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It’s clear that Takashi Iizuka, the producer behind the upcoming Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, isn’t a big fan of Nintendo’s Mario Kart World. While presenting his racing game at the Summer Games Fest, he fired shots at the Nintendo title by revealing that Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will be a multi-platform release, unlike “another kart racing game.”

If that wasn’t enough, Iizuaki has taken another jab at Mario Kart World by revealing that Sonic Racing has been crafted in a manner that brings balanced and fair racing for everyone. Unlike the Nintendo title, you won’t be able to rely on gimmicks to win easily. Victory here needs pure skill and clean racing.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds will bring real racing

Recently, GamesRadar+ got an opportunity to sit down with Iizuaki and talk about his upcoming project, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. During the conversation, he shared many insights into the overall development.

After Keanu Reeves' breathtaking performance as Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, new fans may be interested in learning more about the mysterious and brooding character. Takashi Iizuka, Shiro Maekawa, and Kazuyuki Hoshino created Shadow the Hedgehog for Sega's Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast in 2001. Shadow seemingly dying in Sonic Adventure 2 made it seem like he would never appear again, but the newly fan-favorite character would make his return in Sonic Heroes as he suffered from amnesia. This storyline would then continue in his own game, Shadow the Hedgehog. Taking inspiration from characters like Al Simmons/Spawn from Todd McFarlane and Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z, Shadow is an anti-hero and occasional foil to Sonic the Hedgehog.

April 30, 2019. A day that will live in hedgehog infamy. One that was anticipated by millions of gamers with visions of Dreamcast controllers and Chaos Emeralds in their heads but was instead marked by small humanoid eyes, distractingly flat teeth, and two words that would become a meme:

“Uh…meow?”

The initial trailer for Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog” became one of the most widely disliked videos ever put forth by a Hollywood studio at a speed that would rival even that of the Fastest Thing Alive. YouTube videos, tweets and gaming media rants spread across the web in a matter of hours, denouncing the film as the latest example of why, in a pre-“Detective Pikachu” world, gamers did not trust Hollywood to do right by the characters and worlds that they love.

For the film’s director, Jeff Fowler, there was only one thing to do: win back that trust,...

Sega’s latest entry into the Sonic franchise, Sonic Rumble, has taken a bold step to ensure its appeal to global audiences. Set to release in Winter 2024 for PC, iOS, and Android, the game’s monetization system will avoid certain monetization methods that have caused controversy in the West.

What a big brain move by Sega. | Image Credit: Sega

Sega has chosen to be different in an era where many games still rely on gacha mechanics and pay-to-win features. The company has opted to exclude these unpopular elements in its upcoming multiplayer game. The focus on player satisfaction rather than profit maximization could be why non-American developers are leading the way in creating globally appealing games.

Sega’s Bold Choice For Its New Fall Guys-like Sonic Game

In Sonic Rumble, players will not encounter gacha mechanics, which are often characterized by spending money for randomized rewards. Instead, Sega has implemented a fixed-price system,...

Sonic the Hedgehog's legacy is undeniable, serving as a key mascot and game to establish Sega's competition against Nintendo in the 90s. Despite mixed reception, Sonic has had standout games with unique qualities that excel in the platforming genre. The best Sonic the Hedgehog games cover a variety of genres, not just platforming, and hail from both the series' 2D and 3D eras.

Sonic the Hedgehog is a polarizing series in gaming, but it's impossible to deny the strength of its overall legacy. During the early 90s when Sega was struggling to establish itself as a formidable competitor to Nintendo, Sonic arrived and gave the company the mascot (and the hit game) it needed to convince customers to buy the Genesis/Mega Drive console. Inconsistent release quality, however, has led to mixed reception over the years.

Even in the worst stretches of Sonic the Hedgehog as a franchise,...

Sonic X Shadow Generations brings Shadow into the spotlight with a new story campaign and fresh gameplay mechanics like Chaos Control. The game aims to blend classic Sonic elements with modern features, offering players a chance to experience the best of both worlds. During Summer Game Fest, Screen Rant spoke with Takashi Iizuka, Sonic Creative Officer & Creator Of Shadow The Hedgehog to find out more on the game.

