Interviews// Next Gen Sonic The Hedgehog: Producer Interview

SPOnG: Not a lot of information has been revealed about Shadow's game play. How much more different will playing as Shadow be compared to Sonic? Will the black hedgehog have to depend on shooting and vehicles again?

Nishiyama-san: In this title, the features of Shadow are the various battle actions and the ability to use various gadgets and vehicles. When using Shadow, players must carry out their missions with his combat ability and driver technique of riding all kinds of gadgets.


SPOnG: There are images of another character that looks similar to Shadow. It appears to be a boss character, but is it at all linked to the massive lava beast we saw in the E3 trailer, or is its purpose solely to provide a bit of extra grief for Shadow?

Nishiyama-san: Just like 'Iblis', the boss that looks similar to Shadow also has something to do with 'Disaster Flame'. His real identity will become apparent as you play each scenario of Sonic, Shadow and Silver.


SPOnG: Silver the Hedgehog is from the future, but will he be on Sonic's side protecting him like the Terminator, or be fighting him trying to kill him... like the Terminator? Will we see some character-themed boss battles like in Sonic Heroes?

Nishiyama-san: Silver travelled through time to defeat the Iblis Trigger, who is the curse of destroying the future, and changing the future world. But if you want to know why he thinks of Sonic as his enemy and whether he managed to change the future world, you'll find out by playing story of Silver.


SPOnG: Silver appears to be a very slow-paced character, a bit of an anomaly compared to the antics of Sonic and Shadow. How much more differently will Silver play because of this?

Nishiyama-san: Just like Sonic and Shadow, the new character Silver The Hedgehog is a character with new possibilities. Silver's supernatural power action using the Havok engine will allow players to experience new game play different from Sonic's speed or Shadow's combat, which can only be accomplished by Silver.


SPOnG: What other features can we expect from Sonic the Hedgehog? Various adventure fields have been mentioned where Sonic can explore outside of the main stages, but what will these contain? How about multi-player modes?

Nishiyama-san: The Town Stage consists of three areas which allow players to purchase items, gather hints from the townspeople to carry forward the story, battles, race, hide and seek, mini-games, quiz, fortune-telling, etc.


SPOnG: Similarly, will we see a return of the Chao Raising aspect, last seen in Sonic Adventure 2? Or are Chao appearances merely there for fun?

Nishiyama-san: Such as the missions occurring in Soleanna, the Town Stage itself will be the alternative element.


SPOnG: Are there any bonuses planned, such as extra playable characters or secret levels? Will these be unlocked by some sort of points system, akin to Sonic Adventure's "Emblems"?

Nishiyama-san: Something nice may happen if you collect the medals hidden during the stage.


SPOnG: Will we see Super Sonic, and will we finally be able to play as him in the standard levels rather than just a hidden final stage?

Nishiyama-san: This will also become apparent as you play each scenario of Sonic, Shadow and Silver.

SPOnG: Thank you for your time, Nishiyama-san.