Sonic demo is craptastic
If Sonic creator, Yuji Naka, knew that this is where SEGA wanted Sonic to go, it's no wonder he left the company. The Sonic demo, if you haven't played it yet, is bad. Really bad. Believe me, I am a Sonic fan. I write for 360 Fanboy it's true, but I am a SEGA fanboy at heart. Thus, it hurts me even more to tell you that the demo is just not very good. It's not unplayable, but parts of it are close. Read on for more.
First, the elephant in the room: the camera. To answer the question, no, it hasn't been fixed. The same camera issues that have plagued all of Sonic's 3D adventures are present even in this short, short demo. It stays too close to Sonic. So close that you often can't even see the enemy that your about to jump on. Sure, you can control it yourself, if by control you mean pan left and right. This is just shoddy, 32-bit camera design, folks. It made sense before all consoles had two analogue sticks, but why in God's name would you limit camera control to merely panning left and right? Half the time you can't even see where you're going to land! Why any game lacks FPS style camera control in this day and age is a mystery to me.
Second, the controls. Again, we see the same issues that have been present since Sonic Adventure. When running at full speed, even the slightest nudge on the left stick sends Sonic careening in another direction, often causing Sonic to fall to an unexpected death. The homing attack is back. Created to solve the problem of hitting enemies in a 3D space, the homing attack presents its own problems which are only exacerbated by the camera. It works great as long as there is an enemy or interactive element near by. However, if there is no enemy, Sonic merely jets off in whatever direction he's pointing. Oftentimes, he just happens to be pointing directly off of a ledge. Again, untimely death is often the result. To make matters worse, you're often homing in on enemies that the camera won't let you see. So, you might think you're homing in on a robot, only to rocket off in the opposite direction and, again, fall to your death -- beginning to see a pattern here?
Look, it's not terrible, but it sure as hell doesn't live up to the hype SEGA has put around it. If anything, it is blessedly short. You can whiz through the single level in under sixty seconds if you're so inclined. I want to love this game, and I'll still probably rent it, but if you want a real Sonic experience, you're probably better off waiting for the original to hit XBLA.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chrono333 @ Sep 27th 2006 11:37AM
Wow, that's disappointing. I was really excited for this game. I downloaded the demo this morning, and was saving it as a reward for when I finished studying, so that kinda sucks. Hopefully we'll get some more demos today.
Franky Digital @ Sep 27th 2006 11:40AM
Can't really say I'm surprised. Sonic never belonged in the third dimension.
Dracula Jones @ Sep 27th 2006 11:47AM
I haven't played the demo, but I just don't think the Sonic franchise is cut out for an open 3D action adventure. The core, fun element of Sonic is speed... careening through a level trying not to run off a cliff or into an enemy. The exploration element of an open 3D world takes away from that, I think. I'm interested in what they do with Sonic Wii because it's on rails... which might make it pretty much a 2D Sonic game in 3D.
Brax0r @ Sep 27th 2006 11:53AM
I'll be so bold to say that there hasn't been a good Sonic the Hedgehog title since Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis).
SEGA is beating a dead horse.
t3lite @ Sep 27th 2006 11:55AM
I dont think 3D is the problem because Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 were great and i thought that they kind of rejuvenated the series but after playing Shadow the headgehog...which was unplayable mostly because of the camera, im going to download the demo today but it is ashame if it really does suck becuase this game was soppose to bring Sonic back
Footlong! @ Sep 27th 2006 12:13PM
Yah, I wasn't going to say anything but since you guys have opened the floor I'll join in. The demo is really bad mostly because of a stiff camera, enemies who pose no real threat (despite the fact that you can't see them because the camera keeps them off-screen), and a clunky control scheme that make it near impossible to not fall off the edges unless you're moving at crawl-speed. I've always tried to give sonic a shot but I don't know what the attraction is
Jelly @ Sep 27th 2006 12:26PM
I played the demo. It is horrible.
The camera was crap, the controls were crap, the graphics were ok at best, and the the level far too short.
Now, don't get me wrong, i love sonic. All of his major 2D games have been very impressive, IMO, and i loved sonic adventure, but this is nasty. Everything past sonic adventure 2 was nasty really...
I will not be buying this game, and i urge people to play the demo before buying.
bla bla plop @ Sep 27th 2006 12:56PM
sega did have some good games, even the sonic series kept up in its time with mario, but tis be true when sonic never should have been made into a 3D porkupine on crack.
LunarDuality @ Sep 27th 2006 1:36PM
Maybe Sega needs to take a page from Nintendo here and release a "New Sonic the Hedgehog" and do it up 2D style!
zenprism @ Sep 27th 2006 2:46PM
Blogged reaction to my five minutes with the new Sonic demo:
"Okay, there's Sonic in hi-def."
*falls off ledge*
"The game looks okay enough."
*falls off ledge*
"I wonder if this version has that blast processing."
*falls off ledge*
"Hm. Lots of places to die in..."
