Has the Sonic/Sega-Themed Title Lost its Way?
Trying to not forget NiGHTS? Maybe someone should remind the world not to forget Tails, either.
When we broke the news First @ TSSZ yesterday about the now official leak of Banjo-Kazooie joining the gang in the XBOX360 edition of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, you may have noticed something different on one cover from the others.
To make way for the Rare duo prominence on the box art, a Sonic character had to make way, and that was Tails and his tornado. Banjo and Kazooie replace him on the art branded “Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing with Banjo Kazooie.”
For the moment, it’s not reflected on other iterations of the box art. But with Sonic getting so much prominence in the marquee title, and with murmurs about other console specific DLC on the rise, it has a few fans wondering if a purpose of this racing game–in that it’s meant to showcase Sega franchise characters, just as its predecessor Sega Superstars Tennis did–has been lost.
“The message this box art is giving out tells me SEGA can’t even stand on their own two legs with their own IPs now,” wrote Sonic Retro forumer OSM when the news broke. “They couldn’t have just stuck Banjo on the back of the box like Brawl did with Sonic and Snake?”
Some feel, regardless of the cost of Tails, Banjo and Kazooie’s inclusion just seems a little too prominent.
“It’s cool and all how B&K are on the cover of the 360 box, but they didn’t have to make them so…invasive,” wrote PY687 on the Sega forums. “They don’t fit in well–the duo should have been somewhere in the background instead.”
To be fair, the Sonic universe remains a huge chunk of the current ASR character roster. And we should again note that Tails remains on other console covers. That, however, assumes console exclusive characters won’t show up on other consoles.
But is it really Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing if non-Sega characters start taking prominence over others? Tails, after all, was Sonic’s first sidekick, a relationship going back 17 years.
“It just makes the game SEEM like a complete cash in,” wrote Ryan on the Sega Nerds forums.
We want to know what you think. Are you upset that Tails got pushed over for Banjo-Kazooie on the XBOX360 cover? Do you think their presence, on the cover or even in the game, dilutes the value of ASR as a Sega racing title? Tell us in the comments section.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened to the other 2 versions. Wii- Mario. PS3-Ratchet
Tails sad…. “SONIC! PS3″ “Kazooie xbox 360″ very cute
I think this is more of Rare and possibly Microsoft’s doing in pushing SEGA to prominently display Banjo. Of course, I know how notorious SEGA can be from time to time, but it’s rather odd even for them to go to great length to show a non-SEGA character guest starring in such a title. It could be more evident seeing as how the Xbox cover of the game also shows that Family Game sticker, and to this point, I never a saw such a sticker appear on a SEGA game for the 360, or any other Xbox 360 title for that matter.
In any case, this is being done to help boost sales, which isn’t exactly a bad thing, seeing as how Sumo Digital wants to see how well things go before we can start seeing DLC available for the game.
As a huge Tails Fan, I for one really don’t care that he got pushed aside. While I do think the Banjo-kazooiee is made far to prominate on the cover, I think the problem is more in the logo, than their image. If anyone remembers Soul Caliber 2 i believe, had console specific characters which was a HUGE selling point for the game. I think it’s only smart for Sega to advertise it, especially if it’s a feature exclusive to 360.
I don’t remeber people complaining about ‘non-Nintendo’ characters when Brawl was released. In fact, aside from brawl most games that do stuff like this usually have sai character on the boxart. Soul Calibar 4 with Link is a good example of this.
Not Tails! Maybe Shadow or Big, but not Tails!
OMG TAILS IS NOT ON BOXART LETS OVEREACT!!!
I love Banjo and Kazooie, but putting them here is like having Ringo Starr cameo at a Rolling Stones concert. There’s a visible connection, but it just doesn’t fit.
I really like Banjo’s truck. Can’t wait to play as him.
Wow…this is news?
Hey, we got Sonic there so we need Tails. It’s enough with just little Sonic.
But I do agree about that Banjo-Kazooie gets way too much attention. I love the idea with them in the game, but… it’s just too much! It’s just two special characters in a car… that’s all.
