Sonic X-treme [Saturn - Proto / Cancelled]

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by Sega Master In: SEGA| saturn

10 Apr 2008

sonicxtremelogo.jpg

Sonic X-treme is an unreleased platform game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It started as a project for a new Sonic game, developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) for the Mega Drive / Genesis but soon moved to the Sega 32X (Sonic Mars) and eventually to the Sega Saturn. After many problems and a long hiatus of development hell, it was finally dropped in 1997.

X-treme for the Saturn was just the “final” project of a long list of Sonic prototypes, created to find the best way to develope a new 3D Sonic for the new SEGA console. The X-treme project can be seen as 2 different games in one as it was initially developed separately by two teams in parallel. The first team was in charge of developing the main game engine, while the second team was creating the separate “boss level” portions of the game that was suggested to use a different viewpoint from the main game.

From a code standpoint the boss engine and main game were basically two games developing at the same time that shared some global memory to remember game state and use a process called executable chaining to switch from the main game to boss levels and back. The boss level engine began to evolve into a game of its own using this new source of inspiration, trying to stay closer to its 2D roots by adopting a 3D but side-scrolling viewpoint.

In March 1996, Sega of Japan representatives went over to Sega Technical Institute’s headquarters to verify the game’s progress. They were unimpressed at the progress made on the main game engine, but they were impressed by the boss engine and they requested the entire game be reworked on that engine instead.

By then, the team was running short on manpower, and the project all had fallen on the Sonic Xtreme Project Team to finish it up before the Christmas deadline. Coffin, who had been overworking non-stop to get this project out, came down with pneumonia. Since Coffin was leading the technology end and creating the engine, the loss caused the project to be indefinitely delayed and the studio director informed management that the team could not continue and the game would not be released in time for Christmas.

The project was officially cancelled. Sega of America decided to discontinue the game and switched to an alternative project: Sonic 3D Blast. [info from Wikipedia]

Images:

Some images from: Sonic Xtreme CompendiumSonic CultSegagaga Domain

Videos:

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Did you like this Unseen Game? Here are some related posts:

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  5. Sonic 2 (8Bit) [GG/MS - Beta]

14 Responses to Sonic X-treme [Saturn - Proto / Cancelled]

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Fausch

August 27th, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Interestingly enough, this was also supposed to be the first game using a fisheye camera, allowing for better sight around corners. An ex-developer, Chris Senn, is leading a fanbase project to finish it.

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Balls

September 24th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

Wow,That’s Sega Saturn graphics?!
That is so tits.

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Terra

January 1st, 2009 at 3:02 am

This would’ve been awesome!

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Jeff

February 6th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

Seriously, if this was released for the Saturn it probably wouldve saved Sega’s ass

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person

April 5th, 2009 at 2:31 am

hmmm…………this was Sega’s first attempt of three to bring a 3d sonic platformer to Saturn. I notice you guys don’t know about the other two

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monokoma

April 6th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

Hi Matt3! Which other 3D Sonic games were planned for the saturn before Xtreme? :O

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person

April 6th, 2009 at 10:41 pm

well there was Sonic Saturn that was to be released in 1997 and featured a pool bonus round. However shortly after Sonic Xtreme bit the dust so did Sonic Saturn. Then Sonic Adventure was planned for Saturn and Sonic Jam’s 3d world was a tech demo for it!

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monokoma

April 7th, 2009 at 1:22 pm

Thanks Matt3! Now i remember about the various Sonic 3D projects, we’ll try to update this page with more infos and screens ASAP :)

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person

April 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am

Thanks! if you need help finding screenshots of Sonic Saturn I know that there are plenty on Sonic Retro

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monokoma

April 12th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

I’ll check Sonic Retro too, i have some already but i just need to find the time to organize them and write a better description ;O

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Shadowkirby

June 9th, 2009 at 6:52 am

MAN sonic X-treme theme song ROCKS man I think this song is so amazing,they should use it on a sonic game :D

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Celine

December 20th, 2009 at 3:12 pm

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monokoma

December 20th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Thanks Celine :) i think we still miss many screens from Xtreme :P

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Emma

December 25th, 2009 at 12:26 am

Why was this job placed on Sega of America? That’s what has always confused me.

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