First Details After Sega Contest Success
Sega has made good on their word to reveal details about Project Needlemouse today, after their week long Sonic trivia challenge proved an incredible success. However, what they revealed wasn’t much.
Today, we now know for certain that Sonic will be the only playable character in the game. On Monday, we had projected anywhere from 1-3 characters would make the cut from the list of 11 given. Most everyone agreed that Sonic was a given–it was only a matter of whether Sega would throw a curveball and add to the roster. To be sure, Sega also affirmed that “no new characters” would be introduced in the game–”playable or otherwise,” according to the reveal. That may be important, as it still opens the door for Tails or Knuckles–who were not mentioned in Sega’s list this week–to make a classic, non-playable cameo.
Sega had also had some concept art to show of a Kanipanchi-esque Badnik, and according to Sega’s USA blog, the art is meant to dictate the next Sonic’s direction:
This art reveals an enemy from the game – but at the same time, it also reveals much more about the spirit, and direction, that Project Needlemouse is taking. For all of you older fans who were stoked by the news above, this should be the icing on the cake. Take a look, and click to see the full-sized image.
Here is that artwork, below. You’ll notice that there is Japanese markup on the work, so at least some of the final product will be the work of Sega’s Japanese division. That we have it on an angle, in 3D space, may also tell us something. So, we don’t have video, screenshots, or even a formal name–just the art and the assurance that Sonic will be going solo in his next game. Do you think this was worth the trivia hassle? Tell us in our comments section.
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EPIC WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SEGA!!!!!!!!!
Yes, it was worth it cause it does show how the game will be for the Classic Sonic Gamer, and how it will break the new character trend.
We learned Sonic’s the only playable character, we’ve learned that there are no -new- characters that are “playable or -otherwise-” (also a bonus), and we’ve seen concept art of what seems to be a revised Badnik.
Honestly? This is, alone, something that makes me pretty happy. It’s not -much-, sure, but it’s -something-. And hopefully, we’ll be seeing more, soon.
Kanipanchi, looks nice. Finally some old fashioned badnicks.
“Is it worth it?”
OF COURSE, IT’S WORTH IT! This just made my day as a long time Sonic fan after seeing that Crabmeat-esque artwork!
Epic win, SEGA! You just got my attention again!^^
I like 3D Sonic, but I grew up on 2D Sonic and now I can feel the nostalgia coming back. The die-hard fans of 3D (who detest this concept) will just have to wait, this is our time to shine lol.
” That we have it on an angle, in 3D space, may also tell us something. ”
Not really, as some of the badnik artworks that were shown in the old Sonic the Hedgehog manuals were either drawn or rendered in 3D.
So…. Sega’s finally giving the retro fans what they want. I take my hat off to you.
I am very pleased with this.
ALTHOUGH I hope it isn’t just a Sonic 1 remake in HD.
I was kind of hoping for Froggy though
Nah, just kidding.
There is only 1 character I want to see in a newer game, and that is MIGHTY!!
Yeah, just as we suspected. And great! I like Sonic alone.
My inner retrofag is doing the monkey. =D
It is worth it. I know most of us wanted a trailer, or screenshot, but hey, SEGA is dealing with LEAKED information alot, so they are very careful, all we can do now is wait a bit till some new info comes along, or E3…….sigh
Thank you SEGA ^_^
I love how Sega is appearing to do this whole ‘back to its roots’ thing for Needlemouse, but their tone about it almost sounds hostile. To me at least, it almost sounds like they *don’t* want to do this game but are doing it to please the hardcore fans. (‘You want only Sonic playable? Fine, here he is! You want classic styling? Fine, here’s a badnik! You asked for them, and it’s coming so you have nothing you can possibly complain about!’)
If deep down Sega knew we always wanted a game like Needlemouse, I can’t help but feel like they would have done one by now. Every game since Sonic Heroes (especially ’06 and Unleashed) have been hyped to ‘return to Sonic’s roots’ and ultimately none of them have. It’s taking till *now* for Sega to do this? Years after seeing the amazing successes of NSMB and Megaman9? I don’t know, something about Needlemouse is just sketchy to me.
But even after all that said, hey, Sega’s finally doing it and I couldn’t be happier or more excited. Only Sonic playable is a good start, and classic badnik styles is on the right track also (no more generic Egg Pawns and GUN soldiers!!) Hopefully Sega will be as open with Needlemouse as they’ve been with ASR as 2010 continues, and we won’t have to wait months after a teaser trailer for Sega to acknowledge the game exists as we have this past fall.
Now that is what I’m talkin’ about…
Well, I really like that artwork alot!
But I’m fine with Sonic alone, but it would be fun to play as an other character as a unlockable bonus or something. :p That’s how I want it, but only Sonic playable is a good thing and I think that this is going to be something special….or at least I hope that! But I want some screenshots! :p
That is one badass looking Crabmeat. In fact…. It’s even better than I expected. It looks like one of the old Badnik designs being used for Rich Kuta’s film with classic but more beefed up in mind.
Consider me absolutely thrilled. Sega actually did something right for once!
Of course it was worth it! Sonic alone is what I’d been hoping all along! And don’t forget. they said the game is built from the ground up! Can’t Wait! I’m gonna get this game the day it comes out!
Ah, right.
It might be worth noting that the concept art above isn’t Crabmeat, per se — but rather, of Shellcracker (Kanipanchi) from Metropolis Zone of Sonic 2.
http://www.soniczone0.com/games/sonic2/downloads/s2-mz-badniks.jpg
I like the design of it. Probably gonna be a 2.5D game. (3D graphics on a 2D plane) Hopefully more info will come out at a later date.
