Simply put, the older Sonics are true classics (by older, I mean the Genesis titles 1 to S&K). There really aren’t any other Sonic games after those that stand up to their overall quality. Since that era has left and Sonic jumped into 3D, the biggest issue has generally been the level of gameplay offered that players could immerse themselves in.
[details=Spoiler]You can always go back to the Genesis titles and control Sonic without worry about things such as falling through various stages, not seeing where you’re going because the camera is either trapped or is simply unable to move or having to play characters that weren’t Sonic/nothing like Sonic and playing them just to in the end reach Super Sonic instead of running him through the previous stages (essentially making him an additional character). Even though Sonic 4 offered that classic aspect, it didn’t make the game any less worse than it already was. There were so many important aspects in the classics that should have been in 4 and most of us simply want him to feel like he ran, jumped, and spin dashed like he did before. Too much to ask for?
Sega was still making a few good 2D titles such as Sonic Advance 2 (probably not a classic in my eyes, but enjoyable nonetheless). Even though it seems like recently Sega has done something wih Sonic in 3D that’s extremely right (speed stages in Sonic Unleashed/gameplay in Sonic Colors), they’re finally able to do something more right than wrong and can move forward with the right.
Sonic Generations is really looking more than just a take you back in time Sonic because we threw old and new Sonics back into your favorite classic stages (sorta like Sonic 4’s execution stage-wise). It seems to successfully offer a lot more of something new that’s enjoyablewhile reminding players of something old without the old being all those post-Genesis era annoyances.
The thing I didn’t like the most about Sonic’s gameplay in the successful Adventure series was that he felt artificially sped up - like he couldn’t go the fastest he could without hitting 500 of those speed bumpers in a row. It just felt like you weren’t controlling Sonic through the environment, rather the environment had immense control over him (all you had to do was keep him straight). Recently, I tried the Unleashed demo and the way Sonic moves presently through stages is… ridiculously satisfying. The man responsible for this deserves my second daughter. In fact, he should have everyone’s second daughter in this thread. It was like playing Spider-Man 2 for the PS2 where you can FINALLY make Spider-Man webswing for real (unfortunately, no one seemed to properly capitalize on this monumental achievement in future titles, wtf). I feel like Sonic had to run through years and years of bullshit after S&K to finally find a place where he is meant to be in 3D, and thus my hope for a great Sonic game has finally been restored.
Sega said Sonic 4 was the game we were all waiting for, but honestly… I’d rather just leave it at Sonic & Knuckles. 16 years was nothing to boast about, especially seeing that it just made them appear as if they needed another 16 to do it right. Why look back, Sega? You’ve finally been able to make Sonic move forward the way he should. If there is going to be a true Sonic 4, I hope it takes after Generations (if this game is as good as it truly seems).[/details]
I’m really hoping that those stages play out better now than they did back then. I enjoyed Speed Highway back in the day. I almost bought SA1 on XBL but the demo just reminded me why I’m done with the game. Though, if there’s anything about SA1 that was classic… mmm, the OST!
Oh, and if there was anything to be nit picky about in Sonic Generations, I did play the demo (only classic Sonic) and it just seemed like his jump was a bit weird, but in the end, I think it’ll be fine.)
Flaws included, it was perfect.