TGS: Sonic Generations Interview With Iizuka, Hiroshi Miyamoto and Senoue
Following up from the Sky Sanctuary reveal, an interview has surfaced featuring three key figures in the development cycle: producer Takashi Iizuka, director Hiroshi Miyamoto and sound director Jun Senoue. In it are discussions about the approach to classic and modern Sonic gameplay, as well as the process of choosing stages as well as music composition. There is also more footage of certain stages, but we won’t spoil which are featured.
Find the video over at Gamespot, or over at YouTube courtesy of Woun Channel once again.
As always, stay tuned for the latest SEGA and Sonic the Hedgehog news from TGS as it happens.
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I just saw the interview (without sound… and Google’s beta subtitles arent really helpful…) Anyway, from what I saw, it seems that the modern gameplay plays more like unleashed than Colors… as in it “forces” you to go as fast as possible. And it throws random “reflex” moments (like having to slip under a wall) just to you have to remember the levels by heart just to clear it with good time… this is exactly what I hated in Unleashed.
And this brings me to the revelation I had: Everything “cool” Modern Sonic does is scripted. Without the rails, or the loops, or the homing attack or the “mega-jump-press-A multiple time”, Modern Sonic is boring as hell, and frustrating. He can’t do shit by himself. The game has to take control over him to make him look “cool”. And they have to keep him on a staight line (no exploration) because he has a tendency to fall in endless pits because of the controls.
This is not a plateformer, it’s a Quick time event game. I don’t want to play a quick time Sonic.
I know my comment is out of context in this thread but I just had to let it out. I loved Sonic Colors because he was a bit slower (because of the Wii limitations?) but it was more fun this way. It felt like I was in control and could take time to think about “should I go there or try this way”, in the 3D sections.
Unleashed asks you to press foward and “wham!”, duck under the wall…. press foward “wham!”, stoped by a small step I didnt see… jump, press foward… dead. Didnt see the hole.
Anyway, enough of my out of place ranting. I just hope Generations shapes up to be more like Colors than Unleashed (more exploration than mindless -scripted- speed).
… First! (this never gets old!!!)
How many Sonic’s friends NPC cutscenes in Sonic Generations will ever get?
There’s 2 things I wish can happen in this world.
1) For me to get $10,000,000,000 dollars.
2) For once, there ISN’T some whiny fan complaining about something.
But, alas, as long as there’s a fanbase…
Did Iizuka just mention variety when it comes to the level selection? I…. I can’t…. stop… laughing….
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHahhahahahahahahaha! I knew he had a damn fine sense of humour! Chalk another one up for Iizuka-san. His idiocy TRULY knows no bounds.
@ SonicJAM on a certain planet
Remember: Sega began to work on Generations imediately after Unleashed and before Colors. I believe that’s why the playing mechanics are similar to Unleashed and not Colors.
@André Alves
Makes sense!!!! By the way… seeing your name, tu ne serais pas francophone par hasard? Bye!
Hiroshi said that a “mysterious enemy who I’ll let you decide it might be…” sends Sonic and his friends back in time. Does that mean it’s someone who Sonic has fought before? Could it be a form of Solaris again, somehow connected to Eggman, or perhaps an amalgamation of the final bosses Sonic has fought in the past? I still have no clue. As long as it isn’t some boring one-off super being that comes out of nowhere…. (which it will probably be)
@Greg the Furry
Crawl back to deviantart and stay there, please.
@SonicJAM
I disagree, the Sonic Colors playstyle was nice, but I much prefer the Sonic Unleashed version.
And no, it wasn’t just QTE after QTE, did you even play the game?
