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[branny]

While I appreciate all kinds of reviews for different opinions, I think the smartest thing any prospective buyer could do is watch videos on YouTube or something.

I just finished viewing the first four parts of that 100% Walkthrough someone posted (despite not wanting to spoil myself), and I am pretty much sold on the game now after being on the fence. It looks like a lot of fun barring a few annoyances here and there (like the stupidly slow cloud jumping parts), and the music seems great as usual.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Ultimately this thread is full of people who are upset that reviewers dont want to invest as much time and effort in the same skillset that they are most inclined to and excell at.

Bro, you've been whining in several Sonic threads about people not fully appreciating and investing time and effort in the various linear hallways and slippery controls of the boost games.

You just did it in this post

 

[Arc Christelle]

He wasn't that fast in his best games.

Shoutouts to technical limitations and fear of lack of user agency. That really isn't a solid defense. Because they worked hard to make "blast processing" look effective.

 

[Noi]

I find it odd everyone wants Sega to not make Sonic go so fast, so they slow him down and people complain he's too slow. Reminds me of that Miyamoto and Zelda meme.

There's a very big gap between slow and mach speed.

 

[Courage]

Yup, cancelling my preorder. Will pick it up when it's cheaper. Ratchet and Clank has priority.

 

[Yoshi]

Bro, you've been whining in several Sonic threads about people not fully appreciating and investing time and effort in the various linear hallways and slippery controls of the boost games.

You just did it in this post

His point is, that it is not consistent to complain about that but then not to learn the skillset needed for the boost-Sonics instead of dismissing it right away. I think he is somewhat right in that regard, because Sonic Unleashed is absolutely not trivial, it's a mechanically rather deep game. However, the complaints about some reviewers unwilling to learn uncommon game mechanics has some merits, too.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Bro, you've been whining in several Sonic threads about people not fully appreciating and investing time and effort in the various linear hallways and slippery controls of the boost games.

You just did it in this post

Which is essentially my point. Everything someone says about a bad SLW review, can also be applied to their opinion of the boost games.

 

[IrishNinja]

^whats the boost trilogy? Rush games?

Wow, some pretty brutal scores there. Guess I'll wait for some feedback from players before deciding what to do here... I skimmed a few reviews and can't tell if it's a bad game, or if reviewers just didn't "get" it. AKA: Godhand syndrome.

yeah man, was thinking this too...again a demo'd go a long way, unless it was a bad one i guess, heh

Added the Kotaku input to the OP

Sonic Lost World [Wii U]

Sonic Lost World [3DS]

reading through Totilo's writeup...one of the comments says they No'd All Star Racing Transformed, is that true?

 

[NotLiquid]

Shoutouts to technical limitations and fear of lack of user agency. That really isn't a solid defense. Because they worked hard to make "blast processing" look effective.

Sometimes in retrospect, less is more and sometimes knowing your limits is a good thing. Having those limits yielded instant classics fondly remembered to this day. In contrast, collect-a-thons in the N64 era tried to push everything and created a stigma that's made the genre not exist anymore.

This isn't even a video game exclusive mentality, if you have less to work with you are often far more likely to make the best with what you have.

 

[jhmtehgamr20xx]

Also Sonic 2 should of ended at metropolis zone.

Noob.

This game has an art style quite its own if you're not lazy enough to notice the differences btwn it and Galaxy.

Maybe you should actually play the game before calling it a Mario ripoff.

 

[qq more]

Boost trilogy refers to Unleashed, Colors and Generations.

You know what makes me laugh in this thread? People who on one hand dismiss the boost trilogy by saying that the games were cheap and it was very easy to die if you didnt memorise a level, indicating they have execution problems.

But then in the same breath bemoaning reviewers unwillingness to learn controls and step up to the "old school challenge" of clunky gameplay.

The hypocrisy is blatant and dripping. If you take time to actually learn how to play the boost games, especially unleashed, its an adrenaline ride that very few games can reach. It never has been simply push forward and press boost, infact that will get you killed very quickly on the later levels. Maybe thats what makes it "cheap".

