How to Improve the Sonic Franchise V2

Started by A Pixy August 16th, 2009 11:15 AM
  • 5590 views
  • 28 replies
Male
The Great Northern Nation of Canada
Seen January 12th, 2023
Posted February 23rd, 2020
3,171 posts
15.8 Years
I just read my old “How to save the Sonic Franchise” and boy do I feel like an idiot. Well, now that I’m a couple months older and a couple months wiser, I’d like to take another crack at it so here is “How to save the Sonic Franchise V2”

Sonic Team, YOU PHAIL!

I’m sorry but when something let’s me down and keeps telling me their going to do better for the past five years since Heroes, it’s time for some change. Getting brand new, fresh blood is good but there’s an alternative. Let me ask you this, what company has A. Made Sonic games and B. Made them well. Here’s a hint, the companies name starts with a D, developed the Budokai series as well as Burst Limit and is all thumbs when it comes to 3D. If you said Dimps, you’d be correct. If I were to ask you what Sonic games can be compared to the Genesis games fairly that were released after Sonic Adventure 2 and might have a fair chance of winning, you’d say the 2D Sonic masterpieces on the hand held consoles excluding Rivals and Rivals 2. So it’s this, Sonic Team, we don’t want or need you anymore, Dimps, you guys own more in the Sonic department than T-Squared does in the FPS department.

Character Cut-Down

Let me just say this, I don’t like most of the Sonic characters so here’s what I suggest to fix this problem.

A.Reinvent them

Let me put it like this. Instead of Shadow being a cold sad-sac, how about making him more like Scourge from the Sonic comics. A total jerk that no one likes and only associates himself with other jerks nobody likes.

B.Remove everyone that isn’t necessary for a basic story to go on

Let me put it like this (this is like the 5th time I’ve said this!):

CHARACTERS NEEDED FOR A STORY

Hero
Sidekick
Antihero
Girl in Love with hero
Villain
Villain’s right hand man

These roles can basically be filled out by

Sonic
Tails
Knuckles
Amy
Dr. Robotnik
Metal Sonic

This way, they wouldn’t have to pack in too many that you’d have to play a million other just to know half of them. And about Dr. Robotnik.

Dr. Robotnik is a better villain name

Keep his design, I’d never give up boots like that, but Robotnik is a lot more evil and it’s his actual name, Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Speaking of designs.

Sonic’s old design > Sonic’s new design

Do I even have to elaborate? No, but if you’re not willing to do that, give us a best of worlds feeling, how about his Sonic X design? His stomach is a ball; he’s not too tall and definitely keep his old shoes.

Powerups

When I pop in a Sonic game whether it be a disc or a cartridge, I expect the following:

Thunder Shield
Water Shield
Fire Shield
Shield
Invincibility
5, 10, 20, 50 and ??? Ring Cases
Magic Shoes

Bring them back!

Humans need to go

I never liked any human ever introduced in the series other than Robotnik himself and Maria. So just give them the boot and send them back into Mobius okay?

SHUT UP!

It didn’t hurt Zelda, didn’t hurt Mario it won’t hurt Sonic to mute them. I like Juniuchi, Sonic’s Japanese voice actor, but it just has to happen.

Gameplay Tweaks

One thing that annoyed me in Sonic Advance 1, 2 and 3 was that Tails ran as fast as Sonic and could fly so, no point in picking Sonic so I’ve got a picture of how I’d make a character select screen so let’s boot up our consoles, whatever they may be and let’s start.



I know it’s bland, but it’s not real and it says Dimps. Let’s go to 1P Game. But wait, I forgot one, Time Attack.



Let me orient you on what you see. Here you have four playable characters, Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles “Tails” Prower, Knuckles the Echidna and Amy Rose. Underneath their names you’ll see Speed. This is the main factor. As you can see, Sonic has the most shoes under his name, so he’s the fastest, then Amy, then Knuckles and then Tails. This way you can pick the one suited to you. But wait, then wouldn’t everyone pick Sonic, that’s what I thought, so underneath Speed we have Power. You know, the ability they have. Sonic has the Super Peel-Out from Sonic CD, Tails can Fly, Knuckles can glide and staying in tune with Sonic Advance 3, Amy can Double Jump and High Jump. This way you can choose which is always a good thing. Then you’ll play thru the obstacle course that ensues that is formally known as a Sonic Game

Okay, now let’s look at the other categories.



