“Sonic Generations” is a clean sweep

After defying physics for twenty years, Sonic is back in "Sonic Generations," which is the culmination of all the hedgehog's adventures throughout the years. Many elements from previous games are smashed into one action-packed double feature, as players get to interact with both the modern Sonic of the 2000s, and the classic Sonic the Hedgehog of the 1990s. Fans of the old can pick up and play as if they had never dropped the controller, while fans of the new can experience their favorite stages with an interesting retro twist.
The overall storyline of the game consists of the modern Sonic's friends getting abducted by an ominous creature. Sonic, as per usual, has to go on an epic journey and save each friend from imprisonment on each stage. The twist here is that time has been jumbled up by this mysterious villain, creating two Sonics who have to work together to fix time.
This is where the fun begins, because each stage has two acts which allow players to experience the areas as both the modern and classic Sonics. In each act, like in every Sonic game, the player has to jump on a myriad of enemies to progress through the game, while collecting as many rings as possible to keep from losing a life. Familiar stages like Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant Zone are recreated and played in both modern 3D and classic 2D versions.
The gameplay can be a bit confusing for a player who is picking up the game for the first time, but any confusion can easily be resolved by utilizing the plethora of in-game tutorials and gameplay information. A character named Omochao pops up before stages and during gameplay to instruct the player on what to do at some complex parts of the game. Some glitches which cause Sonic to disappear through the floor or phase through walls can be a little frustrating, but are bound to present themselves in a game that moves as quickly as this one. Because this is a fast-paced game, Sonic will sometimes lose the camera or go zipping off of stages, causing the players to struggle to try to save themselves from plummeting to their deaths.
The graphics are not groundbreaking by any means. They are exactly what a person would expect to see from a Sonic game: extremely colorful but, when looked at closely instead of at a mind-blowingly fast pace, very simple. The occasional shot of Sonic running towards the camera while danger lurks behind him is exhilarating, but his hedgehog-spikes barely make an impact when it comes to detail. Whether playing classic or modern Sonic, each stage includes soft elements of 2-D or 3-D.
The stage turns slightly or adjusts when classic Sonic is zip-lining or sucked through a tube. Modern Sonic, on the other hand, will sometimes revert to a side-scrolling view when coming into contact with enemies or jumping from platform to platform. This is a good way to blend the 2-D and 3-D effects. As new or classic Sonic, the player needs years of training in the platformer genre to navigate these levels. Jumping forward onto a platform and quickly pressing back before Sonic falls off has always been a frustrating, but essential, part of the game.
As far as boss fights go, players will certainly have fun sparring with a few familiar faces. Plus, a pattern exists with each boss, so it is either really easy or extremely hard to beat them. After defeating the final boss, there are many side challenges and skills to gain, which gives the game a lot of replay value.
It has been interesting to watch the "Sonic" series' ability to keep up through the years. Lately, Sonic's releases have been seriously lacking with fans and critics, as they get excited for each game only to end up disappointed. However, "Sonic Generations" is not one of those games. The game is nearly a perfect mesh of the new and old that fans have come to enjoy. If the creators keep up with this pleasing trend, Sonic will definitely be able to race his way back to the top.
"Sonic Generations" receives an 8 out of 10.

Originally Posted: HERE