[Himuro]

Actual scans of the article are out and I am even more impressed.

[avatar299]

I'll go right into super duper Sonic-nerd territory here, but the Sonic comic has come a LONG way since the shit like "Titan Tails". Ken Penders - the long time writer who seemingly lost his mind in the final years of his run - is gone, and in his place is Ian Flynn - aka an actual fan of the Sonic games and Sonic in general, who realises what readers actually want to see.

I didn't know they changed writers. I was wondering why the books felt so different.

[grandjedi6]

Sonic um..is a freedom fighter in the Genesis games. That's the entire theme and point. God you had shit taste as a kid.

I don't remember Sonic being part of some lame Freedom Fighting group in the games. It was just Sonic himself (and later 2 allies) saving animals and beating the crap out of Robotnick. But it doesn't matter, at least both shows were better than what came out after it. But, I digress.


I like the style of this game at least. I'm still wondering how the gameplay mechanic will work though, hopefully the game will be shown off more later

[ethelred]

Okay, having gone through and read the full article, I think the original poster did a very nice job. But here's some additional info that stood out to me:

• they say there are people who won't be happy that this isn't going to provide the absolute fastest Sonic experience, as it's an RPG. But they say there are other Sonic games that do that, and their interest here is to still incorporate speed wherever it makes sense; they say it's really a combination of both BioWare and Sonic and they want to please fans of both.
• they joked that they're looking to raise Big's IQ a few points
• unlike most 2D RPGs, which use tile-based patterns for the environments, Sonic Chronicles' backgrounds are drawn entirely by hand. They did this because they wanted to try to bring back the series' "classic style."
• shoes will be a big part of Sonic's equipment that you purchase via rings at shops. Examples given are shoes that increase his speed, or give him fire attacks.
• the reason they have battle actions happen after you select actions for all party members is to give the battles a greater sense of speed as everything plays out. some characters will be able to perform multiple actions in a round, leading to "impressively frenetic battle sequences."
• again, the idea with the battles is, you have strategic thinking by turn-based input, but it will be "presented very quickly." "You see Sonic moving the way he should be moving."
• the reason they added real time active elements to the turn-based system is to keep the player engaged. They stated that Final Fantasy, even with its "speculator animations," disengages the play because there's no interaction.
• as you improve your characters, you get new field map abilities as well as battle moves. This will allow you to access new areas on the maps. It will encourage you not just to stick to your favorite characters; each one has unique abilities to offer.
• they don't just want to use preexisting Sonic story stuff. They want to leave the BioWare mark by creating new characters, new locations. But it will feel like it builds on the franchise rather than is tacked on.
• Muzyka has a Genesis signed by Yuji Naka.
• the project got started because Muzyka and Zeschuk knew Sega of America president Simon Jeffery from when he was at LucasArts and they were doing KotOR.
• "most of the high-quality handheld stuff is coming out of Japan. There isn't a lot of North American AAA handheld development going on." They viewed this as an opportunity for them.
• they think the DS is naturally attuned towards RPGs more. The two screens can show RPG stats that's appropriate for the genre. They say building on the DS is like when they were building on the PC years ago because you have a small, tight-knit team where each person is a key contributor.
• they say they really want to make something that stays true to Sonic, but still surprises and surpasses fan expectations because it's something new and different.




The director is Mark Darrah. Prior credits are:
• Baldur's Gate (lead AI programming, additional programming team)
• Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (lead programming)
• Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (lead programmer, Infinity Engine programming team)
• Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (lead programmer)
• Neverwinter Nights (programmer)
• Neverwinter Nights Gold (programmer)
• Jade Empire (lead programmer)
• Mass Effect (special thanks)

Lead artist is Joel MacMillan. Prior credits are:
• Jade Empire (cutscene art/animation team)
• Mass Effect (cinematics animator team)
• Jade Empire Special Edition (cutscene art/animation team)

