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[Phediuk]

I guess I'd better ask this before Sonic Mania comes out and makes the answer too easy.

Personally, I'm partial to the Master System version of Sonic 1. It's a pleasant and well-designed platformer--a bit basic, but fun--with level design that feels more like Mario than Sonic. It's a nice casual game that I probably beat once a year.

 

[dlauv]

Probably Generations, as unremarkable as it is.

 

[VRMN]

Generations, but I'll hear arguments for Colors. Extend that to Rush or Advance if you want to include portable stuff.

 

[nbnt]

I'm assuming this is about 2D Sonic titles? If yes then Sonic CD and Sonic Advance 1 are the two.

 

[Gattsu25]

Probably Generations, as unremarkable as it is.

Yeah, the game is nothing special but it probably gets the nod.

 

[Deadpool_X]

Gotta be Generations, but Colors is also a ton of fun. I'd love an HD remake of Colors.

 

[The Lone Dragon]

I don't know if Sonic CD counts as "non-Genesis"...

Sonic CD (?)
Sonic Generations
Sonic Unleashed PS2 (yes, even the Werehog stages)

 

[Kolibri]

 

[Why would you do that?]

I'm not a Sonic fan, but my favorite Sonic game (and my favorite Nintendo DS game in general) is Sonic Rush. I love the music, the speed, the stages and their gimmicks... For some reason, it just fit together perfectly to me.

Besides that, I really liked Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Adventure 2.

 

[Ferr986]

CD. If that doesnt count, Colors.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

For me it's a even split between Sonic Rush and Sonic Advance 2. My personal favorites of the franchise.

The tier below that is occupied by Sonic Colors, Sonic Rush Adventure and Sonic Advance.

The tier below THAT is Sonic Unleashed, Lost World and Sonic Advance 3.

Practically everything else is mediocre (Master System & Game Gear Titles, Secret Rings, etc.) to straight trash (Generations, 2006, Boom)

 

[Phediuk]

people like Generations apparently.

 

[Aaron Strife]

Sonic CD if that counts.

Generations if it doesn't.

 

[gelf]

This one just below Advance 1 for me. Proper Sonic games before the boost gameplay kicked in Advance 2.

 

[888]

Generations.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

Sonic 06.

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

Uhhh does Sonic Racing Transformed count? Otherwise those DS ones are alright.

Not the Bioware game

 

[IronicSonic]

Overall, I think Unleashed is the best game followed by Colors. Generations is more balanced tho

 

[StarPhlox]

Sonic CD doesn't count because you needed a Genesis to play it.

My vote would go to Generations, unfortunately. Not because it's the most good but because it's the least bad.

 

[VRMN]

people like Generations apparently.

It has a garbage story without the charm of Colors, but it got gameplay right. The only part I dislike is the final boss. And who plays Sonic for story?

 

[epeternally]

Generations has some flaws but it's a ton of fun. Definitely the modern Sonic game I've enjoyed most. Rush / Rush Adventure / Colors DS are also pretty good.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

The irony of folks picking Generations when a third of it is Genesis content.

 

[Triforce141]

Generations

If it doesn't count due to reusing Genesis content in a good chunk of the game, then Unleashed

 

[KiNolin]

Probably Sonic Colours.

 

[Mesoian]

CD.

Else, Generations, then colors.

 

[VRMN]

The irony of folks picking Generations when it's made up of a third of Genesis content.

Level themes, sure, but I don't think even the Classic stages are a remake of the Genesis levels. And even if they were, modern is a new layout. It's not the best game ever, but it's a fast playing Sonic game that isn't broken. Not a lot of those after Genesis.

 

[Kytes]

Since you're talking about Mania, i'm guessing you meant Classic titles.
If CD is not an option, i'd say Triple Trouble is the closest you'll get to something as good as S3&K (Heck, and it's portable. In 1994).

 

[KiNolin]

The irony of folks picking Generations when a third of it is Genesis content.

