Needlemouse cast reveal this week

By Tom Bramwell Published 12 January, 2010

Details on next-gen 2D Sonic imminent.

SEGA plans to reveal a full list of playable characters in next-generation 2D Sonic title Project Needlemouse this week.

The reveal is gradually going on over at the US SEGA blog, where fans have to answer quiz questions in order to reduce the list of possibilities until we hit on the final cast.

The initial post has already drawn the required number of correct answers for day one (perhaps because people can see what everyone else's answers are in the comments), and the next few days take in Facebook, the official Sonic forum and Twitter. Good times.

Project Needlemouse is a codename for SEGA's attempts to revamp Sonic in 2D on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Not much is known about the game, announced last year, but it has already attracted interest on the basis that it's not another 3D Sonic game, which reflects how far the hedgehog's star has fallen in the years since Sonic Team discovered the third dimension.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (41) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • wizlon #1 2 years ago

    Cast of characters... how about Sonic? Yeah, that'll about do me thanks.

  • Waffleaber #2 2 years ago

    Yeah they can go ahead and cross out all those names apart from Sonic.

    Anyone else notice there's no Tails listed?

  • matrim83 #3 2 years ago

    Agreed. Why do we need a cast? Just give us Sonic and some decent level design and thats about it.

    But then again, this is Sega.

  • Tomo #4 2 years ago

    Next gen?!

  • Psiloc #5 2 years ago

    "It has already attracted interest on the basis that it's not another 3D Sonic game, which reflects how far the hedgehog's star has fallen in the years since Sonic Team discovered the third dimension."

    This.

  • Aretak #6 2 years ago

    Clearly this is all just leading up to them announcing that Sonic is the only character anyway. I still don't trust them not to produce an awful game, even with Sonic's friends absent.

  • Psiloc #7 2 years ago

    ^ Was just thinking this, Aretak. Are Sega smart enough to come up with a move like that though?

  • ChronoMizaki #8 2 years ago

    How about Amy? Otherwise, every other character can suck on my cactus.

  • the_dudefather #9 2 years ago

    Sonic gets crossed out first

  • Psiloc #10 2 years ago

    Noticed they've not put Tails and Robotnik on the list, so there is actually a decent chance they will eliminate everyone on there but Sonic yet still have some necessary secondary characters (and still get their publicity and buzz from the reveal).

  • Zomoniac #11 2 years ago

    Now that it seems Sonic Adventure's coming to XBLA, they should just scrap this now, as it can't hope to compare.

  • BabyJesus #12 2 years ago

    Why did they change Robotniks name anyway?

  • CallousB #13 2 years ago

    If Sega had half a brain they'd look at Nintendo's success and make a 2D "New Sonic the Hedgehog Wii.

  • myiagros #14 2 years ago

    Sonic, Tails, Knuckles & Dr. Robotnik, no more, no less.

  • Zomoniac #15 2 years ago

    And Tikal, with a FHUTA minigame.

  • JahB #16 2 years ago

    If Sega had half a brain they'd look at Nintendo's success and make a 2D "New Sonic the Hedgehog Wii.

    maybe they're interested in making a good game instead?

  • crazyhorse174 #17 2 years ago

    Why did they change Robotniks name anyway?

    Think thats what he was known as in Japan for some reason...not sure why though!

  • TeaFiend #18 2 years ago

    Needs more Big the Cat.

  • BabyJesus #19 2 years ago

    'Think thats what he was known as in Japan for some reason...not sure why though! '

    They'd of been aswell renaming him with Japanese letters if that was the case :/

    I just have a hard time believing Dr Robotnik had the time to get a deedpoll to change his name. Surely he was too busy enslaving bunny rabbits and overseeing construction of giant metallic zepplin/jet hybrids.