The lead game designer is new to BioWare. His names is Miles O'Brien Prower Holmes; looks like he used to work at DICE, and his prior credits are:
• Dracula's Secret (artist)
• Shrek for Xbox (tester)
• Jump Start: Dino Adventure (lead artist)
• Diva Starz (lead artist)
• Full Auto 2 (designer)

[Himuro]

I don't remember Sonic being part of some lame Freedom Fighting group in the games. It was just Sonic himself (and later 2 allies) saving animals and beating the crap out of Robotnick. But it doesn't matter, at least both shows were better than what came out after it. But, I digress. I like the style of this game at least. I'm still wondering how the gameplay mechanic will work though, hopefully the game will be shown off more later

Robotnik takes over his home, turns his friends into robots, and he and a pack of other animals (as of Sonic 2, it's him and Tails) take on Robotnik to save their friends. Similar premise, albeit, evolved slightly. The Genny Sonic's always had a pro-nature, anti-pollution vibe to them imo, and that cartoon exemplified that. The Adventures of Sonic, a show I watched daily, was also fun, but even back then I preferred the Saturday morning cartoon.

[avatar299]

I didn't really watch SaTam(It came on between Batman and Freakazoid, sue me) but I appreciate any kids show that tries to treat children as if they have brains. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog just felt insulting in comparison.

[jvalioli]

Thanks for the more detailed breakdown, Ethelred.

[Crushed]

I didn't really watch SaTam(It came on between Batman and Freakazoid, sue me) but I appreciate any kids show that tries to treat children as if they have brains. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog just felt insulting in comparison.

Well if it came on between Batman and Freakazoid, I forgive you.

Watching Batman, Sonic, and Freakazoid in a row would have probably killed you from too much awesome. Best to take a breather between awesomes, even if it means skipping one.

[Sega1991]

Uhhhh. My Sonic comics I made when I was a kid > these Sonic comics.

Which is why you get paid to write comics nowadays. :lol

[Diablohead]

Sonic um..is a freedom fighter in the Genesis games. That's the entire theme and point. God you had shit taste as a kid.

100% wrong

[Himuro]

Which is why you get paid to write comics nowadays. :lol

Hahaha. Man. Me and my cousin would make the most crazy Sonic comics.

100% wrong

Nope!

[Aeana]

Thanks, ethelred!
It sounds really cool, to me.

[PataHikari]

• "most of the high-quality handheld stuff is coming out of Japan. There isn't a lot of North American AAA handheld development going on." They viewed this as an opportunity for them.

Sadly, this is true. Glad to see Bioware trying to fix it.

[BradVanDam]

AMY FUCKIN ROSE BETTER NOT BE IN AT AS SONIC HAD SEX WITH A HUMAN RIGHT INF RONT OF AMY FREAKIN ROSE

[Himuro]

Sally Acorn > Amy Rose

Amy sucks

[Sega1991]

Nope!

Actually, yeah. You are wrong. The American TV shows painted Sonic like a freedom fighter, but that was something they made up because the game manuals had zero plot beyond

"DR. ROBOTNIK IS A BAD GUY, GO STOP THE BAD GUY".

Most people in the Sonic fandom consider the japanese game manuals to be the canon for the franchise because they're somewhat interesting (more interesting than the american manuals and even more interesting than the garbage they've called "plot" in the 3D games).

[Himuro]

Actually, yeah. You are wrong. The American TV shows painted Sonic like a freedom fighter, but that was something they made up because the game manuals had zero plot beyond "DR. ROBOTNIK IS A BAD GUY, GO STOP THE BAD GUY". Most people in the Sonic fandom consider the japanese game manuals to be the canon for the franchise because they're somewhat interesting (more interesting than the american manuals and even more interesting than the garbage they've called "plot" in the 3D games).

Sonic wasn't a freedom fighter but it still always had a similar premise to me. It didn't seem that far off, to be honest. Like I said in an earlier post, Robotnik takes over Sonic's home, turns his friends into robots, and it's up to Sonic (and a few other animals) to save their friends and home from Robotinik. The cartoon was very similar to this.

