I'm going to finish up my stint this week by sharing a review from thatrandomdude, who wants to tell you all about Sonic Generations for the 3DS. Sure you can skip to the score at the end, but just like your social security number, it means nothing without some context. Be sure to post a review of your own, and it could very well end up here on the blog! --cort
Over the past 10 years or so, Sonic the Hedgehog has obtained a notoriously bad rep for starring in mediocre games. I agree with this for the most part, such as my hatred for "Sonic '06" or my love for the "Sonic Rush" series. This, however, has not kept SEGA from celebrating the beloved hedgehog's 20th anniversary with a pretty great game.
When it comes to Sonic Generations, it is disappointing to say that the 3DS version is not the ideal version of the game to play. Only the console/PC versions have TRUE 3D modern sonic levels and more zones and past Sonic games to play through. The modern Sonic stages in the 3DS version are more like Sonic Rush than anything else, which is disappointing. While it can't handle the HD graphics, the 3DS was more than capable of having full 3D stages.
However, the game is still good. If you like Sonic Rush, it's no more than a minor issue. In my opinion though, the 3DS version got the better end of the stick in some ways. I looked at a list of levels and bosses between the handheld and console versions and i must say, the 3DS version got the better and more memorable levels. Both have Green Hill, but the 3DS got Casino Night,Mushroom Hill, and Emerald Coast to name a few, instead of Chemical Plant or Speed Highway. The stages are faithful reproductions as well, even the modern Sonic stages. I can't quite explain it in words, but Radical Highway is almost exactly the same here, even if it is in 2.5D. I liked the 3DS versions bosses better too. I thought Biolizard was much more fun than Perfect Chaos. Also, I'm glad that the only reference to Sonic '06 is a quick boss race against Silver.
The gameplay is really good as well. The physics are pretty good, not too floaty, nor does it feel like you have rocks for shoes.The game moves at a fast pace and only slows down for the more thought-provoking platforming. Yes, classic Sonic does learn to do the homing attack, but who cares? I especially love the final boss fight. I won't give away spoilers on the story or anything, but i like the way it plays. Half of it plays like the super Sonic fight from Sonic 3 and Knuckles, while the other half resembles more recent super sonic battles. The modern ones that come to my mind are the likes of Shadow the Hedgehog (though not technically a Sonic game) or Sonic and the Secret Rings,both being games I loved. The special stages are also largely reminiscent of those in Sonic 2, Which were my favorite Genesis special stages (I hated Sonic 1's)
The game looks really nice. Sure, it doesn't have the best graphics on the 3DS, like Resident Evil: Revelations, but they do look nice. The 3D also isn't anything beneficial, but it does look really nice and doesn't cause any slowdown or issues.
The game has great sound too. There are updates of all your favorite classic sonic tunes, like Green Hill, and some remixes too. There is this one song, that is a remix of "Super Sonic Racing" from Sonic R that is outstandingly catchy and it plays a lot during the game's mission mode. All the classic sound effects are still there too, and there is no real voice acting. During the "cutscenes" Sonic or the Tails'/Eggmans may spout anything from a word to a sentence, but no real lines are spoken. Besides, the new voice actors don't suck.
The Game's main mode of play is very short, which i expected. There are seven zones and three "boss gates" each consisting of a boss race, then a boss fight. Then there is the final boss fight. However, there are other things to do to keep you busy. There is a versus mode, with local and online play, which is exactly like the 2p modes from Sonic 2 or Sonic 3. There are also time trials for every stage and a mission mode. The mission mode consists of 100 missions that vary for each stage. You unlock a couple while playing through the main game, but most require 5 play coins each. While that may seem tedious at first, it gives you something to use play coins on if you have nothing else to do with them and keeps you coming back.
The mission mode isn't just a gameplay extender either. It unlocks a bunch of cool collectibles. There are quite a few things to unlock, ranging from songs used in every Sonic game, to concept art and illustrations, to 3D models of Sonic characters. The whole game is very nostalgic because of this along with everything else. I especially like how the credits show screenshots of every stage in their original, and remade versions.
There are only a couple of complaints I have about this game. As i stated before, the modern Sonic stages are more like Sonic Rush than something like Sonic Adventure or Sonic Colors. Also, i still have yet to be able to connect to the server for online play. I also wish SEGA had included some stages from more handheld Sonic games, like Sonic advance. It's also largely unfortunate that Jaleel White, SEGA's only acceptable voice for classic Sonic, was too busy to voice over some lines for the game.
Overall, the game is pretty good. Sure it doesn't have the modern Sonic gameplay that it should, but it's a nice trip down the nostalgic lane of Sonic the Hedgehog. Yes, the poor blue blur has stumbled in the past few years, but this game looks past that. I've been a Sonic fan since i could hold a game controller, and i loved reliving my first experiences with Sonic 1, or Sonic Adventure 2, or even Sonic Colors only a couple of years ago. It has it's faults, but the game has heart and is one of the best sonic games since Sonic Adventure 2. I whole-heartily believe any lover of Sonic or platforming should give this game a try.
My Score: 8
Source: GN Game DB
3ds review
