Post by Xain Russell on Feb 7, 2014 14:52:36 GMT -8
Sonic Bangarang (Ft. Bandages)
Thoughts on Sonic Boom
So yeah, we finally got our first real look at the new Sonic Boom game/tv show, and from what I've seen from it... I'm pretty hyped.
I've been a Sonic fan since the days when I played Sonic 2 on my neighbor's Sega Genesis, even when he was at his worst I always had hopes that he'd come back stronger than ever, which he thankfully did. So naturally I've been excited about this partnership with Nintendo and the promise of three new games. "Sonic: Lost Worlds" was an alright entry, but not up to snuff with the Unleashed trilogy in my opinion. Now we have Sonic Boom, and with it a new design for Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. The general reaction to this redesign has been, amusing to say the least, particularly when it comes to the bandages.
Okay, first off, they're probably not bandages. It's more likely to be athletic tape, and according to my sister, a gymnast who uses a lot of athletic tape, it's purpose is to support a person's joints and to protect the skin. Now Sonic and Knuckles are, to me at least, the two biggest athletes in the entire series. It would make sense for the two of them to have athletic tape protecting their hands and feet when both of them are known to exert themselves to physical extremes. And even if SEGA wasn't thinking about that when they came up with the new designs, I still have to admit that I still think it makes them look cool.
Now about the rest of the designs? The additions to Tails make sense because he's always been portrayed as a mechanic, so having goggles and a utility belt fits for him. Knuckles growing a little taller and thicker than the rest of them also makes sense, as he's supposed to be the strongest of the group. Amy... thank GAIA she's wearing a more modest skirt at last. She actually looks tough now, and judging by the trailer she's going to be acting like it too. Maybe after the game is out I can finally have justification for liking her as a character all these years. Finally, Sonic. Loving the more scruffy look to his spines and the addition of the scarf, I just wish the scarf wasn't brown. Red probably would have looked a little better, and they should have made it a little longer too.
So, that's the new designs, what about the gameplay? Well from what we've seen in the trailer we can't really assume much. There looks to be an emphasis on different character abilities, so I'm guessing that there will be different ways of progressing through the level based on what character you use. That or the possibility of different characters having different stories ala Sonic Adventure. Both Sonic and Amy look to be the acrobats of the team, with Amy focusing on gymnastics and Sonic on grinding and aerial movement, like an X Games competitor. Knuckles looks to be rocking his usual climbing and digging routine, which is good. Tails can thankfully fly again, let's just hope it doesn't suck like it did in 06, and he also seems to be packing heat. Which I like because, again, he's an inventor, that's what he does. Then there's the 'Warp Speed' and while we don't see much of it other than the group running down a straight path together, it does point to the idea that maybe Tails, Knuckles, and Amy won't play TOO differently from the blue blur. It's something I've wanted to see return to sonic games, Characters that play similar to Sonic, but have a unique gimmick to them.
That's all I can really get from the game trailer, but then again there's also the TV Show trailer. First of all, I'm very happy that there's even going to be a television show in the first case. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic SatAM were two of the highlights of my childhood, Underground was meh, and Sonic X I will admit is a bit of a guilty pleasure to me (The Japanese sub though. Not the English Dub because fuck 4Kids). A cartoon that ties into the game is a great way to start off a new series that will hopefully be good enough to continue and break away from the story of the game, like the comics did, is a great play by SEGA and I can't be more hyped for it. Let's not forget that one of our resident MLP writers, Dave Polsky, is working on it, as well as one of the writers for Adventure Time. I have high hopes for this.
All in All, looking like a good start. Let's just cross Knuckles' new fingers and hope that it stays good. And yes, I DO like that Knuckles has fingers to help express himself with, because fingers are some of the most expressive tools in a cartoon character's arsenal, but hey, that's just the way I see it.
Thoughts on Sonic Boom
So yeah, we finally got our first real look at the new Sonic Boom game/tv show, and from what I've seen from it... I'm pretty hyped.
I've been a Sonic fan since the days when I played Sonic 2 on my neighbor's Sega Genesis, even when he was at his worst I always had hopes that he'd come back stronger than ever, which he thankfully did. So naturally I've been excited about this partnership with Nintendo and the promise of three new games. "Sonic: Lost Worlds" was an alright entry, but not up to snuff with the Unleashed trilogy in my opinion. Now we have Sonic Boom, and with it a new design for Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. The general reaction to this redesign has been, amusing to say the least, particularly when it comes to the bandages.
Okay, first off, they're probably not bandages. It's more likely to be athletic tape, and according to my sister, a gymnast who uses a lot of athletic tape, it's purpose is to support a person's joints and to protect the skin. Now Sonic and Knuckles are, to me at least, the two biggest athletes in the entire series. It would make sense for the two of them to have athletic tape protecting their hands and feet when both of them are known to exert themselves to physical extremes. And even if SEGA wasn't thinking about that when they came up with the new designs, I still have to admit that I still think it makes them look cool.
Now about the rest of the designs? The additions to Tails make sense because he's always been portrayed as a mechanic, so having goggles and a utility belt fits for him. Knuckles growing a little taller and thicker than the rest of them also makes sense, as he's supposed to be the strongest of the group. Amy... thank GAIA she's wearing a more modest skirt at last. She actually looks tough now, and judging by the trailer she's going to be acting like it too. Maybe after the game is out I can finally have justification for liking her as a character all these years. Finally, Sonic. Loving the more scruffy look to his spines and the addition of the scarf, I just wish the scarf wasn't brown. Red probably would have looked a little better, and they should have made it a little longer too.
So, that's the new designs, what about the gameplay? Well from what we've seen in the trailer we can't really assume much. There looks to be an emphasis on different character abilities, so I'm guessing that there will be different ways of progressing through the level based on what character you use. That or the possibility of different characters having different stories ala Sonic Adventure. Both Sonic and Amy look to be the acrobats of the team, with Amy focusing on gymnastics and Sonic on grinding and aerial movement, like an X Games competitor. Knuckles looks to be rocking his usual climbing and digging routine, which is good. Tails can thankfully fly again, let's just hope it doesn't suck like it did in 06, and he also seems to be packing heat. Which I like because, again, he's an inventor, that's what he does. Then there's the 'Warp Speed' and while we don't see much of it other than the group running down a straight path together, it does point to the idea that maybe Tails, Knuckles, and Amy won't play TOO differently from the blue blur. It's something I've wanted to see return to sonic games, Characters that play similar to Sonic, but have a unique gimmick to them.
That's all I can really get from the game trailer, but then again there's also the TV Show trailer. First of all, I'm very happy that there's even going to be a television show in the first case. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic SatAM were two of the highlights of my childhood, Underground was meh, and Sonic X I will admit is a bit of a guilty pleasure to me (The Japanese sub though. Not the English Dub because fuck 4Kids). A cartoon that ties into the game is a great way to start off a new series that will hopefully be good enough to continue and break away from the story of the game, like the comics did, is a great play by SEGA and I can't be more hyped for it. Let's not forget that one of our resident MLP writers, Dave Polsky, is working on it, as well as one of the writers for Adventure Time. I have high hopes for this.
All in All, looking like a good start. Let's just cross Knuckles' new fingers and hope that it stays good. And yes, I DO like that Knuckles has fingers to help express himself with, because fingers are some of the most expressive tools in a cartoon character's arsenal, but hey, that's just the way I see it.