What was the story in the Japanese game manuals?

[Y2Kev]

AMY FUCKIN ROSE BETTER NOT BE IN AT AS SONIC HAD SEX WITH A HUMAN RIGHT INF RONT OF AMY FREAKIN ROSE

:lol :lol

RIGHT IN FRONT OF AMY FRIGGIN ROSE

[Sega1991]

Sonic wasn't a freedom fighter but it still always had a similar premise to me. It didn't seem that far off, to be honest. Like I said in an earlier post, Robotnik takes over Sonic's home, turns his friends into robots, and it's up to Sonic (and a few other animals) to save their friends and home from Robotinik. The cartoon was very similar to this. What was the story in the Japanese game manuals?

I can't seem to find a site that has direct translations, but fansite The Green Hill Zone paraphrases them well enough:

http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son1/son1.html
http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son2/son2.html
http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son3/son3.html

One thing The GHZ doesn't mention that the japanese manual for Sonic 1 does is that apparently Sonic and Dr. Robotnik have been fighting each other as long as anybody can remember, but nobody knows why (I believe the manual even says that it's "not important").

With the way Sonic Chronicles hints at something related to Sonic and Robotnik going all the way back to "the first Genesis game", I wouldn't be surprised if they explain the origins of their rivalry.

[Himuro]

:lol :lol RIGHT IN FRONT OF AMY FRIGGIN ROSE

AMY ROSE IS OUT FOR BLOOD :lol

I can't seem to find a site that has direct translations, but fansite The Green Hill Zone paraphrases them well enough: http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son1/son1.html http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son2/son2.html http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son3/son3.html One thing The GHZ doesn't mention that the japanese manual for Sonic 1 does is that apparently Sonic and Dr. Robotnik have been fighting each other as long as anybody can remember, but nobody knows why (I believe the manual even says that it's "not important"). With the way Sonic Chronicles hints at something related to Sonic and Robotnik going all the way back to "the first Genesis game", I wouldn't be surprised if they explain the origins of their rivalry.

I guess when I was a kid I just took whatever clues were in the game and applied to the general story. Whenever you kill a robot, it turns into an animal, and whenever you defeat robotnik, there is always a mother load of kidnapped animals inside a giant capsule. It just always seemed to me the main reason Sonic was fighting Robotnik, as a kid, was because he had the gall to fuck up his homeland and turn his friends into robotic prostitutes.

[Crushed]

AMY FUCKIN ROSE BETTER NOT BE IN AT AS SONIC HAD SEX WITH A HUMAN RIGHT INF RONT OF AMY FREAKIN ROSE

:lol :lol RIGHT IN FRONT OF AMY FRIGGIN ROSE

AMY ROSE IS OUT FOR BLOOD :lol

i am missing something here

[Zissou]

i am missing something here

You are missing 97.5, the Brodeo, the best podcast that exists.

[Himuro]

i am missing something here

In 360/ps3 Sonic, there's a human and she kisses SONIC RIGHT IN FRONT OF AMY ROSE.

Sonic does not deserve to be in Smash Bros since he brings a shame to gaming. The reason being HE CHEATED ON AMY FUCKING ROSE.

Me and Kev were just chatting and have come to the conclusion that Sonic Chronicles will be about Amy Rose's revenge on Sonic.

[Y2Kev]

Himuro and I have discussed extensively in PM various secret theories regarding AMY FRIGGIN ROSE and her potential plot to slay the human bitch in Sonic Chronicles.

I predict a Sephiroth style death.

[Christopher]

Sonic does not deserve to be in Smash Bros since he brings a shame to gaming. The reason being HE CHEATED ON AMY FUCKING ROSE. Me and Kev were just chatting and have come to the conclusion that Sonic Chronicles will be about Amy Rose's revenge on Sonic.

