Author Topic: Sonic Xtreme - A true video game tragedy? (Read 6213 times)

Zarkanthesmasher · « **on:** July 16, 2008, 08:09:31 PM »

Okay, for those who don't know what the dukar I'm talking about, Sonic Xtreme was a Sonic game for the Sega Saturn that was in development hell for years before finally being canceled. Several prototypes were made, and some of the developers were working nonstop for weeks (and endangering their health).

Why all the fuss about this? Because IMO, this game really looked revolutionary, and the fish eye lense - while a bit weird - may have been as unique and groundbreaking as the sphere walking and gravity changing features in Super Mario Galaxy. From the videos I've seen, it just looks plain awesome - and the music is a ton better than the rock and roll garbage we've gotten in current sonic games.

Does anyone else agree with my setiment for Xtreme?

Linkin800 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2008, 11:10:53 PM »

Yes. It always seems like all the canceled games look the best. I bet if it was releashed Sonic games would be alot better.

PaperLuigi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2008, 01:02:24 AM »

Quote from: Linkin800 on July 16, 2008, 11:10:53 PM

Yes. It always seems like all the canceled games look the best.

Amen to that. Star Fox 2 is awesome but was never released to the public (thank God for roms).

Glorb · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2008, 01:14:22 PM »

This game did look sorta cool, but I think I'd have gotten a headache after playing for a while. Still, if done right, it would've been beast. If Sega makes a modern update of this and makes it not suck, they'll have my respect forever.

Kimimaru · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2008, 04:33:22 PM »

It did look cool. I heard that there is a leaked prototype of the game somewhere.

penguinwizard · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:03:56 PM »

Sometimes I wish that more prototypes, cancelled games, and early preview builds would be made public. I am STILL waiting for the day I could play whatever existed of the N64 version of Dinosaur Planet, or of the old Conker's Quest before the redesign. In general I find behind-the-scenes stuff interesting.

Bag of Magic Food · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2008, 09:00:55 PM »

I don't think releasing unfinished games is a good habit to get into, though.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2008, 09:34:27 PM »

Dinosaur Planet was practically finished before Miyamoto said to make it a Star Fox game. I would love to play the original, because although I love Star Fox Adventures, I think it would have been a better game beforehand.

Robert · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2008, 10:09:10 AM »

I've watched a couple movies, and Sonic runs rather... slow, doesn't he? Also, the control seems a little touchy. Sonic accelerates like he's on fire or something, and the Sega Saturn's D-pad wouldn't help matters (an analouge controller was bundled with Nights, but I don't think it ever became the default controller). Still, there were some clever mechanics under the hood, and that fish-eye camera looks awesome.

Zarkanthesmasher · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2008, 10:33:47 AM »

Quote

I've watched a couple movies, and Sonic runs rather... slow, doesn't he? Also, the control seems a little touchy. Sonic accelerates like he's on fire or something, and the Sega Saturn's D-pad wouldn't help matters (an analouge controller was bundled with Nights, but I don't think it ever became the default controller). Still, there were some clever mechanics under the hood, and that fish-eye camera looks awesome.

Well, true - but remember that Sonic Xtreme was only about 60 percent done when it was canceled. If they had been given more time to tweak the engine, add more enemies, and finish the boss levels, I think it could have been a really awesome game. I think it certainly would have been FAR better than a lot of the modern 3-D sonic crap we've gotten in the last 10 years.

The Chef · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2008, 02:32:51 PM »

Quote from: Chupperson Weird on July 17, 2008, 09:34:27 PM

Dinosaur Planet was practically finished before Miyamoto said to make it a Star Fox game. I would love to play the original, because although I love Star Fox Adventures, I think it would have been a better game beforehand.

They essentially screwed over both Rare fans and Star Fox fans by pulling such a move. Not to mention, it was really unfair to Rare themselves. An on-foot Star Fox adventure game could've been handled a lot better if Nintendo really wanted one.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2008, 02:57:21 PM »

Well, like I said, I still really liked the game the way it ended up.

The Chef · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2008, 02:58:46 PM »

For the record:

My ideal Star Fox adventure game would've taken the Star Wars parody aspect even further and feature Beam Sword battles. Andrew would've been in Darth Vader's place.

PaperLuigi · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2008, 09:40:17 AM »

Quote from: The Chef on July 18, 2008, 02:32:51 PM

They essentially screwed over both Rare fans and Star Fox fans by pulling such a move. Not to mention, it was really unfair to Rare themselves. An on-foot Star Fox adventure game could've been handled a lot better if Nintendo really wanted one.

It was great. I loved the final product. I didn't feel "screwed over" one bit, as I am both a Rare and Star Fox fan.

Glorb · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2008, 04:32:50 PM »

Any game that gets slapped with an established franchise makeover at the last minute is lame in my book.

penguinwizard · « **Reply #15 on:** July 19, 2008, 06:21:10 PM »

Just to quickly end another Star Fox Adventures discussion with my thoughts: loved Star Fox Adventures, one of my favorite GameCube games, my ideal Star Fox game is one where the fights are intense and the stakes high and you protect your teammates and the teammates actually help - come to think of it, just give Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation a Star Fox makeover and that will be good enough.

I can't think of any other games that had established franchise makeovers at the last minute, but there were established franchise makeovers when porting a game over to America. Panel de Pon so needed a makeover, I would have never given it a chance with those anime girls there. Granted, seeing a bunch of Yoshi's Island characters with the same Panel de Pon music and sounds doesn't cut back much on the "wouldn't be caught dead playing this" factor, but it helps. And hey, it made me think there was a new theme song for Yoshi. No offense to Nintendo, but ripping off Japanese games and slapping makeovers on them sometimes does wonders for the variety of a franchise.

Bag of Magic Food · « **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2008, 08:23:06 PM »

I thought it was odd how Wario was added to Bomberman GB to create Wario Blast, since Bomberman was already an established franchise...