6 replies to this topic

[Keen Bean]

I'm interested in seeing all of your opinions on the various styles of Sonic gameplay over the past 20 years, especially those who have played all or most of the games. This is mostly considering Sonic for all the games:

Classic - Your original gameplay style that launched Sonic to where he is now. Used on the classic Genesis titles and was almost 100% 2D (minus some special stages). Known for it's great momentum-based physics and SPEED.

Dreamcast - Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 are also praised for their style by taking the 2D elements and did a good job moving in to 3D. As Sonic, you kept the speed but also had an ability to explore with very fluid controls. The "Adventure" style continued with Sonic Heroes and ended on a sour note in Sonic 2006.

Modern - The game is very focused on SPEED, but the ability to explore the environments is reduced. Sonic is no longer made for the precise "slow speed" platforming parts, but for going fast and the player's quick reflexes. This began with Sonic and the Secret Rings that was very linear and felt more like a racing game. Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors added 2D sections to help bring back the original gameplay, doing a pretty nice job overall but still having that "racing game" feel for a lot of the 3D sections. Finally, Sonic Generations added a bit more platforming and freedom to move around a bit while still keeping that GO FAST feel and also adding the pure 2D gameplay in a revamped version of the classic style gameplay.

Other - Sonic 3D Blast does not play like a Sonic game, and pure Sonic fans were disappointed. I still enjoyed it as a regular action/adventure game with very good graphics for its time. Sonic 4 is quite different from the classic gameplay with the added homing attack and a lot of criticism for its poor momentum. and feel. Does keep a focus on platforming much like the classics did, but was different enough for me to put it here. I put the "classic Sonic" from Sonic Generations here as well since it is just different enough from the original classics to get its own style. This also includes games like Sonic Advance and Sonic Rush (Advance is very close to the classic gameplay, and the Rush games add boosting).

MY THOUGHTS:

1st - Classic - I still enjoy playing the original Genesis titles and "Sonic 3 and Knuckles" will probably remain as my favorite game of all time. There is just enough balance of speed with platforming. I felt like I was 100% in control of Sonic no matter what was going on, maybe this was due to how much I played it as a kid. The classic style is my favorite, but just barely over...

2nd - Dreamcast - I loved the control of Sonic in the Adventure gamess. You had tight controls and could take advantage of the speed dash to put together some amazing speed runs through levels (especially in Sonic Adventure). I remember getting such a good feel for the game, I could time mixtures of the spindash with a jump and homing attack to land Sonic EXACTLY where I wanted. I am also a huge fan of the adventure field which really added to the exploration aspect. SA2 kept a lot of that and continued to allow you to explore in levels, but took out the adventure field. Sonic Heroes (just considering Sonic) was very similar, but Sonic 2006 had a "clunky" feel to it. Still, you were allowed to explore and still hit high speeds at times. The first "Modern" gameplay may have appeared here with the "Mach speed" sections. Despite some flaws, the Dreamcast style is almost tied with my love for the Classic style because it still had some great speed sections, good platforming, and allowed you a lot of control to explore.

3rd - Although I enjoyed games like Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors, I am not a big fan of the 3D sections almost "forcing" you to go super fast and never look back. Maybe this is because I was use to the classic/dreamcast feel where if you missed something it was usually no problem to go back, but it just felt... different. Some of them are fantastic, boosting through Chun-nan on the "Great Wall" can give you a thrill for sure, but I just didn't think it was as good as it could be. The 2D sections were done pretty well though. Sonic Generations, to me, has almost fixed the "linear feel" of the 3D sections. You still have the super fast, "boost to win" parts, but I felt like a had a bit more control of Sonic in the 3D parts, a very noticeable difference from the other Modern games. The game was made for you to go fast, but also gave you decent controls when you are having to jump around a lot or something like that. Now, it's not a bad gameplay, I like it in its own way, but its just not my favorite. I am very glad that it appears to be getting better as well.

Other - I really don't have an issue with the controls from Sonic 3D Blast, it's just a different style of game. I like the Sonic 4 controls as well, and once you get use to the somewhat wacky physics at times (several examples on YouTube) it's not bad. I did find Classic Sonic from Sonic Generations at times a bit frustrating, but once again once you get a good feel for that style of gameplay you get use to it. I feel just a small tweak or two would make the Classic Sonic gameplay perfect. Sonic Advance and Rush were also both very enjoyable.

So that's my take on the gameplay styles. I would love to see a combination of the Modern/Dreamcast styles that gives me the freedom and tight control like in Sonic Adventure, but also gives me the speed like in Sonic Unleashed/Generations. Sure that's easier said than done, but from Sonic and the Secret Rings, to Unleashed, and to Generations it looks like that is where it is heading. I have also heard that Sonic Team is looking for the "new Sonic" gameplay in 2012...

