When you think of Sonic the Hedgehog, you think about the games. No? Okay, the movie, then? Oh. Alright, well what about all the TV shows? Ah, you're right. It's all about that sweet merch.
SEGA's iconic character is turning 30 next year, and the publisher is getting the party started with a new line of merchandise. One such item is an encyclopedia produced by Dark Horse comics (pictured). It "explores nearly every video game and provides deep insights into the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise", says the press release.
Other items include a new set of Funko Pop! figures to collect, toys, clothes, and enamel pins. There will even be energy drinks from G Fuel and jewellery courtesy of King Ice. All these items will arrive on shelves "as early as December [2020]".
If you're wondering where the game news is, don't worry. SEGA will be "revealing additional plans" for Sonic's 30th anniversary "in the months to come". We can't imagine the publisher will let the big 3-0 go by without a new game. What that game looks like, we'll just have to wait.
Comments 25
So the energy drink will be Blue as Sonic color ?
@Anti-Matter We can only hope.
New Sonic game at the PS5 event? Cerny did work on Sonic when he was at Sega... just saying... only joking. Best you could hope for is some Sonic Collection at this point.
Jewellery? If I buy seven emeralds and don't turn bright yellow I'll want my money back.
They DID let the 25th anniversary go by without a game. Yeah they revealed Mania and Forces for it, but they sure as hell didn't land until Sonic was half way to 27.
And I just remembered Forces exists. Ew.
Mania 2 is all I want from Sonic. Fingers crossed.
Sonic 06 Remastered. Watch Sonic fall through the level and stand on ceilings - now in glorious 4K.
I actually already own a Sonic Funko Pop...and I'm not even a big Sonic fan/player xD
Just got the Sonic art book from cook and becker. Will be interesting to see how the encyclopedia is different.
Also release Sonic 3 again, and Mania 2 please
Sonic Mania 2 would be cool, but we will probably get Sonic and the Black Knight 2 instead.
Sonic 3D All Stars with Adventure, Adventure 2 and Heroes would be nice. Just no limited release nonsense like Mario 3D All Stars.
I prefer something new but since everyone is asking for a sequel then I would like Sonic Heroes 2
Funko pops and genital warts have the same value.
@Anti-Matter Thanks for sharing the blue drink pic! I don't think any of us would know what Sega Blue looks like without it.
@TheNewButler Funny. My first thought when I saw this article was, Sega just don’t get it! They deliver a well received gem in Sonic Mania. Instead of staying on that path and building on it, we get this. 🤷🏾♂️
Sega have no clue anymore they really don't sometimes I think they should just call it a day and shut up shop, because you can't milk your old classics any longer than you have done.
Streets of Rage 4 was made by someone else
Wonderboy 3 The Dragons Trap by someone else
Sonic Mania I believe by someone else
Get the picture when some of the best IPs have a new game made by someone else and it sells crap loads then what's the point because the rest have been rubbish. They screwed up with the Game Gear Micro a device no one wanted or could play unless your from The Borrowers village.
They really could have captilised on that as well as a Dreamcast Mini or come back swinging and maybe release a Dreamcast 2 I'm sure they would have backing in 3rd party and bring back some of the best DC games they did. Phantasy Star Online 3 could have been a launch title, Sonic Adventure 3, Skies of Arcadia Remake or Skies 2, Crazy Taxi 3
Can't Wait to see it!
@TheNewButler @outsider83 @Nakatomi_Uk I apologise in advance for being "that guy" but...
Sonic Heroes
Sonic Rush
Shadow the Hedgehog
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
Sonic Colours
Sonic Generations
Those are all post-Dreamcast games that have sold more than Sonic Mania. Let's be honest, it was a nice piece of fan-pandering, but it didn't innovate, nor did it attempt to.
Sonic isn't about "more of the same" and he never has been. You'll occasionally see a sequel to something that worked but, ever since he left the 2D era, he's been constantly re-inventing himself in brave new gameplay directions (Generations aside, it being a 20th Anniversary retrospective and all). There's always a hook or a gimmick, something interesting that nobody can ever predict. Sometimes this experimental approach works well, and sometimes a little less so, but I for one certainly won't criticise the developers for successfully avoid stagnation.
It's the same with the live-action movie, released earlier this year. Look at how the internet laughed at it, pre-judged it and condemned it as trash... and then look at how it broke box office records for a videogame adaptation, instantly securing a sequel despite decidedly average reviews from critics.
