If there’s one thing the entertainment industry can agree on, it’s that popular IPs are where all the money is right now. Over the last decade or so, Hollywood has been gradually releasing more and more reboots and remakes. FromStar TrektoITto evenWest Side Story, no popular IP is safe. For better, and for worse, the gaming industry is currently seeing that same trend rear its head, with Capcom going on aResident Evilremake spree and even recent games likeThe Last of Ushaving a go. In this current climate, any game has the potential to be remade - even a title likeSonic ‘06.
Sonic ‘06, technically namedSonic The Hedgehog, is widely considered to be one of the worst games ever made. Released back in 2006 for the PS3 and Xbox 360,Sonic ‘06attempted to push theSonicfranchise into uncharted territories. Designed to be a more realistic, mature take on the3DSonicformula popularized inSonic Adventure,Sonic ‘06ended up being a confused, buggy mess, with some disastrous voice acting and bizarre plot points to boot. But in this age where a remake can completely reinvent the original game,Sonic ‘06would be the perfect title to throw on the pile.
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A Full Remake Could Turn Sonic ‘06 Around
IfCapcom’sResident Evilremakeshave shown the industry anything, it’s to not be afraid of change. WhileResident Evil 2and3 Remakekeep the same DNA as their original counterparts, the gameplay and visual style have been completely overhauled, producing two distinctly different experiences. ForSonic ‘06, this would only be a positive thing.
To put it lightly,Sonic ‘06was a critical disaster. Though initial previews were positive, believing the game to be a return to roots for theSonicfranchise, eventual reviews ofSonic ‘06were devastating. Thanks to a plot that includesSonic the Hedgehog kissing a human girl, some of the corniest voice acting ever seen in a big-budget game, and technical issues galore,Sonic ‘06was high on 2006’s worst games of the year lists. Over time, that reception has only worsened, with the game’s most bizarre moments becoming widespread memes.
Sonic ‘06has never really shaken off its harsh reception, but a full remake might be able to do the impossible and turn that around. At its core,Sonic ‘06has some pretty interesting ideas, some of which are even being carried forward in theupcomingSonic Frontiers.Sonic ‘06was designed to be the first realistic take on the Blue Blur, with a more naturalistic art style. This game also has quite a bit of gameplay variety, with a few different modes being present. However, Sonic Team was split in half during development, with half being relocated to work onSonic and the Secret Rings. To make matters worse,Sonic ‘06was rushed to a Holiday release finish line.
Completely remakingSonic ‘06from the ground up could potentially turn the game around in the eyes of fans and restore the title’s original vision. The technical issues that plagued the original release could all be stamped out, the long loading times would be scrapped thanks to SSD technology, and the controls could be overhauled to make them more intuitive, much like modernSonicentries. Some plot changes could be made, and the voice acting could get another pass-over. If a remake could change each of these aspects, thenSonic ‘06could end up being one of the better 3DSonics out there.
Sonic ‘06is available on PS3 and Xbox 360.
