Sega Announces new 2D Sonic title

[Koopaul]

A "sonic friend" is anyone who isn't sonic, knuckles, or tails.
Basically, useless "friend" characters who don't need to be in the game.

Personally, I don't think shadow, rouge, or blaze fit as sonic friends, (and rather, count as main characters) and amy is debatable. As for the Chaotix, they don't count as sonic friends if knuckles is with them.

Everyone else is a sonic friend.

Oh sounds like you're making up crap.

[Vipershark]

Actually, no, I'm not.
while there's no official definition of a sonic friend, it generally refers to any character that isn't sonic. However, many people accept that tails and knuckles don't count as sonic friends.

I'll keep it simple. If they weren't playable in sonic 1,2, or 3K, then they're a sonic friend.

[Koopaul]

If you break down the meaning of "Sonic friend" it means anyone who is a friend of Sonic even Tails and Knuckles.

You're confusing "Main Characters" with "Sonic's friends"

And like it or not the main characters of a game vary from Sonic game to Sonic game.

[Vipershark]

well it's not exactly a literal term
As I said, it started out as really meaning "Sonic's friends", but many people now generally accept Tails and Knuckles as not being sonic friends.

[Koopaul]

Yeah but you're missing the point this is something the fans coined up. Its a made up status that does not apply to the games. Silver may outrank Tails in one game and Knuckles may be more important in another. There's no official "friend" status.

[Vipershark]

...which is what I've been saying the whole time.

It's not an official term, but pretty much everyone agrees that nobody wants sonic friends.

[Koopaul]

Yeah but what a "friend" is varies from person to person therefor the logic is flawed.

[Vipershark]

reading waaaaaaaay too into it, bro

as I said, it's generally accepted that sonic, knuckles, and tails are the only ones who aren't sonic friends
I never said everyone thinks that, but most do.
but yes, personal opinions of the other characters vary

[Crappy Blue Luigi]

uh

doesn't Sonic friends mean

I don't know

friends of Sonic?

if it doesn't then it's a silly term that shouldn't be used

[Rökkan]

i don't think that having new characters is something we should worry that much on newer Sonic games than we should worry about the newer games' game direction, game design, gameplay, level design, art direction and getting Takashi Iizuka fired.

[Chaoxys]

I think I'm the only one who doesn't give a crap. Seriously, if they add someone new, who cares? I just play the game an enjoy myself, but thats just my way of looking at things.

[Chutzpar]

Rokkan I want to bake you a cake right now okay.

Rather than keep switching styles or transplanting the characters into new settings, they should focus on making a game that gives you that same childish warm fuzzy GLEE that the old games did. And for that they need to be simple and enjoyable. You have a clear goal, you have a clear method, you go and save the world. That's it.

It was a formula that worked and it never needed to be fucked with. Adding new characters or new gimmicks or new settings is just polishing a turd, basically.

[Rökkan]

Rokkan I want to bake you a cake right now okay.

Rather than keep switching styles or transplanting the characters into new settings, they should focus on making a game that gives you that same childish warm fuzzy GLEE that the old games did. And for that they need to be simple and enjoyable. You have a clear goal, you have a clear method, you go and save the world. That's it.

It was a formula that worked and it never needed to be fucked with. Adding new characters or new gimmicks or new settings is just polishing a turd, basically.

okay! :9

I think what they need to do is to make the levels and the game feel like the old games, but with the addition of the new graphics technology to make it look as amazing compared to other games of nowadays as it was back then. Sonic's world was surreal, a tad inspired by art (see Sonic 1's Special Stage, Knuckles' Chaotix's Botanic Base) and very colorful. Not to mention level design, that should incentivate exploration and to know when to run fast and when to be careful. Sonic 3 and Sonic CD's level designs are the best. Sonic 3 for having more than just one ambient on a single zone or act, combined with an explorative level design that contributes to that feel, and Sonic CD for its creative and different level designs than the other games that shaped the whole level. You can tell which level it is in Sonic CD by just saying how the level design is like, and not specifying any platform gimmick element or anything. (like Chemical Plant's tubes, Angel Island's vines and waterfall disappearing platforms, etc).

THEN after that and the gameplay we should worry about characters.

[Vipershark]

uh

doesn't Sonic friends mean

I don't know

friends of Sonic?

if it doesn't then it's a silly term that shouldn't be used

did you miss the past 12 posts explaining to koopaul that this is actually what it means
that is the real meaning of the term, but as I said, many people don't consider tails and knuckles to fit the term.
just go with it, it's not that big of a deal

[Jovian-12]

I honestly never minded the influx of new characters. if Sonic is indeed going off on all these crazy adventures he's bound to stumble upon someone he doesn't know.

yes, some are stupid, yes, some are characterized half-assedly, but when it comes down to it, like Rokkan said, the gameplay comes first.