Graphics looks amazing. Like that final level to get to Bowser in Galaxy, having an immense visual field is highly immersive and awe-inspiring. If it is like Galaxy games, which it looks like as Lush wrote, I expect a lot of messing around with perspective changes (sorta already happened with Sonic Rush where Sonic could shoot up into the top screen). Thankfully I won't be bored to death with slow movement speed. And look at sexy falling log platforms (finally good 2D design of Super Mario Bros.). Don't add any boring ass conveyor gravity arrow belts please, Sega.

I don't like that the new move lets you run up walls instead of having jumping used to reach the higher step. They could have made it like DK: Jungle Beat where you jump and slip over the corner onto the top of the step. Wish the stand up from edge grab was a quick snap like Super Mario Sunshine's. The Prince of Persia wall running is neat, but I'm not sure how well Sega can use that ability... Sega is having a lot of fun with the trail Sonic leaves behind (dust, blue blurs, and air stream trails).

Looks like Temple Runner 2 (cell phone game) level design if branching paths are allowed at high speeds. Did not see any stupid doodads to collect or any helper characters. Instead of watching mini-movie clips of Mario flying while you put the controller down for 4 seconds before regaining control (unless you think collecting starbits is control. ha), we get awesome springs to bounce off of and control Sonic mid-air before sticking a landing.

Boss designs look okay to ugly (red baddy). The bright pastel look is quite pleasant on them. They've got that 21st century cartoon look. The classic enemy designs look marvelous of course.

When this game comes out it will be better than Galaxy 1 and 2 -- which is an easy accomplishment -- and will make people question why their beloved "best platformers everzz, bro" games were so easily toppled.

But enough with hating on Galaxy games, I hope to see a revival of platforming / running genre (like Mirror's Edge) for Wii U, XBOX One, and PS4. Seeing this game makes me optimistic about the Wii U 3D Mario. (sidenote: I really want to play some Crash Bandicoot right now.)

From several members on Sonic Stadium.

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When the Deadly Six threaten to destroy his world, Sonic's new moves and power-ups are the only way to defeat them before it's too late! In his latest plot to defeat Sonic and rule the world, Dr. Eggman has harnessed the power of six menacing creatures known as the Deadly Six. However, when the Deadly Six rise up against their new master, Sonic must unite with his arch nemesis Eggman and explore the mystical Lost Hex in order to take them on head-to-head. Use Sonic's amazing new moves and incredible Color Powers to speed across a variety of unique terrains, racing inside, outside and upside down in every level. NEW MOVES Sonic moves like never before. Vault over obstacles, free run up and along walls, and sky dive between islands at lightning speed. Plus the Spin Dash is back! COLOR POWERS New and improved Color Powers. Sonic can now fly through the air, tear up levels and explode into enemies. He's more powerful than ever! NEW WORLD Speed through a variety of exhilarating levels. Explore massive mind-bending courses, vast underground tunnels and colossal structures in the sky as you run inside, outside and upside down. BOSS BATTLES Save the world one fight at a time. Take on each of the devious Deadly Six in dynamic boss battles which test all of Sonic's moves and power-ups. MULTIPLAYER Race friends in high speed multiplayer races. Take them down across a range of ultra-competitive levels and modes - it's the ultimate supersonic showdown! Wii U EXCLUSIVE FEATURES: Wield the Wii U GamePad to execute exclusive Color Powers – tilt, touch, aim and more. Someone wants to watch TV? No problem! Play the full game using only the Wii U GamePad screen. Share and charge up items by sending them into the Miiverse to share with players around the world. Play together. Have a friend pilot radio controlled gadgets to help Sonic by destroying enemies and obstacles. Race against a friend as you play on the Wii U GamePad screen and they play on the TV.