To play the the boost trilogy properly you have to blend ring and boost bar management with drifting, lightspeed dashing, quickstepping, jumping, boosting, timing, execution and knowledge of the level. You have to be able to type the QTE's as soon as you see them and almost every turn there is something that can break your boost run.

This is not something you can do the first time you play and you have to die and restart levels alot before you get to that level of proficiency that you can comfortably say you "get" a level.

Even if you dont speed run, that is the depth in the boost games.

So stop complaining about the previous games having no depth. They most certainly do. And stop complaining about reviewers not wanting to invest time into games to grow skillsets, because if the feel its worth it they will.

Ultimately this thread is full of people who are upset that reviewers dont want to invest as much time and effort in the same skillset that they are most inclined to and excell at.

Its got nothing to do with bad reviews. As an action fan I can see exactly why TW101 got mixed reviews too. It was simply too obtuse for its own good. Its also the reason why I still havent bought it. I simply dont have the time to learn that combat system and its bells and whistles atm.

Back to sonic, Its also the reason you dont mind a franchise being butchered to be like more like a franchise you enjoy.

Stop the bullshit.

How are you so sure that the people criticizing the reviews for not "getting the game" are the same ones that criticizes the boost gameplay?

Chill out. Why are you always so defensive about this subject in every Sonic thread?

I do however agree that the boost gameplay is actually very good and isn't just mindless running. I especially love how the games punishes you for over abusing boost, pretty much teaching you to boost in moderation. A huge step up from what Rush has started. I do wonder if they will make another Boost game in the future, I would love to see what more they can do with it since Generations did it the best. But I won't mind this kind of gameplay style Lost World has, would be nice if they improve on its mechanics if they decide to revisit it.

 

[March of the Crabs]

reading through Totilo's writeup...one of the comments says they No'd All Star Racing Transformed, is that true?

Yeah and if I remember right it was because they thought it was too hard. Which is the same reason a lot of reviewers seem to be disliking Lost World. And W101. Yet they complain when games like 3D Land are too easy. It's kind of weird.

 

[jhmtehgamr20xx]

Added the Kotaku input to the OP

Sonic Lost World [Wii U]

Wait a minute, lemme get this straight. Basically their reason why you shouldn't buy Lost World on Wii U is because...it plays like an actual video game in 2013, when we thought real video games didn't exist anymore? Shocking.

That's the worst excuse I've heard in a long time by a professional review site. These guys are jokes.

 

[Dark Schala]

^whats the boost trilogy? Rush games?

Unleashed/Colours/Gens.

reading through Totilo's writeup...one of the comments says they No'd All Star Racing Transformed, is that true?

Correct.

 

[Dr. Buni]

Boost trilogy refers to Unleashed, Colors and Generations.

I love these games as much as I love the Genesis trilogy. ;-;

Spoiler

Actually, these two trilogies are the only games I really like in the series

 

[IrishNinja]

Yeah and if I remember right it was because they thought it was too hard. Which is the same reason a lot of reviewers seem to be disliking Lost World. And W101. Yet they complain when games like 3D Land are too easy. It's kind of weird.

oh, its tough and i hate that i cant unlock everyone just by playing, but...yeah, agreed, its a weird thing to take down so many pegs unless you genuinely feel its bad design (which a few reviews here seem to say, as far as lives & checkpoints).

really gotta wonder what caused them to take out the standard 1up at 100 rings thing...i'd imagine you'd get that on an optional hard/hero mode, not normal play

 

[qq more]

I love this games as much as I love the Genesis trilogy. ;-;

Colors is actually my #1 favorite 3D Sonic game. I'd probably rank it as my 4th or 5th favorite Sonic game of all time. It's so great.

 

[RurouniZel]

Still excited for the game. Even Sonic Colors had some reviews that hated it and I absolutely loved it.

If it's shit, then I'll just trade it in. XD

 

[Coxy]

reading through Totilo's writeup...one of the comments says they No'd All Star Racing Transformed, is that true?

