Sonic runs solo in Project Needlemouse

By Oli Welsh Published 18 January, 2010

Hedgehog is the only playable character.

SEGA's Project Needlemouse cast reveal has ruled out every one of Sonic's extended family of anthropomorphic friends, leaving the blue hedgehog as the only playable character in the 2D series reboot.

The trivia challenge progressively struck the likes of Charmy, Shadow, Amy and Big the Cat off the roster over the course of last week. Tails and Knuckles, who themselves date back to early instalments in the Sonic series, didn't even figure.

The post also shows some concept artwork depicting an enemy from the game - a robot crab - that's very much in the classic Sonic style.

Turns out brand manager Ken Ballough was messing with us when he said, "Tails and Knuckles, to me, are essential to Sonic... I think the one character that has yet to find his place is Bark the Polar Bear. I hope he does eventually - it'd be nice to have a cool bear character."

Project Needlemouse is a 2D Sonic game in high definition, due for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this year.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (30) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wizlon #1 2 years ago

    Well done Sega, very brave of you. Now just don't screw it up!

  • JahB #2 2 years ago

    First they decided they'd make another 2D sonic sidescroller. Then they decided Sonic was gonna be the only playable character.

    Dare I say it, it looks like Team Sonic have finally gotten the point.

  • schnide #3 2 years ago

    I didn't realise this was 2D even though I knew it was a reboot. I was kinda hoping they'd reboot in 3D, but just do it right.

    Still, we'll have to see how it does.

  • mrmonkey1980 #4 2 years ago

    You can't do Sonic in 3D! I think they finally got the message! Colour me interested.

  • menage #5 2 years ago

    That's a good start at least.

  • LeSpank #6 2 years ago

    Fair play to that Ken guy for the wind up. Highly amusing!

  • muscleblade #7 2 years ago

    Is it retail or downloadable. Seems a little too old school for retail. Im buying either way.

  • Anthony_UK #8 2 years ago

    Am I the only one who doesn't think Sonic was that great in the first place?

    I'm serious, at the time it was great zipping through the levels. But as soon as any proper platforming had to be done, it was a total nightmare!

    Other than the obvious comparison to Mario, i'd even pick a new 'old school' Rayman over Sonic..... The 'Sonic' name has been tainted enough already anyway, just let the series die I say, leave it as fond memories instead of whoring it, with what feels like a new game every year with a new gimic to stick on the box.





    Edited by 1 at 18/01/10 @ 10:22

  • Stuz359 #9 2 years ago

    Is it retail or downloadable. Seems a little too old school for retail. Im buying either way.

    ------------------------

    You could make the same argument about New Super Mario Bros Wii, but that was one of the best games of last year.

  • Ninja_Tino #10 2 years ago

    Excitement for a new Sonic game. I never thought this day would come.

  • IneptPercy #11 2 years ago

    Hopefully this will sell enough to fund the Dreamcast 2!!!

    The resistance lives on!!!

  • BBIAJ #12 2 years ago

    Is this using the same engine as Sonic Unleashed, The Hedgehog Engine, as that worked pretty damn well on the 2D sections, and it would be a shame to see a brand new engine go to waste.

    The cutscenes in that game were epic, especially with the original Japanese dub.

    Loved the fact that Dr. Robotnik (I refuse to call him Eggman!), had a Dreamcast with him in his pod!

  • AgentCool #13 2 years ago

    Finally, FINALLY, Sonic Team seem to have figured out what made Sonic great in the first place. The only way they could balls this up now is by making it too fast like the 2.5D sections of Sonic Unleashed. Speed is important but you have to feel like you're actually in control which was almost always the case with the classic Mega Drive originals.

  • KDR_11k #14 2 years ago

    They can make it about Sonic all they want, if the level design is as atrocious as in the GBA games for example that won't help them.

  • Steroyd #15 2 years ago

    Why are they incapable of doing that for the 3D Sonic's? WHY!?

    By jove it may have taken a whole decade of crap but Sega are slowly starting to get it, they're ticking the right boxes so far...

  • wittynic #16 2 years ago

    I will miss Knuckles and Tails. As seen in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, all three can be blended very well.

    But as someone pointed out, its all about level design. The gba/ds games, if anything, were too fast - you just ran into death all the time. They need to use Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles as models of good level design.

