Project Needlemouse- New 2D Sonic game coming

[GreenKirby]

Since he debuted just under years ago, Sonic the Hedgehog has been Sega's mainstay mascot. Today, the Japanese publisher revealed that it working on an all-new reinvention of the titular spiny spinner by taking him back to his two dimensional roots.

The new game, code-named Project Needlemouse, will debut sometime next year on as-yet unidentified consoles. So far, the only glimpse of the game has come via a mysterious teaser trailer, which only shows the outline of the new look of the hero at the end.

"Speed returns in an all new 2D adventure built from the ground up" declares the teaser trailer, before showing a blue blur zipping across the screen scooping up golden rings. Accompanying it is a litany of sound effects and visual cues from the first Sonic the Hedgehog, who launched worldwide in the summer of 1991 on the Sega Genesis system.

Since then, then character helped launch all of Sega's system until its last, the Dreamcast, went on sale 10 years ago. In the years since that console's implosion, Sonic has appeared on all its former rivals' consoles in dozens of games, and has undergone several high-profile reboots. The most recent titles to feature him were last fall's Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, and Sonic Unleashed, which was better reviewed on the Wii than PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Speaking with GameSpot, Sega associate brand manager, Ken Balough confirmed that Project Needle mouse will feature HD graphics. He also said the game's concept was a response to "old-school Sonic fans" who "have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay." For more details, check out GameSpot's full interview with Balough.

On one hand, it's 2D. On the other hand, Sonic Team is probably making this.

Also, considering that Sonic's roots are now "Rush,and Day time Unleashed level' -esque... lol

 

[CRASHiC]

I never got what people saw in Sonic.
Its game design always made no sense to me.
On one hand, they made this large, lush world, but they also wanted me to blaze through the level at the same time. How am I suppose to find all the hidden parts of your world if I'm speeding by?

 

[M.K]

To be completely honest, I got so annoyed with many aspects of the 2D Sonic games that I ACTUALLY prefer some of the 3D games, such as Sonic Adventure 1/2/2 Battle/DX and Sonic Heroes.
I just....didn't really like the 2D games. I didn't find them to be enjoyable platforming.

...the ONE exception would be all the carnival-themed levels!!! They were my favorite.
This project looks cool, but then again, it better be something..... spectacular.

 

[metaXzero]

I never got what people saw in Sonic.
Its game design always made no sense to me.
On one hand, they made this large, lush world, but they also wanted me to blaze through the level at the same time. How am I suppose to find all the hidden parts of your world if I'm speeding by?

Trial and error pretty much. Though until Sonic 3, you didn't NEED to slow to a halt to explore and find bonus stage entrances for Chaos Emeralds.

What Sega needs to understand is Sonic after Adventure suffers from bad gameplay choking the good. It's not the 3D or the stories or the new characters (though I dislike those anyway), it's crap like searching for Chaos Emeralds as Knuckles, driving cars and shooting with crap autoaim, talking to NPCs for fetch quests, and stupid glitches.

If Sega, no SONIC TEAM doesn't understand that, this will be another dissapointment.

 

[smashplayer16]

I'd play the game if its as fast as "Unleashed". The fans will finally get what they want though.

 

[metaXzero]

I'd play the game if its as fast as "Unleashed". The fans will finally get what they want though.

The Sonic fanbase is big and diverse. You can't please everyone.

Some think just being 2D will fix everything, some think less emphasize on speed and more on platforming, some want another Adventure style game, some just want not-broken mechanics, some want less friends popping in, some want more emphasize on said friends and character development, and some think the series is just fine and the other fans are just whiny old men.

That's alot of mouths to try and feed with one type of food.

 

[Firus]

I never got what people saw in Sonic.
Its game design always made no sense to me.
On one hand, they made this large, lush world, but they also wanted me to blaze through the level at the same time. How am I suppose to find all the hidden parts of your world if I'm speeding by?

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I never blaze through the environments unless I'm speed running the games...and I've been playing the original Genesis games since...more than a decade ago.

And I rarely speed run Sonic games, I leave that to Metroid games, which are, in my opinion, much more fun, challenging, and interesting to speed run.

...the ONE exception would be all the carnival-themed levels!!! They were my favorite.
This project looks cool, but then again, it better be something..... spectacular.

O_o I always hated the Carnival levels...

Then again, it's kind of hard to love a level that you get stuck in the second Act of for years upon years, unable to get to the epic level afterward unless you accidentally activate Debug Mode...

(Lookin' at you, Carnival Night.)

