Archived on 2018.05.02 on Tumblr
Original Article
『ソニックマニア・プラス』インタビュー、『ソニック』シリーズプロデューサーの飯塚 隆氏にパッケージ化の真意や新要素について聞く
https://s.famitsu.com/news/201805/01156313.html
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Translation of the Interview: comments by Iizuka-san)
- Since its release in August 2017, the game’s reception has been much better than their expectations. Some called it ‘the best game’ and it was moving.
- Probably due to it being a digital release, its sales didn’t drop after the first day of release, which is usually the case with a physical version. Also it seems like in some cases, due to the worldwide shortage of Nintendo Switch that lasted until the end of last year, those who finally got the hardware downloaded the game much later than the game’s release.
- Sonic Mania’s project started off as digital-only title, but during the production, opinions for packaged version arised in-house. However, due to the scheduling problem including organization of production line, they once had to give up that idea.
- Despite this, after hearing so many fans wanting a physical copy, saying they need one to line up with past titles’ packages, the team decided to realize this idea to show their thankfulness to them.
- The challenge in making physical version was the cost; the original download version was able to be sold at a low price, but selling a physical copy at the same price is impossible due to extra costs in packaging, distribution etc. So in return for the raised price, they decided to add extra contents as a plus value. Also, those who bought the original version can purchase the DLC 'Encore Pack’ to obtain the same game contents as 'Plus’.
- The team thought about what would make fans happy; Sonic Mania’s core is the ideas that make fans curious or set their expectation, and the new characters Mighty and Ray are the results of considering what would be an exciting addition to the game.
- "Mighty and Ray appeared in the arcade game 'SEGA Sonic the Hedgehog’ in 1993 along with Sonic as main characters, and Mighty also appeared in 'Chaotix’, so I’m not sure if I can call them 'new characters’ though. 'laugh’ That’s also why their fans kept saying 'where did they go?’. “
- The Encore mode includes new gimmicks because 'playing the same stages despite the new characters would be repetitive’. In Encore mode, one would choose either Mighty or Ray to play the stage. With one button, they can be switched to Sonic anytime.
- To Iizuka-san, Mighty and Ray were characters that were 'sealed’ and would never appear in a game again. However, this title that is fully stuffed with maniac ideas has built the stage for them to show up. "So I decided to break that seal. 'laugh’ ”
- The fans were excited the moment they heard Mighty and Ray’s names at SXSW back in Texas as we revealed their appearance.
- Mighty is a armadillo and is originally a powerful character who has a hard shell on his back. So we prepared an action that makes use of this - the 'Hammer Drop’, with which he drops vertically and shakes the ground. Also, he can repel enemy’s attack, or avoid damage from spikes just once when he is rolling. “The fast dropping action is a rare thing in Classic series.”
- The action for Ray, for him being a flying squirrel, was decided immediately as “Air Glide” and was also easy to make. Knuckles also uses gliding, but he can only descend. On the other hand, Ray can ascend again by using the speed of flying downwards. One can fly very long by mastering the technique.
- "It would be meaningless if we added new characters with the same actions as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. We want you to enjoy the gameplay with unique actions of all characters in 'Plus’. "
- In stage design, there are some challenges by added characters: the need of blocking upper region of the stage to prevent Ray from flying too high, and arranging objects and gimmicks newly in the same stages in Encore mode to make them more enjoyable with new characters’ actions - such as breakable ground with Mighty’s Hammer Drop. These are mundae yet important works, and the team was aware of it as they decided the new actions.
- Iizuka-san isn’t sure how many people are actually going to use the function, but he increased the number of players in battle-mode from 2 to 4, since they have 5 characters now.
- About contents of Japan exclusive extra edition:
- Art Book: same as the one in overseas Sonic Mania Plus. It includes arts of Sonic Mania, such as setting illustration for animation, stage concept arts, poster arts.
- CD: only included in Japanese version of Sonic Mania Plus. 2 CDs with OST that is also selling in iTunes etc. and, additional tracks that are new to the Plus, were used for promotions and more from and outside of the game itself.
- Game package: becomes Mega Drive (Genesis)-like when the jacket is flipped inside out!
- "We as team anted to have something that can be kept in our hands’ reach too, so it’s our pleasure to release Sonic Mania Plus. Especially the development team was very positive about it, and they are such people who would come up with so many ideas and say 'I want to do this!’ 'How about this?’, so I enjoyed our development very much this time too. We all had the feeling of full accomplishment by doing everything we could by the time of original release, but they also loved the title 'Sonic Mania’, so I think they were happy to have a physical copy too.”
- Interviewer: “Hearing about such high motivation of the development team makes us expect a sequel to the game.”
- Iizuka-san: “Then next thing would be "Sonic Mania’ (dash) ”, I guess? 'laugh’ Jokes aside; to me, with the release of physical version, the project of Sonic Mania has done everything it should. I have no further plan for this project right now.“
- Iizuka-san’s message to fans:
"Thanks to everyone who bought the original 'Sonic Mania’, we were able to continue on to 'Plus’, and we are very grateful for it. Since it is a classical 2D game, it might give an impression that it is aimed at people who know games from that Mega Drive era; actually, it is being played by people of wide age range. Especially in overseas, the most downloads are by users of elementary school age. This time, we will release 'Plus’ in a handy form and price, so I hope those who has not yet played the game would take it in their hands. It is a title we are proud to recommend to the elementary schol children in Japan too. "
https://s.famitsu.com/news/201805/01156313.html
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