If a Sonic Unleashed re-release DOESN'T happen within the next 6 years -- and I really hope it does -- I'll eat an entire spoonful-size of mayonnaise using a Nintendo Switch JoyCon as a spoon And I hate mayonnaise
26:52 I would buy the SHIT out of the Sonic game graphic novels, especially for Secret Rings and Black Knight. Hell, give me one for Frontiers and Superstars PLEASE.
1. Sonic fighting game. Arena or 2D 2. Sonic RPG that re-establishes and solidifies Sonic lore. 3. A new sonic adventure entry that utilizes solo adventures with other characters like the first.
I think what we truly need is for the rest of the underrated characters to come back. Silver the Hedgehog, Blaze the Cat, E 123 Omega, Vector Espio, and Charmy. Most characters must've have a backstory about where they truly came from. Silver himself, though, is obviously from the future, but in general, we don't know much about where he lived or how he got his powers.
I think an aspect of the IP that didn't come up here (but could be in spin offs) is Sonic entering some new platforms to expand it's audience. We see this with Dream Team on Apple Arcade, Speed Simulator on Roblox, and the rumored Netflix games in development. Obviously mobile in general will be big for Sega in this next decade with Rovio under their belt. But I do think they are trying to get to some new (Sonic) fans on these platforms. For example, we are seeing an expansion of VR/AR content and the gaming industry as a whole is putting more resources & attention to cloud gaming. So while perhaps not the big focus, I think we can potentially seeing Sonic on these other platforms depending on how they thrive (and are willing to spend on get Sonic on their platforms).
I really like what IDW has been doing for Sonic, and think it's a valuable addition to Sonic media. I loved the Metal Virus, but by the end of it, I was a bit exhausted from the super high stake storylines. I think the shift to smaller scale was very smart, as it allowed them to focus on the characters and setting in a way they couldn't before. It was so much fun to see these characters in more laid back scenarios, and even if they weren't world ending, there was still a good amount of truly exciting storylines with great action (Bad Guys, Surge, Scrapnik Island, Egg City, and recently the Riders story). In my mind, the comics can offer interesting and exciting smaller stories, that give us a new look at the world of Sonic, while the games can give us the huge, exciting storylines that go all out!
I feel like the perfect end for IDW would be bringing back humans, like the restoration being backed into a corner by Eggman's forces and then BAM, out of nowhere, G.U.N. led by Commander Tower shows up full force called in by Shadow, Rouge, and Omega.
I think the way the franchise is going now I believe that Sonic will reach AAA status and him and Sega in general would probably be the most known third party company out there. That’s a bit of a stretch sure but I genuinely feel by the end of this decade the series will hit a whole new level of popularity and success that has never been reached before even in the 90s
The only thing that I need in the upcoming years is a Sonic Rush remake or port with improved graphics. Literally one of the best 2D Sonic Games (behind Mania of course) Come on Sonic Team! MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Man, I love it when you do deep-dives like this! You really know how to look at Sonic from both a fan's perspective and a business perspective! And unfortunately, I agree with you on the IDW comics, Metal Virus was the peak for me. I haven't really enjoyed the series since the small Chao Racing arc, but it was really nice to get your editor's perspective on that aspect of Sonic! Thanks for your insight, it means a lot! The main things I would want for the future of Sonic is 2D sonic fighting game, a sonic anime, and a 3d remake obviously. Personally, weirdly enough, I believe 06 has the biggest potential to turn the series around in a positive light if done right. I think the idea of turning one of the most disliked games ever into a potentially great game (better story, better gameplay, no crazy bugs) is such an ambitious and legendary success story that would make people look at sonic way differently. But that would never happen because it is still such a huge gamble. Thanks for your insight, it truly means a lot!
