SONIC GENERATIONS Preview
A new Sonic game is very close. Should we get excited, or is it just another cheap play at stimulating our nostalgia receptors?
A new Sonic game is very close. Should we get excited, or is it just another cheap play at stimulating our nostalgia receptors? There are few series which have existed as long or whose iterations have been published quite as frequently as that of Sonic the Hedgehog. Though an impressive claim in its own right, many would argue this isnt necessarily a good thing. Hitting its twentieth anniversary this year, the Sonic franchise is certainly a household name, but it is a level of recognition more akin to something like Rayman than Mario. We all remember loving Sonic when growing up, but perhaps its time to stop flogging a dead horse and leave the good memories in the past. However, with the release of some of the most recent titles in the series, public and critical reception of Sonic has begun to rise once again. This is, perhaps, partly due to the addressing of some key issues, namely the focus on a style of 3D gameplay which detracts from the pure, fast-paced fun that the original sidescrollers offered in spades. Sonic Generations is set to continue in this fashion, once again mixing a more modern 3D approach with traditional sidescrolling action. But what exactly does it have to offer? 
Firstly, the series appears to now be dabbling in a touch of light postmodern self-referentiality as the story effectively sees Sonic celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his own franchise. No stranger, perhaps, than a best of episode from a beloved TV sitcom, but certainly less common in the world of videogames. His party is crashed by a brand new baddy and, after being exposed to a time hole, the hedgehogs birthday friends find themselves thrown across the gamut of the franchise, stuck in stages from previous games, awaiting the rescue of Segas beloved mascot. Along the way, Sonic bumps into a classic version of himself and an alliance is formed as they run, jump and roll their way through a selection of stages in the series timeline categorised into classic, Dreamcast and modern eras. This narrative conceit gives way to the aforementioned split of sidescrolling and third person gameplay styles and a chance for long time fans of the series to play through some of the most celebrated stages in re-envisioned, re-mastered, high definition glory. The 3DS release will differ to the console and Windows editions of the game, focusing on 2D or sidescrolling versions of various stages. The available stages upon release include: Green Hill Sonic the Hedgehog Chemical Plant Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Casino Night Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (3DS only) Sky Sanctuary Sonic & Knuckles Mushroom Hill Sonic & Knuckles (3DS only) Speed Highway Sonic Adventure Emerald Coast Sonic Adventure (3DS only) City Escape Sonic Adventure 2 Radical Highway Sonic Adventure 2 (3DS only) Seaside Hill Sonic Heroes Crisis City Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 reboot) Rooftop Run Sonic Unleashed Planet Wisp Sonic Colors Tropical Resort Sonic Colors (3DS only) To add some further flavour into the stages on offer, theres also a host of the familiar power-ups such as invincibility and speed shoes, as well as level specific items like a skateboard in City Escape. In addition, each zone will have a variety of side missions deviating from the main threads and, although the classic and modern Sonics will be the only playable characters, both will have their own set of physics so youll have to spend a little more time mastering stages. 
It may not sound like a large amount of change for the series and Sonic Generations doesnt appear to add anything especially new that is going to raise the bar for the future of the franchise, but perhaps thats exactly what was needed all along. The series has spent too many releases attempting to re-invent itself in a three dimensional world, adding new mechanics, role-playing or open world elements, or littering the games with a superfluous ensemble of unwanted characters. Perhaps all we need from this new release, perhaps all weve ever wanted as Sonic fans, is a recapturing of the magic of his early sidescrolling days. If that means taking a (quite literal) trip down memory lane, then so be it. By stripping back the game and exploiting its core mechanics the stuff that made it fun in the first place Sonic Team look likely to produce one of the most exciting Sonic games in years. Watch this space for our review. 
Sonic Generations hits the shelves on November 4th for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Windows. A Nintendo 3DS release is due on November