Yuji Naka, the mastermind behind Sonic the Hedgehog, recently participated in an interview with Japanese gaming publication Famitsu to talk about the origins of the spiky blue hedgehog. Naka revealed that he actually presented in front of legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto and pitched an action based title that involved both characters. Sadly this idea really never led anywhere. Here’s what he had to say to Famitsu.
“Actually, I wanted Mario [and Sonic] to appear together, so one time I went to give Miyamoto-san a presentation on how I want to create an action game which is co-starred by Mario and Sonic. It was in the GameCube days, and I took around four planners with me. It is a pity that the discussion was ‘clearly it isn’t necessary for Mario and Sonic to co-star in an action [game]’ and it didn’t become a reality, but SEGA was able to get the license for the Olympics just at that time, so in order to make the best use of the license, companion characters appeared together. A little later Sonic appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, this too came into reality because I requested from Sakurai-san, ‘I want Sonic to appear [in Smash Bros.]’. The Olympics is a bit different from my wish, but I think it’s a good thing that children around the world are happy about them co-starring. But someday I want to realize an action [game] together with Mario. I think I’m going to give another presentation so that Takashi [Iizuka] finds the necessity [of a Mario & Sonic action game] (laughs).
- Yuji Naka
“I also agree. Previously they were considered rivals, but when I saw them co-starring, I honestly thought that Nintendo acknowledged Sonic.”
- Original Sonic designer Naoto Ohshima
Thanks, paidenthusiast
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This again proves that it’s time for a fresh generation of people to take over control at Nintendo. Just as proven with the new Zelda game, a young team of people gets creative control and we get a great game that is updated to the current game time we live in.
Miyamoto hasn’t shown us much greatness after 2002 things started to go wrong during the gamecube era :
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Miyamoto
Wow, I actually agree to that shit you said. Especially Miyamoto’s old thinking ideas. No, we did not like Star Fox to have HD graphics and horrible controllers
For some reason, I can’t help but agree. I had some excellent nostalgia on the N64 with Mario Tennis and Super Mario 64. The Gamecube didn’t really recapture those memories. Good thing I was introduced to Sonic on that system (outside of the systems my cousin had that I didn’t).
But I don’t know if BotW is a good example, since that game is DRASTICALLY different from past 3D Zelda titles (OOT, MM, WW, TP, and SS).
Drastically different is exactly what Nintendo games need cause most are still exactly the same as 20 years ago. Because of this they don’t fit the current game era we live in. Metroid Prime was a good upgrade and so was Mario Galaxy and Mario 3d World, Donkey Kong Country and games like Kirby,Yoshi, Starfox are a joke though and than theres all the other franchises that they havent even touched in ages.
Miyamoto was amazing in the 80’s and 90’s. It’s too bad his current ideas actually hinder the progress of games nowadays.
The Gamecube era was AWESOME!
FUCK YEAH!!!!
good, this needs to happen already, I had a dream about making a game like this…
I actually don’t want this to happen or at least not yet. Sonic must first become a good series again on its own first. Mario can’t help him every time. Although Sonic Mania does look good thought.
Sonic only had 3 bad games. So I think Sonic is good for a Mario and Sonic Adventure.
Damn, Miyamoto rejected my dream platformer game, I’ve always wanted a true Mario and Sonic crossover.
Everything Sonic touches turns to garbage. Keep that reject as far away from good games as possible.
I think it’s the other way around. Mario is getting less and less quality.
Mario and Sonic in an action or platforming game together would be the greatest thing in the world to me!
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That’s a great idea, I’ve been saying this for years now MAKE IT HAPPEN NINTENDO! let’s just hope the poison which is modern day Sonic doesn’t contaminate a Mario game
…
Okay, first off: no!
Second, Mario and Sonic had their war in the 16 Bit era. Who won that by the way?
Third: sonic is crap now and has been a shell of itself since SA1 and 2. Some think even before that after 3. I say SA1 and 2. They had some good moments (colors, Generations) and I appreciate sonic. But anything being made by the sonic team along with someone like Mario is scary. And Mario and sonic at a fucking games event on the Wii and Wii U doesn’t count.
SNAKE!!
…..
this is salt country…
I do not know of the Snake that you speak of. I only know if those horrible clones Zero had decided to make of me. Should I meet them, Venom Snake will destroy them, as I do not believe they should exist from me.
FINALLY! I’m sick of those rinse and repeat generic Olympic games! After two games of an unchanged roster (London and Sochi) and Rio making us think they were adding new characters to the roster, they crossed the line by making them guest characters, only playable in certain events.
Iizuka better not make the fool’s move and pass this up. Same goes for Sonic Mania on the 3DS (or any Nintendo platform for that matter).
It certainly couldn’t be a straight up platformer because the two are so different when it comes to physical movement.
It could work.. with like.. a swapping mechanic.. where when you get to something like a latter or vine, you swap to mario.
When you get to parts where you need speed to succeed(see what i did there?) you switch to Sonic.
It’s something that COULD work, if done just right.
The right story could work to.
Sonic can do everything that Mario can and then much more. It wouldn’t make sense to switch back to Mario for anything.
Last time I checked, isn’t the reason why we have the Olympics games in the first place because the developers couldn’t get the different platforming styles (Mario and Sonic’s) to mix? Maybe that’s why they’ve been sticking with the current idea since it’s easier to work with and sells well with casuals.
On one hand, it would be awesome to see Sonic appear in a major Mario game (like, Super Mario Galaxy 3, or Sunshine 2). But on the other hand, it would probably cause the game to have Sonic based levels, which I myself would hate. Since I’ve never been a fan of Sonic’s speed and gameplay.
Super Smash Bros. Action
Miyamoto strikes again!
The gameplay mechanics between the two are highly different. One is about breezing throughs levels quickly, and the other is more slow paced focusing more on powerups and abilities to continue on. A crossover would be amazing, but it would be difficult for such drastic different styles of gameplay to find a happy medium.
I honestly don’t mind the Olympics games, but it would be awesome to see them in a game that’s not a collection of minigames based on Olympic sports. (Besides Smash Bros)
It could be done in Sonic Adventure 2-style:
Mario Side: Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong
Sonic Side: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles
And don’t forget girl characters, or some people would whine there’s no girl selection.
“clearly it isn’t necessary for Mario and Sonic to co-star in an action [game]’” Clearly this was Miyamoto’s words. My god. Even in 2002, this man was showing signs that he had to go & let younger guys take over!