Iizuka Interviewed; Time to Think About Gimmicks?
Sega’s upcoming Sonic Generations received a four page spread in the latest edition of the UK’s Official XBOX Magazine.
According to a summary on The Sonic Stadium, sans a few noteworthy items, there wasn’t much to write home about in the feature. Still, classic fans may want to know at least two details from the issue; according to OXM, Sonic’s jump physics are “weighted perfectly,” and in the magazine’s interview with Takashi Iizuka, the Sonic Team head said he mandated no verbatim level layouts from past games for this update.
And then there’s this; many are aware of that quick section in Modern Sonic’s Green Hill stage where the blue blur races a giant Chopper on rails. Those events will apparently be a constant throughout all of Sonic Generations’s stages, as Iizuka affirmed they will each have “a new visual element to keep things fresh.”
We have known about these elements in the past, back when they were called gimmicks. We also know how much outrage there has been over many of them in recent years. Time to worry? Probably not, though future reveals of Generations stages will ultimately cement or break apart those feelings.
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yay and/or noooooo
Takashi Iizuka, leave Sega before you ruin the game. PLEASE!
Haha, city escape truck chaise anyone?
A chase in EVERY level? No.
Keep it simple at 2-4 in the whole game.
I don’t think he meant it like that. He meant things like the cave will make things fresh because they are new to that area yet still visually fit into that level in some way. That cave was in no way ever part of GHZ before, but now we have a nice underground cavern with water below you. He doesn’t mean LOL CHASE SCENE EVERY LEVEL! He means “we’re going to throw in some new visual elements to make everything look fresh and new and not just rehash the hedgehog 4.”
This isn’t really a good thing…but it’s also not a bad thing…it depends on how creative they get on the chase scenes…like I’m pretty sure they’re remaking City Escape from Adventure 2 since they re-sung the song…so I’m pretty sure that the damn truck will also return…if they add stuff to it like ducking, dodging, and boosting at the right times…it can get interesting…but it depends on how creative they are….we can’t say anything for now since we only saw one freaking level…so it’s not good news…it’s not bad news…but it is the thing I love most all plain ol’ news…and I couldn’t have it any other way…but that’s just my opinion….
What does Sonic and the Black Knight’s shittyness have to do with Generation’s potentially overusing the chase mechanic from Sonic Adventure?
Just because so many so-called “gimmicks” have failed doesn’t mean that they ALWAYS fail, or are always doomed to fail. For instance, the Wisps in Sonic Colors were lauded.
Besides, what constitutes a “gimmick,” anyway? I’ve never quite understood the difference between a “hook” and a “gimmick” in a Sonic game.
Okay I’m pretty sure when Iizuka brought up the waterfall area as an example, he didn’t mean the game would feature more and more chase sequences.
@ Kate
I believe a gimmick is something like Black Knight’s use of a sword as a mandatory part of the game, and required to do anything. The Wisps only really count as this for some areas you can’t get by without them, otherwise they’re just ahook since their abilities are brief and don’t get in the way of Sonic’s gameplay at all. Much like the giant Chopper, the GUN Truck, the orca…
And yeah, why the sudden idea that all these small hooks will be chase sequences, guys? They’ve got so much more to work with than just those, and we’re likely to get something other than a chase with Classic provided he gets any of these things.
It’d be nice for some new info that was actually interesting
The fact it’s called a ‘visual element’ means it’s a gimmick you don’t have to play.
It’s less a gimmick in the sense of ‘werehog’ or ‘wisps’ and more in the sense of ‘that flaming guy in the background of that one stage in Mortal Kombat’ or something.
What exactly is a gimmick and why is it bad? =P /n00bquestion
Everybody takes this shit out of context when he says things like this. Let’s just wait until we see more.
-Oh no-, everyone. A simple statement from an interview. Time to go ‘Uh oh’, ‘Look out’, and ‘can you say… gimmick???’ again!
Seriously, Tristan. I do admire your quickness in bringing news to the front, and it’s why I come here regularly, but it would be -much appreciated- if you didn’t start most interview/new information articles with some sort of harbringer of doom-n-gloom to come. Yes, we need to stay cautious, but trying to rile people up by putting out this wary and negative attitude over things that -probably don’t deserve it- is not a good way to report on things.
Can’t we just, I dunno… wait until the game comes out before we make any snap judgments? Play it ourselves, that sort of thing?
Anyone?
I agree jacknick, it only takes a little snowball to make an avalanche. I see that a lot around here, and not by us, but with the authors of these news articles on tssz. It kinda comes off as trying to fit in with the stereotype of how people feel about sonic. “uh oh guys, remember that one time I didn’t say uh oh but should have?!?!” now when that day comes I will make sure to say it!”
i think by “Gimmick” they mean for example in sonic cd you would be transported back in time or to the future or if they added a ridersstage or ice cap you would ride on a hoverboard/snowboard for a short time. there’s a lot more that i think they will do besides Chase sequences.
It’s unlikely that he thinks it’s doom and gloom he is simply exploiting it for clicks. There is also the chance that this attitude has evolved from him taking passive aggressive jabs at anyone that strongly criticized Sonic 4 and is pissed off at the countless “better than sonic 4″ comments since the first gameplay footage of Generations.
Well, does anyone want a full grains of storybook games, a glass of Sonic Riders, a bowl of Wisps, and a serving of Werehog for the anniversary? Because I got that in my story, Princess Cerulean and the Sonic Adventures.
