The lights are on
That's right, I am taking a stand: I do not think Sonic needs to be put down just yet.
While it was sadly overlooked by many, Bioware's DS RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, proved that there's life in Sonic's red-and-white shoes. Sadly, Sonic Team hasn't taken this lesson to heart.
Sonic and stories? What the hell, you're thinking. Those two things don't interlock. But I grew up reading Archie's Sonic comics, and I can attest that it does work. In those comics, Sonic and co. are cast as exiles from their own home, and Robotnik as a traitorous warlord-turned-dictator. Knuckles has his own seperate story, involving a mysterious lineage of Floating Island Guardians and genetic experimentation.
I'm fully aware that these things are unlikely to be incorporated into a series which is universally regarded as needing a return to its roots to become compelling again. But maybe what we need is just the opposite. Perhaps Sonic should be recast in a version of the enthralling world that Archie built for him. The comics provide enough material to make several games.
My only stumbling block would be Sonic Team. They gave me some irrepressable memories, and for that I'll always be grateful. But they are in the advanced stages of crippling creative arthritis. It's time to reassign them or put them down. Pass the title onto Bioware or (if, as is likely, they are not available) Level 5. How about Rocksteady, who proved with Arkham Asylum that they can turn around even the most unfortunate of gaming careers?
I'm envisioning such a game in my head, and it is beautiful. Since it would be quite a serious tale, they could even find an excuse to brutally kill off Amy Rose.
i think your absolutely right
Nice post, glad we talked about it before you made it. I'm looking up those Archie comics as we speak, and I didn't even realize how cool some of them are. Seriously, the artwork is impressive, but I have to figure out the story first. Sonic Team was good at first, but they've lost their touch. In a way, why doesn't Archie comics work in joint operation with Sonic Team to make it? They'd come up with the story and Sonic Team would develop it. Anyway, Eggman should take Amy hostage and toss her off a building, and you just see a bloody splatter *evil laugh*.
Ben, try and start with Sonic 21, fondly remembered from my youth. It was, if I recall, the first story to really cast some darker themes around the sonic comics.
I forgot to mention: those themes relating to Robotnik and the outcast Sonic were either used in, or originated in, a Sonic saturday morning cartoon (not the cartoony one). It was also excellent.
Was it Sonic X? I think that's what you're thinking about. If not, then I wouldn't know. Checking it out right now.
I miss Sonic and Knuckles
No, it was from when I was a kid.
Here we go: the intro video. That theme song has been a permanent resident of my head since it first showed up.
www.youtube.com/watch
If I had actually put the link in there it might have been useful.
Poor Sonic. He was king there for awhile, or at least a prince to Mario, but he's just been mishandled way too much in recent years. I thought Sonic Chronicles was great but I would love to see a true Sonic comeback. A 2-D side-scroller that's all about speed.
i still hold that sonic adventure 2 was the most epic game to date. with great story and everything. but i wouldnt mind seeing a sonic game where he and knuckles and the others had to battle the Dark Legion. now that would be epic. and the final boss would be enerjak.
I completely agree. They need to start making epic games like Sonic Adventure 2 again. That was the last console Sonic game that was actually good.
i personaly think sonic games are just bad sonic we should not help
I still haven't gave up on the series. Been a fan since he first showed up in the gaming scene. After seeing recent Sonic games like the Dark Brotherhood and Sonic Unleashed, I know Sonic can still get back up top. Sonic Team has just gotta stay on course with what they did with Unleashed.
Sonic could also be saved by going back to the formula used by sonic 2
@iprodigy
So they should just stay the course with gimmicky tansformations? ;)