Project Needlemouse: Was Wentos Right?
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.
Filed Under Hot Topics, In Depth, Sonic Scene, The Next Sonic
Dimps again!? If they Dimps going to make a Wii version of this….no. It was nothing. I was only thinking about how much the Wii version of Unleashed sucked.
But I know that they haven’t said it. But Wentos said that it might be more dimps versions.
But I’m definately going to get this for 360. It says HD so I’m nearly sure that PS3 and 360 will get this game.
But not the Wii version if dimps going to make it.
But anyway. I actually belived in Wentos words when he were talking aout this for months ago….I did.
I’ve always belieaved in Wentos words he knows what his talking about, but sometimes he get’s wrong to, no matter… PROJECT NEEDLEMOUSE S THE BEST…
THIS WILL BE THE BEST SONIC GAME EVER!!!
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the bits about the ‘filler’ titles more that Wentos predicted. We’ve so far got the Olympics and ASR, he was right about that shit.
The plot thickens…
Yeah, I’m not too sure about this Wentos guy. The teaser had spinning and Spindash sounds in it, and I’m definitely sure Unleashed-styled gameplay didn’t have that of any kind. If things stay like how they really are showing it, we could possibly have ourselves a, how you say, “Sonic 4″.
So for now, I’m just gonna hope that it’s Sonic’s return to pinball physics-gameplay. If it’s Unleashed, then fine, I’m sure I’d still have fun, but man would I still be disappointed. Sonic hasn’t even had proper rolling or anything since SA1, and I would really like to see it come back.
..However, if it plays just like Unleashed in every way but it contains more platforming and replaces the Boost with pinball physics, then that would be fine by me. =P
PRAISE BE TO WENTOS, THE PROPHET OF SONIC!
I always had a good feeling about this Wentos guy.
Sega better not screw over the wii owners like they did with Sonic Unleashed…or there will be hell to pay
Do I understand it right? There will be Wii version??? if yes: Yahoo!!!
*rolleyes* About this Wentos person didn’t he also proclaimed that this game is coming sometime around 2011, Sonic’s 20th anniversary, but in reality, it’s coming next year. Wentos say this game supposed play like daytime Unleashed, why the Sega rep seems to allude that this game would play more like the classic games(spindash, no-boost, momentum-based). That’s sort of contridict his report. Also there so-call putting “lesser” Sonic games as Wii-exclusives to support some high-budget HD project haven’t been working to well lately seeing that Sonic and the Black Knight was a major bomb. With the exception of the Olympic games(which probably wouldn’t have been as successful without the Mario cast), that source of weak spin-off income is starting to run dry.
Besides, wasn’t this Wentos guy proven to be a fraud at Sonic Retro?
I predict that this game will be released as a xbla/psn title since Sega would think it’s much more cost effective to release it as a cheap download able game than going retail with the possible exception of some quick, scaled-down Wii port.
I’m with JJ on this. I’m just not going to believe some guy on the internet.
Haha, rock on Wentos.
To JJ, a couple points for you to consider:
The timetable he gave back in January still would have hit 2010, so while I think the timing would have been more convenient for a 2011 launch, in the context of Needlemouse, this still holds.
Balough’s comments references one item Wentos noted, including the daytime Unleashed stage references. I do believe, in different ways, they are talking about the same thing.
(And a fun fact to a comment above yours: There sort of WAS a spindash in the Wii edition of Unleashed, but you had to execute it correctly on the countdown.)
SBK may have bombed, but I don’t think ASR will, and I definitely don’t think M&S Winter Olympics will, especially in Europe.
-T
AAAAAAAAA i need more information!!! NOW!!
is so cool the Project Needlemouse with Wento’s words
Sonic 2D HD with the good steps of Unleashed, and
“Hedgehog Engine” maybe use to…for this new game
is so cool, T w T sonic, you will have a good or perfect games now
i really want give to thanks to the Sonic Unleashed game, it was the FIRST
step to the new golden age of Sonic.
