Best and worst zones in the 2D games

Sonic 1
Best: Star light Zone because it is calm.
Worst: Spring Yard Zone because it is pretty bland.

Sonic 2
Best: Chemical Plant Zone because it is fast.
Worst: Hill Top Zone because it is boring.

Sonic 3
Best: Launch Base Zone because I like the music and the act 1 background.
Worst: Don't really have one to be honest.

Sonic and Knuckles
Best: Death Egg Zone because it is a fantastic final level.
Worst: Sandopolis, well act 2 because it is long and I got lost all the time.

 

Sonic 1:

Best - Green Hill; Iconic and still great to look at (especially in RGB on a 30" CRT)
Worst - Spring Yard; The music, style and colours really annoy me.

Sonic 2:

Best - Wing fortress; Fantastic level design, allows you to speed and platform and still give the illusion you are on a flying fortress.
Worst - Aquatic ruin; It's so annoying there is no incentive to explore.

Sonic 3:

Best - Marble Garden; Massive, lots to to and play with without being too distracting.
Worst - Angel Island; Weak level, visually unappealing and it doesn't feel like it fits with the rest of the game.

Sonic and Knuckles:

Best - Lava Reef; The way the level changed between act 1 and 2 is amazing.
Worst - Flying battery; f*cking annoying, looks ugly, crap act 1 boss.

Sonic CD

Best - Tidal Tempest; Great music, an enjoyable good looking water level.
Worst - Collision Chaos; Looks like a palette hack gone wrong...I like the boss however.

Sonic 1 GG/MS

Best - Jungle Zone; Awesome music, blocks look like bourbon biscuits (yum).
Worst - Bridge Zone; Pathetic, boring.

Sonic 2 GG/MS

All of them suck.

The other games I haven't played enough to know the names off by heart and I can't be assed to look them up.

Would be cool if someone could collate this data, make a graph or something.

I might do it actually, give me a day or too.

 

Sandopolis Act 2 is the best act ever

Underground Zone Act 3 sucks

Sunset Park Act 3 FTW

Need I say more?

 

Didn't think anyone else would agree that Sandopolis Act 2 is actually pretty cool.

 

Sonic 1:
Best - Spring Yard Zone
Worst - Marble Zone

Sonic CD:
Best - Wacky Workbench
Worst - Palmtree Panic

Sonic 2:
Best - Chemical Plant
Worst - Hill Top

Sonic 3:
Best - Hydrocity
Worst - Carnival Night

Sonic & Knuckles:
Best - Flying Battery
Worst - Sandopolis

Sonic Advance:
Best - Ice Mountain
Worst - Angel Island

Sonic 1 MS
Best - Sky Base
Worst - Jungle

Sonic 2 MS
Best - Aqua Lake
Worst - Green Hill

I guess I sort of have a thing for mechanical levels.

 

Sonic 1-
Best: Scrap Brain. I just love the graphical style, music, and difficulty. There's a ton of platforming, and it truly feels like a final stage.
Worst: Star Light. Bland stage layout and tiles. Also, it's always irked me how the second easiest level in the game precedes the most difficult by far.

Sonic 2-
Best: Wing Fortress. I really like the stage layout. Lots of platforming, and well-used level gimmicks.
Worst: Metropolis. Everything about the stage just becomes grating when you're stuck in it too long. It's not exactly a stage that I ever find myself looking forward to playing.

Sonic 3-
Best: Angel Island. One of the few first stages that I prefer over the rest. The stage presents itself fantastically, from the opening sequence with Super Sonic and Knuckles to the whole jungle getting nuked, and its layout really stands out from past 2D Sonic beginning levels (more vertical and leftward progression).
Worst: Carnival Night. This place just seems to drag on, that's my biggest complaint. All those bumpers and whatnot can get a little annoying as well. Not a bad stage though, just my least favorite.

