First impressions after 6 emeralds and stages in

[SteelHaru]

- Holy piss these Special Stages are *not* it, at all. Confusing yet simple mechanic that doesn't seem to really guarantee or convey well how to get closer to an Emerald faster. It feels like Sonic Team/Arzest wanted to do another Chaos Emerald chase sequence, saw what Mania had, and wanted to make the most un-fun and pure trial/error based one yet.

I feel like a good way to gauge a 2D Sonic's game longevity is whether or not the ability to get the Chaos Emeralds is as fun/enjoyable as the journey throughout the stages, and if it isn't, then if it's not hard by a large margin the game is still good. (see: Genesis 3D Blast. Super easy to do, but at least the rest of the stages/game is enjoyable)

- I'm already finding that there's too many "one act and done" stages because a lot of these I'm enjoying thoroughly but wanted to be playing much longer. Switching from Sonic to Amy suddenly with no explanation as to why is odd, but at least I got to see more Trip so that was cute I guess.

- SOUNDTRACK IS GREAT for everything *but* the Dr.Robotnik theme. I want whoever composed it to be given a lego to step on for every 10 steps for at least a week for burning my ears with this travesty composition when the other "Genesis" like tracks I've heard so far have been pretty enjoyable. There's clearly a distinction of decent to really enjoyable 'classic' music here and even more VERY welcome, unique tracks, but we have >got< to stop allowing Jun Senoue or whoever else thinks boss tunes are supposed to be 10 second loops. For god's sake, S3/S&K and 3D Blast had songs that LASTED 30 seconds to *over a minute* relatively for both of those games, and those were on 16 MB game cartridges. What's the damn excuse here and now?

I want to shake the person who makes these songs and ask "Are you not ashamed of yourself? Do you not have any self respect?" for thinking something like this is excusable. Sonic Team wants so badly to be able to allow their head director, Iizuka, to lambast the longevity of things like retro pixel art in gaming but then turn around and give us flaccid faux-Genesis boss music.

The hypocrisy is not lost on me, and we've had over 13 years since Sonic 4 Episode 1 to get away from this garbage. Knock it off already, Sega.

- These stages are insanely stingy on Shields or any power-ups whatsoever, making the stages feel incredibly fun to still run through but kind of bland when it comes to the exhilaration of exploration. Gone is the joy in finding a hidden location by pure accident and being rewarded with a Lightning Shield + 1 up + Speed Shoes.

Now that same sense of discovery is supposed to be instilled when we find a hidden pathway and we get...

...a medal. For a mode I'm never going to use, ever.

Thanks, it's worthless to me.

- Did anyone else find playing the game to feel 'weighty'? It's taken me some time to get used to but even as the physics are supposedly super close to the classics/Mania, it felt awkward at first. I've adjusted to it now, but it was something I took note in.

- Constant bugs. Denuvo is screwing up my ability to play the game without it jittering in place and King Crimson-ing while either in a hard Special Stage, fighting Robotnik, or even just trying to maneuver through traps. I really hope it's removed FAST because as it stands now, I could buy Mania Plus for some friends who are interested in good Sonic games *three times over* for the price of this.

I hope we also have an update for the Genesis Mini 8BitDo classic controller too, btw. Currently have one plugged in for Mania and my other 2D Sonic games but it's not recognized/working on this, so I hope to see an update fix that.

Overall it's solid, but the dreadful boss music and ASS Special Stages take the wind out of my sails easily paired with the bugs and 'ok' level discovery.

[Titan]

I think a fairly simple solution to the problem of medals would be to simply just let us use our battle mode characters in the main campaign mode. Would make exploration a lot more worthwhile and there's no reason they couldn't do it considering battle mode chars are the same as Sonic.

[GrimAtrament]

Huh? special stages are probably the easiest ones in all 2d games. only one i had any difficulty with was the and 4th 7th.

[SteelHaru]

Originally posted by GrimAtrament:

Huh? special stages are probably the easiest ones in all 2d games. only one i had any difficulty with was the and 4th 7th.

By "ass" I mean they're just awful in design. They don't feel fun to control, and that you can only homing attack/swing onto something so long as the camera is focusing kinda on it makes it far more flawed and frustrating than warrants the time spent on them.

I just don't like them at all.

[Titan]

Originally posted by SteelHaru:

Originally posted by GrimAtrament:

Huh? special stages are probably the easiest ones in all 2d games. only one i had any difficulty with was the and 4th 7th.

By "ass" I mean they're just awful in design. They don't feel fun to control, and that you can only homing attack/swing onto something so long as the camera is focusing kinda on it makes it far more flawed and frustrating than warrants the time spent on them.

I just don't like them at all.

Well, not being fun is pretty much par for the course for special stages. There has never been a fun special stage in a classic Sonic game, but this one not being frustrating at least makes it one of the better ones.

[marrow_c57]

Originally posted by Titan:

I think a fairly simple solution to the problem of medals would be to simply just let us use our battle mode characters in the main campaign mode. Would make exploration a lot more worthwhile and there's no reason they couldn't do it considering battle mode chars are the same as Sonic.

That, is a great idea!!! Sega, take note of this and make it part of an update. I am sure you are already working on the "plus" edition of this game. Add this to it.

[SteelHaru]

Originally posted by Titan:

Well, not being fun is pretty much par for the course for special stages. There has never been a fun special stage in a classic Sonic game

Sonic 2, CD, 3&K and Mania are literally right there

[Titan]

Originally posted by SteelHaru:

Originally posted by Titan:

Well, not being fun is pretty much par for the course for special stages. There has never been a fun special stage in a classic Sonic game

Sonic 2, CD, 3&K and Mania are literally right there

Yeah and all of those special stages are bad

[GrimAtrament]

Originally posted by SteelHaru:

Originally posted by Titan:

Well, not being fun is pretty much par for the course for special stages. There has never been a fun special stage in a classic Sonic game

Sonic 2, CD, 3&K and Mania are literally right there

sonic 2 is the worst one what?! only one that didn't suck was 3&knuckles.

[Pan]

Nah man half-pipe is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ awesome. Screw Blue Spheres.

[dragonpme]

Everything the OP said is true. VERY TRUE. I thought Tee Lopes did the entire score. I DOUBT he touched the Boss theme. The abysmal Golden Capitol music SURELY wasn't touched by such a genius too.

I think this game wouldnt hit me in the gut so hard if it was Mania price. 3 hours, and im finished the game. WOST £50 spend ever.