*falls off ledge*
Donutta @ Sep 27th 2006 3:27PM
When is Sega going to realise that Sonic does not belong in 3D?
aragorn @ Sep 27th 2006 4:38PM
I feel like I'm one of the few people out there who thinks sonic DOES in fact belong in the 3rd dimension... mostly because SA1... which... wasn't perfect, but it was a lot of fun. very visceral.
But I agree with everyone. this demo sucked. the camera problems was one a single part of it.
never have I played an Sonic game where the controls were so twitchy (and some of the SA games were REALLY twitchy). it's near impossible to get sonic to go where you want him to.
it's a shame. I thought making a game that only involved sonic was a good sign, but Sega still has their heads up their keisters.
Matthew @ Sep 27th 2006 4:54PM
Oh they ruined it. :-(
It was fine on Dreamcast... didn't actually die every other moment. This is too much though...
To hard to control, and camera issues of course, they need to design more within some limits, keeping in mind your essentially a spinning ball running really fast in one direction. They did that with Dreamcast well enough, but the level is not linear enough (lots of cliffs and such along your path), plus, there aren't really any section where you just get to, well, run...
How dissapointing.
flyguy @ Sep 27th 2006 5:22PM
Hey Richard,
Dosen't some rich doctor that makes money off of patents own some sort of 3D-camera perspective patent that can be used for medical purposes BUT also for video games? If I'm right, I believe his asking price for the patent is in the 9 figure mark.
AoE @ Sep 27th 2006 5:53PM
After reading your impressions I wanted to say nasty things... but you're right, Sega royally screwed this one up, it makes me very sad. :(
SuicideNinja @ Sep 27th 2006 7:14PM
"I write for 360 Fanboy it's true, but I am a SEGA fanboy at heart."
SEGA! I forgot that you were all about Sega. I was, too. The SNES was the "boring" console in my house; it was all about the Frankenstein monstrosity of the 32X Sega Genesis II CD! My friend wouldn't stop playing Sewer Shark...
And I was sad to see the Saturn and Dreamcast flail sadly into oblivion.
Anyway, I concur with everyone on the 3D thing. Sonic never felt right in 3D, even back on the Genesis. I don't think Mario made the transition well either. Sure, I liked Mario Sunshine, but Mario 64 was painful to me.
Rob @ Sep 27th 2006 8:07PM
LunarDuality,
Sonic Rush for the DS came out way before NSMB. Not to mention all the Sonic games for the GBA (Sonic Advance 1-3, Sonic Pinball Party, Sonic Battle, Sonic 2-pack, etc).
And Sonic Adventure 1 was awesome. It's once Sega left their own hardware that things all went to hell. Sega should fire Sonic Team and just let DiMPS or AM2 take over.
Lee @ Sep 27th 2006 10:56PM
@10, zenprism
Wow, Your words mimic my thoughts as I started the demo exactly. After the little boost panels threw me off of a ledge for the 3rd time, I deleted the demo from my hard drive.
Poor Sonic.
Mike @ Sep 27th 2006 11:18PM
I fell off the edge once.. You guys just must all suck. I made it to the end without hassel.
However, I do agree with everyone about how this game sucks. Its just so unfun, bland and the camera is just horrible.
If they made a 2d sonic game which like warped around in 3d when you entered those automated parts, then shot back to sd (but everything is rendered in 3d) it would sell millions of copies. Thats what they need to do. stop with this sonic in 3d crap. I remember back in the days I use to play sonic 1,2,3 and 4 (sonic and knucles) + connect 4 and the others together. Going for super sonic and charging up a storm was so much fun. Those where the only 4 games I had on my genesis (well and NBA jam TE; which needs to come to XBLA) Since sonic has gone 3d, I havent cared once about him.
Angelo Lozano @ Sep 28th 2006 1:14AM
I, for one, have enjoyed Sonic's 3D games despite the aforementioned nagging flaws. That said, why is it that yet again the same nagging issues have arisen, after, what, two, three, four 3D games?
Personally it's never been enough for me to toss the game out (which is probably why I still like them overall), but damn, you think they would have actually done something about it by now.
DA360 @ Sep 28th 2006 1:31AM
I've been a long time Sonic fan and thought Sonic Adventure was great when the DC first came out. But I do agree, ever since SA2, the Sonic series has gone WAY downhill when it comes to development quality. This demo shows one problem the level designers have had since the post-SA2 games, levels where you fall to your death WAY, WAY too often. I just hope the final game doesn't have too many of these kind of levels.
Also, I would of thought they would of fixed the camera issues by now but apparently that seems to be something that plagues Sonic Team very badly.
I personally think Sonic Team needs to hire some new, high quality developers and designers as its very apparent the ones they have now are getting very rusty and putting out games with many issues in level design, camera issues, glitches, etc. All this is doing is making a once very reputable company and series a horrible mess.
At least I am sure Sonic for Xbox Live Arcade will be pretty good. The old school Sonic games were always the best to me, in my opinion.
christophrr @ Sep 28th 2006 3:26AM
I think Sonic Adventure II Battle was the best sonic game ever. I actually played through it without having any problems at all. Plus, those little chao fighters were in it!
