First Look at Portable Green Hill; Casino Night & Launch Base Confirmed Areas
Scans of the latest Nintendo Power issue surfaced this afternoon, and the Sonic Generations feature contained within dishes out plenty of details on both this and other versions.
First, Casino Night is a confirmed in-game stage, as 3DS exclusive. A boss from Launch Base is also seen in the issue, leading us to believe that too has made the cut in whole. Each version of the game will have a different set of stages, however, so it looks unlikely that any form of Launch Base will be available on the console version. Also adding uncertainty to the question: NP says the boss stages for 3DS will also remain exclusive to that version–some using Classic Sonic, others Modern.
The feature showcases interviews with both Takashi Iizuka and Jun Senoue. Pertaining more to the latter, we’ve already heard the melodic differences between classic and modern stages. It turns out classic remixes will also grace Generations, so a Classic Sonic stage in a modern era level will be accompanied with an appropriate “classic” remix.
Other items to note:
- Takashi Iizuka confirms in his interview a brand new principal antagonist for Generations, which “erased time and space,” according to Iizuka.
- Confirmed 2 player local race mode
- Special stages are coming back and they appear to be derived from Sonic Heroes.
- Tetsu Katano, who directed Sonic and the Black Knight and did work on the Sonic Adventure series, is directing the 3DS edition.
- Sonic Team and Dimps are co-developing the 3DS edition.
- Character wise, Iizuka says the 3DS edition will only have Sonic friends “who are integral to the story”–a contrast from the console counterpart.
- There will be no Wii edition of Sonic Generations. According to Iizuka, it’s because the point of the console edition is “reimagining the series’s classic zones in vivid, high-definition graphics.” The Wii can deliver 480p 16×9 graphics, but is not a high definition console.
Now, let’s get you right to the scans, courtesy of community scener Effexor. All relevant pages and new screenshots are in the gallery below.
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They made the Zelda 3DS graphics because they didn’t want to mess up old fan’s experience with the original.
So they choose to not make their game look better? How do you know this? Are you even aware of how the industry works? Zelda looks good, but you are saying it could look better? Hey maybe it could be, but it wont be for another year. Companies are still tinkering with 3DS hardware, and like all games, the first is never the best looking in terms of graphics. Compare graphics in mario galaxy 1 and 2, uncharted 1 and 2, ratchet and clank future 1 and 2, sonic 2006 and unleashed. It takes time to master how to use new technology and the 3ds is still pretty dang new. So I can see how you expect it to look perfect, but be reasonable and think about the work and time it really takes.
Launch Base Zone? 3DS exclusive? Dammit….I love Launch Base :/
Launch Base ONLY on 3DS? This better be a joke, or I will be very sad.
@thewafflefactory
The 3DS got a lot of ports on it’s way in the door. One of these ports is One Piece: Unlimited Cruise Special, a former 2-disc Wii game (Developed by Ganbarion, Produced & Published by NamcoBandai). It’s a Monster Hunter sized game with RPG elements and Dynasty Warriors sensibilities. Nine playable characters (with the ability to swap out at any time), lots of flashy effects on the moves including massive special attacks, usually 10-15 enemies onscreen at once, and lots of fully voiced cutscenes. Also available is a 2 player battle mode where you can use the main characters and even the boss characters to duke it out Power Stone style. This was BEFORE the port. The 3DS version is on only one cartridge and boasts all that, two new characters, a new mode where you play as the Marines, and a mode based on One Piece’s very recent ‘Marineford Arc’ that uses all new scenery, along with the obligatory 3D effect all without missing a step from the Wii version’s graphics (which are pretty amazing)*. The 3DS is pretty damn strong. You are right about one thing though, it takes time before the developers really know what they’re doing with new hardware. Games like OP:UC SP, are only the calm before a very violent storm. Quite frankly I think Sega’s just being a bit on the lazy side.
As for Zelda though, I’m fully ready to admit Nintendo and Grizzo are dumb though. They did in fact not kick the graphics up as much as they could have because they were afraid they’d loose the original art style and charm of the original OoT. They say they didn’t want it to end up looking like TP, but really it just sounds like an excuse to get lazy to me. :V
*Full disclosure though, both versions do suffer from slowdown from time to time, and the 3DS version lost the Wii’s motion controls.
Sonic and Sonic awesome.
Even so we can also assume sega also did play the lazy card on the 3ds version, but would we want it to distract us from the real version on the HD consoles and stuff? I wouldnt! More power more quality more levels more more more for yo moneys!
Gimme Ice Cap Zone in the HD Consoles. ._.
Chemical Plant Zone, Ice Cap Zone, Mushroom Hill Zone and City Escape, but mostly Ice Cap Zone! :U
All right, here we go….
Casino Night Zone and Launch Base Zone EXCLUSIVE to 3DS? Sega, I am dissapoint. -_- I guess that also means that the handheld version won’t have zones from the handheld games (Advance, Rush, GG, etc.).
Hooray, I guess it’s back to the all-powerful as heck monster-god cliche that ALL 3D Sonic games have (save for Colors).
Of course, while there are no decent multiplayer modes on the console games, the handheld games will get 2P local race mode. Is this a new Sonic trend now?
