Sonic Generations

[j2000_nr]

Hmm, all these remakes are just destroying my childhood love of sonic

It didn't seem anything new, just more shiny.

Colour me meh

[Johnny Shoulder]

What happened to the Sonic 4 episodes? Wasn't there only one of them?

[Venomous Albino]

I loved the Sonic Generations demo, but while it showed off the way the 2D sections will play (see: orgasmic), it didn't include a 3D section. I find this very suspicious. Surely a demo of a game that supposedly features classic Sonic levels that can be played in either 2D or 3D should have one level that can be experienced both ways and not completely leave one of them out?

Again, colour me suspicious. Also it's not out until "fall 2011", which is bloody ages away. Why the demo is out now I have no idea.

As for Somic 4, god only knows what's going in with the second episode of that. It's been six months since the last one. Surely it can't take that long to develop? Although the first episode originally got delayed by six months. If Episode II isn't coming out until December this year, I hope it's the last one because if they carry on the way they are I'll be 30 by the time I've actually finished the game.

[Venomous Albino]

Played the new Sonic Generations demo last week and it's good stuff. It was comprised of the same Green Hill Zone 2D level that was in the summer demo, along with the Green Hill Zone 3D level. This played in a similar manner to the daytime (see: good) bits in Sonic Unleashed, with lots of sweeping camera movement, homing attacks, quick button presses to slide under obstacles and taps of the L and R bumpers to quickly "change lanes" when the camera is behind Sonic. All in all, I'm confident that Sonic Generations will be the game that really shows that 3D Sonic can work, as well as provide a great nostalgia trip with its 2D sections. Needless to say, I have my copy preordered.

The levels that have been confirmed for the 360 and PS3 versions are:

Green Hill Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog
Chemical Plant Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sky Sanctuary Zone - Sonic & Knuckles
Speed Highway - Sonic Adventure
City Escape - Sonic Adventure 2
Seaside Hill - Sonic Heroes
Crisis City - Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Rooftop Run - Sonic Unleashed
Planet Wisp - Sonic Colours

The levels confirmed for the 3DS version (which I'll also be getting) are:

Green Hill Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog
Casino Night Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Mushroom Hill Zone - Sonic & Knuckles
Emerald Coast - Sonic Adventure
Radical Highway - Sonic Adventure 2

I'm a little bit disappointed with the small selection of levels on offer, and what levels SEGA have included. One problem with including levels from Sonic's entire history is that the first three levels really highlight how much more imagination went into them back in the Ninties, whereas from Sonic Adventure onwards pretty much every level is set either on a beach or in a city. I expect more levels will become available through DLC in the future. If this is the case, I personally hope that SEGA either listens to fan feedback in regards to what levels they release, or just concerntrate on the Mega Drive era.

Sonic Generations is out on PS3 and Xbox 360 on 1st November (US) and 4th November (EU). The 3DS version will be released on 22nd November (US) and 25th November (EU).

[Tom909]

All in all, I'm confident that Sonic Generations will be the game that really shows that 3D Sonic can work

Hmmm, heard this many times before, not convinced.

IMO Sega should have buried the speedy blue one many years ago. There was a time a when they were top of the game for innovation an imagination and this is yet another example of them doing the exact opposite. Relying purely on nostalgia is a lazy business model; shame on you Sega.

[Johnny Shoulder]

All in all, I'm confident that Sonic Generations will be the game that really shows that 3D Sonic can work

Hmmm, heard this many times before, not convinced.

IMO Sega should have buried the speedy blue one many years ago. There was a time a when they were top of the game for innovation an imagination and this is yet another example of them doing the exact opposite. Relying purely on nostalgia is a lazy business model; shame on you Sega.

Yeah they should just stick to the sterling jobs they do of the Marvel film tie ins....

[Venomous Albino]

Yeah they should just stick to the sterling jobs they do of the Marvel film tie ins....