One of the things I find so exciting about the Riders push in recent Sonic stuff is that Riders is KNOWN as one of the more visually, aesthetically stylish things in the series, it captures the feel of older modern Sonic while still being its own thing, and if the Sonic series is putting a spotlight on it, there's a good chance the art teams will start to zero in more and more on the more unique elements of Sonic's aesthetics and what makes them appealing, especially with the modern designs and world. All the Uekawa influence. Same with Emerl's return and Battle. That's a very stylish game, all the flair of that mid 2000s Sonic anime delinquent graffiti vibe that makes people compare it so much to Jet Set Radio. I think Sonic in the next decade is gonna slowly look and feel more and more like his old self, as fan discussion gets better, more in depth, more well researched, and more nuanced, a natural result of the improvements they've already made, they'll be able to see from US what made Sonic so appealing in the first place, what they're doing right, and what they're doing wrong, and course correct. I've said it so many times, Sonic isn't THERE yet, but by God he's GETTING there.
Great discussion! KaizenAmen's section about the comics was awesome! Also some updates: Bentley Jones made a Live and Learn cover that supposedly was for Sonic movie 3 but got scrapped so they released as a separate single; The fanfilm Projeto Shadow got nominated for 3 categories in the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival, and are taking donations to pay for their travel to the event.
Fr. From what we've seen of shadow generations it genuinely looks like such a good formula for any future games, and I hope soon there's a 3d game thats fully original
Sonic Superstars platforming is legit pretty good! Easier physics than the classic games tbh, when it comes to actually platforming. I would want them to experiment with classic sonic more. Maybe... give them voices??? The comics have them speaking, so legit why not?
My predictions/wishlist for the future of sonic: -The mainline games will be in three pillars, we get 1st generation (classic) games, 2nd generation games (linear 3d) and 3rd generation games (open zone). Open zone games are the big releases by the main side of sonic team headed by kishimoto, Linear 3d will be by the B team of sonic team like what we’re seeing now with shadow generations, and Arzest will continue to make classic 2d games like how dimps did 2d games back in the 2000s and very early 2010s -Characters: RN they’re starting to emphasise characters other than sonic again with frontiers, superstars, the movie-verse and fearless: year of shadow and it’s working so Sega will most likely continue this with the extended cast like silver and blaze, omega, cream, the chaotix, big, etc. -Spinoffs: In my opinion this is a crucial thing that sonic as a series needs at the moment and is currently lacking in, it needs solid spin offs series like Mario does so we can see the extended cast more often, make them more popular among the mainstream and hold us over while they’re cooking with the mainline game. Get Now Production to make new riders games, they’ve remade pac man world for Bandai namco, then surely they can make new games in a series they’ve already worked on. Let Izuka make that sonic rpg he’s always wanted to make, Sega owns RGG and atlus but if they’re too busy with their owns games then get a third party like ICLA to make it, they’ve been doing good with jrpgs atm with one piece odyssey, sand land and apparently they’re the ones making Mario and Luigi Brothership -Character focused spin off series: This would be perfect given my last two points. Give us a Shadow/team dark hack and slash, Tails metroidvainia, a Knuckles beat em up or spyro-like collectathon, a Silver and Blaze game, give us a Chaotix visual novel, give us an Eggman tactics game or a Metal Sonic game that plays like Armorer Core -Bring back Sega crossover games: Sega is getting bigger now, sonic, yakuza and persona are bigger than ever, SMT, monkey ball and puyo puyo are going strong, metaphor refantazio is a new ip by atlus, samba de amigo, streets of rage and sakura wars had new games, phantasy star online 2 still makes money, Jet set radio, Crazy Taxi and more are having comebacks, Virtua Fighter was leaked to have a new game. Now is the perfect opportunity to bring back the Sega superstars/sonic & all stars games, if we’re not getting riders back then at least give us a proper sequel to sonic and all stars transformed
“I think IDW is on its way out” 😭 God I hope not. I feel like the world is still building and I don’t wanna lose all these characters and stories. Tangle, whisper, Surge, they’re all so close to getting in the games and I feel like if the comics end that’ll never happen.
Hopefully we’ll get a high budget Sonic anime there! My bet is on Ufoatable to due the animation for Sonic and Ian Flynn teaming up with Shiro Maekawa and Kiyoko Yoshimura (writers of Sonic adventure games, Sonic 06, Sonic unleashed, and black knight with secret rings) team up for the writing and story! And hope Sonic games will be more high budget like Sonic Unleashed!
