Sonic Generations (2011)

I remember when I played this game 15 years back when this game was originally released and it was so fun and nostalgic, I used come back from school and play this game.

After 15 years when I tried Sonic X Shadow Generation (in the emulator), I thought it was a sequel to Sonic Generations but to my surprise, I found out that it was the culmination of Shadow Generations (A new game) and a remake or remaster version of Sonic Generations. So I decided to play Sonic Generation and my god It was so good I still feel the same enjoyment that I felt 15 years back. I don't know why In Planet Wise the game got hanged so I decided to revisit the Orginal Sonic Generations game the 2011 PC Version and the graphics are so spectacular literally in year 2925 I still felt that the original graphics is as good as the remastered one.

Just play this game.

I’ll probably get flack for this, but ultimately I think Sonic Generations is a little clunky and really not more enjoyable than some of the more derided entries in the series. It’s far from a bad game, but I think I’m increasingly not a fan of boost sonic and don’t actually enjoy the homing attack, especially when it fails as much as it does in this game. The number of times I see the greet target icon, click to home in on the target and Sonic fails to attack is pretty surprising. I also don’t love the feel when transitioning mid level between forward moving Sonic and side scrolling sonic. I think later 3D Sonic games handle this better. In Generations I find that sidescrolling movement feels much better when controlled with the dpad but forward movement is much better with the analogue stick. Switching between the two on the fly feels clunky and probably wasn’t intended, but every time Sonic switched to a side perspective I find the analogue stick to be a poor and inaccurate control method. This isn’t a problem with retro 2D Sonic who can effectively be controlled at all times with the dpad. Lastly Generations also suffers from some pretty terrible bottomless pits that I find to be one of the hallmark problems with the less enjoyable Sonic entries. Like with Sonic Forces there are both some serious highs and lows to this game.

Starting to understand why people love Sonic Mania as much as they do.

I think I like the 2D levels more than I do the 3D, even if some of the 3D ones can be pretty fun.

I don’t really enjoy a lot of the side content/challenges. I’m sure this part is a lot of core Sonic fans’ favourite parts but I’m glad I don’t have to complete all of them to unlock bosses and progress. Some of them are just down right unenjoyable. Actually I mostly prefer the 2D challenges.

I hate Shadow’s chaos emerald challenge. Mechanically it’s tedious damaging Shadow leans on the dash attack mechanic that I find is a bit sloppy in this game. Actually, on that topic I find that some of the biggest lows I experienced in Sonic Forces, like input failure when trying to trigger quick actions, are also present in this game which further leads me to believe that Forces really isn’t the big bad and awful game it’s made out to be in comparison. Although I think Generations has more novel ideas (skateboarding and go-kart elements in levels are two that come to mind), Sonic Forces really isn’t that significantly different in terms of failings.

I see why people like this as much as they do. It has a very simple yet effective idea and implemented it well.

That said gameplay is really the same as Sonic Colors and Sonic Forces, albeit with what feels like tighter level design than either of those. It does leave me wondering why people hate Forces as much as they do. I admit I had my lows with that game, but it really isn’t a departure from the series’ bread and butter.

This is why I’m excited to see if Sonic Frontiers can really shake things up.

P.S. it is really super pretty on Series X, likely the same on Series S.

Ok people, once I am done Sonic Colors Ultimate, I think I am going to jump into Sonic Generations and maybe even Sonic Unleashed. I just finished watching the first part of the following video from Digital Foundry and I'm convinced I need to play these games.

I'm also interested in replaying Sonic Forces. I originally played it on Switch, and I now wonder how many of my frustrations with the game are due to poorer performance and the fact that it simply doesn't play as smoothly on Switch as it does on other consoles.

So it looks like it's going to be the Summer of Sonic in my household.

Sonic Generations serves as a reminder to both old and new players that Sonic The Hedgehog was distinctive. It is one of the most fun Sonic games to play in ages. Widely considered to be just as good as if not better than the legendary Genesis Games. And I'm all up for it.

Back in 2011, Sonic was turning 20 years old. SEGA obviously didn't want to make the same mistake they made with Sonic '06 for his 15th Anniversary. So SEGA took this project a lot slower and tried not to rush it out. And it shows. Sonic Generations is the ultimate tribute to the franchise's 20-year history and it makes it even better that the game plays beautifully.

This tribute of Sonic is tied to the narrative as well. Sonic is celebrating his birthday with the majority of the cast of characters. Until an evil creature known as the Time Eater ruins the birthday, and sends Sonic's friends to different points in time. It's up to Sonic, Tails, and their "Classic" counterparts, Classic Sonic, and Classic Tails to save their friends, collect the Chaos Emeralds, and stop the Time Eater.

