Sonic Boom: Warp Speed or Snail's Pace?

So as you may know, Sonic Boom was announced the other week. A new Sonic game with a single trailer demonstrating what the game will look like, how some of the gameplay will function and giving hints to the story. It is too early to tell for sure how the game will turn out, there's not even been a release date announced yet, but like most of the gaming internet I'm going to speculate and draw conclusions on how this game will turn out based on a single trailer. This is why I am worried about Sonic Boom. 

 I should preface that I am a Sonic fan, through my childhood I spent many an evening at my friend's house badgering them for goes on their Mega Drive and in this method I managed to complete all of Sonic 1, 2 and 3. I really don't know why they put up with me for so long. But throughout recent years Sonic has struggled to find his place. He has tried going all 3D, he has tried punching people in the face, he has tried sticking to his trademark of going really fast, yet whilst hinting at excellence in some of his games, none have really made an impact like the original games did.

So, reason number 1: Sonic is not an MMA fighter.

Now, I'm not going to go into the lore and history of Sonic the fucking Hedgehog, but I am fairly sure he hasn't been a professional fighter of any kind. Yet for some reason, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles are wearing athletic tape on their hands and legs. Knuckles, I can understand, he's a tough guy, he wants to prove his toughness by wearing some tape, fine, but unless the story is going to reveal that Sonic is the victim of a horrible house fire and the tape is simply covering up his burn wounds, the tape suggests that Sonic is going to be involved in some kind of fighting. This is a bad thing. Sonic has never got fighting right, he can just about get away with jumping on peoples heads, but as soon as he tries to throw a punch, he loses the plot. In Sonic Unleashed, the game let you transform into a Werehog, (yes, I know), a tougher, meaner version of Sonic, who could throw a punch and it was terrible. I wanted Sonic to punch me so I could just forget the time that I played as him. The fighting itself was fairly basic, but combined with the floaty sort of always trying to pick up speed way Sonic moves, it just never felt right. Sonic has always been at his best when running and or jumping. 

Reason number 2: Sonic needs to develop an allergy to guns.

The Sonic universe has always had a weird relationship with guns. Traditionally used by Dr. Eggman, (or Robotnik depending on your preference for classic videogame villain's names), to shoot at you in the end of level stages, the protagonists never felt the need to use them. That is until Shadow The Hedgehog. Simply put, it was a disaster. I only played it once, so admittedly the rest of the game after the first hour may be the finest thing ever created, but sources I trust assure me it's not. A lack of any decent aiming or lock-on and again Sonic's floaty physics lead to a game that was irritating and awkward to control at the best of times, and un-playably difficult at the worst. This leads me to believe that Eggman actually isn't the villain of the Sonic universe, guns are, in that everything they touch in that universe either dies or turns to shit. That is why it worries me that in the trailer for Sonic Boom, we see Tails wielding some kind of plasma gun. Sonic games need to have momentum and speed, that is their trademark, and yet to be able to shoot effectively, you need to break that momentum by pausing to aim. I'm all for taking Sonic in a new direction, the Mario & Sonic Olympic titles prove that new directions can be effective, but unless Big Red Button Entertainment completely change Sonic's formula, I just can't see any form of shooting mechanics being able to work. 

Reason number 3: Sonic was never actually that good.

Okay, so before you all come at me wielding machetes screaming "THIS IS SPARTA... wait, SONIC", hear me out. Sonic was a good game at the time it came out. It felt truly fast. Its speed was its selling point when competing with other platformers of the time such as Super Mario World, and later on Rayman and Super Mario 64. That sense of momentum felt great as it was something truly different, yet going back to play it now, well, it's just lost it's sheen. No longer is speed and momentum a novel idea in gaming. You forget about having to pause mid run to go back and pick up some lost rings, not having quite enough momentum to get over a loop and ending up having to stop, go back to pick up speed or use the spin dash. It was great at the time, but only an average game when analysed today. Some of you will say: "Alright dickhead, it's an old game, they do look worse when they get older" and fair point, a lot of games do, but the real greats, they stand the test of time, and whilst the graphics may not be as shiny as compared to today, or may have a different control style to what we are used to, they still are great fun to play. Go back and play Zelda: A Link to The Past, or Super Street Fighter II, I guarantee you they will be just as much fun as they were back then. Hell, you can play a copy of Doom and it will still be as fast paced and action packed as ever. The true classics stand the test of time and unfortunately, Sonic doesn't meet the cut. So, why does this matter with Sonic Boom?

Now, if we are to assume that Big Red Button Entertainment are going to listen to various 'core fans' of the Sonic franchise, which would make sense if they want to make a game that appeals to both the core fanbase as well as those not so interested but will pick it up because it's a Sonic game, the majority of the core clamour for 'Old Sonic', Sonic like it was back in the day. So then you are basing a game on one which was mediocre at best and the fans will still complain because it won't feel as good as Old Sonic will with all the nostalgia it brings to the table. 