Sonic and Knuckles-
Best: Lava Reef. Quite honestly, one of my favorite levels in a Sonic game ever. I love pretty much everything about it. Act 2 in particular really strikes a chord with me, thanks to its ambient atmosphere and music. I also really like the feeling of progression that this stage has, which is made possible by the crashed Death Egg becoming larger as you proceed through the stage. The sequence leading up to the boss fight was truly one of Eggman's shining moments as a villain, and the boss fight itself was rather unique.
Worst: Death Egg. Surprisingly bland for a final Sonic stage. Can't stand those vertical shafts with the moving conveyor belts and the missles being shot out from the sides. I recall there being this one point in Act 2 where, if you died, you were forced to go through one of these things without any rings. A few game overs have certainly come about because of this. Also, the background is unimpressive technically and visually, especially Act 2. Music's great though.

Sonic CD-
Best: Metallic Madness. The vibe that I seemed to get from this stage was one of both parts of the original Scrap Brain combined- the ominous outside region of Act 1 and the inner base of Act 2. Pinpointed platforming and careful maneuvering through spikes and buzzsaws are a definite virtue here, and the sense of danger associated with the stage only becomes that much greater in the Bad Future, which is quite hellish in appearance. I originally played Sonic CD with the American soundtrack, and as such, prefer the American music here, as far as the present goes. It's quite the ominous tune, and I just feel that it matches the aesthetics of the zone perfectly. Interestingly enough, I prefer the Japanese Bad Future theme.
Worst: Tidal Tempest. Rather boring, and feels like a chore to get through. None of the time periods here particularly do it for me, and though I find the Japanese music to be better than the American tracks here, I don't exactly hold them in high regard. Additionally, I was somewhat miffed to realize that the impressive multilayered background briefly seen at the beginning of the 1st act never appears again.

Sonic Advance-
Best: Egg Rocket/Cosmic Angel. In the case of Egg Rocket, I'm just a sucker for vertical progression in Sonic games. The idea of scaling a rocket as it's on course to Eggman's space headquarters is awesome, and the music is perfect. Once you get to Cosmic Angel- wow! Bright colors, huge scope, all sorts of trippy lights, and a flawless, upbeat, and inspiring musical track to accompany it. If a future 3D Sonic title were to take a page out this zone's book, it would be sublime.
Worst: Casino Paradise. Not a bad stage by any means. It does a rather good job with the whole carnival/casino theme. I just enjoy the other stages more, that's all.

Sonic Advance 2-
Best: Music Plant. What an odd, abstract, trippy little zone. Has tons of charm, cool music, and is generally quite fun to bounce around in.
Worst: Leaf Forest. Probably the weakest attempt at a "green" first level I've seen in a (non Game Gear/ Master System) 2D Sonic. It's not particularly impressive in any way, and what exactly is the deal with the background, and it's weird random shapes? Unappealing.

Sonic Advance 3-
Best: Chaos Angel. One of my favorite zones in a Sonic game ever. Playing on a dimensionally unstable, post-apocolyptic Angel Island while navigating ancient, ominous ruins towering hundreds of feet in the air in just incredible. This was truly a wonderful surprise, seeing as how Sonic games typically feature some sort of mechanized base as their final area. There's a ton of platforming and paths to boot, the level layout is varied and well-made, and the music is AMAZING. I can play this place over and over.
Worst: Twinkle Snow. Again, not a bad stage. In fact, I felt like Sonic Advance 3 had the strongest level designs in the whole Advance series. Nonetheless, there were quite a few cheaply-placed enemies, and the level had a comparatively mediocre and unoriginal feeling to it.

Sonic Rush-
Best: Altitude Limit. Fun fun fun. Stage moves at a blistering pace, is appealing to the eye, has a catchy high-octane music track, and boasts one of my favorite bosses in the Rush series. There were also more platforming sections here than anywhere else in the game, which was nice.
Worst: Mirage Road. This zone had a ton of those forced enemy fights, and not enough time was spent above the ruins, where the graphics shined the most. The rolling platform near the end doesn't really add to the stage at all, and just drags it on longer than it has to be.