I still never got how people were in such an uproar over the princeses kissing sonic for not even a second, while defending the old cartoon style where Sonic chased after the squirrel in a vest.

Himumu a furry?

[Himuro]

I still never got how people were in such an uproar over the princeses kissing sonic for not even a second, while defending the old cartoon style where Sonic chased after the squirrel in a vest. Himumu a furry?

I couldn't careless dude, it's just hilarious. :lol RIGHT IN FRONT OF AMY ROSE

[Y2Kev]

SONIC in smash brothers is an EFFRONTERY to gaming. HOW DARE HE shit up smash brothers with his adulterous, manwhore ways after making out with the Princess of Soleanna right in front of AMY FRIGGIN ROSE. I mean she was STANDING RIGHT THERE.

[Himuro]

HOW COULD YOU SONIC?!!?

[Quazar]

Okay, having gone through and read the full article, I think the original poster did a very nice job. But here's some additional info that stood out to me: • they say there are people who won't be happy that this isn't going to provide the absolute fastest Sonic experience, as it's an RPG. But they say there are other Sonic games that do that, and their interest here is to still incorporate speed wherever it makes sense; they say it's really a combination of both BioWare and Sonic and they want to please fans of both. • they joked that they're looking to raise Big's IQ a few points • unlike most 2D RPGs, which use tile-based patterns for the environments, Sonic Chronicles' backgrounds are drawn entirely by hand. They did this because they wanted to try to bring back the series' "classic style." • shoes will be a big part of Sonic's equipment that you purchase via rings at shops. Examples given are shoes that increase his speed, or give him fire attacks. • the reason they have battle actions happen after you select actions for all party members is to give the battles a greater sense of speed as everything plays out. some characters will be able to perform multiple actions in a round, leading to "impressively frenetic battle sequences." • again, the idea with the battles is, you have strategic thinking by turn-based input, but it will be "presented very quickly." "You see Sonic moving the way he should be moving." • the reason they added real time active elements to the turn-based system is to keep the player engaged. They stated that Final Fantasy, even with its "speculator animations," disengages the play because there's no interaction. • as you improve your characters, you get new field map abilities as well as battle moves. This will allow you to access new areas on the maps. It will encourage you not just to stick to your favorite characters; each one has unique abilities to offer. • they don't just want to use preexisting Sonic story stuff. They want to leave the BioWare mark by creating new characters, new locations. But it will feel like it builds on the franchise rather than is tacked on. • Muzyka has a Genesis signed by Yuji Naka. • the project got started because Muzyka and Zeschuk knew Sega of America president Simon Jeffery from when he was at LucasArts and they were doing KotOR. • "most of the high-quality handheld stuff is coming out of Japan. There isn't a lot of North American AAA handheld development going on." They viewed this as an opportunity for them. • they think the DS is naturally attuned towards RPGs more. The two screens can show RPG stats that's appropriate for the genre. They say building on the DS is like when they were building on the PC years ago because you have a small, tight-knit team where each person is a key contributor. • they say they really want to make something that stays true to Sonic, but still surprises and surpasses fan expectations because it's something new and different. The director is Mark Darrah. Prior credits are: • Baldur's Gate (lead AI programming, additional programming team) • Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (lead programming) • Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (lead programmer, Infinity Engine programming team) • Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (lead programmer) • Neverwinter Nights (programmer) • Neverwinter Nights Gold (programmer) • Jade Empire (lead programmer) • Mass Effect (special thanks) Lead artist is Joel MacMillan. Prior credits are: • Jade Empire (cutscene art/animation team) • Mass Effect (cinematics animator team) • Jade Empire Special Edition (cutscene art/animation team) The lead game designer is new to BioWare. His names is Miles O'Brien Prower Holmes; looks like he used to work at DICE, and his prior credits are: • Dracula's Secret (artist) • Shrek for Xbox (tester) • Jump Start: Dino Adventure (lead artist) • Diva Starz (lead artist) • Full Auto 2 (designer)

I love you. Thanks!

