"Sonic Generations" Video Game Talkback (Spoilers)

[Desensitized]

Something old, something blue, something borrowed, and something new.

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC, and Nintendo 3DS (Coming November 24th)
Release Date: November 1st, 2011

Synopsis: Celebrating the 20th year anniversary of the Sonic The Hedgehog series, Sonic Generations takes players through the Genesis, Dreamcast, and current era of Sonic games as not only the modern version of Sonic (recently seen in surprise hit "Sonic Colors" for the Wii) but also the Classic Sonic design fans haven't seen since the franchises peak in popularity. Race through 9 zones spread across the franchise's history with both Sonics as you beat rivals, defeat bosses, complete (optional!) missions in an attempt to put Sonic's world back together.


I'm about to go pick me preorder copy up. Is anyone else playing this one?

 

[Dudley]

Available for the PC? I never bought a PC game before (I don't have the consoles available) I wonder how much that costs....

 

[Anyone00]

Available for the PC? I never bought a PC game before (I don't have the consoles available) I wonder how much that costs....

It's thirty bucks on Steam (it's PC release seems to be 11/4 and if you can wait for the Winter Sale you can likely get it for 10%-20% off).

 

[RockmanDash]

.....Must...resist..urge..to...get his before Christmas.

I'm very excited for this game and...wait...oh geez I'm excited for a Sonic game again!? I should probably give Sonic Colors a chance one of these days..

 

[Ryusuke]

Got it this morning. I'm loving it so far. It's weird...I like playing as Modern Sonic better. XD; It punishes you for boosting-to-win...but it's so fun to boost. XDD; But I'm enjoying Classic quite well, too. Some of the level interpretations are pretty insane.

 

[Desensitized]

I'm actually enjoying both styles a ton. Classic has fantastic open levels, and Modern has all the best parts of Unleashed and Colors without any of the lesser aspects.

Personal favorite level would be Speed Highway for both Classic and Modern. Modern really brings out the potential from Adventure and Classic is... nuts.

 

[Ryusuke]

So I beat the story....

Let's start out what I didn't like....the final boss. Compared to the rest of the game, the controls were bad. It was literally a struggle to reach the boss and it gets a bit hard to steer.

That's it. Yep. That's all I didn't like. That and it's too short.

As for everything else, I freaking love this game. All of the levels were masterfully recreated and each of the stages maintained the feel of each game. All of Classic Sonic's levels are just as intricate and well paced as any of the better Genesis/Megadrive titles. For Modern Sonic, your focus is still to move forward. But, those who think you can boost to win through these stages - get ready to be punished. You will get hurt, you will fall to your doom and hit walls, etc. There's a lot more emphasis on platforming and a ton of multiple paths. The best 3D levels in the franchise. They're SO fun....that they even beat 2D Sonic's more cinematic stages. There. I said it again. Modern Sonic is MORE fun than Classic Sonic. Classic Sonic is fun, don't get me wrong...but playing Modern Sonic's levels just feels so satisfying.

As for how Classic and Modern control, they're almost perfect. There are one of those few moments where they can be unresponsive and disrupt the flow. They can be a bit floaty at times. But, other than that, you could play these two without a care.

I'm currently working through the missions, and so far, they're a blast. I love how they rearrange the stages just for these missions, which is an improvement from Adventure 2.

The story...I like it. I enjoyed it. But, there needs to be MORE. People complain about there being too MUCH story. But, is it really worth getting underdeveloped stories? Gosh, this concept could have bring out so much more. I would have liked more cutscenes with the classic & modern Sonic and Tails quad bonding, for instance. Also, this is the PERFECT chance to fix plot holes, and they flat out miss this chance. And am I the only one who wants to see Classic Knux and Modern Knux interact? I could go on...but that aside. The story is harmless. The humor is more natural than Colors. And the way they write Eggman is just perfect... :'D Roger Craig Smith, Kate Higgins and Mike Pollock were all fantastic in here.

I enjoy the soundtrack. The boss COULD be a bit longer, but they're usually pretty well put together. I like that they're practically in half a level. Classic Sonic could have used more bosses...

Overall....this is the best 3D Sonic AND one of the best Sonic games ever made.

 

[J.E.Smith]

Just a heads up for those who don't have it. Best Buy has it for $40 tomorrow only (the 3rd).

 

[PC!]

Welp, beat the game 100% outside of S-ranking everything. Fantastic, as expected. The classic levels were recreated fantastically. I really hope this is the game that gets Sonic back on track in the public's eye.

 

[Nel_Annette]

Welp, beat the game 100% outside of S-ranking everything. Fantastic, as expected. The classic levels were recreated fantastically. I really hope this is the game that gets Sonic back on track in the public's eye.

Damn, PC, I haven't even gotten it yet.

Good lord, if the game is that short, I really hope we get DLC for new levels instead of just the existing ones.

 

[k.s.]

Just a heads up for those who don't have it. Best Buy has it for $40 tomorrow only (the 3rd).

Amazon's also selling it for $37.49 - not sure how long that's going to last.