In all seriousness, going on the demo Sonic Generations really does feel like SEGA is back on track with Sonic. It's just pure Sonic at his best in both 2D and - believe it or not - 3D. The thing is, Sonic's 3D outings have only been so bad because of SEGA's past insistance on shoehorning in so many other genres and gimmicks detracting from the fact that the 3D Sonic gameplay has largely done a good job of translating the 2D gameplay into the modern era. In Sonic Generation, there's no werehog, no treasure hunting, no shooting levels, no stupid three-characters-at-once gimmick... just Sonic.

I really believe that if SEGA continues on this road, we can put shit like Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Unleashed behind us.

[CherryCokeChaos]

I want to love this, I really do.

But they've announced silver the hedgehog.

[Venomous Albino]

I'm sure Shadow's been announced too, but him and Silver are limited to "Challenge Acts" if I remember correctly, and you don't need to play as them in the main game. This is fine by me. If I play as them and they're shite, I can leave them alone.

[Johnny Shoulder]

Yeah they should just stick to the sterling jobs they do of the Marvel film tie ins....

In all seriousness, going on the demo Sonic Generations really does feel like SEGA is back on track with Sonic. It's just pure Sonic at his best in both 2D and - believe it or not - 3D. The thing is, Sonic's 3D outings have only been so bad because of SEGA's past insistance on shoehorning in so many other genres and gimmicks detracting from the fact that the 3D Sonic gameplay has largely done a good job of translating the 2D gameplay into the modern era. In Sonic Generation, there's no werehog, no treasure hunting, no shooting levels, no stupid three-characters-at-once gimmick... just Sonic.

I really believe that if SEGA continues on this road, we can put shit like Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Unleashed behind us.

Well for your sake lets hope the demo is a good representation of the full game, innit bra?

[Venomous Albino]

Completed this yesterday and I was right: Sonic's back on form. Only a few minor niggles prevent it from being truly excellent. The homing attack still borks up very, very occasionally and the Challenge Actss are all terrible, especially the ones featuring all the other Sonic characters.

But the main levels - both 2D and 3D - are mostly terrific. Only the final stage, Planet Wisp from Sonic Colours didn't do it for me. The 2D Acts perfectly embody the classic Sonic gameplay and inject it into levels from more modern Sonic games. The 3D levels are fantastically fast-paced and once you get your momentum going they're tremendous fun. The only problem is I wish there had been more levels. There are levels from Sonic games across the whole 20 years that I would have loved to have seen in the game.

I loved Sonic Generations and I want more. I'll pay through the nose for more levels.

[stikboy78]

I had high hopes for this game then i tried it out yesterday (thursday) was really impressed with the visuals and the audio and they have managed to get the "feel" of sonic back, the same momentum he had which was lost on sonic episode 4 which just felt sluggish.

played for about 30-45 minutes and enjoyed it, unlocked green hills, chemical zone and the sky zone or whatever then i just couldn't find the next zone so i've sent it back and can;t see me going back. It just didn't grab me enough to keep me pulled in as soon as I hit a challenge which is a shame.

To be honest if it wasn't for all the big games that I have on my "to play" list e.g. Bf3, MW3, RAGE, Halo combat evolved anniversary then I would maybe have gave this game more of a chance.

They really have done the old sonic games justice though and I'm sure a lot of people will get a lot out of this game.

[Venomous Albino]

To get access to the first boss and next set of levels, you need to complete one challenge Act from each level (Green Hill, Chemical Plant and Sky Sanctuary). This will give you access to the Death Egg Robot boss fight. Beat it and you'll unlock the next three levels. The final set of three is the best in my opinion, despite the inclusion of Planet Wisp; the 3D Acts in Crisis City and Rooftop Run are utterly brilliant.

I thought about what levels I'd like to see as DLC for the 360 version. The following immediately sprang to mind

Mystic Cave Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Ice Cap Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
Mushroom Hill Zone (Sonic & Knuckles)
Egg Carrier (Sonic Adventure)
Final Rush (Sonic Adventure 2)
Sweet Mountain (Sonic Colours)
Tropical Resort (Sonic Colours)

[stikboy78]

I see...

I just kept completing levels as it fed them to me and still didn't manage to unlock the boss.... grrrrrh STIK SMASH...!!!!

[CherryCokeChaos]

...must wait for xmas for collectors editon...