Expresses Interest in Returning to Help with Franchise
In an interview with GamesIndustry International, Prope’s Yuji Naka, one of the key individuals behind the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, conceded that in his opinion, recent Sonic fare simply doesn’t compare to the past.
“I also think that recent iterations have not been as fun when compared to those of the past,” Mr. Naka said in the interview. “I think the number one reason for this is that the games have become much easier, so the gamer doesn’t feel that extreme joy that comes with the satisfaction of accomplishing something that was very difficult to achieve.”
In the interview, Mr. Naka suggests Sonic games of today are tailor made to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. He believes it would do Sega some good to up the challenge a bit.
“Sonic has a very simple control scheme that is capable of doing a lot of advanced things while sprinting at a high speed, that’s what makes it a good game in my opinion,” Mr. Naka explained. “I think even moderately raising the difficulty level in the future could work well.”
Those remarks led to Mr. Naka expressing an interest in returning to Sega in the future to perhaps work on Sonic again, or properly revive another of his classic franchises, such as NiGHTS into Dreams.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to do so but perhaps at some point in the future if I could come back and contribute, that could be fun and gratifying,” he said.
Mr. Naka also noted he’d like to see the rivalry between Mario and Sonic from the 90s revived again. You can read the piece in full at the link cited above.
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@ChaoticFox
Sorry, I’m getting my opinion mixed in there. What I’m implying is that the new games aren’t any worse than the old ones, which is not really what I was trying to say. However, I still believe that good or not, Sonic has evolved. And it is a good thing: ever since Unleashed renovated the 3D Sonic formula, review scores have generally increased. It’s actually a good time to be a Sonic fan right now because more people are getting aware of the series. We’re also seeing an upsurge in quality. Honestly, your interpretation of that remark doesn’t really make sense, but whatever.
You also can’t deny that classicization that has been happening. That is the heart of games like Sonic 4, Generations, and even Colors with its mainly 2D gameplay and revival of classic enemies, Super Sonic, Eggman as final boss, etc. Those games are still fine because they are totally new (well except for Sonic 4).
Also… do you find the modern Sonic games really easy? Maybe I just suck at them, which is very true, but boost and 3D do not harmonize for me. I’ve died more times on Generations than on any other Sonic game made. Upping the difficulty would cause the games to become more and more inaccessible for new players, something that the series is getting right now and is a good thing. Remember, this is my opinion.
But you’ve made me read the article again, and I have to say that I now agree with Naka wholeheartedly. It would be awesome if he got a chance to come back and help out.
WHO VOTED NO ON THE POLL?!!
@A
“Interesting that he’d say this now, and I agree with him. But I don’t necessarily think that this is a bad thing”
I’m assuming that what you’re agreeing with him on is the quote this entire article is centered on (and if not, you should specify):
“I also think that recent iterations have not been as fun when compared to those of the past,”
Unless you’re talking about an entirely different remark, your comment says VERBATIM that you do not think the lack of fun is a bad thing. There is no room for misinterpretation here.
I’m also not denying that classicization has been happening, I’m denying that Naka’s comment is in any way inferring that there is anything wrong with the modern Sonic style or that his proposed method for “fixing” it would be to instantly revert back to a 16-year old formula, which is what many people keep assuming.
I honestly can’t get a bead on you. Your first comment said you hoped we wouldn’t turn the series into a classic-fest, then your most recent one talks about Sonic’s “evolution”, which you go on to describe as having undergone significant “classicization”, and how it represents an upsurge in quality.
Then you try to say that the newer games aren’t easy at all, but follow up with “I now agree with Naka wholeheartedly” despite him expressing an opinion that is DIRECTLY CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
Am I the only person having trouble following any of that?
@ChaoticFox
Nope…
GOD Mario-hating Sonic fans are among the most annoying in existance. But if him coming back means we’ll see another NiGHTS game…welcome back, Mr. Naka.
Says the guy that nearly killed the franchise 6 years ago…..
So the man That ruined the sonic franchise back in the mid 2000s wants to return to ruin it again.
Yuji Naka just needs to understand his haters don’t want him back at Sonic Team, The Man hates Americans and yes Naka fans that includes his American fans, The other reason he wants to return to sonic team to extend his discrimination into US gaming He wants to make his video games hard for the disable and handicapped he’s so damn bias about them.and he knows his American fans will be too stupid to believe that (seeing that his fanbase mostly consisted of Fanboys and Fangirls) I know this and these are facts. Face it Naka is a sorry douchebag. We don’t need Naka back. He will only make trouble again….
Naka do your haters a favor and move on by staying at prope.
I have mixed feelings.
Sonic, since Colors (Not counting Dimps titles.) has been doing fine without Naka.
Then I look at the awful, *awful* titles Prope makes. Just looking at them shows that his programming talent and ability to lead a game is being utterly wasted now. I’m torn between Sonic continuing to be as good as it is now that Colors and Generations have demonstrated Sonic can be good again, and looking at how Naka is wasting his time making shovelware for the Wii nowadays.
How about making him lead programmer again, but NOT make him make decisions on Sonic games anymore. Used to be he wasn’t actually in CHARGE of Sonic, just its software.
On the other hand, Heroes was unbearable, I wouldn’t touch Shadow the Hedgehog or let it near my XBox and Sonic 2006 is regarded as one of the worst Sonic games of all time.
Screw Naka coming back to Sega, but maybe Prope could take over the “side Sonic” games from Dimps, which clearly can’t make a good Sonic game. Then Naka could stop wasting his career making shovelware like he has for the past 6 years.