Oh dear, dont see my opinions coinciding with theirs then

 

[ViewtifulJC]

His point is, that it is not consistent to complain about that but then not to learn the skillset needed for the boost-Sonics instead of dismissing it right away.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume most people who don't like the boost games have played the boost games. Their game design is really not for everybody, and neither is this game. The Sonic franchise has spun off in so many different directions, and there are so many different people who beat their chests, scream really loud, and stomp out anybody who doesn't go with "their" REAL Sonic opinion. "Sonics should be like the classics, Sonic should be like the boost games, Sonic should have a more serious story like 2006, Sonic should be light-hearted, why is it only Sonic where are the other guys, eww gross Sonic's shitty friends Sonic only pls, he should be this he should be that".

Sega doesn't really help either. When it looks like they were refining things with Generations from Unleashed, they throw that all out the window for something new. Something that's bound to connect with some fans and piss off others. They just can't stay consistent with this shit.

 

[Ryu751]

All the reviews I saw have me as hyped for Sonic as I am Mario. Another Mario Galaxy game with Sonic sounds great. On top of that they slowed down Sonic a bit, so you can enjoy the levels. How is that bad. Looking forward to Christmas, and playing the new Sonic with the child.

 

[SCReuter]

I still want this game, just not enough to pay $49.99. I'm holding out hope that Toys 'R' Us or another retailer does a B2G1 free deal in the coming weeks.

 

[Arc Christelle]

Added the Kotaku input to the OP

Sonic Lost World [Wii U]

Sonic Lost World [3DS]

Sometimes in retrospect, less is more and sometimes knowing your limits is a good thing. Having those limits yielded instant classics fondly remembered to this day. In contrast, collect-a-thons in the N64 era tried to push everything and created a stigma that's made the genre not exist anymore.

This isn't even a video game exclusive mentality, if you have less to work with you are often far more likely to make the best with what you have.

I'm a man of progress and challenge. That way of thinking does not apply to my mindset.


Especially when it comes to Sonic. I enjoy the classic games, but I'm over it. I'd rather play Unleashed and Generations. Hell Generations came with Sonic 1 and I only touched it once then when back to playing Modern Sonic levels.

I think the boost trilogy worked perfectly for Sonic, it redefined his platforming style and gave it an identity. While being playable, fun, replayable, and functional as well.

I don't want Sonic to be slow, despite growing up with the classics (which he was still pretty fast in) we grew up with the idea that he was the fastest thing alive. The past three games perfectly translated to that and maintained his character. If Sonic can't be the fastest, I don't want to play Sonic anymore.

 

[Dr. Buni]

Colors is actually my #1 favorite 3D Sonic game. I'd probably rank it as my 4th or 5th favorite Sonic game of all time. It's so great.

It is mine, too. I think I would like Unleashed more than Colors, but that werehog thingy is... ugh :|

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume most people who don't like the boost games have played the boost games. Their game design is really not for everybody, and neither is this game. The Sonic franchise has spun off in so many different directions, and there are so many different people who beat their chests, scream really loud, and stomp out anybody who doesn't go with "their" REAL Sonic opinion. "Sonics should be like the classics, Sonic should be like the boost games, Sonic should have a more serious story like 2006, Sonic should be light-hearted, why is it only Sonic where are the other guys, eww gross Sonic's shitty friends Sonic only pls, he should be this he should be that".

Sega doesn't really help either. When it looks like they were refining things with Generations from Unleashed, they throw that all out the window for something new. Something that's bound to connect with some fans and piss off others. They just can't stay consistent with this shit.

Well thats one thing i think we ALL can agree with. Even the adventure games just needed a bit more refinement, not throwing out the baby out with the bath water. Every style of Sonic gameplay seems to get to a point where they almost have it, (bar 2006) then they throw it all out and start again.

 

[Arc Christelle]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume most people who don't like the boost games have played the boost games. Their game design is really not for everybody, and neither is this game. The Sonic franchise has spun off in so many different directions, and there are so many different people who beat their chests, scream really loud, and stomp out anybody who doesn't go with "their" REAL Sonic opinion. "Sonics should be like the classics, Sonic should be like the boost games, Sonic should have a more serious story like 2006, Sonic should be light-hearted, why is it only Sonic where are the other guys, eww gross Sonic's shitty friends Sonic only pls, he should be this he should be that".

Sega doesn't really help either. When it looks like they were refining things with Generations from Unleashed, they throw that all out the window for something new. Something that's bound to connect with some fans and piss off others. They just can't stay consistent with this shit.

This is so perfect. I agree.

 

[IrishNinja]

Unleashed/Colours/Gens.

Correct.

ahhh...Unleashed is the only one i never finished, and again not even casue of werehogs, but i hated being lockedo ut of later levels cause i didnt have enough whatever-it-was, sad to see that mechanic still alive & well

@ the review: dammit Owen

Oh dear, dont see my opinions coinciding with theirs then

yeah, my thoughts here too. i liked/got way further with Racing 1 but still, 2 was amazing despite my lack of skills at A rank

 

[Zalman]

So people who are playing it here are generally liking it?

 

[KingSnake]

Wait a minute, lemme get this straight. Basically their reason why you shouldn't buy Lost World on Wii U is because...it plays like an actual video game in 2013, when we thought real video games didn't exist anymore? Shocking.

Yes. In 2013, on Wii U, YOU play the videogames.
Outrageous!

 

[NTom64]

Here's the Final Boss of the 3DS version.

Not sure how different it is from the HD version. Apologies about slowdown, but it's not the fastest running 3DS title tbh.

 

[RobbieNick]

There's a very big gap between slow and mach speed.

"Mother of shit!" XD

Gameplay videos I've seen of the 3DS are not selling it on me. DIMPS can put the building blocks of a good game together well, but then they totally fuck it up when it comes to actual level design.

 

[daman824]

Bro, you've been whining in several Sonic threads about people not fully appreciating and investing time and effort in the various linear hallways and slippery controls of the boost games.

You just did it in this post

They could have easily tweaked the boost gameplay without throwing it out the window. They only had to do three things to turn generations into an easy 8.5-9/10 game.

- use the boost that's in the wii version of unleashed. Making it less of a boost to win and more of a boost to hit top speed quickly. This also makes it more valuable because it doesn't last as long.

- Open up the stages. That means more paths, less reliance on endless pits to make the stage challenging, and slightly more platforming in some areas (look at unleashed act 2 stages for reference.)

- And finally, fix Sonics handling. It was never broken for the type of game generations was. But it was pretty obvious Sonic Team built the stages around the gameplay which hid a lot of the problems. Make him less floaty and easier to maneuver when going at top speed.

If those three changes were made in the next sonic game while keeping what everyone loved about generations/colors/ unleashed day stages, then that game would finally come close to mario in quality, have a metacritic score in the mid/high 80s, and fans would go crazy. Getting it into the 90s would take good wrinting (something no sonic game has really ever had), and truly unique stage designs.

Is Lost World a horrible game? No, but colors, generations, and the unleashed daytime stages had something in then that Sonic hasn't had in a looong time. Uniqueness. The way those games played separated Sonic. Some of the daytime stages in generations (rooftop run, chemical plant zone, and seaside hill just to name a few) were the closest a mainline sonic game has ever come to being outstanding. And they got there without copying the competition.

Whatever though, I have a feeling sega is going to agree based on the metacritic rating. Sonic lost world seems like a relatively low budget experimental sonic game released in an attempt to sell some Wii Us. That's not a bad thing, as experimentation can be good in some cases. But now we are just going to have to wait even longer for Sonic Team to finally get it and release a sonic game that can compete with Mario.

 

[Arc Christelle]

ahhh...Unleashed is the only one i never finished, and again not even casue of werehogs, but i hated being lockedo ut of later levels cause i didnt have enough whatever-it-was, sad to see that mechanic still alive & well

It's funny because as much as Ioved Unleashed I never beat the final boss because I hated it, I was just satisfied with accessing all of the stages and playing them.

