SEGA and its Saturn console were dealt a massive blow in the mid-’90s. The console was an epic flop and signaled the beginning of the end for the company as it would never regain its reputation or financial gains ever again – ultimately causing SEGA to exit the console market in 2001.
One of the biggest reasons for the Saturn’s failure is that it didn’t have a flagship Sonic the Hedgehog game. However, it was supposed to have one. Known as Sonic X-treme, the game would have been Sonic’s first true adventure within a 3D world. However, due to mounting complications, the game was canceled and faded into obscurity.
It Wasn’t Made by Sonic Team
One of the first issues Sonic X-treme faced was that it wasn’t actually being made by the team that handled Sonic games. All of the main power players of Sonic Team (the development team that creates the Sonic games), including Yuji Naka, and Sonic’s creator, Naoto Oshima, had moved on to a different project that they hoped would revolutionize gaming and really make SEGA a formidable company during the industry’s 3D era.
The game was called Nights into Dreams, and it ended up becoming one of the Saturn’s best games. Sadly, this meant that Sonic X-treme was left in the hands of different people – all of whom had different visions of what the game should be.
Sonic X-treme was Teased at E3
According to Official Dreamcast Magazine, Sonic X-treme was actually teased at the 1996 E3 convention, and a playable demo was made available. The demo was a very early creation of the game and had its flaws, but it was enough to get fans excited about the upcoming release.
It was also welcomed news for Saturn owners since by 1996 it had become clear the Saturn was a dud console and wasn’t receiving the support and attention it needed. For a brief moment, it seemed that Sonic X-treme might just save the Saturn and SEGA as a whole.
The Saturn Never Got a Proper Sonic Game
Despite being teased at E3, Sonic X-teme never ended up making it to the Saturn. SEGA scrambled to release anything Sonic-related on the now-struggling console and ended up making two games.
The first was Sonic Jam, which was just a compilation of the four main Genesis/Mega Drive games. The second was Sonic R, a racing game that was universally panned thanks to its wonky controls and dull level design. Without Sonic X-treme, the Saturn was left without a mascot and blockbuster game.
It was Originally Meant for the 32X
As reported by The Gamer, Sonic X-treme emerged from the failed development of a game called Sonic Mars, which was designed to be the blockbuster hit of the ill-fated 32X console, which was really just a 32-bit add-on to the Genesis/Mega Drive console. The game’s name stems from the fact that the 32X was developed under the codename “Project Mars,” alongside “Project Saturn,” which became the SEGA Saturn (per TechSpot).
However, due to the sloppy launch of the 32X, poor sales, and the console’s lack of graphical power, the team was told to redesign Sonic Mars for the upcoming Saturn instead, thus giving birth to what was supposed to be Sonic X-treme.
It was Supposed to Introduce a New Character
Sonic X-treme was also supposed to let gamers play as Tails, Knuckles, and a new character, Tiara Boobowski, who would have been the first playable female protagonist in the Sonic franchise. The story ideas for Sonic X-treme intended for Tiara to be the love interest of Sonic.
Also, her levels would have a unique design, being played as a 3D sidescrolling platformer, very similar to the Saturn’s Clockwork Knight games. This was both a way to add diversity to Sonic X-treme, while also serving as an homage to Sonic’s original 16-bit roots.
Sonic X-treme was Going to Have a Fish-Eye Lens
As noted by Destroid, and seen in screenshots released throughout the years, Sonic’s levels in Sonic X-treme were all set to be displayed in an odd spherical shape that players could rotate and move to help Sonic navigate his way, almost like a giant puzzle. To help give players a better view of the map, the levels were also viewed through an odd fish-eye lens.
For some who got the chance to witness the playable demo, this was a unique and exciting new way to play Sonic. For others, however, it was seen as a nauseating and confusing mess. Sadly, without ever getting an official release, the public never got to see this unique – and controversial – new level design.
The Game’s Development was Disasterous
As the ’90s progressed, SEGA became more and more of a disaster. The company was spread too thin, trying to support an endless array of consoles, and hadn’t had a financial success since the Genesis/Mega Drive. This led to a lot of pressure and stress for staff.
It didn’t help that SEGA of America and SEGA of Japan often sparred and hated each other. In an interview with SEGA-16, Chris Senn, who worked on the Sonic X-treme project, revealed that this endless conflict not only stalled Sonic X-treme‘s development, but also led to grueling cram sessions, overworked staff, and a game with no clear vision or path forward.
Moving In…
According to IGN, the cramming sessions for Sonic X-treme became so absurd that Christina (Chris) Coffin actually ended up moving into her office at the STI (SEGA Technical Institute), even bringing her bed. Despite barely having a game at all, Coffin ended up working 20-hour days, hoping to somehow have the Sonic X-treme game ready for SEGA’s deadline which was now only a few months away.
Sadly, Coffin became incredibly ill from being overworked and wasn’t able to finish the project, thus officially pulling the plug on Sonic X-treme.
It Paved the Way for Sonic Adventure
The absolute disaster of Sonix X-treme and the monumental outcry from fans that helped cause the Saturn’s failure all led SEGA to know one absolute fact: Sonic needed an epic game for their new Dreamcast console. The Dreamcast was SEGA’s final attempt at regaining its reputation, but despite strong initial sales, it ultimately lost out to the PS2 and Microsoft’s new Xbox.
However, at launch, the Dreamcast was a hit, largely because of its flagship game, Sonic Adventure – a fully 3D game with bright colors, great music, and numerous playable characters. As stated by Wired, It was everything Sonic X-treme was supposed to be.
Sonic X-treme Lives On
Despite its tumultuous production and ultimate demise, Sonic X-treme has become an absolute fascination for retro gaming fans. Sonic literally built SEGA’s empire, so the fact that they completely abandoned him for their next-gen console is almost unbelievable. This, combined with the soap opera-worthy drama behind its production has turned the story of Sonic X-treme into a sensational and captivating tale that has lived on long past SEGA’s consoles.
Sonic X-treme may be the most infamous tale in the blue hedgehog’s history but it’s also proved to be the most interesting.
