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Metareview: Sonic and the Secret Rings
Sonic and the Secret Rings has been released, and in what is certainly the highest profile release since the epic Twilight Princess at launch, our expectations are rather high. In what is being billed as the first truly decent 3-D Sonic game (or, at least the first one since the original Sonic Adventure), the hedgehog has the scores to prove it. IGN's was a little low, but it turns out they hate the color blue. So, you know.Who wants a little blazing-quick spiny-mammal in their lives? Gaming Age (85/100) has very little but praise for SatSR: "Sonic and the Secret Rings makes a solid attempt to fix the problems that have plagued the Sonic games over the past few years. Many of the gripes have been addressed in this newest title. The extraneous characters have been eliminated and Sonic is now the only playable character, just the way [it should be]. The horrible camera and hit detection problems of the prior games have been fixed. The speed has been ratcheted up and the action is fast and furious." Gamespot (76/100) is impressed with the visual splendor: "The graphics are great in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Each level is large and has a great sense of scale, with huge dinosaurs, pirate ships, corkscrews, loops, and other structures to run on. The visuals are sharp and colorful, and you'll have a great time just watching Sonic run because the game provides the same thrilling sense of speed that made the Sonic games appealing in the first place." IGN (69/100) dislikes things that are blue: "Players will fail to complete levels again and again in Secret Rings not because they lack the skill to progress, but because the control mechanics are too loose and unresponsive, the camera is too stupid to shoot the action accordingly or, worst of all, the level design is simply poor."
Is "3X DVD" HD DVD's secret weapon against Blu-ray?
While the Blu-ray camp is busy claiming victory, recently HD DVD supporters seem to be circling the wagons around an old friend, the -- 'til now -- unused 3X DVD technology. HD DVD has always claimed it holds a price advantage over Blu-ray, by way of offering low cost upgrades for existing DVD manufacturing processes. The 3X DVD spec takes that a step further, while it's a part of the HD DVD format and apparently only compatible with HD DVD players, the discs themselves are physically exactly the same as standard red-laser DVDs. Throw in a software upgrade to support high definition content, HD DVD's UDF 2.5 file structure and AACS and you have a way to deliver HDTV content on a 9.4 GB DVD. By using newer encoding technologies like MPEG-4 and VC-1 and/or lowering the resolution to say, 720p, full length movies easily fit on a standard DVD. Eclipse Data Technologies, a supplier of HD DVD mastering equipment just announced it is offering free upgrades to its customers in order to support 3X DVD manufacturing. This was followed today by DCA Inc. announcing it has mastered the first 3X DVD disc, and that several manufacturers are looking at it as a possible low cost path into HD video. 3X DVD's potential to allow for noticeably lower-priced HD content to come to market is definitely there, but it still remains to be seen if this, like combo DVD/HD DVDs and Total Hi-Def discs will find a home and support in the marketplace. Read - First 3X DVD-ROM Disc Cut with DCA Equipment Read - Eclipse Provides Free HD DVD Upgrade to Replication Facilities
Pair of new Sonic trailers dash across your eyeballs
IGN has gotten their grubby little mits on a pair of new trailers for the upcoming Sonic and the Secret Rings. The first trailer is titled "Blazing" and shows Sonic tearing it up to some heavy metal riffing as he rides a cannon shot across the waves and though the air, all the while dodging some enemy cannon fire from some, what appear to be, pirate ships (pirates?! we're sold). The second video, titled "Awesome Stuff" has the blue speed demon tearing it up around some Arabian themed environments and riding a magic carpet. Also, some slower-paced trap dodging is presented. You can check out the trailers here.[Via Codename Revolution]
Flood of Sonic screens
There's a vast ocean of new Sonic and the Secret Rings images over at Jeux France, and we've put a few behind the jump. Looking at them all at once can be a little overwhelming. Unsurprisingly? Lots of blue in these screens. Take a peek!
