Sonic R Incomplete
Jul 23, 2016 16:12:25 GMT
Post by Kolba on Jul 23, 2016 16:12:25 GMT
Someone should tell him what a technical achievement Sonic R was, and the fact that it received good reviews at the time of release. Quite different from the unmitigated disaster he's keen to portray.
He claims the video of the early version shows only Sonic as it was too early to implement AI - and yet Knuckles can be seen racing against Sonic. He finds the lack of an on-screen map in this early version a choice moment to unload his snarkiness: "I guess 4 months isn't enough time to program a map?". I'm pretty sure for an extremely early build, rushed for a game event, a mini-map is not on the priority list.
The things he mentions as cut from the final version in support of his theory that Sonic R was rushed out in incomplete form are few and minor. Here is the full list of things shown in early videos, or mentioned in magazine interviews, which he quotes:
4 player split screen
weather effects
2 player battle mode
the fire shield
knuckles climbing walls
The Saturn just wouldn't be capable of 4 player split screen Sonic R, so it's surprising if this was ever considered. He doesn't mention a source so I'd guess he's mistaken here. Same goes for weather effects. I think it more likely these were only ever considered as PC extras and the author has confused the different versions.
The 2 player 'battle mode' - isn't this the balloon hunt mode which made it to the final game?
That leaves the fire shield and Knuckles' climbing ability. As these are present in other Sonic games, naturally they would suggest themselves as ideas when brainstorming power-ups and character abilities. As development went on, I think it more likely that such features were dropped because the designers couldn't find a good fit for them in a racing game. This is normal: ideas and mechanics are always evolving while games are in development, as the designers get feedback on their initial ideas. It's not evidence that they were cut due to time constraints.
Overall I just think it's a thinly researched excuse to showcase how achingly sarcastic and critical he is.
He claims the video of the early version shows only Sonic as it was too early to implement AI - and yet Knuckles can be seen racing against Sonic. He finds the lack of an on-screen map in this early version a choice moment to unload his snarkiness: "I guess 4 months isn't enough time to program a map?". I'm pretty sure for an extremely early build, rushed for a game event, a mini-map is not on the priority list.
The things he mentions as cut from the final version in support of his theory that Sonic R was rushed out in incomplete form are few and minor. Here is the full list of things shown in early videos, or mentioned in magazine interviews, which he quotes:
4 player split screen
weather effects
2 player battle mode
the fire shield
knuckles climbing walls
The Saturn just wouldn't be capable of 4 player split screen Sonic R, so it's surprising if this was ever considered. He doesn't mention a source so I'd guess he's mistaken here. Same goes for weather effects. I think it more likely these were only ever considered as PC extras and the author has confused the different versions.
The 2 player 'battle mode' - isn't this the balloon hunt mode which made it to the final game?
That leaves the fire shield and Knuckles' climbing ability. As these are present in other Sonic games, naturally they would suggest themselves as ideas when brainstorming power-ups and character abilities. As development went on, I think it more likely that such features were dropped because the designers couldn't find a good fit for them in a racing game. This is normal: ideas and mechanics are always evolving while games are in development, as the designers get feedback on their initial ideas. It's not evidence that they were cut due to time constraints.
Overall I just think it's a thinly researched excuse to showcase how achingly sarcastic and critical he is.