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[Shadow Hog]

Toxic Caves and The Machine were awesome. Lava Powerhouse, less awesome. The Showdown is asodishjdogfihguf

But seriously, I like The Machine a lot, if only because there aren't too many places you can easily die. Lava Powerhouse is similar, but IIRC you get dropped down to your near-death if you botch the boss up (it's escapable, of course, but I recall my first time with it kinda put me off falling down there in general; good thing the boss isn't too hard), and the whole level feels depressingly oppressive. Toxic Caves has more places you can die, but I like that barrel secret (seriously, I don't bother doing the minecarts three times anymore - that center emerald is always the first one I nab). Showdown is just hell, seemingly designed for a physics system much better than the game it's in contains, and requiring you to line up tricky shots no less than five times each to get anywhere in the level.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

Toxic Caves was the best level in the game, nothing could be topped. I have to wonder just what is in that liquid? I mean if he even puts a foot in it, he's as good as dead. What is in that stuff exactly? That boss music was pretty stellar though...I should try beating it again!

Barrel secret...what barrel secret? I'm just wondering if it's the one I figured out as a kid.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

That would be Sonic 3D Blast and...Sonic Spinball

fixed

 

[Nocturnowl]

Spinball sucks, though maybe i'll give it a spin (aha!) later on to reconfirm my theory.
Next you people are going to start discussing your favourite Sonic Labyrinth stages aren't you? I want no part of this.

 

[Dark Schala]

All I remember about Sonic Spinball was that sewer level.

Apparently there was stuff after that level but I was too occupied with Sonic 3 and Knuckles to care.

This was me for years.

And it's not nearly as slow, boring and closed in.
The only similarities I see are the name and theme combo, that aside they're like night and day, one has you zooming around on flying discs and zipping across the maze like network of steep hills, the other makes you push stone blocks and avoid crushers in tight tunnels.

Hey guys I don't know if you noticed but I really hate Marble Zone.

I think the subject came up a long time ago (March? I think it's March because that's when the Retro thread surfaced) in this thread and most people ended up disliking Marble Zone a lot. Like, the best things about it are the music and colour palette. But the level design and general slowness of the level doesn't make it fun to go through.

Take this from Retro, for instance:

Look at that level design. It's boring as hell. Lots of obstructions, only one path, pushing blocks to make things go, gotta go slow to get through the level without screwing up...

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Star Light Zone >> GHZ > Spring Yard >>> other Sonic 1 zones > Labyrinth Zone aka the worst zone in the 16-bit Sonic platformer era

 

[Dark Schala]

I'm not sure which Labyrinth Zone Act I find more bothersome: 2 or 3. The first act has this massive shortcut, after all.

The second one, though? So much water.

the third one has spikes spikes everywhere

But with that said, I don't think it's my least favourite Genesis/CD-era zone.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Wait, the lower path in LZ3 is shorter?

Mind = blown

 

[ViewtifulJC]

I'm not counting Knuckles Chaotix, obviously

 

[Nocturnowl]

Just threw on the Mega Drive Collection to play some of Sonic Spinball, went into the options before starting and...
OWW, MY FREAKING EARS!
Played the game, got a game over in like 8 minutes, this game is feces, I mean Pinball isn't something i'm fond of anyway but in the attempt to spice it up they just went and made it a lot harder to play effectively and confusing to boot, damn it sonic, fling yourself where I tell you to!

So instead I thought about playing through Sonic 1 again and suffer through Marble Zone. Instead though I opened up a save state right at Final Zone, expecting to just give it a whirl, die and then play something else I then discovered the winning formula to this fight, it's a long and tedious formula that had me waiting a full minute and a half to land the final hit because Robotnik refused to go on the right side of the screen for like 10 appearances but I finally did it, I finally beat Sonic 1.
YEEEAAAAAH!
Now if I can just go beat that stupid robot in Sonic 2 i'll be just gravy.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

I think the bulletin board in Spinball could be more snarky. Or more random.

And Spinball is awesome. Haters all of you!

 

[Shadow Hog]

...I opened up a save state right at Final Zone, expecting to just give it a whirl, die and then play something else I then discovered the winning formula to this fight, it's a long and tedious formula that had me waiting a full minute and a half to land the final hit because Robotnik refused to go on the right side of the screen for like 10 appearances but I finally did it, I finally beat Sonic 1.
YEEEAAAAAH!
Now if I can just go beat that stupid robot in Sonic 2 i'll be just gravy.

You've never beaten Final Zone? It's not an especially easy fight, but it's not particularly hard; just stay on the right side of the screen and hit Eggman if he shows up on either of the two crushers on the right, then move to the center for the lightning balls and rush to the right as they descend. Repeat until finished.