More Secret Rings impressions
Our excitement for Sonic and the Secret Rings grows daily, and these hands-on impression by some folks in London aren't making the wait any easier. The game is looking scary good, as the players (who strongly disliked Sonic the Hedgehog for the PS3 and 360) rave about the graphics, voice acting, control, level design, and difficulty. For the love of God, Sonic moonwalks when you tilt backward on the Wiimote. Moonwalks. That's sweet.Some tidbits: there isn't a standard "lives" system; if you die, you simply restart at the last checkpoint. Each level contains around twelve missions, and somewhere around six need to be cleared before advancing. Earning bronze, silver, and gold medals will earn you access to a huge catalog of unlockables, including BGM and artwork from the game as well as previous entries in the series.The impressions are certainly worth a read; check it out![via GoNintendo]
New Japanese Sonic trailer
This one comes courtesy of Famitsu's monthly Wave DVD, so there's more than just Sonic lurking in the video if you're patient and really like umbrellas. But if all you're interested in is a speedy blue hero and his quest for a few rings, then you're in luck -- he's got the opening number, and he's rocking out and racing hard.Head over there to watch it ... and don't forget that the game's been bumped, and is now only a few weeks away.
Sega lawyers harass YTMND
We saved this post for after midnight, because the linked-to content features some racy rap in response to a cease-and-desist letter Sega Europe allegedly sent to YTMND on January 11, 2007. (Click subsequent links herein at your own risk.) Sega's lawyers maintain that consumers "may be confused into believing that [Sonic-related YTMNDs are] in someway [sic] linked to or associated with [Sega]." Ok, pop quiz time. Reader, tell us, are you confused between this site and this site? How about between this site and this site? Or this one and this one? Didn't think so. Therefore, a little anger on the part of the YTMND community seems warranted. Sega just threw water an on oil fire. This response, in particular, seems particularly creative. Check it out, but brace yourself for some salty language. We've left a voicemail with Sega Europe's legal department, we'll let you know if we hear back from them. [Image credit: Flickr user Zacharo2000.]
Nintendo holds key to franchise longevity, profitability
As noted earlier, a list published by UK newspaper The Independent reveals what many already assume; Nintendo's Mario is the best-selling franchise of all time. Coupled with the second best-selling franchise Pokémon (also a Nintendo property), the two series, which have sold a combined 348 million games worldwide, account for nearly 34% of the total sales of the top-twenty best-selling franchises; which include two additional Nintendo IPs ranked in the top ten, Donkey Kong and Zelda. So what's Nintendo's secret?Cross-culture appeal, spin-offs (e.g., racers, sports titles, puzzlers), brand saturation (e.g., apparel, card games, TV shows), and E-ratings all appear part of a profitable formula built for the long haul.
Sonic fingerprinting could safeguard masterpieces, detect fakes
We know, we're suckers for cheesy art, but we give props where props are due for the well designed, masterfully engineered pieces as well. While we doubt the Digital Stag is atop any thief's list of things to swipe, there's a decent chance the Italian funeral urn Cratere dei Niobidi is. This urn spurned (ahem) a restorer and a geophysicist to envision sonic tomography as a means to protecting authentic works of art and giving museums and art buyers alike a way to spot fakes. The system works by attaching a network of sensors in and around the artifact, and when tapped with a rubber hammer, computer software can record the sonic fingerprint that will only match up with the original. Additionally, the waves could inform restorers if a segment of a structure is weaker than the eye can tell, giving them extra time to build reinforcements on ancient buildings, walls, etc. The chance of such a system ever being used outside of highly trafficked museums, however, is slim, primarily due to the $19,000 to $26,000 price range that the system falls in, not to mention the "trained staff" (read: loyal and innocent) required to run it.
Sonic confirmed for SSB: Brawl?
People have speculated for quite some time on what out-of-company characters would be joining Solid Snake in the upcoming Super Smash Bros: Brawl. Sonic was an obvious choice, of course, but check out the above picture, seen in the Swedish Nintendo mag +N.Yes, readers, we know, it's still quite dubious. Still, we can't resist such a beauty of a rumor. Now we just need a NiGHTs 2 confirmation, Goldeneye on the virtual console, and the ability for the Wii to hack into our brains and overwrite our senses with direct input from the game.