[Penguin]

SONIC in smash brothers is an EFFRONTERY to gaming. HOW DARE HE shit up smash brothers with his adulterous, manwhore ways after making out with the Princess of Soleanna right in front of AMY FRIGGIN ROSE. I mean she was STANDING RIGHT THERE.

Sonic to kiss Princess Peach in front of Mario and Amy Rose as a secret ending in Brawl.

You heard it here first!

[Himuro]

Sonic to kiss Princess Peach in front of Mario and Amy Rose as a secret ending in Brawl. You heard it here first!

In another secret ending he will kiss zelda in front of Link and Amy. Amy will just run away and cry, while Link won't give a shit since he's gay.

[Snaku]

Sally Acorn > Amy Rose Amy sucks

This is correct.

[Y2Kev]

leaked dialog!!!

Sonic: Amy, I'm leaving you.
Amy: What? Why? Is it someone else?
Sonic: I love another woman.
Amy: Who is she, Sonic? Does she treat you well?
Sonic: She kissed me once and I came back from the dead.
Amy: But I love you!
Sonic: Amy, every hedgehog dreams of something greater, something more. When I was just a young hedgehog with my furry family in our furry home, I dreamed of having a great girlfriend. And you are that great girlfriend, Amy. But now that I've defeated Evil Eggman, it's time to accomplish the second part of my dream....dump whoever I was with and get a human chick.
Amy: Sonic, how could you!
Sonic: I jus' a playa, Amy.
Amy: I am so hurt! or
I am not hurt at all! [lie]

Then Sonic awkwardly kisses the Princess of Soleanna in front of Amy Friggin Rose

Game ends

[Himuro]

No no no.

This will be Sonic's dialogue:

1. Amy I love you [lie]
2. Interspecies relationships is in, Amy. I'm sorry.
3. You could go for Tails [Intimidate]
4. Fuck you, I hate pink.

All of these choices give Sonic different dialogue and actions! So revolutionary! If you go with the 4th choice, Sonic punches Amy friggin Rose in the STOMACH.

[Penguin]

leaked dialog!!! Sonic: Amy, I'm leaving you. Amy: What? Why? Is it someone else? Sonic: I love another woman. Amy: Who is she, Sonic? Does she treat you well? Sonic: She kissed me once and I came back from the dead. Amy: But I love you! Sonic: Amy, every hedgehog dreams of something greater, something more. When I was just a young hedgehog with my furry family in our furry home, I dreamed of having a great girlfriend. And you are that great girlfriend, Amy. But now that I've defeated Evil Eggman, it's time to accomplish the second part of my dream....dump whoever I was with and get a human chick. Amy: Sonic, how could you! Sonic: I jus' a playa, Amy. Amy: I am so hurt! or I am not hurt at all! [lie] Then Sonic awkwardly kisses the Princess of Soleanna in front of Amy Friggin Rose Game ends

If this is anything like the Adventure games.
That would only be the end of the Sonic story.

You would of course need to beat the game as the other 1201 characters to unlock the true ending of the game.

Which would be Amy in a giant Eggman bot.
After you defeat her, she reveals that she is actually the human princess from a combination flashback/alternate timezone.

[Firestorm]

I still never got how people were in such an uproar over the princeses kissing sonic for not even a second, while defending the old cartoon style where Sonic chased after the squirrel in a vest. Himumu a furry?

furry vs bestiality take your pick

[Himuro]

Bioware needs to change the name from Eggman to Robotnik.

[TreIII]

In 360/ps3 Sonic, there's a human and she kisses SONIC RIGHT IN FRONT OF AMY ROSE. Sonic does not deserve to be in Smash Bros since he brings a shame to gaming. The reason being HE CHEATED ON AMY FUCKING ROSE. Me and Kev were just chatting and have come to the conclusion that Sonic Chronicles will be about Amy Rose's revenge on Sonic.

