Iizuka Came With the Idea of Bringing Old Zones Back Yet Again When Christian Made His Pitch
The addition of Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel for Sonic Mania Plus was a big surprise for onetime school Sonic fans. Series producer Takashi Iizuka talked near that and more in a recent interview with Famitsu.
Famitsu: Earlier we get into the meat of it, delight tell u.s.a. about the reaction after the release of Sonic Mania. I heard fans from N America and Europe shared some exuberant back up where it was favorably received.
Takashi Iizuka, series producer: After its release in August 2017, its reception has been better than nosotros could imagine. Nosotros've even had some people say "Information technology'southward the best game!" and we are nigh grateful about that. Moreover, physical games tend to sell a lot on its release day simply and then we oft see it take a big drop after, I'1000 not sure if it'southward because Sonic Mania was a digital championship, simply its sales didn't drib even after its release twenty-four hours. Again, upwards until the cease of last year people had trouble acquiring Nintendo Switches effectually the world, so in that location seems to be some cases where folks finally got a hold of the hardware and are downloading the game.
So it was met with favorable reception effectually the globe. As for Sonic Mania Plus, how did its development outset out?
Iizuka: Sonic Mania started out as a digital-exclusive project, just during its development we had people from the office say "We also want to release a physical version." Notwithstanding, making the change to go with a physical version halfway through was a problem for the production line, and it would've changed the overall schedule, and so we had to give information technology upwards.
Then you guys had to abandon a physical release at one betoken?
Iizuka: Yep. However, after release we had many fans say "We desire a concrete version!" Considering the older fans, I thought they would like to line it upwards side by side to all the other physical versions upward until now. We had such a feeling of gratitude for everyone, nosotros decided to go with a physical version.
And everything went smoothly after that?
Iizuka: No, we had a trouble releasing the physical version. Sonic Mania was originally available merely digitally at a lower price to reflect that, however going physical meant added costs, and then we couldn't release it at the same price. Since we were going to increase the cost, we figured we could contribute with some added value. Again, those who purchased the original game can acquire the paid-DLC "Encore Pack" and they'll get everything that comes with Plus. Nosotros currently don't have any plans equally far as what's adjacent for the series.
How did you decide on the added content?
Iizuka: Nosotros thought about elements that would make fans happy. Since Sonic Mania is all about things that stimulate expectations and curiosity from fans, as a outcome of thinking about what could nosotros add to make things more exciting, we decided to add Mighty and Ray as new characters.
When I learned about their appearance, I recall thinking "It has come to this!" [laughs]
Iizuka: Mighty and Ray appeared as main characters together with Sonic in the 1993-released arcade game SegaSonic the Hedgehog. Mighty also appeared every bit a member of Chaotix, so I'yard not certain if I can phone call him a new character [laughs]. Well, at that place's that, and fans continued asking "What ever happened to them" most Mighty and Ray. Also, if we had yous guys play the same stages all over again, it wouldn't feel as fresh even with new characters, right? And then nosotros added "Encore Mode" to change things up and bring a fresh new feeling.
Did you personally want to do something for Mighty, Iizuka-san?
Iizuka: If anything, to me personally Mighty and Ray were "sealed characters" that would never meet low-cal of twenty-four hours in a video game. Withal, this time around we wanted to make a title packed with all kinds of references for all the special manias [fans] out there, and the stage was prepare to have those two make an appearance. So I figured we could unseal them [laughs].
I'one thousand sure the manias went wild after they got the references [laughs].
Iizuka: That's right. Really, we announced the appearance of Mighty and Ray at the Due south by Southwest Music Festival that took place in the state of Texas the other solar day, and when the Sonic fans heard their names they actually got excited like "Whoo!"
How were the unique deportment of the two decided? Starting with Mighty .
