Sonic 2 HD

[Afrobean]

http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showforum=42

Long story short: rebuilding Sonic the Hedghog 2 of Genesis fame from the ground up using original high res graphics built from the original low res sprites. They're also talking about a level creation system whereby levels not originally appearing in Sonic 2 could be created.

To be honest, I'm kind of hoping they'll generate graphics for other characters of the Sonic universe that appeared in other Genesis era games. Rather than making it "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" with high res graphics, make it a definitive Genesis era kit of all the great Sonic platformers (imagine a game engine that could play all levels from Sonic 1 to Sonic and Knuckles). I bet they could even adapt much of the recent 2D handheld stuff, although I suppose if they did, it'd probably be built on generic artwork rather than recreated artwork like the Sonic 2 stuff is. And really, it's not just Sonic 2 as-is, because they're adding in functionality for Knuckles right from the beginning, as well as potentially having online multiplayer and built-in additional levels. Maybe just the ability to swap in characters would be good too; that way a person could create a sprite set for Sonic (and potentially other base characters...) based on the more modern incarnations. I think they might even be considering doubling the frame rate and creating inbetweens for smoother animation.

Anyway, I've been trying to keep a pulse on this, and they released the tech demo yesterday. I checked it out and it looks really promising. I was a little worried that they were plowing through all the necessary artwork and they wouldn't have the programming to back it up, but they really delivered.

I took a few screens from the demo for anyone not wanting to bother downloading a demo with nothing really to play. They're not levels or anything, just a screen where you can move around and test out the physics. Knuckles is also available in the demo (although not in high res because his artwork isn't done yet), and his gliding and climbing abilities seem to be working flawlessly. Check out the 1x one first... you might not even be able to tell that it's running on new high res graphics, that's how true to the original it is in it's take on the graphics:
Title (they even animated Sonic popping up and throwing his thumb back like he did on the Genesis)
1x
2x
4x

I think I prefer the 2x one. More visibility of the world around you than the original, but still having a character of reasonable size/depth.

I just hope they can complete it without getting killed by Sega.

ps this is a community endeavor, so if you have skills with graphics, programming, or music, you might be able to help. Check out the forum.

pps im really glad i could get through this post without mentioning super street fighter 2 turbo hd remix OH ****

[SethSquall]

I don't like it much. It's taken a lot of the charm out of the game.

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by SethSquall

I don't like it much. It's taken a lot of the charm out of the game.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they take another page out of the Street Fighter playbook and make the classic low res graphics (and Genesis music tracks) an option as well.

Incidentally, how would you feel if Sega was doing something like this? What if their graphics used completely new art, and the character art was based on Sonic as he looks now? Would that be "taking a lot of charm" out of it? How do you feel about the aforementioned Street Fighter redux?

[SethSquall]

It just wouldn't feel like Sonic 2 to me. They used the new Sonic in games like Sonic Rush and I'm all for that. But changing the original seems pointless to me. Why not take those graphics and make a new game with it.

It will be Sonic 2 in every other aspect but something like that just makes the game feel different and it doesn't sit well with me.

[TheRapingDragon]

Who cares about graphics when you're flying 100 miles a second across the screen.

It's a nice attempt and all but I'll stick to playing what I know and love. Sure I have the "Sega Genesis Collection" for PS2 and it still didn't feel right playing Sonic.

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by SethSquall

It just wouldn't feel like Sonic 2 to me. They used the new Sonic in games like Sonic Rush and I'm all for that. But changing the original seems pointless to me. Why not take those graphics and make a new game with it.

That's basically what they're doing.

Except that the standard levels will be recreations of the levels from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Think of how Nintendo did Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green. They created a new engine with new graphics and new music, but they used that to rebuild the classic game from the ground up. And it was amazing. It gave them a world which was compatible with the current generation of games, allowed them to touch the nostalgia centers of so many fans' minds, and also let them breathe new features into their classic game.

Originally Posted by therapistdragon

Who cares about graphics when you're flying 100 miles a second across the screen.

Try playing a game from the 16 bit era or earlier on a 40+ inch TV some time. Try that and then tell me it wouldn't be nice to play the exact same game with higher fidelity.

[SethSquall]

Originally Posted by TheRapingDragon

Who cares about graphics when you're flying 100 miles a second across the screen.

It's a nice attempt and all but I'll stick to playing what I know and love. Sure I have the "Sega Genesis Collection" for PS2 and it still didn't feel right playing Sonic.

Read the thread and you might find out that I care.

Originally Posted by Afrobean

That's basically what they're doing.

Except that the standard levels will be recreations of the levels from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Think of how Nintendo did Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green. They created a new engine with new graphics and new music, but they used that to rebuild the classic game from the ground up. And it was amazing. It gave them a world which was compatible with the current generation of games, allowed them to touch the nostalgia centers of so many fans' minds, and also let them breathe new features into their classic game.


