Well one, opinions. Although the main thing here is that the Adventure games sell, it doesn't matter whether who likes them or not, they have enough people out there that really like them and are dedicated to it.
And i'm trying to figure out what these opinions are actually asking for, are they raring up to go treasure hunting once more? who knows.
Sales isn't a factor for my question here, the fans aren't the ones wanting Sega to have those high sales (unless they're desperate to fund other franchises to start getting made again and this is the only way), can Sega just slap Adventure on the box and let the money roll in? or will people actually look at the game and be like "this isn't adventure at all, I don't want this" and i'm back to the first point, what do they actually want? though it would appear i've got some answers....
I already stated what I believe people want a couple of pages back. Without repeating myself at great length, I'll sum it up:
-Sonic/Shadow-like stages, same level of control (obviously improved) and designs
-Multiple characters, however, like the Genesis games they play like Sonic does except with their own gameplay quirks. The level designs would then be designed with those quirks in mind, just like the Genesis games.
-A story (even if it's over dramatic and etc.)
-Chao Garden again
Anything else is just... eh. I don't think many people want adventure fields at all. Most people liked the Sonic/Shadow stages in SA2, feeding off that should make SA3 purely those stages just that you can use other characters in them; with their own gameplay quirks and such.
I don't know anyone who likes SA2 wants SA3 to basically regurgitate what SA2 did with the other characters. Anyone I've talked to likes the "Speed" stages (as they're referred to I guess in-game) and would love another Adventure just featuring THOSE stages + the ability to use characters like Knuckles, Tails, Silver, Blaze, etc. through them as well. Either optional to play as after beating the game or integrated in the story where it isn't repetitive or boring.
Sonic Adventure sounds like slang for Sonic and friends at this point, like the Sonic Advance setup if anything just with a plot.
This wouldn't be bad at all, so why insist on calling it Adventure when the main thing most take away from the previous 2 games with that tagline is multiple characters with multiple types of gameplay? well whatever, i'd be fine with this.
I don't mind SA2's stage approach as long as tails and knuckles play more like a classic sonic, aka no mech and no limiting emerald hunting.
Make tails play a little slower, ability to fly and maybe solve some more tricky layouts.
Have knuckles play a little like the werehog but faster and more agile with some running segments.
Keep sonic as he is.
win!
So similar to the above then.
That opening level is possibly the worst thing ever created and will surely turn players away.
Shame because there's far better to be found in the game.
Okay now i'm curious as of the far better stages within. Especially when CE is considered that bad, I didn't miss a heap of sarcasm here right?
Yeah, I've detailed in the past why the SA1 style is both my preferred version of 3D Sonic as well as the more accurate representation of Sonic in 3D. It mostly boils down to:
-complete freedom: you can freely move in any direction you want in levels that encourage open movement. Today you are encouraged to go at breakneck speeds at the tap of a button with such a small window of control, the franchise is closer to a burnout game than a Sonic one.
-real 3D: today you have most Sonic stages falling back on 2.5D sections for 70% of the stage, which even then compares poorly to the 2D sections in the classics. The adventure games never fell back on shoehorning 2d platforming in what is supposed to be a 3D game.
-Sonic Team of today is in much better shape than 10 years ago. They've learned valuable lessons and I trust that were they to include multiple characters (which I would only want Tails and Knuckles) it would be a class act all the way. This isn't the 06 team anymore.
-Story: using SA1 as the standard, (SA2 with its president shit and videotaped murdering can go to hell) the plot never had a serious moment aside from 2 or three cutscenes. Otherwise it was purely adventurous, fun and charming. Most importantly the characters were just being themselves with their own story arcs and concerns. I just dont understand how a light, fun story in this style Is game breaking. Unleashed was pretty much had the same adventurous tone.
But I guess everyone can go back to expecting sonic team to make an SA3 starring big the cat in a collisionless world and a playable extended family.
Consider each bullet point here relating to yours in the same order.
- It's good for more actual platforming segments certainly, Colours which is a fair bit slower than Unleashed/Generations also has more traditional platforming so the slowed down gameplay does bring that element back. I hate to see the stages turn too simplistic though, mostly talking about Adventure 2 layouts here.
I was going to say maybe the boost sections could be separate from the rest of the stage but then realised I was stepping eerily close to mach speed from 06.
- This is a valid point as well, Modern stages in Generations are mostly at their best or most exhilarating during the 3D areas, while I don't mind the 2D segments more 3D should be the main angle.
I wouldn't throw 2D out though.
- I guess the danger here is assuming that they might fall back to their old ways when trying to recapture what the fans want. Still better outings recently does give me more faith but i'm not letting them entirely off the hook yet.
- Racking my brain through the SA1 plot, it's actually pretty simple, Just Eggman, Chaos and a few ancient prophecy stuff. It's more of a problem how those cutscenes are presented in a bit of a sloppy manner but yeah obviously we are much further ahead in time now and characters walking on the spot shouldn't be an issue. Unleashed was nothing special but it didn't bother me either so I can take plot as long as it doesn't go all Shadow on us. I'd drop the hub though, if someone just wants to play the stages and put the story aside they don't want to meander through the adventure fields.
Well this wouldn't be bad, i'd give it a shot, it's just that I think what the majority want from the Adventure moniker is not quite the same as your preferred vision, mainly because SA2 is the beloved one.
So in conclusion we've learnt for the most part people want all Sonic stages but you can play as other characters as well in a similar speed style stages or even the same stages with like other routes for their abilities perhaps. Gameplay is toned down speed wise from current games and some exploration is allowed to find...stuff?
There is a plot of some sort that doesn't fall into the void of 06 nor does it stay as much in the background as Colours.
And Chao Garden because everyone wants Chao Garden, with respect to Professor Beef no emblems are tied to this mode now.
The use of "Adventure" seems to have become synonymous with being able to play as other characters if anything but in a style like Sonic's own.
I hope for all our sakes that everyone else asking for SA3 is thinking on a similar wavelength, if we get a trailer next year and I see Tails piloting his new version of the tornado in "all range mode" dogfights in mech form while Shadow rides his motorbike in all new on rails shooting gameplay then i'll have profound sadness.