New Sonic trailer, chock full of rings
There's a new trailer for Sonic and the Secret Rings tucked away on Sega's American site, and though this may strike you as a surprise, it's filled with Sonic himself speedily racing through levels and -- wait for it -- collecting rings. Bombshell, right? Okay, so not really. But it's a fast-paced little bit of blurry blue action and definitely worth a watch. And maybe it's just because this particular blogger has been grinding it out with the Wii's Downhill Jam and similarly speedy fun, but this really looks like it could be a blast. We know the pantheon of Sonic titles are a bone that gamers like to gnaw in friendly brawls arguments, so we gotta ask: how's this one strike you?And we apologize, but there's no embedded video, so you'll have to head over to Sega's site for the trailer. While we hate to do that to you, we can at least promise that this one is child-free.[Via Go Nintendo]
Fast hedgehog, slow loading
Like rusty scaffolding glimpsed behind a tarp flapping in the wind, the numerous technical issues in Sonic the Hedgehog are a reminder of the blatantly unfinished work that permeates the platformer. Consider this video a "Men at Work" sign, warning you of loading times that pile up so high, the slightest wobble will send them crashing down on you. It's uncertain as to which possibility is more offensive -- that Sega could release this game convinced it was finished, or that they could release it knowing it wasn't. [Thanks Mark!]
Best of the rest: Ludwig's picks
Sam & Max Episode 1 : Culture Shock (PC)I never thought I'd actually be grateful to LucasArts for assassinating their sequel to Sam & Max: Freelance Police. Now residing in the capable hands of Telltale Games, the series is setting the standard for episodic content and adventure gaming. Complete failure to laugh at Culture Shock's absolutely brilliant writing, memorable characters and off-the-wall puzzles indicates one of two things: either you're a robot, or you've recently discovered a dead kitten in your lap. (See also: My reviews of Culture Shock and Situation: Comedy.)
Sonic load times are slow ... very slow
We haven't touched the Xbox 360 game Sonic the Hedgehog, but we're kind of glad we didn't. Following Revolution posted a video of the game's load times during some mini mission where you help out one of your human friends. And look what we have, a loading screen literally every five seconds. Seriously, if this loading screen appeared that much in the game Sonic would be ejected and flung against the wall out of disgust. This has to be horrible coding especially when a game like Gears doesn't bring up a load screen once during the game. Do you know of any other 360 game that we should avoid due to extremely long load times? Video after the break. [Via Digg]
PSP Fanboy review: Sonic Rivals
The Sonic franchise has certainly fallen quite a bit ever since it made the transition into 3D. The Adventure games failed to capture the feel of the original 2D platformers, and other spin-off games, like Shadow the Hedgehog are considered travesties at best. It seems like Sonic does best when trapped in two dimensions, as seen by this excellent Game Boy Advance and DS entries. On the PSP, Sonic Rivals attempts to blend traditional 2D gameplay with impressive new 3D graphics. The developers, Backbone Entertainment, have done a good job executing on some of Sonic's trademark features, but some poor design choices hold back the game from being as good as it can be.
Microsoft and Sega create new deal to promote Sonic Rivals
Sega will be running a pricey viral ad campaign through Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger to promote its upcoming games: Sonic Rivals on the PSP and Sonic the Hedgehog on Xbox 360. One may notice that the PLAYSTATION 3 version of Sonic the Hedgehog is not mentioned. Just like Sonic and Silver pictured above, Sony and Microsoft are fierce rivals, and it appears that Microsoft wants no part in promoting Sony's next-gen platform. Of course, without a handheld gaming device from the Xbox folks (for now), it seems Redmond's empire is willing to litter your IM-ing experience with ads for the PSP Sonic.Expect a full review of Sonic Rivals and a giveaway soon.[Via Brand Republic]
What Sega Genesis Collection is missing
The Sega Genesis Collection has been earning some good reviews from critics. Featuring 28 games at a bargain price, it's certainly a steal (especially compared to the insane prices of Sega's Virtual Console offerings). However, Modojo points out the titles that could've been part of this collection to make quite possibly the greatest game anthology ever. Here's but a sampling of their suggestions:
