22 Nov, 2011
Title: Sonic Generations
Platform: PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360 / PC / Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Sonic Team, Devil’s Details, Dimps
Publisher: Sega
TL;DR: Blue lightning, enter nostalgia
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I can remember the days of waking up to watch Saturday morning cartoons. It was never the Spongebob stuff, the Scooby Doo, or Dora the Adventurer. No, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sonic and the Freedom Fighters were the staples around our household. For any die hard Sonic fan, that should’ve been the biggest moment of whiplash just now. Did you feel that?
All trips down Memory Lane aside, Sega’s Sonic Generations is an enjoyable romp through fond memories. Anyone who loved the blue lightning at any moment during his long history will love this game — none of the failed 3D experiments of Sonic Heroes‘ ilk. I shuddered just now thinking about it.
When the disc is first popped in, retro gamers will immediately feel at home. We’re not given an introduction as to why there are two Sonics in the game, but that’s explained soon enough. First, we’re given control of the older, non-speaking incarnation of Sonic, with some nice next-gen touches in graphics and the occasional perspective change from a flat two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional space. Fans who played Sonic’s original adventure on the Sega Genesis will feel right at home — speed is Sonic’s game (why else do you think he’s called Sonic?), and your main objective in the opening stage is to fly through the loops and jump your way to the ending point.
We’re then given control of the newer, spunkier Sonic who’s got a voice. While playing as the newer Sonic, gamers will notice that instead of keeping to the 2D formula, the viewpoint shifts and now the very same levels are available in a 3D plane with the occasional switch to the two-dimensional.
Sounds confusing, right? It’s really not. Sonic Generations caters to two audiences, and the first stage of the game was simply a tutorial telling us that you can choose to play as either retro 2D Sonic or newer 3D Sonic. Gamers that might like the simplicity of retro Sonic can choose to play the entire game with him, and those of us who like the newer Sonic can do the same. Then there’s those of us who like Sonic in general and want to play the game with both iterations of Sonic.
The story is a G-rated telling of a bad guy, named the Time Eater, ripping the Time and Space Continuum apart. As Sonic celebrates his birthday with friends, Time Eater appears and tosses everyone across different time zones in Sonic’s history. As the story progresses, the player learns through both retro and newer Tails that the Time Eater causes disturbances in time. In order for things to be restored to normal, both Sonics have to use their super speed to restore time to proper order. Of course, things really aren’t that simple, but that’s something you’d have to play to find out more about.
Sonic Generations certainly doesn’t boast the most innovative gameplay, but it is nonetheless fun. Speeding through water slides, racing down the side of skyscrapers while breaking glass, and pinballing through parking garages is just pure fun that will make your inner child dance. Dependant on which version of Sonic you choose to play, be it retro or the newer, mechanics or point of view will slightly vary, but the core principle is speed, speed, and even more speed. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun while doing it — Sonic himself certainly doesn’t forget about that.
One of the crimes that Sonic Generations commits is frustrating repetitiveness. Each section of the world “map” contains three levels. After the player completes each level with both Sonics, Challenges are opened up. In order to progress the story, players have to complete a certain number of Challenges in order to access the Boss stage. The repetitiveness occurs when it comes to the Challenges — these challenges are all set within the three levels of whatever section you’re in. After a while, doing the same kinds of challenges in the same kinds of stages over and over again is enough to make even the most patient gamer rip their hair out.
Another problem that Sonic Generations suffers from are the platforming sections. In a game that encourages speed, speed, and even more speed, having to stop and wait for a platform to lower so you can continue your marathon is frustrating. Having to stop, bounce on enemies, jump to the correct platform, and then try to locate the correct pinball bumper to bounce off of is doubly frustrating. With Sonic accelerating at lightning speeds by default, trying to stop and start to avoid falling into traps is like stomping on your car’s gas pedal for three seconds, then stomping on the brakes. It simply doesn’t work.
All complaints aside, Sonic Generations really is a love letter to fans of Sonic over the years. With a boat load of unlockable memorabilia from music to concept art, Sonic Generations gives fans of all ages something to enjoy. There’s even a special item that will allow you to play the original Sega Genesis version of Sonic the Hedgehog. You’ll just have to spend a little time trying to get it.
If you were looking for a game that sports innovative play, great graphics, and engaging story on par with Gears of War 3 or Skyrim, this won’t be something for your shelf. This is, however, a highly recommended family title.
The Good
It’s an abundance of super fast action. Simple story, bright colors, and non-violence make this fun for the whole family. Ability to choose between old and new Sonic gives players choice in play style.
The Bad
Repetitive level design makes this game boring. Platforming portions of the game are frustrating and don’t work well.
Sonic Generations is currently available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, and Nintendo 3DS.
Family Focus
This is quite the family friendly game. With an ESRB E rating and a PEGI 7 rating, yeah your kids should be able to sit down and enjoy it. There’s no cussing, and no real violence except for making Sonic bounce off of enemies and watching them explode in colorful sparkles.
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