, much like how this video game is Sonic Boom! the Game. It’s a sub franchise that’ll have it’s own spin. Why else would the designs be so drastically different? It has to stand out from the other Sonic franchise. You aren’t going to look at Sonic Boom Knuckles and think “Well this is normal.” And Sonic has blue arms, that’ll stand out like no other.

         1. Yeah, that’s basically the vibe I’m getting. It’s kind of like how in other forms of media when multiple different versions of one character exist side by side, some distinction needs to be made between them. If you pair Modern Sonic and Boom Sonic next to each other, you will immediately know who is who, but you can still tell that they are both Sonic. Most people believe that when it comes to change, there are only two choices: either keep what you got and don’t change at all, or give up what you had and change entirely. Not only is that wrong most of the time, it’s also very childish. There is almost always a third option at the very least, four if you count the direction that you came from. It’s called a “crossroads” for a reason. The path that SEGA seems to be taking right now is the third option: keep both at the same time in separate hands and see where both will take them. I enjoy the Archie comics because I got an additional alternative to Sonic every month or so, and I believe that I will come to like Sonic Boom in the same fashion.

7. Very interesting stuff. I swear, there has never been a better time to be a Sonic fan. 🙂

8. I like how people say it’s ridiculous to fuss over details like character design for such a culturally iconic character. His design is part of his appeal and identity. It’s more than just “anything fast blue and pointy oughtta do it”

   I’ve always loved Sonic more as a character than as a franchise, and I mean that more from a design perspective than one regarding his relatively generic personality. Most of his media, particularly after the “nostalgic glory days” has been lukewarm at best, and this just looks like exactly more of the same milquetoast drivel, but with the character(s) I’ve grown up adoring nowhere in sight. I don’t know what this is, or if it’ll end up more entertaining than it looks – but it just isn’t Sonic to me anymore, and it breaks my heart.

   I honestly don’t think it’s nitpicky or ridiculous to expect a character as old as Sonic to stay true to the most basic elements of his original design. This isn’t an evolution, but an outright revision.

   I’ll keep my eye on it. Maybe I’ll play it (though honestly, I don’t think it looks that great regardless of character design), maybe I’ll even like it. But this will never be Sonic to me. I simply can’t shake the feeling that this is just bad fan-art come to life in the most official way possible.

   1. dude, either youre paranoid or gone nuts looking for something so long obsessing over the flaws that you dont know something good when you see it. your pessimistic attitude is annoying as !#@$!. even all my non sonic fan anime friends are for the 1st time liking sonic. my advice. take a break from sonic and maybe internet and come back when youre thinking right.

      1. Strange. My friends in school have never been more interested in Sonic as well. I don’t know why entirely, but I’m not complaining! 🙂

         1. Bandages. That’s why.

   2. Welp…you basically just said everything I was gonna say. I don’t really care about it at this point. Now had this been like THE new Sonic (in the same way the design changed for Adventure) then I would’ve has an ENTIRE problem.

   3. Not to say that your views don’t hold any kind of merit, and you’re certainly entitled to your opinion —

      But, the fanbase negatively reacts to any kind of change in the franchise almost every. single. time. And honestly, I’ve come to expect said negative reactions and now completely ignore them (again, not trying to come off as a jerk, even if I am). You’re not saying anything that I haven’t already heard before, throughout my 15+ years as a Sonic fan.

      Green eyes? I hate them!
      New characters? I hate them!
      New voice actors? I hate them!
      Blue arms? I hate them!

      Are you seeing a pattern here?

      The thing that’s the real kicker for this particular case is that ***this series isn’t even canon to the main one…*** If ever there were an instance in which heavily re-imagining the characters would not only make sense, but be completely welcome, it would be this one.

      Any changes made in this series won’t spill over into any particular Sonic product that you were enjoying prior to this series’s creation. Therefore, any gripes that you have about the changes are completely moot. This series is a spin-off, not a reboot (as fans keep wrongfully calling it).

      1. Sonic had black eyes, then he had green eyes. Sonic had peach arms, now he has blue arms. It’s the exact same thing.

         Also, how does Sonic having blue arms not make sense??? He’s literally the only male character in his series to not have his arms be the same color as his fur (go look at Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Silver, Jet, and even Metal SONIC). It’s the one design change that actually makes the most sense.