Unfortunately, this is the weakest part of the game. The story works in giving a reason why we are traveling through time. But the writing, acting, and much of a story progression are almost nonexistent. As with most modern Sonic games to have come out after 2010 unfortunately. The Cast that Sonic has to rescue only serves as cheerleaders for the end which is underwhelming.

That said, the presentation and levels are amazing. Each level goes through a different stage in Sonic's history. You got 3 Genesis Era Levels that represent Sonic The Hedgehog (1991), Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Sonic & Knuckles. You got 3 Adventure Era Levels that represent Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes. And finally you got 3 levels from the Modern Era which are represented with Sonic '06, Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors. Making up 9 total levels, as well as bosses from throughout the series. The music is a great remix of older games. The design of these levels looks incredible and I had a smile from ear to ear. It feels cool playing this as I've played the previous games in this retrospective and to see them all represented reminds me how much work I've put in. I do wish there were more Game Representation. But for what we have, I'm satisfied.

The gameplay is split into two which is great. Each of the 9 levels has a total of 2 Acts in them. The 1st Act is Classic Sonic. It's traditional 2D platforming like the Genesis games of old but with a fresh coat of paint over it. Act 2 is Modern Sonic. The boost gameplay is carried over from Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors and it's been perfected in my eyes. Playing as Modern Sonic just feels fun and I never felt like I was being screwed. The glitches in this game are so minor that I'm not bothered by them. Seeing 2D Sonic in a 3D Sonic Level and vise versa is so cool and it is one of the most satisfying to play in the series because of it. Unfortunately, it takes almost no effort to get an S rank which should be challenging. It's a shame. There are 5 Red Rings on each level and collecting them unlocks concept art from older titles, you get character bios from saving others, you even get music from older games. And in a secret room, you can use secret codes to unlock statues of characters from the series.

The best part about Sonic Generations is that while the game is supposed to be a reminder of Sonic's history, It also doesn't feel like that. It doesn't pander you with the old imagery. And I respect that. It still feels like a new Sonic game.

Sonic Generations is the best possible tribute SEGA could've come up with. And even though the story is very lackluster and way too short. The gameplay is fantastic, the music is amazing, and it is an overall great celebration of the 20 Year Long History of the Blue Blur.

4/5

Would Recommend

This game will be my final game to add for my personal Sonic 2020 marathon. I intentionally held this game for the end as I knew this game would be a trip down memory lane for many of the previous games I've played. I'll do a replay of Sonic Mania with Modern Sonic mods for the lulz as the absolute last Sonic playthrough before I move on to other games.

PC Version playthroughs: June 29 2020, Dec 9 2020

• Fully complete story
• Beat all Rivals
• Played all the optional "partner" stages

Final thoughts: After playing the rest of the franchise, Sonic Generations still remains as the objectively best Sonic game in my opinion, even though I feel the classic stages are surpassed by Sonic Mania and the Modern stages are surpassed by Sonic Unleashed Day Time stages. I do also think this is one of the easiest Sonic games too, which at least makes this the best entry point into the franchise if you ask me. The ending does take a nosedive in quality with both Planet Wisp being the least fun to play for being too reliant on 2D pace-breaking sections, and the final boss being... disappointing.

In the end, Sonic Generations it's a short and punctual nostalgia joyride throughout. Asides from what I've pointed out, it does about everything else right, from the visuals, level designs, and DEFINITELY all the music! If I ever have the Sonic itch in the future, I'll most likely be coming back to this game and the Project Unleashed mod.

3DS Version playthroughs: June 30 2020, Dec 8 2020

• Fully complete story

Final thoughts: Replaying the 3DS version has actually made me view this game more critically. I felt the level design for this game was average to poor, with the common complaints being what DIMPS is known to do in their Sonic games: Bottomless pits and Unreactable obstacles. Radical Highway is the worst offender for the difficulty spike, and the first 3 Classic Sonic stages are 1 to 1 replicas of the Genesis original stages. I also disliked the Rival battles. They felt as disruptive as Sonic Rivals (another Sonic game I disliked), and the rivals would often rubber-band past you. It took me like 10 trys to beat Shadow and even so it felt like pure luck.

That being said, I do think the 3DS versions have good boss battles (I still have PTSD from Sonic Heroes TAKE THIS TAKE THIS) and a mechanically much better final boss. While this game also doesn't have as many new music arrangemments, I enjoyed the new takes on Casino Night, Tropical Resort, both versions of Emerald Coast, and Sonic Heroe's Special Stage.

Side Note: 3DS version plays like a 2/5 stars to me overall, but the good boss fights and music boost it to a 3/5 stars

I played this on PS3 and it's a great game, I really love the look and playing as both 3d Sonic and 2D Sonic.

Now it's not an amazing game but it does what it does and it does it well, plus this game kept me smiling :).

The only thing that was disappointing was the Final Boss, the boss battle at least for me did just not flow well.

Anyways I really think you will like this game if you're a Sonic fan!