I always find reading Sonic discussion threads to be so fascinating because Sonic has seen such a broad range of experimental game play styles, and as a result there's going to be an invariable split in opinions on each particular game. Sonic's evolution in the 3D era hasn't been like genesis where Sonic 1-3 are near interchangeable in gameplay barring upgrades here and there. Many of the games play completely different.
That being said it's unfortunate that so many find it necessary to berate others for their taste in a particular version of 3D Sonic. Each game, in my opinion, has good things that I can say about it, and yes that even includes 2006. Obviously, some games have way more bad than good, but this can differ from person to person a bit, and past a certain point it becomes a completely subjective matter on whether the game was good or not.
Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 were moderately successful on both the Dreamcast and Gamecube, and even received favorable reviews from gaming outlets (on both). Professionally and financially speaking these games were successful, and if you extrapolate that proof of general "good-ness" than these games were objectively pretty good. Of course you're free to continue thinking they were shit, if that's what you fancy.
My particular opinion is that Sonic Adventure was one of Sonic's finest eras as a gaming franchise, right next his extended 2D grand slam after his introduction on the genesis.
Generations, Colors, Unleashed (speed levels) are all modified, polished, reconditioned versions of the type of game play they introduced in Secret Rings. You move straight and hold boost. Sometimes you jump and use a homing attack, press right or left to switch rails...I mean I'm sorry but while they are fun for what they are, they aren't what many of us who loved Sonic Adventure actually want from a 3D Sonic game.
At the risk of being opinionated, I find that kind of game play to get old and boring very fast. It was fun in Unleashed despite being infrequent due to werehog, and in colors and generations we got a nice huge overdose of it, but I was thankful to high heaven for Lost World for giving us something different. Lost World was really enjoyable because it didn't stress going straight. It opened up your space, it gave us more technical control of Sonic's movements so that we could display a greater finesse and control of the character to maneuver way more complex level designs, and ultimately that's what those of us who miss SA1/2 want from a modern 3D Sonic game...
We want space. We're tired of feeling like we're on a race track. Yes, Sonic runs fast and it makes for some pretty decent games focusing on it, but we miss the exploration (Yes, you heard me), the feeling of going down a rabbit hole level, using not just speed but platforming and visual queue's, to find your way through an area that feels like it's alive for more than just to support your path on your way through (like I said, like a race track). That's breathing without you being there. You're just a guest.
Sonic 2006 was overall a very poorly developed game, but its intentions were honest and in the same vein as the Adventure series games. It's a shame that the result was so poor, because clearly its failure led to very many years of SEGA simply trying to lean on the best possible 'safe' strategy for milking Sonic like they're going down in flames and it's an emergency.
We have enough 2D Sonic's at this point, let them try their hand, with all their past experience (and failures) in mind, at giving us a solid, epic, 3D adventure game that we can truly say is deserving of the "3" in the title.
#SonicAdventure3
You made a great post and before I make my comments on a SA3, will talk about other things first.
I love the Adventure Speed levels myself and SA1 is a blast to play. It really is a Genesis Sonic game but in 3D, done really well. The level design (mostly) is great, the controls for spindashing and rolling feel soo good and nailing your jumps and rolls makes blasting through levels so rewarding. The best part is that Sonic makes up the majority of Adventure and despite having a large cast to play as, it respects the player a lot.
You don't have to play as anyone BUT Sonic. Just clear his 10 zones and his final boss with Eggman and you can put the controller down, happy and having a good time. You can then play as Tails, playing five stages with the ability to fly this time out. Really fun way to revisiting Sonic's stages. Then play as Knuckles and have a more exploration approach to level design.
Lastly, you have the two new styles to play; shooting and Mario-esc platforming. Gama is Sonic with a gun and Amy is a slower Sonic; both are fun and I really enjoyed there levels. Gama is a lot better then the mech stages in SA2 honestly to me. Even Big isn't that offensive, as he only has three-four zones so.....only play as him for maybe for 40 minutes-an hour.
SA1 is aged and will comment on that with my thread on it latter this month (covering the classic series now) but I like SA1 a lot
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SA2 is a good game.....but you are far more forced with the other styles this time out
. Speed levels take up 30-40% of the game, with the mech and treasure hunting taking up 60% of the game.....oh such fun :l. I didn't mind those styles, mostly, but still. Sonic's name is on the box, so you should be playing as him for most of the game.
Sonic 06 was horrid in this case, with such a focus on other styles, that everything suffers in the end due to lack of polish, time spent on useless elements (Amy, Missions, ect) and just in general being really glitchy.
I don't want a SA3 because of 06. It showed that Sonic Team will just make a SA3 with 9+ characters again and everyone playing so different detracts from the star Sonic content.
That is why I love the Modern games so much (and even stuff like Heroes); it (mainly) focuses on Sonic for the majority of the game and its all the more better for it.
I agree that Unleashed's Day Levels are too focused on speed but Colors & Generations establishes a strong balance between everything. I heard mixed things about Lost World but I love the look, style and its gameplay from the footage I saw of it (don't own a Wii U or a good PC to run it).
I do NOT want a Sonic Adventure 3.....just want Sonic Team to continue the work they started with Generations or Lost World, and further polish it to perfection. Sonic 06 showed that Sonic's SA1/SA2 gameplay cannot be done without other styles being shoved down our necks.
I want more 2D Sonic gameplay honestly, and hopefully with all the rumors, we do end up getting a great Classic game AND a strong Modern game. Sorry if I come off too negative or bitter about a possible SA3, but Sonic Team and Sega shown they can't make one without all that baggage. Would be happy to be surprised though however
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