Then there's the alternative, BRBE may try to innovate and push the series in a new direction, which may not go down well at first, but when played, if pulled off could actually surprise some people. But then the question is, how far do you innovate? For all the shit I write about Old Sonic, he is still at his best when running and jumping. Move too far away from that and you'll have a game that simply isn't Sonic, and the fans will be pissed. Not enough, you risk falling into the trap of replicating a mediocre game, but then the middle ground is just full of half arsed gimmicks such as the Werehog and Shadow the Hedgehog with his guns, a middle ground where there is a clash between original Sonic's pace and momentum, and having to stop to do whatever gimmick is next. 

It is a difficult problem to solve and BRBE will have undoubtedly paid someone far more intelligent than myself to try and work around this, but so far, most previous attempts by previous companies have fell short of the mark, indicating that games developers are still struggling to find the solution. 

Like it or not, Sonic Boom is happening, and it feels like with the game being released alongside a new TV series, Sega alongside Big Red Button Entertainment are really pushing for this to be Sonic's finest hour. I did want to mention a couple of other things that I was considering whether or not to add to this piece. One of these things is the inclusion of dubstep in the trailer, and those gratingly annoying character voices. It just stinks like a rotting corpse, of a company trying to be hip and down with the kids. It seems like something Major Nelson would cook up on an off day. Does it worry me? Yes, it may mean that I don't enjoy the game as much as I otherwise would, but is it a deal breaker? No, I can just turn the volume down whilst playing, it's not going to effect the overall core gameplay and that's why I didn't make a full section or argument for it. It's aimed at a different audience and I just have to accept that. 

Just shut up already you bastard!

Now, rendering this article completely irrelevant is the fact that the game isn't even out yet, with no release date on the horizon and only this one trailer to go on. The way developing works, any number of things can change yet. Sega could even choose to scrap the project entirely if they wanted to! Adding to that is the fact that Big Red Button Entertainment have been working on this thing for almost one and a half years already, they are clearly taking their time on this, and their team is made up of some very skilled dudes who used to work at Naughty Dog, so if anyone was going to know what the're doing, it's them. But still, I'm worried, and thought I'd construct a one and a half thousand word article telling anyone who cared all about it when I could have been doing much better things with my life. But still! I hope you enjoyed reading. If you liked it please let me know in the comments below or on my Twitter, (@ZakToms). Similarly, if you want to add to the debate, disagree with me, want to stalk me, have any suggestions or questions for the site, or just want to say hello, get in touch! I will embrace you all in open arms no matter what you think of Sonic.

Keep on going fast you beautiful people.

Zak 


(Disclaimers, all pictures used are not my own, they are courtesy of in top to bottom order: Gamespot , Dan-Dare, Timothy on IGN forums, Sonic1 on Sega Forums, not that any of those people will actually see this blog but yeah, please don't sue me)

I done gone and wrote a game!

So first of all, apologies for the large hiatus in my writing. I've had a fair amount going on with exams and uni work, plus trying to maintain a decent family and home life and so my blog stuff kind of got shoved to one side a little bit, but now I'm back and hopefully will be getting more regular with blog posts. Anyway, about a month ago I entered the 'Dulljam' games making jam, (whereby various people are given a certain amount of time to create a game based on a theme). We had to create a game based on the idea of dullness and the mundane. A sort of contrast and response to the adrenaline fueled power fantasy's many games aim for. At the time I was mid-way through essay season and needed something as a bit of a diversion so I jumped on Dulljam and wrote a game for it using Twine, (a text-adventure games engine), inbetween writing for my essays. You can find info about Dulljam, other entries and all sorts of amazing and far better gaming articles and commentary than mine at the excellent Midnight Resistance website.

I had a great time writing it and it proved a great distraction at the time. It got published on Midnight Resistance the other day so I thought I'd share with you my entry; 'Essay Writing Simulator: 2014 Edition'. As you can probably tell, it was heavily influenced by the mundane essays I was writing at the time. It sets you on an adventure to write an essay, the night before your deadline. Pressure is mounting, will you rush, will you panic or will you pull something spectacular out of the bag!? Despite being about a really dull time, it is a comedy game and will, (try), to get some laughs. I've had some great feedback so far. People have enjoyed it so I'm hoping you will too! If not I will hunt you down and murder you. The game features multiple endings and branching pathways depending on how you play like an actual real life game, so replaying is encouraged. It took a lot of time and effort to get to grips with coding this so, (this is the last effort I promise), I would very much appreciate it if you give it a go. Also, I've had a look at the other games featured over at Midnight Resistance and they are all pretty excellent and you'll probably enjoy them more than mine, meaning you can make anything enjoyable if you vaguely simulate it in a videogame. I would certainly recommend checking the others out too.

So that just about wraps everything up for this blog entry. Stay tuned for more throughout the coming weeks and months. I promise you, like a guilty lover, that I will stop by more often and pay more attention to you. I will be a better blog. All those other blogs are just using you, no other blog loves you like this one does. Also, If you have any comments or feedback for the game, either let me know in the comments down below, let me know on Facebook if we're friends, or reach me at @ZakToms on Twitter)