How To Cater To Two Generations Of Sonic Fans, According To Sonic Team Lead

Sonic the Hedgehog changed over the years splitting into what Sega now calls classic Sonic and modern Sonic. "I realize there are two big groups of Sonic fans," Takashi Iizuka, Sonic Team lead said to Siliconera. "Last year, I tried satisfy both groups with Sonic Colors for modern Sonic fans and side-scrolling fans with Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. This year, I’m going to do that with one title. That’s the reason behind having classic and modern gameplay in a single title."

Sonic Generations, as you probably know, has two Sonics. You’ll play through classic levels with side-scrolling Sonic and zip through stages in 3D with modern Sonic. Levels like City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2 have been retooled into 2D and Green Hill Zone Act 1 was transformed into 3D.

"Classic Sonic and modern sonic are almost like a different genre of the game," Iizuka explained. "Think of games with cars, there are driving games and racing games, each has a different type gameplay. With Sonic Generations, I’m trying to get two different games into one title."

"I appreciate how both game styles have their own fanbase. Even if there was a new style of Sonic in the next ten years that wouldn’t be bad either, it would broaden the audience of Sonic the Hedgehog."

Today is Sonic’s 20th birthday and there’s a demo of Sonic Generations to download if you haven’t already grabbed it. We’re curious to see what (if any) other Sonic style picks up by the time he turns 30.