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GAF's Top 10 Sonic Games

I'm feeling very sorry for the blue guy, we've heard so little about his future other than a couple of small smartphone games released every now and then. Sonic Boom seems to be a huge black eye for the franchise and was intended to simply be a spin off. I truely hope Sega announced a current gen Sonic game at this years E3 but for now we can delve into Sonic's past and remember his best games. For me they go as followed:

#10: Sonic Pocket Adventure (NGPC)
#9: Sonic Advance 2 (GBA)
#8: Sonic Colours (Wii)
#7: Sonic Generations (PC)
#6: Sonic CD (Mega CD)
#5: Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed (PC)
#4: Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)
#3: Sonic 2 (Game Gear/Master System)
#2: Sonic 2 (Mega Drive)
#1: Sonic 3 and Knuckles (Mega Drive)
Sonic R is my guilty pleasure, my friends and I always play it on multiplayer nights

Edit: Perhaps 10 was a bit ambitious, just share your favourite Sonic games :)
 

Flarin

Member
Sonic Generations is the only real standout game in the series that comes to mind. The best levels with a twist and all the awesome music you could want.
 

Rush_Khan

Member
Ten is too much for Sonic, I'm afraid, and I (used to be) a massive Sonic fan!

1. Sonic 3 and Knuckles - this game is the culmination of all of the best things of the 2D Sonic games. Multiple levels, hidden secret stages (that double and become even more difficult in the second half), great sense of speed and level design. It is simply the best.

2. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle - I never owned a Dreamcast so never knew this game released on it. When I found Sonic on a Nintendo console, I was shocked, but it was a brilliant game when I played it. It hasn't aged well but the Sonic/Shadow levels are still fun to play, and of course the Chao Gardens are timeless!

3. Sonic Unleashed (Wii Version, not the boring PS360 Version) - For me, this game captured Sonic's Speed better than any other game I played. So much faster and better than the mundane Daytime stages of the PS360 version. The daytime stages in this game make up for the terrible night stages.

4. Sonic CD - I just really like the intro. And it's a great game in it's own right apart from a few levels.

5. Sonic Generations - Took the best things from all of the Sonic game into one great package. Brought back a lot of memories of a character I used to love but has let me down on so many occasions.

Edit: Might as well briefly list Honourable Mentions:

6. Sonic Rush
7. Sonic Advance 2
8. Sonic Advance 3
9. Sonic Rush Adventure
10. Sonic Adventure
 

VLiberty

Member
I don't think I have played enough to ake a top 10, however the only thing that matters is that Sonic Colours Wii is first. Such a wonderful platformer
 

bede-x

Member
The problem with a ranking is that there's more than a few where I want to go "Parts of this were great, but these other parts..."

Agreed. The first four and to a lesser extent the PC version of Generations are the only ones, I'd consider great. The rest are too uneven and difficult to rank for me.
 
Sonic 3 is my favourite. Most memorable level locations and design, the best music and the greatest sense of speed. A close second is Sonic Adventure. It gets so much backlash now, but I still harbour a lot of love for it, half of which is probably down to the nostalgia of it being one of my first Dreamcast games and blowing my socks off as an introduction to the new generation. The other half still legitimately enjoys playing it.
 

xam3l

Member
Happy to see you put the Sonic 2 for Master System on the top 3. So many days that I spent playing that game.
 
10. Sonic Advance 2
9. Sonic Rush
8. Sonic Adventure 1
7. Sonic Adventure 2
6. Sonic The Hedgehog 1
5. Sonic Colors
4. Sonic Generations
3. Sonic 3 and Knuckles
2. Sonic CD
1. Sonic The Hedgehog 2

4 and 5 switch all the time. Adventure 2 would have been higher a few years ago. It's getting harder and harder to play those hunting levels.
 
1) Generations (shitty finale aside)
2) Sonic 3 and Knuckles
3) Sonic 2
4) Sonic Colors
5) Sonic 1
6) Sonic Adventure 2 (blessed Chao)
7) Sonic Adventure

I probably won't bother even touching the others very much. I know certainly from what I've played Shadow is at the lowest point.

If we count spin offs then All Stars Racing Transformed is much better than SA2 but not as fun as the side scrollers.

Edit 2: forgot Sonic CD, that's below Colors.
 
