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Sonic Generations Review for Xbox 360

Sonic Generations Review for Xbox 360

Sonic’s Greatest Hits!

This generation has been a rough one for Sonic. Were-hogs, knights, and aliens have all tormented the Blue Blur, and the resulting games have been pretty awful. Many people, including myself, had all but given up on Sonic, and it was beginning to look like the long-running franchise might be driving itself into the ground. However, Sonic Generations promises an old school take on the Sonic world, along with plenty of new levels featuring a modern Sonic. Is this Sonic’s redemption?

Sonic Generations Screenshot

The short answer: Yes. Sonic Generations is not a perfect game, but it’s the best Sonic game I’ve played in over a decade. It features a paper-thin story about worlds being destroyed or something, and Modern Sonic (with his skateboarder attitude and fast moves) gets scuttled away into a world with classic Sonic (who is cubby and silent). The two Sonics must then work together to conquer this growing threat. And the resulting ride is something very special.

Sonic-Generations is very self-referential, which is great for those of us who have enjoyed the series for a long time. Stages from all of Sonic’s classic and modern adventures are re-imagined here to great effect. Nothing feels like a direct carbon copy, but if you’ve played through at least some of Sonic’s back catalog, there will be a feeling of nostalgia here.

Sonic Generations Screenshot

However, the game doesn’t spend its entirety living in the past. Each level has two playable areas, one for each Sonic. The new and classic Sonic levels are completely different, playing to each Sonic’s strengths. Classic levels feature plenty of fast and furious platforming and insane level design that classic fans will remember well. New levels feature plenty of 3D stages and twitch-based areas where you’ll have to react fast to rapidly changing landscapes.

Both level types are very well-done, and I can’t say I preferred one over another. This was actually a nice surprise for me, as I genuinely expected to absolutely love the Classic Sonic levels and merely tolerate the Modern Sonic levels. The design team has done a great job identifying exactly what works from previous games, delivering a fast-paced, streamlined experience that actually makes Modern Sonic feel modern instead of overstuffed and convoluted.

Sonic Generations Screenshot

Though Sonic Generations is certainly geared toward longtime fans, it’s also very accessible to those new to the series. In fact, if you haven’t ever played a Sonic game before, Sonic Generations is a great jumping in point, as it features 20 years of history stuffed into one neat little package. Though you might not get all the “in-jokes,” the game has a standalone story that will get new players into the groove without much awkwardness. And if you are worried about the classic levels feeling too old for those accustomed to newer games, don’t fear; everything here seems extremely modern.

The gameplay is definitely what makes the Sonic Generations feel like a real return to greatness for our favorite blue hero. However, the game is bolstered by a metric ton of unlockable content. As you play through the game you can unlock collectibles, upgrade Sonic’s abilities, and gain access to new Sonic friends in-game. Unlocking everything definitely takes some effort, providing plenty of incentive to replay levels over and over.

Sonic Generations Screenshot

Unfortunately, Sonic Generations has a few issues that hold it back from being the true blockbuster it deserves to be. One of my main problems with the game is the lackluster visual design. Repetitive elements, simplistic enemy design, and poor animation contribute to an overall look that’s not quite up to par. Frame rate drops and poorly implemented motion blur also add to this game’s visual woes.

Audio is a different story, however, and the game does a great job of mixing old Sonic tunes with new music and sound effects. And if you are as big a fan of the music, the soundtrack is unlockable, so you can listen to all the memorable tunes from the game any time you want.

Sonic Generations was the game Sonic fans have wanted since the beginning of this generation. As fans, we’ve had to deal with quite a bit of disappointment from the Sonic series in the past decade, and there’s been a lot of resentment building up over the years. I never thought I would ever recommend a Sonic game again, but here we are. Sonic Generations is a great game, and it deserves your attention this holiday season. Let’s just hope that the development team keeps up this level of quality so that in the future, Sonic games like Generations become the rule rather than the exception.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.2 Graphics
Visuals aren’t great, but work well enough. 4.0 Control
Controls are easy to use. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Soundtrack is a great mix of classic and new Sonic tunes, and it sounds great. 4.3 Play Value
With tons of unlockable content, you’ll most likely play each stage several times. 4.1 Overall Rating – Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Twice the Fun – Play as both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic in the ultimate Sonic experience. Master the moves of each character as they race through each environment on their own specially designed track.
  • The Best Just Got Better – Iconic environments from gaming history come to life in beautiful HD for the ultimate Sonic adventure, each revisited, recreated, and reimagined with stunning results. Also, these environments are presented in stunning new stereoscopic 3D for a whole new way to play!
  • Unlock New Adventures – Once you complete each level and ‘free’ Sonic’s captured friends, you’ll get to go back and take on more challenges with them at your side.
  • Infamous Bosses and Rivals – Take on some of the most notorious characters from Sonic’s past as you fight for ultimate supremacy.
  • Master Your Moves Master Classic Sonic’s famous Spin Dash and Spin Attack and utilize Modern Sonic ‘s ‘Sonic Boost’ as you complete the all new tracks.
  • All New Content – New and exclusive environments for the Nintendo 3DS include an unlockable ‘special stage’. Each environment features two tracks – one for Classic Sonic and one for Modern Sonic – designed to showcase the unique features of both Sonics.
  • 2-Player Versus mode – Take on your friends and earn valuable status points.

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