17 replies to this topic

[FUS News Robot]

So...who's Yuji Naka? Yuji Naka is one of the men who helped create Sonic way back in 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog. Since then he helped in almost every Sonic game until Sonic Riders. After Sonic Riders Naka quit Sega and started Prope, an independent game development company responsible for such classics as Let's Tap and Ivy the Kiwi?. So, why are we talking about him? Well, in an interview today Naka says that modern Sonic titles have been "less fun" and has stated that he would like to return to Sonic sometime in the future.  He said that Sonic has a fun and simple control scheme, but that the games have become way to easy lately. He went on to also say that he would love to return to other properties, such as Nights, in the future as well. The odd thing about these statements is that up until now in all his interviews Naka has stated that he was happy with his new studio and that he had no desire to return to Sonic or Nights.

Now, keep in mind that these statements are from Naka himself, and not an announcement of his return from Sega. As of now Naka is the head of Prope Studios, and hasn't made any retirement or quitting plans as of now. In the interview he stresses that he means in the far future, not next year or anything.

So, what do you think? Would you like to see Naka return to the series, or do you think it's fine without him? Oh, and one last thing...he also said that he wanted to revive the rivalry with Mario.

 

Tyler

[Tennyo]

Revive the rivalry with Mario!

Sega vs Nintendo back in the day was everything. I feel so nostalgic when I think about it. Sonic being in games alongside Mario always seemed odd to me.

A nice rivalry would be fun.

[Speedy_25]

Naka-san, you go with Sonic......NOW I say....NOW

[MoonPrincess07]

I'd like to see him working on Sonic again.

[PuffinGrandeur]

He worked on Heroes and 2006, didn't he? Kind of hard to say that he should come back and 'revive' the series when it only started getting better after he left.

[blue]

He worked on Heroes and 2006, didn't he? Kind of hard to say that he should come back and 'revive' the series when it only started getting better after he left.

Well, doesn't seem a couple of "bad" Sonic games deter some people's hope of the return of Yuji Naka.

[Strike011]

I didn't even know he left.
And if one of the original fathers of Sonic think his son is doing bad, then SEGA better take his word for it (y'know... since they won't take ours)
and it wasn't that that got me excited... I was completely sold when he said he wants to respark the classic rivalry between Sonic and Mario, since they've teamed up, he hasn't been (the slightest bit) the dude with a 'tude (well, actually his new voice pulls off a nice attitude... beside the point)

[Ther2view]

Me...I get mixed feelings about this. One the one hand I totally agree the the games need to be harder (True difficulty, not this extra pits crap.) and would love to see what Naka would do to the series to help it.

But at the same time, it's not like he created Sonic alone...having one person of an amazing team back really wouldn't make all that much of a difference. Plus, the modern games gameplay is fun in it's own way...the games just need to be longer, harder, and with a better story that actually takes advantage of the good voice actors.

But the rivalry between Sonic and Mario reigniting? To some it never stopped. And let's be honest, you won't really be able to bring it back like it once was. Now that Sega is releasing games on Nintendo platforms It would be strange to try to have a rivalry. Seriously, what kind of rivalry is there if they're on the same platform? Plus, modern gamers that have only played Sonic games after Sega stopped making home consoles generally like both series (I'm sorta in that camp...) and would probably not get behind a rivalry mostly due to not understanding it.

Also, I still want to play as Sonic in the next Smash Bros.

And that was my pessimistic talk for the day!

[Tennyo]

Nah that's not pessimistic.

I like Mario well enough as well, I'm just having nostalgic feelings.

[Misk]

I'd be interested in seeing what Naka would do if he worked on Sonic again.

While I personally don't have a problem with the newer games (though I will agree that I, too, think they've gotten a bit easy...However, the same could be said for modern gaming in general, if you ask me), having one of the original big three return should have some interesting results.

Though I have to ask. Sega has outsourced Sonic games before, haven't they? Dimps, THQ...(unless they are all second-party developers and owned by Sega).

If not, I don't see why PROPE couldn't work on a game themselves.

[RedAuthar]

Both Mario and Sonic games have had the big Nintendo and SEGA labels attached to them, but there are other smaller companies that also bring forth these games. SEGA could easily ask Prope to help with another Sonic Game.

As for Naka coming back....I have mixed feelings.
I believe the difficulty of a game can help with the fun (or hurt) but if a game is generally bad being challenging doesn't make it a winner. In fact it hurts it more that you worked so hard to get a cruddy ending.
Though I do hope they make the game more STORY based then SIDE MISSION based. Sonic Unleashed and Generations failed in my opinion because I had to complete what should have been side-quests BEFORE I could continue the story. Naka's games didn't really have those.

As for the Sonic vs Mario Rivalry...
I've never really believed the two hated each other. Sure they don't always get a long, but like any good crossover they can be friends or enemies depending on the situation.
What they should do is make an actual game together with an adventure/plot that isn't the Olympics. That way they could be both rivals and allies.

[Misk]

What they should do is make an actual game together with an adventure/plot that isn't the Olympics. That way they could be both rivals and allies.

I definitely agree with this point.

I wouldn't mind a boss fight that pits one against the other, either. And if they were to use the character-based story mode like in the Adventure titles, they could avoid angering any fans by having the victor simply be whoever the player was playing as.

[RedAuthar]

And then similarly to Adventure, you can have a final story after beating the individual stories. That way you can do both rivalries and alliances in the same game.

[Ther2view]

THAT is what I've been asking for! Having it Adventure like would be the best! Imagine it being like Adventure 2 where you can follow the Mario story (Mario, Luigi,...and someone else), and the Sonic story (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles)!

[RedAuthar]

Wario?

[Ther2view]

I would love Wario, but the problem is that he's supposed to be an Anti-Mario, and I don't think Nintendo would let him join in.

Of course on the other hand, Wario loves treasure, so having him chase after the Master Emerald pieces or Chaos Emeralds (Kinda how Knuckles did in the Adventure games [concept wise, not Gameplay wise]) Would work great!

[Hammer]

I think a good ending to that game, similar to the ending in M&L: Bowser's Inside Story (where you had a comic styled cutscene where Bowser tried to kidnap the Princess AGAIN) could be something like Mario and Sonic having finally defeated the boss, and then, before going back to their own worlds, wondering who is the strongest of them, and starting to fight. Not sure if that fight should be playable or not, but, either way, it would be better to end it in a draw, so fans don't get pissed.

[RedAuthar]

Heh. I like it.