         And I’ll take SEGA’s word over Michael Westgarth’s word any day of the week, because, you know… they’re *SEGA*.

      2. Just because a vocal minority of Sonic fans complain over every new change doesn’t mean that all complaints and observations about a new change should be invalidated. That would be like if the complaints about Colonial Marines were completely ignored because film critics like to complain about sequelitus in the movies.

         1. You’re completely right.

            But, when your main complaint is “Sonic’s arms are blue now!” or, in a broader sense, “These characters are different looking than the ones I’m used to!”, then yeah, I believe your opinion is severely lacking in substance.

            All complaints, thus far, have been superficial, which makes sense, ***because we know next to nothing about Sonic Boom***. Now, once the game and the series are out, having problems with their execution would be totally reasonable, in my eyes.

            But, you’re gonna have to come up with something more well thought out than “the characters don’t look the same”, in order for me to take your gripes seriously. I’m not being dismissive for the hell of it. I’m being dismissive because I’ve literally gone through a near-identical experience with the exact same fanbase.

      3. @Chaos
         Metal Sonic has silver arms, Shadow and Silver are awful characters, Tails and Knuckles are different animals without fleshy bellies… I’m not saying it doesn’t make sense for him to have blue arms. I’m saying it was an outrageously pointless change to make so late in the game and that it flat-out looks dumb. Personal preference? Sure. I’m allowed.

         And I’ll reiterate for the umpteenth time: it isn’t JUST the blue arms. It’s the tall, flat, lanky nature of the character in general, which is just awful design from any standpoint. He looks like a stick figure with a Sonic head and a hole in his leotard. His shoes are no longer the iconic red with white stripe, but just a genric red sneaker with dumbass fucking duct tape that makes him look more like a weird neanderthal than a bad-ass.

         You can take Sega’s word, but as Michael points out: those words aren’t actually saying what people think they’re saying, and Sega isn’t exactly known for keeping half-baked PR promises (or being interpreted correctly by desperate fans). If this turns out to be just a spin-off series that DOESN’T cannibalize the main branch, that’d be awesome. But I’m still skeptical and therefore still worried.

         In regards to your other comment: Yes, my critiques are about the superficial nature of the characters, because THAT’S WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. As I stated: Sonic’s timeless design has always been a huge factor of his appeal (FOR ME). Now, he no longer looks like Sonic, but just a sad half-baked mockery of his former self. The game could turn out stellar, and that’s cool I guess. But it is highly unlikely to look or feel like the Sonic (or Knuckles) I know and love – and there is NOTHING wrong with being a fan of one rendition of a character and not a completely different one.

         1. No, you’re right. There isn’t anything wrong with preferring one rendition over the other.

            Just continue to prefer the original rendition and stop getting so worked up over this one. You’re getting upset over something that SEGA hasn’t even done yet, nor have they expressed the desire to do so (quite the opposite, actually).

            And, yeah, I will take SEGA’s word for it. They didn’t beat around the bush or vaguely hint at anything… They outright said “THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR WESTERN AUDIENCES ONLY, AND WILL BE SEPARATE FROM THE MAIN GAMES”. SEGA might not make the smartest decisions all the time. But, when they tell me something upfront, especially when it pertains to the face of their entire corporation, I believe them.

   4. Ditto

   5. You know, ever since I’ve been on this site, I always thought that you were the more understanding fan than most people. I’ve had alot of respect from you because your opinions were understandable and had alot merits; reading your thoughts about the Sonic’s re-design had me scratching my head abit.

      Now don’t think I’m being jackass or a blinded fanboy for calling out your opinions, but I think your preference is clouding your reasoning. They’re not trying to replace the main series Sonic or completely change him for the sake of it and completely redo his personality. He’s still Sonic. He looks like Sonic. He acts like Sonic. He’s still the iconic character we know that decided to change up his image abit to differentiate his alter ego. Besides the tape, a scarf, a bed hair, a growth spurt, and growing arm fur, what’s so different? He’s still the adventure loving , wise-cracking, running fast talking hedgehog. Tails and Amy are on the same arguement, nothing different other than pieces of fabric. While Knuckles…his head’s the same. Plus even if you don’t like Boom, you still have the regular game series to look forward to, so it’s not going anywhere in the long run.

