If you already know your Sega historical past, then you almost certainly know — and love — the maraca-shaking monkey Amigo. Samba de Amigo was a cult hit on the Dreamcast again in 1999, and this little monkey rattled his approach into many a coronary heart over time.
Laced with catchy Latin American music, pop songs, and a pair of maraca-shaped controllers, Samba de Amigo turned a cult hit for its arcade-style gameplay and enjoyable aesthetic. Incredibly, whereas it appears like Amigo has change into a staple in Sega’s historical past — showing in titles similar to Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (and its Transformed sequel) — the sombrero-donning monkey’s debut sport has by no means acquired a direct sequel, with Ver. 2000 launching in arcades and in Japan, and Samba de Amigo on Wii being an enhanced port.
But don’t fret, 2023 is the yr of the retro return, and Samba de Amigo: Party Central sees Amigo take to the worldwide stage. Sonic Team is bringing the beloved get together music title again, and to inform us somewhat bit in regards to the collection’ historical past is director and producer at Sonic Team, Shun Nakamura.
Nakamura-san made his debut as a director on the unique Samba de Amigo and has loads of fascinating tidbits to share about simply how the collection has modified from 1999 to right now, together with some Smash Bros. needs and the way TikTok has influenced this brand-new sport…
Nintendo Life: Samba de Amigo is synonymous with the Dreamcast for a lot of Sega followers. How did you give you an concept for the sport and the character of Samba?
Shun Nakamura, Sonic Team producer and director: Samba de Amigo was first created as an arcade sport. At the time, it was all about cool music video games, however for me, I used to be extra into making a sport the place we are able to neglect ourselves and luxuriate in being fun-loving – a sport the place we are able to benefit from the sounds of karaoke or reside music, quite than simply enjoying music. That is why I began Samba de Amigo. Japanese individuals like to make use of maracas to enliven the environment after they sing karaoke, and this expertise led to the introduction of the maraca controllers. At the time, the Sonic workforce had no expertise with arcade video games, however we began this as an experimental challenge, and every time we offered the sport, it was effectively acquired, which finally led us to the Dreamcast model.
We selected the character Amigo as a result of we thought his cheerful picture would match the brightness of the monkey character. The closing touches have been performed by the character designer of the Sonic collection.
Did you ever think about using different devices in Samba de Amigo?
Actually, when Nintendo first confirmed us the Switch {hardware}, we considered bringing again Samba, however we determined to vary it up a bit and make one thing new, so we have been engaged on one other music sport earlier than the system’s launch. But for varied causes, that challenge did not work out. In that earlier sport, the idea was to regulate numerous musical devices, however the design, sadly, went in so many various instructions, so it did not find yourself figuring out.
when Nintendo first confirmed us the Switch {hardware}, we considered bringing again Samba, however we determined to vary it up a bit and make one thing new
With this expertise in thoughts, we determined to proceed with a Samba challenge as an alternative, the place we didn’t take into consideration different devices as we needed to precise one thing foolish and pleasing when utilizing a single instrument. [Samba de Amigo: Party Central] additionally has a characteristic referred to as ‘happenings’, which permits the participant to get pleasure from varied rhythm video games along with the conventional efficiency. I feel this characteristic solves the issue of becoming bored with enjoying the identical instrument.
Amigo has made quite a few cameo!!s and appearances in different Sonic Team video games such because the Sega All-Star Racing collection. What’s your dream cameo for the character?
Amigo typically seems in different video games as a separate character, however by no means in reference to the storyline or something like that, so I hope that sooner or later they are going to have the ability to be put in a key position. However, so as to take action, I feel Amigo should change into extra well-known, so I’ll strive my greatest to make that occur.
Also, I get pleasure from Smash Bros., so I would really like for Amigo to take part in that sport as effectively. I feel it will be fascinating for Amigo to have these music-based assaults as a result of no different character has that. Of course, I’m joking!
Why do you assume Samba de Amigo has a cult following amongst Dreamcast followers?
Personally, I don’t know the true motive. However, I imagine that those that like Samba de Amigo are those that get pleasure from having some light-hearted enjoyable. This stays crucial a part of this challenge, and it’s additionally the half that we have now expanded upon. I feel we have been capable of supply one thing that makes individuals really feel that even simply dancing with maracas is enjoyable, however it additionally goes past that.
I feel Amigo should change into extra well-known, so I’ll strive my greatest to make that occur.
In this sport, we have now this problem mode referred to as CRAZY, which is considerably totally different from the “problem of the sport” you’d usually see. With CRAZY, we needed to search out methods to get the participant to essentially transfer their physique to the rhythm. By the way in which, I have never advised anybody this, however I named it after the CRAZY TAXI’s groove and CRAZY-ness. I hope that followers will help the brand new Samba in a cult-like approach.
The latest entry within the franchise – Samba de Amigo: Party Central – is being billed as a follow-up to the unique Dreamcast sport. Why is now the time to revisit the collection?
