Sonic Rivals announced for PSP

**Diff-chan** · 03 May 2006, 12:11 PM

The bad thing about Mario Sunshine was the level design. But in the end you were still Mario, doing triple jumps and back flips and wall jumps to explore the environments just like you did in Mario 64.

This is the problem. These companies apparently feel that the superficial is enough - any Sonic game is okay if you're going fast, and any Mario game is okay if you're jumping around and shit. Nope, doesn't work like that. A failure to understand what your game is all about is what makes these updates so crappy.

**Drewbacca** · 03 May 2006, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by diffusionx

This is the problem. These companies apparently feel that the superficial is enough - any Sonic game is okay if you're going fast, and any Mario game is okay if you're jumping around and shit. Nope, doesn't work like that. A failure to understand what your game is all about is what makes these updates so crappy.

In Nintendo's defense they did do the whole vacation thing with the game. Mario 128 will probably be back in Mushroom Kingdom with goomba's and koopa troops.

**Diff-chan** · 03 May 2006, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew

In Nintendo's defense they did do the whole vacation thing with the game. Mario 128 will probably be back in Mushroom Kingdom with goomba's and koopa troops.

Again, its not about goombas and koopa troops either. It's about perfect level design and carefully paced exploration. Who wants to explore bad levels? It makes no sense.

Anyway not trying to turn this into a Nintendo bashing session, I was just pointing that out to say Sega isn't the only one.

**Dolemite** · 03 May 2006, 12:32 PM

Saw the word "Rivals" in the thread title, thought they had announced a new Rival Schools/Project Justice game, re-read the title, realized it was Sonic, ceased to care.

Originally Posted by diffusionx

Mario Sunshine was horrible.

Nintendo's been whoring Mario in various crap games for years, but it hasn't affected his popularity one bit, unlike Sonic. Which is a shame, because if the half-hearted junk Nintendo pumps out continues to sell, they'll have no incentive to ever craft another truly great game.

Mario's like Tom Cruise...people love to bitch that they're sick of him, yet that doesn't stop them from flocking to his movies and making them a huge success.

**Bacon McShig** · 03 May 2006, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dolemite

Nintendo's been whoring Mario in various crap games for years, but it hasn't affected his popularity one bit, unlike Sonic.

You sure about that? Sonic games still sell pretty damn well, he had a TV series recently, and they still make those crappy furry-lite Sonic comics. Hell, they had Sonic Happy Meal toys a few years ago, Mario hasn't gotten those since the early 90's.

**RoleTroll** · 03 May 2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Bacon

Sonic games still sell pretty damn well

And that's all that matters. Sega will make a good Sonic game when gamers stop buying mediocre Sonic games.

**Dolemite** · 03 May 2006, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Bacon

You sure about that? Sonic games still sell pretty damn well, he had a TV series recently, and they still make those crappy furry-lite Sonic comics. Hell, they had Sonic Happy Meal toys a few years ago, Mario hasn't gotten those since the early 90's.

You have a point, but you're talking more about marketing/licensing. Sonic's still a recognizable character, and people will always try to squeese bucks out of a property for as long as they can.

I'm just thinking more about the anticipation/reception of the games. If Sonic Team announced Sonic Adventure 3, no one would really care. If Miyamoto announced Mario 128, people world over would have a simultaneous orgasm.