Project Needlemouse Revealed – Sonic the Hedgehog 4!
Even though I didn’t own a single Sega system until the Dreamcast, I was a huge fan of Sonic growing up. I loved the Archie comic series and the cartoon (the later one that actually had a storyline). When I got the chance to play the games at friends’ houses, I drank them in. I mean, I’ve always had more of a preference for the Mario platformers, but the first few Sonic games (Sonic CD especially) were pretty darn cool.
I completely lost track of the series after playing through the so-so Sonic Adventure 2. I can’t even be trendy enough to hate on the more recent games – I didn’t even care enough to play them. Still, the mysterious Project Needlemouse piqued my interest.
As it turns out, hints of a Mega Man 9-style franchise reboot weren’t far off the mark. Sega revealed today that Needlemouse, now called Sonic the Hedgehog 4, is an episodic, download-only throwback to the early days of the series. The first episode, which will hit XBLA, PSN, and WiiWare this summer, picks up the storyline (what storyline there is) right after the end of Sonic & Knuckles. Sonic will run from left to right and take on robots with his spin dash, power sneakers, and a homing attack. Players on the Wii and PS3 will be able to control Sonic by tilting the Wii Remote and Sixaxis respectively, which could either make or break the game depending on how well the option is implemented.
Click past the cut for a trailer, and stay tuned for more details as we find them.
Interview with Sega’s Ken Balough
Gregory Gay - February 4th, 2010 - 
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Peanut on February 4, 2010 at 8:29 am
Amazing!! I reeeeeeeaally hope it doesn’t suck…… Sega have a lot of explaining to do already….
Andrew on February 4, 2010 at 8:41 am
In all fairness I loved Sonic Adventure 2 and the Advance series games are still some of my favorites. But Heroes was meh and everything after made me facepalm harder and harder yet. My face can’t take much more. I hope this will be good.
I have been saying they need a healthy back-to-basics 2-D platformer on the console a la Mario Bros. Wii. I thought unleashed would be that, but that was my goof. Finally they’ve done it but I didn’t expect them to go all the way back to the originals THIS far. I’m pleased. Very Pleased. But I sincerely hope it turns out good. My hopes are high (but I’ve been wrongly optimistic before).
Michelle on February 4, 2010 at 8:51 am
It’s certainly a step in the right direction, but why make Sonic 4 Episodic?
Edgar on February 4, 2010 at 9:39 am
@Michelle – so that releasing a new one every 3 months doesn’t bring the count to Sonic 15 so quickly
Shiro786 on February 4, 2010 at 10:21 am
Why does everyone like Sonic CD? It’s actually quite crap compared to Sonic 3 and Knuckles, for the Sega Genesis.
Sonic is back.
Ujn Hunter on February 4, 2010 at 11:05 am
Good God, let the ugly blue rodent die already! Episodic really?
videogamer3586 on February 4, 2010 at 12:20 pm
To tell the truth, Sonic Adventure 2 is the most fun I’ve ever had with a Sonic game. There was a lot of mystery and adventure in each level, and the Chaos were a neat distraction.
i_am_error on February 4, 2010 at 12:41 pm
I’ve never really cared about Sonic & co.
Though I saw it coming since its “Project Needlemouse” “mysterious” announcement, I’ve never expected it to be an episodic adventure. Bonks is coming back too (also episodic apparently) and we’ll have a new Mega Man soon… we already got an apparently pretty average Adventure Island, a delightful Mario… so now what? Yo Noïd is coming back I can assure you.
peshue on February 4, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I just hope these episodes aren’t painfully short. If they’re only a few levels each I’ll just wait and hope that they all come out on a compilation disc.
beez1717 on February 4, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I agree with PESHUE
If this turns out to be like that then we will know that sega didn’t want to make this game (as I suspect) and that they just did this as a half assed project designed to buy them time so they could force out another few levels. I want to see a full length sonic game as long as sonic 3 with sonic and knuckles attached to it. That was the best sonic had to date…
the.maverickk on February 4, 2010 at 8:38 pm
I just hope that the motion controls are an option for the WiiWare and PSN releases.
I`m sorry but I`d much prefer my Sonic without tilting… and that`s coming from someone who loves motion controls. I mean New Super Mario Bros. Wii doesn`t use motion controls to make you tilt in order to move left and right.
I have no problems if they were to make it like `shake the remote`to perform the homing attack. I mean shaking the remote at choice moments in New Super Mario Bros. Wii is fun and works well.
If the whole game is controlled with Motion Controls though they will be disadvantaged…. I mean what`s the point of going retro if there is no button pressing to move… which is necessary for 2D platformers where precision is key, especially in a Sonic game.
Overall though I`m thrilled about the news. It will be a great year for retro gamers if Cave Story and La-Mulana can make it out in the middle of the year.
grumpy on February 4, 2010 at 10:13 pm
i hope they add my favorite character, the lime green anthropomorphic whale on a skate board
Nick on February 4, 2010 at 10:33 pm
I really hope this is classic Sonic 2d gameplay with nice HD graphics. And that’s all. And I will buy it.
DK428 on February 4, 2010 at 11:46 pm
I really liked that preview! i hope Sega fixes the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise cause recently with the games they’ve been coming out with has ruined Sonic, can’t wait to play this game.
overtninja on February 5, 2010 at 3:32 am
wow, a 2d sonic game? that’s good, those were the only ones that were worth playing at all. i look forward to this.
Von Sohn on February 5, 2010 at 9:22 am
Just a detail: Look at how Sonic runs…in 3D the typical ultra-fast japanese leg motion is missing…Maybe the developers can’t make it look like in the old games? That’s a shame.
Block on February 5, 2010 at 12:34 pm
No playable Cream the Rabbit? Denied.
Paul on February 6, 2010 at 9:52 pm
This could be a chance to right so many wrongs it’s not even funny. If this takes off like the Megaman revival is currently, maybe Sega will get their heads out of their asses and make a true full 2d sequel on a next gen platform.
Cheeseball701 on February 12, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Yay for old-school.
Booh for episodic!
Better bring back trailing tails.
How is this different from Sonic Advance/Rush?
Reasonable Cheeseball: The Advance Series didn’t always get around to capturing that speediness of the Genesis titles. Also those bonus levels we’re freaking bonkers-hard. Also, it was a handheld.
Unreasonable Cheeseball: Blarghgagag this is a hype-machine! Episodes my butt! Who wants to play just 3 acts of Sonic? What happened to loose-all-your-continues-and-go-all-the-way-back-to-the-beginning gameplay. Blarghgagag!@
Reasonable Cheeseball: My goodness, calm yourself, Hyde. It’s only a game, get a grip!