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Sonic the Hedgehog Community Thread: Green Hills and Laughing Iizukas

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But what if I do dislike both boosting and spindash?

Then I'd have to wonder if you like Sonic games at all in any capacity. Classic Sonic without spindash is like... Super Mario Bros. without a run button, almost. It makes everything so much more convenient, and faster, and accessible.

I used to have a problem with boosting until I realized it's basically an even more convenient version of the spindash - it's like spindash spamming in SA1 minus having to give yourself RSI.

The only real problem is I feel like Sonic is too easy to control while boosting - rolling in classic Sonic games made you invincible, but basically removed your ability to slow down or have precise control of Sonic at all unless you jumped out of the roll. Boost, on the other hand, is balanced in the other direction: you want to boost for as long as you possibly can because there are more benefits to staying in boost than running normally.

Sonic Colors tried to pull that back a bit, but it did it in completely the wrong way: by making it more difficult to recharge your boost meter. That put you in to scenarios where you want to or maybe even need to boost but cannot. If I were in charge of things I'd go more in this direction:

  1. Make Sonic's non-boosting controls a lot tighter. Maybe even cap his speed when he's not boosting so he plays more platformer-y.
  2. Remove the boost meter altogether. Infinite boost. Or at the very least, implement it like the tension gauge in Sonic Rush, where maxing out the meter gives you infinite boost for (x) seconds.
  3. While boosting, Sonic is considerably more difficult to control. All forward thrust with limited turning capability outside of maybe drifting.

You can sorta say that Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Generations kind of do some of that, but what I think those games do instead is heavily script how responsive Sonic's controls are. Compare how responsive Sonic is to turns in the final quickstep stretch of Green Hill Zone vs. how he steers in the watery rock bit directly preceding. They script how responsive Sonic's controls are depending on where he is in a level, and that's a really clunky way of doing things. It's more scripting instead of less.
 

Sixfortyfive

He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
Sonic CD?
And that's my 2nd favorite!

Spindash always seemed like more of an afterthought in that one than anything else. The game didn't really seem to be designed around it.

It makes everything so much more convenient, and faster, and accessible.
I also feel like it encourages lazy stage design and strays rather far away from what made the original game so unique control-wise in the first place.

I think I'd like boosting more if it was tied to remaining rings (draining it like Super Sonic, but at a faster rate) rather than its own meter, but that probably has just as much potential to be done poorly.
 
I also feel like it encourages lazy stage design and strays rather far away from what made the original game so unique control-wise in the first place.

Perhaps, but from what I've observed, there are many people who cite their reason for not liking Sonic games as having problems with the controls. Too much time spent getting back up to speed once you stop. Some people think it makes platforming more difficult.

At the very least, you have to admit that Sonic 1 heavily penalizes you for running in to something and losing your momentum. Not in terms of damaging the player, but in terms of just how much effort it takes to get moving again.

The Spindash helps to solve that problem. Not enough for some, but enough that it was probably very instrumental in elevating Sonic's success.
 

Kokonoe

Banned
so I've been making my way through all the Sonic platformers since maybe Generations' debut trailer, just for fun. gonna sum up my findings here so far...

Better than Sonic Colors:

Sonic 1
Sonic 2
Sonic 3K

Sonic CD
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2

Sonic 06
Sonic Advance
Sonic Generations

all Master System/Game Gear Sonics
Sonic Jump
Sonic Heroes

Worse Than Sonic Colors:

Chaotix
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic 4
Sonic Rush/Rush Adventure/Colors DS
ViewtifulJC's favorite game
Astrosanity's favorite game

Still need to (re)play:

Advance 2
Advance 3
Sonic Battle
Sonic 3D Blast
Shadow the Hedgehog
Black Knight (lol fuck)
Sonic and the Secret Rings

Shadow is next. I'll be making a LTTP on that one. Expecting it to be really, really bad. Probably worse than Colors.

Sonic Jump? Hahahahaha! Rush Adventure is like below Colors but Sonic Jump? I don't know why I find that so hilarious.

I guess I'll go ahead and highlight the ones I like more.

I can't wait for my Sonic boooook!

This thread's fun?

I want one!

It's a lot more fun than that other thread let me tell you.
 
Just listening to the various All Star jingles and I didn't realise we also had the themes for the yet to be released characters, Football Manager has some straight up SNES Football/Soccer game menu music going on.
The Metal Sonic theme was handled well enough that they should have just gotten Jacques to salvage the entire Sonic 4 soundtrack.
 
My favorite music tracks are probably:

- The Panzer Dragoon Medley. Fantastic from start to finish. Wasn't expecting the ending theme to PD1 being a part of the medley, either.