2P Competition is, well, two or more players competing against each other in a variety of games. Race is a race thru any Act in any Zone. Marathon is where you set what Zones and what acts you want to go thru and in what order, Collect the rings is where you go thru any Act in any Zone but opposed to the person who gets there first wins, the person with the most rings wins, Battle is pretty much what you see in Sonic Heroes, first person dead loses and finally, Chaos Emerald is where you and you’re friends will be fighting to get the most rings so they can continue moving to get the Chaos Emeralds, whoever has the least rings gets booted, last anthropomorphic animal standing wins.



These are game modifying options and other things that unlock themselves after you’ve completed the final mission. An alternate costume is basically how they’d look like if this were 1993. Old designs FTW. Sprite version is basically the whole game, but in 2D Genesis-Esque sprites. Now you’ll notice I’ve written down Sonic Genesis Trilogy and & Knuckles. Basically, you get to play thru Green Hill Zone and the rest of the levels but with Next-Gen graphics. And Metal Sonic you play as, well, Metal Sonic.

Options and Credits are exactly what you think they are.

And Online is where you play the multiplayer games but with people around the world.

Okay, if you managed to make it this far, I applaud you for you’re stick-to-itive-ness, and this is how I’d improve the Sonic franchise.

.Wolfie-kun.

The Raggedy Doctor

Age 30
Male
Inside the Pandorica
Seen November 30th, 2014
Posted October 20th, 2013
751 posts
14.1 Years
I like most of it, but I reckon Shadow is fine as he is.

Though I must say - Remove Cream, Cheese and Big. The most pointless characters I have ever come across ><

My Pair/Bow ties are cool

All Friend Codes - Add as 'Glyn'
Diamond: 2663-9763-5037|Platinum: 1634-6624-8742|SoulSilver: 0346-1722-8041|
|White: 0218-2733-2414|White 2: 3397-1978-8150|

pkmnmaster69

When will this day end?

Seen October 24th, 2020
Posted January 12th, 2020
249 posts
15.8 Years
Yeah i agree with what you said, every Sonic game after Adventure 2 fails.

http://www.tssznews.com/2009/08/13/sega-admits-they-cant-please-everyone/ SEGA/Sonic Team are only trying to please little kids that are 12 or under.

Jolene

Your huckleberry friend

Age 27
Female
Seen September 25th, 2012
Posted September 25th, 2012
1,287 posts
13.8 Years
You seem to be a bit too focused on taking Sonic back to what he was rather than making him relevant again. I think that rather than ditching everything they've established over the past ten or so years, Sonic Team should work to make good with what they have.

You also seem more focused on fixing superflous details than actually tackling the main problem with modern Sonic games - the gameplay. Sonic games are panned because the gameplay is shallow. The levels are extremely linear, and there's only ever about seven of them, and they usually aren't all that well-designed. Fixing that should be Sonic Team's top priority.

If I were directing a Sonic game, it would have sandbox levels. Those would really suit Sonic, in my opinion. After all, Sonic loves freedom, yet his games don't ever allow him to run around freely. It's kind of sad when you think about it.

What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Joliet is the sun!
Male
The Great Northern Nation of Canada
Seen January 12th, 2023
Posted February 23rd, 2020
3,171 posts
15.8 Years
Yeah i agree with what you said, every Sonic game after Adventure 2 fails.

http://www.tssznews.com/2009/08/13/sega-admits-they-cant-please-everyone/ appearently SEGA/Sonic Team are being *******s and they're only trying to please little kids that are 12 or under. Little kids are stupid seriously when it comes to a game, they cant see the bad in a Sonic game and even if they make a Sonic game for the classic fans, they would still like it.
The last sentance was the one that hurt. Dude. I'm 12. 13 in Automn.

pkmnmaster69

When will this day end?