[RedAuthar]

1) Dreamcast-Sonic is great in 3D. I believe these are some of the best Sonic Games Ever made.
2) Classic/Advance-I like these games as well. They are classics.
3) Other-Big fan of games like Sonic Battle, Sonic Fighters, Sonic 3D Blast, and even Sonic Riders (the original) wasn't too bad. However... Sonic Drift, the SEGA All-Stars Racing/Tennis, and a bunch of others keep this category from getting too high.
4) Modern-I hate the moments where the level is just run really fast and dodge objects that get in your way.

[Ann Chovi]

1. Modern (dodges thrown bricks) I know, I know, as a classic Sonic fan it's not expected for this to be first- but I LIKE the mixed 2d / 3d perspectives, for me it makes the level visually interesting, and I think they did a fabulous job with that in Sonic Generations. I think the best level that they used this effect in were City Escape (omg the GUN truck is insane), and Crisis City. The fast-paced, better react quick gameplay is really fun in my opinion. And at least in Generations, they improved the camera angles and the physics that made 3D controls a pain for me in the past.
2. Classic was my favorite for the longest time. The controls are simple and easy to remember, and it's still quick paced, though not quite as fast as modern controls. I'm a bit biased though, because Sonic 2 has been my favorite game ever since it came out. It's stayed king in my book even when I started obsessing over the MYST series of PC games (omg the puzzles!). But yeah classic 2D is high quality gaming, I just have grown to prefer the mixed elements playing Generations lately. ^^;
3. Dreamcast goes third. I honestly had a hard time with the controls on these, and usually end up running dead into enemies / off the edge because of bad camera angles or clunky controls. I dunno, maybe it's just me being awful with the controls, but I'd love to be able to actually play SA2 and not have to curse at the controller multiple times because it keeps leading me to my death.
4. Other, only because I never really got to play any, so I reserve judgement. 3D Blast was okay, a little clunky on the controls, and Knuckles Chaotix was fun though a little interesting to get used to. But those are the only "other" games I've really played at all. ^^;

[RedAuthar]

I should probably note that I played the Dreamcast Sonic games when they were ported onto the GameCube, so there might have been some fixes in those versions.

[Ann Chovi]

I've got the Gamecube version of SA2 at least (SA1 is on my PC), so maybe I just suck at navigating the controls. Totally possible.

[wildfire]

Ok, as someone who's played most of the past 20 years of Sonic games, I feel safe to weigh in on this one...

1st Classic Sonic: Any game that's still fun to me after playing for 20 years definitely gets the top spot in this poll. S3&K will now and forever be my all time favorite sonic game. The levels were massive, while still allowing enough fluid gameplay that you almost felt like you were flying through. This period of Sonic gaming was during the golden age of the console, which is a point in gaming history near and dear to my heart.

2nd Modern Sonic: I personally loved Sonic Unleashed's daytime stages. The sense of speed was staggering and enjoyable (unlike Sonic 06) and you really ripped your way through the levels at a breakneck pace that only Sonic could meet. I enjoyed Sonic & the Secret Rings immensely, for the short period of time I played it. But the lack of a reverse camera kind of marred the experience. The skill rings however showed that there was room for treading new ground. Never played Sonic & the Black Knight, but being a fan of swords and knights and such I think its safe to say i'd find little fault. And as for Sonic Generations, I truly believe it to be the best sonic game made in the past 10 years.

3rd Other: I don't know what games specifically fit in to this particular genre, but I assume you;re referring to titles like Sonic Drift and the like. I personally loved these games, even if they were terrible (i'm looking at you Sonic R) because they showed SEGA was willing to take risks with its intellectual property back then. Sonic 3D Blast was a clever take on a camera angle that most were afraid to use at the time. Sonic Drift showed that whatever Mario can do, Sonic usually did first. These games showed some true innovation, albeit a little hit and miss at times.

4th Dreamcast: I find these to be some of the most terrible games in Sonic history gameplay wise. The story elements of the Adventure series were truly wonderful. But the gameplay itself was horrid and ruined the entire experience. Sonic Heroes, while interesting in its own right, suffered from the same dodgy camera angles and unresponsive controls that had ruined the Adventure games for me. As far as Sonic 06 goes, the game looked gorgeous, but played the same as all the others of it's time. Which is to say that it was neigh unplayable by most standards. The story elements of these games wowed me, but the unwieldy camera and impossible controls firmly places them on the bottom of my list.

Ann Chovi (clever name now that I look at it) I love your avi!

[Reed Teran]

In the defining statement of a Tails fan/villain at large.....
NO SONIC G FOR REED!
I am a fan of games like Sonic a2b or Srb2, and sonic 2. I like to be the other people, because Eggman and I share the contempuous(and for me, occasional) hatred of a certain blue creature for his comments, attitude, and occasional bad advice. I have quite high hopes that one day, Super Sonic Smash will be made, and if that day comes, I will finally post a picture of myself as my avatar.