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Sonic's got a new Netflix series coming... That's about it for my thoughts on that. Honestly, there's no point freaking out/getting excited until they actually show us anything. For example, I have heard rumours of a possible sequel to Batman: The Animated Series is in the works, but until they put something out I'll just take it as hearsay.... Besides, we already have a sequel and it's called Batman: Beyond.

Sticking with Sonic though, I couldn't help but notice a bit of 'shake up' has started happening with the blue blur as of late. After the release (and unfortunate failure) of Team Sonic Racing, things started to go awfully quiet over at Sega. Perhaps Sonic Forces bombing as hard as it did gave them a slight revelation at the state of the series these days?

If I maybe perfectly honest with you: The Sonic franchise is a complete fucking mess. I'm not talking about the games or the fans necessarily, but the general set-up and continuity is all over the place. The plotholes, the inconsistencies, characters who are important for one game then are relegated to background dressing (Silver the Hedgehog for example), sometimes Sonic's in a world full of humans but then he isn't, the idea there are TWO planets Sonic visits (that's just confusing since the games have given NO indication that's a thing), the constant gameplay additions that are removed after poor reviews, the general knee-jerk reaction to critical reception has them constantly flipflopping, and the generally feeling Sonic Team would rather be working on something else at this point.

Like I said: A complete fucking mess. Plus on the social-media side of things, I think people have gotten tired of the constant forced memes, viral videos, and the general pandering mixed with nostalgia Sonic's Twitter perpetuates in (especially when that Mighty No 9 tweet backfired on it.)

It's probably why we haven't seen or heard anything outside of the movie, the IDW comic series, or this upcoming Netflix show, because either Sega are officially done with this character (since Yakuza's the money maker now), or the character is in timeout until they can figure out exactly what to do with him in an era of gaming that's seemed to have outgrown him. Yes the likes of Mario or Crash Bandicoot are still popular but in the age of online shooters, phone app puzzle games, and of course the endless Fortnite clones, does the gaming industry really need Sonic the Hedgehog? Sadly, the answer seemes to be - No.

Then the news broke that Roger Craig Smith would be no longer voicing Sonic himself. I'll admit the news was a bit of a shock, but then the news was quickly followed by the head writers apparently getting the axe, and just recently Cindy Robinson (Amy's voice actress) got the axe too. If you're going with this train of thought, Sega, can I suggest the entire Sonic Team should be next on that chopping block? Under normal circumstances I wouldn't give it a second thought, but the fact these announcements are coming so close to each other, and the fact we've heard nothing in terms of new games outside of leaks and rumours does make you wonder.

What I speculate is happening here, is that Sega are having a massive shake up of the series to try and get it back on its feet. I think for awhile, Sega were just content to let Sonic Team make whatever they wanted since people were buying the games anyway and it became "the standard" Sonic games were known for. Just basic kids games with little thought or imagination, the same tired mechanics (and stolen ones from Nintendo and other companies) and nobody would ask for anything better. And then Sonic Mania happened and rewrote the rule book. Now, Mania IS the standard people want the series to be held to at this point. Multiple playable characters, branching paths in stages, no tiresome/unfunny cutscenes, and most importantly of all: Made by people who give a shit by making a game that had the time, love, and passion put into it to celebrate why people like this series to begin with.

So perhaps a full series reboot is coming and they're getting rid of the elements that didn't work, or it's a scorched Earth approach in a bid to bring this dead series back to life. Who can say at this point? Hopefully whatever they put out does pay off and we can start saying how good Sonic games are again. Or perhaps these are the warning signs that the party is over, and Yakuza's got the spotlight now. Plus the added bonus of owning Atlus, Sega can enjoy whatever success Persona brings in these days.

Either way - stay tuned.

Description
Sonic's got a new Netflix series coming... That's about it for my thoughts on that. Honestly, there's no point freaking out/getting excited until they actually show us anything. For example, I have heard rumours of a possible sequel to Batman: The Animated Series is in the works, but until they put something out I'll just take it as hearsay.... Besides, we already have a sequel and it's called Batman: Beyond.

Sticking with Sonic though, I couldn't help but notice a bit of 'shake up' has started happening with the blue blur as of late. After the release (and unfortunate failure) of Team Sonic Racing, things started to go awfully quiet over at Sega. Perhaps Sonic Forces bombing as hard as it did gave them a slight revelation at the state of the series these days?

If I maybe perfectly honest with you: The Sonic franchise is a complete fucking mess. I'm not talking about the games or the fans necessarily, but the general set-up and continuity is all over the place. The plotholes, the inconsistencies, characters who are important for one game then are relegated to background dressing (Silver the Hedgehog for example), sometimes Sonic's in a world full of humans but then he isn't, the idea there are TWO planets Sonic visits (that's just confusing since the games have given NO indication that's a thing), the constant gameplay additions that are removed after poor reviews, the general knee-jerk reaction to critical reception has them constantly flipflopping, and the generally feeling Sonic Team would rather be working on something else at this point.

Like I said: A complete fucking mess. Plus on the social-media side of things, I think people have gotten tired of the constant forced memes, viral videos, and the general pandering mixed with nostalgia Sonic's Twitter perpetuates in (especially when that Mighty No 9 tweet backfired on it.)

It's probably why we haven't seen or heard anything outside of the movie, the IDW comic series, or this upcoming Netflix show, because either Sega are officially done with this character (since Yakuza's the money maker now), or the character is in timeout until they can figure out exactly what to do with him in an era of gaming that's seemed to have outgrown him. Yes the likes of Mario or Crash Bandicoot are still popular but in the age of online shooters, phone app puzzle games, and of course the endless Fortnite clones, does the gaming industry really need Sonic the Hedgehog? Sadly, the answer seemes to be - No.

Then the news broke that Roger Craig Smith would be no longer voicing Sonic himself. I'll admit the news was a bit of a shock, but then the news was quickly followed by the head writers apparently getting the axe, and just recently Cindy Robinson (Amy's voice actress) got the axe too. If you're going with this train of thought, Sega, can I suggest the entire Sonic Team should be next on that chopping block? Under normal circumstances I wouldn't give it a second thought, but the fact these announcements are coming so close to each other, and the fact we've heard nothing in terms of new games outside of leaks and rumours does make you wonder.

What I speculate is happening here, is that Sega are having a massive shake up of the series to try and get it back on its feet. I think for awhile, Sega were just content to let Sonic Team make whatever they wanted since people were buying the games anyway and it became "the standard" Sonic games were known for. Just basic kids games with little thought or imagination, the same tired mechanics (and stolen ones from Nintendo and other companies) and nobody would ask for anything better. And then Sonic Mania happened and rewrote the rule book. Now, Mania IS the standard people want the series to be held to at this point. Multiple playable characters, branching paths in stages, no tiresome/unfunny cutscenes, and most importantly of all: Made by people who give a shit by making a game that had the time, love, and passion put into it to celebrate why people like this series to begin with.

So perhaps a full series reboot is coming and they're getting rid of the elements that didn't work, or it's a scorched Earth approach in a bid to bring this dead series back to life. Who can say at this point? Hopefully whatever they put out does pay off and we can start saying how good Sonic games are again. Or perhaps these are the warning signs that the party is over, and Yakuza's got the spotlight now. Plus the added bonus of owning Atlus, Sega can enjoy whatever success Persona brings in these days.

Either way - stay tuned.