61 Frames Per Second

Browse by Tags

(RSS)

Sonic's Secret Past

The ins and outs of Sonic the Hedgehog continuity have mostly been a mystery to all but the most insane fans of the franchise, mainly because Sonic's story really hasn't been all that consistent over time. We've gone from a little blue dude running on checkerboard-patterned dirt to emo inter-species love stories without any explanation as to just how this drastic change makes any sense whatsoever; and let's not forget about the multiple cartoon series and Archie Comics that make pinning down one true story of Sonic nigh impossible.

But from the character's very inception, he did have his own "bible," which is essentially a guide to ensure that the Sonic characters, as well as the setting they exist in, remain consistent regardless of who's handling the property. Over time, the mishandlers of the Sonic franchise have veered very, very far away from what the universe is supposed to be; but, thanks to some leaked documents from a NEOGaf user aptly named TheSonicRetard, confused gamers worldwide can catch a glimpse of Sega's intentions for Sonic from day one.

Posted Feb 18 2009, 05:15 PM by Bob Mackey with | with 4 comment(s)

Filed under: sega, sonic the hedgehog, sonic, retro, 16-bit, nostalgia, bob mackey

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

Posted Jan 23 2009, 03:00 PM by Cole Stryker with | with 3 comment(s)

Filed under: nintendo ds, mario, cole stryker, sonic, demo, platformer, the chase: felix meets felicity

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Posted Jun 05 2008, 10:00 AM by John Constantine with | with no comments

Filed under: john constantine, trailer review, sonic, bioware

about the blogger

John Constantine, our superhero, was raised by birds and then attended Penn State University. He is currently working on a novel about a fictional city that exists only in his mind. John has an astonishingly extensive knowledge of Scientology. Ultimately he would like to learn how to effectively use his brain. He continues to keep Wu-Tang's secret to himself.

Derrick Sanskrit is a self-professed geek in a variety of fields including typography, graphic design, comic books, music and cartoons. As a professional hipster graphic designer, his recent clients have included Nerve, Pitchfork and MoCCA, among others.

Amber Ahlborn - artist, writer, gamer and DigiPen survivor, she maintains a day job as a graphic artist. By night Amber moonlights as a professional Metroid Fanatic and keeps a metal suit in the closet just in case. Has lived in the state of Washington and insists that it really doesn't rain as much as everyone says it does.

Nadia Oxford is a housekeeping robot who was refurbished into a warrior when the world's need for justice was great. Now that the galaxy is at peace (give or take a conflict here or there), she works as a freelance writer for various sites and magazines. Based in Toronto, Nadia prizes the certificate from the Ministry of Health declaring her tick and rabies-free.

Bob Mackey is a grad student, writer, and cyborg, who uses the powerful girl-repelling nanomachines mad science grafted onto his body to allocate time towards interests of the nerd persuasion. He believes that complaining about things on the Internet is akin to the fine art of wine tasting, but with more spitting into buckets.

Joe Keiser has a programming degree from Johns Hopkins University, a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, and a fake toy guitar built in the hollowed-out shell of a real guitar. He writes about games and technology for a variety of outlets. One day he will stop doing this. The day after that, police will find his body under a collapsed pile of (formerly neatly alphabetized) collector's edition tchotchkes.

Cole Stryker is an American freelance writer living in York, England, where he resides with his archeologist wife. He writes for a travel company by day and argues about pop culture on the internet by night. Find him writing regularly here and here.

Peter Smith is like the lead character of Irwin Shaw's The 80-Yard Run, except less athletic. He considers himself very lucky to have this job. But it's a little premature to take "jack-off of all trades" off his resume. Besides writing, travelling, and painting houses, Pete plays guitar in a rock trio called The Aye-Ayes. He calls them a 'power pop' band, but they generally sound more like Motorhead on a drinking binge.