- The medley of Idaten and Japonesque for the Shinobi stage. Shame that Whirlwind didn't get remixed for the game, being the best track from Shinobi III and all.

- We Are Burning Rangers. I'm still trying to get over the fact that the game's been acknowledged in some capacity, much less with an awesome stage. I'm pleasantly surprised that the lyrics were kept, too.

The songs for the Golden Axe, Race of Ages and Skies of Arcadia stages are pretty great, too. Can't think of a more fitting theme for Race of Ages than the Space Harrier theme.
 

qq more

Member
I don't even like Golden Axe but the opening stage remix for Adder's Lair is bloody fantastic, nothing in the game pumps me up more, it also helps that the track is one of the very best as well.

Nostalggiaaaa

Golden Axe was one of my first games, so it was great hearing this song after so many years. I think my parents used to play that game a lot when I was 3 or something.

Also my favorite themes has to be You Can Do Anything, Vyse's Theme and that song. That Outrun's song could of have been my favorite but I feel that the dubstep kind of ruined it... it just doesn't really fit at all.
 

Tizoc

Member
Go ahead!
Nakamura's drawing:
XSAxe.jpg


Sugita's drawing:
TLZQ9.jpg


...AND THE WINNER IS:
5tPfS.jpg


Gonna post my review of the PS3 ver. of Sonic Racing Transformed soon.
 

Tizoc

Member
Well here's my review, let me know if there are any areas I can improve in, especially in the writing or grammar.

Introduction
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, is the sequel to the 2010 Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, developed by SUMO who are known as big fans of SEGA. Transformed, overall, is a much better improvement over the first game in terms of track and the vehicles.

Graphics: 5/5
There’s really not much to say about the graphics aside that it is simply very beautiful. SUMO have done a great job of continuing SEGA’s trend of brilliant visual presentation, as the game’s visuals and graphics are lively, energetic and with good detail. The track design is well done, and those familiar with the games they come from will appreciate the detail given to them. In addition, each character in the game has their vehicle which transforms into an aircraft or speedboat, and the player can also see how the vehicle transforms into the other forms if they look closely.

Sound: 5/5
This is one aspect of the game that greatly stands out, as the game has fantastic music courtesy of Richard Jacques who has composed music for various SEGA games as well as Mass Effect and Forza Motorsport 4.

In reality every stage’s track is a remix by Jacques from the game it comes from, and his remixes are amazing to say the least. Those familiar with classic SEGA games from the Genesis/Mega Drive, Arcade, Saturn and Dreamcast eras will be flooded with a tsunami of nostalgia upon hearing and recognizing the many themes in the game, be it the Shinobi stage’s remix of the first level from Shinobi III, or the Sonic & Knuckles intro theme in the Sky Sanctuary stage, or Vyse’s theme from Skies of Arcadia.

Gameplay: 4/5
The game’s improvement over its predecessor does an excellent job of making it stand out and not be a ‘re-hash’ of the previous game, as most video game players might expect from sequels. The biggest changes to the game, are the introduction of an aircraft form and speedboat form, for sections in tracks where players must continue on water (or lava) or in the air. Much like the first game, there are unlockable characters, and they are unlocked through playing the main Single Player modes.

For starters, the game’s main Single Player modes, World Tour and Grand Prix, can both be complete by 4 offline players. World Tour is where everyone should start I feel; in WT mode, players play on a stage completing a specific race or challenge. Progressing through WT mode is done by collecting Stars, which are awarded by completing the challenges. When players start WT mode, they can play the challenges in any of 3 difficulties: Easy, Medium & Hard. Upon unlocking the final WT location, they can complete the challenges in a 4th difficulty, Expert. The player is awarded a Star for completing a stage on each difficulty, so completing a stage on Medium will award 2 stars as opposed to getting 1 star from finishing it on Easy.

Easy and Medium aren’t all that difficult and Medium is recommended to progress faster through WT mode and to learn the game and stages. Hard and Expert on the other hand, are quite unfair in Races overall as the AI gets a major speed boost and acceleration. Unfortunately, in order to unlock the remaining characters, the player may need to play on some stages on Hard to have enough Stars to unlock them. Non the less with diligence and patience, the higher difficulties of World Tour can be completed, and the player will reap the rewards of an interesting character, dubbed as a fanservice to long time SEGA fans.

Grand Prix has you play in a set of 4 stages and earning points by finishing in 1st or lower. By the end of the 4th race, the player with the highest points is declared the winner. This was something I wished the 1st game had, especially with how long the loading was in the first game.

