86 replies to this topic

[Diogenes]

You can't just assume that "Oh Eggman fails, lol"

Actually you can do exactly that. We don't need to know the exact situation leading to Eggman drifting through space; just that he fought and lost to Sonic (like always) in space (which is hardly a rare occurrence in this series) and ran into the proto-Time Eater.

[Azure Yakuzu]

Actually you can do exactly that. We don't need to know the exact situation leading to Eggman drifting through space; just that he fought and lost to Sonic (like always) in space (which is hardly a rare occurrence in this series) and ran into the proto-Time Eater.

But playing Colors makes the event actually make a lot more sense, and gives it a background on how everything happened instead of just "take our word for it" scenario.

[XRick]

Multi-game Character Arc, maybe not, but a Multi-game Event Arc, that'd be really great.
If SEGA had done that to begin with, maybe the games' situation might have been better.

[ArtFenix]

I agree with the O.P..
I'd love to see a multi-game character arc again. Shadow, Blaze, Metal Sonic, Silver, Tails, Knuckles, Omega - anyone, just STOP this Sonic-only formula. I'm sick of it.

[Nepenthe]

I figured if we were going to have a true multi-event arc where one single situation is detailed across two or three titles, then character development is going to naturally happen across all of the games anyway. One doesn't need existing turmoil for that to happen as was the case with Shadow. Just put the characters in an interesting event and see what unfolds.

[Solid SOAP]

The fact that Eggman is somehow in Space? What was his setback? You can't just assume that "Oh Eggman fails, lol" If the reference wasn't that important to Generations, they would've never put it in to begin with., the fact that Eggman wouldn't have found the Time Eater if it wasn't for the events of Colors says otherwise.

By this decree, Unleashed's opening made absolutely no sense at all because nothing was explained as to why Sonic and Robotnik were fighting in space. Robotnik's last setback could easily be perceived as Sonic beating him again, what else would be assumed? The events that happened in Colors really have no impact on his finding of the Time Eater, they simply just referenced it because the game as a whole was just a huge Sonic homage, so why not reference the most recent game as well?

There's nothing that really wouldn't make sense if you didn't play Colors, it just gives you a bit of backstory as to why he found Time Eater in the first place. Those who didn't play Colors wouldn't be left scratching their heads by the end of their games, the concept of "The last time Sonic beat me, I found the Time Eater on my way back to earth" isn't that complex.

[XRick]

I agree with the O.P..
I'd love to see a multi-game character arc again. Shadow, Blaze, Metal Sonic, Silver, Tails, Knuckles, Omega - anyone, just STOP this Sonic-only formula. I'm sick of it.

I agree with the "Stop Sonic-only formula"!
Bring us back more playable Characters!!
Bring us back the epic storylines!! SEGA!!

[Scar]

You don't need loads of members of the Sonic Supporting Cast to show up for an "epic plot".
Unleashed was a good example of this. The plot involved the destruction of the world, yet it didn't shoehorn in characters that aren't needed. 3-5 characters are all you need in any one plot. 3 of them can be playable.

[XRick]

Number of playable characters, agreed. SA1&2 may have been as good as they were even with only Sonic, Knuckles & Gamma/Eggman.
For future games, even if only as a primary trial with the current engine and gameplay, they could put at least three different characters for us to play as...
And I didn't quite see Unleashed as much of epic as SA2 was to me...

Edited by XRick, 19 December 2011 - 08:01 PM.

[HUNTER297]

You don't need loads of members of the Sonic Supporting Cast to show up for an "epic plot".
Unleashed was a good example of this. The plot involved the destruction of the world, yet it didn't shoehorn in characters that aren't needed. 3-5 characters are all you need in any one plot. 3 of them can be playable.

Everything is all right but people would rage if Shadow, Blaze or Silver was playable and Knuckles or Tails werent. People just say that its main 3. And when we would add Amy to the mix then.... Oh boy. I think 6 playables is optimal number. Of course all of them are important to story.

First Tails and Knuckles, then Shadow, Silver, Blaze and Amy. And after that we can think of others. We cant lie to ourselves. Omega and Rouge would be really hard to do. Same for Big. Cream? Her gameplay would work only in 2D cause in 3D its just Tails Rip-Off. And Chaotix. How can you make Charmy playable? Vector is as hard as Big or Omega. Espio would work but its non-sence without other 2.

I would love to see others as NPCs tho. Remember how Cream worked in Rush? Something like that. Or we can have them as reskins in MP mode. And after we establish first 7 (those I listed first plus Sonic) we can do some experiments. But I dont think Big and Chaotix will ever fit into story again.

[XRick]

Silver and Blaze kinda have the same problem as Big and the Chaotix.
As long as SEGA doesn't solve their background history problem they may not deem fit for another Sonic game.

[HUNTER297]

Silver and Blaze kinda have the same problem as Big and the Chaotix.
As long as SEGA doesn't solve their background history problem they may not deem fit for another Sonic game.

Silver and Blaze are fitting. They just need to have reason to appear. And they have worlds to protect so writters have lots of oppurnities to bring them into story. Including Nega's connection beetwen them or a game based in visiting Silver's future (kinda like SRA for Blaze) and I can think of some unique ideas for them right now.