  • Eraysor #17 2 years ago

    My god, Sega actually listens to consumers for the first time in at least 10 years.

  • Artemus #18 2 years ago

    Sega have worked hard to utterly destroy the Sonic brand over the last decade, but this is an encouraging first step. Then again I won't hold my breath. I remember the early videos of Unleashed looking great (the 2D sections) and look how that turned out.

  • Slipstream #19 2 years ago

    Sonic was the only playable character in Unleashed, still a below average game xD No, I know I know, you could I guess, deem the werehog as an extra character, just making a subtle point.

    Still, this announcement coupled with art of a giant enemy crab from ye olde times is really good news, even the silhouette of sonic fills me with hope.
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/10 @ 19:08

  • gelf #20 2 years ago

    @AgentCool thats my biggest worry as well. While any post mega drive 2D sonic game has been usually better then the 3D ones they've tended to completely misunderstand the pacing of the originals. I felt Sonic Rush got it completely wrong despise the praise it received, too many sections holding right doing little.

  • schnide #21 2 years ago

    You guys serious?! You want this in 2D? If you want the 2D iterations, then play the 2D iterations.

    Needlemouse is going to go nowhere. Times have changed, including the development teams. Sega of New won't get this right.
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/10 @ 13:35

  • Postumo #22 2 years ago

    No Tails or knuckles but Shadow....

    what a mess...

  • Sunyavadin #23 2 years ago

    My tears of joy could do what greenworld.esp does to the capital wasteland right now....

  • jonsaan #24 2 years ago

    There's nothing worng with his shitty friends as long as the control for them is the same as Sonic. Kids like loads of characters, just keep the core mechanic the same.

    What's the betting they now make Sonic have different skills for each level. So we'll get a shitty mech level, a werehog type stretchy arm level...etc.etc.

  • HyperShadow #25 2 years ago

    I think that this list not having Tails or Knuckles on it doesn't instantly knock them out of the game, it just eliminates the extended cast. Tails and Knuckles never ruined the Sonic franchise, I don't recall the general consensus being anything after the very first Sonic was rubbish.

    Also, as I pointed out on Kotaku (which someone took offence to), Sonic was the only playable character in Unleashed, Secret Rings and Black Knight so just having Sonic on his own doesn't instantly mean 'good game'

  • My1stLoveJak #26 2 years ago

    I wonder if SEGA is taking notice of what Nintendo's doing? Going back to basics, adding just enough so that it doesn't change the core mechanics of what made the original games so great. I don't expect that we'll never see another 3-D sonic game (just like how Mario won't stop platforming in 3D), but maybe we'll get the best of both worlds...just not in the same game! They can still make a good 3D sonic, I think, but I'm excited to see this game, first.

    Three cheers for retro gaming! Bionic Commando Rearmed! New Super Mario Bros! Castlevania Rebirth! Megaman 10! Huzzah! Keep 'em coming - if Xbox live keeps getting stuff like Shadow Complex, I might have to get a 360, too

  • N.A.T.O #27 2 years ago

    Megadrive port soon?

  • Lusterpurge #28 2 years ago

    All I want is a Wii version.

    Maybe a 4 player version called New Super Sonic Wii. All sonics. No other characters. All zipping around the screen at the same time so you can't even see your sonic.
    Edited by 1 at 18/01/10 @ 21:44

  • Loghorn #29 2 years ago

    It's about time that Sega has woken up & realized that 2D Sonic games are the way to go. Seriously, the only 3D Sonic games that I enjoyed were the two Sonic Adventure games. All the rest were garbage.

    At least there were great 2D Sonic games on the GBA, DS, & on PSP. Hopefully, they'll stay intact on consoles. I also hope that they won't screw this up.

  • Kami #30 2 years ago

    Nngh... okay Sonic Team, well played and you got my attention. Now, let's put down some ground rules here. This doesn't mean I've forgiven you for all those times you stood me up and hurt me. This will be a casual fling and nothing more. I will not partake of any extra toys, gadgets, gimmicks or implements in the throws of passion. I will not tolerate any others looking on, or joining in, our little bit of fun. I will not tolerate bad voice acting, faking it, lack of control or unnecessary distractions.

    If you agree to this, then yes. Yes, we can jump into bed together again. But remember this, you're skating on very thin ice with old-time Sonic fans like me and any deviation from the ground rules set and you will be kicked out, mid-orgasm or not...