Sonic Generations

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1-2 Competitive (Local Wireless), StreetPass Support

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Review:

Sonic Generations, released on Nintendo 3DS in 2011, is a unique version of the game developed side-by-side its console counterparts but with different levels and gameplay. This game retains the core story premise of those other versions of the game, pairing a modern-era Sonic the Hedgehog with a version of the character based on his original appearances back in the Sega Genesis era. However, this game does away with the 3D Platformer levels, instead focusing largely on 2D Platformer gameplay.

Of course, that’s not to say that this game abandons the 3D visuals of the console games too – Sonic Generations definitely looks nowhere near as lush and detailed as those games, but it still has detailed, colorful 3D visuals that essentially update the look of classic Sonic levels (or at least levels inspired by those classic games).

Unfortunately, the sound isn’t quite up to the same level as the visuals. This game remixes classic Sonic tracks, but does so in a way that fails to capture what made them so catchy in the first place. Additionally, this music is often drowned out by the noises enemies make. The robotic wasp enemies in the first few levels are particularly bothersome, as their annoying droning drowns out other noises even when they’re far off-screen.

As for the gameplay, I’ve made it no secret that I’m not the biggest fan of Sonic games, and I tend to think that Sonic games are usually at their best when you’re only barely in control of your character. Unfortunately, even that proves to be too frustrating here. Sonic’s size relative to the size of the screen is just too big, making it very difficult to progress without having to deal with countless “leaps of faith”. The levels you play with “modern” Sonic are a bit better in this regard, as the camera in these levels shifts based on where you are. However, these camera shifts will sometimes obscure parts of the level and make it difficult to see where you’re going or judge your jumps.

Beyond these issues, Sonic seems to control more sluggishly than usual here. To be clear, the character isn’t slow when he gets up to speed, but actually trying to navigate any sort of tricky platforming with the character is a chore.

As much as I think Sonic Generations has some major issues, I still have to admit that it has an undeniable charm and taps into nostalgia well, making for occasional moments of brilliance. Unfortunately, those moments are generally outnumbered by frustrations caused by camera and control issues. If you’re a Sonic fan, this game may still amuse you with its trip down memory lane, but as I write this in 2022, any Sonic fan knows that this has since been much better accomplished with Sonic Mania, a game that succeeds brilliantly where this game only barely hobbles to the finish line.

tl;dr – Sonic Generations on Nintendo 3DS is a different version of the game exclusive to this platform, and while it lacks the console version’s 3D Platforming levels, it still has the same basic concept of combining new and old versions of the character for a nostalgia-filled Platforming adventure. Unfortunately, camera and control issues make this game frustrating as often as it is fun, and players who want a nostalgic Sonic game subsequently received a much, much better one in the form of Sonic Mania. As such, Sonic Generations on Nintendo 3DS is only a game that the most diehard of Sonic fans should bother with.

Grade: C

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