Sonic Generations Review

I've never really been a Sonic fan. I've played them, sure, but I've always failed to see the spark many people have. So did the latest game from Sega, Sonic Generations, manage to change my mind? Unfortunately, it didn't and that's not because I'm a grouchy gamer and I refuse to give things a second chance but simply because there's a huge problem in Sonic Generations that stops it from being great.

Like the title says, the new title gets both Sonic's, two very different generations, and thrusts them together to make one full game. Back in the show is the old, very first Sonic who joins forces with his new, more athletic self to defeat an evil force that is bringing characters from the Sonic universe, both past and present, to a sort of Limbo-like world.

But of course this is no Grand Theft Auto and it's not the story that'll keep you playing. In fact, I didn't really care about the story that much and it served as more of a backdrop and to explain the reason why there's such a huge variety in the levels that are on offer. That's not to say it wasn't an interesting read, of course.

Stories have never been Sonic's strong-point: that status is reserved for its fast-paced gameplay. Over the years, Sonic has never really changed that much. It's had a go at different genres but it's always gone back to its roots sooner or later. Sonic Generations takes it way back to the start of its roots and allows you to play both new Sonic and older Sonic.

Unfortunately, this is where the title fails. The fact that there's both old and new Sonic in the game means that you can clearly witness the birth of the blue hedgehog and what he started out with before being transported minutes later to what the character is now. This allows you to see just how far Sonic has come since the start but it also means that one half of the game feels relatively retro.

I have nothing against retro games. I prefer to play new releases but I would certainly never pass the chance to play on an old Mega Drive or a Nintendo 64. Unfortunately, the sections with old Sonic don't stand up too good when paired with new ones and the fact that you're constantly switching between the two of them means that the problems are considerably more noticeable.

I can understand if you disagree with what I say and you comment that the old Sonic games are considered a classic. I am in no way saying that they are not. I'm just saying they don't quite hold up too good when put against the new ones. And the fact that half of the game is old Sonic means that a significant portion of the title is of a lower quality of the other. It's a shame because the rest of the game is actually pretty fun.

One thing Sonic Generations does get right, however, is the pairing of 3D and the fast-paced gameplay the little blue hedgehog is known for. The graphics are bright, crisp and beautiful but that's what we've come to expect from the series. However, the game looks considerably better when the 3D slider is fully up. You actually feel as if you're there as Sonic whizzes along the landscape, jumping and spinning as the wind rushes past. And when the game shifts dimensions in the new Sonic sections then the 3D features are enhanced that bit more.

Sonic Generations is far from a bad game. This is coming from a non-Sonic fan and I genuinely enjoyed the title. However, I only enjoyed the new sections and that's not because I'm not a retro gamer; it's just the older ones feel quite rough around the edges. This is a game for long-time fans of the series. This is a title for the older generations who were kids when Sonic was created and want to go back and relive the blue hedgehog's first adventures whilst getting a taste of how far Sonic has come. Unfortunately, Sonic Generations wasn't quite for me and that feels like a shame.