 

[Desensitized]

*Spoilers for end game*

Ryusuke is right, the final boss is the only real downer in the game in that... it makes no freaking sense. But other than that, everything else is pretty awesome.

I nerded out a few times, which only ever happens to me in Sonic and Mario games and even then rarely. Modern Sonic's thumbs up before Speed Highway starts, Classic Sonic chasing the post in Crisis City (Play Sonic Boom on this act when you get the chance, it fits right in), the Metal Sonic fight on hard mode was pretty cool, and the biggest surprise was that the Silver fight was the best boss of the game by far, and smokes pretty much everything else by a mile.

Also, this soundtrack goes toe to toe with Brawl. Nothing like putting Hydrocity on for Seaside Hill, Death Egg or Palmtree Panic for Planet Wisp, Metal Harbor for Sky Sanctuary, Sweet Mountain for Crisis City (because why not?) or Super Sonic Racing for... any stage. Other than a few missing tracks (I haven't unlocked everything yet, though) and the fact that each zone should have had two more Acts, the game is easily the best Sonic game since S3&K.

Sonic is officially back.

 

[VictoryStar]

So yeah I got the game on Tuesday and I wanted to wait until I beat it to post my thoughts on it and well...this game was the most fun of any I've played all year. My favorite thing though were all the smiles I got whenever I noticed one of the continuity nods in the game (such as the music for seaside hill switching to ocean palace half way into the stage). My only real complaint is that the story felt more like an excuse plot than most sonic games where the story helps move the game forward, understandable though because all we really needed was an excuse to go through the levels.

Oh and Super Sonic without having to get the red rings : Win. I hope Sonic Team keeps up with this continuous pace of good games and I'll be there to support them either way.

Edit : Oh and I got the gamestop DLC too, the pinball level is a nice diversion from the real game and reminds me a lot of casinopolis. I like how you can switch Sonic's in the pinball stage also.

 

[Pepperidge]

Nothing like putting Hydrocity on for Seaside Hill

Yeah, although they included Hydrocity Zone Act 1 instead of Act 2. Talk about a missed opportunity!

Is Starlight Zone unlockable? If so, I'm itching to play classic Speed Highway with that.

 

[Desensitized]

I really hope In The Air/Green Grove Act 1 is in the game. It would be PERFECT for Sky Sanctuary Modern.

Yeah, although they included Hydrocity Zone Act 1 instead of Act 2. Talk about a missed opportunity!

Is Starlight Zone unlockable? If so, I'm itching to play classic Speed Highway with that.

Act 2 would have been even better, but I'm just stoked it's there at all.

Also:

Spoiler

Yes.

 

[GWOtaku]

Very torn between Sonic Colors (very cheap now) and this, and whether I should get this for 3DS and put off that Mario game. Apparently the 3DS game has a different set of stages.

.....uh oh. Sega's getting to me.

But yeah, anyhow, I'd get a lot out of Sonic hardcores who have done both comparing the core gameplay.

 

[Nel_Annette]

My god, I love this game. They made Crisis City playable and Planet Wisp is better than ever. I just want to unlock the original track because I feel it's superior to the remixes. Seeing all the other levels re-imagined is just gold. They even kept Speed Highway ending on a sunrise. Epic.

Also enjoyed the rival battle against Metal Sonic. The Shadow one was kind of annoying, but I did enjoy the musical changes depending on what was going on. Hoping the Silver battle isn't too bad.

Controls are tight for the most part, but sometimes they just don't do what you want them to.

I honestly didn't know about the challenges being required before I played the game. A bit annoying, but luckily you can always find an easy one to get out of the way for the key.

Honestly, the only true disappointment I have is the Casino Night dlc. How boring. Really hoping we get full levels somewhere down the line.

 

[Kazuya Prower]

I finished the game not too long ago. Best Sonic game from the modern era hands down. The remixed music were fantastic and the levels were fun, though the modern era stages were a little frustrating to beat. I'm going to try and get all the red rings later.

Spoiler

It was great seeing classic Tails and Eggman again. Kate Higgins and Mike Pollock did a great job voicing them. I wonder where they'll go from here now that both Eggmen are trapped in limbo? Also Sega did a great job adding a voice clip of the fans from the Sonic Boom event shouting "Happy Birthday, Sonic!"

 

[Jave]

Just found this, thought you guys might get a laugh out of it. (Tagged for image).

Spoiler

 

[macattack]

I've played through the first three stages. I am practically overjoyed so far, seeing them re-imagined like this is just . . . well, for someone who isn't a nostalgia buff it is certainly putting a nostalgia filter over my eyes. The music and the level design is just fantastic. I did have a couple of random deaths in Sky Sanctuary but no Sonic game has ever been able to avoid that and at least Chemical Plant and Green Hill avoided those pratfalls.

This game was made for DLC though. I am betting that's the reason why Sonic 3 got withheld from the game, because we'll all be salivating for some Sonic 3 levels soon. I wouldn't doubt that the 3DS levels could be upscaled into X360/PS3/PC levels and turned into a DLC package too giving us even more to do.