Resetting Sonic – Project Needlemouse

Sonic the Hedgehog
The Sega Blog has been having quite a bit of fun with a countdown for more details on Project Needlemouse – crossing off names from the potential list of characters making an appearance in the game, verifying that Sega completely understands what fans want. So no surprises that Sonic, and Sonic alone was the only character to make the final cut today. Say goodbye to Amy, Big the Cat, and Shadow – Tails was never on the list…

The only question left to be answered now is whether getting what fans wished for will really be what fans wanted. The nostalgia factor and eagerness for that Sonic of our youth is likely to sell more copies than even the most forward thinking Wii title that will no longer be made by Sega.

I just have this nagging little concern that Sonic needs more than a high definition time machine. Whether that is the sole direction for the game is highly probable but remains to be seen.

In the meantime there’s an image of a robot crab.

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Death to the demoness, Allegra Geller!
Posted January 15, 2010
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  • EdEN

    Well, it’s what Sonic fans have asked for during the last couple of years: a good nostalgia-driven trip back to basics without sidekicks, storybook settings or transforming into a werewolf.

    Let’s see if NOW they buy more games. Also, will it be a download only game or see a full retail release?

    • http://www.gamesugar.net Jamie Love

      I love, LOVE, physical game discs. But wisdom would suggest that a straight nostalgia driven Sonic game would/should be shorter, and if it is shorter – which is absolutely fine – then download only would make sense given how the market seems to work. By which I mean that a large number of people seem absolutely appalled at the idea of paying retail prices for games that aren’t full on 3D spectacles of varying quality.

  • EdEN

    If Sega releases the game for $15 as a Digital release, support it with extra DLC (Level packs or side-stories at $3 each with 3 levels per pack) and actually do things right, then we can prove them wrong about all the 3D Sonic releases… that came after Sonic Adventure (Sonic Adventure 2 is good, but too many extra characters was the beginning of the end.

  • http://www.reverbnation.com/ujnhunter Ujn Hunter

    Why not just release it as a $20 disc then? I still wouldn’t buy it (I wish Sonic would just die… :P) but… that seems like a reasonable idea.

    • http://www.gamesugar.net Jamie Love

      You know, I think about pricing a lot I guess, and I think part of the problem with offering a game at a lower price is that people that aren’t reading up on it, which to be fair is the bigger part of the gaming market, think there’s something wrong with the game if it doesn’t cost what everything next to it does. At least, that’s my current sense of things.

      • http://www.reverbnation.com/ujnhunter Ujn Hunter

        Really? I have no perspective on this… being as involved in the gaming community etc. as I am. But I’m way more inclined to buy that $20 game than I am to buy the $60 game sitting on the shelf next to it! Even if I am well read into most games that come out these days. Alas, I am a CAG. Rarely will I pay full price for games, even if I pre-order games, I’ll seek out the best deal! :)

  • http://www.pioneerproject.net Michelle

    Great news, but I have to say my hopes still aren’t high. It will be far too easy for little details about the most recent series to creep back in, the proliferation of characters in recent Sonic games are the least of Sonic’s problems, work down the list Sega, then we’ll talk.