As I said, WT mode is where everyone should start playing the game, as the stage by stage progress also lets players discover the stages and learn them. As I kept playing and unlocking stages, I was pleased and impressed by how well Sumo have gone in crafting the tracks.

Which brings me to the tracks themselves, various tracks will change their layout by the 2nd or 3rd lap. This may seem jarring at first, but it is a fantastic change from the regular trend in racers. Furthermore, it’s not difficult to learn these new tracks if one puts the effort into learning them.

Like many Kart racing games before it, there are items and weapons laid out on the tracks which can assist players in winning the race and getting a lead. Each character also has their own All-Star move which when used grants the player extra speed and the ability to damage enemies surrounding them or from afar (Think Crash Team Racing’s mask power-up but with long range missiles), as well as boost pads which when driving on gives the character a short burst of speed. It is also possible to disable weapons and play it as a regular arcade racer, doing so will add a few more boost pads on the stage.

Other modes in the game include Online, Single Race (where 1-4 players can play on any of the stages in the game) and Time attack modes. I haven’t had any issues playing the game online, and up to 4 offline players can also play in any lobbies.

Finally, we come to what I feel is one of the low points in the game; the actual character roster itself. The first game had a magnificent roster, featuring Opa Opa, Ryo Hazuki from Shenmue, The Bonanza Bros. & Jacky and Akira from Virtua Fighter (driving what appears to be the car from SEGA’s classic Outrun series). This roster in Transformed doesn’t feature many iconic and obscure SEGA characters sadly, but one tends to get over it eventually in favor of the gameplay.

Overall however, players will be able to find their character of choice based on their stats, which can also be altered to their preference. As one keeps playing with a character they will unlock mods for them that alter the stats of their vehicle, Sonic, for example, can have better handling of his vehicle while giving up a little of his speed or acceleration.
One other gripe I’ve noticed is that when playing online, hitting another racer/character causes you to rebound the other side of the track. The physics when playing online needs tweaking, which I hope will be fixed in a future update.

Replay value: 5/5
Even after unlocking everything, or as much as possible in the game, competing with friends and family in this game can never get boring, making it a great game to play in get togethers.

Final Score: 9/10
The biggest cons of this game being the roster, the higher difficulties being very unfair and that unlocking stuff in World Tour mode requires playing on said unfair higher difficulties. However, this is easily overlooked by how fun the game ends up being, from discovering the stages and the well thought track progression and structure, to listening to a nostalgic and amazingly composed soundtrack, to the countless hours of fun playing with others, Sumo and SEGA have developed an excellent, must have racer, if you’re a fan of racing or SEGA in general.
 
I'm not even sure where to begin, i'm tackling some of it right now (so many links, choice paralysis!) and the rest in the morning since it's getting late, safe to say you've gone and outdone yourself in content, tomes indeed!

Now all you've got to do is get cracking on those GotY write ups, ohohohoho!
 

Dark Schala

Eloquent Princess
I'm not even sure where to begin, i'm tackling some of it right now (so many links, choice paralysis!) and the rest in the morning since it's getting late, safe to say you've gone and outdone yourself in content, tomes indeed!

Now all you've got to do is get cracking on those GotY write ups, ohohohoho!
Oh God... ;____;

I didn't commit myself to voting for GotY in the thread yet so we'll see if I end up doing one. I'd like to, but I'm still in the middle of a bunch of games from 2012. I haven't even cracked into Dragon's Dogma yet.

Well, I hope you're enjoying some of it. I spent two days on it, lol. Just read the Crazy Bus award and we'll be good.
 

Noi

Member
Really tempted to click every link the Nayuta part, but I want to remain oblivious to it on the very slim chance I get a chance to play it someday. I hate having music spoiled for games I have some intention on playing.

Everything else is (unfortunately) free game though! Clicking all the links.
 
I'm not gonna do a post in the GOTY thread. I'm experiencing most of the years games early this year. Currently playing Far Cry 3.

Besides, the winner will be XCOM or The Walking Dead, either of which I'm more than happy with.
 
Oh God... ;____;

I didn't commit myself to voting for GotY in the thread yet so we'll see if I end up doing one. I'd like to, but I'm still in the middle of a bunch of games from 2012. I haven't even cracked into Dragon's Dogma yet.

Well, I hope you're enjoying some of it. I spent two days on it, lol. Just read the Crazy Bus award and we'll be good.
I just stumbled into the most unexpected FF theme with worlds collide, safe to say this whole selection is more than meets the eye.
I read the crazy bus award, listened to the choice, wondered why I have an immunity and i'll now gift you with this special treat.