Seen October 24th, 2020
Posted January 12th, 2020
249 posts
15.8 Years
OKay my apologies for what i said i'll just edit my post. Sorry about being a jerk guys. Anyways i agree with what you just said. I just hate how they ruined Shadows character from Adventure 2 espicially by making him emo by giving him guns and his game was horrible. Sega doesnt realize that they can make a good Sonic game by adding no stupid more gimmics like Werehogs and swords that take out the whole gameplay.

The gameplay should play like Sonic 3 and Knuckles, just like what you metioned. Sonic should be the average one with the most speed, Tails should have the ability to fly and Knuckles should glide and break through walls but has lower jumps.

They should also remove all humans from the Sonic cast except for Dr.Eggman/Robotnik and they should only stick to Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr.Eggman/Robotnik, Amy and maybe the Choatix and Metal Sonic.

Hopefully SEGA makes a game that can please everyone and it is possible heck during Sonics olden days kids liked him because he was a hedgehog that can run fast and so did adults thats how Sonic became famous and he can still be famous to both classic fans and newer fans.
Male
The Great Northern Nation of Canada
Seen January 12th, 2023
Posted February 23rd, 2020
3,171 posts
15.8 Years
You seem to be a bit too focused on taking Sonic back to what he was rather than making him relevant again. I think that rather than ditching everything they've established over the past ten or so years, Sonic Team should work to make good with what they have.

You also seem more focused on fixing superflous details than actually tackling the main problem with modern Sonic games - the gameplay. Sonic games are panned because the gameplay is shallow. The levels are extremely linear, and there's only ever about seven of them, and they usually aren't all that well-designed. Fixing that should be Sonic Team's top priority.

If I were directing a Sonic game, it would have sandbox levels. Those would really suit Sonic, in my opinion. After all, Sonic loves freedom, yet his games don't ever allow him to run around freely. It's kind of sad when you think about it.
True. Then again, Sonic Team tried that, they phailed (Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic 06, the Werehog). And another thing about throwing away the cast, I'm taking my cast from Sonic Advance 1 and Metal Sonic because METAL OWNS. And he could be used as mid-stage boss.

If I did say, I never want to see them again, let me try again. Don't put them in the main continuity, leave them for the cross overs and spin-offs. Look at the Mario franchise, they've got a lot characters in their stockpile, but only use Mario, Peach, Luigi, Bowser and maybe Bowser Jr., usually along with a new character and roll with them. Then when the Parties and Karts come around, they dig down and get more playable characters. See where I'm going with this?
where I belong
Seen November 4th, 2015
Posted August 10th, 2012
3,472 posts
18.1 Years
Remove all humans.
Remove all other characters but Sonic and Robotnik, maybe keep Tails and Metal Sonic.
2-D/2.5-D graphics.
Handheld/Live Arcade/PSN Store/WiiWare game.
No gimmicks, only the power-ups from the Genesis games.
Linear game, maybe SA2-like stage selection and progressing options. Sandbox is the worst idea ever.
Speed. Make it look fast.
Make it challenging but not frustrating.
Chao garden.

Perfect~

~ | there is no need to be upset.
Male
The Great Northern Nation of Canada
Seen January 12th, 2023
Posted February 23rd, 2020
3,171 posts
15.8 Years
Remove all humans.
Remove all other characters but Sonic and Robotnik, maybe keep Tails and Metal Sonic.
2-D/2.5-D graphics.
Handheld/Live Arcade/PSN Store/WiiWare game.
No gimmicks, only the power-ups from the Genesis games.
Linear game, maybe SA2-like stage selection and progressing options. Sandbox is the worst idea ever.
Speed. Make it look fast.
Make it challenging but not frustrating.
Chao garden.