 

[princemarth23]

I was going to only play the Wii U game and skip the 3DS version but now I'm starting to wonder if I should play the 3DS one too if it actually has superior level design. That might be a bit too much Sonic for me though, heh. Has anyone played both, or has an opinion on the matter?

 

[NotLiquid]

I'm a man of progress and challenge. That way of thinking does not apply to my mindset.


Especially when it comes to Sonic. I enjoy the classic games, but I'm over it. I'd rather play Unleashed and Generations. Hell Generations came with Sonic 1 and I only touched it once then when back to playing Modern Sonic levels.

I think the boost trilogy worked perfectly for Sonic, it redefined his platforming style and gave it an identity. While being playable, fun, replayable, and functional as well.

I don't want Sonic to be slow, despite growing up with the classics (which he was still pretty fast in) we grew up with the idea that he was the fastest thing alive. The past three games perfectly translated to that and maintained his character. If Sonic can't be the fastest, I don't want to play Sonic anymore.

I'm not really holding lack of limitations against any game but at the same time it's good for perspective just so one can consider how much you're allowed to build everything around it. Personally I feel like if you're going to evolve anything about a core franchise, it should be tightening the mechanics while expanding the world around them.

That's something I felt Sonic has already wasted a lot of it's chances on, and my big disappointment with the boost trilogy was that we'd wait to get the games on a bi-yearly basis, play the levels (which in Generations felt more like an expansion pack than a sequel) and be done with them in five hours - a lot of which was owed to the game needing to be too massive to accommodate the new mechanics they built for Sonic.

Lost World already feels like it's ending on too short of a notice which is why I feel it's quite some wasted potential here, especially since the game is not nearly requiring as much development effort gone into making massive stages. But from playing the game I do feel that most of the time gone into making this game was spent just developing Sonic's new mechanics, and by having the game in this most basic form, the outset in future installments can instead be focused on tightening the mechanics and just focusing on making a bigger world and a better game - the same thing which is responsible for keeping the 3D Mario series fresh ever since 64.

I can see why people like the boost trilogy though. It's a very arcade-like rush I admit. In my opinion I feel like it's a lot of memorizing to a fault but I can see it's just not my thing and a lot of people seem to enjoy it, so more power to them. I'm not going to lie - the reviews for this game is only kind of worrying because I don't want Sega to get the impression that they should give up on this style and just create something different again, or return to the boost game play. There feels like there's so many ways they can go with this. I really hope we can get more of this new type of game play which sits on a solid foundation that can be taken in so many different ways.

And hey, I can totally see the boost being employed in some subdued ways in this kind of game play, so maybe we can see that too some time in the future. Just hopefully not with a game designed entirely all around it.

 

[Peff]

Here's the Final Boss of the 3DS version.

Not sure how different it is from the HD version. Apologies about slowdown, but it's not the fastest running 3DS title tbh.

Pretty much the same,

Spoiler

it's also a Sonic Colors rip-off, only it goes down in three hits, doesn't use stuff like Cube and the level has red rings as well

.

 

[faridmon]

Wow, the reviews are all over the place for this one. I haven't seen a game that was so polarising like this one before. I would have gotten it if I had a Wii U but again, I never trusted reviews.

 

[RobbieNick]

Wow, the reviews are all over the place for this one. I haven't seen a game that was so polarising like this one before. I would have gotten it if I had a Wii U but again, I never trusted reviews.

Check out the Beyond: Two Souls reviews. They're pretty polarizing as well.

 

[Arc Christelle]

I'm not really holding lack of limitations against any game but at the same time it's good for perspective just so one can consider how much you're allowed to build everything around it. Personally I feel like if you're going to evolve anything about a core franchise, it should be tightening the mechanics while expanding the world around them.

