With The Game Awards being right around the corner, the 35th anniversary coming next year and The Weeknd and Thundercat rumors. Do you think it's time for the next big mainline Sonic game to be revealed?Discuss.
>>727778837
Open world but with more variety
If they don't keep developing on the Frontiers formula after the great reception it got, I'm gonna mald.
>>727779365They confirmed theyre gonna stuck with the open zone if frontiers did well, so yeah, i just hope they adress the big criticism frontiers had, no more pop-in issues and a more sonic-fied world
>>727778837No. Shadow gens was a year ago. There were like 5 years between Frontiers and Forces. Regardless of the franchise doing better now than it did last decade, I don't see them pumping out games that fast. Gamedev doesn't work like that anymore, sadly
>>727778837>Do you think it's time for the next big mainline Sonic game to be revealed?Well duh. They've announced some new Sonic thing at every TGA for the past few years, so showing some kind of trailer announcing Frontiers' follow-up is pretty much guaranteed at this point.Although it's just going to be another mediocre Kishimoto game, so I see no reason to be hyped. I do expect all the weeb fans to get upset over how bouncy and exaggerated the animation stye is going to be, since the tech being used to achieve that is something Sonic Team already showed off months ago.
I just want them to port the Adventure games, Unleashed and Heroes to modern consoles. I don't understand what the hold up is.
>>727779959Shadow Gens was a side project that only existed because of Sonic Team's increased size after Frontiers, and considering how it plays and the heavy asset reuse, might as well be a standalone expansion to Frontiers itself.I also think Frontiers' director announced on twitter that they had already started development on Frontiers' sequel way before we knew anything about Shadow Gens.
>>727778837We already got the leak for it, Sega aren't good at hiding their content, its sonic frontiers 2 with an unironic sonic.exe insert
>>727780476I hope you can play as other heroes. I've wanted to treasure hunt as Knuckles in an open world
>>727778837Work on what Frontiers introduced, and by god, let Sonic's friends join from the outset.
>>727780476>sonic frontiers 2 with an unironic sonic.exe insertProof on the Sonic.exe part?
>>727780635Got it up for you.There was another one i'll post after this from 4chan which i know every autist with a keyboard can fake leaks but the one for frontiers turned out to be true
>>727780883Here it is, this was posted a while ago but the original sonic frontiers leak was drastically different with sage (ghost girl) being a friend rather than foe.>>727780872I swear to God, i saw it in the threads this was posted in, it's an A.I version of sonic called Glitch that hunts you down across the map
>>727780883>i know every autist with a keyboard can fake leaks but the one for frontiers turned out to be trueAnon, there were also numerous leaks for Frontiers that didn't turn out to be true. One of them turning out to be right doesn't mean you should just eat up something that was blatantly made in five minutes with AI.>>727781226>I know that the director for Unleashed is returningI don't even think that guy works in the videogame industry anymore, much less at Sega. This one's a load of shit too.
>>727781226Last post, here it is>>727781463I know it could be fake, but i don't put it past Sega to pander like this, Persona 3/JetSet/Crazy taxi were also leaked. Even if it were true, shit changes in development. However I take these leaks as proof that it is 100% happening aside from the obvious confirmation
>>727780470Frontiers itself had a ton of asset reuse, more than Shadow gens (though of course part of that was it being a longer game) Sonic team are just completely unable to make a game full of 3D stages only using brand new level assets only. The last time we got that was Unleashed and even it had the Werehog preventing them from needing to do the extensive amount of modelling that a 3D boost stage requires for the whole gameAnyway, point is, I don't see a new game happening unless they're just gonna copypaste the Starfall islands and just have better Cyberspace stages
>>727779959>There were like 5 years between Frontiers and Forces.That's because Sonic Team had no idea what they were doing and basically restarted their work on the project after two or so years of development.Frontiers 2 being made in around three years makes sense if all they're doing is refining the same concepts they already introduced in the previous game. Which is probably the case looking at Shadow Generations.