Perfect~
Agreed! Especially on the Chao Garden part.
Age 29
Male
Glitch city
Seen June 11th, 2015
Posted May 9th, 2015
785 posts
13.8 Years
Want to know how to really improve it? take out 90% of the characters, and make it 2D with no gimmicks. Make it fast and no crappy spin offs please. I would also like it if they would stop churning out so many titles , 1 or 2 per console is ENOUGH. Also, I think they should make it challenging, but not too tough and start to listen to the hardcore fans that they have abandoned so many years ago. Sonic died with the Genesis and today, he is just a shadow of his former self. The idea is to essentially return the series to it's roots, which was the only time Sonic was ever good.

Credit goes to Team Brushfire for the awesome banner!

Captain Fabio

Age 33
London, UK
Seen November 4th, 2021
Posted November 2nd, 2021
12,193 posts
17.1 Years
The only way to improve a Sonic game, is to not make one.

They are boring, horrid and just made to make money.
Sonic is dead and should never be involved in a game again.

The Sonic Team is now full of a bunch of retards.
They should all be brought around the back of the shed and shot.
Male
The Great Northern Nation of Canada
Seen January 12th, 2023
Posted February 23rd, 2020
3,171 posts
15.8 Years
The only way to improve a Sonic game, is to not make one.

I'm confused, that's an oxymoron isn't it?

They are boring, horrid and just made to make money.

Sonic Advance 1, 2 and 3. Sonic Rush and Rush Adventure. Those were fun.

Sonic is dead and should never be involved in a game again.

Then where will I get my Rush?

The Sonic Team is now full of a bunch of retards.

That's obvious.

They should all be brought around the back of the shed and shot.

Dimps shouldn't they're good developers.

And besides, where am I going to get my fast paced, robot busting, Robotnik smacking, anthropomorphic hedgehog seeing fun?
Male
The Great Northern Nation of Canada
Seen January 12th, 2023
Posted February 23rd, 2020
3,171 posts
15.8 Years
Wait, forgot one.

Storybook games need to die!

I've played both, they're terrible, I hate them. The only good part of Sonic and the Black Knight was the opening cutscene, it was hilarious. It is the opposite of pickup and play and I got frustrated beyond belief in thirty seconds. They need to die, the end.
Male
Canada
Seen September 15th, 2016
Posted September 14th, 2016
1,544 posts
14.8 Years
You play as Mario.
And this game is a first-person shooter with RPG elements.
Co-op and multiplayer with Nintendo Wi-Fi.
Available on DS, DSi, and Wii.
Friend Code sharing.

Unlockables include Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles skins for use in multiplayer modes. And by skins I mean skins. As in its Mario's big nose and 'stache.

Or maybe this should be an internet thing on some website run by Steam...
-- --
Pokemon Casual

Dunsparce

The Land Snake Pokemon

Seen January 1st, 2023
Posted July 8th, 2022
1,246 posts
17.6 Years
Sonic died along with the Sega Genesis.

Now Sega's just milking what they can out of the blue abomination.

To Improve the franchise:
-Kill off(Not Remove, KILL OFF) Every character except Sonic, Tails, and Robotnic.
-Become a Side-scroller again
-Stop trying to be "Innovative" and go back to the nit-and-grit basics of the Master System and Genesis games.

If all else fails:
-Lure Sonic into a dark alley and shoot him in the head.

EDIT: W00t! 1000th Post!!!

Captain Fabio

Age 33
London, UK
Seen November 4th, 2021
Posted November 2nd, 2021
12,193 posts
17.1 Years
OPP, you have some good ideas, but i think it's time Sonic was laid to rest (alongside Mario)
I say this every time something like this comes up and I just get ignored XD

People just don't want to accept it.

Klippy

L E G E N D of

Age 31
Male
Disneyland
Seen December 4th, 2022
Posted February 19th, 2022
16,371 posts
17.4 Years
Uh, I'm slightly curious as to why all of your points are so similar, almost exactly, what a guy on YouTube has said about the Sonic series and how he thinks it should be rebooted. Not saying you have copied him, but...they're very similar. :/

Either way...I can't really say I've enjoyed any of the Sonic games that have come out recently, but I did enjoy them up until after Sonic Heroes. I know most people didn't like that game, but I did. XD; I just think the series needs to establish some sort of hook to catch attention that isn't a gimmick like being a "hedgehog-wolf" or whatever other crap they've dished out.

