Following the news of Dimps working on retro revival game Sonic the Hedgehog 4 it has now come to light that the level designer who worked on Sonic 3 & Knuckles is also working on Sonic 4.
The revelation was made by SEGA of America community staff member Ruby Eclipse at the SEGA forums after fans cried out to them for the information.
Ruby Eclipse made the following statement :
Hi everyone,
After a listing on the official Xbox marketplace went up earlier this week, a lot of you have been asking us about who’s developing Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I. Some of you even called me out specifically asking for an answer – and today, I’m happy to say that we can provide you with the details you want.
So, is it just Dimps? Just Sonic Team? The answer is a bit of both:
Yes, Dimps is working on the game. But there’s actually more to it than just that: at the same time, we also have members of Sonic Team, including the original senior level designer from Sonic 3 & Knuckles on the SEGA Genesis working alongside them. It is most definitely a partnership, and the result of this teamwork is something many of us are excited for.
So, as requested – there you have it!
This combination of developers could bring a bright future for the game, Sonic Team gave us the classic Sonic games while Dimps have brought us the well received Sonic Advance and Sonic Rush titles.
How do you feel about this news? Let us know in the comments.
Source: SEGA forums via Destructoid
Sounds cool but I just hope the guy hasn’t lost his touch; it can happen.
Before anyone says it, yes I know we’re a bit late to the party on the Sonic 3 level designer part of the news :p
We did cover the Dimps part before though –
http://www.sonicstadium.org/news/dimps-working-on-sonic-4
@ProjectZuel
Me too, lets hope the designer brings some more goodness to the series.
Wasn’t that Hirokazu Yasuhara?
the question is what he is doing? is he a lvl designer or maybe the new boss of sonic team.
either way that’s awesome news
It could be this guy:
http://info.sonicretro.org/Takashi_Iizuka
This is not good news
Takashi Iizuka and Hisayoshi Yoshida were the senior designers of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
I’ll give you a hint – Yoshida doesn’t work at Sonic Team anymore.
@BudokaZ
Why isn’t this good news? Looks ike he’s done level design for games that all have great level design.
Wow, I love the level designs in Sonic 3 & Knuckles. This is awesome news.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAA!!!!!
Sounds like Sega are getting the right idea with this game. A bit of old, mixed in with a bit of new.
Brilliant news, in my opinion… ’cause I regard SONIC 3 & KNUCKLES to be perhaps the greatest Sonic the Hedgehog game (and indeed the greatest platform game) of all time. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 is an eternal classic, but the length and complexity of the sequel, in however many parts it arrived, remains unbeatable. If even the same cleaning lady from the Sonic Team office is working with SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 4 – EPISODE ONE, then I’m grinning already!
thats AWESOME! 🙂
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
one word…
BOOYEAH!
Awesome. Sonic & Knuckles was my favorite game for the Genesis as a kid. This guy’s presence on the design team, along with the four-episode format, gives me hope that this game could be even longer and more awesome than Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Please, SEGA, don’t let me down!
Sounds cool!!