In any case, my friend told me about this today and I IMMEDIATELY thought of Unleashed. Anyone remember the first trailer before it was even named? I remember the YouTube comments being all "ZOMGFANGASM" and I said that Sega could find a way to screw it up.

I'd just like to point out that I was right.

Now, I have no idea if I'm right or not about this one, but Sega CAN find a way to screw it up. Just don't be lolhopeful unless you like hyping up games and having them flop even more epically due to the hype they didn't deserve at all.
Plus, Sega no longer understands the meaning of "bringing Sonic back to his roots". BOOSTS ARE NOT HIS ROOTS. I repeat. BOOSTS ARE NOT HIS ROOTS. Sonic Rush is a fun game, but it is NOT Sonic's roots. Now, I'm not saying "WELL IF IT ISN'T HIS ROOTS IT SUCKS", but I am saying that Sega needs to stop claiming he's going back to his roots already. I'm pretty sure they've been claiming that for like...5 years now? And how has it happened...? Oh wait.

So, news flash for Sega:
Speed is NOT Sonic's roots.
2D is NOT Sonic's roots.

If Sega actually manages to go back to Sonic's roots, I'd be shocked. In order to do that, they have to simplify the game a lot and make it how video games USED to be, where they didn't have some underlying purpose and they were there to just...you know, play and have fun with? Just remove the plot, make Robotnik and/or Metal Sonic the villain(s), make it like, a FEW characters (and don't add any new ones, for heaven's sake...), and they might be able to pull it off. If they aren't willing to do that, then they ought to shut the hell up already and, if at all possible, stop producing Sonic games altogether.

I've already grown happy with playing the older Sonic games, I just wish Sega would leave him alone already so I don't have to waste energy to facepalm at every new game they put out.

Also, I'd just like to express the fact that I hated Unleashed all-around. Including the daytime levels. They consist of:

BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST jump BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST fall off cliff you didn't see because you were going too fast BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST...

And so on.

Werehog levels consist of (for the Wii version, anyways):

FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL get hit FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL attempt to jump over gap but fail because the motion sensor is nonresponsive FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL...

With crappy music in the background every time you run into an enemy.

By the way, I'd just like to point out that Dark Brotherhood killed the Diamond Dust Zone music. Just say'n.

...*points to the first part of his sig*

 

[§leepy God]

♪ If you hate the Werehog levels on the Wii, than your going to hate it even more on the 360/PS3, the main reason why it got a lower score than the Wii, though the running levels on the 360/PS3 was epic. †

♪ Anyways, I'll see how this game goes when it come's out, no more hypes for me for a Sega game unless it's Virtua Fighter, Nights, or Puyo Puyo. :/ †

 

[Minato]

I actually still like the Sonic games (except for its spinoffs and Sonic '06).

Nice to hear that there's going to be another 2D one coming out soon.
If Sonic Team themselves are making a 2D Sonic game, I wonder how it'll turn out.

Hopefully there aren't any gimmicks that'll hurt the game.

 

[metaXzero]

2D is NOT Sonic's roots Firius?

wut

And Sega will NEVER stop making Sonic games. The fanbase being split about the games's quality doesn't matter if they all continue to eat them up.

 

[GreenKirby]

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I never blaze through the environments unless I'm speed running the games...and I've been playing the original Genesis games since...more than a decade ago.

^this

So, news flash for Sega:
Speed is NOT Sonic's roots.
2D is NOT Sonic's roots.

^this this ****ing this.

Seriously where the hell the do people think that Sonic is about speed? He just happens to run really fast guys. Which is quite frankly ironic considering Mario in SMB was faster than Sonic in Sonic 1.

Seriously, I DARE anyone who think Sonic is all about speed, to rush through Marble Zone of Sonic 1. You'll lose your rings faster than you can say.... I'm losing rings.

 

[TurtleFreak]

If the game is a platformer and not a "press right and jump occasionally" game, then I may actually be on board. I haven't bought a Sonic game since Sonic Adventure 2. I rarely rushed through the old Genesis games because you weren't supposed to. In fact, there were some cases where you actually had to figure out where to go. There were tons of areas to explore, and that's what I did. I want that back.

 

[Minato]

Just remember guys that Sonic games do need at least some speed. People complained how slow he was in '06... Yet that was the least of '06's problems. The same goes for the Gamegear Sonic games that I owned.
Anyway, Sonic fans are too split. I myself, enjoy Sonic games with the emphasis on speed and I started with the first Sonic on Genesis.

But there's no pleasing everyone. I'll just enjoy this game when it comes out (which'll probably receive mediocre to bad scores).