      Again I’m not trying to come off as rude, but if I am, then I apologize, but I think you’re getting worked up over nothing when the main series is not going anywhere anytime soon.

      1. Two points: Coming from a position of skepticism and not trusting Sega to actually continue the classic branch (at least not for long), it’s not so easy for me to write this off.

         Secondly: As I’ve said numerous times, I don’t love Sonic for his post-adventure personality. I love Sonic for his overall design and style. Now that that has changed, this new venture no longer seems (at least not yet) to represent any of the things that I love about the character or franchise.

   6. A lot of fun you are.

   7. God damn it ChaoticFox
      Every single post you’ve ever made on this site in the past 7 years has made me wish I could marry you, in the most PANSEXUAL way possible!!

      …Was that going too far?
      I dunno, either way I couldn’t agree more and both Sonic Lost World and the announcement of Sonic Boom has only made me realise that this franchise has been heading in a direction that doesn’t interest me in the slightest and there’s little reason whatsoever to stick around anymore.

      I’m sure the new Sonic Boom game and TV series will be fantastic and I’m sure everyone will love it, but this isn’t the Sonic I fell in love with over 20 years ago and tbh I’m honestly shocked and stunned that so many fans are so enthusiastic about this.
      I mean… THIS is the exact same fanbase that was up with torches and pitchforks at Sega for using modern sonic’s design in Sonic 4, and they’re OK with this???
      Just goes to show you. Over 2 entire decades of being a sonic fan and I still don’t understand this fanbase in the slightest! …Not even a smidge!

      Yeah everyone keeps telling themselves that this isn’t going to be main cannon but at this point who the fuck even need care anymore?
      What more have we really got to look forward to these days? More Mario and Sonic olympic crossovers? More of Sonic Lost World? More Dimps?
      Whenever Sega are onto something Brilliant (like Sonic Advance, Sonic Rush, Sonic Unleashed/Colours/Generations) they throw it out the window for a means to experiment with a new direction, despite the fans clearly stating in full black and white and even voting with their wallets EXACTLY what they want.
      And these changes only give me the impression that Sega have lost confidence in their mascot and feel these changes are the only way forward.

      Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe this is only a spin-off, maybe it will be good, my guess is as good as anyones.
      But what really pisses me off is that we as a fanbase accept mediocrity because we’re so damn terrified that Sega will pull the plug on Sonic like they have with all of their other IP’s the second he stops being profitable.
      The fact that Sonic 06 had broken a million copies in sales speaks for itself and it’s almost a statement for this entire fanbase.
      We accept the worst because we’re expecting the best. It’s almost an incredibly sad metaphorical tale of a seriously abusive relationship with each and every single one of us playing the role of the spouse, too afraid to question why our husband (Mr. Sega) is always out so late drinking or working at the office in fear of getting another black eye and having to explain to mother that you accidently walked into the door frame again.

      …Was that going too far?
      Either way I’m personally taking a huge step back from all of this.
      I’m sick of all the ranting and arguing and stress that comes with being a sonic fan. It’s insanity at it’s purist source.
      I’m not saying people should either agree with me or they’re wrong. Everyone’s free to like whatever they want.
      But I often look back at games like Sonic CD, Sonic 3 and Knuckles, to even games like Sonic Advance, Sonic Rush, Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 and Unleashed/Colours/Generations and wonder when and why it all went so wrong.

      People think I’m insane for loving Sonic Unleashed (x360) so much but no, I stand my ground. To me that game encompassed everything that made Sonic perfect in my eyes and the production values were through the roof. Everything from the character designs, Eggman’s Robot Army, the world they created, the unique and charming civilians who populate it and the way the music style purposely compliments each location in the game… It was next to perfection.
      Yeah people hated the werehog and chip but you know what, they fit with the story and they were JUST there for the story. There’s no reason the series couldn’t of carried on with this trend, taking out what didn’t work and adding in more of what could. Throw in Tails and the crew for playable characters and Wala, The series would of been exactly where it needed to be …AND FUCK YOU FOR DISAGREEING WITH ME!!! GRRRR!!!111
      I dunno, in my eyes, Sonic Unleashed would of been the perfect setting for a Sonic Reboot and the Night of the Werehog Animated short opened up the door for a potentially amazing Sonic TV series that could of cemented that.

