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• The Chase May Revive Platforming

  Back in November, Derrick posted a trailer for an obscure DS platformer called The Chase: Felix Meets Felicity. Today, Gametrailers has uploaded a lengthy gameplay video that demonstrates the game's innovations.  The Chase is a simple platformer that melds the speed of Sonic and light exploration of Mario into a satisfyingly well-paced jaunt, seemingly poised to reach the lofty heights of its old school progenitors. Don't let the cutesy character design fool you, the game makes use of an innovative stylus input mechanic and adds the suspense of Dino Run's wall of impending doom for what looks like will be a fresh little subway time sink. Use the stylus to draw paths for your character, like in Line Rider to reach hidden areas, maintain your speed to avoid the rain and grind to attack pedestrians.  Walkthrough video, after the jump Read More... Posted Jan 23 2009, 03:00 PM by Cole Stryker with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: nintendo ds, mario, sonic, demo, the chase: felix meets felicity:, platformer

• For Love of the Game: Sonic 2 HD

  As I've said a number of annoying times, I've never cared much for ol' Sonic the Hedgehog, even in his beloved classic form. It's a design thing — I can tell you about any number of specific places in Mario, Zelda, Metroid and Mega Man levels, but Sonic levels seem to blur into a procession of the same compositional elements over and over. If you've seen one loop-the-loop, you've seen 'em all, especially when all it takes to get through them is holding right on the d-pad. One column in which Sonic cannot be faulted, however, is presentation. Graphics and music have always been the little blue shinbiter's strong suit. Read More... Posted Oct 24 2008, 12:30 PM by Peter Smith with | with no comments Filed under: peter smith, metroid, remake, for love of the game, fan project, mario, mega man, zelda, sonic the hedgehog, sonic, sonic 2

• Sonic Bound: After Three Botched Reboots, Sonic the Hedgehog May Finally Get His 3D Due

  We wear our hearts on our sleeves here at 61 Frames Per Second. You may have noticed certain predilections that dominate our mutual attentions, loves and desires that may, when considered under the right conditions, call our journalistic integrity into question. We all love Mega Man. We yearn for the creations of a long dead corporation once known as Squaresoft. We burn incense at an 8 and 16-bit altar, muttering somber devotionals to the arcane arts of platforming, of acquiring power-ups from felled foes, while clutching frayed totems depicting our saints as well as our sinners. Some of us, and I won’t say who, like Bionic Commando too much. But there are other icons of gaming’s pantheon that I find us continuously, and inexplicably, returning to again and again. Why is it that 61FPS, as a collective, torrid consciousness, keeps discussing Sonic the Hedgehog? Especially considering the regular topic of discussion is how crap Sonic has become as a franchise? I suppose the answer is two fold. Once upon a time, Sonic the Hedgehog games were truly special. The original quintet of platformers, including Sonics 1 through 3, Sonic and Knuckles, and Sonic CD, were a legitimate paradigm shift for their genre and endure as eminently playable games today. But Sonic is also the poster child for brand dilution through over-saturation. Abused mascots like Mega Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot have nothing on good old Sonic; ten console titles in the main series, close to twenty spin-offs, and fifteen handheld titles, and all of them are, at best, inoffensively forgettable and, at worst, downright bad. To make matters much worse, the core Sonic series (the games Sega positions as flagship titles) has never successfully made the leap to three-dimensions. The Sonic Adventures, Sonic Heroes, and Sonic the Hedgehog ’06 failed as attempts at translating the Genesis titles’ frenetic platforming but further watered down the formula by not allowing Sonic to carry the games on his own (read: shitty friends.) It’s no wonder we’re fascinated by Sonic: he’s the fastest train wreck alive. Read More... Posted Oct 02 2008, 06:00 PM by John Constantine with | with 14 comment(s) Filed under: john constantine, sega, sonic the hedgehog, sonic

• Creator of Sonic the Hedgehog Returns: Sega and Prope Making Game For Penguins

  Yuji Naka, the designer behind Sonic the Hedgehog, Nights, and Burning Rangers, doesn’t get mentioned much around the gaming campfire these days. The infamous leader behind Sonic Team’s salad days has all but disappeared from game design since Sega left the console making business. His last full title, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, was released on Gamecube back in 2003, and since he left Sega to form his own independent studio, Prope, back in 2006, no one’s known what Naka’s been doing with himself. That is, aside from not being involved with Sega’s Wii-fying of Naka’s babies Nights, Sonic, and, soon, Samba de Amigo. Well, that’s all changing in seventeen days. Prope has opened a website teasing that, in seventeen days, they will reveal their very first game. Said game will be published by Sega. It will also, apparently, be penguin accessible. Read More... Posted Sep 22 2008, 08:00 PM by John Constantine with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: sega, sonic, yuji naka, tgs, burning rangers, billy hatcher, samba de amigo, nights, prope, chu chu rocket

• Raised On the Stuff: A Parental Thank You Letter in the Heart of August

  My father turned sixty years-old today and, while he’s never been too into it, the man has been playing games from the beginning. It ain’t father’s day and it ain’t mother’s day but today seemed like an appropriate time to say thank you to every parent that has encouraged their child to pick up a controller. Happy birthday, pop. Since their inception, videogames have been terrifying red-blooded American moms and dads. As What They Play found just recently, parents are more concerned about their kids playing videogames than they are about them drinking alcohol or watching porn. My parents? Not so much. Read More... Posted Aug 14 2008, 07:00 PM by John Constantine with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: john constantine, bad dudes, mega man, defender, sonic, final fantast vii, atari 2600, raised on the stuff, empire strikes back

• Gaga for Segagaga

  You suckers in America won't get to read it for a while, but this month's Edge features a great interview with Tez Okano, creator of an odd little Japan-only Dreamcast RPG called SGGG (pronounced Segagaga). The object of the game is to save Sega from financial collapse, and was ironically released around the time of Sega's collapse (2001), in the console arena, at least. Segagaga is a plan formulated to save Sega from DOGMA, an evil corporation intended to portray Sony. From there it goes totally meta. You talk to a down on his luck Alex Kidd and go up against a flying, sentient Genesis console in a schmup segment. Insane. Read More... Posted Jul 08 2008, 12:00 PM by Cole Stryker with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: sega, monkey island, cole stryker, sonic, dreamcast, edge, alex kidd, segagaga

• Trailer Review: Sonic Chronicles – The Dark Brotherhood

  May 2008. San Francisco, CA. Sega of America, Office of VP Marketing. “Got that trailer for the Sonic RPG almost put together. Just needs voiceover.” "Look, whatever you do, don't say, 'Sonic and his friends.'" "Why not?" "Just don't." Read More... Posted Jun 05 2008, 10:00 AM by John Constantine with | with no comments Filed under: john constantine, trailer review, sonic, bioware