 

[Pietepiet]

http://youtu.be/bYUzZI59lIs

New Generations Unleashed video. Empire City! Love the edits to the Chaser and Goal Ring sections

 

[Nocturnowl]

You've never beaten Final Zone? It's not an especially easy fight, but it's not particularly hard; just stay on the right side of the screen and hit Eggman if he shows up on either of the two crushers on the right, then move to the center for the lightning balls and rush to the right as they descend. Repeat until finished.

No, I just did beat Final Zone is what I was saying and yes that was the exact tactic I used, I initially thought the balls were far stronger with their homing when I first played it, upon seeing the truth I overcame the odds.

 

[qq more]

http://youtu.be/bYUzZI59lIs

New Generations Unleashed video. Empire City! Love the edits to the Chaser and Goal Ring sections

That is awesome. Although I'm a bit skeptical about the car dodging segment. It looks like there wasn't enough time to spot some of the cars before they crash into you.

 

[Clydefrog]

Just threw on the Mega Drive Collection to play some of Sonic Spinball, went into the options before starting and...
OWW, MY FREAKING EARS!
Played the game, got a game over in like 8 minutes, this game is feces, I mean Pinball isn't something i'm fond of anyway but in the attempt to spice it up they just went and made it a lot harder to play effectively and confusing to boot, damn it sonic, fling yourself where I tell you to!

lol now I feel bad for posting about Sonic Spinball

 

[Nocturnowl]

lol now I feel bad for posting about Sonic Spinball

I'll praise you for putting up with the game all the way to the finish.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

lol now I feel bad for posting about Sonic Spinball

Don't be, he's high on the Haterade. He can't accept greatness, only hate lies within his cold, dark and bitter heart...as cold and heartless as the Arctic.

 

[PhantomOfTheKnight]

Never got past the first level of Spinball, was too busy trying to beat Sonic 3D Blast.

 

[qq more]

FUCK YOU RALPH I GOT 4TH PLACE AGAIN

 

[tiggerkiddo]

Never got past the first level of Spinball, was too busy trying to beat Sonic 3D Blast.

Poor soul. Anyone who plays 3D Blast over Spinball is in need of an Intervention!

 

[qq more]

...I like 3D Blast >.>

<.<

 

[Nocturnowl]

Ideally you shouldn't play either.

 

[OMG Aero]

Never got past the first level of Spinball, was too busy trying to beat Sonic 3D Blast.

There is nothing past the first level of Spinball. Anyone who says otherwise is making it up.

 

[Box of Bunnies]

...I like 3D Blast >.>

<.<

Flickies' Island feat. Sonic is pretty cool.

 

[Dark Schala]

Wait, the lower path in LZ3 is shorter?

Mind = blown

Y'see, this is why Zone:0 is incredibly useful still.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Poor soul. Anyone who plays 3D Blast over Spinball is in need of an Intervention!

3D Blast is a much, much better game than Spinball.

Actually, I genuinely enjoy 3D Blast. Particularly versions with Richard Jacques's soundtrack, mm.

There is nothing past the first level of Spinball. Anyone who says otherwise is making it up.

Nonsense, The Machine is genuinely worth visiting.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

I do a lot of hating in this thread, so time to lighten the mood:

I like Sonic Advance 1, even if the physics aren't right, and it's about as vanilla as Blue Bell.

edit: Guys, I'm pretty sure the opening level of Spinball is the entire game.

 

[Nocturnowl]

The Saturn version of 3D Blast must be a big improvement then, the MD version is so boring I wished I were playing Sonic Blast which is at least sort of entertaining in its sheer awfulness.

 

[Shadow Hog]

The Saturn version of 3D Blast must be a big improvement then, the MD version is so boring I wished I were playing Sonic Blast which is at least sort of entertaining in its sheer awfulness.

It's the same game with prettier graphics and a (debatably) better soundtrack. Only thing that changed, gameplay-wise, is that the special stages aren't utter shit now (in fact, they're arguably one of the best set the series has). I've heard the NiGHTS pad introduces analog controls, but I never really bothered to confirm. Either way, if you weren't sold on 3D Blast to begin with, it won't change your mind. I just happen to like 3D Blast in the first place.

 

[Phonomezer]

I love Labyrinth Zone!

 

[Dark Schala]

We can all agree that the Game Gear Blast was shite, right?

Saturn and Genesis versions aren't completely bad when you take that version into account, but I think that was the point when I started feeling a little disappointed with the series for some reason (ie: "I don't like change...!").

New Sonic Unleashed Generations video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYUzZI59lIs

Empire City! Real glad to see the bit with the cars - that was a really smart way to handle that section, and I always wanted to run along the roads with cars on them in the actual game.

http://youtu.be/bYUzZI59lIs

New Generations Unleashed video. Empire City! Love the edits to the Chaser and Goal Ring sections

How did I miss this? :O

Corners look soooooo much better to drift on now.

