[Steven M]

Looks as good as Fan Remix without the wanky colour filter

[Solaris Paradox]

The only aspect of the level design that looks a bit weird to me is how HUGE the corkscrew is. Not saying it's necessarily bad, just that it looks a bit funny when you're used to the small ones as seen in Sonic 2/Sonic 4/Sonic Fan Remix. The 3D rendition of Green Hill Zone (now with real grass!) is beautiful to look at, and it makes me look forward to seeing other classic stages make their returns. I'm also holding out for that 3D rendition of S&K's Death Egg Zone I mentioned back when "Sonic Anniversary" was just a rumor.

[Blue Blood]

G4TV preview again.

This meter can be refilled by knocking out enemies and performing tricks in mid-air -- done simply by moving the two analog sticks in different directions -- after hitting a rainbow-colored jump ramp.

In Colours and Unleashed these rainbow ramps (yellow in Unleashed's case) sent you into the air to do a QTEs. Looks like this game will do away with them for the most part at least and treat you to tricking instead. You see in the gameplay footage he hits the ramp, does no tricks and continues along fine. Hopefully this continues throughout the game and you're never punished with death for not tricking.

[gold lightning]

I really like what I'm seeing here. It seems to contain the Unleashed blast fest that I've gotten used to recently along with the gameplay that made me like this franchise in the first place. It actually seems to contain the best of both worlds so far.

[Solid SOAP]

Liking the tricks idea, something I wanted in Unleashed initially.

[OKei]

Classic Sonic is looking hella cute. I could hug it.

I can't wait for this.

[corneliab]

I am FREAKING THE FUCK OUT over here. This game just looks completely awesome. The Unleashed-style sections are looking amazing and the classic sections are one hell of a cool treat.

This game can't come out quick enough!

[King]

I wonder if in the classic mode if they're going to refer to Eggman as Robotnik.

[Blue Emerald]

[...] I'm so curious if this is a "test" game to see which style of sonic is more popular. Will they both branch off? (E.G. Shadow got his own game, so they treat C.Sonic as his own character)

I personally hope that one day Classic Sonic will be the "Toon Link" of the Sonic franchise.

You probably already know what I mean, but just in case, you know how in the Zelda series there's the regular adult Link and the cel-shaded Wind Waker Link, and they both have the same main characters but follow different storylines (though it's suggested Toon Link came after adult Link)? That's kind of what I'm hoping happens with modern and classic Sonic, so that we might see separate storylines and gameplay occurring for them in future games.

[Stonerboy]

Wonder if Sega are holding out announcing the specific platforms it'll be released on because Nintendo haven't announced the HD Wii successor yet? I can't see them not releasing this on a Nintendo console. That just wouldn't make any sense.

And I'm glad they have classic style Robotnik back too

[Rockman Zero]

Wonder if Sega are holding out announcing the specific platforms it'll be released on because Nintendo haven't announced the HD Wii successor yet?

They've already announced it for Xbox 360 and PS3 only. Nintendo owners get nothing.

[Stonerboy]

Wonder if Sega are holding out announcing the specific platforms it'll be released on because Nintendo haven't announced the HD Wii successor yet?

They've already announced it for Xbox 360 and PS3 only. Nintendo owners get nothing.

I dunno, I'm just not convinced. It wouldn't be the first time Sega have announced another platform for a Sonic game later on (Sonic 4: ep 1 on iOS?). I'm not giving this theory up till after E3

[Ross-Irving]

So it was a little obvious as to what Iizuka was saying in parts thanks to the Spanish translation, which is somewhat intelligible to English speakers, but I'll post an English translation anyway.

In the year 2011, Sonic is 20 years old. The Sonic Generations concept, in essence, was to compress 20 years of Sonic's history into one game. To achieve that, what we did was bring back the traditional Sonic design, with his 2D gameplay and features. In my opinion, there are fans who enjoy the classic 2D Sonic action and horizontal scrolling and platforming, and others who prefer the recent 3D Sonic. In 2010, we launched Sonic 4: Episode 1 which was geared towards the older fans but we also launched Sonic Colors, which was geared towards the fans who enjoy the 3D Sonic. What we've done with Generations is created a game geared towards both sets of fans. Everyone can enjoy this unique game and celebrate 20 years of Sonic together.
Therefore, there's a little more towards the classic elements of the character than the Sonic we've seen in recent years. Today we unveiled a demonstration of Green Hill Zone, which is the first level in the franchise, but throughout the year we will announce other levels of the game, and you will see that these come from everywhere. It is not just new things and old things, as I say, all-encompassing. Today we announced that we would have these two characters be playable in Generations, but it will display many other characters from the universe of Sonic. I'm speaking of his friends: Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, etc, which form part of the story and will be an important element in the game. We still have many surprises in store.
The focus is to create an action game that is fun to play and be enjoyable playing both classic Sonic's way and modern Sonic's way. It won't be cooperative or competitive, but it will be a game of pure action and platforming for the player.

There's still a couple of iffy parts, since this is a translation of a translation. Plus I actually used Google to do this and then used my best judgment to make sense of some of the fragments.

Also, I was watching the gameplay again and noticed the uncurling, as others have before me. Fffffffuck. Oh well. Also heard C. Sonic's jump sound, a mix between the Genesis games and Sonic CD's. Saw the other screenshots for Generations, looks like they're going all out with the whole "HD" business, there's a lot of nice touches you can see in the pictures, like shallow water from a waterfall on a path or M. Sonic moving around within a huge checkered mound, etc.

This post has been edited by Ross-Irving: 18 April 2011 - 11:24 PM

[MegaDash]

Jeezus, I didn't expect such a big explosion. And all this before finals week.

Hugely excited and elated upon first seeing all of this, but now that I've calmed down a bit, I can say that the 2D gameplay footage either doesn't do the actual levels justice or shows that they're too simplistic and tame next to the exhilarating and beautiful 3D gameplay. I love the visuals and the sheer amount of details they've injected into both parts of the game, and I love the fact that they're actually going down both these routes for this one game and giving it a nice, distant Holiday 2011 release. This game will look awesome on an HDTV.

There's so much in these trailers and interviews that scream, "SEGA has been intently listening," and "SEGA can and wants to make a great Sonic game again," but it's too soon to tell any of that, as is the case with any game, but most especially with the next new Sonic game. That's why I've got some doubts about how well the 2D gameplay will work out. Will the levels be as expansive, rewarding, and fun to play through as the best of what Sonic had to offer on the Genesis? I sure as shit hope so. The physics and handling at least seem to be in order, for the most part (heavy jump?). If not, then at least there's the amazing 3D reimagining's of Sonic's best Genesis levels of all time. Either way, I'm pretty sure I'll be as satisfied with this game as I was with Colors, if not even moreso.

Either way, this is going to be one hell of a landmark title for Sonic. It'll be the first time SEGA explicitly tries to reconcile their old school audience and new school audience with one game. And I can't remember how many times people have said something like that couldn't be done or would never happen, just like whether or not SEGA would reimagine old zone favorites in 3D, bring back old favorite tunes, or even use the old Oshima art style everyone who grew up with the Sega Genesis knew and loved.

[SonicGenesis89]

Words cannot describe how happy and excited I am over this game. I've been jumping around all giggly and excited like a little kid on Christmas. This really is a dream come true. Classic Sonic looks so damn adorable in the game play I just want to hug him. He looks better in my opinion in the actual game than in the CGI trailer. Only because he looks more like Japanese Classic Sonic than the American version and I prefer the Japanese style more but love both. Both gameplay styles look so much fun, I personally love both Classic and Modern Sonic so this game is like a best of both worlds as I love both Classic and Unleashed / Colours style gameplay. Green Hill Zone never looked so mind blowing beautiful and stunning. I can have a nostalgic fangasm seizure over the scenery alone. In fact I did when I first saw the gameplay trailer and my family were wondering why I was jumping around all excited like a little kid lol.

I must've watched both the gameplay trailer and interview 5 times each by now and am still so damn excited words cannot describe and I don't even own a PS3 or Xbox! But guess who's going to be saving up her cash to quickly buy a 360 now solely for this game and preordering it! I'm loving everything about this game I really honestly have zero complaints right now and have been extremely sucked into the hype its very hard not to be excited by this game. The Classic gameplay style looks like it mimic's the Genesis style almost exactly, even if its not 100% identical its still pretty damn close and better than Sonic 4. I'm so happy that both versions of Sonic have their own respective and unique abilities and they didn't give Classic Sonic the Homing Attack or Boost.