I'm not gonna do a post in the GOTY thread. I'm experiencing most of the years games early this year. Currently playing Far Cry 3.

Besides, the winner will be XCOM or The Walking Dead, either of which I'm more than happy with.

Oh boo Sonic Gaf, you're letting me down, on the other hand I can now take the glory for myself, the glory of making a big kind of pointless list that will make no difference due to the current front runners.
 
My currently completed/played-a-satisfactory-amount-of games of 2012:

-Crashmo
-The Walking Dead
-Journey
-Kid Icarus Uprising
-Dikembe Mutmbo's Save The World
-Frog Fractions

Yeah.
 

Dark Schala

Eloquent Princess
Really tempted to click every link the Nayuta part, but I want to remain oblivious to it on the very slim chance I get a chance to play it someday. I hate having music spoiled for games I have some intention on playing.

Everything else is (unfortunately) free game though! Clicking all the links.
Oh, man at least click on these two Nayuta links!
Desolated Lands
Impatient Emotions

Well here's my review, let me know if there are any areas I can improve in, especially in the writing or grammar.
my fingers kind of hurt right now but i'll do this later.

I just stumbled into the most unexpected FF theme with worlds collide, safe to say this whole selection is more than meets the eye.
I read the crazy bus award, listened to the choice, wondered why I have an immunity and i'll now gift you with this special treat.
...

:|

Who decided this was a good idea sdifhsoitgsngoigtingvjfnroigheiuthignhz

Oh boo Sonic Gaf, you're letting me down, on the other hand I can now take the glory for myself, the glory of making a big kind of pointless list that will make no difference due to the current front runners.
This is my problem, though. A lot of the stuff I want to vote for won't exactly make GAF's top tally. Though I'd love to talk about them.

Stuff I might put on there:
-Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World (which is rendered unplayable at the moment)
-DJMAX Technika Tune
-Nayuta no Kiseki
-Dustforce
-Persona 4: Golden (haven't satisfactorily completed)
-Ys Celceta (haven't satisfactorily completed)
-Shleepy Dawgs (haven't satisfactorily completed)
-Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
-Katawa Shoujo
-Hakuoki
-Sound Shapes
-The Last Story
-Growlanser IV

Probably other stuff I'm forgetting about, but otherwise, yeah... my list differs from a lot of people's. :|

I'd put Tales of Graces f on there but I played it in 2010. >_<
 

Nert

Member
I'm definitely going to put together a game of the year post, but probably not until the last minute (the soundtrack results thread isn't going to create itself). Botanicula, Dikembe Mutumbo, XCOM, The Walking Dead, Mark of the Ninja, and Cart Life are all really unique experiences. I know that I missed out on some of this year's best by not having a 3DS or a Vita (well, I did have one of those, until it was stolen), so my vote will basically just be a list of western titles. Oh well.

I should post something about Sonic to make up for all of the off-topic posting I tend to do here. Hey everybody, Generations is still fun and I still play around with it from time to time. They should make another Sonic game that isn't a Sonic 4 episode at some point :D
 
Gameboy Player and Techno Base really don't get along very well...at least the sound comes in well.

Hmmm...at least I discovered the secret to Sky Canyon and that's stay on the highest route possible and you'll get through with little headache!

Advance 2 needs a little dash of that blast processing...I want my eyes to get for mercy!

In another sign I'm getting old...my eyes can't handle the moving stars in this Space Station zone...ugh.
 
Actually, speaking of 2012 releases, Paper Mario: Sticker Star is pretty good. I actually didn't get this until 2013 had rolled around, though; belated Christmas present.

It's not quite classic Paper Mario, considering you have no partners and your movelist is limited by what stickers you have at any given moment (and they are consumed when you do use them), but it's close enough that I'm really enjoying it.
 

qq more

Member
Paper Mario 3DS is alright so far. I played it expecting it to be a total let down but I'm actually enjoying it. I am not a huge fan of getting stuck a lot though (but it's definitely not as bad as it was in Super Paper Mario)
 

Dark Schala

Eloquent Princess
I guess I'll remain in the minority who find that Paper Mario: Sticker Star is remarkably boring. :|

So, uh, I was looking at the HOLD RIGHT TO WIN video, and I was wondering whether or not any of the games ever facilitated that sort of thing outside of the first zone. I know the newer games tend to go for "HOLD UP TO WIN" tactics, but sometimes that doesn't seem like the case.

why can't I play this in a language I know

BibleThump.png
xseed pls
This would be the safest game to bring over outside of SC if they feel like bringing something newer. It's ... pretty verbose, though. More verbose than I thought it was going to be when I started playing it.