That's something I felt Sonic has already wasted a lot of it's chances on, and my big disappointment with the boost trilogy was that we'd wait to get the games on a bi-yearly basis, play the levels (which in Generations felt more like an expansion pack than a sequel) and be done with them in five hours - a lot of which was owed to the game needing to be too massive to accommodate the new mechanics they built for Sonic.

Lost World already feels like it's ending on too short of a notice which is why I feel it's quite some wasted potential here, especially since the game is not nearly requiring as much development effort gone into making massive stages. But from playing the game I do feel that most of the time gone into making this game was spent just developing Sonic's new mechanics, and by having the game in this most basic form, the outset in future installments can instead be focused on tightening the mechanics and just focusing on making a bigger world and a better game - the same thing which is responsible for keeping the 3D Mario series fresh ever since 64.

I can see why people like the boost trilogy though. It's a very arcade-like rush I admit. In my opinion I feel like it's a lot of memorizing to a fault but I can see it's just not my thing and a lot of people seem to enjoy it, so more power to them. I just hope we can get more of this new type of game play which sits on a solid foundation that can be taken in so many different ways.

And hey, I can totally see the boost being employed in some subdued ways in this kind of game play, so maybe we can see that too some time in the future. Just hopefully not with a game designed entirely all around it.

That's cool, and I can agree with you on some of that, Unleashed and Gen really felt like a sample of crack at times, and when it's gone I want more. lol

But yes, just as others reiterated, Sonic Team's biggest flaw is their lack of consistency and expansion. I really hate that instead of expanding and improving, the games they throw them out the window. But I think there's still one exclusive title left. Hopefully it's a more focused on evolution instead of re-inventing the wheel.

Even though Lost Worlds may not be the game I wanted, I still plan to pick it up when I get a Wii U. Despite the reviews and the opinions, and even my personal preference for high speed arcade like action, the game still looks solid and worth a try.

 

[Daingurse]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume most people who don't like the boost games have played the boost games. Their game design is really not for everybody, and neither is this game. The Sonic franchise has spun off in so many different directions, and there are so many different people who beat their chests, scream really loud, and stomp out anybody who doesn't go with "their" REAL Sonic opinion. "Sonics should be like the classics, Sonic should be like the boost games, Sonic should have a more serious story like 2006, Sonic should be light-hearted, why is it only Sonic where are the other guys, eww gross Sonic's shitty friends Sonic only pls, he should be this he should be that".

Sega doesn't really help either. When it looks like they were refining things with Generations from Unleashed, they throw that all out the window for something new. Something that's bound to connect with some fans and piss off others. They just can't stay consistent with this shit.

So much truth here. The fanbase is completely fragmented, it's impossible to please everyone, and Sonic Team is plain inconsistent. I'm still holding out for a game that refines the Generations gameplay, that I can play on PC.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

But now we are just going to have to wait even longer for Sonic Team to finally get it and release a sonic game that can compete with Mario.

For me, this whole "competing with mario" nonsense is how we got lost world. Sonic cannot compete with mario. Period. We are nearly 20 years since the last game that remotely approached Mario in quailty and game design. That ship has sailed and most people who even who care have outgrown both.

They need to revist the unleashed formula and refine it. Make the punishment for not boosting correctly lower and slower paths. Let people rip through the game at any speed they want by populating levels with interesting thing outside of ripping through at Mach 10. Make the game small but based on replayablity with remixed levels.

Basically Unleashed + Day DLC. If the budget allows, Classic remixes of stages. That's it.


By the way, if this game is built on Headgehog engine, does that mean its possible to rip parts of it and mod it into generations?

 

[Terrible Majesty]

Everyone read the Escapist review comments. I was on the fence about this game. Im buying it now. I want an Old Sonic game from 91


any reviews for the sinister six edition?

 

[Bog]

Boost trilogy refers to Unleashed, Colors and Generations

Who the hell came up with that?

 

[Fandangox]

Everyone read the Escapist review comments. I was on the fence about this game. Im buying it now. I want an Old Sonic game from 91


any reviews for the sinister six edition?

