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Features writer and talented doodler Ashley Davis wrote an article a few weeks ago about Sonic X-Treme, the Saturn game that never was. An interesting 3D title with a fish-eye lens and spherical level design, the project was scrapped, probably because it looked like it would cause motion sickness and blindness to any kid who played it for too long.

A brand new video for a level known as "New Paths" has been leaked, and as a self-confessed Sonic fanboy, I consider it my duty to share. Quite how this game would have been anything more than a tech demo is beyond me. It seems really difficult to turn this into anything that functions as a playable videogame more than a mere chance to gawk at the graphics. Perhaps that's why it never got released. 

Still, I'd have taken this over 99% of all 3D Sonic games made since then.


Continue: More Sonic stories





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34 comments | showing # 1 to 34

Trowble's Avatar
Trowble at 12/17/2008 12:06
So this is the precursor to the horrible adventure aspects in Sonic games, huh? Or was it Sonic 3D Blast on the Gensis?
TheBigFeel's Avatar
TheBigFeel at 12/17/2008 12:09
I don't know, Jim. The final level in Battletoads (yes, I cheated) worked like this on one axis. I found that quite playable.

Yes; I'm aware that battletoads is not the pinnacle of playability.
gamadaya's Avatar
gamadaya at 12/17/2008 12:10
That actually looks really fun and creative. I don't know what you're talking about Jim. Then again, I'm as far from a Sonic fanboy as you can get. To me, Sonic games are just shitty movies that you have to watch while holding a button down and occasionally releasing it for a second, so any change seems like an improvement.
DaedHead8's Avatar
DaedHead8 at 12/17/2008 12:11
I still think this would have saved the Saturn. No really. It was as playable sonic game. They should have just used spherical level design as bonus stages and done everything else in 2d. It would have been a system seller.
RonBurgandy2010's Avatar
RonBurgandy2010 at 12/17/2008 12:11
Thanks, now I have a headache.
pendelton21's Avatar
pendelton21 at 12/17/2008 12:15
...what the fuck did I just watch?
Zen Albatross's Avatar
Zen Albatross at 12/17/2008 12:16
The fisheye lens perspectives seems like it might have been interesting, but the level design looks pretty piss-poor.

I can't say I'm personally shedding tears over this miscarriage.
Timstuff's Avatar
Timstuff at 12/17/2008 12:17
This game would have saved the Sega Saturn, and it was made by a group of only about 10 people with very little experience, who were constantly jumping through the flaming hoops that were Sega's corporate politics. It would have been the feel-good gaming success story of the decade, if only the game hadn't been canceled at the last minute.

Sega seriously should just get a group of guys together to finish the game, and release it on XBLA, PSN, and Wii's Virtual Console. This game is legendary in status, and I'm sure people would buy it.
nicojay's Avatar
nicojay at 12/17/2008 12:19
The Sonic Extreme levels look like they would have been quite a challenge to learn in order to be super sonic racing through. I feel the perspective would work better with an adventure game with the game mechanics and pacing of castlevania II: Simon's quest.
Don't ask why I thought of that game or music, just did!?
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 12/17/2008 12:22
damn this game looks a lot more fun then sonic unleashed :-) ( or any other sonic 3d game )
Fat Ryu's Avatar
Fat Ryu at 12/17/2008 12:24
I think it looks pretty good in a "good for the time" kind of way. But Jim, "Sony fanboy"? Is that a Freudian slip? Don't take that as a dig, I like your face.
flabzilla's Avatar
flabzilla at 12/17/2008 12:29
The name Sonic just depresses me now :(

Even though I like the Rush series I'd really like to see him make a come back on consoles but since everyone seems to be loving unleashed and the excuses the developers are making I just can't see that happen.
Unicorn's Avatar
Unicorn at 12/17/2008 13:01
@timstuff

from my research, it was actually made by the same team that brought you comix zone, sonic 2, sonic 3, sonic and knukckles, and sonic spinball... all are considered the cream of the crop for Genesis. i have little doubt in my mind this would've been an enjoyable game had it seen the light of day of polishing and finishing


all these videos are early development as they had to redo their projects a lot because of crazy bullshit.


