Speaking of which, I suddenly start re-invisioning a remake of Sonic Heroes:
Basically you control only one character, stages are redone to allow for different routes so that depending on the character you're using, you can take an alt. route. Granted it'd be for novelty's sake but at least it removes monotony
Special Stages are changed to be less tedious and be in the spirit of Sonic 2 and 3.
Mind you this is a simplification of some of the ideas I had, so feel free to offer your own ideas etc.
Honestly, the idea of Sonic Heroes isn't bad, it's just the implementation that sucks. Marathon copy-paste level design without breaks, weird controls issues, anything other than the NTSC GameCube version being riddled with glitches (and not like that version is totally clear of them), absolutely awful camera that got in the way of the game at times...
(Nerd rambles ahead.)
I've thought about a sequel before. Online, vaguely PSO-esque structure with 4 players. There's something like 5 or 6 different Types, and characters can either have a certain degree of two types, or specialize in one, based on a certain pool of points. Your character does two, you can access certain routes, and each one gets an ability on an action button. (X and Y, or whatever.) You pick a single Type character, you get the normal ability, but a much better one for that Type as well. The characters also have a certain amount of points in their Type, so while a character may be able to heal, or hack, or knock down a door, they may be slower or less effective at it than some other characters. The Types that make up the group (and possibly the characters chosen) influence which Team Blasts are available, and the group votes on one at the start of a mission. These do more than just break enemies now, and can give stat boosts, heal the group, you get the picture.
Levels have a critical path, that can be slowly progressed through, but is clearly not the ideal choice and is short on rewards. Stages are designed (and marked on the menu) to encourage two or three different classes each, with exceptions. Early on a stage slaps you in the face with "THIS IS THE FLIGHT ROUTE," but as the game progresses, markers get more subtle, like a patch of yellow flowers might hint at something being up high, or red scratches on a wall. In order for the group to stay together when specifically flying, running fast, etc, you can press a trigger button to "slipstream" to one of your three partners. (Or if you're falling in a pit and panic, press all three, and you may luck out and latch on to someone.) This is like the Heroes formations, and puts you in line with them, carrying you along with where they go. If characters get left behind or KOed, they can be restored at checkpoints. If they're intentionally hanging back and holding up the group, Zero chases them down, and if they don't catch up, a bot takes over their character and they're forced to play a helpful Chao instead. (Yeah, this game better have bots, good ones.)
Crap-ton of characters. Bring back ones that haven't seen the spotlight in a while, plunder more obscure Sonic media that they have clear license to. Sell character packs, and skins. There's the six types, with varying stats, mixed up with a couple different fighting styles (spinball, judo, melee weapon, etc), it would be enough to keep most of the characters fresh, and small overlaps just let people go with their preferences. If there's budget, let people make their own Deviant the Art, let them pick Type(s) and stats, pick fighting style, pick species, colors, gender, voice... and oh yes, sell them hats and other clothes and accessories. Cosmetic the Microtransaction.
It's a pet idea of mine, so I could go much further into the details than I doubt anyone would care about.