@SonicJAM what the hell are you talking about? I love it how that entire rant was most likely based on his green hill zone level which is the first level. Have you even fucking seen his city escape level!? There’s plenty of different paths, exploration, and platforming. And I’ve talked to ppl who’ve ACTUALLY played modern sonic and they said he plays alot more like Colors. So how about you stop jumping to conclusions and wait until you see more of his damn levels to decide if his levels are a linear boost fest
Ok, usually I dnt really care too much about what Iizuka says…but his view on the levels are backwards. Not complaining by any means (I know I’ll love the game regardless) but the variety in the levels chosen for this game are not “wide”, not by a long shot. Nevertheless these are Sonic’s greatest/most famous levels in his history (with the exception of Ice Cap Zone, and I hope to God Sonic Team wasn’t dumb enough to not include arguably the second most famous level in Sonic’s franchise in either version, pleeeeeeeeeez let it be an unlockable level I dnt care what version it’s in, just let it be there!!!) Anyway these are the top levels from these games without a doubt…now it’s up to them to flex their creativity and make these levels feel absolutely different from one another.
@ Renzy
If you read correctly, I talked about Unleashed, not Generations. I had fun with the demo of Generations. And I game my view on Unleashed, not Generations. I said I feared that Generations would be more like Unleashed than Colors. What’s wrong with that? Did I say the game would suck? No.
And I think I was pretty positive in my comment, saying that I loved Colors and hope Generations expands upon its concept.
Maybe I was rough with my comment on Unleashed but my point remains. I don’t like when things go to fast and it’s more a game about doing the same level over and over again just to remember when not to jump or when to duck, just fo the sake of going fast. I don’t like it when speed becomes a “gimmick”.
So, again, because I’m a positive guy, I love the modern Sonic I saw in Colors and I’m certain Generations will be as good, even better than Colors. But can I just express my hope that they wont regress to the mindless speed saw in Unleashed? (Unleashed WAS fun, don’t get me wrong)
Correction:
And I – GAVE – my view on Unleashed, not Generations
Iizuka thinks the level selection for the game shows variety? Then why in the hell would he include zones from GAMES NOT EVEN FIVE YEARS OLD. Most fans would prefer seeing better, more creative levels like Mystic Cave, Hydrocity, Lava Reef, Twinkle Park, Sky Deck, Quartz Quadrant, Ice Cap, and Scrap Brain.
Sometimes I wish both classic and modern Sonics could bitch-slap this guy for damaging their franchise and reputation.
@QuietGuy92
Mystic cave…. how cool would this level be in 3D HD…. heck, every levels you just mentioned would be awesome! But for me, there’s one people seem to forget; Hill top zone!
@Needlemouse
Go back to playing Sonic 2006.
@SonicJam
Hill Top was kinda boring if you ask me and I would much prefer Aquatic Ruin and Starlight.
Bich bitch bitch thats all you people know how to do?
I frikkin LOVE Hill Top!
And it’s music!
@Quietguy “then why would he include zones from NOT EVEN FIVE YEARS OLD” there’s a simple answer to this question. This game is to celebrate all 20 yrs of Sonic’s history! Not the first 3 yrs!
@SonicJAM you talked about how Modern sonic in generations plays like sonic unleashed instead of colors based on what you saw. And I never said that you think the game is goin to suck. But I’m more than positive that his level design is goin to have wide open spaces, exploration, and platforming. Along with that incredible speed of Unleashed. The perfect blend between the 2 games
@ SonicJam: I too love Hill Top, DLC it please sega
@Renzy
I’m talking about recent games like Unleashed (which came out in 2008) and Colors (which came out just last year). Why would Iizuka include Crisis City, Planet Wisp, and Rooftop Run. Levels like them are too soon for a 20th anniversary game.
Though Heroes came out in 2003/2004 so that could be an exception (was hoping Frog Forest, Hang Castle, and Egg Fleet would’ve been nice for this game)
@Renzy
So finally…. we DO agree that Generation will be one hell of a game. Dosent really matter what we think about older games, as long as we get our Sonic Fix in Generations… everything will be perfect!
I know that I have been quick to assume that things “could” go bad in Generations, based on my perception of Unleashed. So, my bad, I’m emotional (like any Sonic fan, I guess)
One more thing. I love hill top because of its eery atmosphere… the music is so…. and being over the clouds is so… on the top of the world!
