[Solid SOAP]

Despite all the Episode II drama, what, exactly, about the franchise as of now makes you happy to be a fan? Is there anything about the new games that you genuinely like, or even love? Talk about that here, be it big things like the level design and overall appeal of the games, or even little things like the tone or style of the games.

Frankly, I'm happy that Sonic's darkest days are over. I know '06 is considered a current gen game, but it's long behind us now in favor of games like Colors and Generations. It absolutely bewilders me that after getting shit-after-shit game one after the other ever since Heroes, and after seeing games like this:



and this:



get green-lighted, that the franchise is heading more and more back to its roots, even if only on a superficial scale. Not even necessarily in a return to form way, but the fact that SEGA have been pumping out multiple 2D titles (For better or for worse), more lighthearted and fun games, games that are ACTUALLY GOOD, and others, makes me really happy to be a Sonic fan. Be honest, on image alone you can tell that current SEGA/Sonic Team are composed of more people who actually care about the franchise than they were about 10ish years ago. Just looking at screens of Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, and even Episode II, isn't it nice to see how stark the contrast is between what the franchise was during the Gamecube era and now? Seriously, just looking at what we've seen above, and comparing it to this:



this:



and even this:



You have to admit that the franchise is in much better shape than it once was. It makes me happy to know that even if Sonic 4 hasn't exactly been a hit, that SEGA are even attempting to make a classic-type game as opposed to churning out more ridiculously putrid crap like Shadow and Sonic '06.

[Rokkan]

SEGA has been coming back to its roots before Sonic 4 and will continue to do so. Sonic 4 did not dictate a trend to Sonic games, it was just following them.

I am glad they have been designing games around speed again and taking huge notes from the classics, and building upon them. Although their games still have some pretty annoying flaws, some that re-occours in every Sonic game since 2001, even, they are trying to do really great games again. I am glad that they are doing beautiful environments instead of uninspired stuff based on things they did on the Adventures (Heroes, Shadow, Sonic 06). And I am also glad that the music for the games barely lets me down - in fact, some tunes we've had in recent years were the best we've ever had in the whole history of the franchise. Sonic still doesn't have a clear identity and it is stumbling to find one, but it's not in a bad position at all.

[Toasty]

Two words: Sonic Colors. This game is how all the 3D Sonic games should've been, its actually...you know, PLAYABLE. I never would have considered buying Colors if piracy wasn't so easy on the Wii, but I'm glad I got to play it, I had no guilt going to the store and buying it.

[Solid SOAP]

I honestly love Colors, it's nearly as replayable as the Genesis games and the challenge mode is great for a rainy day.

[OSM]

Those last screenshots do make me feel better about the current direction the franchise is heading. I definitely do feel more comfortable about it now, but truth be told I haven't felt the need to buy a single Sonic game since Rush Adventure. They've all been gifts. I think the years of bullshit just made me sick and tired of the franchise, now I just like the characters and music more than the actual games.

This post has been edited by OSM: 28 February 2012 - 03:32 AM

[Hinchy]

It's really good to be able to ease up on the cynicism, ain't it?

Anyway, here's something I like: I can't speak for everyone but I honestly feel like the best-feeling part of Sonic Generations is the 3D parts of the modern stages. They really finally figured out how Sonic should control in 3D. It only took them twelve years, but by god they did it.

[Rokkan]

Hinchy, on 28 February 2012 - 03:41 AM, said:

It's really good to be able to ease up on the cynicism, ain't it?

Anyway, here's something I like: I can't speak for everyone but I honestly feel like the best-feeling part of Sonic Generations is the 3D parts of the modern stages. They really finally figured out how Sonic should control in 3D. It only took them twelve years, but by god they did it.

you must be joking

like, yeah, oh high speeds, Sonic does control really really well, even his handling is superb, so much that quick-stepping is only useful in specific parts for it (and even so, it's mostly useful because the game fucks up your handling of Sonic to obligate you to use the quick-step)

but oh my god slow 3D platforming with Sonic on Unleashed and Generations is incredibly frustrating. It feels like playing Sonic Adventure but with the controller and your hands soaked in vaseline

[Kogen]

The lighter and more authentic feel of some of the games is enjoyable, as is the attempt at 'Classic (read: proper) Sonic' in Sonic Generations - both in art style and in gameplay.

Unfortunately that is all I can think of. The gameplay is still very questionable, but hopefully it can continue to improve. It is better than Heroes, Shadow, and Sonic 06 since Generations. Unleashed/Colours/Rush/Modern Generations/Sonic 4 Episode 1 are all about impression over function - as in they might look correct but are in fact flawed. Generations tried to add the rolling aspect back, which looked nice, but it never translated into gameplay. Maybe the next 3D game will actually try to be a Sonic game instead of just looking like one from a distance. I intend to play them, so this is rather important.

[Kogen]

Hinchy, on 28 February 2012 - 03:41 AM, said:

It's really good to be able to ease up on the cynicism, ain't it?

Anyway, here's something I like: I can't speak for everyone but I honestly feel like the best-feeling part of Sonic Generations is the 3D parts of the modern stages. They really finally figured out how Sonic should control in 3D. It only took them twelve years, but by god they did it.

I have to wonder here: do you even enjoy the Sonic gameplay or just the asthetics? As in are you fine with any old gameplay as long as the game looks decent enough (ie: Generations)?

While you are obviously free to enjoy Modern Sonic all you like, it is nigh unrelated to what Sonic gameplay is (precise platforming with rolling; Modern is imprecise platforming with QTEs and no rolling).