-IGN Preview-

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With Sonic: Lost World, the Sonic Team is taking that design concept to the next step, blending 3D and 2D mechanics in abstract levels that more than resemble another Nintendo exclusive – Super Mario Galaxy. Derivative gameplay is sometimes frowned upon in this industry, but in the case of Lost World, this is more than welcome, and more than necessary. The development team has now been freed to think of gameplay first and worldly concepts second, and that can only mean good things for the final product. ... “We wanted to create an all-new design for 3D Sonic games with Sonic: Lost World,” producer Takashi Iizuka told me via e-mail. “Ever since the first day of development, we were focused on creating new and unique levels to best fit this new style.” ... As mentioned, Sonic Team’s greatest challenge was maintaining a sense of speed for the series while finding controls that made sense. The result is now that, by default, Sonic doesn’t burst off with a tilt of the analog stick. He walks – until you use one of the GamePad’s triggers to engage his running speed. This too is actually not full speed. Holding down the second trigger will pull Sonic into a ball, giving him access to his full momentum, which Iizuka likened to the ‘Boost speed’ from previous titles. By creating a tiered structure to movement, Sonic Team is hoping players will be able to navigate the wide range of level designs, exploring and running as necessary. ... Of course, there’s also the small matter of Lost World being a Wii U (and 3DS) exclusive. On Wii U, the GamePad is specifically used to activate various Whisp-based “Color Powers,” which feature touch-based controls and are mostly used to gain access to side paths and areas. The GamePad will also play a role in ‘Support Mode,’ which allows one player to use Wii U’s tablet to assist a second player who is controlling Sonic with a Wii remote and Nunchuck. Speaking of playing as Sonic, while the iconic hedgehog is the only character players will directly control, friends such as Tails, Knuckles and Amy will make appearances in the story.

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Confirmed via IGN article: (1)Producer is Takashi Iizuka (2)"some stages focusing on slower speeds with more platforming, and others pushing players to run as fast as possible" (3)Parkour system where Sonic can opt to keep running even if he hit's an obstacle. (4)"The GamePad will also play a role in ‘Support Mode,’ which allows one player to use Wii U’s tablet to assist a second player who is controlling Sonic with a Wii remote and Nunchuck." (5)Tails, Knuckles and Amy will make non-playable appearances. Eggman is back as well (6)Rescuing Flickies and gathering Red Star rings will unlock content, or open up gold cannons which open up new paths

Someone on Neogaf is speculating on two important people being involved in the project:

Hero of Legend wrote:

"Yasuhara: - This is not only X-Treme esc (which BTW was his only 3D Sonic game and he did MANY level concepts for the game), but the overall feel is the most classic like than any 3D Sonic, including Gens. - The environments remind me of Pac-Man Party and even to an extent Jak & Daxter, all worked on by Yasuhara (he didn't work on the original J&D IIRC though). - Adding to the first, they're bringing back a number of classic things they even overlooked in Gens, such as animals in badniks, the spin-dash in 3D, etc. - He joined Nintendo (NST specifically) roughly around April 2012, he might've been in close contact even before that. All he's done so far is Mario & DK 3DS. Ohshima: - As one who paid attention to his Artoon days, I saw a number of similarities in previous character designs he did then and the Deadly Six. - The Big Yellow one is similar to the little creatures he made in AWAY Shuffle Dungeon. - The Green Lady and to an extent the Pink Tall one resemble characters from Pinobee, which was his first game after he left Sega. - The Badniks being their original designs again, and as such in 3D for the first time (bucking the overly robotic look of the Colors and Gens designs). - Super Peel-Out is back, guess which game debuted it and even was the only one to have it? Sonic CD, Ohshima directed it. - Arzest, Ohshima's newest company, worked with Nintendo twice on key projects (Wii Play Motion with Naka even), and Mii Plaza features (3DS OS stuff people, that's not huge?), only thing they've done otherwise was a mobile game, and character models in Level-5's Time Travelers, so he's close to Nintendo.

Yea, I'll be sticking to F-Zero GX for tube-based speeding and Sonic 1 [GEN] for platforming. What is with the DKC barrel blasting? What is with the screen blotting from Mario Kart DS? They even copied the big dumb rotating NSMB Wii block platform design. Nice graphics I guess.