1) They did simplify the boost section, but this does not make it a bad game
2) It re-uses some assets, and introduces outstanding new levels. The rest is up to your personal taste, I found the level-design quite good overall, but not particularly for the solo modern Sonic levels. Avatar and classic Sonic stages are pretty good in my opinion. Again, personal preferences.
3) Generations is just as short, but Forces has a lot of routes in each stages. Better replayability.
4) This is a Sonic game, if you want an elaborated story go and read Steins Gate or House in Fata Morgana. They actually made a story in a more serious world, as some fans enjoy this. Not you it seems, but again, that's your personal preferences.
5) It was perfectly serviceable as well as being simple, this is not Code Vein or Cyberpunk, it is perfectly adapted for younger kids
6) This is actually false, Forces has overall better visuals and runs much better than these games, that struggled to reach 30fps on consoles. Targetting 60fps makes for a much better visual experience, and is much more important in a fast game like Sonic.
1) Let's go back to the Tony Hawk comparison. Imagine they automated the grinding. Instead of pressing a button combination to do a certain grind you just have to jump on the rail and it automatically goes into the grind and chooses a random trick for you. Imagine in Super Mario Galaxy 2 they removed the triple jump and as a substitute, you just have to press and hold "A" which makes Mario float in the air. Imagine in Street Fighter IV you just have to mash the "A" button to make your Hadouken.
Simplicity isn't necessarily a bad thing and simplifying the mechanics doesn't necessarily make a bad game, but in case of Forces it takes away the spectacle, it takes away the depth, it takes away the feeling of accomplishment by being challenging.
As I said, it's just one step away from being an autorunning mobile game and after playing previous boost games this is a big step back.
2) Levels in Forces are too tube-like, meaning too straight forward. Nothing ever comes in your way and requires you to do something outside of the box. Environments are pretty boring, nothing you haven't seen before, and often reused from Generations. Compare how each of the boost games starts. Only Generations and Forces start with Green Hill. Generations was made to be a redux of classic levels. Forces just uses it because it's easier than to make an entirely new level. It's lazy and too safe and an outlook of what comes next. It's also the easiest boost game to get S-Rank.
3) Generations also has levels with separate routes and quite frankly, I think they are much better done.
4) I don't expect something deep. However, I expect it to make sense. I don't care much about the story in a Sonic game, at least compared to the gameplay, but it's not a well-written story at all, not even for what it is.
5) It's just presets you can put clothes/accessories on. Most games of the last 10 years with a feature like this do it much better. It's "okay", but dated.
6) "
on console" Generations looks much better on PC. Unleashed has nicer aesthetics and more stylized levels.
I expected a bigger jump, especially when you're used to playing Generations on PC.