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SEGA and its Saturn console were dealt a massive black eye in the mid-’90s . The console was an epic flop and betoken the outset of the final stage for the company as it would never regain its reputation or financial gains ever again - ultimately causing SEGA to exit the console table market in 2001 .
One of the heavy reasons for the Saturn ’s failure is that it did n’t have a flagshipSonic the Hedgehoggame . However , itwassupposed to have one . Known asSonic X - treme , the game would have been Sonic ’s first true adventure within a 3D world . However , due to mounting complications , the game was cancel and fade into obscurity .
It Wasn’t Made by Sonic Team
One of the first issuesSonic decade - tremefaced was that it was n’t in reality being made by the team that handle Sonic games . All of the master power players of Sonic Team ( the development team that make the Sonic games ) , include Yuji Naka , and Sonic ’s Almighty , Naoto Oshima , had moved on to a different project that they hope would revolutionize play and really make SEGA a formidable company during the diligence ’s 3D era .
The plot was calledNights into Dreams , and it ended up becomingone of the Saturn ’s best games . Sadly , this meant thatSonic X - tremewas leave in the hand of different people - all of whom had different visions of what the plot should be .
Sonic X-treme was Teased at E3
concord toOfficial Dreamcast Magazine , transonic X - tremewas actually teased at the 1996 E3 conventionality , and a playable demo was made available . The demo was a very early creation of the secret plan and had its flaws , but it was enough to get fans excited about the upcoming release .
It was also welcomed word for Saturn proprietor since by 1996 it had become vindicated the Saturn was a flop cabinet and was n’t receiving the support and tending it needed . For a brief moment , it seemed thatSonic XTC - trememight just save the Saturn and SEGA as a whole .
The Saturn Never Got a Proper Sonic Game
Despite being teased at E3,Sonic X - temenever ended up make it to the Saturn . SEGA throw together to releaseanythingSonic - bear on on the now - struggling console and ended up making two games .
The first wasSonic Jam , which was just a compiling of the four principal Genesis / Mega Drive game . The second wasSonic R , a racing biz that was universally panned thanks to its wonky controls and tiresome level invention . WithoutSonic X - treme , the Saturn was leave without a mascot and blockbuster plot .
It was Originally Meant for the 32X
As reported byThe Gamer , Sonic X - tremeemerged from the failed development of a game calledSonic Mars , which was design to be the blockbuster hit of theill - plump 32X console , which was really just a 32 - bit attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - on to the Genesis / Mega Drive cabinet . The biz ’s name stem from the fact that the 32X was developed under the codename " Project Mars , " alongside " Project Saturn , " which became the SEGA Saturn ( perTechSpot ) .
However , due to the sloppy launching of the 32X , poor sales , and the console ’s lack of graphical power , the squad was told to redesignSonic Marsfor the forthcoming Saturn instead , thus giving birthing to what was reckon to beSonic X - treme .
It was Supposed to Introduce a New Character
Sonic X - tremewas also supposed to let gamers play as Tails , Knuckles , and a new eccentric , Tiara Boobowski , who would have been the first playable female protagonist in theSonicfranchise . The history ideas forSonic X - tremeintended for Tiara to be the love interest of Sonic .
Also , her level would have a unique pattern , being toy as a 3D sidescrolling platformer , very exchangeable to the Saturn’sClockwork Knightgames . This was both a manner to sum multifariousness toSonic X - treme , while also serving as an homage to Sonic ’s original 16 - bite roots .
Sonic X-treme was Going to Have a Fish-Eye Lens
As noted byDestroid , and see in screenshots released throughout the years , Sonic ’s levels inSonic X - tremewere all set to be expose in an odd globular shape that player could splay and move to aid Sonic navigate his way , almost like a giant puzzler . To serve give players a better scene of the map , the level were also watch through an odd Pisces - eye lens of the eye .
For some who start the chance to find the playable demo , this was a unique and exciting new way to spiel Sonic . For others , however , it was seen as a nauseating and perplexing mess . deplorably , without ever get an official release , the public never got to see this alone - and controversial - new level design .
The Game’s Development was Disasterous
As the ' ninety progressed , SEGA became more and more of a disaster . The company was spread too lean , trying to endorse an endless raiment of console , and had n’t had a financial success since the Genesis / Mega Drive . This led to a lot of pressure and stress for staff .
It did n’t aid that SEGA of America and SEGA of Japan often sparred and hated each other . In an interview withSEGA-16 , Chris Senn , who work on theSonic Adam - tremeproject , revealed that this endless conflict not only stalledSonic X - treme ’s development , but also lead to grueling cram sitting , overworked faculty , and a plot with no clear vision or way forward .
Moving In…
According toIGN , the cramming sessions forSonic X - tremebecame so preposterous that Christina ( Chris ) Coffin really stop up moving into her office at the STI ( SEGA Technical Institute ) , even bringing her bed . Despite barely having a game at all , Coffin end up working 20 - hour days , hoping to somehow have theSonic decade - tremegame ready for SEGA ’s deadline which was now only a few month aside .
Sadly , casket became incredibly ill from being overwork and was n’t able to finish the project , thus formally pulling the plug onSonic X - treme .
It Paved the Way for Sonic Adventure
The absolute disaster ofSonix X - tremeand the monumental vociferation from fans that help oneself cause the Saturn ’s nonstarter all led SEGA to roll in the hay one out-and-out fact : transonic needed an epic game for their new Dreamcast console . The Dreamcast was SEGA ’s final endeavor at regaining its repute , but despite strong initial sales agreement , it ultimately drop off out to the PS2 and Microsoft ’s new Xbox .
However , at launch , the Dreamcast was a hit , mostly because of its flagship secret plan , Sonic Adventure -a fully 3D game with bright colour , not bad euphony , and numerous playable fibre . As stated byWired , It was everythingSonic X - tremewas imagine to be .
Sonic X-treme Lives On
Despite its riotous production and ultimate dying , transonic disco biscuit - tremehas become an absolute fascination for retro gaming lover . Sonic literally built SEGA ’s empire , so the fact that they completely desolate him for their next - gen console is almost unconvincing . This , combine with the soap opera - suitable play behind its production has turned the narration ofSonic X - tremeinto a sensational and captivating story that has live on prospicient retiring SEGA ’s console .
Sonic X - trememay be the most infamous narration in the blue porcupine ’s history but it ’s also prove to be the most interesting .
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