I recently posted this in another thread, but I figured that this deserves its own thread, seeing as it was only loosely related to the thread it was already in, and is what I have been thinking about for a long time concerning 3D sonic games. I would like to see what you guys think. So, without further white-knuckled waiting, I now present how to make a good 3D sonic game.
If you want to make a good 3D sonic game, here's what you do- you base it on speed. And no, by speed I do not mean just running really quickly.
Basic level traversing: Some sort of linear path that controls like a driving game with the occasional speed trick and trap put in there. A few alternate routes are okay, even reccomended every now and then. Incentive to move quickly? I have two ideas here, either a time limit, similar to classic sonics, or something chasing you. Also, make it possible to move backwards easily (Braking to end momentum is okay though, as that makes sense), as for some reason recent sonic games really have problems with this, and that is not acceptable. Moving backwards is a simple gameplay implementation- just look at almost any other platformer.
Combat: Devil May Cry/Ninja Gaiden type combat based on speed. No more God of War rip-offs and sucky homing air strike moves. I'm not saying that DMC or Ninja Gaiden should be ripped off either, but here's my idea. Have Sonic lock on to enemies with a style similar to Zelda's Z-targeting. Then have him be able to heavy attack, light attack, kick, dodge, and combo. Combos should be acrobatic and showcase Sonic's agility. He should also have the ability to pull off special moves if he has enough rings, such as rolling into a ball, charging, and ramming into an enemy, though using a special move will drain rings. While I hate relating this to other games, I think the best way to describe this is as a combination of Link and Dante's fighting styles- Acrobatic, visceral, and combo-based.
Now, for Sonic's health meter, let him have a basic health bar that isn't terribly big, but effective enough if he gets in a jam. Rings collected throughout the stage will be added to a second health bar that works as a shield. The second health bar will be drained before the actual health bar, with Sonic losing a certain amount of the rings he has collected after being hit. The lost rings will not appear in the stage, and Sonic will not be able to recollect them, but he will not lose all of his rings in a single hit unless he has a shitty amount of rings.
Boss fights: Make each boss unique and interesting. I would love to see some fights with Knuckles (somehow duped into working for Eggman again) and Eggman, rather than half-assed new characters, like Silver. Have a mid-boss at the half-point in every level, and have this play out like regular combat. Then have the boss fight for the end of the level take place on-foot, with Sonic needing to catch up to the enemy, lock on to it, and proceed to kick its ass.
Story: Short, sweet, and to the point. Keep it old-fashioned and nostalgic, as anybody who's going to be playing this game wants that more than anything else. Something as simple as "Eggman has developed the Death Egg MK II, and you need to stop him!" is good enough. Keep the cast small- Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Eggman, and possibly Metal Sonic and Amy only. Make nods to the fans, such as somehow acknowledging that in America, Eggman used to be called Robotnik- maybe have Sonic call Eggman Robuttnik (like he used to XD) or have Eggman accidentally refer to himself as Robotnik once, only to correct himself.
Sound: NO MORE CRAPPY WANNABE ROCK! Honestly...I'd like the old 16-bit songs more than anything else; However, combat should have its own, more modern, more intense music. Also, for sound effects like jumping, ring collecting, and ring loss, use the sounds from the old games.
Visuals: I just have a few notes here. I like how Unleashed tried to use some of the old icons, and think that this is a good direction. If the icons are used appropriately, it adds to the atmosphere of the game.
Basic sample level design:
Level 1:
Cutscene---Level traversing---Combat arena (entrances and exits close off and Sonic has to defeat all enemies to pass)---Level traversing---Combat arena---Level traversing with combat (similar to how I described on-foot boss fights earlier, but with regular enemies)---Mid-boss (Knuckles)---Save point---Level traversing---Big combat arena (more difficult version with more enemies)---Level traversing with combat---Save point---Cutscene---Boss for level (Eggman in some machine)---cutscene---Save screen.
Hire me Sega.
If you want to make a good 3D sonic game, here's what you do- you base it on speed. And no, by speed I do not mean just running really quickly.
Basic level traversing: Some sort of linear path that controls like a driving game with the occasional speed trick and trap put in there. A few alternate routes are okay, even reccomended every now and then. Incentive to move quickly? I have two ideas here, either a time limit, similar to classic sonics, or something chasing you. Also, make it possible to move backwards easily (Braking to end momentum is okay though, as that makes sense), as for some reason recent sonic games really have problems with this, and that is not acceptable. Moving backwards is a simple gameplay implementation- just look at almost any other platformer.
Combat: Devil May Cry/Ninja Gaiden type combat based on speed. No more God of War rip-offs and sucky homing air strike moves. I'm not saying that DMC or Ninja Gaiden should be ripped off either, but here's my idea. Have Sonic lock on to enemies with a style similar to Zelda's Z-targeting. Then have him be able to heavy attack, light attack, kick, dodge, and combo. Combos should be acrobatic and showcase Sonic's agility. He should also have the ability to pull off special moves if he has enough rings, such as rolling into a ball, charging, and ramming into an enemy, though using a special move will drain rings. While I hate relating this to other games, I think the best way to describe this is as a combination of Link and Dante's fighting styles- Acrobatic, visceral, and combo-based.
Now, for Sonic's health meter, let him have a basic health bar that isn't terribly big, but effective enough if he gets in a jam. Rings collected throughout the stage will be added to a second health bar that works as a shield. The second health bar will be drained before the actual health bar, with Sonic losing a certain amount of the rings he has collected after being hit. The lost rings will not appear in the stage, and Sonic will not be able to recollect them, but he will not lose all of his rings in a single hit unless he has a shitty amount of rings.
Boss fights: Make each boss unique and interesting. I would love to see some fights with Knuckles (somehow duped into working for Eggman again) and Eggman, rather than half-assed new characters, like Silver. Have a mid-boss at the half-point in every level, and have this play out like regular combat. Then have the boss fight for the end of the level take place on-foot, with Sonic needing to catch up to the enemy, lock on to it, and proceed to kick its ass.
Story: Short, sweet, and to the point. Keep it old-fashioned and nostalgic, as anybody who's going to be playing this game wants that more than anything else. Something as simple as "Eggman has developed the Death Egg MK II, and you need to stop him!" is good enough. Keep the cast small- Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Eggman, and possibly Metal Sonic and Amy only. Make nods to the fans, such as somehow acknowledging that in America, Eggman used to be called Robotnik- maybe have Sonic call Eggman Robuttnik (like he used to XD) or have Eggman accidentally refer to himself as Robotnik once, only to correct himself.
Sound: NO MORE CRAPPY WANNABE ROCK! Honestly...I'd like the old 16-bit songs more than anything else; However, combat should have its own, more modern, more intense music. Also, for sound effects like jumping, ring collecting, and ring loss, use the sounds from the old games.
Visuals: I just have a few notes here. I like how Unleashed tried to use some of the old icons, and think that this is a good direction. If the icons are used appropriately, it adds to the atmosphere of the game.
Basic sample level design:
Level 1:
Cutscene---Level traversing---Combat arena (entrances and exits close off and Sonic has to defeat all enemies to pass)---Level traversing---Combat arena---Level traversing with combat (similar to how I described on-foot boss fights earlier, but with regular enemies)---Mid-boss (Knuckles)---Save point---Level traversing---Big combat arena (more difficult version with more enemies)---Level traversing with combat---Save point---Cutscene---Boss for level (Eggman in some machine)---cutscene---Save screen.
Hire me Sega.