What? A third of it has an art direction that is inspired by Genesis content. The level design and gameplay are a completely different game, even in 2D.

 

[Danthrax]

Freedom Planet, LoL

The irony of folks picking Generations when a third of it is Genesis content.

I suppose Mania shouldn't count once it's released, then, either.

 

[NoKisum]

My favorites being (in no order) Generations, Rush, Rush Adventure, and Advance 3

EDIT: I read the title thinking we were only talking about non-Sega system games. In this case, I also add Adventure 2. Yes, it's a very flawed game, but I love it very much.

 

[Ruud_Luiten]

Sonic 1 on SEGA MasterSystem is amazing (even better than the Genesis version, no lie!).

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

Freedom Planet, LoL




I suppose Mania shouldn't count once it's released, then, either.

I didn't say Generations shouldn't count in this survey, I just thought it was a funny observation.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

The Sonic Mania demos that have been at various shows.

Does that count?

 

[Slamtastic]

Sonic Adventure 1 is the best

Spoiler

Sonic game

.

 

[jayhawker]

SA2

 

[Crayolan]

Sonic Adventure 2 is my favorite, but Generations is probably the best.

 

[Gradon]

Sonic CD
Sonic Chaos
Sonic Generations
Sonic Triple Trouble

 

[Selkies!]

Haven't played Generations but I really enjoyed Sonic Rush. It might be my favorite Sonic game including the Genesis games.

 

[Gattsu25]

Uhhh does Sonic Racing Transformed count? Otherwise those DS ones are alright.

Not the Bioware game

!!!

It should yes.

I'm changing my vote to this.

And unlike Generations, I don't have to conditionally recommend it either as this is an actual good game this time.

 

[Shadoken]

Sonic Adventure
GBA Sonic Games
Sonic Generations

 

[SimonM7]

*top of lungs* Colours!

 

[stan423321]

On the 3D front, there's been a huge quality rise on the primary line beginning with Unleashed (so after the downspike that '06 was, but still), and I think that Colours capitalized on it most. That isn't to say that Colours has no things that could be improved, but it has a certain cohesive feel to it that basically all the other titles except both Unleashed versions don't come close to (and Unleashed has werehog sections, which, while underrated, still mess with the game flow hard).

On the 2D front, there is some real flamewar potential, as all the games come much closer together, for varying reasons (most 8-bit titles were surprisingly solid but limited by the hardware, Dimps titles had their overall quality all across the spectrum each - as in every game is very uneven). With my particular preferences 3D Colours stay ahead.

 

[Green Mamba]

Sonic Advance 1 genuinely feels like a Genesis Sonic game at times.

 

[Neptonic]

Colors is so much fun and has the tone I want in my sonic games

 

[Piers]

Sonic Rush
Incredible soundtrack and amazing flow with levels

 

[dlauv]

Both All-Stars Racing games and Sonic Riders are good if you want something else.

 

[clemenx]

Rush

 

[Pizza]

For me, it's sonic adventure 2

It took some huge strides after the first adventure game. I liked the varying playstyles for all the characters and the *amount* of content there was. The chao garden and VmU/GBa stuff was super neat and added a ton of replayability to the game

Also, the Battle modes were really fun!

Heroes was a huge step back from the adventure titles imo. Generations, to me, is a combination of lukewarm modern sonic and meh classic sonic creating a game that doesn't offend me but really isn't doing too much noteworthy. Adventure 2 has tons of stuff you can point at as room for improvement, but the super cheesy trope-riddled story was dumb fun and there was a lot of meat to the game!

 

[ZeoVGM]

Colors and Generations are really the only true answers to this question. Both are legitimately great games and the only truly good mainline Sonic games since the 2D series.

(At least on consoles. Sonic Rush is great too.)

 

[Joey Ravn]

I really liked Generations.

Can't say I care for any other Sonic game. Hopefully Mania changes that.