Dimps co-developed last year’s awesome Street Fighter 4, a game so good it practically reignited the fighting genre all by itself. Dimps is also the studio behind the swell Sonic Rush games on DS. Their hands-on experience with the character really shows in the leaked Sonic 4 footage, which looked appropriately hi-def and totally retro in the best possible way.
Sega is enjoying something of a renaissance currently, fueled by their partnerships with third-parties. Platinum Games is certainly the prime-mover in this stable of developers. Their Bayonetta is a certified hit, with over a million games sold worldwide and numerous critical accolades. But Platinum is not alone. Sumo Digital handled development duties on the soon-to-be-released Sega And Sonic All Stars Racing. Obsidian Entertainment is the team crafting spy-em-up Alpha Protocol. And UK developer Rebellion is responsible for the just released (but apparently not so good) Alien Vs Predator.
The days of Sega’s gloriously idiosyncratic first party developers - AM2, Smilebit, Amusement Vision, and more - are fading into distant memory. That Sonic Team seems to be following suit is, frankly, a little sad. But I’ll be the first to say that I’m more excited about Sega’s games line-up now than I have been in years. Since the death of the Dreamcast, maybe. How about you? Does Dimps involvement in Sonic 4 make you less interested in the game, or do you feel - like I do - that Sega is finally on the rise again?
Sonic The Hedgehog 4 is due for WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network, and an as yet unannounced platform this summer.
Source: CVG