Sonic Rush Adventure-
Best: Pirates' Island. Wow, talk about your strange final stage. I expected some sort of hellhole initially, but instead got a decadantly refurbished, nay, vandalized version of what was assumingly a once-salty, hairy-armed pirate base. The stage is charming and whimsical, of which is rather deceptive considering all of the crushing anchors placed about with the clear intention of indiscriminately impaling and flattening you. The level's water-based foundation and gimmicks gave off somewhat of a Launch Base feeling here, which was refreshing and welcoming. Also, I love the music to bits. Extremely catchy.
Worst: Machine Labyrinth. Not terrible, just rather unspectacular. In comparison to Huge Crisis from the first Sonic Rush, this level just seems somewhat weaker and less inspired in comparison. The background reminded me of Spring Yard though, which was kind of neat.

 

Sonic CD -

Worst zone: Wacky Workbench Zone. It's by far the worst zone I've ever played in the entire series.

 

Sonic 1:

Best: None :v: I hate about every level in this game. Well not hate. But I'm not going to say I like the levels in it. If there is one of them I prefer though, it's Scrap Brain. And Labyrinth to an extent.

Worst: Marble. No, seriously. This level sucks in every way. The ground is just Green Hill, but with bricks instead of dirt. The background is pretty sad too. It's just purple mountains, and a blue, yet overcast sky. Had they made the sky grey/grey-blueish, it would have given a nice atmosphere. But noooo The undergound BG is kind of boring too. It's just bricks with occasional windows, flames, and pillars.
The level design isn't so great either. The most of the time it catches you offguard with unconveniently-placed spikes, jumping flames, and obviously, lava. Lava is something I hate.

Sonic 2:

Best: Chemical Plant. While it's certainly not the best level in every sonic game to date, it's certainly one of the best in Sonic 2. It's got a nice background, a not-so-bad foreground, and awesome level design. The music is the best in the game, too

Worst: OK I know this doesn't count, but Wood Zone. The level art was boring as fuck, the level would have probably been unmemorable had it been finished, and for what we saw of it, the level design was seriously uninspired, like jumping over small gaps between floating bricks.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles:

Best: Carnival Night. I don't like Sonic 3 & Knuckles' levels that much, since they can be fairly long and confusing. However Carnival Night is probably the most fun out of them all. It has awesome music, awesome art, and a pretty fun midboss. Also, it was NOT long and confusing. At worst it lasted 3 minutes and that's how long should a Sonic level be. Robotnik sucked in that one, though.

Worst: Marble Garden. Sandopolis was a close match, but unlike Marble Garden, it has good music, art, and was a good idea. Marble Garden wasn't. It's got boring music, the art is really uninspired, and it's a fucking maze. I mean seriously, without the arrows to help you out, you wouldn't even know how to finish the level.

Sonic CD:

Best: Stardust Speedway. It's got awesome art, AWESOME AWESOME music (both versions, except US Bad future), and awesome level design. It's a pretty confusing level with all the alternate paths that even today (I've been playing Sonic CD since christmas) I can find new places.

Worst: Quartz Quadrant. Not that it's a bad level or anything, but it just feels bland compared to the other levels, making it the most unmemorable Sonic CD level.

Chaotix:

Best: Marina Madness. It's just so relaxing. The idea is also very innovative and I like that.

Worst: Oh goody. Amazing Arena. No but really this one sucks. It's confusing, and I got fucked over for not pressing the switch. Seriously, it's already damn long, and it's a damn maze, but if you forget to press a switch you have to do it all over again. That, and it's never said that you have to press the switch to pass it.

Sonic 1 (GG):

Best: Bridge Zone. The music is pretty awesome, and it has a Super Mario Land feel I just can't say "no" to.

Worst: Jungle Zone. I really, really hate it. I got screwed over more than once due to the choppy scrolling, the music is pretty annoying, and the boss is just nasty.

Sonic 2 (GG):

Best: Scrambled Egg. The music owns here, and the art is kind of surprising. The boss is fairly epic, too, and the level has interesting level design, making for once GOOD use of Chemical Plant's pipes. Too bad some of them are used to send you into bottomless pits.