It just bewilders me when I see people saying Modern Sonic is even Sonic gameplay. Games like Rayman Origins and Fancy Pants are more similar to Sonic than this is. It is obviously a platformer, but take out the visuals and sounds of Sonic and you would never know it was related.

Watch this to see what I mean:



And this is not me trying to focus on you, it is a disconnect I see with a lot of people, most importantly the developers.

[W.A.C.]

-The art direction was great in Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, and now Sonic 4: Episode 2 from what we've seen so far.
-The controls in Sonic Generations were a big improvement with Modern Sonic controlling pretty well for the most part. Definitely could be improved though.
-Voice acting improved fuckloads in Sonic Colors for Sonic and Tails. I like most of the new voices but I wish Shadow sounded more like he did in SA2. His voice actor for that game is pretty much the only person I miss from that era of the franchise.
-The level design in Sonic Generations was damn good for both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic. Only major issue I had with the level design was some of the bottomless pits feeling cheap. That, and the one section of Crisis City Act 2 where you had to ground slam those platforms that were being raised by lava kind of sucked. I don't know anyone who liked that section.

Those are the aspects of the modern games that tend to stick out the most to me when it comes to things I like. Hopefully future games will bring back the spindash, more characters (if implemented well), and have the player lose all of his rings when he gets hurt. I really liked how they went back to that in Sonic Colors because I actually died in that game sometimes from things that weren't just bottomless pits. Certain missions and bosses did kill me in other ways though.

[TheKazeblade]

Kogen, on 28 February 2012 - 04:47 AM, said:

Hinchy, on 28 February 2012 - 03:41 AM, said:

It's really good to be able to ease up on the cynicism, ain't it?

Anyway, here's something I like: I can't speak for everyone but I honestly feel like the best-feeling part of Sonic Generations is the 3D parts of the modern stages. They really finally figured out how Sonic should control in 3D. It only took them twelve years, but by god they did it.

I have to wonder here: do you even enjoy the Sonic gameplay or just the asthetics? As in are you fine with any old gameplay as long as the game looks decent enough (ie: Generations)?

While you are obviously free to enjoy Modern Sonic all you like, it is nigh unrelated to what Sonic gameplay is (precise platforming with rolling; Modern is imprecise platforming with QTEs and no rolling).

It just bewilders me when I see people saying Modern Sonic is even Sonic gameplay. Games like Rayman Origins and Fancy Pants are more similar to Sonic than this is. It is obviously a platformer, but take out the visuals and sounds of Sonic and you would never know it was related.

Watch this to see what I mean:



And this is not me trying to focus on you, it is a disconnect I see with a lot of people, most importantly the developers.

Wow, that video looks almost identical to a modern Sonic game. Nice example!

Current Sonic games are on an upward slope, thankfully, but I wouldn't say they're at their peak yet. I still think the Sonic Adventure games handle much better as far as controls go, as Sonic is very slippery to handle, and this is especially noticeable at higher speeds in Unleashed, Colors and Generations.

However, one thing I absolutely love about modern Sonic games are the inclusions of some of his movesets. Namely: drifting and quickstep. Seriously, they are extremely effective tools for high-speed maneuvers. I only wish levels were wider and Sonic's base controls were tighter, and the inclusion of these two moves, jumping and replacing sliding with spinning would make a perfect modern Sonic game.

I'm very grateful with where they've gone with the franchise; if not for what it is, at least for the potential they're beginning to realize.

[jasonchrist]

First, let's get the bad shit out of the way Sonic 4s very existence is an absolute insult. Dimps are the weak link in the Sonic franchise, get the fuck rid of them!

Now let's discuss the good. Colours and Generations are not just great, but awesome! I was initially a little hard on Generations after the first playthrough, labeling it as being "good, not great" insisting that nobody would be playing it in 5 years time. Now I'm not so sure, after my second S-Rank, challenge and red ring playthrough I'm absolutely hooked! I still play it every day and it's been 3 months. Crisis City and Rooftop Run brought me so much joy, considering those zones looked fucking boring as shit in their original games. The modern gameplay is almost a winning formula, with a little tweaking I think they could nail it on the next game. Funny to think that I actually preferred the modern gameplay, yet I wouldn't have bought this game were it not for Classic Sonic. Now for the classic gameplay, -which I'll admit I didn't enjoy quite as much- initially I was displeased that it didn't feel as close to the classics as I'd like, but I did come to quite like them. Even though the physics were different - not Sonic 4 different (meaning shite) - they were actually good. Anyway, great game! Fantastic to see Classic Sonic back, and I urge Sega to keep him around and just keep making Generations titles forever until the old levels run the fuck out.

Anyway, congratulations Sonic! You're not shit anymore.

[W.A.C.]

Kogen, on 28 February 2012 - 04:47 AM, said:

I just now watched that and holy crap. That's kind of bizarre how this resembles the Modern Sonic gameplay more than the Genesis games to a certain extent. That game looks pretty fun actually. Too bad I can find barely any information about it and it's only for the 360.

Edit-

I'm surprised jasonchrist liked Generations so much. o_O

This post has been edited by W.A.C.: 28 February 2012 - 05:43 AM

[SteelBrush]

If any of you are hoping for the Unleashed gameplay with improvements to continue, you'd better not get your hopes up. Iizuka said after Generations that Sonic would be redesigned for the next main game. Why? I really don't know. Modern Sonic has finally found a characterisation that people seem to like, it seems idiotic to change what is working but that's Iizuka's logic, it won't be the first time he's done it.

This post has been edited by SteelBrush: 28 February 2012 - 09:08 AM

[Aerosol]

I remember that quote. I also remember it being open to interpretation.