 

[qq more]

For the record, I thought Spinball was okay.

 

[Nocturnowl]

It's the same game with prettier graphics and a (debatably) better soundtrack. Only thing that changed, gameplay-wise, is that the special stages aren't utter shit now (in fact, they're arguably one of the best set the series has). I've heard the NiGHTS pad introduces analog controls, but I never really bothered to confirm. Either way, if you weren't sold on 3D Blast to begin with, it won't change your mind. I just happen to like 3D Blast in the first place.

I figured as much but part of me wanted to believe, soundtrack does sound better though.

We can all agree that the Game Gear Blast was shite, right?

Saturn and Genesis versions aren't completely bad when you take that version into account, but I think that was the point when I started feeling a little disappointed with the series for some reason (ie: "I don't like change...!").

Thing is the change adds nothing positive, it's just a slow paced enemy hunt around uninteresting areas with dodgy and flawed isometric platforming.
Of course this is just my opinion, if i've learnt anything from my trip to Sonic Gaf today it's that I find all the early spin off games pretty bad, Tails Adventure is probably the best of them but i've never really given it a chance so no real opinions either way on that one.

So who here likes Sonic Drift 1 and 2? or Tails Sky Patrol? I know I don't but at this point i'm expecting someone to say that they do.

And of course GG Blast was shite but i'd still sooner play that one.

 

[Professor Beef]

I hated Spinball.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

We can all agree that the Game Gear Blast was shite, right?

Saturn and Genesis versions aren't completely bad when you take that version into account, but I think that was the point when I started feeling a little disappointed with the series for some reason (ie: "I don't like change...!").



How did I miss this? :O

Corners look soooooo much better to drift on now.

I think they were trying to go the DKC route. If they worked a bit harder at it, it would have came out looking wonderful!

 

[Sciz]

I do a lot of hating in this thread, so time to lighten the mood:

I like Sonic Advance 1, even if the physics aren't right, and it's about as vanilla as Blue Bell.

Eh? Advance 1 was the last game that did get the physics basically right.

 

[Professor Beef]

I bought Jet Set Radio and Sonic Adventure 1 last week. SA1 is...weirder than I remember.

 

[Nocturnowl]

I bought Jet Set Radio and Sonic Adventure 1 last week. SA1 is...weirder than I remember.

If I could find that one pic of "something bugging you?" it would be here.

 

[Meccanical]

I bought Jet Set Radio and Sonic Adventure 1 last week. SA1 is...weirder than I remember.

SA1 has aged rough.

Then again I still had fun replaying it.

 

[Professor Beef]

I want to try and Platinum Gold it, but I have a feeling the Chao shit is going to be the death of me.

 

[Meccanical]

I want to try and Platinum Gold it, but I have a feeling the Chao shit is going to be the death of me.

I found the chao garden in SA1 painfully lacking.

It made me miss SA2.

Speaking of I still haven't downloaded that yet.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

I thought A ranking everything would be worse. How hard can raising Chao be? It's not like trying to get a Gold Chocobo in FF7!

 

[Nocturnowl]

A ranking Sonic stages in SA1 is pretty fun, just pure speed running really with the overpowered spindash jump.
Big the Cat A ranks on the other hand, yeah that's pretty bad.

 

[Meccanical]

Big the Cat A ranks on the other hand, yeah that's pretty bad.

If there ever was a more pointless character in a game I haven't seen him.

You make a game about going fast and you put in this ONE character, who happens to specialize in the most SLOW AND BORING past time ever devised by man.

What the hell sonic team.

 

[Nocturnowl]

Someone somewhere would try and say that Big's stages are about relaxing, kicking back and having a pleasant break from all the speed.
I will say to that person that they're full of poop.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

Someone somewhere would try and say that Big's stages are about relaxing, kicking back and having a pleasant break from all the speed.
I will say to that person that they're full of poop.

I know people who love them and I value their opinions so ixnay to you, IXNAY!

 

[Meccanical]

Someone somewhere would try and say that Big's stages are about relaxing, kicking back and having a pleasant break from all the speed.
I will say to that person that they're full of poop.

I can see why someone would say that, but isn't that what Field Stages are for?

I mean, I just don't get it.

 

[Professor Beef]

I thought A ranking everything would be worse. How hard can raising Chao be? It's not like trying to get a Gold Chocobo in FF7!

Getting a Gold Chocobo is easy as fuck. At least the minigames surrounding them are fun and you have some semblance of control. You're completely at the mercy of the AI when it comes to those little CHao shitheads.

 

[Meccanical]

Getting a Gold Chocobo is easy as fuck. At least the minigames surrounding them are fun and you have some semblance of control. You're completely at the mercy of the AI when it comes to those little CHao shitheads.

But it's cute.

Sometimes.