Endless Runner: Sonic The Hedgehog’s 30th Anniversary
THE FASTEST HERO IN VIDEOGAMES IS 30 YEARS OLD, AND HE'S SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN, WITH SERIES PRODUCES TAKASHI IIZUKA, WE LOOK AT SONIC FROM A VARITEY OF ANGLES TO FIND OUT WHY HIS CAREER HAS BEEN A MARATHON RATHER THAN A SPRINT
Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team explains the many reasons why Sega’s mascot has struck a chord with gamers for three whole decades
IIf videogame characters could attend their own award shows, which ones do you think would get the full A-list, red carpet treatment? It's a strange question, but if you indulge us and give it a little thought, you'll probably come to the conclusion that there aren't too many. Pac-Man would definitely be there, probably to collect a lifetime achievement award, and Mario wouldn't be far behind. Lara Croft would be the favourite of the paparazzi, and Pikachu would be there to give some of the most insightful interviews of all. Sonic The Hedgehog would certainly join all of them, too - and he'd almost certainly be the one making the evening news because of some attention-grabbing antics. Sonic was designed to steal the show from day one. Sega wanted a character to take its business to the next level and allow the Mega Drive to compete against the might of Mario, and that's exactly what it got. In those early days, Sonic's speed ensured that his game was in the spotlight. Sega of America's bold tactic of running mall tours to compare Sonic The Hedgehog and Super Mono World relied on Sonic's flashy nature, and it worked. When Sega needed to demonstrate the power of the Dreamcast, Sonic's dramatic escape from a rampaging killer whale did the job admirably.
But like many celebrities, Sonic has had his trials and tribulations over the years. Fans have been determined to stick by him, sometimes to the bafflement of those watching from the sidelines. In part, that's because the dark days of 2006 feel like half a lifetime ago - and as far as Sonic's concerned, they are - but it's also because Sonic games are unique. When you're in full flow, guiding Sonic as he leaps over obstacles and spins through enemies at a pace that you never thought possible at the start of the game, the sense of mastery you feel is second to none. It feels almost akin to a videogaming form of parkour, and fans live for those moments. When Sonic is at his best, he delivers exhilarating action like no other character can. Today, Takashi lizuka arguably knows Sonic better than anybody else, having been involved with the speedy superstar for the vast majority of the series to date. He started his career as a designer on Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, moved into a directorial role for the popular Sonic Adventure games, and today acts as the producer of the series and head of Sonic Team. We've asked him to explain a number of aspects of how he and his team approach the Sonic series, in order to uncover the philosophies and ideas that have shaped such an enduring part of videogaming -and indeed, pop culture in general.