@quietguy I kno what you meant, but it’s to celebrate all of his history even if some of his stuff is only a few years ago. And believe it or not but alot of ppl have never played unleashed and colors and alot of ppl including myself would love to see classic sonic in an unleashed/colors level. I’m pretty sure SEGA is goin to release some DLC of the genesis levels……hopefully lol
@SonicJAM true, the sonic games of the past shouldn’t really effect the future sonic games. And it’s ok, sonic unleashed is one of my fav sonic games but most of the levels were linear. But from what I can see from City Escape, chemical plant and some of footage of Sky sanctuary that his levels are gonna take the colors approach and have more open areas and pathways. Hill top was a pretty cool level. But the level I really wanted to see in generations was lava reef zone. I love that level so much lol
I honestly dont agree with the stage selection either but I still love the game! wen u think about it, Sonic adventure 2 didn’t have much variety either. It only had like 4 major locations the levels were in: A city (City Escape, Radical Highway) A base/forest (Metal Harbor, Green Forest) a desert (Pyramid Cave, Egg Quarters) And Space Station level (Final Rush, Meteor Herd). Nobody complained that there were no lava, or snow levels or beach levels. and that game is a success. Trust me, Sega has no choice but to release more levels thru DLC. I guarantee it.
@Renzy
Oh man… Lava reef…. what a stage! The 2 different music for each act, the confrontation with Knuckles…. the battle against Robotnik…. epic beyond…. epic!
… God I hope SEGA releases EVERY levels as dlc! (I know it wont happen…. but hey.. I can cast a dream… get it? :P)
@Jam (first comment)
I like Colors a lot more for the slower paced platforming and the fact that even the boosting straightaways are quite toned down, and during my first playthrough of Unleashed, I found the necessary memorization of the levels to be quite frustrating.
HOWEVER
I started playing Unleashed again recently, enough to start memorizing the levels, and it’s actually grown on me CONSIDERABLY. The QTEs and reflex-sensitive button presses actually become quite gratifying, and pulling off a “perfect run” is most enjoyable – something I never really bothered to attempt in the classic games.
Yeah, it’s not the same KIND of fun that I get out of a great platformer, or even the same kind of fun I got out of Colors, but it has its merits. Its just different. It takes a different mindset to enjoy the game for what it is, rather than what you expect it to be.
ps. Hill Top is fucking sweet-ass.
@ ChaoticFox
I’m starting to understand something here… With Modern Sonic, SEGA they made a kind of hybrid between a running (not a racing) game and a platformer.
I know… way to state the obvious! But following this concept and logic, Sonic unleashed (day time) works pretty well. And yes it does get exciting when you can keep Sonic from bumping everywhere.
But I must admit that this kind of game is not for me. dosent mean it’s bad! I’m (as I said a million time!) more of a Colors aproach. A good mix between 3d running and exploration (2D or 3D).
Anyway, I think I took enough space on this thread with my comments!
Oh and one more thing…. We should make a pool (just for fun) about what levels people would have liked in Generations… pretty sure Hill top would be … on top! (I’m on fire! lol)
@Jam
I’m hoping that this is the direction they use moving forward in the future. With the success of Colors and the lessons learned from the classic half of Generations, I’m hoping that the next installment with feature more of the best of each combined into one style of play. I have a feeling they’re not gonna let go of this boosting/speed-fetish, but at least they can use some of the elements of Colors/classic Sonic to add some variety to help mix things up every now and again.
I think the poll thing would be interesting. Allow people to choose one level from each game and tally the results. Could be fun to see how things turn out.
@SonicJam and ChaoticFox
A Sonic game inspired by Colors and the classic sections of Generations would be neat.
Like most fans, I like having the boost around (just keep it toned down abit). It would also be good if Sega/Sonic Team could throw in some elements from the Adventure series (mostly from SA1) every once in awhile.
Like the toned-down boosting in large open areas to explore as well as some nice platforming to go along with it with the help of momentum-based physics and good level design with the music from the composers of Unleashed/Colors.