      People say Sonic doesn’t work well with humans but the fact is, if you do your research, go back to the 90’s and look very closely, there have been humans in Sonic’s world since the very beginning. Look at the commercials in Sonic Jam, look at the artwork in the Sonic the Hedgehog 1997 screensaver, hell i’m pretty sure even the really early Sonic manga’s that were kept exclusive to Japan had humans co-existing with Flicky, Rocky, Pocky and the like.
      Dude even the 1996 Sonic OVA movie is proof enough. (Madonna probably doesn’t count and Sara was a cat person but her father and his butler/assistant sure weren’t)

      But whatever, I turned this into a rant, let it be my last.
      This current generation of gaming has opened the door to so many potential great new franchises that I just don’t feel the need to ever be tied down to Sonic anymore and as a good friend of mine put it, Sonic Generations could be the last sonic game for all he cares as it ended the series perfectly in his opinion.
      With only Sonic Lost World and Mario and Sonic at the Sochi Olympics to compare it to, maybe it did…
      Maybe we’ll see…

      1. http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/033/5/3/sonic_colors__brofist_by_apaulo17-d38oc3u.png

         1. @Chaos Controller
            The games don’t need to be released, nor do we have to physically play the game in order to make a judgement call on an established character(s) design which has been dramatically changed. I would agree with you had ChaoticFox said something like “OH! The game is gonna suck because Sonic has blue arms!”. I don’t like the character design. Simple as that, largely because of the raggedy tape. It’s not an appealing design to me, and if something isn’t appealing or gains my interest then chances are I’m not gonna spend my time or money on it. That’s basically what ChaoticFox was saying. You don’t have a problem with it, that’s fine, but don’t jump down people’s throats because their opinion differs from yours. His opinion is valid. Are there some extremely nitpicky fans when it comes to Sonic? YES! Is everyone that makes a negative criticism about Sonic an anal old fart that rejects change? No.

            1. You know, it’s not even completely the complaints about the new looks that are bothering me, if I’m being honest. It’s the mass paranoia about this new series having any kind of bearing on the main series.

               Hell, I might be worried too, if SEGA hadn’t gone out of their way to tell us that wasn’t the case whatsoever….

               His opinion does count. But, to me, as I’ve said before, it falls in line with everything I’ve seen before, in regards to this fanbase. It really is no different.

               And I’m fully aware that I’m coming off as condescending butthole, and that I’m effectively turning him into a strawman, and I am sorry for that. This fanbase has just fallen into such an endless cycle of predictable negativity that it’s starting to make me rather callous and cynical.

         2. “Is everyone that makes a negative criticism about Sonic an anal old fart that rejects change? No.”

            for him yes. all he has been doing is complaining the last few months like a spoiled brat. I never post but i had my fill of it and had to say my peace. thats why i said he is paranoid and needs to go. just sonic brat complaints from this guy and then lies or airing to cover it up. first lost world and now this too? what an idiot. does he have anything good to say?

            1. Dammit! You ruined it, mcnugget!!! >:(

         3. I’ve always found a fair bit of comraderie to be had in the community’s cynicsm. To me, it always came across as a frustrated kind of love and passion for something we all view as mishandled. Our hate for the new is only proof of our undying love of the old 🙂

            Sure, that can make us narrow-minded at times – but nobody’s perfect, optimist or pessimist alike. There are people on both sides of every issue who drive me crazy, even when they’re agreeing with me on something.

            I’ll admit to being paranoid and outright distrusting of Sega. But even that is only proof of my love for the original series and characters.

            1. Well said, my man.

         4. @McNuggs
            I’ll have something good to say when Sonic Team delivers me something worthy of praise 🙂

            I had high hopes for Lost World initially. Unfortunately, it did not deliver. Having standards or preferences does not make one “spoiled” – although by definition, that merely means I’ve had the bar set pretty high by great content and I expect and accept nothing less. I fail to see how that’s a bad thing, other than my concerns and disappointment somehow negatively affecting you in some capacity.

         5. you dont get it dude. tons of my anime friends, da friends, fb friends, tons of people have been praising sonic boom. these people used to not give a crap about sonic. yeah, you can have your opinion but it is not what most people are thinking. so go ahead. hate the game. maybe sonic boom will get rid of sonic brats like you for the best of the rest of us sane fans.

