Negativity! Oh No!
For the most part, the Sonic franchise has escaped years of built-up jaded snark at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. But combine a relatively flat reaction to Microsoft’s Kinect device for XBOX 360 with Sonic Free Riders planned a launch title–with a basic demo on display not playable for attendees at E3–and you’ll get a bit of backlash.
Such is the case with Destructoid writer Jordan Devore, who made his skepticism known in a brief preview published yesterday.
“Don’t get me wrong, Sonic’s friends aren’t helping the situation, but this implementation of the tech screams ‘gimmicky’ to me,” he wrote. Later, Devore referenced the lack of attendee playability to help mold his first opinion.
“Who knows — Free Riders could be an absolute blast to play and we wouldn’t even know it,” Devore added. “One thing is for absolute sure, though: the part where you furiously swipe your arms back and forth to move through water will grow old insanely fast.”
So far, no one has figured out why actually playing Free Riders has been limited to Sega personnel at this year’s expo. One thing that’s apparent from watching video released is how this is clearly an early build, and that may have something to do with it. Still, Microsoft announced Free Riders as one of fifteen launch titles for peripheral when it’s released this November. If Free Riders is still in the early stages, it has to move forward, and fast.
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Kinecting Sonic to the bargain bin.
Well what can you expect from a “gimmicky” piece of hardware in the first place? Seems kind of redundant to say a Kinect game is gimmicky.
I agree with ChaoticFox.
It was gimmicky the moment you figured out how it played
“Sonic’s friends aren’t helping the situation”
My god its a fucking racing game, what, would they expect Sonic to race himself?
Seriously this “to many characters” vendetta is getting really old, really fast
@Serpx
I know what you mean. These foolish people who are at the e3 need to stop putting down Sonic. The kinect is more gimmicky than the game. It’s a total wii and eyetoy ripoff.
Is Kinect not one big gimmick to begin with? As ChaotixFox said.
After all, Eyetoy did it first, and it’s not like a majority of the games will be aimed at the hardcore, reviewers should be looking at these games from the visceral angle of a ten year old – are they going to like it?
It’s the ‘gimmicks of the gimmicks’ I’m interested in – being able to watch movies at voice command and all that jazz.
@ Mike
That’s the first ‘decent’ Kinect joke I’ve heard.
@ Crysore
I know what you mean. They’re really aren’t that many “MAIN” characters. And there is definitely nowhere near as many characters as just one Square Enix game.
@ ChaoticFox
Agreed.
I don’t care what Destructoid says though. I’m sure that I’ll love this game. Looks amazingly fun.
By the way. Why the hell are they saying all this about a game THEY HAVEN’T EVEN PLAYED? How the fuck are these people journalists?
@Edge
They are paid to say they are, that’s how.
@ Skai Cyan
That would probably be the best explanation.
@Crysore:
Since they didn’t even play the game yet, they were probably trying to find something extra to criticize.
@Edge
Clearly your not fimiliar with Jim Sterlings masterpiece about Ekans.
This guy is an idiot,
Calling this game being gimmicky is like saying fire is hot, what he was expecting from a game that need a kinnect, the most gimmicky piece of tech of this generation being gimmicky?
Why people like him are journalists in the first place beats me.
And the comment about Sonic friends is just facepalm worthy.
Oh goodness, here we go again. Why do people act so negative when they discuss about features in a game that is not released, yet? This whole argument is getting old.
Although I agree that the whole “Sonic should be the only playable character!!!” argument is getting old, and that the only types of games you can really make for a gimmicky piece of hardware are gimmicky ones, the journalist does have a point — this game is not looking good what so ever. The paddling of the arms like a lunatic for the water parts is absolutely laughable. And BTW, you don’t have to play a game in order to criticize it. You’re still seeing how it plays either way, so in most cases, it doesn’t really matter whether the controller is in your hand or someone else’s, so I think we should all stop ripping on the journalist. You question why he has the job — I’m sure there’s a reason he does and you don’t.
As far as Kinect being a Wii ripoff… yes, without a shadow of a doubt, the Wii started the whole motion trend and Microsoft and Sony picked up on it, but if anything, the PS Move is the Wii ripoff, not the Kinect. And there’s a difference between ripping on a game (especially in Sonic 4′s case where the whole entire thing has been leaked) and ripping on a piece of gaming hardware — the difference being that games will continue to come out for a long time on the hardware. Bottom line is you have to wait and see how the Kinect is going to be used in the future. Launch titles just don’t do a system justice.
Negativity! It’s to be expected and isn’t worth snarky comments! >:O
Let’s face it, the entire Sonic Riders IS gimmicky. You have anthropomorphic characters on hoverboards, assigned a certain attribute type to access shortcuts with a limited amount of air/gravity points/boost to get the job done. Combine that with motion control, the biggest video game gimmick of them all, and that all but cements it. Not exactly a new revelation.
However, that doesn’t necessarily make it any less fun, and any less…selling. From what has been presented, the Riders series seems to translate well to motion controls, and it appears to be one of the few Kinect titles that’s, you know, an ACTUAL GAME. Now that’s surprising!
I still want the game.
@Ceejus
Have you ever heard of a piece of technology called the eye-toy? That’s where motion controls in games started… and it sucked (opinion). It also sucked on the Wii and the iPod touch (opinion). I really hope move and Kinect can make motion control good.
I’d play it.
With a controller.
Also, wtf, it’s kinda hard for Sonic to race himself, don’tcha think? Don’t like the other characters, don’t play as them?
I mean, seriously..? He actually said that. Wow what a moron. I bet he only time attacks Mario Kart, because of Mario’s “USELESS FRIENDS RRRGH”.
Its funny, because this is probably one of Kinects better launch titles.
The rest are just Wii clones.
>Sonic Riders
>On Kinect
>Three other Sonic games coming out this year, so it’s obviously not getting the best effort Sonic Team can muster.
If anybody is surprised that this is garbage, I’ll be surprised.