Apparently the NiGHTS content is just a

Spoiler

Boss Rush Mode

 

[IrishNinja]

It's funny because as much as Ioved Unleashed I never beat the final boss because I hated it, I was just satisfied with accessing all of the stages and playing them.

i could totally see that though; the daytime levels were some of the best 3D sonic stages id played, some feeling like a tighter SA experience, which i really dug. my problem was the RPG ish elements around that - hubtown, etc - and even werehog which didn't bother me but all of it felt like stuff getting in between me & those levels. wish i couldve just had them all unlocked to play through.

 

[DICKS AHOY]

His point is, that it is not consistent to complain about that but then not to learn the skillset needed for the boost-Sonics instead of dismissing it right away. I think he is somewhat right in that regard, because Sonic Unleashed is absolutely not trivial, it's a mechanically rather deep game. However, the complaints about some reviewers unwilling to learn uncommon game mechanics has some merits, too.

I achievement grinded Unleashed (besides the last time-related chilli dawg mission for Crimson Carnival, fuck that noise) so I'd consider myself somebody that 'learned' Unleashed's in's and out's, and I still think even when looking solely at the daytime levels, while promising and at least on the level of quality of the Adventure games those were still far from acceptable. However,I really like modern Sonic in generations despite being more of the same thing, since ST finally put in the time to polish it a lot more.

The paranoia over ST having a lack of time to properly polish and hone Lost World's new style of play is almost word for word what I was posting a month or so ago and that seems to be what's ultimately bogged the game down here, regardless of whether you think it's good but flawed or terrible like these mixed reviews are saying. I don't think it necessarily comes from simply being too slow or 'Mario-ish' like ThoughtsofSpeaking does, or (and I'm more guessing here since I haven't played the game and probably won't anytime soon at this point) reviewers not putting in the proper game to master an unpolished game's mechanics. I suspect it's not quite the ZombiU/Wonderful 101 situation people are making it out to be again.

Didn't Generations also have a three year dev-cycle compared to nearly every other Sonic game's two?

 

[AniHawk]

wow, kotaku's probably the only place so far to claim the 3ds is better than the wii u version by virtue of level design alone. despite the 3ds game looking inferior, i was still thinking of giving it a go. maybe if i wind up enjoying the wii u game i'll give it a shot. generations 3ds wasn't great, but i liked sonic rush colors.

 

[Winterfang]

Aw man. Bad reviews.

 

[daman824]

For me, this whole "competing with mario" nonsense is how we got lost world. Sonic cannot compete with mario. Period. We are nearly 20 years since the last game that remotely approached Mario in quailty and game design. That ship has sailed and most people who even who care have outgrown both.

They need to revist the unleashed formula and refine it. Make the punishment for not boosting correctly lower and slower paths. Let people rip through the game at any speed they want by populating levels with interesting thing outside of ripping through at Mach 10. Make the game small but based on replayablity with remixed levels.

Basically Unleashed + Day DLC. If the budget allows, Classic remixes of stages. That's it.

It's not just Mario. Its every single other big platformer that has released in the last few years. Donkey Kong, Rayman, and Mario games are on a completely different level quality wise compared to Sonic games even though Sonic Team has been making sonic games for ages.

And Sonic Team made the mistake of thinking that the only way to beat or compete with Mario is to be Mario. That's not true in the slightest. Rayman Legends may not be quite as good as the recent galaxy games. But it comes damn close. Same goes for Donkey Kong country returns. And they both got there without copying Mario. The way to get close to Mario and the others isn't to copy them, it's to make your own unique gameplay style that would only work for that character. Sonic is about speed and platforming. His games should revolve around those two things.

Which I think would be the conclusion you came to as well. your suggestions are exactly what would make sonic great again. Sonic Team can't seem to get that even though it's what people have been asking for since 2008 when Unleashed came out.

 

[Just_myles]

After playing the demo on WiiU, I'm pretty much sold on it. I really hate Sonic 4 ep. 1(everyone hated), but I completed that game and it wasn't as horrible as people say it was, or at least in my opinion.

So i'm still in.