         6. ps: i hated lost world.

   8. alright great chaoticfox. you can wait in your dream land and well all enjoy the game without you. facepalm. probably didnt like frozen too, huh?

      1. Ah, the old “it’s popular so therefore it is great” argument. You’re cute :3

         1. thank you. so fun arguing with idiots.

9. I honestly don’t mind the new designs with the glaring exception of the sports tape (Which, I personally think is trying a bit too hard to please the US fans) and the return of “Front mouth”, which just reminds me of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).

   What worries me, is that we were going so well since Colours and then they pull this move. It’s a bit too sudden.

   I’m holding my reservations too. I mean I love me some Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank, but I play Sonic for a different reason. I don’t want my 3 favourite franchises to be the same core experience. When I first saw the gameplay I immediately thought Ratchet and Clank: All4One, just with Sonic.

   I’m also holding extreme reservations based on past experiences. This may be a new continuity or not, but the last time a “Reboot” of any kind or continuity reset happened was Sonic 06, and that was harkening back to the Adventure days, while being a part of an early line up for the new generation of consoles and resetting the continuity.

10. I have no idea where this guy came from, he just dropped out of the sky or something…

    …because I actually agree with him on almost everything he’s said since the first Vertical Slice. This, like, never happens. :/

11. I’m excited but at the same time worried for the sake of a few other characters as most of them will probably be really good or really suck. Also I believe the sports tape was just added to make them look cooler and like they’re ready for action

12. This article seems to completely overlook the fact that there was already a parallel Sonic canon that existed way before this game… The Archie Sonic canon. Sure, it didn’t have a video game tie-in, but that doesn’t make it any less far-reaching and popular.

    This whole opinion piece seems to be over-complicating something that’s very simple. This isn’t a “test”, or any of that gobble-dee-gook. It’s just a straight-up expansion. SEGA of America will be over-seeing the Sonic Boom branch of the Sonic series (choosing game devs and whatnot), while SEGA of Japan will keep doing what they have been for all these years (for better or worse).

    It’s like the Pokemon series, which has multiple sub-series running alongside the main one simultaneously. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and the Pokemon anime aren’t canonical to the main series, but they’re still important.

    (Also, you keep saying “SEGA are”….. SEGA “is” a single entity. There are also a few typos peppered in there. Sorry to be a grammar nazi. I just hold people in positions like this, at news sites, to a bit of a higher standard.)

    1. I, for one, welcome the “game-isms” that the comics have been adopting. You’re also grossly over-exaggerating. There are still tons of characters and concepts in the comics that make it almost completely different from the games.

       You’re also very wrong. The comics have adaptations of Sonic CD, Sonic 3, Sonic Spinball, and Sonic 3D Blast in them. So, the whole notion of tying together both the games and the comics was very evident from the get-go.

       Taking a more SEGASonic minded approach to the comics was one of the smartest moves it’s ever made. It provided the stories with much more focus. The comic is no longer about romance and juvenile attempts at political intrigue and drama. It’s about adventure and Sonic and his friends fighting robots, which, at its very core, is what the Sonic series is all about.

       Also, Sonic Boom isn’t part of the main series games… so why would the comics go out of their way to take on character design elements from it…? Especially since they just got done redesigning almost all of the cast (something that hasn’t happened since the comic started a little over 20 years ago…)

       1. Marketing.

          1. Remember when Chris Thorndyke became part of the main game series and the comics’ main continuity? Neither do I.

       2. Being political and having drama is ‘Juvenile’? Huh? What’s so juvenile about that?

          1. I didn’t say that being political and dramatic is juvenile. I said that all of the comic’s *attempts* to do so (at least, prior to the arrival of Ian Flynn) were.

       3. I’m not exaggerating. I never said “and now they’re identical to the games”. There’s still plenty of unique content in the comics. I just said that most of the game-isms they HAVE adopted (at least back before I stopped reading) were crudely implemented, and that it’s happening regularly enough to expect the same for Boom. Yes, they did it with the classic titles, but it never felt forced or like it was bending over backwards to make it happen.

          Watching them try to come up with excuses like “Eggman returns in a new body as a robot clone from future past!” And “Sonic ran so fast his eyes turned green!” was legitimately painful.