More like he cheated on Tails. :lol

I mean, c'mon! Has he EVER shown any romantic affections for Amy (or any woman, for that matter)? Back in Sonic CD and to this day, he seemed to be glad whenever he could be rid of her. And it was pretty much confirmed that the love that Elise chick had for Sonic was unrequited; he didn't really care for her THAT much beyond "Let's be friends!" context.

But he ALWAYS seemed to be willing to do whatever he could to save his "right hand man", Miles "Tails" Prower. Why the hell do you think Sonic keeps him around, to just hook him up with cool shit and fix his plane every once in a while? :D

[Himuro]

More like he cheated on Tails. :lol I mean, c'mon! Has he EVER shown any romantic affections for Amy (or any woman, for that matter)? Back in Sonic CD and to this day, he seemed to be glad whenever he could be rid of her. And it was pretty much confirmed that the love that Elise chick had for Sonic was unrequited; he didn't really care for her THAT much beyond "Let's be friends!" context. But he ALWAYS seemed to be willing to do whatever he could to save his "right hand man", Miles "Tails" Prower. Why the hell do you think Sonic keeps him around, to just hook him up with cool shit and fix his plane every once in a while? :D

I bet you Sonic likes Knuckles to stick his knuckles UP HIS ASS.

[Y2Kev]

Picture the Sephiroth sequence where aeris dies

Sonic: Princess Soleanna will never laugh again...never cry...
Amy Rose: YOU ARE JUST MY PUPPET, YOU CANNOT FEEL

[Himuro]

What will Amy kill the princess with? That's the biggest question.

[Sega1991]

Oh boy. The SonicXTails homosexuality jokes.

Those certainly didn't get old 14 years ago.

[Firestorm]

What happened to this topic.
Stop making fun of Tails >:(

[TreIII]

Oh boy. The SonicXTails homosexuality jokes. Those certainly didn't get old 14 years ago.

....What~? :D

If people can still make fun of Batman and Robin a number of decades later, why can't gaming's own "dynamic duo" be subject to the same? :lol

That's not any better.

Is it really that serious, to you? Cuz it certainly ain't to me.

What happened to this topic. Stop making fun of Tails >:(

Make no mistake, Tails is probably my fave character in the series, and probably the one I would most like to see get some decent evolution in character development, besides perhaps Sonic himself.

But after Sonic Adventure 2, it went all to pot, and they seemed content with doing more to return to the status quo of making Tails' Sonic's lil lapfox, instead of actually, y'know, making him more like Robin to Sonic's Batman.

The only way I can vent is to just poke fun, because what other means is available? Not like the games themselves are all that fun any more...

[Sega1991]

....What~? :D If people can still make fun of Batman and Robin a number of decades later, why can't gaming's own "dynamic duo" be subject to the same? :lol

That's not any better.

[D-X]

It's easy to pick out a bad section of the UK Sonic comic because the backup stories were aimed at a younger audience, and later on the writing became sloppy. However anything written by Nigel Kitching and drawn by Richard Elson or Nigel Dobbyn was pretty damn good.




































The US Sonic is getting better from the cluster fuck it once was - now that they've swept out the deadwood.

[Himuro]

Sega makes the best homosexual characters in gaming. Sonic, Tails, Ryo Hazuki, Jacky...

That's not any better.

Why do you take this so seriously? Jesus Christ. Are you a furry?

[Crushed]

oh god why did you just post a tidal wave of failway comics

[D-X]

oh god why did you just post a tidal wave of failway comics

to piss you off specifically.

just you

i knew you'd hate it

so i did it.

[Sega1991]

I never was much for StC (haven't read enough of it to really have a preference, really).

But something that I always found endearing about it is the quality of the artwork. Everything looks delightfully hand-painted and the lines and colors are all very solid. Even today, Archie's color work feels so flat and slap-dash.