I don't think it lives up to the classic games but it was nice they attempted to keep them going alongside the 3D games. It was a bit annoying that you can't use the characters abilities while using a spring or in a ball, so you can't fly or glide as Tails/Knuckles till you hit the ground again and do a normal jump. The Ice Mountain boss was terrible as anyone but Tails (and sometimes Knuckles). I did like that Knuckles can now swim on top of the water, wouldn't mind that just becoming apart of his normal move set. The moving text in this game were terrible tho, you can't properly read the stage names, special stage ring message, or the emerald screen text, it moves too fast and hurt my head a little trying to look at it. It would have just been fine to have static text that was actually readable.
I really like that you are able to select levels as you get to them. The special stages weren't the best and hard to look at sometimes, but I guess it was the limitations of the GBA. I liked that all characters shared an emerald count, but I wouldn't actually want that in a standard classic game tbh. In for example 3&K or Mania, each character collecting all the emeralds gives you Super forms, but because none of the characters (besides Sonic) have Super forms in this game, having them share the emerald count is a good idea.
I don't like that you have to complete the game as every character to get the true final battle tho. That idea works with Adventure 1/2 because each side was different, and completes the story building up to the final episodes, but here all the playthroughs are the same. Having all the emeralds and beating the game as one character (most likely Sonic since he's the one with a Super form this game) should have been enough like normal.
And now Amy... this was her first time being playable in a 2D game, but I don't think they implemented her well. They tried to make her unique but not being able to spin dash makes attacking enemies, going up slops/loops and running the long stretches harder. The game just doesn't feel designed for the gameplay style they decided to give her. I hope her gameplay improved in the sequels!
Tiny Chao Garden is cute^^
I really like that you are able to select levels as you get to them. The special stages weren't the best and hard to look at sometimes, but I guess it was the limitations of the GBA. I liked that all characters shared an emerald count, but I wouldn't actually want that in a standard classic game tbh. In for example 3&K or Mania, each character collecting all the emeralds gives you Super forms, but because none of the characters (besides Sonic) have Super forms in this game, having them share the emerald count is a good idea.
I don't like that you have to complete the game as every character to get the true final battle tho. That idea works with Adventure 1/2 because each side was different, and completes the story building up to the final episodes, but here all the playthroughs are the same. Having all the emeralds and beating the game as one character (most likely Sonic since he's the one with a Super form this game) should have been enough like normal.
And now Amy... this was her first time being playable in a 2D game, but I don't think they implemented her well. They tried to make her unique but not being able to spin dash makes attacking enemies, going up slops/loops and running the long stretches harder. The game just doesn't feel designed for the gameplay style they decided to give her. I hope her gameplay improved in the sequels!
Tiny Chao Garden is cute^^