Sonic x Shadow Generations aims to offer a brand-new way for players to experience the classic game, adding new content and improving existing elements of the game. As the name implies, the upcoming title adds Shadow as a playable character, and fresh levels designed especially for the beloved bad boy hedgehog. Screen Rant spoke with Takashi Iizuka, Sonic Creative Officer, to find out more.

The franchises last foray into the remastering world was 2021s Sonic Colors: Ultimate, but the new Generations might...

Though the wider Sonic The Hedgehog franchise featured as part of Paramount's big CinemaCon presentation last week, with footage from Sonic 3 screened, the studio stopped short of announcing who will be providing the voice for the new — to the movies, at least — character, Shadow The Hedgehog. The executives might now wish they had, as the news has gotten out via The John Campea Show: Keanu Reeves is reportedly spending time in a voice booth to play the role.

While Paramount isn't officially commenting, the likes of Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter have since confirmed the news, with Reeves' casting as the dark twin of the Ben Schwartz-voiced main character now out in the world.

Much of what the third Sonic movie will be about remains under wraps beyond the obvious speedy gags and plots from Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who in the footage shown last week is initially...

Keanu Reeves has long been a fan-favorite hero in Tinseltown, famous for portraying stoic, morally upright characters in critically acclaimed flicks such as John Wick and The Matrix. Nonetheless, much to the surprise of his fans, the Beirut-born actor, 59, has now taken on a new role that differs from his usual heroic persona: that of the anti-hero (Shadow) in the forthcoming Sonic 3 film. And fans are loving it!

Multiple sources are attesting that Reeves will resume voice acting following his role as Bruce Wayne / Batman in Jared Stern’s DC League of Super-Pets (2022).

Shadow in a still from Sonic The Hedgehog 2

For those unfamiliar with the Sonic franchise, Shadow is an intricate character who walks the line between hero and villain. He is gloomy and enigmatic, with a mysterious past that drives him to follow his own code of conduct, often contradicting traditional notions of what a hero should be.

After careful analysis of Sonic Frontiers cutscenes, fans believe they have spotted clues that suggest Sega is working on remastering the fan-favorite Dreamcast classic, Sonic Adventure. The blue speedster has hit a significant resurgence in popularity after two hit films and remasters of the classic Sega games released in last year's Sonic Origins collection. November also saw the release of the largest game in the franchise yet, Sonic Frontiers. While Frontiers is filled with fast-paced 3D action and huge levels to explore, some of its cutscenes hide some details that Sonic Adventure fans will want to read about.

A modder who has spent much time with Sonic Adventure has spotted assets in Sonic Frontiers flashback cutscenes that suggest Sega could be working on a remaster of the Dreamcast classic. As reported by TheGamer, modder SPEEPSHighway tweeted their findings and research on Twitter. The images may act as a minor spoiler for Sonic Frontiers third island.

The Sonic The Hedgehog franchise has had its fair share of hits and misses, but Sonic Frontiers solves one problem that has been plaguing the series for over a decade. Gameplay or music has been Sonic’s saving grace when a lackluster installment launches, but there was a time the games' characters would be just as important as jamming out and going fast. In Sonic Frontiers, players can enjoy all of these features.

Frontiers brings Sonic and the rest of the cast back to life. Installments prior to its release made the characters feel as if they were going through the motions. Sonic and his friends would emote very little, and the dialogue was just serviceable while being cringe-inducing at its worst. Frontiers gave Sonic his personality back and then some.

Related: Not Even Sonic Can Run Away From Sonic Fishing Minigames

Sonic Frontiers Makes Characters Appear More Authentic

The...

Rob Leane Mar 18, 2019

After Team Sonic Racing has crossed its finish line, we'll get "the next major Sonic title" from Sega.

