In 1997, the Final Classic Sonic game for Sega was produced, Sonic R for the Sega Saturn. This game is often head up as one of the best Saturn games as it not only shows of what the Sega Saturn can do, but a number of things done were technically impossible for the Saturn and so with good tricks, the Liverpool, England, based team of Travellers Tales, were able to pull it off!
But there was another game planned. The problem is, we know little about it.. So let me try and fill you in on what is known and what is guessed and pieced together. This is the tale of Sonic's Last Adventure.. In fact, his First Adventure game.. this is Sonic Adventure!
Early Preview with Sonic R place holder Models
In 1997, Sega were starting work on their latest Sonic game. Unlike the last few that were done by outside contractors like Travellers Tales or Sega of America, this was done by Sega of Japan and would be their second Sonic Game for the Sega (the first being Sonic Jam, which is a good example of what might have been for some bits). At some stage early one, Sega decided to change this game from being on the Saturn, to their new Console, the Sega Dreamcast (Originally known under the code name of Project Dural/Katana). Once it was decided to change the game to the new system, Sega decided to have it show off features that no console could do before and so they came up with the villain for the game, Chaos. The Transparent water effect and internal structure, was completely impossible for any console BEFORE the Saturn. The Old style of doing water effect was to have every other pixel (Depending on how thick the water was meant to be) Blank and the others coloured. But now, you could have a pixel semi-transparent giving a better effect.
We all know how the Dreamcast Game turned out. It dashed the hopes of a new Sonic game for many fans, some still staying with the tiles to see just what they are doing, but when Sonic Adventure 2 came out, they too left the fold. But we aren't talking about this. We are talking about the Saturn version.
Since the Character of Chaos is so major to the Plot, the original storyline for SA, would have been a lot different. As said before, we aren't sure how far it got but it is believed that no production on the game itself had started until they transferred over to the new console. BUT their might have been some work done.
Saturn Style Sonic & Tails from SA Files
A couple of early Sonic Adventure Demo reels released to the public show things not quite in the game. The most famous, is a Dragon like Robot fighting Sonic & Tails as they are on the new version of the Tornado (While the plane is a bit different from it's original form, this version is meant to be the same until it is changed into it's Blue/Purple transforming form). This screen shot is often said to be a sign of the Original Saturn version.. But it's not. While the Dragon does appear like it could be rendered on the Saturn, this was from an early version of the Dreamcast game and via hacking, it is possible to fight this dragon in the final build.
The other notable release, is a clip of the Tornado Mk2 transforming but with Sega Saturn models for Sonic and Tails. While these models are Saturn, this was an early build of the Dreamcast version yet again, as the Models were used as stand-ins for the uncompleted New look characters.
Metal Dragon from SA Files
So.. what are we left with? well.. Nothing. All we know is that at some early point, Sonic Adventure was planned for the Saturn and that early on, they decided to change it to the Dreamcast. That's it. Would Sonic's look have changed? well, probably not. the new look was meant to show off how great the new consoles graphics were. Why they thought changing Sonic's eye colour, Spike length, fur colour, body structure etc, would do this, i don't know. Personally, it makes the Dreamcast look bad cause they needed to change the character so much to be able to render him.
Their are, of course, a couple of other 'Lost' Sonic Saturn games which got to a number of stages. Sonic X-treme is believed to be the game refereed to by one reporter as 'rivalling Mario 64', and a concept image of another Sonic game which never got into production at all is also known about.
Report written by Manic Man.