I haven't played 10 of them, but I'd probably go:

1) Sonic CD
2) Sonic the Hedgehog
3) Sonic 3 & Knuckles
4) Sonic Generations
5) Sonic 2
6) Sonic Adventure


Damn...that's actually more Sonic games then I thought I've played....Having said that, Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed is THE best Sonic game if it counts.
 
  1. Sonic Adventure 2
  2. Sonic CD
  3. Sonic Unleashed
  4. Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
  5. Sonic and Knuckles
  6. Sonic Rivals
  7. Shadow the Hedgehog
  8. Sonic Advance 3
  9. Sonic The Hedgehog 1
  10. Sonic Chaos
 
I probably won't bother even touching the others very much. I know certainly from what I've played Shadow is at the lowest point.

Eh, Shadow the Hedgehog is terrible..but Sonic 06 and Sonic And The Black Knight take the crown of being the worst Sonic games*.

*Only considering those that have an actual decent production value. Terrible gamescom sonic games don't count.
 

Kriken

Member
  1. Sonic Generations
  2. Sonic Unleashed
  3. Sonic Adventure 2

...I think that's it, I've got Colors I need to play as well as Adventure 1 and Sonic 06
 

Lucumo

Member
Sonic 2 will always be my favorite. Mystic Caves and Chemical Plant, yo.

Same here. Playing the levels with someone else was probably the most fun I had that generation. Was there even another platformer which featured multiplayer for the "campaign"?
Second would probably be Sonic Adventure 2.
 

skelekey

Member
1) Sonic the Hedgehog
2) Sonic 3 and Knuckles
3) Sonic Generations
4) Sonic 2

I either haven't played enough of the others to judge, or what I did play, I didn't like.
 
#10:Sonic R (Saturn)
#9: Sonic Advance (GBA)
#8: Sonic Colours (Wii)
#7: Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)
#6: Sonic Unleashed (Gen7)
#5: Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)
#4: Sonic Generations (PC)
#3: Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast)
#2: Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed (PC)
#1: Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Genesis)

I want a Collection in PS4 with all those games :D
 

andymcc

Banned
I'll do five.

1. Sonic CD- Evolution of Sonic 1's style which I prefer for classic Sonic. I actually enjoy the more impenetrable level design and the two different types of play the game delivers (either speeding through and getting time stones, or the time machine hunt).

2. Sonic the Hedgehog 1- The levels are great (even labyrinth!) and one of the best 16-bit soundtracks. Green Hill Zone is one of the greatest stage 1s in the history of games. This game holds almost the greatest amount of sentimentality for me as one of my fondest memories was getting it for my sixth birthday. Made me lukewarm to Super Mario World which I got a few weeks down the road (Sonic released first in North America).

3. Sonic 3 & Knuckles- It's hard for me to view these games as separate entities anymore as I don't think I ever played S & K on it's own but a handful of times. Sometimes the sprawling level design works (Hydrocity Zone, Lava Reef Zone) and sometimes it is a mess (Carnival Night Zone, Sandopolis Act 2). The tightly linked plot elements and themed variety of stages really go a far way in making the game feel huge though. Amazing soundtrack.

4. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Master System)- Though obviously not as competent of a game as the title it's based off of, it's still a great 8-bit showing. It's much more platforming heavy than the original game and it usually works, the scrolling does lead to a few unavoidable deaths if you don't know the levels though. The Yuzo Koshiro score is really nice, Bridge Zone is a masterpiece theme.

5. Sonic the Hedgehog 2- The worst of the classic Mega Drive/Genesis Sonic games in many ways for me. The music isn't as good as Sonic 1 (THAT GODDAMNED PITCH BEND), the level themes border on any generic mascot theme, level hazards are unremarkable and little care was given when the order of stages was finalized. It still has its moments but I feel it is a grossly overrated, albeit good, game.

I like some of the 3D games, especially their soundtracks, but they're not really not comparable to me.
 

Wensih

Member
I think Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventures, and Sonic Advance 3 were the only ones I truly enjoyed. 3D iterations haven't resonated with me much.
 

DD

Member
1st - Sonic & Knucles
2nd - Sonic 1 (Master System)
3rd - Sonic 2 (Mega Drive)
4th - Sonic 3 (Mega Drive)
5th - Sonic & Sega Allstars Racing Transformed
6th - Sonic 1 (Mega Drive)

All the rest that I've played goes from 'meh' to 'blergh'.
 