>>727781807>Frontiers itself had a ton of asset reuse, more than Shadow gens (though of course part of that was it being a longer game)No, Shadow Gens definitely had way more asset reuse, Sonic Team just got clever with some of its implementation so it wouldn't be as noticeable. For example, the Radical Highway segments reuse assets from Empire City, and I know that level design from Colors was even reused in one of the Kingdom Valley levels.>The last time we got that was UnleashedColors, actually - although I think Lost World might also fit, but I haven't played that game in almost a decade. Anyway, they're definitely going to announce another mainline game at TGA, and it will definitely reuse assets from previous projects. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if stuff from Crossworlds ends up appearing in the new game. But it's not like this isn't a already a common practice in the current industry (modern Resident Evil is a decent example), it all just comes down to how blatant the devs make said asset reuse on the player's end.But since we're talking about Sonic Team, yeah, it will probably be pretty blatant in spots.
this leak would be big if fucking true
>>727783368ZavokGODSI... kneel...
>>727783109Cyberspace levels in Frontiers didn't just rip level assets, some of them were just straight up the exact same level as some previous Sonic level. Frontiers straight up had the SA2 Radical Highway in it, just with different textures. Not to mention Frontiers asset reused itself with how 3/5 islands looked the same and they just spammed minor variants of the tower guardian over and over>Colors, actually>Colors>all 3D stageskek. I forgot about Lost World though since I didn't play it or the Boom games, but from the footage I've seen of Lost World it still looks like it's using Green Hill textures and I'm sure there's 2D in there somewhereI do think they'll be holding off, not just to continue development on Crossworlds updates but also because people are gonna expect more now that Sonic is doing well for a change
>>727778837i think hes getting a game where you match cards with the person across the table to make piles of similar cards
>>727783796>Cyberspace levels in Frontiers didn't just rip level assets, some of them were just straight up the exact same level as some previous Sonic level.I'm aware. The stages in Shadow Gens weren't entirely different from this. They intentionally reused level layouts in spot just like the original Generations did. And, as stated already, reused level design from other games entirely. >Not to mention Frontiers asset reused itself with how 3/5 islands looked the same and they just spammed minor variants of the tower guardian over and over3/5 islands look the same because they were originally all just one giant island that the devs eventually split into different areas. The latter is typical for any open world game. This genre is known for being "quantity over quality" for a reason.>all 3D stages>kekUnleashed didn't have full 3D boost stage either, anon. But I'm not sure why that would even matter. 2D sections are more about easing the workload on designing level layouts and handling level streaming, not just environment modeling, which is done for those sidescrolling segments anyway. Also Lost World's Green/Windy Hill is entirely different from a stylistic standpoint than Generations', there's no texture reuse there. Note that the whole reason people expect another mainline game for next year is because Sega's has been comfortably pushing out annual Sonic releases for the past few years. The past three included a 2D Sonic, a remaster, and a spinoff, which would make it an appropriate time for another mainline game to release in 2026. I'll also add that Crossworlds isn't really a Sonic Team game, it's mainly developed by one of Sega's internal arcade divisions with Sonic Team supervising the project, similar to something like Superstars, Mania, or the Dimps games. There's not a whole lot of manpower being pulled away on Crossworlds.
What if there's no Sonic annoucement
>>727785197>Unleashed didn't have full 3D boost stage eitherI acknowledged the Werehog in my original reply, but as far as I am aware Unleashed is the last 3D Sonic game to have no 2D whatsoever and to have brand new assets only, notwithstanding the games between Generations and Forces or counting spinoffs. But I think that's what fans are wanting them to do, all the big videos regarding the newer games include parts about how lame the 2D is to the point where Final Horizon had no 2D. So a full game with that scope is gonna be more of an effort than Sonic team are used to, granted we'll probably see other characters return to being playable to ease the burden
>>727783796>some of them were just straight up the exact same level as some previous Sonic levelMosthttps://youtu.be/IIMyXb6Oy88
>>727780883> Sonic team using Unreal Engine 5The performance is going to be absolute fucking shit isn’t it?
>>727783109> they're definitely going to announce another mainline game at TGAThis could have been really fucking nice if the faggots in charge of the nominations had remembered to nominate the third movie but here we are.
>>727787336It doesn't deserve one, it wasn't good
>>727786925Sonic crossworlds runs very good, even on low specs
>>727787445> it wasn’t goodNeither of the nominees are. TLoU season 2 is only there because the franchise is the darling for every journo out there. The rest are just filler for the category. Sonic 3 at least deserved a nomination due to how popular it got at the beginning of the year, but I guess they just googled “video game adaptations 2025” in order to have material for the category and called it a day.