Takashi Iizuka, who runs the Sonic Team for Sega, has confirmed that development has begun on the next mainline entry in the Sonic series. It does seem to be very early days for the game, but this news will still be music to the ears of the speedy blue hedgehog's manifold fans.

This news comes at an interesting time for the franchise, with the upcoming movie - starring Ben Schwartz as Sonic and Jim Carrey as Doctor Robotnik - proving to be a real curio, and the soon-to-release Team Sonic Racing game shaping up to be a love-letter to the character's carting past (its tracks and music are stuffed with nostalgic references).

It was during a South By Southwest panel for Team Sonic Racing that Iizuka revealed that Sonic...

When Sonic Mania originally launched on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, we gave it a 4.5 out of 5; it felt like Sega finally decided to stop muddling their fan-favorite franchise and let it breathe in the hands of long time fan Christian Whitehead and company. Their efforts and understanding of what makes a good Sonic game made it an all-time classic, and possibly the best in the entire series. Fast forward to nearly a year later and the new physical release (or Dlc if you own the game), Sonic Mania Plus, is here for those of us who still can’t put it down.

But let me clarify: I am not what you’d call a “Sonic fan”. I played Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on my uncle’s Genesis at Thanksgivings, died horribly in Aquatic Ruin Zone, and that’s about as far as my fandom roots go. When I heard about Mania,...

Sonic Forces, the blue hedgehog’s next 3D outing, was formally unveiled back at SXSW. And Sonic Mania, the Genesis-era sequel longtime fans have waited for, kickstarted that same panel. Fortunately, the newest issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu had an interview with Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka. So, consequently, new details pertaining to both platformers were divulged. Furthermore, […]

Source: uInterview

The post New ‘Sonic Forces’ & ‘Sonic Mania’ Details Divulged Through Famitsu And Nintendo Direct appeared first on uInterview.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about Sonic Mania. Announced during last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Sega’s retro-inspired side-scroller received a huge amount of positive reception for evoking a period in the Blue Blur’s history that many to consider to be his best, but since then we’ve had but just a few snippets of gameplay showing the Hedgehog in action. I’ve been hopeful ever since its announcement that the age-old saying – no news is good news – is applicable to Sonic Mania‘s ongoing development, and that does appear to be the case, as the developer says it’ll have more news to share next month.

As per GameSpot, Sega will be attending South By Southwest in March, wherein it plans to “showcase a new reveal” for both Sonic Mania and Sonic 2017 (working title), although what exactly it is that we’ll be seeing isn’t clear.

In case you didn't know, Sonic the Hedgehog turns 25 today! With celebration plans in the works we got confirmation that a new game is coming, along with a new movie!

First lets get the celebration plans out there! Sonic Team released the video above celebrating 25 years with Sonic which runs through a timeline of all the Sonic games released over the years. There is of course at least one exception that I noticed.... there is no Lost World stop on the map.

Next you can head to Humble Bundle which is celebrating the occasion with a big bundle of Sonic games. You can pay as little as 1 dollar to get several games, or beat the bundle price to unlock them all.

Now for news of the new stuff coming soon.

Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka told Famitsu that some new projects are currently in the works. There is a new...

Sega's concentrating on PC and mobile games, but Sonic Team's boss suggests that Sonic's days on consoles aren't over yet...

Neither Sega nor its hyperactive mascot have had an easy time over the past few months. The once might company announced a fairly drastic restructure in January, which will see its base of operations move and a considerable percentage of its staff in the Us reduced.

Sonic the Hedgehog, meanwhile, suffered a damaging blow with Sonic Boom - an outing greeted by dismal reviews and slow sales. With Sega announcing its intention to step away from console development and concentrate on mobile and PC games, the news didn't seem good for the blue blur.

The release of free-to-play infinite runner Sonic Runners, out now in Japan for mobiles - seemed to underline the thinking that Sonic's console days may be behind him.

But in a new interview with Japanese site 4Gamer,...