Try playing a game from the 16 bit era or earlier on a 40+ inch TV some time. Try that and then tell me it wouldn't be nice to play the exact same game with higher fidelity.

I thought they were just changing the graphics?

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by SethSquall

I thought they were just changing the graphics?

no...

http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=12056

The S2HD project is a Sonic Retro open community endeavour. Its purpose is
to remaster Sega's classic Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with high definition (HD)
graphics and music, whilst at the same time precisely preserving the original
gameplay (that continues to set quality standards to this day).

S2HD will not be limited only to presenting a beautiful graphical and musical
version of the original. New features that were not present in the original
will also be made available. Some examples are especially the online multiplayer
modes and extra levels.

Incidentally, I recently came across my Genesis and SNES that I had packed up. Should I hook them up to my 42 inch 1080p TV? I fear that my joyous memories will be shattered when I realize how terrible the quality of graphics really were.

[TheRapingDragon]

Read the thread and you might find out that I care.

My statement was intended as my own opinion, not an evaluation on how people should subjectively view something.

Try playing a game from the 16 bit era or earlier on a 40+ inch TV some time. Try that and then tell me it wouldn't be nice to play the exact same game with higher fidelity.

I have. As I said I own the PS2 "Sega Genesis Collection." It includes Sonic and Sonic 2. I've played it on my TV (which as I've shown in pictures is 40+ inches). I never really saw much problem, but again I don't care too much about graphics. The only problem I had was that it didn't feel natural playing on something other than the Genesis.

[Professor Raine]

Oh, the Sonic Hacking community, what thee has done in my absence rocketh.


btw, it will rock. These guys know what they're doing. And a stage editor for the stages + the old builds of Casino Palace, Wood & Hidden Palace Zone will be awesome. I just hope the checkerboard patterns will remain. :3

[Afrobean]

Yeah, I spent a large portion of my morning looking around at the scrapped levels and I was like "well those will have to be bonus levels".

And not sure what you mean by "checkerboard" patterns, but they're not changing any graphical elements. They're only reading in detail where that detail wouldn't have been possible thanks to pixel limitations. Even things that make no sense are remaining as they are, like the tiles for the ground in Emerald Hill Zone. They're not going "wtf this pattern here makes no sense, let's throw it out and do a realistic ground texture here", they're recreating the pattern in with high definition.

ps someone did a youtube of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ1LLLJEu54 ... Not at all impressive if you don't take notice of the fact that the graphics used are at 4x their original resolution.

[SethSquall]

Oh right. I'll always prefer the original by a great deal. But this is definitely interesting. I hope they don't spoil anything.

[Relambrien]

Another good community project is Sonic 1 Megamix, a completely new game based off of the original Sonic 1. All brand new levels (though the originals can still be played), four additional characters (Shadow, Mighty, Tails, Knuckles), and lots of new controls. They even added in Super Sonic/Shadow/Tails, etc.

Remember the Light Dash and homing attack from the 3D games? Yeah, in Megamix. Elemental shields are back, too.

You can find it on the same site Afro linked to in the OP. Unfortunately drama sort of tore the group making it apart, but at v4.0 it's still a wonderful thing to play.

[travman301]

Originally Posted by Relambrien

Another good community project is Sonic 1 Megamix, a completely new game based off of the original Sonic 1. All brand new levels (though the originals can still be played), four additional characters (Shadow, Mighty, Tails, Knuckles), and lots of new controls. They even added in Super Sonic/Shadow/Tails, etc.

Remember the Light Dash and homing attack from the 3D games? Yeah, in Megamix. Elemental shields are back, too.

You can find it on the same site Afro linked to in the OP. Unfortunately drama sort of tore the group making it apart, but at v4.0 it's still a wonderful thing to play.

This sounds amazing. I've been playing my Sonic Mega Collection a lot lately, and that sounds like it would be fun.

[Starshot]

Originally Posted by Professor Raine

Oh, the Sonic Hacking community, what thee has done in my absence rocketh.

More like saxman dropping off the face of the ****ing planet and patchuka ****ing fourteen year old.

[Zageron]

I don't really like the new animation style of most graphics today.
Unrealistic fantasy games need to keep the less Cartoony look to them.
Take for example RO and ROII.
I prefer RO WAY MORE than ROII.

[NFD]

Any systems named yet?

[Kenzya]

it's an unofficial fan project with a tech demo on the pc what do you think

[Afrobean]

Vaguely justified semi-bump~. Another tech demo released. This release includes... loops and ****. More bugs than the first, even I came across 2 on my own. They're saying these bugs are also present in the original Genesis engine though, so lolz. Can't wait to see if they go the "omfg must include things about the original that sucked and make no sense" or they go ahead and take care of weird bugs that plagued the original. There is a video posted in the first post of that thread, for anyone who doesn't feel like downloading the exe but still wants to see. Knuckles is still Genesis-style, but they've got most of the EHZ graphics HD'd. They also included more than a few music tracks with this, even for things that aren't put to use in the demo, so that's pretty cool.