A once recognizable mascot for a thriving company, it appeared that Sonic was everywhere at one time. However, when Sega fell apart in the early 2000s it was hard to bring back Sonic into the limelight with a slue of disappointing releases. His games have been hit or miss since his redesign and haven’t brought back the feeling of what the blue hedgehog was all about. Sonic Generations is now trying together bridge the old with the new and the result is a game that finally brings us the speed and character of an old friend.
You may have noticed these days that the recent Sonic games have come with the most ridiculous plots and Generations takes this to a whole new level but with some charm and humor. Two generations of Sonic’s are pulled together thanks to the will of an unknown evil force causing a dimensional void threatening the fabric of space and time. Rather then build a central Hub with automatic level increases and straightforward plot devices, Sonic Generations gives you a world, with no shortage in fan service, with plenty of side attractions along the way. While you still have to advance in a linear fashion the story does give you an opportunity for variety allowing you to break off from the main objectives. You may find yourself feeling nostalgic for old time Sonic fans, like myself, as all of the 9 zones are based on levels from previous games and broken into two acts.
The first act is tailored after the classic 2D Sonic games and the second act plays off the more modern style in the 3D view. Before you move forward it should also be noted that you’d be able to switch between the old classic Sonic and the new modern Sonic at the press of a button. What’s fun about this experience is seeing how a classic map like Green Hill Zone looks in this modern age and vice versa in its 2D form. While the game leaves more to be desired, unfortunately you’ll have to shell out a few more dollars for the upcoming DLC for more zones. As you progress through the main stage, challenge rooms unlock that are set within existing zones and put your skills to the test in a variety of ways from buzzer beaters, to medal hunting and more. While it is mandatory to complete a couple of these challenges to progress, if you don’t like a certain challenge you can simply pick a different one.
The game should take you no longer then 5 or 6 hours in one sitting, but if you venture off to complete everything you can bet you’ll double that play time. There are two additional online modes; one is 30-second trial, which challenges players to see how fast you can complete a level in 30 seconds. The second mode is Ranging Attack, which challenges you to gain the best score and time on each level. Both modes support online leaderboards as well to track your online progress. I found myself enjoying the 30-second trial, as it gave you a chance to test your skill and add more to the replayability factor.
Some of the problems that have plagued recent Sonic releases were uninspired level design and unresponsive controls. Sonic Generations manages to address these issues by combining the nostalgic feel of the previous Sonic games and merging them into the modern age and they look beautiful. What we are presented with are levels that fill you with a sense of speed and minimal headaches. Of course, it’s not perfect; there are still instances of cheap deaths and overall frustrating challenges. But what’s here is a positive experience and doesn’t take away from enjoying the speed of the blue hedgehog. While the modern stages are aesthetically pleasing, it’s the classic stages that steal the show. The physics feel just right and Sonic feels just as he did back in the Genesis days. While it’s great that the speed is improved, sometimes it causes problems that you’re moving to fast through the level. At some points I noticed that you could easily find yourself trapped in corners if you use up the boost meter. Finally what you may find yourself having a problem with is switching between retro and modern Sonic as in the boss fights you’ll find it’s harder to take advantage of the controls. However, what you’re left with in the grand scheme of things is simple controls that you can easily enjoy and tag along for the ride, which is all you can ask for.
Bottom Line: It appears that Sega has finally learned from its mistakes and has created a true Sonic game that everyone can enjoy. The game hits home on many levels from the nostalgic days to the modern age to introduce new fans to the blue hedgehog. While it’s on the short side, the essential fundamentals are here and it’s a game where fun can be had on a rainy afternoon and that’s all you can really ask for.
