Sonic to get a fresh start in 2012

With Sonic Generations Sonic Team admirably took almost everything that didn’t suck about the past 20 years of the blue blur’s career and put it in one game. Even Sonic’s own reaction to the events and character reveals seemed to reflect fan frustration with the direction the series has taken over the years. It’s the perfect end of an era for Sonic, which is likely why producer Takashi Iizuka told Gamasutra that he’s ready for the series to take a new direction. He goes on to state that by now, it seems pretty clear what a Sonic game should be, but he still wishes to surprise his fans “in a good way,” citing the powerups in Sonic Colors as a good example. Fans will certainly be happy to hear that small changes like that are the extent to which Takashi plans on modifying the Sonic formula.

“I think we’re at the point where there are two separate generations — parent and child, in other words — enjoying these games. I think if we can get to the point where we’re 30, 40 years from the series’ start, and there are three generations of Sonic fans — that’s when I think he’ll have really established himself as a character. I want to use the past 20 years of experience to keep us going well into the future.”

The most interesting tidbit from this interview, however, is Takashi’s plans on a fresh start for Sonic next year.

“I would like to make a new standard Sonic, a modern Sonic if you will, in 2012 and beyond.”

You heard reboot in your head when you read that too, right? Though it’s completely natural to be wary about an upcoming Sonic game, color me optimistic. Even though the glitch-ridden, creepy-cross-species romance plagued 2006 reboot was a disaster, Sonic Team seems to have a clear idea of what Sonic is and what he needs to be. To me, the most ideal redesign would be a comfortable mix of the two Sonics voiced by Jaleel White. After all, he’s voicing Sonic in a promising independent fan film directed by Eddie Lebron.

Just saying.

Source: Gamasutra