@DS: Haha! Some people complained. Especially a guy I know. He thought it ruined the whole game! That’s what I call overreacting, but he really think it was terrible.
I`m not sad it`s just a freaking cover artwork why are people getting sad just becuase Tails isn`t on the 360 version cover art it`s dumb reason for people to sad besides a better reason to be sad if Tails was taken out of the game becuase of B&K … great I know I`m going to get flamed for this
I hate Banjo/Kazooie! Tails is more important than a big bear and a small bird!
NO OFFENSE To BANJO-KAZOOIE FANS
Let’s just not forget that just because Banjo replaced Tails on the cover, he didn’t replace Tails in the game. Tails has already been shown in pics and trailers featuring the 360 version.
I don’t know if I needed to say that, but just incase some people are confused that Banjo might’ve replaced Tails in the whole game, I thought I had to mention it just incase.
I STILL WANT ESPIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Though I like the idea of Banjo & Kazooie begin in the game…THEY DON’T HAVE TO RUB IT IN!!!
^Hey daylengamer17, how much NOW do you want to bet that the 360 version will sell the most?
*facepalm* Oh, boy, another great time to see idiots overreact just because a piece of graphic design didn’t feature Tails.
Reminds me of the whining many “Sonic fans” made over Sonic being in a car earlier this year.
>“It just makes the game SEEM like a complete cash in,” wrote Ryan on the Sega Nerds forums.
Is he like the very last person on Earth to figure this out? I thought most of us had accepted this when we learned there was going to be a game where Sonic was in a car, racing the things from Amigo and Monkey Ball.
…Was this necessary? Respect to Tails for being an old character or whatever but…. who cares? I don’t really think Tails matters much in the context of the cover. This is Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, not Sonic and Tails & Sega ASR. If it has other popular Sega characters and Sonic’s name is prominent in the title it shouldn’t really matter if Tails is on the cover. He should almost be expected to have appear in the game.
Now, “with Banjo-Kazooie” may be too much, but if that were removed or replaced with a sticker saying “featuring Banjo-Kazooie” then I think that’d be quite alright. Is it wrong for Sega to want people to know about this guest character without having to look at the back (if it’s in a case)?
People realize this is the cover of a box art, right? What the hell is not having Tails on the box gonna make one iota of difference in the game?
Who cares if Tails isn’t there… New Tails stinks. I’m all for classic Tails though.
Actually, I take that back. Tails is still cool, it’s just his new voice that annoys me.
Maybe it’s a good thing that Banjo and Kazooie are on the cover as it will encourage more people to try the game. People seem to forget that not everyone is a Sonic fan…
Little kid sees box art: “SAWNIK! YAY! MUMMY BUY FOR ME!!!”
Sonic fan sees box art: “Hmmm it’s finally out. I think I shall purchase it then rant.”
Non-Sonic fan sees box art: “Sonic is gay. Oooh Banjo!”
TAILS,YOU HAVE TO PUSH THEM BACK!!
This is cool! But who will be in the PS3 version? And for the Nintendo version, Mario had better be in it!
Some of these comments are pretty ridiculous to be honest… I mean it’s a shame that Tails didn’t make the cover, and Banjo-Kazooie do look kinda pasted on there, but don’t people think this is taking things a little far? Just because a guest character (who for all intents and purposes is to help promote the sales of the game) is put on the cover, people think “All-Stars has lost its way”? Seriously? Wouldn’t it have been MORE like that if say AiAi or Samba were replaced? This is Sega Allstars, not Sonic Allstars, if anything the Sonic series is overrepresented in the game,
“It just makes the game SEEM like a complete cash in,” ~ Ryan
Sorry but this is kinda funny, because it’s a racing game, with Sonic in it, and tons of other characters… it’s almost as if it’s a cash in anyway! WHODA THUNK!?
Because Banjo is on the cover does this mean the quality of the game is going to drop? No, it just means the sales are going to rise.
Christ people. >_>
I agree with SuperLink. This is entire “article” is a waste.
Are we really reacting to something on the boxart? I mean seriously THE BOXART!