13. I agree with what your saying, but splitting a brand over different locals is actually really common and Sega did it already in the early 90s with Satam so it isn’t THAT unlikely. but yeah I feel you on what you are sayin bra.

14. Three points:

    1. You’re right about Sonic Boom being a test. It won’t replace the existing series YET, but there is a good chance it will in the future.

    2. That Sonic Adventure canon “baggage” you mentioned is a big reason why many older fans stayed with the series over the years. And why many of them have left…

    3. Sonic Adventure 2 was not a lackluster port. It was identical to Sonic Adventure 2: Battle only in HD. And I’m willing to bet it got more downloads than Lost World did sales.

15. Here’s an idea instead of talking about it let’s directly ask Sega. Retweet the link below:

    https://twitter.com/Overbound/status/432582137695322113

16. It bothers me when people get irritated with the fan base for caring about what happens to the series they are a fan of.
    When you are truly a fan of something some changes are going to bother you.
    For example…Sonic’s blue arms sort of bother me.
    OH NO I MUST BE ONE OF THOSE NITPICKY FANS!
    No…I am just a fan that has gotten used to Sonic’s tan colored arms for OVER 20 YEARS!
    Of course its gonna be weird to see him with blue arms.
    Interestingly enough, the design changes during sonic adventure I completely embraced.
    Another change that bothered me was the 4kids voice cast.
    I felt that the voices completely changed the feeling of the characters to the point where I didnt even feel like they were the same characters.
    What I dont get is why it is so looked down upon as a Sonic fan to be bothered by drastic changes that are made.
    Not everyone is a casual fan you know…some people are hardcore Sonic fans that REALLY care about the series…and anyone that really cares about something is obviously gonna be opinionated.
    And dont go giving me any of this “YOU MUST HAVE NO LIFE IF YOU CARE SO MUCH” crap because that is just bull crap.
    Everyone has an outlet…Sonic is one of mine.

    1. This, dude. This! I agree with all this!

    2. You’re being “looked down upon”, in this particular case, because this doesn’t have anything to do with the main Sonic series. It’s a spin-off and has no bearing on what you have been used to for “OVER 20 YEARS”.

       If you don’t like it, ignore it and keep enjoying Sonic the way you have been.

17. I must be one of the very few people to prefer what Sonic Boom’s promising to be rather than the “canon” side (which is hardly canon at all. When was the last time we had a Sonic game where its story didn’t butcher some part of a previous game’s story? And the whole Nega-Silver-Blaze mess is considered canon, even though it makes no sense?)
    Not to mention how I found out that each and every game that had Sonic’s planet on display, was completely different, geographically speaking, from each other. Even the planets seen on Episode I and Episode II from space are completely different, even though the events of the game take place on the very same planet.

    So yeah. Canon shmanon. Sonic Boom is the only Sonic related thing I care about these days… Oh, and naturally, the classics, Advance, and Adventure 1.
    And if the game’s made by the same guys who made Jak and Daxter or Ratchet and Clank? I couldn’t be any happier.

    …
    But I really REALLY hope they tone Knuckles down a notch or two. I wouldn’t mind him being slightly taller. And I’d also love it if they all had shorter limbs. I mean, man…. Sonic Boom’s designs put 06’s ones to shame, as far as lankiness goes.

18. I was wondering where the “its an AU” thing came from. I’m ready for fresh new stuff. We had our nostalgia fest with Generations and now I am absolutely done with that junk. I don’t want to see one more Green Hill remake. So help me God, I am tired of Green Hill remakes!! XD
    So out with the old and in with the new. There’s practically nothing about this I am not excited about (except no outer gold buckle on Sonic’s shoes but I’m over that).

    The sports tape is a little overdone, but if you think of it practically, its in places where it supports the character’s wrists, ankles and feet, which totally makes sense. I use that stuff all the time for my feet because my arches are so high and it gives good support. (does that make sense? XD)

19. I think both “canons” can exist in tandem. You could have Big Red Button Entertainment release a game every other year or so with help from Sonic Team, and then have a Sonic Team/Dimps game released when Big Red Button Sonic games aren’t released. Example:
    2014: Sonic Boom
    2015: Sonic Team/Dimps multiplatform game
    2016: Sonic Boom 2 (or other BRBEntertainment Sonic game)
    2017: Dimps-developed game for the 3DS sequel’s launch Holiday 2017
    2018: Sonic Boom 3, multiplatform
    2019: “Wii U 2” released by now, Nintendo-exclusive Sonic Team/Dimps game
    2020: Major Sonic Team multiplatform release
    And so on.

