The head of Sonic Team, Takashi Iizuka, has said in a recent interview that there are still more surprises in store for fans for the iconic series 35th anniversary celebrations. While…
The head of Sonic Team, Takashi Iizuka, has said in a recent interview that there are still more surprises in store for fans for the iconic series 35th anniversary celebrations. While we have already had some announcements from SEGA, some are still yet to be announced so perhaps we may hear more at Gamescom which takes place later this month. Here’s what Mr. Iizuka had to say:
“Some announcements have already been made, while other surprises will need to remain secret for a little longer. I know that Sonic fans are extremely observant, so I must be careful not to provide any unintended clues!”
Takashi Iizuka, the head and lead producer of Sonic Team, has spoken about how the team decides on creating a remake. Iizuka says it's not just a matter of visual…
Takashi Iizuka, the head and lead producer of Sonic Team, has spoken about how the team decides on creating a remake. Iizuka says it’s not just a matter of visual style the team has to nail but also updating the controls and level design for modern platforms. He said that the team plays close attention to requests, but he says that their main focus is on creating new Sonic experiences.
Sonic fans are very passionate, often calling for remakes or remasters. I would personally love to see Black Knight, Unleashed, or Sonic Heroes make a comeback. Are there any games that you would like to revisit?
It always makes me happy to hear that fans still care so deeply about these games. Each title has its own audience, and we pay close attention when people tell us which experiences they would like to play again.
For me, the challenge is that remaking a game properly requires much more than improving its graphics. We would need to reconsider the controls, level design, technology, presentation, and many other elements, so the experience meets the expectations of players today. In some cases, that could require almost as much time and effort as developing an entirely new game.
Because of that, my personal focus is usually on how we can use our resources to give players a new Sonic experience. That does not mean we have forgotten the older titles. Their ideas and lessons remain an important part of how we think about and shape Sonic’s future.
