Changes for Games in a Changing World

An article that was written on The Sonic Stadium mentioned a deeper meaning to the theme song written for Sonic from the game Sonic Adventure. The stated idea was that SEGA would continue as they had previously and would not change based on the ideas of others. Through the years SEGA has created several different systems and technologies. From arcade machines to a personal computer. Each time they have developed their own system, usually with the most advanced technology. SEGA's systems were usually ahead of their competitors (a technique which Nintendo is now attempting to use). But now that SEGA no longer makes systems and instead Sonic Team creates games for many different companies, have they stayed true to form?

In Sonic Adventure, Sonic's levels stayed true to form as did those where one played as Tails or Amy. Yet certain other aspects of the game were wholly new. For some it was a welcome difference. For others it wasn't what Sonic games were about to them. Now a new game is coming out. Shadow the Hedgehog, a game that contains the central points of speeding hedgehogs from Sonic Team, yet has a wholly different attitude and goal about the game. Some would say that all things change, this is true. Some would say that the games now are better than before while others would disagree. With this idea in mind, let's take a look through a comparison of changes that have occurred through the years.

In the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Yuji Naka created a game composed of speed. StH's main point was that he moved faster than anyone else and was a hero. This same theme has progressed through most of the games currently. In Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic is a cool blue figure of exceptional speed and heroism. In Sonic Heroes the same is true. Now while the central point of Sonic has remained essentially the same, as there have been a few sidetracks in games such as Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2, a few other factors have changed. Aside from the basic control and action changes in the games, Sonic has changed to a cultural icon. Popularity has caused Sonic & Co. to change into more of what the populace want. So only a few superficial changes have occurred. Sonic is mainly what it has always been, a game based on speed, skill, and fun.

Originally, Sonic was THE fastest. No one could come close to his amazing speed. This was true both as a symbol of his upcoming power against other system icons and as his comparison versus enemies and Dr. Robotnik. Now this is not as true. Tails and Knuckles have come close to matching his speed but no one has come closer than the recent Shadow the Hedgehog. Which character is faster has never been truly addressed and is solely up to the fans as to who they believe to be faster. For the moment, Sonic remains as the hero who overcomes everything. Whether or not he is faster is now immaterial. The fact remains that Sonic is a fast super-hero and that has never changed.

Another slight change that has occurred is Dr. Robotnik's (or Dr. Eggman's) role in the games. Originally Dr. R was THE villain. You made it to the final level, beat that and had all the emeralds you fought Dr. Robotnik in a massive showdown (on some games). Now, however, he's just a mischievous scientist with delusions of grandeur who somehow manages to unleash weapons of ultimate evil (as he always has) but is no longer in control of them. I believe this to be one of the major changes that has taken place. This major change hasn't just occurred in Sonic games. The Mario franchise has also done the same thing. Bowser is no longer a super-villain bent on the capture of a mushroom princess and the demise of a certain Italian plumber. Instead he is more of a misunderstood grouch who has a soft spot beneath his rough exterior and amidst everything else just wants to be accepted and befriended. While the Sonic franchise has not been reduced to this level (going from intense action games to mere party and sports games) the focus of the main villain has kept Eggman as key but has placed him a single step below whichever super-villain Sonic must face at the end of the game. All in all it's not that huge a change and doesn't really conform to other franchises and ideas.

Now at the same time, Sonic Team is creating a new franchise based off of a now popular video game character. Shadow the Hedgehog. While containing some of the same basic aspects as the original games by Sonic Team, Shadow adds other factors such as weaponry and the ability to choose whether one is evil or heroic. The Sonic games, on the other hand, focus solely on heroics. While it is a truly interesting change of pace done by Sonic Team, I wouldn't consider it to truly be a change to the core of Sonic games.

When I started to write this article I believed that the whole idea of Sonic Team having stayed true and not changed was incorrect. As one can see, the only changes have been brought about by fans. Sonic has remained the same. The villains, adversaries, nemeses, and side goals have changed in form and appearance; however, they retain a hint of their original form. Knuckles is usually still at odds with Sonic on occasion. Dr. Eggman is still out to conquer or destroy the world. Sonic still fights strange robots with a deep seated hatred for hedgehogs. While some superficial changes have occurred it has continued with the same core essences prevalent through the Sonic franchise. The radical changes brought about in the upcoming Shadow the Hedgehog game have not changed who Sonic is or what his games are about. Sonic is and will always be the Fastest, the Coolest, and the Bluest.