Review | Sonic Generations

First, a confession. I am a Sega fanboy. I was a proud former owner of a Mega Drive, a Mega CD, a Sega Saturn and the iconic Dreamcast. Having literally grown up with Sega consoles, it’s inevitable that I have a soft spot for the Sega mascot, the legendary Sonic the Hedgehog

But Sonic has seen some lean years in terms of quality, a lull that has lasted almost a decade with a few sporadic titles like Sonic Colours to shine in an otherwise dreary darkness for Sonic fans. Where Nintendo rival Mario handled the switch to 3D with aplomb and produced one of the greatest games of all time with Super Mario 64, Sonic failed to be able to translate the thrill of speed when faced with another dimension.

So come Sonic Generations and come a whole new approach to making Sonic relevant in the modern gaming age. Sonic Team has gone back to the future with Generations, taking players on a nostalgia trip through the twenty years of Sonic history and producing the best Sonic game for years.

The key why-didn’t-they-think-of-it-before aspect in Sonic Generations is the almost seamless blending of the past and present. Players are given the opportunity to revisit some of the key stages in Sonic history when old school and new school Sonic are both thrust into the same world.

Modern Sonic finds himself having to (again) rescue his friends as they are swallowed by a demonic time eater and thrown into various moments in his past. It is here that he encounters classic Sonic who is doing the same thing, but with less talking.

The whole gang, including favourites Tails and Knuckles, must (again) be recovered and the past restored so Sonic can get back to doing whatever it is that hedgehogs do when they’re not saving the world.

The premise is sheer genius as it allows Sonic Team the chance to bring back the 2D world of classic Sonic while not being labeled as redundant or de-evolutionary  by making it a key focus of the narrative. The two Sonics eventually discover the truth behind everything, which invariably includes Dr Robotnik (Eggman), and go about travelling through these iconic worlds setting everything right.

With nine acts representing some of the most iconic stages in Sonic history, Generations is a deliberate post-modern homage to the titles and games that have come before it. Starting with the original 1991 classic Sonic and traversing all the way to 2010′s Sonic Colours, the game is both reverential and revisionist to the games it revisits.

With every act being playable in both classic (2D) and modern (3D) versions, the game plays with fans perceptions of the levels, tinkering with them in such ways that will both delight and astound in equal measure. While the original Sonic had depth in the remarkable vista’s that Yuji Naka and his team created, only now can you actually visit those mysterious backgrounds and explore landscapes that were untouchable before.

Sometimes the switch from modern to classic Sonic can take a little bit of time to get used to as each Sonic has different abilities, but for the most part the two different takes on the same levels act as perfect counterpoints in driving the story and the game forward.

To say that Sonic Generations is a love letter to the fans is to understate the obvious. Everything about it, from the presentation to the music invokes an astonishing sense of nostalgia for long-time fans. But there is plenty here for newcomers to enjoy as well.

The game caters for beginners with the inclusion of helpful hints (which can be turned off) and the gradual ramping up of the difficulty. While a game that is targeted somewhat at the kids, Generations still offers a wealth of unlockables and enough of a challenge to entice an adult crowd to relive their childhood.

Special mention has to be made of the menu system as well. Comprised of the nine stages that make up the game, the menu slowly opens up as Sonic completes acts and is drawn to life bringing colour to the otherwise white world. Combined with the magical music from the original Mega Drive Sonic games and the entire presentation of Sonic Generations just can’t be faulted.

Now the game isn’t perfect; much like Sonic games of old, it can be very unforgiving in terms of timing and while the homage to past games is one of the most positive aspects, the inclusion of some of the least successful, in design terms, worlds is a little jarring. And not including the casino stage is disappointing for one reviewers inner 12 year-old. But it is the most well-rounded and compelling Sonic title of all.

Far from just being a straight cash grab for the 20^th Anniversary of Sega’s ultimate franchise, Sonic Generations is a perfect example of how to make former classics new again. Everything about the game is designed to bring a smile to the face of Sonic fans both young and old. Trust me, Sonic Generations is a blast.   [8]