Worst: Aqua Lake. At least Act 2. A level where you are underwater for the WHOLE time is not fun. That and the bubbles-riding sections are not really fun.

Sonic Chaos:

Best: Mecha Green Hill. Just like I love Green Hills' music, I love this level's music.

Worst: Electric Egg. It's like scrambled egg except with worse music and worse level design. Had they made Act 3's music the music for the whole zone and I probably would have put it as the best but they didn't.

Sonic Triple Trouble:

Best: Atomic Destroyer. Even though the whole zone's music is horrible and the level design can be a little , I just love it. I don't know why.

Worst: Tidal Plant. Seriously this one sucks. You have absolutely no idea where to get the air bubbles since their little spot DOESN'T APPEAR (), the music is boring, the level design is confusing and the boss is pretty uninspired too.
I mean, Knuckles on a ship. Shooting missiles at you. That's original


tl;dr I hate long and maze-like levels.

 

Sonic 1:
Best: Star Light Zone/ Spring Yard (Speedy, cool music etc)
Worst: Marble (Kind of boring)

Sonic 1 SMS:
Best: Sky Base (Just brilliant - every act)
Worst: Labyrinth (Very slow, slower than the MD version, unlike the rest of S1 SMS)

Sonic 2:
Best: Chemical Plant Zone: (THE PERENNIAL Sonic zone? Everythings here: Technology, loops, fast speed, tubes, cool music etc)
Worst: Oil Ocean: (Just boring and ugly - ugh)

Sonic 2 SMS:
Best: Scrambled Egg zone (Just... look and listen... awesome)
Worst: Crystal Egg zone (From the best... to the worst. Just slow, ugly and unimaginative)

Sonic CD:
(Cant say as I've not played it extensively)


Sonic Chaos:
Best: Sleeping Egg zone (A whole zone made of collapsing blocks... very cool and imaginitive)
Worst: Electric Egg zone (Dull and anti-climactic)

Sonic Spinball:
Best: Toxic Caves (Its just a cool zone)
Worst: The rest, theyre just dull and unimaginative.

Sonic 3:
Best: Carnival Night (I love the feel of it)
Worst: None (Though im least keen on Icecap)

S+K:
Best: Lava Reef/ Hidden Palace (The music, the effects, the transition from Act 1s heat to the cold act 2... brilliant) oh and Sky Sanctuary... what do you mean I cant choose 3???
Worst: Flying Battery - Just feels like a Metropolis clone

Sonic In Triple Trouble GG:
(Never played it extensively)


Knuckles Chaotix:
(Never played it really)




After that im not interested in Sonic

 

Sonic 1:
Best: Green Hill Zone: It's grandma for its classicness and it's SPOCIOUSly fun.
Worst: Labyrinth Zone: Too hard, kthxbi.

Sonic 2:
Best: Wing Fortress: Had that grandma epic feel. Chemical Plant comes runner-up.
Worst: Hill Top: I like it and it's grandma, but compare'd to the other it doesn't feel as grandma.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles:
Best: Lava Reef: EPIC and grandma.
Worst: Sandopolis: Too hard, kthxbi.

Sonic CD:
Best: Stardust Speedway
Worst: (all are grandma so this kinda hard but...) Wacky Workbench: I like it a lot and it's really grandma, but the others are better.

Knuckles' Chaotix: Never play'd it, sadly.

I didn't really play the 8 bit ones too much so yeah...

 

Sonic 1
Best: Star Light Zone
Worst: Labyrinth Zone

Sonic 2
Best: Chemical Plant Zone
Worst: Hill Top Zone

Sonic 3
Best: Angel Island Zone
Worst: Carnival Night Zone

Sonic CD
Best: Stardust Speedway
Worst: Wacky Workbench

Sonic & Knuckles
Best: Flying Battery
Worst: Sandpolis

 

Wacky Workbench blows in CD.