After taking a vacation through 3D gameplay in titles like "Sonic Unleashed" and "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games," Sonic the Hedgehog will be getting back to his roots in 2010. In a move credited to fan demand for a new 2D Sonic game, Sega has announced that he'll lose the third dimension and pick up hi-def graphics for his next game appearance, currently dubbed "Project Needlemouse."
"Old-school Sonic fans have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay," Ken Ballough, associate brand manager at Sega America told Gamespot. "Many liked the daytime stages in 'Unleashed,' but wanted to see a game that plays purely similar to the early games of the Genesis. 'Project Needlemouse' is that critical first step that brings Sonic back to his 2D roots."
Sega will thus be looking to recapture Sonic's classic gameplay in a title that shines like a modern HD release.
"Speed returns in an all new 2D adventure built from the ground up," the game's teaser trailer says.
Ballough seems keenly aware of both older and younger Sonic fans' desires, which the new project will attempt to straddle.
"Many older gamers appreciate him most for his attitude and the speed of his 2D games," he said, "while some younger and newer fans look up to him for his courage and his freestyle personality."
Sonic's longtime rival and occasional game companion Mario has navigated the console generations fairly well over the years, proving that it's perfectly doable to reinvigorate classic gameplay and characters in a fresh way. Who know? Maybe if he performs well enough, the two can kick off a new round of competition.
Are happy to hear that Sonic will be returning to a 2D format for his next game? What are favorite and least favorite Sonic titles of all time? What will the new game need to get right? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.