 

[metaXzero]

Seriously where the hell the do people think that Sonic is about speed? He just happens to run really fast guys. Which is quite frankly ironic considering Mario in SMB was faster than Sonic in Sonic 1.

Seriously, I DARE anyone who think Sonic is all about speed, to rush through Marble Zone of Sonic 1. You'll lose your rings faster than you can say.... I'm losing rings.

Everyone rolled into a ball for Sonic 1 or started with Sonic 2? :Λ

Anyway, whether it truly made Sonic great or not as a whole, speed (and his atitude) was what distinguished him from every Mario clone under the sun. Sure it was only for 2 levels, but Sega promoted Sonic with his speed instead of platforming. And with Sonic 2, they begin emphasizing more on the speed angle (more boosts, loops, spin dash, holding forward on a slope no longer keeps you at normal speed).

I'd rather they not promote it in every "classic Sonic is back" venture though...

 

[Firus]

2D is NOT Sonic's roots Firius?

wut

First of all, it's Firus...

And I don't mean that 2D is the OPPOSITE of Sonic's roots, I mean that 2D doesn't automatically make it a return to his roots, as Rush demonstrates.

And Sega will NEVER stop making Sonic games. The fanbase being split about the games's quality doesn't matter if they all continue to eat them up.

Yeah, I know, but I can dream, can't I?

^this

^this this ****ing this.

Seriously where the hell the do people think that Sonic is about speed? He just happens to run really fast guys. Which is quite frankly ironic considering Mario in SMB was faster than Sonic in Sonic 1.

Seriously, I DARE anyone who think Sonic is all about speed, to rush through Marble Zone of Sonic 1. You'll lose your rings faster than you can say.... I'm losing rings.

Haha, yeah, you really can't rush through the Marble Zone at all.
Doesn't really work in the Spring Yard Zone either (hell, you spend forever just waiting on those platforms, and many a time I'll be trying to get off as fast as possible due to impatience, and if you jump the wrong way you'll get into the gap, land, and uncurl, which will cause Sonic to expand in size and the physical impossibility of Sonic being inside the wall will insta-kill him), especially not at the end of the third act.

Spoiler

Holy crap, we agree on something for like, the first time ever. =O

 

[ROOOOY!]

and Sonic Unleashed, which was better reviewed on the Wii than PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

L-O-****ing-L.
I'm losing faith in everything and everyone. I owned both versions, and can't find the wii game better in ANY aspect (aside stupid wii mote flailing) though I played it through to the end anyway regrettably. The wii version suffers from what the Conduit which is so highly acclaimed by many suffers from. They're both mediocre at best, yet still stand out like something half edible in the slew of garbage that is other wii games.

I'm not a wii hater, I'm just a realist. There are a few good games on the wii (read as 'very few'), the rest of the market is just geared towards My First Horsie Adventure bull**** and Mario's....millions of games released every month..

+++++ ^ Irrelevent to this topic. The quote just legitimately made me lol.


As for product NeedleMouse, I wouldn't get your hopes up.

I'd love it to be Megaman 9-esque to the series, but they'll screw it up somehow. I'm anticipating another wholly unlikeable 'support' character.

=======

As for this speed conversation running, Sonic 2 is really the only game you can really just charge through full speed bar a few levels (like Metropolis, as an example). I always go at turtle speed through Sonic 1, you can only really speed through GHZ. Every other level I'm really patient and careful in.

 

[§leepy God]

♪ So your saying that the Werehog levels on the 360/PS3 wasn't hell and high lava? O_o †

♪ Anyways, it's reviewers, not like they have the same taste in games as the fans. Anyways... why did I post here again? :/ †

 

[BSP]

Seriously, I DARE anyone who think Sonic is all about speed, to rush through Marble Zone of Sonic 1. You'll lose your rings faster than you can say.... I'm losing rings.

Rushing through marble zone=death

I liked the adventure games. and i liked the 2d. I didn't play Sonic next gen(but from reviews, that might be a good thing) or black knight, but im looking to get unleashed for the Wii. I just hope the new game is what the day levels in unleashed look like

So for unleashed: wii has better night stages, but 360/ps3 has better day right?

 

[Dai Tian]

If the game is a platformer and not a "press right and jump occasionally" game, then I may actually be on board. I haven't bought a Sonic game since Sonic Adventure 2. I rarely rushed through the old Genesis games because you weren't supposed to. In fact, there were some cases where you actually had to figure out where to go. There were tons of areas to explore, and that's what I did. I want that back.

This times I don't know how many times. 'cept I did buy the games but whatever, haha.