    1. I understand where the skepticism is coming from. Sega has a rep for cutting ties with things that don’t sell fast. However, Sonic basically built the house of Sega himself. I think Whoever is in charge (Sammy, Sega of Japan/US) They have enough respect to give Original Modern Sonic Plenty more chances to turn around and be the lead franchise here. Lets say Boom is extremely well made and is one of the best sonic games of all time. I dont think Sega will grow Cash eyes and force Sega of Japan and Sonic Team to adjust to sonic boom canon. At best, They would bring Sonic boom to the East alongside Japanese Sonic. The fact that Sonic Boom isn’t even in the cards for Japan at the moment is evidence of Japans Pride and confidence in the original sonic brand. Maybe Lost world wasn’t the greatest, but Generation was only one game before that. If anything, Boom could inspire Sonic Team to step up their quality in a notion of pride. On a regular basis, There are grown adults (20’s and 30’s) male and female wearing classic and modern sonic merchandise. There is no way sega could ignore that Sonic original design is timeless and still has a place among the people. As long as Boom is officially called a brand off. Im not going to worry too much to jump to conclusions that Boom is a test.

20. “But there’s no way on Earth that Sega would be so foolhardy as to split and fragment the globally iconic Sonic the Hedgehog brand between different regions of the world.”

    Why not? They were doing that from the very start back in the 90s. And it worked quite well, if you recall. I see no reason why we can’t have that back again. Worst case scenario, SoA gives up on Sonic Boom and everything goes back to one sanic to rule them all.

    Either way, everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill. Business as usual.

    1. You’re exactly right. This op-ed piece is garbage.
       Sonic Boom is just an experimental spin-off, not a “reboot”. Sure, if it sells amazingly well, then Sega will try to milk it for all it’s worth (which is not going to happen with a Wii U exclusive). Just like they would have milked Sonic Spinball in the days of old, if it had outperformed Sonic 1 & 2.

       The Sonic universe has always been fragmented, not just the cartoons and comics, but also the games. Business as usual indeed.

       1. You’re right, it has always been that way, but I would have thought we’d’ve all learned by now that that’s NOT a good thing for the series to be. We had more than enough in-fighting and clashing viewpoints before – whose bright idea was it to divide us even further?

          If Sega thinks Sonic isn’t “cool” enough to appeal to today’s kids, why don’t they create a NEW IP that IS? Do they honestly believe that Sonic’s waning popularity was exlusively due to a lack of height and duct tape? How is this redesign supposed to fix anything?

          This may be “business as usual”, but it’s arguably BAD business.

21. I’m just going to leave this here
    http://conflictingviews.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/sonic-boom-another-game-of-demands-and-deterrents/

    1. LOL I fully agree with that article!
       Some one is VERY perceptive! glad to see the stupefying Sonic Hype doesn’t effect everyone. 😉

       1. I second this comment. 😀

    2. Absolute bull shit. That guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about, and people like him are what make the Sonic Fan Base so torn. Now, if you will excuse me, I will continue being hyped about Sonic Boom.

       1. Care to explain why you think his article is bullshit?

       2. At least explain why you dislike the article before joining the sheep herd

22. Anyone wonder if Sonic Boom is going to affect if Sonic will appear in Wreck-It Ralph 2? He cameoed 6 times in the first movie using his Sonic Colors/Generations/Lost World design.

23. you haters should watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ__uzlfAdE

24. So everytime I look at Sonic’s blue arms, I get reminded of every single coloring error to ever existed.

25. I’m just gonna leave this right here:
    

    1. The Sonic is Sonic statement doesn’t mean shit.

       1. Well, no, not if you’re close-minded.

          1. It really doesn’t, these are people that REALLY care about Sonic and stating the obvious just to shut them up won’t work.

