A while ago, I wrote a blog post on ways to fix Sonic, which was an update to an earlier post about, you guessed it, ways to fix Sonic. Now, if you're sensing a trend here, you're right, as for the current Monthly Musings, I have once more dived into the world of Sonic the Hedgehog in an attempt to try and save whatever the hell is left of it.

And let's face it. After we saw Sonic Unleashed... Sega and Sonic Team really need the help. Badly.

So once again, here's what I think can be changed about Sonic the Hedgehog:

New developers?: The first thing Sega really needs to do is something they've never really done before: take the Sonic platforming titles away from Sonic Team USA, developer of several of the biggest failures in the Sonic franchise, and maybe even Sonic Team Japan. It's apparent they don't get it anymore, as is evident by their string of failures ever since they've jumped to 3-D. Now, there's certainly a grace period for making the 2-D to 3-D transition, but 10 years is far beyond that period. Give Sonic to someone else in-house, or if you don't think they can do that, then *gasp* let someone else do it. While this would ultimately be a small third-party studio specializing in this game and this game alone and not a big gun like a Capcom or Konami, it can't hurt to get the series out of Sonic Team's hands, even if for only a little bit. They haven't killed it yet... but they get closer with each attempt.

"New" sources of inspiration to create a brand-new storyline: Almost all of the garbage after Sonic 3 goes away, though some elements and characters will remain. This new Sonic would be much darker, and in fact, would be more in line with the comics and Saturday morning cartoon that was on ABC way back when. These would be used as part of as many "new" sources of inspiration, mostly because the Sonic series has grown incredibly stale. Along with the comics/cartoon, new sources would include. Sonic and the Secret Rings had some success marrying Sonic and Arabian Nights into a relatively fun, though somewhat-flawed adventure.

For this new futuristic setting, the likeliest new sources will be anything in the cyberpunk genre. Now, this doesn't mean Sonic will become like Ghost in the Shell or Blade Runner, but with the kind of dystopian future this storyline will be undertaking, it can't hurt to have some level and boss design influences from this setting.

Sonic, phone home: Keeping with that continuity, Earth becomes a distant memory as the action shifts home to Mobius, or whatever the hell we're calling Sonic's "original" homeworld. Yes, reaprar, on further review, Sega of Japan says it's Earth... but certainly not the Earth I'm used to. Really, it's all a big mess thanks to Sega USA mistranslating something Yuji Naka said back in 1992, but that's besides the point.

Why the switch? Well, let's just look at all the Sonic games since humans started showing up in large numbers. And let's just say they've all been terrible storyline-wise, capping off with the abysmal "love story" in Sonic '06. That is wrong in so many ways to me, and it has everything to do with destroying important tenets of the Sonic franchise. Pulling Sonic off Planet Earth rids us of this problem and the problem of how Sonic even exists on Earth in the first place. The only ones that survive the change is the Eggman/Robotnik clan, and that's because they were there in the first place.

Cut the crap: There's so much stuff in Sonic that could easily be cut out to save headaches and return the focus to the fast-action platforming we all loved.

The overworlds that we saw in Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog '06 are a waste. They break up the flow of an otherwise fast-paced game and must be dealt with by eliminating them entirely. None of this open-world bullshit.It doesn't fit with the type of game Sonic the Hedgehog needs to be at all.

The Chao gardens, while a nice feature on the side, again take away from what the Sonic series should be about, and in tune with changing the series' storyline, the Chaos might survive... but the Chao gardens do not. Let them remain with the last generation.

Kick nostalgia into overdrive: Chaos Emerald bonus levels. Giant loop-de-loops. Levels themed entirely like casinos. The next Sonic game should be a throwback to the days of old, if only to help us cleanse our palettes of the crap we've suffered since the late 1990s. Nostalgia shouldn't overwhelm the new elements, but it should seamlessly blend in to make people feel like they're finally playing a worthy successor to Sonic the Hedgehod 3 or Sonic CD.

As I stated before, in regards to game play style, we’re still going back to fast-action platforming where speed and skill are key. Of course, with Super Mario Galaxy changing the way platforming is done, Sonic might have to try a few new things, but tradition needs to come back. Super Mario 64 changed it in 1996 and Sonic failed to keep up by emulating when they should have innovated. Sonic Adventure’s first level is what the series always should have been – loops, corkscrews, big jumps, pits, and so on, all with an incredible sense of speed. It’ll be in 3-D, as I’d rather leave the 2-D games to Xbox Live Arcade and the handhelds. Sonic in 3-D hasn’t been the problem at all – it’s been the execution that has fallen completely flat for almost every title after the Dreamcast.

