Sonic Team: Mario & Sonic Helped Shape Sonic Colours
Wii title going back to "series' origins."
Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka has told SPOnG that the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise had "become too serious" during his absence as series producer and that the success of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games helped him go "back to the origins" with Sonic Colours.
In a revealing interview to be published later, Iizuka agreed with the sentiment of many Sonic fans about the series relying too much on heavy plotlines and character development.
Sonic Adventure 2 - which Iizuka directed - provided an enjoyable gameplay experience but inadvertently set a design precedent which would continue in Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog in 2006 and Sonic Unleashed.
"I was still based in Sega's American studios at the time [of Sonic 2006 and Sonic Unleashed] and wasn't directly involved in those titles," Iizuka said. "That was actually a good time for me, because it allowed me to see the Sonic games from a similar perspective as a fan's point of view.
"What I felt was that the franchise had become too serious and the story had become very deep, whereas I see Sonic as more of a laid-back, enjoyable and fun experience. I kind of rediscovered that through Mario & Sonic in a way, because that game was very much a 'pick up and play' affair that everyone can jump in and enjoy.
I think that's a better direction for the Sonic brand, and that's why Sonic Colours has a much more fun, enjoyable kind of setting."
Look forward for the full interview on SPOnG, where Iizuka clarifies earlier comments about Sonic Colours being aimed at a 'younger audience,' comments on Yuji Naka's departure from Sonic Team and reacts to diehard fans being more interested in the Wii title than Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
In a revealing interview to be published later, Iizuka agreed with the sentiment of many Sonic fans about the series relying too much on heavy plotlines and character development.
Sonic Adventure 2 - which Iizuka directed - provided an enjoyable gameplay experience but inadvertently set a design precedent which would continue in Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog in 2006 and Sonic Unleashed.
"I was still based in Sega's American studios at the time [of Sonic 2006 and Sonic Unleashed] and wasn't directly involved in those titles," Iizuka said. "That was actually a good time for me, because it allowed me to see the Sonic games from a similar perspective as a fan's point of view.
"What I felt was that the franchise had become too serious and the story had become very deep, whereas I see Sonic as more of a laid-back, enjoyable and fun experience. I kind of rediscovered that through Mario & Sonic in a way, because that game was very much a 'pick up and play' affair that everyone can jump in and enjoy.
I think that's a better direction for the Sonic brand, and that's why Sonic Colours has a much more fun, enjoyable kind of setting."
Look forward for the full interview on SPOnG, where Iizuka clarifies earlier comments about Sonic Colours being aimed at a 'younger audience,' comments on Yuji Naka's departure from Sonic Team and reacts to diehard fans being more interested in the Wii title than Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
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Comments
?????????????????? 11 Sep 2010 13:57
1/8
Iizuka doesn't know s**t about die-hard Sonic fans!
SSSSSS 11 Sep 2010 14:07
2/8
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
WE WANT SERIOUS STORY LIKE IN SONIC 06. NOT SONIC HEROES, NOT UNLEASHED, NOT COLORS.
Story Like Sonic 06, Like Sonic Adventure 1,2, Like Shadow the Hedgehog. PLEASE NOO CHILDREN'S STORY
WE WANT SERIOUS STORY LIKE IN SONIC 06. NOT SONIC HEROES, NOT UNLEASHED, NOT COLORS.
Story Like Sonic 06, Like Sonic Adventure 1,2, Like Shadow the Hedgehog. PLEASE NOO CHILDREN'S STORY
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Kiberbot 11 Sep 2010 14:08
3/8
Too serious? He was joking, right? Now I hate him with all my heart.
SAWNIK 11 Sep 2010 14:50
4/8
^ lol idiots.
Dreadknux 11 Sep 2010 15:09
5/8
Hey, Sonic 06 had a superbly pretentious 'serious' story. I agree with Iizuka here - post-apocalyptic worlds and "dark, shadowy pasts" of side characters is about as welcome to the Sonic series as a bull is in a china shop.
Sonic 06, Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Battle... those games were just awkward to experience, man. Embarrassing, even. I felt like I was being treated like a ten-year old with the kind of Fisher Price "epic saga" that those games were throwing around. Crappy demon monsters, humans, human kissing... (?) yeah, it was an insult to anyone's intelligence really.