I truly believe it will be remakes and remasters every other year, and then at least 2-3 more bangers combining everything they evovled in Frontiers and Shadow Generations. Even if we never get an SA3, what they have done with Frontiers and Shadow Generations is building up to be a new game that truly could deserve that spiritual successor that combines everything great from both the Adventure and Boost era
It's more likely we get a "Frontiers 2" in 2028 or later due to frontiers ending development in 2023 after the DLC, and frotniers started development back in Dec 2017. This game will probably be a lot more polished then frontiers due to the feedback Sonic Team got from frontiers and its DLC.
Here’s my thoughts What Remakes are coming: Personally I feel like what u said Fadel it’s gotta be the Adventure games but honestly I feel like we’re more likely to get Heroes first. The game is the second best selling 3D sonic game and is probably one of the most inaccessible sonic titles. So like what was rumoured I want a full fledged ground up Unreal Engine 5 remake. Fix the slippery movement and polish it up. Make it so u don’t have to play the game 4 times and more QOL, etc. Also just throwing ideas out there. They definitely want Open zone to be the future so imagining exploring an open world take on Seaside Hill. Maybe u could have Platforming in the open world designed around the team based mechanics! and u can switch characters on the fly just like in the levels Sonic Frontiers 2: Adding on to the point just made about open zone gameplay. Frontiers 2 definitely has potential and promise. I hope the world Design is more connected with the Platforming. Hope the game has an actual aesthetic and artstyle not just floating rails in the sky. Give us original cyberspace levels theme and designs (Boost exclusive to these levels but u get boost by building momentum) Ian Flynn stays writing the story And make the world more populated and lively (In other words add NPCS that aren’t just the Hermit Koco or Elder Koco) I really hope they are able to lock in and create a game that builds on the foundations set by Frontiers and exceed the heights reached by it Frontiers is my favourite 3d game let’s make Frontiers 2 my new favorite (Although Shadow Gens looking like heat too so idk man) Where Classic Sonic Goes Next: Give him style and swag. Superstars was ok but idk man I just don’t fw with it that much. People clearly are starting to want 2D Modern Sonic so I feel like a compromise could definitely be made. Give Classic Sonic More of modern sonic abilities or features (Examples: Homing Attack, light Speed Dash, Boost and etc.) The reason why I look back so fondly of the Advance games rather than superstars is because those games have a certain style to how they look. Opposed to Superstars that looks like a 3DS game deadass. Speaking of artstyle, 2.5D Is cool and all but I would much rather prefer a cel shaded artstyle to give Classic a Distinct feel. Also I think like storytelling could be a bit better. Not like it really matters in a classic game to me anyways, but the story In superstars was quite middling to say the least. Sonic Spin-offs: Riders needs to come back bro it’s time. Not only do I want a new Riders game that feels like a sequel to the first one that isn’t worse in comparison (Looking at u Zero Gravity with the tricks system and especially u Free Riders with the Kinect garbage) Remasters of Zero Gravity and The first game would be nice to have too. U could definitely get away with adding new characters, skins, and even new tracks. Maybe even have different difficulty options (Normal, Easy, Hard, Extreme) I feel like that would benefit those two games heavily. If Rumble does well, I would hope they would port it to PC and consoles. A RPG is a sick concept for sure and we know izuka wants to do it. So I’m hopeful for it to happen at some point. Sonic’s Friends: They’re definitely giving Sonic’s friends a spotlight which is greatly appreciated. The Year of Shadow has been Great so far and I hope they can do a similar concept with other characters. It definitely does feel like characters like Shadow, Tails, Knuckles & Amy are back at the forefront and that’s good. Put a spotlight on Silver or maybe even Metal Sonic then we’re golden I think. Sonic Movies: I definitely do have confidence in Movie 3. The Shadow hype