My arguments for the game returning to rails over 3-D roaming still stand. Same with making sure that Sonic feels like he’s going fast. That means both graphical and non-graphical cues: the blur effect is only the beginning. When he’s running and gets up to speed, your controller should be rumbling like crazy, and for good reason – Sonic’s moving a tremendous amount of air and if you’re in the middle of that turbulence, you’ll feel it. I liken it to getting on the freeway, getting up to 70 mph and sticking your head out the window. Go on, try it tomorrow on your way to work and let me know how it turns out, ok?

The key, though, is not going all-speed all the time. The original games did not do this, often slowing down and speeding up the action at the right times. Newer games either went too far in the speed direction or too far in the slow direction. The correct balance of speed and slowing down is a necessity for this to feel right, and multiple rounds of testing will likely need to be done before a balance can be achieved.

Oh yeah, and fix the camera. If we're talking 3-D, keep it behind Sonic, even when he moves backwards. No free-roaming camera crap, please.

Character crackdown: It's been stated before by yours truly, and it will be stated again and again: there are too many damn characters. I've previously outlined

These are your core characters:

Playable:
Sonic
Tails (unlockable upon completion of the game)
Knuckles (unlockable upon completion of the game)

Yes, you heard that right. You start as Sonic and have to unlock Tails and Knuckles. Go on, cry and bitch and moan. I don't care. The focus should be on Sonic at first, though Knuckles and Tails will appear in the cutscenes and storylines. Also, no mechs for Tails and no treasure hunt levels for Knuckles. Each gets different abilities, but they play more old-school.

Unplayable:
Amy Rose (as a NPC)
Rouge the Bat (as a NPC and potential boss)
Eggman/Robotnik (as a NPC and The Final Boss)
Metal Sonic (as a Boss)

These are the only guarantees to make the final cut. Any of the new characters not on this (Big, Team Chaotix, Cream, Blaze, Silver, Shadow, etc.) are not going to be in the game as major NPCs. Blaze and Silver will definitely not be in. Same with Big. Shadow… I’m on the fence on. He can be used as a boss, but then again… he sucks and I’d rather not deal with him at all, meaning I want to cut him if possible. Cream and Team Chaotix get cameo background roles at most for a scene or two. That’s it. Amy, Rouge, Metal Sonic and Robotnik are the only four that clearly survive this revision, as they're the only four of any potential importance.

As I stated previously, the remaining major characters would be pulled from the pool in the comic/animated series, since that will be a significant source for the game. Princess Sally, Bunnie, Antoine and Rotor get the nod here, as well as Snively, who appeared in both the comic and cartoon as Robotnik's nephew. And while we're speaking of Robotnik, we're going to be using the comic/ABC series version of him, replacing the bumbling fool demeanor with that of a sadistic, twisted dictator. Also, settle the Eggman/Robotnik thing, once and for all. Pick one, stick with it, and be done with it.

Stop the spin-offs. For good.: These spin-offs, like Sonic Riders, do the series no good. You would have thought Sonic R, Sonic Shuffle and Shadow the Hedgehog would have convinced them to stop. Apparently not. But now it's time to say no more, to put all the spinoffs aside and focus on saving Sonic from doom... literally. On top of that, slow development down. We're now seeing Sonic games come out each year or two on major platforms. How many Mario games do we get each generation that are actually part of the Super Mario Bros. line? One, maybe two? Sega needs to follow suit. Make each experience memorable and magical, not crap you shoveled out the front door.

Return of the Sonic Swagger: Sonic’s attitude needs to go back to being the cocky little blue hedgehog he used to me. He still is to some extent… but the way it’s scripted, some of that personality has been lost. It’s absolutely important that Sonic be restored to this personality as soon as possible. Enough with the shitty puns and lame jokes. I can't tell you how sick I am of them. Let me have Sonic back the way I've always remembered him.

I'm sure some of you have comments on these, and hell, I'm open to hearing them. I can't please everyone... but then again, do I really have to? :p