While Chaotix and Big... Well Big is kinda... One word.... FROOOGGGYYYY!!! Dont get me wrong Big is badass but if writers would give him just one reason to appear its kinda pointless. Chasing after Froggy will become Cliche. And Chaotix? Well they just dont fit gameplay and story-wise unless game is called "Sonic Heroes 2" I would love to see them in action again but if it does happen it will be more like Rivals 2 where one of them plays major role (probably Espio since he is like only one of them with potential for good formula) and thats kinda stupid since they are trio. They should be all there or none of them should be there.

[FFWF]

How many previous multi-game character arcs were actually planned to be multi-game? Shadow showing up in game after game was more a case of his popularity being repeatedly capitalised on, Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were originally going to be a single game... The thing about a multi-game arc is that you have to be absolutely one hundred per cent sure of success, and have the funding to prop it up. It's like any blockbuster movie series. And even then, what they usually do is make a stand-alone first entry and give it a sequel hook in case it comes good. What this suggests to me is that we're unlikely to see any planned multi-game arcs, although if a game is stunningly popular it may become one.

[HUNTER297]

How many previous multi-game character arcs were actually planned to be multi-game? Shadow showing up in game after game was more a case of his popularity being repeatedly capitalised on, Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were originally going to be a single game... The thing about a multi-game arc is that you have to be absolutely one hundred per cent sure of success, and have the funding to prop it up. It's like any blockbuster movie series. And even then, what they usually do is make a stand-alone first entry and give it a sequel hook in case it comes good. What this suggests to me is that we're unlikely to see any planned multi-game arcs, although if a game is stunningly popular it may become one.

We mean like so called "Shadow ARC" that games go with their scenario but certain character or group of characters got their own "sub-story" that continues with every game. But of course they aid to main plot too but still have their "Sub-plot"

[Johnny Boy]

And Chaotix? Well they just dont fit gameplay and story-wise unless game is called "Sonic Heroes 2" I would love to see them in action again but if it does happen it will be more like Rivals 2 where one of them plays major role (probably Espio since he is like only one of them with potential for good formula) and thats kinda stupid since they are trio. They should be all there or none of them should be there.

Well you know I've always pictured the gameplay for the chaotix being sort of like their heroes gameplay. But improved greatly. That's just me though.

[HUNTER297]

Well you know I've always pictured the gameplay for the chaotix being sort of like their heroes gameplay. But improved greatly. That's just me though.

So you mean they would be ones keeping Heroes formula right?

[Solid SOAP]

But playing Colors makes the event actually make a lot more sense, and gives it a background on how everything happened instead of just "take our word for it" scenario.

Giving it background is very different from it being necessary to understand. Robotnik gets his ass kicked in every game, so him saying "yeah the last time I got beat I found the Time Eater" is all the information you need.

[Johnny Boy]

So you mean they would be ones keeping Heroes formula right?

Yeah. A lot of people say it's awkward for them to be separate from one another. Plus it's really hard to think of a way to incorporate Vector and Charmy into the modern gameplay style. Espio however, would fit in just fine, but then again he's part of a trio.

So with that said, the heroes forumula works good with all three of them. All sega needs to do is tweek it a little bit. That is if they want to make the chaotix playable at all.

[XRick]

I'll leave here a point of view of mine about the games.

I never considered "Character Arcs" but "Major Event Sagas".
- Death Egg and Chaos Arcs I see them as the "Chaos Emeralds Saga". Death Egg may be considered Eggman's first major threat. Then Sonic made it fall to Earth and, by coincidence, on Angel Island. If we consider that Eggman found the inscriptions about Chaos while on Angel Island, then it all kind of connects.
- Shadow and Black Doom Arcs I see them as the "Project Shadow Saga". It all started with the past U.N. President requesting Prof. Gerald's assistance on Project Shadow. But then Gerald came to need Black Doom's help in giving life to Shadow. Then many things alongside that led G.U.N. to assault The Ark, leading it all to SA2 & ShTH's events.

But then a pair of games are disrupting this "supposed" chain of events, Sonic CD & Sonic 4...
Since they have Amy & Metal Sonic and they have some sort of connection yet to be fully unraveled, they get in the middle of the Death Egg & Chaos Arcs.
Unless some sort of excuse like the inscriptions being decripted and set as a possible alternate plan while he tries to get the Time Stones, those two games really mess up the possible basic continuity of the first games...

After that, the games started to lose path on a supposed continuity.
I believe SEGA should bring up a game set between ShTH and Sonic06 that could reintroduce Silver, Blaze and Eggman Nega, and at the same time, maybe retcon or rectify the events of games like the Rush and Rivals series and Sonic06.

I don't know how much of this post may have the smallest credit to you guys but this is just how I see it...

Edited by XRick, 20 December 2011 - 05:48 PM.

[Scar]

I really want Shadow the Hedgehog: The Game to retcon itself out of existance. Outside of 06 (which actually DID retcon itself) it has the worst written plot in the series. Not to mention awful dialogue and a complete and total butchering of whatever character Shadow had and then butchered the backstory, which was so simple and effective and really didn't need any Black Doom-shaped additions.

Fuck that story.