Tempata @ Sep 28th 2006 7:15AM
Am i the only one who thinks that Sega should just stop making new sonic games and go and do a single remake of a sonic game. For example Sonic Adventure 1 was awsome, i mean dont get me wrong it had its problems but what game didnt. So if they go update graphics update camera and tune controls maybe add some levels or something i think that would be perfect. As long as they dont like throw out a "Sega Sonic Mega-remake Pack with all the 2d good sonic games in 3d. If they do one with 3d graphics and put some time into it i think it could do well.
go fish @ Sep 28th 2006 8:52AM
Mike, the 2D with 3D visuals you're describing... yeah, that's basically Sonic Rivals coming out on the PSP. And Sonic Rush was amazing on the DS. 2D Sonic is still hanging in there on the handhelds.
As for the 3D games, I personally loved both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. The controls and camera may not have been perfect, but once you figured out their quirks, both games were a lot of fun. I though the controls were pretty damn tight in the Sonic/Shadow stages of SA2, as well, considering the crazy tricks you could pull off.
But once Sonic Team moved away from the Dreamcast and started using a different game engine, things went downhill FAST. Sonic Heroes was a big heap of wasted potential piled on top of sloppy controls. Shadow took everything that was bad about Heroes and made it worse. I complained about it at E3 to the people demoing the game in 2005. I did the same at E3 this year with Sonic the Hedgehog. All of the control problems in the demo now sound just as bad as when I played it back in May. Again, I complained about the controls to the Sega reps (and I'd be surprised if I was the only one who did), and again nothing was done. The reps even acknowledged that the homing attack wasn't functioning properly, so it's not like Sega wasn't aware of it.
Carlos @ Sep 28th 2006 9:03AM
As I recall, demo's do not represent the overall quality of the finished product.
Ninegauger @ Sep 28th 2006 10:46AM
So am I the only one who didn't really have a problem. The jump lock-on stuff seems better than ever. The camera could rotate faster... that's about my only criticism. When you fall off a ledge you're playing again very quickly. Oh and the robots in Sonic have never really posed a threat.
And just so you guys know your beloved Sonic Adventure was worse in almost all respects... camera, pits, zooming off ledges with lock-on attacks.
I'm still buying it... then again I've enjoyed the Sonic parts of all the 3D Sonic games including Heroes.
Phil @ Sep 28th 2006 11:44AM
Absolutely awful demo, they're not going to sell the full game to anyone who played it for sure.
Give me a 3d-rendered, 2d sonic with lovely 3d effects any day... but this stuff is complete nonsense with graphics that barely scrape past those on the Dreamcast and none of the redeeming features that made Sonic Adventure 1 so playable.
NOEEM @ Sep 28th 2006 12:43PM
The title said it all...Craptastic. I used to be a bid sonic fan in my sega genesis days. I even loved him in sonic CD. But this is horrible. I deleted the demo approx. 10 minutes after I downloaded it.
Be ashamed sega.
ryan @ Sep 28th 2006 10:52PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anHHVLwqyzI
This e3 demo doesnt look as bad as you guys are saying it is. then again, he is falling alot.
gamesarefun @ Sep 29th 2006 9:00PM
I thought it was just me too...falling off the cliffs and hating the sucky camera. Good thing to know the demo does suck. They better fix it or else I'll have to pass it up on the 360 at least.
Kito @ Oct 1st 2006 1:47AM
I didn't actually find the demo that hard to live through, but it did suck.
I am a huge fan of SA 1 & 2 for Dreamcast (in fact, I still play them today), so I thought this game would be just as fun. I played through it three times just trying to get myself to like it, but it was in vain. The game is way too twitchy, and the camera angles infuriating.
Also, why would I want the game to just have three different colored versions of the same character. If they're going to include more characters than Sonic they should have some variation, like Tail, Knuckles, and Amy.
I want a Sonic Adventure 3...
Kellydude @ Oct 1st 2006 12:20PM
HEY!!!...wtf guys, it's not that bad, i mean i thought "wow this is terrible" when i first starting playing it to, but after a while u see that the game definately has some potential, i was friggin "WOWED" when i looked at the graphics, but when u start thinking, "Hey, why run when you can grind?" u start to bring out the true aspecs of this game that makes it successful, the Homing attack is great, takes a while to get it down but seriously wicked cool, and the fact that the can do the light dash was so sweet, and i love the way that the levels have way more than one way to be completed. I don't know what you guys are thinking, but i'm definately thinking about buying this game.
Ani-game @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:57AM
it was an ok demo. keep in mind that DEMOS are not always what they will be when the game comes out. who really know. they might fix the camera. could have tweaked the enimeis. maybe the demo is just an easy mode of that lvl we dont really know ontill the game fully comes out. i say "so what" get use to the controles and dont complain. some times being a fan of something is dealing with the crap that hits the fan and clean it up after.