  • Zomoniac #20 2 years ago

    FROOOGGGGGGGGGGGGGYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #21 2 years ago

    No Big, no Cream and Cheese, no Chaotix crew, and no bloody Sliver or girl/sword/genie/annoying little sailor brat

    Just Sonic, Tails, Robotnik, with probly Shadow Kunckles and Rouge as unlockables, oh and Amy in the plot (BUT NOT PLAYABLE, the toy hammer is just so cheesey) as those are the only seven characters I can bloody stand! I would class Blaze as one but her plots end up so meh and nonsence I can't stand having her in as Sonic:NG was just aghhhh, although Rush 1 was really good
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/10 @ 11:08

  • Zomoniac #22 2 years ago

    You can stand Shadow and Rouge?? I'd prefer Big than either of them. And E-102.

  • peteb #23 2 years ago

    The fact that Knuckles and Tails aren't on that list means that they are guaranteed to be in the game, which makes me think that this little scheme is just a way to reinforce the idea that its classic Sonic, minus the annoying characters.

    When its done I guarantee it'll be just Sonic.
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/10 @ 11:33

  • Kremlik Verified Co-Founder, Crash To Desktop #24 2 years ago

    @Zom - Shadow turned out to be the better rival to Sonic then Knuckles as with S3/S&K and Knuckles needs Rouge to bounce plots off otherwise he's just 'i'm on the Floating Isle protecting the Chaos Emeralds, oh no! they got Stolen AGAIN' one trick poney..

    Those seven I stated seem to gel more plot wise then the others as most are just throw away characters, yes that does include Big, the only way Sega can actally use him in plots is Froggy and thats already been done twice a third time would just turn poor Froggy soley into a plot device..

    Ofc have the others as cameo roles, but Sega has to keep to the core seven now (remember in Sonic terms Seven is the magic number) otherwise that games become like the 3D games post-Adventure, just laughable.
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/10 @ 11:34

  • Thedni #25 2 years ago

    I'm guessing this is where the Chromehounds server funds are now going... If this flops I won't be best pleased.

    *Edit spelling
    Edited by 1 at 12/01/10 @ 11:35

  • wittynic #26 2 years ago

    Sonic Knucles Tails. Speed, Power & Exploration.

  • Paulie_P #27 2 years ago

    I think the problem with the 3d games isnt the fact that they went 3D but the team tried to introduce an 'epic' story around Sonic. Have a look at the 3d Mario games - they essentially boil down to Mario having to collect Power Stars, even NSMB on the Wii just has the Princess getting kidnapped and Mario gives chase. There is no need for a plot in the sonic games, just a simple excuse to run fast and jump a lot!

  • altitude2k #28 2 years ago

    Can I has Sonic CD for XBLA while you're at it?

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #29 2 years ago

    He's amazing, he's fantastic, he's the greatest secret agent in the world.

    Neeeedlemoouuse.

  • cam_guin #30 2 years ago

    Is Needlemouse going to have a voice in this?

  • TheTingler #31 2 years ago

    As long as it's David Jason I don't mind.

    Robotnik was always 'Eggman' in Japan, and since it was too hard to remember two names they gradually phased the name out.

  • TruSmiles #32 2 years ago

    Paulie_P, the problem with 3D Sonic games is the game design and level design, and even programming/camera in some games, although I think Sonic Unleashed fixed those two for the most part. If 3D Sonic games played absolutely brilliantly, then no one would actually care about the story or characters, they would be happy with just a good game. As it happens, the level design in some Sonic games is really awful; bottomless pits, blind corners that lead you straight to your death, etc. And I say that as a big Sonic fan as well.

    Sonic Unleashed's day stages were a step in the right direction I thought, but the level design needed work.

  • DUFFKING #33 2 years ago

    Can someone please make sure Sega know that the first 3 sonic games were platform games?

    The DS 2d sonics were frankly nothing like the originals, they were closer to 2d racing games. A platformer please, Sonic wasn't JUST about speed, thankyouverymuch.

  • Eraysor #34 2 years ago

    You can tell it's going to be fucking terrible already. GOD DAMMIT SEGA

  • SimonM7 #35 2 years ago

    Sonic Adventure was all kinds of great, but it had *camera issues*. It would swing around and have the controls spaz out, direction wise in kind of a Devil May Cry way but obviously with more dire consequences because it's about platforming.

    SA had the speed/control balance just right, with some good, slow paced platforming with speedy loop de loop sections spliced in (complete with thrilling chases and whatnot to mask linearity, not unlike how Uncharted 2 is doing it now with nobody freaking out about linearity or the game "playing itself";) and beyond that the biggest issue was framerate.

