Project Needlemouse: Was Wentos Right?

By
Tristan Oliver
– September 10, 2009

Compare and Contrast What he Said vs. What we Know

When TSSZ News first published an account of what could be the next Sonic from someone identifying himself as Wentos on 4chan, a lot of people laughed at us for even thinking of posting such comments.  This was back in January, and continued into February, even as our poll indicated a majority opinion that agreed with the mysterious poster.

They’re not laughing now.

Even with what little details available, a lot in the community are referencing our story to speculate on the specifics that are ahead for Project Needlemouse.  Though Wentos touched on a lot of Sonic matters, in this specific context, how right was he–and can his prophecies of the past offer some insight into what’s in the works for this 2D revival?

For this story, we will juxtapose several remarks Wentos made back in January, versus some of the details we know about Needlemouse right now.  Keep in mind that the truth will almost certainly evolve as we learn new information about the next Sonic, so our comparison may only be relevant for this particular point in time.  Let’s begin.

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What Wentos Said: The next Sonic “won’t be announced for some time.  SEGA isn’t taking Sonic on a break, but they’ll stay quiet with the main series games for a little while and then reveal it while this time specifically outlining what has been fixed.”

What we Know: Though Wentos offered a timetable of a year and a half to prove him wrong (now falling in the realm of next Summer,) Sega opted to announce Needlemouse this week.  Still, between then and now, much more attention has been paid to Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, and even Sonic and the Black Knight–all considered side projects.  For some, enough time has elapsed to consider it a “little while.”  Further, the trailer boasts a return to 2D gameplay, and for most veteran Sonic fans, that’s enough of a fix.

The Verdict: Aside from the timetable, Wentos was pretty spot on.

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What Wentos Said: The Next Sonic would emulate the daytime levels of Sonic Unleashed, with a focus on platforming that made the original Sonic so popular.  “I said sections in stages where you actually need to slow down and be careful and precise about what you’re doing,” Wentos said.

What we Know: Here’s what Sega’s Ken Balough said in his interview with Gamespot:

Old-school Sonic fans have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay. Many liked the daytime stages in Unleashed, but wanted to see a game that plays purely similar to the early games of the Genesis. Project Needlemouse is that critical first step that brings Sonic back to his 2D roots.

Though Wentos explains it in more blunt terms, both appear to be speaking about the same thing–reviving the healthy mix of speed and platforming from the Genesis era.

The Verdict: If Sega keeps their word with Needlemouse, Wentos is again spot on.

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What Wentos Said: The next Sonic would only feature Sonic.  It would not have the Werehog, and it would not require playing as other characters.  That doesn’t mean other characters won’t pop up or not be playable, though.  “Non-optional characters in ‘main series’ Sonic games are over, I can tell you that much,” Wentos said.

What we Know: The trailer only shows off a Sonic figure speeding around, and it’s widely believed updated artwork of the hedgehog is included on the end silhouette emblem, front and center.  So, while the trailer leads many to believe Sonic will have the only playable role in Needlemouse, take a look at what Balough said about other characters’ roles in the franchise:

It’s all about what you do with them. It takes time to develop a cast and for them to find their niche. A lot depends on if there is a good story that allows the character to develop and grow. Tails and Knuckles, to me, are essential to Sonic. They bring the perfect blend of personalities to the mix. But those two have had over 14 years to grow. I think Shadow, Silver, Blaze, and Rouge have also been developed really well into interesting characters. I would love to see Tikal developed because I think she could be very interesting as well. I think the one character that has yet to find his place is Bark the Polar Bear. I hope he does eventually. It’d be nice to have a cool bear character.

Though Balough himself thinks the characters have a role in the main series–leading a few to wonder if he’s dropping a hint–it will be up to the programmers within Sega to agree in this context.  It’s hard to say, judging from the trailer alone.

The Verdict: To be determined.

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What Wentos Said: The next main Sonic game likely will be gimped on the Wii, and will instead be developed with the HD consoles in mind (XBOX 360/PS3.)  The Sonic strategy on Wii is to use side games to recoup losses from the HD focused titles.  “Their plan has worked,” Wentos said.  “They’ll likely be doing the same thing for the next main series game, while using the filler title (Riders, the Storybook titles, etc.) to help pay for the losses they need to endure to be seen in a more positive light.”

What we Know: Keep in mind that while the Wii can do 480p 16:9, it cannot do true HD, such as 720p or 1080p.  The trailer itself is in 16:9, but makes no mention of the game being HD exclusive, only absolutely confirming that it’s 2D.  Balough noted in his Gamespot interview that we can “definitely expect” HD graphics.  He also didn’t say whether the game would be HD exclusive.  Still, if this is 2D, how hard can it be to run off a comparable edition for Nintendo’s console?  And good business sense dictates that it would be foolish to lock out a release to the most popular gaming platform on the market right now.

The Verdict: Wentos’s business explanation appears dead on.  Still, Wii owners shouldn’t be convinced they’ll get a watered down edition of Needlemouse due to the game’s 2D nature.  Your dollars are helping support the cause, after all.

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What Wentos Said: Via Sonicophage on the Sonic Stadium message board, who contacted him directly, Wentos noted the main team from the next-generation edition Sonic Unleashed would work on future main Sonic titles–including, presumably, Project Needlemouse.  Other development houses will get the side Sonic projects.

What we Know: As far as we are aware, the Unleashed team doesn’t have a role in either edition of M&S, and Sumo Digital is hard at work on Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

The Verdict: Sounds right to us.

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There you have it–based on the information we know right now, Wentos’s words have held firm in four of the five tests provided here, with the jury still out on one point.  That’s plenty to be excited about.  Of course, a gameplay video or the introduction of a gimmick could put this entire study in flux–we’ll just have to wait in the coming weeks and months to find out.

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