I know that I missed out on some of this year's best by not having a 3DS or a Vita (well, I did have one of those, until it was stolen), so my vote will basically just be a list of western titles. Oh well.
Your Vita got stolen? That sucks! :(
 

qq more

Member
So, uh, I was looking at the HOLD RIGHT TO WIN video, and I was wondering whether or not any of the games ever facilitated that sort of thing outside of the first zone. I know the newer games tend to go for "HOLD UP TO WIN" tactics, but sometimes that doesn't seem like the case.

Hot Crater Act 1 or 2 was REALLY close. I think I only non-hold right thing I had to do was jump once or twice.

And Sonic 4's White Park Act 2 was nearly as bad. You can even kill most of the enemies by just holding right thanks to the automated dash pads!
 

Dark Schala

Eloquent Princess
Hot Crater Act 1 or 2 was REALLY close. I think I only non-hold right thing I had to do was jump once or twice.

And Sonic 4's White Park Act 2 was nearly as bad. You can even kill most of the enemies by just holding right thanks to the automated dash pads!
Can that be said of many of Sonic 4's stages? Hold right to bounce on a bounce pad. I'm trying to find a Splash Hill Act 1 map but Google's not being cool for me.

When was the point where Dimps started to drop the ball with regards to level design?
 

qq more

Member
Can that be said of many of Sonic 4's stages? Hold right to bounce on a bounce pad. I'm trying to find a Splash Hill Act 1 map but Google's not being cool for me.

No, Act 2 was litterally nearly hold right to win. There was a segment or two where it wasn't like this. I could be honestly wrong though, but the level definitely felt really automated, even for a Sonic 4 level.


When was the point where Dimps started to drop the ball with regards to level design?
It's been really inconsistent, it's like they just decide to make bad games whenever they feel like it. I mean... Colors DS was actually not badly designed and yet... Sonic 4 and Generations 3DS happens.

Gonna test this theory of yours.

Sonic Advance 2 or Sonic 4?
 

Sciz

Member
Advance 2 is the series at its worst with regard to automating movement, at least in 2D. Those endless downhill slopes don't encourage much interactivity.
 

Noi

Member
This would be the safest game to bring over outside of SC if they feel like bringing something newer. It's ... pretty verbose, though. More verbose than I thought it was going to be when I started playing it.

Story of Kiseki's life. At least Corpse Party broke XSeed's sequel localization curse, so there's SOME hope for those games.
 
Tried it myself. It was Hot Crater Act 1, I only had to do two jumps total. :lol

I ended up doing a few more than two and a lot of mid air tricks to either get up to a ledge or avoid a danger or two. There is a good chunk of the beginning where I didn't let my finger off the right button so I'll give you that but there is still a good amount you can do.
 

qq more

Member
I ended up doing a few more than two and a lot of mid air tricks to either get up to a ledge or avoid a danger or two. There is a good chunk of the beginning where I didn't let my finger off the right button so I'll give you that but there is still a good amount you can do.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm just pointing out how effortless one can easily beat that act. Closest to litterally "HOLD RIGHT TO WIN".
 
I found myself more bored because it wasn't a great looking level than from the fact I was using one button most of the time. Don't know why you would just hold right anyway, the game encourages to use the trick action to get around, knock out foes and explore higher routes.
 
This is my problem, though. A lot of the stuff I want to vote for won't exactly make GAF's top tally. Though I'd love to talk about them.

*list*

Probably other stuff I'm forgetting about, but otherwise, yeah... my list differs from a lot of people's. :|

I'd put Tales of Graces f on there but I played it in 2010. >_<
See, you're halfway there, this is the chance to represent those different games, the opportunity to explain why your number 1 is superior to the overall Consensus, this is what we all strive for, do you think those soundtracks we voted for have a chance in the face of the front runners? (well one of mine is likely up there but anyway...) never but we we pushed ahead anyway, that's what it means to be an extraordinary Gaffer.
Or you can sit here with your beloved games and their broken dreams of glory and when the results thread arrives and you look down that top 10 and see nothing that you like you'll understand that you let them win not just number 1 but everything that follows in its wake!
Or you can just tell me to sod off and that you've written enough over the last 30 odd days, that would make sense.

Now while I have the time i've got to get back to your musical tomes.

I had a GotY post, but I lost the will to go full force on it. Mark of the Ninja aint winning anything anyway

But we can make it earn a higher rank than it will get, maybe it's not the rank it deserves but we have to try!
BELIEVE JC!
 
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