Nice to hear that classic Sonic’s gameplay is a lot closer to the classic games on the 3DS version, especially considering that DIMPS is involved. Maybe there a silver lining for Sonic 4: Episode II…
Wierd….only the main characters important to the storyline are in the story for the handheld version whereas several Sonic characters from the franchise will make cameos in the console version? It’s literally the vice versa of Colors. And why do they say sometimes it’s modern Sonic and friends going back in time, other times it’s just Sonic?
…..At least people wanting a Wii port have the 3DS version to look forward too (or hopefully an unannounced Project Cafe console port)….I wonder the NGP can get the handheld version of Generations….?
Incorporating much of the feedback into Episode II, eh? I don’t think we’ll be seeing it anytime soon this year then…but if the game makes up for Episode 1′s mistakes, then it’ll be worth the wait.
Last but not least, classic Eggman/Robotnik CON-to-the-FIRMED!
I now have a reason to buy a Nintendo 3DS. <3
@Yeow95
“I guess that also means that the handheld version won’t have zones from the handheld games (Advance, Rush, GG, etc.).”
How the hell did you come to THAT conclusion? I don’t see the relation.
“I guess it’s back to the all-powerful as heck monster-god cliche that ALL 3D Sonic games have (save for Colors).”
Again, how the hell did you come to that conclusion? No one said there would be a mosnter. Even if there was big freakin deal. It’s how most Sonic games are, fighting giant monsters or giant robots which may or may not be controlled by Eggman, as long as he fights them as Super Sonic it’s all good.
It’s hard for the consol games to do multiplayer in modern games when you only play as one character, Sonic. Fault of the fans. In the 3DS version, you’ll notice both use 2D gameplay, so maybe that’s why it’s easier for them to do it.
They got reception for Sonic 4 ep 1, they’d improve it SOMEHOW anyways.
With Colors, in the DS version all those characters appeared as part of the story talking to Sonic. They might mean that, due to Generations focusing on key points of Sonic’s history, only corrosponding key characters will appear in both versions, just in the Wii versions more non-story-related characters might appear in scenery, as exclusive bosses, or in possible hub words or unlockable models/profiles to look at like trophies.
“At least people wanting a Wii port have the 3DS version”
That would imply that having a Wii automatically means we have a 3DS. I have a Wii and a 360, you’re saying if I didn’t have a 360 at least I could get it on 3DS due to having a Wii. But the problem is I DON’T have a 3DS, so that wouldn’t be true. Also, some ppl who don’t have a Wii might have a 3DS. =P
Now while I am expecting the 3DS graphics for this to be great, we all know that if they would do a Wii version it would look better than this. So why not SEGA!?!? If you’re gonna put the game on the 3DS but not the Wii because you feel that the Wii’s graphics can’t handle this, just look at Sonic Colors. Would it look that different on the 360? (Give or take adding a few polygons)
Aw man, they’re going back to “EGGMAN IS SECOND BANANA TO THE REAL BAD GUY!” again? Lame.
@Sonical
It’s not a fantasy, just humorous baseless speculation; a fantasy would imply that’s what I wanted to happen
I haven’t played any Megaman game except X4 (and I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count), but EggBotnik has rarely been THE final antagonist. Of course they could still pull a double-twist and have him the final anyway, especially given that this game is supposed to be a love letter to fans.
…I just wouldn’t be surprised if the love letter ended with “PS, stop complaining”
Then again, they could always pull a Metal Sonic on us too.
And there were idiots who thought the 3DS had the processing power of a 360. Pfft.
Oh also: pipe special stages FTW!
omg??? LAUNCH BASE? BOOOOOOOOOOOO! -_- OMG! MODERN CASINO? YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! O_o
>Dimps
Annnnnd now I suddenly don’t have to buy a 3DS.
Why can’t we get something like this for the PS360 version?
So I suppose we’ll wait for removing “portable = 2(.5)D” rule.
I’ll wait with judging graphics until I’ll see a trailer, but use of touch screen needs work.
ITT: A bunch of people who don’t understand the speed/polygon relationship complain about graphics in still screenshot.
@Ryan Bloom
Eggman is almost always the real bad guy, just not the final threat. The final boss is usually a “situation out of control” kinda deal, if you’ll notice. The only true times he’s “not the real bad guy” is in Shadow The Hedgehog and Sonic 06 (somewhat Sonic Heroes more or less)
Besides, who cares? No one ever complained that Team Rocket weren’t the main threat of the Pokemon anime even tho they were the main “villains” of the show.
@Nomad
It amuses me how apparently if they like the looks of Sonic Gens on 3DS, then they must buy a 3DS, but if they don’t then they will NOT buy a 3DS regardless of what other games there may be on the system. It almost sounds like that type of fan’s life revolves around only Sonic. lol Lame.
@KucklesChaotix
Who said we werent’ getting something like this for PS360? What if we end up with Carnival Night Zone and Death Egg Zone’s boss? Heh? Think about it. lol
@
*SIGH* Well this destroyed my hopes. Here’s hoping for Sonic Adventure 3, 2013. Calling it.
I’m willing to lay odds that this “enemy that erases time” is none other than our old friend EGGMAN NEGA! Think about it, his last few plans involved destroying all of time or more in some form or another, and he’s more than willing to die with his plan if it came to that. He’s utterly insane and would make the perfect villain compared to Eggman’s degeneration over the years,
Besides, Nega’s clothes are based on an old concept for Robotnik where he had bee stripes. So it would make sense.,