In current years, I feel there have been a variety of new remakes of previous titles within the sport business. This Samba de Amigo was created with that development in thoughts, with the concept it will be extra fascinating if it have been tailored to right now’s market. The Joy-Con and VR controllers have been a giant a part of this title, and whereas the Dreamcast model was enjoyable with the separate maraca controllers, they have been very costly and couldn’t be utilized by many individuals. This time, the {hardware} comes with the movement controllers, so I feel many individuals will have the ability to benefit from the sport with a low threshold.
In phrases of content material, we have now maintained the bottom gameplay, whereas additionally making vital adjustments which might be in tune with the present period and that can make the sport much more entertaining. It just isn’t a easy music sport, however quite an expertise that permits everybody to benefit from the “foolish enjoyable” that solely Samba can supply.
What influenced the choice to pivot to fashionable music for Party Central?
Originally, many followers expressed the will to get pleasure from different genres of music in Samba de Amigo, even throughout previous productions. Certainly, musical style varies from individual to individual, so whereas placing collectively a set of music from the identical style can provide it a way of unity, it additionally means chances are you’ll not have the ability to pull in those that produce other tastes. That’s why we made it a precedence to broaden the variety of genres featured within the sport in order that much more individuals can get pleasure from it.
we made it a precedence to broaden the variety of genres featured within the sport in order that much more individuals can get pleasure from it.
We moved much more in that course by difficult ourselves to create extra kinds of music with the DLC. We even included gospel music within the sport’s unique tracks, so we imagine that gamers will get pleasure from all the brand new features of the music checklist. Of course, we at all times be certain to ask ourselves, “Can this music be loved as a Samba music?”. We imagine each music within the sport has that enjoyable groove that’s distinctive to this collection, so please don’t worry.
At the identical time, the “world setting” can also be constructed round the truth that Amigo has stepped out of the setting of previous video games and change into a beloved performer all over the world. Although chances are you’ll not usually take note of this type of factor when enjoying a music sport, we have now ready quite a lot of thrilling conditions, and we hope that it is possible for you to to witness Amigo’s international debut.
Can you speak about any challenges you confronted whereas creating the sport for Switch?
As you’ll be able to think about, essentially the most tough half was adapting the Joy-Con controllers. In Party Central, there are these ‘rhythm balls’ that fly in direction of rings which might be proven on each the higher, center, and decrease sides of the display. The participant’s aim is to shake the controllers within the course of the goal simply as every rhythm ball passes by means of the goal. That’s why we would have liked to ensure the Joy-Con’s responsiveness was in sync with the participant, which finally proved difficult. We made a variety of changes to the Joy-Con settings proper up till the very finish. We additionally examined this with a variety of totally different individuals and acquired their suggestions all through the method.
How do you assume new audiences will react to Samba de Amigo’s return?
When excited about the precise strategy to the “foolish enjoyable” idea, I checked out TikTok as a spot that comprises comparable parts. TikTok has a variety of movies which have creators who carry out with totally different sorts of music, and people watching them will snort and simply have a good time. This is definitely near what we have been initially aiming for with the primary Samba. Here, we targeted on making a sport that will be pleasing for youthful individuals by mixing the brand new Samba with sure features of TikTok.
we targeted on making a sport that will be pleasing for youthful individuals by mixing the brand new Samba with sure features of TikTok.
One instance is the ‘occurring’ ingredient I talked about earlier. Usually, in music video games, you play what you might be imagined to play in a sure approach – principally, issues are very easy. But on this sport, we determined to include a roulette ingredient as we needed to emphasise the spontaneous moments and the enjoyment that comes from it quite than following the conventional guidelines. I hope that Samba, which was as soon as thought of a cult traditional, will change into a serious music sport within the trendy period.
I additionally wish to word, that for many who wish to get pleasure from Party Central as a standard music sport, whether or not for informal play or when competing for a excessive rating, you’ll be able to at all times flip the ‘occurring’ settings off within the choices.
Party Central shall be getting just a few Sonic the Hedgehog songs. Are there every other Sega franchises that you just wish to embody music from sooner or later?
Many of Sega’s songs are beloved by its followers, and we have now an amazing variety of tracks we wish to use. This time, we have now ready music from Ryu Ga Gotoku (Yakuza / Like a Dragon collection), Space Channel 5: Part 2, and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure, and we wish to develop this even additional. Please stay up for the songs we have now already ready, and when you ship us your requests through Twitter and elsewhere, we could possibly improve the probabilities of much more music…
This interview has been frivolously edited for readability.
Thank you to the workforce at Sega and to Namakura-san for taking the time to reply our questions. Samba de Amigo: Party Central is out on Nintendo Switch on thirty first August. A free demo is obtainable to obtain now from the Switch eShop.
Will you be becoming a member of Amigo’s return later this month? Shake it down within the feedback.