levels are off the roof and that trailer is going to not only break the Sonic Community but the internet as a whole when it drops. That day will be legendary. I’m sure the movie will perform well. Like u said, don’t think it’ll reach a million but if it does oh my that will have an amazing impact on the franchise. Feel like we only have a few projects left for the flim series tbh, like they gotta do something with some characters (Amy, Rouge, Metal Sonic, Silver potentially even the Babylon Rogues if they are diving deep into the lore after Project Shadow’s storyline) It’d be cool if they adapt big bad villains such as the Black Arms in a shadow show, Neo metal even maybe Solaris (if they do 06) Sonic Animated Series: Yeah just give a new 2d anime akin to Sonic X. These webtoons we’ve been getting such as (Mania Adventures, Rise of the Wisps, Knuckles Prologue) Just give a show maybe adapting some Classic sonic stories and the Adventure games, Unleashed, Storybook games on the side but fun action packed arcs like the Metarex saga as the main plot. That would be fire! Whether it’s canon or not idk but have Ian Flynn write this show Sonic Comics: IDW is cool but it’s gonna have to step up and rise the stakes if it wants to survive. We’re gonna have to get another arc akin to the Metal Virus and Scrap-nick Island arcs. Hope we could get a crossover, that could fuel something for IDW. Conclusion: Seems like we defo have a bright future ahead. I’m looking foward to what sonic does in the future. And I have confidence in the brand again and that’s great If Movie 3 and Shadow Gens are big successes I really do feel like we are locked in completely. I just hope that’s the case! But that’s all from me personally Jesus this comment is long lol didn’t mean for that to be the case but oh well
Even though Superstars wasn't received well by the community, I do not want them to give up on making Classic Sonic games with 3D graphics. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope they keep perfecting it even if it means hiring some of the amazing fan game creators who understand the classic physics and level design! I also wouldn't mind more Genesis art style games like Mania!
Yeah, my thoughts on Superstars - as well as Frontiers - are that they're both great games, but that sequels to both those games that refine what people criticized about both games would be AMAZING.
I agree. What really damaged this game were bosses. The sequel where they took lessons in good boss design would be phenomenal, especially considering they nailed physics and the level design is fantastic.
My main want in terms of a spin off is an RPG. The fact that Izuka acknowledged that SEGA hasn't done an in house RPG and wants to do one before he retires gives me hope we'll get one some time in the near future.
We are heading to a long-lasting age of Sonic. The series is in better shape than it has ever been and even if they are being slower than I would like them to, SEGA is taking serious course correction in characterisations like we are seeing with Shadow. If they keep it up Sonic will be on top of the world, hell maybe the Freedom Fighters and Cosmo can return, dream on.
I've become sure Freedom Fighters would never return, Sega is trying to forget them like a nightmare, they didn't care about the fans then and most likely won't care about the fans in the future. Gatekeeping at its finest.
If they make a frontiers 2, it would be so fire if they did an SA2 with a Dark and Hero story, now when we know that multiple playable characters in mainline games can happen.
Honestly i hope that they take a chance and go down the Pokemon route where it's like they have a fuckton of 1 hour specials/OVA's, That with Sonic could help people satisfy themselves.
@@KaiZenAmen Not only that, But it'd also give us interesting stories and more spotlight for the rest of the cast, hell imagine a OVA/special focusing on Silver, Blaze, Mighty & Ray or Sage
What I would most like to see in future Sonic Games is that I want Doctor Eggman to be a more threatening villain and for him to take his intelligence to more extreme levels and not make him out to be a joke like he was in Sonic Prime (who was the Chaos Council) and Sonic Boom. And as for Spinoffs, I would even like to see a young alternative version of Dr. Eggman but done in a correct way that is not annoying, clearly.