I'm loving the music style that I heard in the interview and love how the song is different between Modern and Classic Sonic. I love the close attention to detail they put into this game, I can see a lot of dedication and adoration put in. The surreal trippy and beautiful levels of the Genesis games never looked so beautiful, I always wanted to see the Genesis and Sonic CD levels in HD 3D. I can't wait to see what the other levels look like and hope theres some Sonic CD levels since thats one of my favorite Sonic games next to Sonic 3 and Knuckles. I love how the water looks in some of the screen shots I saw with Modern Sonic and other little details it just literally sucks me right into Sonic's world and I can't stop admiring the gorgeous scenery. I also like hearing that Sega is trying to please both Classic and Modern fan bases.

I feel like Sega has finally got their shit together and that this is going to be a good game, I have a very good feeling it will just like I did for Sonic Colours. I wonder how Sonic 4 Episode 2 will try to compete with Sonic Generations now. Honestly theres just no competition as to which is better. No matter the price for this game I don't care, Fry couldn't say it any better SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY SEGA! I'd gladly pay 200 dollars and up for this game man its totally worth it. I was blown away at the fact this game is actually going to have a storyline I was one of the few people who really thought it was going to be really light on the story and plot area. I'm curious and excited to see how this plays out it just READS Sonic CD and Time Stones to me.

I'm loving that Classic Eggman / Robotnik sign post at the end of the Classic level too. I hope there is a Classic Eggman making an appearance in the game, I don't see why he wouldn't. I also can't wait to see the "Classic" versions of Sonic's friends such as Tails, Knuckles and Amy. I miss my long snouted orange adorable fox I fell in love with in Sonic 2 and can't wait to see what he'd look like in 3D along with "Chuckles" pulling pranks on me in Sonic 3 levels. Seeing a 3D classic Amy would be an amazing sight too with her retro 90's clothing and sneakers. She'll actually look like a hedgehog too! And then they say theres even more surprises? Man I just cannot wait for this game! I can't wait for more information, gameplay and the actual release! I also saw a Red Medal in one of the gameplay sequences so I can only hope there will be a Classic and Modern Super Sonic.

Even better I'd love more than anything to see a return of Hyper Sonic and it'd be really awesome to see a Modern Hyper Sonic fighting alongside a Classic Hyper Sonic. I also love how when jumping on ramps doing tricks is optional and not forced and its pretty free as well. It reminds me so much of Sonic Riders 1 where you can go nuts with the analog stick spamming different types of tricks however you want them instead of it being so automated and forced like in Colours and Zero Gravity where all you did was spam or press one button. I also like how you are not punished for not doing any tricks and can just jump off them and continue throughout the level without dieing if you don't do a trick. I'm really curious as to what this new and strange evil and power this is, I definitely feel that Robotnik / Eggman is involved but I get a feeling from the storyline statements that theres going to be something more to it and I'm not sure what to think of it or what it could possibly be.

The only thing I'm kind of sad about is not seeing the Super Peel Out return, I just have a emotional attachment to it for some reason and think it looks awesome but than again Sonic's full speed running animation looks a lot like a Peel Out since its a blur'd effect which I am really liking a lot. I am also loving the fact you have an option to play the game normally pressing down and then a button to do a Spin Dash or just be lazy and press one button for a instant Spin Dash. The fact that this game is all about options and preferences is just a wonderful concept as it can please many people and appease their many preferences.

I also am going to be all bubbly and happy to see a Classic Sonic running around in City Escape and other Dreamcast and Modern era Zones. I absolutely adore Classic Sonic's cleared act animation where he lays down, its just so adorable! He's so full of life and energetic in this game its just so refreshing to see. I also like the idea someone mentioned earlier about Classic Sonic being like Toon Link and Modern Sonic being like Twilight Princess Link. Not so much the two different timeline thing but the fact that some games can have one art style and others can have another. I think Sonic deserves that kind of artistic freedom as well.