either way, it doesn't exist and i'm sad the team no longer exists because of the failure of sonic x-treme. oh how i'd love a new HD Comix Zone.
taterchimp's Avatar
taterchimp at 12/17/2008 13:17
Gave me XTREME motion sickness
Xbudz's Avatar
Xbudz at 12/17/2008 13:43
Hey every, just to let you know- this game, Sonic X-treme for the Sega Saturn was leaked onto the Internets and there is a .torrent to be found.

Google it!
GameraTheGreat's Avatar
GameraTheGreat at 12/17/2008 13:56
Ohhhh Saturn! How they still hate thee!!! If only they knew you produced nearly identical ports of EVERY major arcade 2d fighter of the 90's....i know tho' and i still sing your praise....Cheaper than a Neo-Geo and more titles too! Woo-Hoo!
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 12/17/2008 14:05
It looks awesome as always, but I'm not sure how the player is supposed to know where to go....
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar
DinnertimeNinja at 12/17/2008 14:18
How would this game have "saved" the Saturn? It would have had the crappy control issue that have plagued Sonic Games since the after the 16 bit era magnified TENFOLD.

From that video it is obvious why the game wasn't made. It would have been horrible.
RaiRed's Avatar
RaiRed at 12/17/2008 14:29
This looks like a scene from my nightmares...
Dan CiTi's Avatar
Dan CiTi at 12/17/2008 14:33
Trippy shit man. Why is that hedgehog metallic blue?
Imako's Avatar
Imako at 12/17/2008 15:34
That would be pretty interesting if they just pulled the camera back more.
Overcow's Avatar
Overcow at 12/17/2008 15:36
"and as a self-confessed Sony fanboy"

Eum...
ScottyG's Avatar
ScottyG at 12/17/2008 15:44
Looks like Bug.
Orionsaint's Avatar
Orionsaint at 12/17/2008 15:48
Yes of course the soundtrack is better than any Sonic soundtrack today.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 12/17/2008 15:56
I believe I made the greatest typo ever. Fixing though. :-)
Ben PerLee's Avatar
Ben PerLee at 12/17/2008 15:58
that looks awful. at least the music was good.
Batthink's Avatar
Batthink at 12/17/2008 16:08
I actually liked the look of that. Not the colours, but the viewpoint and motion of it.
Puppy Licks's Avatar
Puppy Licks at 12/17/2008 16:09
Did somebody say Xtreeeeeeeme?!
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 12/17/2008 16:20
I think that looks really cool actually. I probably would have played a 3D Sonic and actually liked it.
atastysammich's Avatar
atastysammich at 12/17/2008 17:11
Still, I'd have taken this over 99% of all 3D Sonic games made since then.

Does that include Sonic R? Because I think you may desperately need to reach out for the sunshine, forget about the rain. Just think about the good times, and they will come back again.
Artemus's Avatar
Artemus at 12/17/2008 21:32
I think it looked pretty cool...
For what the game was trying to accomplish, back in the day.
Too bad this work-in-progress never saw the light of day.
Damn.
Wonder if Sonic will ever be given the title he deserves?
Cube's Avatar
Cube at 12/18/2008 11:16
God the saturn was horrible, it was even worse designed machine than the n64 with a bunch of useless cpu sucktaped on it. Suck worse than the n64 is not easy to do either.

This reminds me of bug and damn bug sucked. along with everything else at saturn launch I am so happy this never happend
AltDelete's Avatar
AltDelete at 12/18/2008 15:21
Big fan of the BG music. So 90's cyberpunk.

God I'm old.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 12/18/2008 17:30
This could have been something great. I like the layout of this level a lot.
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