Speed was definitely there in the original Sonic games but a lot of people seem to easily forget that the whole game wasn't speedy. There were zones designed for it sure (Chemical Plant in Sonic 2, Flying Battery in Sonic 3 & Knuckles) and then there were platform heavy ones (Hill Top in Sonic 2, Marble Zone in Sonic 1, Lava Reef in Sonic 3 & Knuckles). Then there were the healthy mixture of both zones that gave you platform sections and then said "You made it through the platforms? Awesome, let's go fast for a bit before the next platforming section" (Star Light in Sonic 1, Ice Cap and Hydrocity in Sonic 3 & Knuckles). It was a balance of both and the games were awesome for it. They also tended to have multiple 'routes' and falling down a massive distance didn't instantly mean death, it sometimes meant you just took the lower route through a zone.

It can't just be one or the other, platforming is just as important as speed I think. Am I alone in thinking Sonic 3 & Knuckles had perfect pacing for a 2D Sonic game?

I can only hope they do it "right" this time.

Rushing through marble zone=death

I liked the adventure games. and i liked the 2d. I didn't play Sonic next gen(but from reviews, that might be a good thing) or black knight, but im looking to get unleashed for the Wii. I just hope the new game is what the day levels in unleashed look like

So for unleashed: wii has better night stages, but 360/ps3 has better day right?

If you look at both the 360/PS3 version blows the Wii version out of the water. The difference is that the Wii version cuts down the Werehog stages so that they last about 4 or so minutes compared to spending 10+ in the 360 ones. So the initial response is yeah, the Wii has better night levels.

Problem is, the Wii version also floods you with night levels (I think it was 25 night levels compared to 7 daytime levels) so while they may be faster, they take up almost as much time as night levels do in the 360 version anyway so...

Not to mention while there were 2 or 3 awesome day levels in the Wii version, the 360 version has day levels that laugh at the ones in the Wii version. So if you were to ask me the 360/PS3 version is the only version you should bother with. Problem is, in the 360 one you have to collect sun and moon medals in the levels themselves to unlock later levels and in the Wii one you can just play straight through so it's up to you if you want to take the time to do that.

 

[LLDL]

I doubt they even started the project.

 

[Minato]

I doubt they even started the project. Take a look, I edited the clip to show that they really put no effort and rushed out a half-*** trailer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_g1pa4jXXQ&feature=channel_page

Nah, I think they've already started on the project.
The same thing happened with Sonic Unleashed. They just showed a quick teaser with no gameplay.

They're probably just just saving it for TGS.

 

[LLDL]

Youre probably right. But this is my last hope for Sega. If this passes my approval point, I will love sega. But if they give us another dissapointment, then I'll probably stop being a sonic fan.

 

[Wrath`]

If it plays like Sonic 3 or Sonic & Knuckles, I will be happy.

 

[Lovely]

Nah, I think they've already started on the project.
The same thing happened with Sonic Unleashed. They just showed a quick teaser with no gameplay.

They're probably just just saving it for TGS.

Sega always make teasers to hype up people. I wonder why they always do that to their big titles? ;_;

I'll guess the gameplay come's near the end of this year.

Youre probably right. But this is my last hope for Sega. If this passes my approval point, I will love sega. But if they give us another dissapointment, then I'll probably stop being a sonic fan.

Puyo Puyo is still alive and kicking in Sega, did everyone forget about Puyo Puyo? );

So far Sonic games should go back to their platforming, no gimmicks, no missions that takes the fun out of the game, I guess that's the Sonic game that I want.

 

[Crazy_mofo213]

If it plays like Sonic 3 or Sonic & Knuckles, I will be happy.

This.

If they also cut down the annoying characters and stick to the originals I'll be happy.

 

[Masmasher@]

If you want sonic 3 and knuckles...play sonic 3 and knuckles. It needs to be new..

 

[Dai Tian]

It needs to be new, sure. But it also should contain elements from not just S3&K, but the first 3 games in general. So no needing to unlock levels, no gimmicked secondary gameplay, just Sonic and zones to play through with attention to platforming and with the "right" amount of speed.

That's one thing I liked about Sonic Advance 1 and 2 actually... you played from zone to zone without worry and the 4 other characters played like they "should". Knuckles wasn't looking around for emeralds, he was just going through the zone like Sonic would with his unique abilities. Sonic Rush did that part of the game well too. You had your story here and there but the zones just came one after the next, and Blaze had her unique abilities but played through just like Sonic did.

 

[Crazy_mofo213]

If you want sonic 3 and knuckles...play sonic 3 and knuckles. It needs to be new..