Let Crush 40 do the Opening/Ending themes to please the younger fans.
The only thing i was worried about in the level list was Seaside Hill, and that shit looked awesome! I am 100% hyped for the game, so much that even if Iizuka said the werehog would make a return, i wouldnt give a shit! [Well to be honest, i liked the werehog (not loved, liked)] I played the green hill demo, so i know this game will work out. Nothing else matters, you guys can bitch all you like, im a satisfied customer
@QuietGuy
I REALLY miss Adventure fields, I just don’t like the stupid-ass side-quests and shit that games like 06 and Unleashed had (also hated the speed cap in Unleashed’s hub centers). I’d LOVE to be able to have wide open spaces to just dick around in… Problem with that is that they’d have to drastically change the physics that govern Sonic’s movement. He’s too fast and the physics operate on the assumption that you will be running in a straight line.
I’d also like to see rolling/spin dashing come back into play. Boosting is cool and all, but it’s not the same 🙁
All-in-all though, your proposal sounds like a clear-cut winner. I’m looking forward to what Sonic Team does next, but I doubt it will be quite that ambitious 😉
@ChaoticFox
Seeing Sonic roll and spin-dashing (with momentum-based physics) around in wide open areas for the sake of goofing off would’ve been great. And while I like Colors as well as the daytime stages of Unleashed and the modern sections of Generations, I get this claustrophobic feeling from their level design, especially Green Hill.
But I welcome Generations with open arms as well as I am looking forward to the next big game Sonic Team’s planning.
And thanks for complementing on my post. 😀
@QuietGuy92 ChaoticFox
When you talk about big open areas for Sonic to run in, it sounds like music to my ears. But SEGA never gave us this chance, to run freely in an open world. I remember Sonic Jam’s 3D level, sure it was slow and you had nothing to do in other than grab some rings and stuff.. but having a 3D world, death-pits free, was neat. I could take Sonic anywhere I wanted.
Now if they did this in a modern Sonic game, they would have to make HUGE levels and change the layout of the levels. It would need to be more like a GTA game, in a way. But this way, they, I think, could really do justice to some of Sonic’ moves, without having to worry about falling or dying from any hazards.
I always fought that The knukles/rouge levels would have made more sense for Sonic. They were large, open and had plenty of space to jump around. But, then again, to make a game like this, , they would have to radically change the Sonic formula and his physic.
Aaahh… one fan, one way to look at Sonic!
One last thing… any one of you know how to unlock the ps3 Generation demo? Because I still have it installed and I would love to be able to remove the damn 30 days trial. But if you need to do some programming…. don’t bother! I’m not good with computers!
@Jam
I dunno about the PS3 version, but on the Xbox all I have to do is log on to a non-live profile and change the system clock XD (it has to be non-live because a live profile won’t let you change the system clock). Maybe something similar works for PS3? I’d suggest googling it.
guys, new pic of shadow, it has the same shoe paint thing: http://images.wikia.com/sonic/images/e/ea/200px-Stewie_Griffin.png
@ChaoticFox
Thanks for the tip… I tried to get some info and all I could find was stuff that asked me to mod my ps3 while plugging it to the pc… bwaah….
So I guess I’ll have to wait to the full game though! (Maybe it’s a good thing!) It will give me time to get 100% in Sonic Colors… God I hope I wont have to get S ranking everywhere to get Super Sonic!!!
And if I have some time left, maybe I’ll get to actually finishing Unleashed… because yes I bashed the game in the past, but I did’nt finish it. Shame on me!
@Jam
To get Super Sonic all you have to do is collect all of the red rings and complete the simulator stages they unlock. S-ranking gets you nothing, but it’s fun as hell to do. The easiest way to do it is to find a path that collects you all (or most of) the red rings in one go. Pretty easy after you spend all that time hunting for the rings.