Crysore: You say that but in the end nothing will hppenn.
The Sonic franchise gets more and more interesting by the days.
Will there ever be a time when a new game can be announced without conflict and “This is your last chance SEGA” remarks?
Unleashed wasn’t perfect but it was damn good. Why do people treat it as such a failure?
Anyway, I have a good feeling about Project Needlemouse. I feel very different to how I felt before Sonic 06/Unleashed came out.
Good luck SEGA, hopefully you can restore Sonic’s golden status.
Please, please SEGA make this game like Sonic 3 & Knuckles!
^_^
Like Indigo Rush said,” The plot thickens.”
And only time will tell. Really we all just gotta wait until someone steals- I mean “leaks” something or just wait until SEGA releases a statement.
As long as Sega doesn’t tack on a lame addition like weapons or vehicles, and stays true to what Sonic truly is (a high speed platformer), this game will be just fine. ^^
@James: Unless implemented right (I actually liked the weapons in Shadow), even then it’s best not to risk anything.
I guess we don’t have to hold it against him.
@ JJ: Also, when you boost before a zip pad, you go into a spindash. Why you guys sit up here complaining, Dimps gave you more of what you wanted in Unleashed than Sonic Team. SUWii had less reaction commands, less cheap deaths, and still had spindash. SUPS360 had Hedgehog Engine. OOH PRETTY! I’ll take my “inferior” or “lite” version as you people like to call it.
@SkaiCyan: I haven’t played Unleashed Wii so I can’t comment on that. However, if the basic physics emulate Unleashed HD or Rush, then it is not classic Sonic gameplay.
@Tristan O.: Balough’s comments seems more to allude to a back to basics approach to the franchise found in the so-called “Sonic Legacy”(the gen/MD games according to him), as opposed to the UnleashedHD engine + platforms according to Wentos. There is a difference.
Also, that comment about using Wii games to fund the HD games is also stupid. Why would Sega gamble and spend money on funding SBK–which seems to have a bigger budget than the last storybook game and the Wii version of Unleashed to fund HD Sonic titles? I mean SBK was one of the better looking Wii games. Why spend so much on the production of that title if it was to soley fund a high budget HD game? It doesn’t make financial sense.
As for All-Stars Racing being a big hit. Who knows. It’s not like the last cross-over game, Sega All-Star Tennis was a hit and with the exception of the Olympics, I don’t remember any of the Sonic sports-like games being smashing success like the Mario ones.
PLEASE! Don’t leave us Nintendo Fans out of the spectrum! Give us the game too SEGA! I don’t give a ****ing **** about HD graphics, I simply want a decent Sonic game for once! Whether it’s 480p or 1080p!
Yeah, he was right. And now I want Riders 3!
Huu… There’s so many news that I don’t even read the text…
Oh look, a Sega employee from NeoGAF outs Wentos as a phoney!
“Don’t trust anything he says as official. His predictions are his own (and honestly more similar to horoscopes than anything else), but he doesn’t work at SEGA or have any way of getting inside information.
That, or he certainly doesn’t value his job as much as he should. But a lot of what I’ve seen posted from him has been completely off, so I’m totally sure that’s not the case.”
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373631&page=19
@JJ: Jajaja… He gives people hope and that’s good. We need it dark times like this!
Most of Wentos’ predictions were easy to say. That’s nothing. The person who predicted Sonic Unleashed was legit, though.
As I’ve said on SSMB, what wentos says about the Sonic Wii games, just being made to stop the losses of HD versions is off. Why make the HD versions in the first place if your boing to make a loss? To be seen in a more positive light? BS. For one why can’t the Wii do that anyway? Companies make games to make money, not intentinal loses. An additional couple of hundred individuals who may pick up a sonic game if it starts getting over 90 on metacritic,, is not much comapred to the potential thousands of others that can by reached by simple advertisement.