Tenebrous

Member
No love for Sonic Pinball? I used to love that game.

Mine would probably be...

Sonic 2
Sonic
Sonic 3/S&K (can't choose)
Sonic Pinball
 

delSai

Member
I liked Sonic Adventures 2 the most. Second Place would probably be Generations, followed by Colours. Then it's Sonic 1 and Sonic 2.
And shoutouts to Sonic Spinball
 
3. Sonic Unleashed (Wii Version, not the boring PS360 Version) - For me, this game captured Sonic's Speed better than any other game I played. So much faster and better than the mundane Daytime stages of the PS360 version. The daytime stages in this game make up for the terrible night stages.
I think this is the first time I've seen someone say they like the Wii/PS2 day stages better than the 360/PS3.
 
No love for Sonic Pinball? I used to love that game.

Mine would probably be...

Sonic 2
Sonic
Sonic 3/S&K (can't choose)
Sonic Pinball

Pinball being Spinball or Pinball Party? Cause in my opinion Spinball is a really bad Pinball game, though i enjoyed it as a kid.
 

JCX

Member
1. Sonic 3
2. Sonic 2
3. S&K
4. Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
5. Sonic and the Secret Rings (best 3D sonic since adventure)
6. Sonic Rush
7. Sonic Spinball
8. Sonic Generations
9. Sonic Rush Adventure
10. Sonic Adventure
 

Soltype

Member
10:Sonic Adventure 2
9: Sonic Spinball
8: Sonic Colours
7: Sonic Generations
6: Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed
5: Sonic CD
4: Sonic Advance
3: Sonic 2
2: Sonic 1
1: Sonic 3 and Knuckles
 

Crayolan

Member
1. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle
2. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
3. Sonic Generations
4. Sonic Adventure DX
5. Sonic 2
6. Sonic Colors
7. Sonic Unleashed
8. Sonic CD
9. Sonic the Hedgehog
10. Sonic and the Secret Rings

10 decent games to great games I've played. The rest suck. Secret Rings is pretty borderline itself but I don't hate it as much as most people. It's mediocre but not unplayable.

I played Advance 2 but it's been so long since then that I don't remember if it was good or not. Heard the rush games were okay too but I haven't played them.
 
I think this is the first time I've seen someone say they like the Wii/PS2 day stages better than the 360/PS3.

I'll be the second then. I really like the HD version mind you, but I preferred the Wii version in pretty much all aspects. My only complaints were that there were too many night time stages compared to day ones, and the day stages were all fairly short; something that was noticeable coming off the 3D games before then that had like 10 minute long stages.
 

xemumanic

Member
1. Sonic 3 and Knuckles - this game is the culmination of all of the best things of the 2D Sonic games. Multiple levels, hidden secret stages (that double and become even more difficult in the second half), great sense of speed and level design. It is simply the best.

So true. Better said than I can.
 
Sonic 3 & knuckles
sonic generations & unleashed mod
sonic R
sonic 2
sonic adventure 2
sonic heroes
sonic rush (Dat OST)
Sonic advance 2
sonix advance 3
sonic rush adventure

honorable mentions
Sonic battle
sonic 3d blast Saturn (dem special stages)
Sonic unleashed wii
sonic and the secret rings
 

Justinh

Member
I played the hell out of the Genesis games, except Spinball...
My favorite was probably S3+K. I'd like to use a game Genie with them just to make it a ridiculously tall as possible. Awesome!
After that, I tried to play the Dreamcast ones and really didn't like them at all.

Since then I haven't felt the need to even try any other ones. I've heard good things about Colors and Generations, but I'm just not motivated to give them a shot.
 

Dusk Golem

A 21st Century Rockefeller
I didn't enter, but my take for my Sonic opinion going by my weird taste for Sonic (mixture of nostalgia goggles and personal opinions with a few odd ones I have with the franchise);

[I'm not going to include All-Stars Racing Transformed as I view that more of a SEGA game than a Sonic game]

10.) Sonic the Hedgehog 1
09.) Sonic CD
08.) Sonic Adventure 2
07.) Sonic Rush Adventure (liked it way more than most)
06.) Sonic Advance 1 (again, liked it way more than most)
05.) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (MegaDrive)
04.) Sonic Colors
03.) Sonic Adventure
02.) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
01.) Sonic Generations
 
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