I wish all the best for Sonic as a franchise and as someone like me whose main focus are the games, I absaloutly agree that no game should be rushed. I can't wait for remasters and remakes, I have my knowledge on them through RU-vid so I'm super happy that SEGA is considering multi platfrom. For me easy remasters would be Sonic Unleashed, Rivals 1&2, Advance "collection" with Sonic Battle. Other than that they should take their time to remake Adventure, Heroes, Rush, Riders, Story Book, Shadow THE game and 06. One thing I have to say is that I wish SEGA would stop separating animation cutscenes with their specific games like why do I have to search Knuckles story instead of actually accessing it from Sonic Frontiers, plus Sonic Colors Uitimate needs a quick dlc because there are 2 versions where you experience different story plot and they should add the ds story with character dialouges in the game.
I might be the only person who wants this but for some reason my brain just really wants a Sonic dancing game spin-off. I think that would be fun or really funny. I really hope the idw comics stick around because I personally really love them. It’ll be sad to them go.
Great discussion video, and I agree with alot of what you talked about! We need Sonic Frontiers 2 when it is ready, not any other time! Sonic Frontiers already had more than enough content to sustain 5+ years of development time for Sonic Frontiers 2. I think we should get SEGA to collaborate with more developers to make remakes as upose to Sonic Team making games like Sonic x Shadow Generations. SEGA should task Sonic Team with creating Sonic Frontiers 2, while other developers create new remakes and potentially spin-offs. I would also love if the other developers could slightly help Sonic Team with making Sonic Frontiers 2 (similar to how Monolith Software helped the developers of BOTW during its development).
One thing I wonder is if any potential "it's been X years" situation is thrown off because of Sonic X Shadow Generations, they do have multiple teams internally and whatnot I'm sure, but unlike previous remasters that one seems to be a miniature mainline game, Shadow Generations seems to stem off of the Frontiers engine complete with a miniature Open Zone, right? I mean, they probably don't have everyone from Frontiers on it, but it does look to have a lot of work put into it as a main thing, pushing QTE-esque in-game moments and cutscenes and boss fights.
I don't see remakes coming, remasters on the other hand I can easily see, something like Halo 1 aniversary edition where it's literaly Halo 1 but with more modern graphics and the option to change to the original graphics at any time (but here you would have for adventure the new version, DX and Original while other games would just be new and original). This way it has more appealing graphics for new people and still keep everything for the people who loved the original intact but on modern plataforms.
I feel like Riders coming back will be one of the most divisive games in the series. I'm sure it'll be good, and the first real excuse to include IDW characters outside of mobile games, but the formula will be reworked to be more casual and beginner friendly. It will not be like the OG or Zero Grav
That would suck ngl, the problem with og riders was that it didn’t have a proper tutorial/didn’t do a good job at teaching the player how to play the game properly Zero gravity tried to be more casual friendly by simplifying things that didn’t need to be simplified and it ended up being a less fun game because of that Besides crash team racing had a learning curve and the remake didn’t dumb things down and even then that game didn’t teach you how to U-turn and that is essential, so why do it to riders, just have a tutorial stage like zero gravity did Riders should’ve been like ctr, easy to learn but there’s a skillcap so u have to put some time to master it, and it will be muscle memory once you’ve mastered it
Sa1 & 2 have old, broken PC ports. They are not playable on ps4/ps5 and switch. That right there is a majority of all gamers out there, I'd be ok with the original games not remade, I just want those games available to people on those systems
I can see then doing a Sonic Adventure remake and then a spin-off where they finally solidify the Silver & Blaze team by having their power character be Chaos and then they explore the story with that for a few games.
What we should be talking about is those intros. I feel like re-releasing Sonic Advance shouldn't be an issue since THQ was also involved in that Spongebob game everyone likes, and that got a remake.
I missed Sonic games when they had crazy concepts like sonic on a hoverboard or sonic turning into a werewolf or sonic heroes, or something serious like sonic adventure
As someone who loves the idw comics, it's bittersweet with its current state because it has good ideas, but they keep getting cut off before they fully bloom. And i think if sega allowed these stories to bloom, you'll see a lot more people gain interest in them. I think they need to catch up to frontiers so they can use characters like sage who add so much to character interaction. Her and Belle would be so interesting to see talk. The daughter eggman abandoned with the daughter he adores, the potential. I could go on with this tirade, but neither the place or time. If the worst comes to idw, i hope that at least all its characters can be background npc in the games. And that starline has a grave where the character you play as, insults him .... he rightfully deserves it.