>>727786664Well fuck, I guess even Unleashed had 2D. I only played each version once, ages agoSo there's never been a full 3D boost game, damn. Shame. Yeah if they're gonna deliver full 3D I guess we have to expect them to go back to the multiple character format we really haven't gotten in full since 06
>>727786350>I acknowledged the Werehog in my original reply, but as far as I am aware Unleashed is the last 3D Sonic game to have no 2D whatsoever and to have brand new assets onlyIf we want to get technical, then actually Dream Team is the last 3D Sonic fall under that umbrella, although it's not a fully-Sonic Team-developed project.Aside from that, acknowledging the Werehog stages doesn't change that Unleashed itself still made use of 2D sections elsewhere, so I'm not really sure what it is you're even trying to argue here. If you're trying to say that what you THINK a Frontiers follow-up should be is going to be too much of a workload for Sonic Team, well... it's Sonic Team. They're going to put out something whether or not they have the proper skills to do so, as they've continuously done for the past twenty years.>>727786925Crossworlds already uses Unreal, iirc. Base some of your expectations on that, I guess.Personally, I think Crossworlds looks a bit washed out, which seems to be pretty standard for modern Unreal engine games, so I guess that's going to be the general look for whatever Sonic Team's making next.
>>727779365>>727779720I think the ideal would be multiple Open Zones about the size/complexity of Shadow Gens' White Space that have full named linear Acts available within them, and the ability to go to the edge of the Open Zone to travel to the next via a quick loading screen instead of using a menu exclusively.Multiple characters from the start or at least from early on would be nice too, perhaps with some of those Acts being designated to specific characters so you get use out of them all even if you have a favorite for the Open Zones.
>>727778837sonic games were never good
>>727788136Just have a bunch of unique stages per zone that fit the theme and have unique gimmicks, it's really not that difficult
>>727783368I can't fucking believe this shit is still around six years later kek
>>727788136I just want the open zones to feel natural and full of life. Frontiers was empty with un natural floating shit pasted everywhere and all the terrain was flat and boring.Also wasn't Gens open zone kinda small? you could practically see everything from one spot. It was more of an open hub.
>>727788174they're better than Nintendo games now
>>727788936>Also wasn't Gens open zone kinda small? you could practically see everything from one spot. It was more of an open hub.Shadow Generations' open zone was the perfect size, imo. Large enough to explore, but not too big to feel like it was being stretched thin like some of Frontiers' islands. Just a nice, focused area.Frontiers' sequel having three of those kind of areas (maybe with the later couple being a bit more vertically layered) with some traditional stages attached would be fine with me.
>>727778837>mainline SonicThere's a mainline in Sonic?
>>727789825Yeah, it's basically the mediocre Sonic Team games, with the decent games being mostly spinoffs or side games made by other devs.
>>727790073They gotten better
I just hope it looks like a Sonic game this timeI'm fine with open world, but it was so soulless and devoid of any Sonic identity in artistic design. To the point that I'm fucking pissed off they made one of the islands a level in Shadow Gens & Crossworlds
>>727790256Eh. Shadow Generations was better because it was directed by one the game designers behind the original Generations. Now we're going back to another game directed by the same guy behind Lost World, Forces, and Frontiers.
>>727778837more 2d sonic games
>>727790552Not really the Generations devs are here to stay now that the Shitty Mario and Sonic spinoff games are dead, after Shadow Gens they all most likley went on to help with the next mainline game
>>727785197I think the arcade racing division fused with Sonic Team so i don't see how they arent part of Sonic Team
>>727790704>I think the arcade racing division fused with Sonic TeamYou thought wrong. They're just working on Crossworld's because Sega wanted to keep the game's development internal instead of using a third party developer like the past few racing spinoffs.
>>727790701>Not reallyNot really what? Kishimoto is directing the next game, and has already has been busy at it while Shadow Gens was in development. Some of the devs from Shadow might have moved on to help as support staff (if they haven't moved onto whatever future projects Sega has planned), but it's not going to influence much from a design perspective. Unfortunately.
>>727790701Thank God M&S is fucking dead, those devs are finally free
>>727789615I want about the same size as frontiers just with actual LIFE. I want towns and NPCs, I wanna protect cute mobians from an Eggman fleet invasion. I want to run around an actual well crafted open area that doesn't look like a stock asset. You probably felt stretched thin because they were empty as fuck.
>>727791848I dont really want a small hub just to play more mediocre boost levels again.
