A Sonic 06 Remake Would Be a Double-Edged Sword

2006’s Sonic the Hedgehog, commonly referred to as simply Sonic ’06, is one of the most interesting chapters in the series’ long-running history. Though widely considered a low point in the franchise by both fans and critics alike, Sonic Team Producer Kazuyuki Hoshino has made it clear that a Sonic ’06 remake is of interest to him in the past, which could one day result in the developer revisiting the controversial entry.

Such a prospect, were it ever to be realized, is likely to elicit a wide range of reactions from those familiar with the original Sonic ’06. The game suffered from myriad issues, not the least of which being abysmal performance, legions of glitches, and poor controls. A bizarre story and bland art direction were also common points of criticism upon the game’s release, and unlike other games that performed poorly upon launch, time has not managed to improve Sonic ’06‘s reputation much, if at all; while many players can recognize the shortcomings of, say, Sonic Adventure 2, and still appreciate it for what it is, the same can’t be said for Sonic ’06. These factors make the 2006 flop a strong candidate for a remake, but such a remake would have a heavy weight to bear.

Why a Sonic ’06 Remake Would Walk a Thin Line Between Success and Failure

A Remake Could Redeem Sonic ’06

Though it’s not exactly common—remake candidates tend to be successful classic games rather than flops—the trend of revisiting games could theoretically lead to older, less successful titles realizing their full potential. This is precisely what could happen with a remake of Sonic ’06: Team Sonic could take another crack at this failed, but admittedly ambitious, project.

To the game’s credit, it does take some big swings. Team Sonic clearly intended Sonic ’06 to be the next big step for 3D Sonic following the success of the Sonic Adventure games, which introduced ideas like a more cinematic story, diverse side activities, and hub areas, clearly conveying some Super Mario 64 influences. However, Sonic ‘06 stumbles with its attempts at a darker tone, lack of polish, and, most importantly, 3D platforming fundamentals, which are all elements that a remake could elevate.

A Sonic ‘06 Remake Would Need To Be Amazing

Sonic ‘06 has room for improvement, clearly, so a remake couldn’t simply move the needle from “terrible” to “okay.” No, Team Sonic would likely be expected to fully capitalize on all the missed opportunities of the original game, and rightfully so. After years of lessons with not just Sonic ‘06, but other lackluster entries in the franchise, and with the advancements made in gaming technology in the past two decades, the developer wouldn’t have much of an excuse to drop the ball the second time around. Moreover, Sonic ‘06’s poor reputation tends to precede it, with even those who haven’t played the game having heard of its shortcomings. Since the original’s legacy is usually at the center of marketing for most remakes, Team Sonic and SEGA would have to thoroughly convince audiences that this revitalization is a transformative improvement.

In other words, the success of such a game could hinge on how vast the gulf of quality is between it and its progenitor. And this could very well turn out to be the case, but it may be a hard-won battle. A reprisal of Sonic ‘06 isn’t exactly in high demand, so it’ll take more than a nice facelift for this potential project to break through.

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Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog is a prolific game franchise that started life on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Covering both 2D and 3D iterations through the generations, Sonic is known for speedy movements and interesting platforming mechanics.