New Information on the Sonic RPG being developed by Bioware

[Subz1987]

The latest issue of Nintendo Power has massive coverage of the Sonic RPG for the DS. It's going to be called The Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Here's some info on the game:

-Cover Story with nice artwork

-In game graphics have a water color look, all hand drawn

-4 party members at a time

-Each character can do certain things ex: Tails can float over things (standard stuff)

-11 party members total - 7 known are Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Rouge, Shadow, Big the Cat

-Control done fully with stylus - think Hourglass

-Able to split party into teams at certain moments

-Rings are used as currency

-No random battles, see enemies on the field

-Turn based battles, choose commands for everyone in your party before they actually follow through. Want battles to be fast paced

-Elite Beat Agents style special attacks

-Team attacks (like Chrono Trigger)

-"Fatigue Points" instead of MP

-Choose which attributes to increase when you level up

-Purchase and level special attacks

-Bits of story - Sonic's on vacation from defeating Eggman 2 years ago. Gets a call from Tails that Knuckles has been kidnapped by a group called the Marauders, and that 6 chaos emeralds are missing. Eggman not the main villain. But Bioware wants to make him a creditable bad guy again. Something about a "twist" between Eggman and Sonic that goes back to the earlier games.

-2 acts - first takes place in standard Sonic areas. 2nd takes place in a darker world

-Remixed classic tunes

-"fully animated cut scenes"

-simple dialogue trees

-Side quests

The bitchin cover art can be found here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=226943

So far, the game looks amazing, but so did Sonic Next Gen

[lazygecko]

So far, the game looks amazing, but so did Sonic Next Gen

Except this game is being done by Bioware and not a bunch of dumbasses.

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Sonic RPG?

WHY?!?

[Tensei]

If it were ANY other company (except maybe Black Isle or Diablo 1/2 era Blizzard) I'd say no, but I'm confident Bioware can actually pull this off. They're the ones who made Baldur's Gate and MDK 2 after all!

[I-n-j-i-n]

If it were ANY other company (except maybe Black Isle or Diablo 1/2 era Blizzard) I'd say no, but I'm confident Bioware can actually pull this off. They're the ones who made Baldur's Gate and MDK 2 after all!

You shouldn't be just confident. You should KNOW this project is in good hands if the core Bioware team is developing it.

And Kudos to Bioware for liking Big the Cat. I thought I was the only person who liked him.

Also, I think it's about time a good Sonic spinoff was made since there really wasn't one since the Genesis days. That and the Sonic DS games are more than adequate right now.

[lazygecko]

Bonus points if it has intro and ending(s) in Jack Kirby comic style with 50's narration.

And Kudos to Bioware for liking Big the Cat. I thought I was the only person who liked him.

Maybe because he's voiced by none other than Duke Nukem.

Amagawd scans0rz

[Arek the Absolute]

Hmm....bioware eh?

I can dig it.

[I-n-j-i-n]

I now realize that the biggest Nintendo console games I'm anticipating aren't for the Wii, but the DS. Advance Wars: DoR, Apollo Justice and this new Sonic RPG. I can't really name anything other than SSBB for Wii right now.

[Bahamut]

I now realize that the biggest Nintendo console games I'm anticipating aren't for the Wii, but the DS. Advance Wars: DoR, Apollo Justice and this new Sonic RPG. I can't really name anything other than SSBB for Wii right now.

No love for Mario Kart?

[cobaltstarfire]

No love for Mario Kart?

I dunno about anyone else, but I haven't enjoyed a Mario Kart game very much since the 64 (DS version was ok...)

I'm happy to hear something about this game now, earlier than I thought I would too. I'm glad I passed on Rush Adventure to wait for this. Now hopefully it'll be a decent length cause it's the only game I'll be able to buy for a while.

[Sindra]

So it's done by Bioware and not Sega? Hmph. Probably for the best. The Sega team has been bombing ever since they got off their own consoles.

[The Damned]

Fun fact: my cousin Tracy is married to one of the writers, Luke, at Bioware. We're going to go see them tonight for some sort of family event. I'm going to pester him endlessly about it.

[Jaybell]

I'm torn. On the one hand, it's a Sonic RPG. On the other, it's Bioware.

[DarkeSword]

I WANT SO MUCH TO HATE THIS GAME

But it's bioware, so I really can't.

[Subz1987]

Except this game is being done by Bioware and not a bunch of dumbasses.

I know. I just don't want to get my hopes up. But I am excited about this game

[Inimitable]

Yeah, well, a Mario RPG sounded just as stupid - and look how that turned out. Bioware is one of few companies I still have complete faith in.

[Bleck]

-No random battles, see enemies on the field

for fuck sakes

[supremespleen]

Bonus points if it has intro and ending(s) in Jack Kirby comic style with 50's narration.