    Sonic had the main adventure with 10 levels and lots of playtime, and the supporting cast had fun, optional perspectives on the storyline and only occupied the game for about as long as you'd want to spend time with their mechanics. It all came together in the end to truly feel like a light hearted - but at the same time pretty excitingly epic - Sonic.. well.. Adventure.

    All of the recognizable level themes were there, evocative of classic levels even when not directly referencing them.

    Sonic Adventure 2 was ROOOAAARRR SPEEEEEDED UP! 60FPS BLAZING SPEED ORGY! with the other characters forced into the main progression, and it just all fell apart both in terms of level design (artistic and gameplay wise) and gameplay balance. Subsequent games have tried to improve on SA2, never once stopping and realising SA was brill.

    It's right THERE, the template for a great 3D Sonic. Have it be SA1's speed, treat the level layout the same way, fix the camera and distribute the other characters according to their respective gameplay bits and have them be optional - something you check out after finishing the main story.

    IT REALLY ISN'T THAT HARD.

  • Paulie_P #36 2 years ago

    @TruSmiles

    I agree those games had issues with level design and that but again I think the level design was forced by them trying to tell a story. I mean the levels that featured Sonic running about were fun, but these were then bogged down by things like wandering about a city to figure out where to go next and other stuff like werehogs.

  • 52pickup #37 2 years ago

    How about a HD remake of Sonic 1,2,3 and Sonic and Knuckles. Or just a brand new HD 2D sonic game with just Sonic and Robotnik.

  • The-Bodybuilder #38 2 years ago

    LOL, I can't believe some people (kremlik) are seriously discussing the plot and backstory of sonic. Please.
    Strangely enough, I actually liked shadow, maybe because he really didn't change the gameplay mechanic from sonic.I would also like the use of supersonic again, to give me my dragonballz fix.

    But alas, I expect we'll all be flying around and digging up crystals with an emerald detector.

  • smelly #39 2 years ago

    Sonic, Amy, and hot coffee mod please.

  • Kami #40 2 years ago

    Play Sonic Adventure again. Actually, play Sonic again. Play Sonic 2 again, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles again, and you'll discover that collision detection has ALWAYS been an issue. Even in Sonic CD. Collision detection has been the bane of the existance of Sonic - the problem was after a while in the 3D arena it just got a bit too silly, and the wonky collision detection would fuck you over at exactly the worst possible moments. Oh, and then the games had the cheek to grade you for its own shitty design.

    The games have just gotten so damned cheesy. I'm sure the range of the supporting cast could be put to great use, really and truly, but Sonic himself as a character these days is unbearably corny and annoying. SEGA set Sonic up to be egotistical and brattish and everything you could hate, to try and be "down wit' da kidz" and they failed. They failed so miserably it hurts.

    I don't trust SEGA. I don't trust Sonic Team. Sonic to me is dead and if my some strange chance this game turns out to be fantastic I will eat my favourite VGCats T-Shirt. The fact making that statement doesn't actually concern me is good enough reason as to why long-time gamers like me - who were there when Sonic was brand new - have long since abandoned this dead horse... and the sooner SEGA stop beating it the better.

  • aine #41 2 years ago

    i get the feeling that sonic team, when making a new sonic game, tend to look at the feedback from the previous one and conclude that what they really need to do is take sonic back to basics and make it all about speed! and nothing else! because that's what people want, right? then they do that and realise it's not very interesting because you're just holding right all the time. so they add some more stuff in to mix things up a bit, only it's a bit poorly done and not very well integrated with the speedy bits because they didn't have time, but nevermind eh? then they release it to 6/10s all round and promise to get it right next time.

    a lot of people (though not many around here, thankfully) seem to miss the point that the good sonic games were all quality platformers + speed, not just speed + fuck all else, and blame the additional characters when they really have nothing to do with it. which i suppose is a mindset sega is pandering to with this whole business, assuming they are going to go down the whole "eliminate everyone except sonic" route
    Edited by 2 at 13/01/10 @ 01:38