Megaman 9 wasn't all that new and it did well.

 

[LLDL]

Lazy Sega

 

[Matt07]

I'm pretty optimistic about this game, I'll most likely get it. Hopefully they have Tails playable, heh.

 

[Firus]

If you want sonic 3 and knuckles...play sonic 3 and knuckles. It needs to be new..

He didn't say "It needs to be Sonic 3 & Knuckles remade", he said he wanted it to play like Sonic 3 or Sonic & Knuckles.

I'm pretty optimistic about this game, I'll most likely get it. Hopefully they have Tails playable, heh.

>_>

We know nothing about it except that it's in 2D and it's supposed to bring Sonic back to his roots...how can you make that judgment already?

 

[Masmasher@]

Sonic unleashed was good... people need to be more grateful.
now cause a bunch of old heads whined we get this 2d nonsense.

 

[Spire]

I'm pretty speechless. Thoroughly excited for this game.

Judging from the teaser trailer, it seems like it'll probably be a 3D sonic with 2D gameplay, rather than being completely sprite-based. Oh man, this is so good. Sega does listen!

Oh, and I loved the renewal of the classic "SEEEGAAA" intro.

 

[Wrath`]

I'm pretty speechless. Thoroughly excited for this game.

Judging from the teaser trailer, it seems like it'll probably be a 3D sonic with 2D gameplay, rather than being completely sprite-based. Oh man, this is so good. Sega does listen!

Oh, and I loved the renewal of the classic "SEEEGAAA" intro.

The classic SEEEEGAAAAAAAA intro scared me as a kid playing the Genisis for the first time

 

[Eternal Yoshi]

OK. I guess this is another case of guilty until proven innocent.

I'll be cool with this as long as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are the only playable characters and as long as it plays like Sonic 2 and/or Sonic 3 & Knuckles. I like Sonic 2's level design style the best though.

It'd be great if they could design the levels to have paths for each of them.

 

[Brightside6382]

The only thing I hope is that they cut down on Sonics cast of technicolor woodland buddies in this game. Seriously Tails and MAYBE one other person is enough...

 

[Houndstooth]

Sonic 3 and Knuckles was my favorite Sega game. I am glad to find that others are wanting to see the speed and platforming seperate. Impatience would get you killed in the old Sonic games. Anyway, I am wanting Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow as playable in the game. Shadow to give us a fourth(plus, he is the only "new" character that I really like). What I am really wanting(but not getting my hopes up) is a game like the New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Four players at once? Split screen since the Sonic levels are faster and bigger than Mario's. Probably couldn't work(unless in a racing multiplayer), but just something that I always wanted when I was younger.

 

[CT Chia]

Why do I have a feeling this wont be good and I'm not that hyped? Hell, I'm such a big Sonic fan that I was even hyped for Sonic 360. I did find some good in that however.

There is no way Sega will possibly get to Sonic 3 and Knuckles status again. They need to do some major fanservice to make that happen.
How freicken hard is it to make emeralds collectables instead of story elements, and Super/Hyper Sonic/Knuckles and Super Tails playable in every stage?

Ideally: About 6 characters to play as. Obviously Sonic Tails and Knuckles. Three others could be a new character, perhaps an Eggman robot (like E-100 series, but not the exact same), and maybe like Big the Cat (I'm serious). Diverse gameplay is always if done right, Sonic Adventure nailed it in that aspect. Shadow should not be a character.
Give Super and Hyper forms to those who deserve it.
Have about 18 or so stages and all characters play the same levels. Some skip a couple levels if it really doesn't fit them (Big on Speed Highway? lol). Have diverging paths that each character can take that is tailored to them. Such as how in S&K3 there were walls that Knuckles broke through to go to his parts of the level.
Split the levels into acts. Each act should be 1-6 minutes long.
Mission mode where you can play through each of the levels with the characters but with an objective that's not "reach the end," such as collect 150 rings, find froggy, beat sonic in a race, etc

There you go Sega, prime A+ game right there.

 

[Smw66466]

I DARE anyone who think Sonic is all about speed, to rush through Marble Zone of Sonic 1. You'll lose your rings faster than you can say.... I'm losing rings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veOsJy7VQMQ

No rings lost. >.>
-runs-

 

[Caleb Wolfbrand]

Metal Sonic still hasn't been playable and I really, really ****ing want him to be. Just an unlockable as an alt for Sonic, please, please, I would kill to have him in S3&K.

And pretend that stupid Sonic Heroes **** never happened. A copy of a character, is copying other characters? What the hell?