Sonic Superstars is shaping as much as be the most important Sonic recreation of the yr partly due to the brand new 2.5D aesthetic for Basic Sonic. Nonetheless, Sonic Staff suggests Basic Sonic’s new look could also be everlasting, as they imagine pixel artwork will not be a viable model for Sonic in 10 to twenty years.
In response to a report from GamesRadar, Sonic Staff artistic officer and producer Takashi Iizuka mentioned at Gamescom that Sonic Superstars is “an evolution of the 2D Sonic gameplay,” however does not imagine that 2D pixel artwork will survive as a online game artwork type for the franchise throughout the subsequent twenty years.
This remark successfully throws chilly water at the opportunity of Basic Sonic followers seeing Sonic Mania 2 coming to mild.
“[W]e take a look at the pixel artwork — it is nice — however after we take into consideration 10-20 years sooner or later, we do not assume it may be a viable artwork model or presentation for our gamers,” Iizuka mentioned by means of a translator. “And to be able to advance and actually step issues up, we did wish to make it possible for we’re presenting one thing that 10-20 years down the highway we’re nonetheless evolving and creating new content material for.”
It is vital to notice that Iizuka-san’s feedback about pixel artwork not being a viable gaming artwork model solely applies to Sonic, not different video games on the whole. Pixel artwork sustained itself remarkably nicely in lots of indie video games within the final decade, together with 2064: Learn Solely Recollections, Lifeless Cells, Kaze and the Wild Masks, Freedom Planet, and extra not too long ago Sea of Stars and Octopath Traveler 2.
These pixel artwork feedback could also be surprising to some Sonic followers, given the wild success Sonic Mania gained when it first launched six years in the past, promoting greater than 1 million copies worldwide. However as with something, plans can change. Simply do not anticipate a Sonic Mania successor with stunning pixel artwork any time quickly.
As for Sonic Superstars, which is due October 17, take a look at our first preview.
Cristina Alexander is a contract author for IGN. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like an enormous deal. Observe her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.