Sega’s annual fan celebration of Sonic the Hedgehog will kick off Super Week, New York Comic Con’s seven day celebration leading up to the convention. Sonic Boom will take place on Saturday, October 4th at the Manhattan Center Ballroom in New York City.

Events include appearances by the voice cast of the new Sonic Boom TV series, premiering this fall on Cartoon Network. Roger Craig Smith (Sonic), Colleen Villard (Tails), Travis Willingham (Knuckles), Cindy Robinson (Amy), Nika Futterman (Sticks), and Mike Pollock (Dr. Eggman) will all be on stage for a special live TV show script reading, as well being available for meet & greets and autographs.

Other guests including Tracy Yardley!, long-time artist for the comic series, Sonic musicians Jun Senoue, Tomoya Ohtani, Ted Poley, and Tony Harnell, and Japanese game producer and lead Sonic designer, Takashi Iizuka.

Playable demos of Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (WiiU...

Sonic the Hedgehog is returning to TV. The character, who was first introduced in a Sega video game in 1991, will be the center of a new CG animated show to debut in the fall of 2014. The show, which has a working title Sonic Boom, will debut on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and Canal J and Gulli in France, with plans for a global rollout to follow. The new action comedy series starts with a commitment of 52 episodes to be co-produced by Sega of America and Genao Productions. Takashi Iizuka, the creative force behind the

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Sonic the Hedgehog is returning to TV.

The character, who was first introduced in a Sega video game in 1991, will be the center of a new CG animated show to debut in the fall of 2014. The show, which has a working title Sonic Boom, will debut on Cartoon Network in the U.S. and Canal J and Gulli in France, with plans for a global rollout to follow.

The new action comedy series starts with a commitment of 52 episodes to be co-produced by Sega of America and Genao Productions. Takashi Iizuka, the creative force behind the character, is overseeing ...

Sonic's next 3D outing has been discussed by Sonic Team. Studio head Takashi Iizuka said that the project will aim to "evolve" the 3D games in the same way Sonic 4 has for 2D entries. "I think we achieved a 2D platform for the basic Sonic games with this Sonic 4 series," he told Digital Spy. "For 3D, we'd like to, as well as try to evolve all the old titles, we want to try something new in the 3D Sonic games as well." Iizuka added that it would be "different" to Sonic Generations's back-to-basics approach. "We would like to try and challenge to create a new 3D Sonic game, and if we try and make a (more)...

Sonic 4: Episode 2 could be the last in the series, it has been revealed. Producer Takashi Iizuka said Sonic Team has no plans to release more episodes in the future. "We are looking forward to hearing the feedback from the users for Episode 2, but we are currently not planning to release another episode," he told Digital Spy. Iizuka added: "We just want to see how the users accept this episode." Although Sonic 4: Episode (more)...

Sonic 4 on PlayStation Vita has been discussed by Sonic Team. Producer Takashi Iizuka said that there are no plans for a version currently, but the team is looking at how the system performs. "We're not about thinking releasing [the] title on Vita at the moment, because it just came out," Iizuka told Digital Spy. "We want to see how the market develops and see what happens." When asked whether it depends on how successful Vita will be, Iizuka responded: "Yes." Iizuka also revealed that there are no (more)...

Sad to say that "Sonic 4" wasn't exactly the hedgehog revival Sega was hoping for. The game was always pitched as a return to classic Sonic-style gameplay, but an overhaul of the game's physics engine resulted in a lot of unhappy fans. Toss in a lack of, well, speed, and you realize that Team Sonic has its work cut out for it in "Episode 2." The folks over at Nintendo Power spoke with the game's producer, Takashi Iizuka (transcribed by Aeropause) about some of these issues.

Iizuka-san's response to the inauthentic physics?

"In this title, we have not done a straight port of the gameplay [from the Genesis games], but rather updated it with actions which could not be done in the previous titles, like ceiling-running. These changes probably made for a different feel to the longtime Sonic fans. We’re happy for feedback like this, and we'll make sure we can improve the quality even further in upcoming titles.