>>727778837What's wrong with his arms here why are they shaved
>>727791848Guess we're of different minds. I don't need any generic open world fodder like scripted missions and talking head NPCs, I've played enough of those games over the past decade or so.I'd rather the open areas be designed more like open skate parks, except taller. That's why I'm fine with the size of Shadow Gens' open zone. Limit the width, and increase the height. You'd basically get the same rough playing space as some of the hubs in Frontiers, just stacked on top of itself with a focus on actual platforming (and ideally slope launching) for explorative climbing.
>>727779720>>727788136Open world slop fucking sucks bruh. We need to go back to the adventure style format or having core levels with a variety of characters and chao gardens.>=(
I actually have a good bit of faith for the next game, the new Sega COO has been a godsend for the company, especially for Sonic
>>727793016Sonic hasn't been AAA since unleashed, boom failing holocausted their finances so they literally could not afford to make proper games until the movies and frontiers pulled them out of the shit
>>727792534I guess thats fair, I enjoyed the stuff from gens more so than the previous games we've gotten. I just wanna see Frontiers game play fully realized to its max potential before it goes away.
>>727779365>more boostshitI'm not gonna mald because at this point I'm barely attached to Sonic, but if you're gonna do it don't do it in an open world you can't even make feel natural.
>>727783368NORTUBEL 2 CONFIRMED!!!!11!1
>>727793154Not saying the games need to AAA
>>727789615I don't feel Frontiers was stretched thin at all, the problem with it is more that a lot of the content in it was just redundant, there was no need to have so many memory collectibles
>>727789338nope
>>727790552Morio Kishimoto is a loose cannon. All his games have kind of the same hits and misses, but more of them land better than bad.Lost World was just terrible because it's charmless and clearly SEGA going "but Nintendo, what if MARIO MONEY!?" asking them to pivot Sonic to be more like Mario with simplistic and cutesy elements. The game itself is okay, but sluggish and without boost it just had to reinvent too much.Colors, Forces and Frontiers are all games that run on boost mechanics, and are pretty good. Forces is overhated. I get why, but it's a polished and solid product. All Kishimoto's games are quite polished, and their gameplay is made through a lot of playtesting effort, which is why they don't frustrate as much as other Sonic games, but also why they feel a bit barren at times.With Frontiers 2 being an upgrade over Frontiers 1 and iterating on the same engine I expect a better game. But with Kishimoto it will have failed moments like Null Space, or the final boss of Frontiers, where the experimentation took over too much, and came out really flat.
>>727794151That's actually what I meant by stretched thin. You had these large, wide open spaces, and to make them not feel so empty, Sonic Team just filled them with slight variations of the same platforming sections, puzzles, enemy encounters, etc. over and over again. Once you've finished the first island, you pretty much already experienced everything the game has to offer, even thought you're only 20% through the campaign. Instead of smaller hubs that could have offered a more focused experience each, Sonic Team pushed forward with something that was highly repetitive, with what little variable content they had being stretched very thin across the whole game.It's no wonder Sonic Team ended up letting people skip everything through fishing.
>>727794804That's just the Open World curse, and why a sadly still minority, really really hates it.It's not that it's just "too long or boring". It's that once you've seen the first 10% you've seen the entire game because the rest is some form of asset reuse and boilerplate design. This is the exact same issue people who disliked BotW but liked earlier Zeldas had with it. It's the exact same issue people have with MGSV over the first 4 MGS titles.
>>727795490I know, and is why I was perfectly fine with Shadow Gens' more limited hub size, and why I think going in that direction over "the biggest, most hugest open-world Sonic game" is more preferable. You're still getting a more open Sonic experience, just not one that has to waste development effort trying to cover up its inherent emptiness.A game of interconnected hubs would be best, I guess. At least for me. Like JSRF or Cyberfunk.Makes me wonder how the upcoming JSR is going to handle its map design, if its going to fall into the same open world traps, or if it'll handle map design with more restraint.
Why can't Sega give us Super Knuckles?>Muh only hedgehogs can go superThat shit has been so inconsistent when Blaze and Trip still had super forms.
>>727794804See, I don't really care about that because the interesting aspect of Sonic is how you get from point to point B. The actual challenges the game set up for you don't mean anything when you can blast off from a nearby cliffside, grab the collectible and totally ignore all the rail grinding and wall jumping you'd have to do otherwise It's just collectibles themselves are all mostly pointless is the problem
>>727796986realistically nothing is stopping sega from canonising super forms for Knuckles and Tails again but I find it very funny how they banked on hedgehogs being big deal only for it fail miserably in 06
>>727779365Shadow Gens was open zone