Sonic 06, Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Battle... those games were just awkward to experience, man. Embarrassing, even. I felt like I was being treated like a ten-year old with the kind of Fisher Price "epic saga" that those games were throwing around. Crappy demon monsters, humans, human kissing... (?) yeah, it was an insult to anyone's intelligence really.
speedduelist 12 Sep 2010 00:38
6/8
Sevened Joscelyn, I believe you work here (and created sonic stadium) Nice to see you here. i am a memmber of SSMB too, its a great web site that i always count on on sonic news with a nice community :)
I just have a question, when will the full written review come out with iizuka?
I just have a question, when will the full written review come out with iizuka?
Dreadknux 12 Sep 2010 15:57
7/8
speedduelist wrote:
Sevened Joscelyn, I believe you work here (and created sonic stadium) Nice to see you here. i am a memmber of SSMB too, its a great web site that i always count on on sonic news with a nice community :)
I just have a question, when will the full written review come out with iizuka?
I just have a question, when will the full written review come out with iizuka?
Hi there Speedduelist! My name's Svend Joscelyne actually, but I won't hold it against you! :) Glad to hear you like my fansite - and yes, I do indeed work for SPOnG. SPOnG is awesome.
Apologies on the delay with the full interview, it was submitted rather late on Friday and because we don't really work in the weekend, there's been nobody to proof the piece and publish it live. You can expect it first thing tomorrow at the very latest. :)
Ryan550 12 Sep 2010 16:12
8/8
@SSSSSS
Sonic team continuously attempting to give the franchise a "serious story" alongside not knowing where to take the franchise in terms of gameplay is what has killed the franchise... It took Sonic Team years on end to realise that a "serious story" is merely laughable when it involves a sqeeky voiced hedgehog...
As for the gameplay.. the treasure hunting for knuckles and rogue.. the use of mechs for tails and robotnik/eggman and additional meaningless characters such as E102 Gamma and Big the cat helped you forget that the franchise is about speed and "sonic" who plays less and less of a role in the franchise these days...
lets not forget sonic heroes, sonic the hedgehog 360 and shadow the hedgehog as you mentioned.... tag team gameplay in heroes... Sonic 360/ps3 was completely unplayable due to glitches and its story was even more laughable than ever and shadow the heddgehog used guns and motorbikes... (guns and motorbikes?!?!?!) and you ask for a "Serious story?" well the franchise kept losing its fans (like myself) because WE the gamers could not take sonic team nor the franchise seriously any longer
It goes like this... "when the developers of a franchise give up and stop caring and the fans of a franchise are the only ones who care and respect the franchise.. It Dies.."
Why do you think Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is EPISODIC?! we the Gamers have to drip-feed Sonic Team info BIT by BIT on how to make 1 SINGLE sonic game of their own franchise actually enjoyable! What does that tell you hmm?
Sonic team continuously attempting to give the franchise a "serious story" alongside not knowing where to take the franchise in terms of gameplay is what has killed the franchise... It took Sonic Team years on end to realise that a "serious story" is merely laughable when it involves a sqeeky voiced hedgehog...
As for the gameplay.. the treasure hunting for knuckles and rogue.. the use of mechs for tails and robotnik/eggman and additional meaningless characters such as E102 Gamma and Big the cat helped you forget that the franchise is about speed and "sonic" who plays less and less of a role in the franchise these days...
lets not forget sonic heroes, sonic the hedgehog 360 and shadow the hedgehog as you mentioned.... tag team gameplay in heroes... Sonic 360/ps3 was completely unplayable due to glitches and its story was even more laughable than ever and shadow the heddgehog used guns and motorbikes... (guns and motorbikes?!?!?!) and you ask for a "Serious story?" well the franchise kept losing its fans (like myself) because WE the gamers could not take sonic team nor the franchise seriously any longer
It goes like this... "when the developers of a franchise give up and stop caring and the fans of a franchise are the only ones who care and respect the franchise.. It Dies.."
Why do you think Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is EPISODIC?! we the Gamers have to drip-feed Sonic Team info BIT by BIT on how to make 1 SINGLE sonic game of their own franchise actually enjoyable! What does that tell you hmm?