YESH!
I’ve been waiting for this day for a looong lime.
I’m very, very happy that this game will include only Sonic as a playable character.
These news are great.
Although we’ve been talking about it and Sega really hadn’t given anything to the fans but Sega really proved that the game will be not just a 2D project but a reto 2D project with only Sonic playable!
Waiting for the next news. ^_^
As far as Needlemouse is concerned, I’m pleased with these developments. As for the ‘contest’, that was a fucking rip. You can’t honestly tell me you don’t feel cheated for all the work we did. For a whole community’s work, we got a paragragh and concept art. CONCEPT ART, the damn thing might not even make it into the final game!
YES! YES! YES! I’M SO HAPPY!
meh, not surprising.
I just want more info DX
i think if done properly a 2-D game with proper pinball physics and level design along with hand drawn HD sprites would be wonderful. So far i’not worried about graphics or music as those two are two aspects in which Sega never lets down. Right now i’m more concerned about gameplay.
@GREG THE CAT: i think you’re right, this little fellow here does look alot like the one in Sonic 2 (best 2D platformer game that still rapes any Mario 2D game), Hope we can get a new chemical plant zone. Now the question, do you guys think this is going to be a downloadable title or will it be sold as a full retail disc (hopes for this, i want my box & manual, this is the right way to go).
Anyway if this is for 360/PS3 DLC content would certainly be welcome.
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!!
Great!! everything has worked for the better, I so cant wait for some new concept art of old Badniks. Sega you have my thanks!!
I love that they had a poll about who should not be in the game, and it was completely pointless since nobody will make it.
what a dissapointment i was expecting more and i liked playing as other characters.:(
Quick. Hire Matthew Wood to voice some of the Badniks.
I am so freaking happy the badniks are back. I missed them so much, they are THE Sonic enemies and always should be. I’m incredibly surprised they’re bringing back Shellcracker, a former badnik from Sonic 2′s Metropolis Zone!
Needless to say I’m very pleased right now, and I hope everything else we hear about this game has the same positive affect this little gem of news gave me today.
This is great news sonic is on hi o…Wait so whats the game about? Does he turn into a demon every time he goes into shadows or something.
——-
Trust is at an all time low
Here’s hoping to see more info on the game, I’m really thrilled now!
All that hassle for this? Oh well.
Sega, I admit it.
I love you. You just made my year. Thank you.
OMG Its CRABMEAT!!!!!
Its Shellcracker, not crabmeat. Anyway its pretty cool :]
@Skai Cyan
Yea I kinda knew Sonic would get top billing, but it’s amazing how the Sonic fans came together for it.
Yeah this is nice and all, but after all this shit they could’ve given at least 2.
YEAH, I’M JUST GONNA BE A DOUCHE ABOUT IT. THANKS, SEGA. (was actually 60% serious there)
Frankly I’m a little disappointed Shadow didn’t make it, but hey, he’s not the reason I buy Sonic games… he’s simply one of them.
With that said, still going to be looking forward to it.
Is…Is that a Badnik?!
PREORDER RIGHT NOW!!
this could be only one thing….THE FUCK’N REMAKE OF DA 1ST SONIC GAME ON DA GENNISIS!!!!
Heck no not a remake of Sonic 1. Sonic 1 is overdone (and it rhymes too!). As much as I love it, we don’t need a remake. And it’s clearly obvious this is Shellcracker from Metropolis Zone of Sonic 2.
And I’m really glad Shadow didn’t make it in. Although I would’ve probably liked Big in (where he would play like his Heroes counterpart), it is good to know that Sonic is the only one playable out of those choices. Even though I still want Tails and Knuckles… ;_;
And the robot is awesome. Here’s hope for a great start to give an even better finish. Hate to tell you modern fans this, but it’s our turn. We haven’t had one since 1999 (or arguably, 1994). We deserve this.
It IS no remake.. Its totally new
Greatest news in the Sonic franchise since Sonic Adventure.
Some people are aggravated about how Sega treated this as something spectacularly amazing, and how the end result was something everyone expected, and a bit of Concept Art. I don’t think the ‘prizes’ were the true aim here.
Me and some friends have deduced that this whole thing was, really, to see what -we- as a community would do. They may have wanted to see the overall reaction from the community, to test how well we would all come together for an event such as the one this week. So see just -what- we would do… Seeing how excited we all have been for the aspect of Sonic-only, for the aspect of a classic-style game, with the confirmation of Classic Badniks… Perhaps that’s really what the true aim of their ‘mission’ was.
And, from what I can tell, we all certainly showed them our support, our knowledge, and just how much we care for Sonic, as well as the entire franchise. This, personally, is actually very important. Who knows? Perhaps by displaying just how much we care, and how much we know, we may have just opened Sega’s eyes to what -helps- the Sonic games stand out to us.
Time will tell, yes?
Perhaps the information today wasn’t really anything ‘new’ to us. But given past articles this month, it’s certainly -something-.
Let’s take the good news we have, and just await further details. From what I see, we may not have to wait too much longer.
Awsome this is the same badnick from the Genesis ones
but in 3d
SEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I don’t understand about the direction the Badnik is supposed to be suggesting.
Maybe Animated? Cel-Shaded when in 3D?
OMG! Crabmeat’s been given a makeover!!!
Woah, waitainute. Classic 2D Sonic gameplay? Only Sonic playable? Mr. Needlemouse? I think that the questions were actually hints as to the gameplay. Think about it. We had a question as to what the old enemies were, and here we are with a Badnik. They asked Sonic’s original name, and here we have Project Needlemouse. I dunno…
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love SONIC!!!!
Wow, big surprise… Just what I expected…