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Famitsu interview shares new details on Sonic Mania, Sonic Forces
The following info comes from a Famitsu interview with Takashi Iizuka. Translations come from SourceGaming and Woun.
- the third character in Forces will be an “unexpected character”
- Sonic Boom Sonic is NOT in the game
- the third character “plays an important role in the story, and embodies the overall features of the game”
- Sonic 3’s bonus stages seem likely to return in Sonic Mania
- “The boost system from Sonic Unleashed is present, as well as stages based on reaching the goal and clearing them a certain time limit also seem to be present.”
- “Classic Sonic stages are based on side scrolling 2D action" and will also have a twist
- Sonic Forces will be at E3 this year
- E3 will be where the third character will be revealed
- Sonic Forces story: “Dr. Eggman took over 99% of the world. Sonic and the “Resistance” members are fighting. Then another Sonic appears…”
- the reason why Eggman takes over so much of the world is because of “a new power” that his obtains
- this is the same power that makes classic Sonic appear
- Morio Kishimoto is the director of Sonic Forces
- Sonic Forces has been in development since 2013, and started around Sonic Lost World’s release
- “Forces was chosen as a subtitle from it meaning “power” and “army”. Two strong forces (Sonic and co vs. Eggman) are facing off in the game.”
- “This time, Sonic is fighting an Eggman who has nearly taken over the world.”
- the game won’t be all dark and gloomy, but there are some lighter stages in Forces
- Sonic Mania’s development began in 2015, as Sonic Team wanted to do a new 2D Sonic game and “not a remake”
- the general rule for the art of Sonic Mania was to be above the level of Genesis, but under the level of Saturn
- gameplay for Mania is similar to Sonic 3
- elemental shields were mentioned as returning