Hopefully, they'll remake 06 one day. They dont even need to do much. Just finish the game, increase the quality of the textures, and we'll be good to go. Every time I play the original 06 or project 06, I just feel this immense sadness that it never got to be finished. It would've been perfect to release this year because it has the best characterization for Shadow out of any Sonic game. I genuinely think it deserves a remake, or actually being finished, more than any Sonic game.
i remember trying to find IDW in my city when it came out and there was nothing. i went to a comicbook/manga store recently and they only sell the metal virus saga, nothing else i still havent read anything past issue 5
Iizuka said he'd like to make a new Adventure like game sooooooooooooo I think we could be seeing it sometime in the 2030's. Probably after gaining confidence with Adventure remakes
I sorta want after the Sonic movies to sorta... expand into FULL ON ANIMATION someday! Because I swear, the raw story from the games REALLY needs to be explored to the fullest someday. They keep teasing us with GREATTT animation that has good drama, the current Sonic movies got good animation but not really strong drama
Honest I still low key want us to return to the world of sonic underground we definitely won’t ever but still it would be nice I also really want sonic the fighters to comeback in some way
I just want a sonic game with both Speed Zones and Adventure Zones Speed zones are the linear stages (like Unleashed and Generations) Adventure zones would be exploration levels (like the levels from Sonic Adventure 1, 2, and 06)
I have a feeling that they're slowly setting up Sonic Adventure 1&2 Remakes. Frontiers served as a foundation gameplay wise (especially with Update 2 and 3), and story-wise by exploring the Ancients, Chaos, the Emeralds' lore; and now, with Sonic x Shadow Generations and movie 3 on the horizon, they're unifying and reintroducing Shadow's lore to the general audience. That's seems too perfect to be a coincidence. I'm telling you man, they might be cooking something special! (But please, Sega, remaster Unleashed too😅)
I bet Frontiers 2 could have a big rpg, open world, sandbox direction. I can see an open zone version of World Adventure. Have an inventory system with items, have various activities, unlimited customization, a great campaign, and peak stages. Takashi Izuka wants a sonic rpg and i feel like the direction for the open zone is have A massive sonic rpg world similar to games like genshin impact, neverness to everness, gta, tears of the kingdom, monster hunter, or even a random game like animal crossing. The point is that the next open zone game will have a bigger emphasis on the open world and rpg mechanics. Sonic Frontiers is a small tiny tease for the open zone formula, and Shadow generations is a small tease for stages. This is the only beginning for peak.
@@fobiadepedro True, im already traumatized because of this stupid name, i went to search something about the game and let's just say what popped up wasn't what i searched for 😔😂
imo we NEED a Tails solo game again. Same with Knuckles and Amy at the very least. I say it all the time but one of the things I love about the Mario franchise is how it gives its characters the opportunity to star in their own subseries and have their own unique gameplay that lets you play around in that world but with different gameplay to the mainline games. We should get a Tails game that's like a slower-paced 3D Metroidvania that takes inspiration from Tails' Adventure with puzzle solving and gadgets. A Knuckles game about treasure hunting throughout an open world that could bring in characters like Rouge as other playable characters. An Amy game that functions like a Persona RPG where you're building connections with characters over the course of the story. Hell, even a well-made budget title fishing spinoff starring Big would be something I think people would find charming.
@@GamesCage Maybe they can do like Shadow Generation: small expansion-tier type of games. Keep in mind that Sega doesn't give much in term of budget to Sonic Team, but perhaps they could change their mind of the better.
One thing we need to think on Fadel. With the New Shadow OVAs and Possible remakes to SA2 or Heroes, no one's thinking about the possible new versions of Sonic vs Shadow by these new directions. Bruh imagine Frontier's quality Sonic vs Shadow on the arc or vs the Final Hazard! Side Note: They do want to do more Year Ofs, but I seriously want Blaze/Silver sharing a year.