26. I love the “tired and defeated Sega wringing their hands apologetically” line, because that is what the situation has been for the past decade, with everyone taking dumps on everything Sonic, and only after Sega finally decided to go “fuck it, let´s reboot it”, THEN people realize what they lost, they finally realize they liked Sonic all along and the reboot is effectively erasing that. Or maybe i´s the age old “the new thing is always worse than the old”.

    Personally, this kinda interests me. I dislike the designs but the gameplay looks promising.

    I mean, the new designs are horrible, especially FINGERS THE BUFFCHIDNA, and as much as it´s intentional to appeal to current day kids, I think that the “Sonic is for little kids” is kinda a bullshit point, because Sonic has always had multiple demgraphic appeal, and the whole “Sonic is for little toddlers” is more of a recent interpretation, with the lollipoop candyland fest the recent games were. I mean, look at Mario: he has always been cartoony but the “E for everyone” actually means everyone, not just edgy teenagers or little toddlers. With Sonic we have jumped from extreme to extreme all over the place. We have just jumped from desSert ruins zone 3 to western edgy designs for cool kids. Again.

    But the gameplay got my interest. This looks like everything I liked about pre-Unleashed Sonic games that got thrown off the window because anything resembling past Sonic and by extension 06 is now the mother of all sins. I finally have a little more open ended levels as oppossed to linear corridors (though the extent of that statement can vary: after all we have only seen a trailer), no boost or infinite spindash and more platform heavy areas, if the people of Naughty Dog working on this is anything to go by, and specially, MULTIPLE PLAYABLE CHARACTERS instead of everyone worshipping Sonic as their god. Heck, they even added co-op play. THIS is what I wanted in a Sonic game all along, not werehogs, QTEs up the butt, Sonic only, and lollipop candyland with gameplay features copied straight out of Mario games.

    If the gameplay goes back to proper Sonic and stops the cutesy looking Mario clone, I might be able to tolerate the fugly redesigns in favor of great gameplay. And before anyone asks, I freaking love Mario: what I dislike about recent Sonic games is the blatant copying in detriment of their own identity.

27. I love the new character designs for Sonic Boom. Even Knuckles, although his took longer to grow on me. I feel like this new extension to the franchise has the potential to really make Sonic cool again, and I think that starts with the characters.

    This is why I’m sad that we have only seen 5 redesigns as of yet. The fact is, I want [b]more[/b]. I want to see every Sega character get a fresh new design, as well as the SATAM characters and maybe the Archie characters (maybe). And if possible, I would like the art staff behind Sonic Boom to make that happen.

    Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I want every Sonic character to be incorporated into the Sonic Boom franchise. Well, I do, but I also realize that the game developers and the people writing the show have to limit themselves to what is feasible and what will make both respective things work. But that doesn’t change the fact that I want to see a Sonic Boom reimagining of as many characters as possible, and rather than wait for fanart, I’d much rather see something a bit more official.

    To this effect, I have drafted a petition for official Sonic Boom redesigns of Sega and SATAM characters. Although I recognize that Sega of America is by no means bound to accept this request, regardless of how many signatures this petition receives, I believe that it is at least worth their consideration.

    And really, I’m not even saying they should do this for nothing. If Sega of America wanted to, say, include these redesigns in an official Sonic Boom art book to be sold alongside the Sonic Boom video game, I for one would be willing to pay money for such an art book. Maybe this could even be a kick-starter campaign. Who knows? Please support this petition, and spread the word to whomever you think will listen.

    The petition can be found here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sonic-boom-more-art-please

    1. lol

    2. Dude, I’m sorry, but this is ridiculous. It’s stuff like this that keep people from taking petitions seriously.

       Be patient and see where the series goes…

28. I’m sorry, but judging by the gameplay and the video for the cartoon, it seems like SEGA of America and Big Red Button know what they’re doing with Sonic more than Sonic Team does. After the travesty that Lost World was? And how bad Sonic 4 I&II? And the abandonment of the idea of DLC for Generations, we need someone who doesn’t shit over the franchise. Big Red Button seems to know what they’re doing. And it looks tolerable and fun. The design changes are alright with me, I was around when GREENEYESOHNOE happened, and that wasn’t a big deal either, neither will this be. The only problem I have is that at this point, it seems like SB will outshine regular old Sonic if Sonic Team doesn’t get their shit together.

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