Of course SEGA know what they're doing with the Sonic brand; if they didn't, it wouldn't be about to celebrate its 30th Anniversary. Chasing nostalgia bucks will only get you so far in this industry, and it's not like ten-year-olds read or write reviews anyway. We can sit here and pass judgement on a couple of turkeys, but it isn't gonna change anything, because they were bright and colourful turkeys which kept the kids quiet on a rainy Sunday.
Face it, we're just not the target audience any more.
@TheNewButler Fair enough. Just felt like this comment stream could've used a counterpoint, s'all.
Here's hoping the 30th Anniversary game can please all of us!
@RogerRoger I don’t agree. While there are some decent games on your list, I don’t think any of them had the polish of Mania. It’s not about the sales. How could you put Unleashed and Shadow over Mania?!
@outsider83 I wasn't. I was just trying to balance out the assertion that SEGA haven't got a clue how to handle Sonic; they obviously do, because his games sell well regardless of critical reception. There's a business-focused target market out there, and it isn't necessarily composed of "gamers" or "fans of the 2D classics" (heck, it might not even include them at all).
Personally speaking, there are dozens of Sonic's games that I'd rank above Mania, but that wasn't my point.
@RogerRoger I’ll admit that my love for Mania is aided by nostalgia. I’ve also enjoyed some of 3D Sonic games. Heck, even the old kart and on foot racers. I understand that those games still sell well, but at what cost to the brand? Sonic could be so much more. It’s frustrating for a Sonic game to, in a sense, tease us gamers with a quality game like Generations. Which shows that they can still make a decent 3D and 2D Sonic. Then they give us Mania. I know about the titles (of good quality) released in between these two releases, but I feel like those were the strongest. Why not build on that? I’ve been watching Mario flourish since the 80’s, with the rare misstep (I’m look long at you, SUNSHINE! 😂) and to see highs and lows of Sonic, it’s sad and baffling. Again, I don’t get why they don’t build on what’s worked over the years. 🤷🏾♂️
@outsider83 I think that's the general pitfall of being a fan of something, though; brands are businesses, and as such they're gonna do whatever makes the most money, regardless of critical reception or reaction from folks like us, who view these characters and games on a more emotional level.
There are plenty of things I love which haven't gone in the directions I've personally hoped for, Sonic included, but then I'm not a marketing executive sitting on SEGA's board (nor should I be; I don't think you'd like the decisions I'd make!).
I do understand where you're coming from, though. As much as I will always champion Sonic Team whenever they try something new, following up the sublime Generations with the risky Lost World was definitely one of "those" moments. But I think I'm lucky in that I don't tend to play many other 90s mascot games, so I don't often have to hold Sonic up against his contemporaries. His games just exist in their own little bubble for me, where I don't make comparisons and just accept them for what they are. If you're a Mario fan, then I can appreciate the issue.
@RogerRoger Much respect to you and your opinion! 😊 I wish I was able to not compare mascots! Having played my fair share of mascot games throughout the 90’s, early 2000’s, I feel that it’s embedded in me! 😂 When I played Super Mario Odyssey, I was constantly blown away by the fact that I was playing the evolution of Mario, so tightly woven into modern day gameplay. And take the genre to new heights. I thought about Sonic while playing Odyssey. At this point, I’m not asking for every new Sonic game to reinvent the wheel. Just consistency and a healthy respect for the series past. In my eyes, it’s a bit of respect, while mainly focusing on some new gimmick that’s detrimental to the gameplay (most of the time).
@outsider83 Thanks, and same to you and yours! Like I said, here's hoping that Sonic's 30th Anniversary game can please everybody!
Given how prolific mascot games were around that time, I don't blame you; seems like everybody had to have some kind of anthropomorphic critter or unlikely hero running, jumping and collecting gold trinkets. I helped my partner play Odyssey (the first Mario game I've ever sat and played properly) and it was unquestionably a quality product, for sure. You must've had a blast!
It does make me wonder what gimmick could possibly be next on Sonic's plate. By my count, since he went 3D, we've had fishing, treasure hunting, rail shooting, team-based ability switching, guns and vehicles, air-fuelled hoverboards, brawler gameplay, Wisps, Classic Sonic, parkour and customisable characters.
Maybe the gimmick is gonna be that there is no gimmick!
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