It’s just visuals not gimmicks -_- gimmicks are forced garbage that breaks the flow of the game like werehog or sword or any different gameplay from Sonic Adventure games.
Oh, Tristan, you’re such a -card-.
The fan reaction to every game makes me sick, it kills my hype to the point where I don’t give a shit. I want to be better excited for this game but why do the fans always have to ruin everything? *cries in corner*
Pssh, remember when the spring, ring-collecting, loop running, robot breaking gimmicks were hated in Sonic games? ….neither do I. lol
Technically we’re using the word “gimmick” wrong as it refers to extra features that are unecessary and most don’t care for.
However in this case it’s an opinion. Like we’re mostly using the world “gimmick” in place of “theme” or “elements”. Sonic with a sword has to do with the fact that the game about KNIGHTS. That’s just saying Sonic rolling into a ball is a gimmick even thought it’s Sonic the HEDGEHOG.
Can someone fix the article? It makes it sound like a “chase scene” will be in every stage, and despite many ppl commenting that’s not what it means, others seem to still be confused and failed to realize Iizuka ACTUALLY meant something “new” would be featured in each level to keep it fresh. (Which I consider good news. How can people think a chase scene in every stage would be considered “fresh”? Make sense people. Obviously he didn’t mean that. lol)
Like someone said and I noticed. 2 things actually. The articles ALWAYS seem to act like SEGA or Takashi is giving us possibly bad news (bias as HELL) and the fans always take news and announcements out of context. Like even when he says something smart, true, correct and is good news, fans take it to be their responsibility to twist the words around to mean something different so they can have something to complain about. tsk tsk.
And calling the chase scene as “overused” is like calling the jump move overused. My only hope is we play Super Sonic(s) in the final boss this time. Colors disappointed in that area, ESPECIALLY since they finally gave us a certain villain as the final boss only to insult him by saying Super Sonic isn’t needed to beat him like previous final bosses. What, can’t they put Super Sonic in levels AND the final boss? And as much as I like that idea, can we actually collect EMERALDS to turn Super? At least the red rings are a good sign and heads up but still I don’t like searching for rings/medals. Ugh. Leave that stuff to the emblems that actually unlock content (that apparently won’t be in Generations to unlock >.>)
gim·mick (gmk)
n.
1.
a. A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.
b. An innovative or unusual mechanical contrivance; a gadget.
2.
a. An innovative stratagem or scheme employed especially to promote a project: an advertising gimmick.
b. A significant feature that is obscured, misrepresented, or not readily evident; a catch.
3. A small object whose name does not come readily to mind.
*************************************************************************
That being said, gimmicks can be good IF THEY WORK. Even in the classic games, there were small little gimmicks, such as flying with Tails in Sky Chase Zone, building up speed with those hands-like treadmills in Hydrocity Zone, the many seesaws in Starlight and Hill Top Zone, etc. Even the elemental shields in Sonic 3&K and the time traveling in Sonic CD can count as gimmicks. If you want, the momentum-based gameplay of the classics can count as a gimmick.
Then, you have modern Sonic…….other than small stuff like snowboarding in the Adventure Series and a FEW alternate gameplay styles, the Wisps were the only gimmick done correctly; the only gimmick that the 2a definition can be applied to. Stuff like Sonic and the Black Knight’s wagglefest, the Werehog, Sonic and the Secret Rings’ control scheme, shard hunting, etc. are all appliable to the 2b definition. In other words, the problems.
So the questions are: Are the chase scenes gimmicks? Yes. Will it be used in EVERY modern Sonic stage in Generations? Unlikely, but even if it does, would it really matter that much (at least when you compare them to a few other gimmicks listed above *hint* *hint*)?
This is just Tristan trying his best to make a mountain out of a molehill to spice up his news story. I think this past article pretty much proves it:
http://www.tssznews.com/2010/09/17/tgs-video-exclusive-first-look-at-planet-wisps-new-area/
Ah, I see.
So, didn’t Marble Zone have those falling spike/chain platforms as gimmicks? And Mushroom Hill had all those mushrooms and other bouncy objects? That place was chock-full of gimmicks, I don’t see why they’re bad when done right.
Although I’m certainly hoping for a City Escape G.U.N. chase scene.
Oh.
My.
God.
This isn’t even a gimmick. They’re just large scale scripted events.
@krazeeKidd102
I don’t really think the shard hunting or WereHog were failed gimmicks. That’d be like saying Knuckles in Sonic & Knuckles was a failed gimmick because his gameplay was different. In Sonic Unleashed, both day and night gameplays were pretty different from the source gameplay they came from. The WereHog’s gameplay was similar to that of other SUCCESSFUL platformers.
I consider these specific things as “hit-and-miss” and not really being done BAD as much as it is just some ppl didn’t like it. It is an opinion that decides these gimmicks are bad, not the actual quality of the gimmicks.
Plus, the grinding gimmick was a nice touch (until Sonic Heroes onward, but that’s similar to how Sonic’s running is sloppy these days too). The homing attack was good. The quickstep was good. The wall-jump was good. Saying Classic Sonic was completely perfectly done and Modern Sonic was completely problematic is bias. Neither side is completely horrible nor perfect.
Also, no, there won’t be a chase scene in every stage. That’s NOT what Iizuka said. There will be something new in every stage as to be a little fresh rather than just rehashing the stages is what he’s saying.
And yes there’s gimmicks all over the classic games that are done right and some that weren’t. It happens. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about peeps. o3o
I hope u guys are right about the visuals not being chases