IIzuka: Mighty the Armadillo was originally set to exist a powerhouse, and he also has a hard shell on his back. And so we decided to put that to apply with the "Hammer Drop" that allows him to stomp the ground with a thud. Once more, he tin can take shots from the enemy with his shell or avoid taking impairment from spikes by crimper upwards. The activity of diving into the basis is a pretty rare action in the classic series.
What about Ray?
Iizuka: Since he's a flying squirrel, his "Air Glide" action was decided on right abroad. That action was pretty easy to brand. Duke tin also glide but he gradually drops. On that signal, Ray can use the momentum going downward and rise. With the correct technique, he can fly for a very long time.
Sounds similar characters with controls that a mania would like.
Iizuka: In that location'd be no indicate to just give them the aforementioned action as Sonic, Tales, and Knuckles. So nosotros went with unique actions for both of them, because beingness able to play as the earlier-and-afterward characters is what makes it "Plus."
Were there any level design struggles for the stages?
Iizuka: There were some troublesome parts. Since there wasn't a character like Ray who could fly upwards, nosotros needed to block some parts then Ray can't reach and such [laughs]. We had some minor struggles like that, but we decided on that activeness knowingly. "Encore Mode" has the same stages as Sonic Mania, but by using different objects and gimmicks you'll go to enjoy different routes, so that should make Mighty and Ray'due south action more lively. For example, you can use Mighty'due south Hammer Drib to create a hole on the ground.
The four-thespian dissever-screen co-op defenseless my attention for VS. Mode.
Iizuka: I'one thousand not sure how much demand there was for this but yeah [laughs]. The original Sonic Mania had three characters so you could only do VS. mode with two people, but since at that place's a full of five characters now we figured that four-player versus is the manner to go.
The next part is nigh the express edition bonus. What'due south the art volume like?
Iizuka: The art book is the same bonus that comes in the overseas version of Sonic Mania Plus. This is another example of the added value that you get with the physical version, as mentioned earlier. Its contents include animation images for the trailer, concept art for stages, poster patterns, and a collection of artwork concerned with Sonic Mania.
What about the soundtrack CD?
Iizuka: This is a bonus exclusive to Japan, it's a two-disc anthology. In improver to the original soundtrack that is available for download on iTunes and such, this time it'll have music added for Sonic Mania Plus, too as songs used for promotion, and numerous other tracks you hear inside and outside of Sonic Mania.
By releasing such a excellent package, I'm certain information technology'll make more people happy.
Iizuka: Nosotros were also thinking about having something we could grab with our easily, then that made us happy. The development team is especially optimistic, since the moment we decided to add new content we had all kinds of people bring up ideas like "I want to exercise that!" and "I want to do this!" and we had an extremely skilful time making information technology. Subsequently releasing the original version I did have a sense of fulfillment, but they're also fans of the title known every bit Sonic Mania, and I believe they were happy to know that they'll be able to actually concur it in their hands.
I tin't aid just expect a sequel subsequently hearing about the development team'south high motivation.
Iizuka: Mayhap the next one will be Sonic Mania' (Dash) and so [laughs]. Jokes aside, with the release of the physical version in Sonic Mania Plus, it feels like we did everything we could for the Sonic Mania project.
Understood. Lastly, tin can y'all please share a message for the readers?
Iizuka: I'g truly grateful to all of yous who purchased the original Sonic Mania to brand information technology possible to continue with Sonic Mania Plus. Since information technology'south a traditional 2D game, you might go the impression that it was made for those who are familiar with the Mega Drive version from back in the day, but actually, the game is beingness enjoyed by a very wide age group. Especially overseas, where about of the downloads come from players that are about simple school historic period. Now that the game will be easier to obtain in availability and pricing with Plus, I hope to see those who have withal to play it give it a shot. It's also a title that I can proudly recommend to the elementary school children of Japan.
Sonic Mania is available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox 1, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Sonic Mania Plus releases in the West on July 17, 2018 and in Japan on July 19.
Source: https://www.siliconera.com/sonic-mania-plus-producer-mighty-ray-made-no-plans-sequel/
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