Eruption

Age 27
Male
North East England
Seen April 4th, 2020
Posted November 17th, 2017
6,316 posts
17 Years
I think they should start again.

Remake the first game, second game and all games up until the original series got bad then carry on from there and hopefully get much further along this time and correct any mistakes in the last game in the next game not decades later.

I think they need to stop trying to be more recent and they should go 2D and try not to make the graphics mindblowing. I guess what Im saying is they should be like XBLA titles but that'll never happen.

Jolene

Your huckleberry friend

Age 27
Female
Seen September 25th, 2012
Posted September 25th, 2012
1,287 posts
13.8 Years
Guys here's a fun fact. Replace the word "Sonic" with "Mario" in this thread and it's all still relevent!

OPP, you have some good ideas, but i think it's time Sonic was laid to rest (alongside Mario)
I say this every time something like this comes up and I just get ignored XD

People just don't want to accept it.
That's probably because people think you're trolling. I, for instance, think you're trolling.

What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Joliet is the sun!

Captain Fabio

Age 33
London, UK
Seen November 4th, 2021
Posted November 2nd, 2021
12,193 posts
17.1 Years
That's probably because people think you're trolling. I, for instance, think you're trolling.
It is called an opinion.

This is trolling:

"OMFG DA STUPD HEDHOG IS CRP!"

Just because you don't agree with a comment, doesn't mean you can just ignore it.
Stupidfanboys

Jolene

Your huckleberry friend

Age 27
Female
Seen September 25th, 2012
Posted September 25th, 2012
1,287 posts
13.8 Years
It is called an opinion.

This is trolling:

"OMFG DA STUPD HEDHOG IS CRP!"

Just because you don't agree with a comment, doesn't mean you can just ignore it.
Stupidfanboys
Really? Your post didn't read very much like an "opinion" to me. In fact, your "people just don't want to accept it" line really made it seem as though you were trying to pass off your statement as some kind of definite fact. :shocked:

And if it was just your opinion, then you should probably have been clearer about it. If I were to post something as subjective and controversial as "both the Sonic series and the Mario series should end, and their fanbases are deluded for disagreeing", then I'd be sure to add something like "in my opinion" at the end, just to let people know that I'm not trolling.

And by the way, trolling isn't just about making unintelligible posts without any real reason. Trolling is posting something with the sole intent to annoy somebody. To me, it seemed as though that was what you were doing.

Oh, and you succeeded, if you hadn't already guessed.

What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Joliet is the sun!

Captain Fabio

Age 33
London, UK
Seen November 4th, 2021
Posted November 2nd, 2021
12,193 posts
17.1 Years
Really? Your post didn't read very much like an "opinion" to me. In fact, your "people just don't want to accept it" line really made it seem as though you were trying to pass off your statement as some kind of definite fact. :shocked:

You should re-read then. My opinion was that SONIC GAMES ARE DEAD. If you really do enjoy Sonic tennis XXXXII then fine. But I feel sorry for you.

And if it was just your opinion, then you should probably have been clearer about it. If I were to post something as subjective and controversial as "both the Sonic series and the Mario series should end, and their fanbases are deluded for disagreeing", then I'd be sure to add something like "in my opinion" at the end, just to let people know that I'm not trolling.

OMG THANKS FOR TELLING ME HOW TO POST!!!! NEVER KNEW THAT BEFORE!!!!!!11!!1

And by the way, trolling isn't just about making unintelligible posts without any real reason. Trolling is posting something with the sole intent to annoy somebody. To me, it seemed as though that was what you were doing.

Oh, and you succeeded, if you hadn't already guessed.

Was, "Sonic is crap" not annoy you? Oh? It did? Well we have a winner.
Don't try and lecture me, KBITHX
Comments in bold.

If you really want to continue this lost discussion. VM me as I don't want to clog up the OG anymore.