Image: SEGA
Sonic the Hedgehog fans have had a lot to talk about lately. The staggering gameplay revelations and initial reactions to Sonic Frontiers have been one of the big points of discussion during this period that is not E3 2022, but we also had the imminent release of Sonic Origins to wait. While the previous game seems to take the blue literally to new frontiers in 3D, Origins is a compilation of Sonic’s 16-bit 2D hits that has fans of the Mega Drive era looking forward to revisiting the areas. and classic characters that made us fall. love with the series in the first place.
There are reviews of other platforms (and we will work to deliver ours as soon as the Switch code is available), and it seems that the critical reaction to this Sonic collection is quite positive; reassuring news for fans of these classic 2D platformer games.
We recently had the opportunity to ask Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Team, a little about the new collection, the series in general, his thoughts on future collaborations with Christian Whitehead and Headcannon of Sonic Mania, and other things related to Sonic, including this. hot question that all old school Sonic fans are desperate to do: Which is better, Sonic 2 or Sonic 3?
Nintendo Life: First of all, can you describe the process of the Sonic Origins project that received the green light? How long has it been in development?
Image: Takashi Iizuka
Takashi Iizuka: For a long time we wanted to offer an Origins-style collection, bringing classic Sonic titles to the modern era with remastered images and new ways of playing. When we celebrate more than 30 years of Sonic, we thought it was the perfect time to do so. We’re thrilled that longtime fans and newcomers to the series are rediscovering the classic Sonic and experiencing all the nostalgic content we’ve included.
What influence did the success of Sonic Mania have on your decision to continue with Sonic Origins?
No doubt Sonic Mania helped us make sure that 2D Sonic titles could still be successful in the 2020s. But we have often thought about how to bring classic Sonic into the modern era. The original titles are so beloved and still play so well even today, we certainly don’t want to leave them restricted to legacy systems.
While Sonic 3 (and Knuckles) and Sonic CDs are less available, Sonic 1 and 2 are some of the most played titles in gaming history (we’re pretty sure we both have them on a dozen different platforms!), In l design stage. , how did you approach these classics to make sure they were the “latest” versions?
As you say, Sonic Origins offers the best way to play these games, not only Sonic 1 and 2, but also later games. We wanted to explore new ways to play these classic titles, but it was also vital that the games be kept in their original state. That’s why we’ve included the new Birthday mode as an alternative and optional way to play games, with endless lives and full-screen viewing.
What was it like reviewing the work you did almost 30 years ago on Sonic 3? Did you come across a design element or choice that you would approach differently given your experience now?
It has certainly been a journey full of great memories. With the technology available back then and the amount of time we had to offer the game, I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved with Sonic 3. One thing you learn quickly in game development is that you can spend so much time tweaking systems and repeating it. design and still never be completely satisfied, but I’m very happy with how Sonic 3 came out.
One thing I quickly learned in game development is that you can spend a lot of time tweaking systems and iterating the design and still never be completely satisfied, but I’m very happy with how Sonic 3 came out.
Music from other Mega Drive Sonic games will be available in the Classic Music Pack DLC, and we’d love to see Knuckles Chaotix included in the Origins playable package. Was this or any of the other games considered for inclusion?
No, since the original Sonic series goes from Sonic 1 to Sonic 3 & Knuckles, from the beginning we didn’t consider including any other titles. The content of the game would also be quite different. We added them to the music package as DLC so people could review their memories of other classic titles, even if only through music.
With several versions of these games being removed to other platforms, is there any of the previous versions that will NOT be present in Sonic Origins? Many fans have been concerned about certain Sonic 3 audio, for example, and the possibility of playing Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles in their “separate” forms.
As you know, only when Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles are combined do they become as complete as Sonic 3 & Knuckles. At Sonic Origins we made the decision not to split them, so that players can enjoy them in their complete and combined form. In previous ports that used emulators were presented in their original form for better or worse, but in Sonic Origins we have made several improvements and upgrades. I hope everyone can enjoy these improvements as well.
Did you talk about including Sonic Advance games or 8-bit games in the Origins collection? Are there any plans to revise these games on a modern platform in the future?
Sonic Origins focused on the main series of classic games, so there were no plans to include other titles. There are no plans to bring other titles at this time, but I’d like to keep that in mind when we see the reaction after the Sonic Origins releases.
Sonic Team’s collaboration with Christian Whitehead and Headcannon seems to have been very fruitful, and we understand that their work was used in the development of Origins. Do you think there will be more collaborations with these developers in future Sega projects?
I would like to think so! They have an incredible talent and their passion for the series means that we have been very grateful to collaborate with them. We know that if they are satisfied with their work, so will Sonic fans.
Looking to the future, we’re sure many fans would love to see Sonic Adventure games returned in a similar way: a “Sonic 3D Origins”, perhaps?
Sonic Adventure will always be dear to me.
Sonic Adventure will always be dear to me. In the Sonic 3D space, we are currently focused on delivering a new epic Sonic experience with Sonic Frontiers.
There seems to be a healthy appetite for 2D Sonic projects along with 3D games like the upcoming Sonic Frontiers. Can we expect to see new 2D titles, perhaps 16-bit style, in the future?
It’s too early to share any plans for other Sonic titles, right now we’re focusing on Origins and then Frontiers. What’s more, we’ll have to tell you when the time is right.
After the huge success of the two Sonic movies (the second of which is still pending release in Japan!), Could you talk a little about how Sonic Team reacted to the movies? Could the movie version of the character ever appear in a game?
We loved seeing Sonic come to life on the big screen. It’s something we’ve always dreamed of, and seeing the movies so well received by both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise is a dream come true.
Finally, from a development perspective, which Sonic series game was the most creative to work for you?
As the first fully 3D Sonic titles, I think I should say that Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 were my favorite titles to work with, although I really enjoyed working on them all. I’ve always been excited to see where Sonic might go next.
Image: SEGA
And a quick “bonus” question: There’s a lot of debate around our office, but which Sonic sprite do you prefer: Sonic version 2 or Sonic version 3?
My journey with Sonic really started with Sonic 3, so I couldn’t say anything more than that, right …?
Many thanks to Mr. Iizuka for taking the time to talk to us. Sonic Origins will be released for Switch and other platforms on Thursday, June 23rd. Stay tuned for our review soon.