Needs more Nack/Fang cameo, poor guys been in the same ammount of mainstream Sonic titles as Silver but he gets shafted, and he is way more original than yet another hedgehog clone :/ Looks like the info about the handheld version having handheld levels was wrong too, besides Green Hill Zone there isn’t a single handheld level shown yet 🙁
Oh COME ON, Sega. That’s terrible level variety. You could at least include some of the awesomest stages ever, like Nocturne, Lava Reef, and the Black Comet.
@Shadow Nocturne? Was that in Sonic Shuffle or something? Or Spinball? But yeah, levels like Black Comet are oten ignored because of SHTH’s unpopularity.
@Bob
Shadow’s game was ignored because it’s not a SONIC game. Spin-offs don’t get representation.
@krazzeKidd102
After reading your long but VERY encouraging comment, it comes down to this:
Why can’t Iizuka/Sonic Team/Sega have the same intelligence, rationality and thought as you, ChaoticFox, Andre, Serpx, UshroM, and Greg do?
I know I’ve recently joined TSSZ only 3 months ago but during the events of “The Great Needlemouse Fiasco”, I’ve read your comments. Responding to the idiotic things Iizuka said like “classic fans are hard to please” or “we made S4’s physics different from that of the classics because we want the 2D games to move forward”. I also like how you guys try to make the younger/modern fans understand that “While people like this particular product (ex. Colors), because it is OKAY to criticize something you like.”
Sure, we Retro fans bitch, complain, and moan but we’re NOT fighting against modern fans. We’re trying to make good, quality, kick-ass games for them to play in the future. That would greatly benefit not only us and them, but the Blue Blur himself.
All I’m saying is: you guys are awesome and keep fighting the good fight for Quality.
Peace. 🙂
@Krazee
God DAMN, son. Even just scrolling past all that text takes a while! XD
I don’t necessarily agree with everything you’ve said, but you DO make quite a few good points. What I really like is how well thought out most of it is, That kind of critical thinking is the POINT of comments like these – not to get Sonic Team to do everything our way, necessarily, but to bring ideas to their attention and get them to look at how they develop games, hopefully resulting in better, more refined games that appeal to an even broader range of gamers.
And, for the record, I’ve been waiting for “Sonic the Hedgehog 64” since… SM64, lol. Sonic Adventure was close, but SA2 got colder. Other than the fact that I hope to God I never have to endure another game with unfitting “alternate” gameplay styles, I really would look forward to a game like SA3, for the sole sake of seeing the slower-paced platforming-heavy Adventure formula coated with today’s level of polish and production values.
@QuietGuy
Word up.
You know, I skipped decent proof reading my gigantic wall of text because it was so huge (seriously, I should make a freaking fan game if I have enough time and resources), so forgive my massive amount of typos.
And it truly is sad when you finally finish this massive beast just to realize that someone else beat me to it:
http://sonictheplumber.com/opinions/?p=92
At least I can say that mine was more specific XD
That guy’s entire point about the Mario thing is kind of ridiculous, as he’s basically just talking out of his ass regarding a misinterpretation of Iizuka’s comment.
He doesn’t really list a single example of HOW Sonic is allegedly “like Mario” in the modern sections and yet the classic gameplay is magically exempt from such criticism despite being THE SAME without a boost. He also doesn’t say why on Earth that would be a bad thing.
@krazeekidd102
I’m trying to imagine what you would do if that massive amount of text for some reason didn’t show up in the comments section. xD Anyway, I thought you had really good points in there. =P
@sonichedgehog
Something like that actually happened many months ago. I was furious! It’s exactly why I type my extremely long rants on Microsoft Word first before copy ‘n pasting.
@Quietguy
…Um… Are you sure about Andre being intelligent…?
@Stephen
Yes, just because he was “bitching” doesn’t mean he hates the MOST of the modern games entirely. He only wants a good quality Sonic game just like everyone else.
Plus you have to understand that he was right about how Sonic 4 failed to live up to the classics, especially with Sega’s weak marketing campaign didn’t help the game either.
But if you like Sonic 4, go right ahead.