Maybe because he's voiced by none other than Duke Nukem.

Amagawd scans0rz

Wow, that actually looks kind of cool. I'll keep my eye on this.

[Hyperion5182]

My faith in bioware was shaken when they were bought by EA. We will see if they can fight the pressure but i doubt it.

[Airwalker]

Well, the bar is set low enough for a new Sonic game, so I'm sure anything better than some recent games would be a welcome addition to an old Sonic fan like me.

[lazygecko]

• they say there are people who won't be happy that this isn't going to provide the absolute fastest Sonic experience, as it's an RPG. But they say there are other Sonic games that do that, and their interest here is to still incorporate speed wherever it makes sense; they say it's really a combination of both BioWare and Sonic and they want to please fans of both.

• they joked that they're looking to raise Big's IQ a few points

• unlike most 2D RPGs, which use tile-based patterns for the environments, Sonic Chronicles' backgrounds are drawn entirely by hand. They did this because they wanted to try to bring back the series' "classic style."

• shoes will be a big part of Sonic's equipment that you purchase via rings at shops. Examples given are shoes that increase his speed, or give him fire attacks.

• the reason they have battle actions happen after you select actions for all party members is to give the battles a greater sense of speed as everything plays out. some characters will be able to perform multiple actions in a round, leading to "impressively frenetic battle sequences."

• again, the idea with the battles is, you have strategic thinking by turn-based input, but it will be "presented very quickly." "You see Sonic moving the way he should be moving."

• the reason they added real time active elements to the turn-based system is to keep the player engaged. They stated that Final Fantasy, even with its "speculator animations," disengages the play because there's no interaction.

• as you improve your characters, you get new field map abilities as well as battle moves. This will allow you to access new areas on the maps. It will encourage you not just to stick to your favorite characters; each one has unique abilities to offer.

• they don't just want to use preexisting Sonic story stuff. They want to leave the BioWare mark by creating new characters, new locations. But it will feel like it builds on the franchise rather than is tacked on.

• Muzyka has a Genesis signed by Yuji Naka.

• the project got started because Muzyka and Zeschuk knew Sega of America president Simon Jeffery from when he was at LucasArts and they were doing KotOR.

• "most of the high-quality handheld stuff is coming out of Japan. There isn't a lot of North American AAA handheld development going on." They viewed this as an opportunity for them.

• they think the DS is naturally attuned towards RPGs more. The two screens can show RPG stats that's appropriate for the genre. They say building on the DS is like when they were building on the PC years ago because you have a small, tight-knit team where each person is a key contributor.

• they say they really want to make something that stays true to Sonic, but still surprises and surpasses fan expectations because it's something new and different.

The director is Mark Darrah. Prior credits are:

• Baldur's Gate (lead AI programming, additional programming team)

• Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (lead programming)

• Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (lead programmer, Infinity Engine programming team)

• Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (lead programmer)

• Neverwinter Nights (programmer)

• Neverwinter Nights Gold (programmer)

• Jade Empire (lead programmer)

• Mass Effect (special thanks)

Lead artist is Joel MacMillan. Prior credits are:

• Jade Empire (cutscene art/animation team)

• Mass Effect (cinematics animator team)

• Jade Empire Special Edition (cutscene art/animation team)

The lead game designer is new to BioWare. His names is Miles O'Brien Prower Holmes; looks like he used to work at DICE, and his prior credits are:

• Dracula's Secret (artist)

• Shrek for Xbox (tester)

• Jump Start: Dino Adventure (lead artist)

• Diva Starz (lead artist)

• Full Auto 2 (designer)

[cobaltstarfire]

Where'd you get all that from?

And if it's true, I'm excited.

Although I'm a bit of a fan girl as far as sonic goes... That said, I haven't felt a spark of excitement for a sonic game in a while...last time was sonic heros, and that wasn't quite what I had hoped for.

[Bummer]

Where'd you get all that from?

And if it's true, I'm excited.

Quoted for emphasis. I'm not that big of a Sonic fan, but this makes me satisfied that I have a DS in my possession. I'll look forward to this, and the official art. for this.

[operawonderdude]

I dunno about anyone else, but I haven't enjoyed a Mario Kart game very much since the 64 (DS version was ok...)

What??/!?!1shift!!? I'll have to disagree with you on this...

You're like first I've ever heard say that... XD

[Imagist]

What??/!?!1shift!!? I'll have to disagree with you on this...

You're like first I've ever heard say that... XD

Then you live alone in a cave.

Also, how are you going to disagree with him stating that he hasn't enjoyed recent Mario Kart games? That just seems... well, there isn't a word, because retarded isn't strong enough.