I really tried, man. But the old Sonic games just aren't that good. Granted, this is the only one of the OG trilogy I played without the Drop Dash, which 2D Sonic clearly needs in order to be good, but this game is commonly heralded as the best 2D Sonic ever, so I thought maybe this is the one where Sonic Team had it all figured out.
The graphical overhaul is great, and Sonic is much more expressive now, but the MUSIC. Getting one of the greatest musicians of all time on your soundtrack just automatically reserves you a throne in heaven. Ice Cap is one of the greatest tracks in any game, period.
That being said, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this level design. Punishes you for going fast with enemies and traps, a few too many one-hit kill scenarios, and horribly unbalanced bosses.
Angel Island > Ice Cap > Hydrocity >>> Carnival Night > Launch Base >>>>>>>>>> Marble Garden
Some of these levels go on for too long and the nonstop punishment from unforeseen enemy and trap placement kills any desire to go fast, which by Sonic standards should be a week in the thumbscrews. For the first time ever, I got killed by the time limit because certain levels just go on forever (although the more I think about it, why is there even a time limit in the first place?) You'd think the new elemental shields and their unique abilities would've encouraged more combat, but thanks to enemies either having an unfair position or are just unfairly designed with stupid hitboxes, the shields' mechanics are basically worthless.
Have yet to play "& Knuckles," but we've definitely gone backwards in terms of 2D Sonic here.
The graphical overhaul is great, and Sonic is much more expressive now, but the MUSIC. Getting one of the greatest musicians of all time on your soundtrack just automatically reserves you a throne in heaven. Ice Cap is one of the greatest tracks in any game, period.
That being said, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this level design. Punishes you for going fast with enemies and traps, a few too many one-hit kill scenarios, and horribly unbalanced bosses.
Angel Island > Ice Cap > Hydrocity >>> Carnival Night > Launch Base >>>>>>>>>> Marble Garden
Some of these levels go on for too long and the nonstop punishment from unforeseen enemy and trap placement kills any desire to go fast, which by Sonic standards should be a week in the thumbscrews. For the first time ever, I got killed by the time limit because certain levels just go on forever (although the more I think about it, why is there even a time limit in the first place?) You'd think the new elemental shields and their unique abilities would've encouraged more combat, but thanks to enemies either having an unfair position or are just unfairly designed with stupid hitboxes, the shields' mechanics are basically worthless.
Have yet to play "& Knuckles," but we've definitely gone backwards in terms of 2D Sonic here.
Poefred
8 months ago