Favourite levels in a Sonic the Hedgehog game?

[Nebagram]

So I got thinking, Sega spend all this money on new Sonic games when really, more people play the old classics in compilations for the 6th gen systems or on live arcade/virtual console. Taking a bit of inspiration from Pac-man CE- one of the most if not the most inspired franchise regenerations of all time- I hit upon the idea that what Sega should do is bundle together say, 15 or 20 classic levels from past Sonic games and release it as a 'best of Sonic', maybe focus on the online leaderboards or something. Say, limit it to Sonic Adventure 2 and before.

Pointless ramble about the idea's origins over, here would be my nominations-

Sonic 1- Green Hill Act 1 (GEN)- can't NOT have this one.
Sonic 1- Starlight Act 1 or 2 (GEN)- mainly for the music.
Sonic 1- Jungle Act 2 (SMS)- anybody who's played the MS version knows what a bastard this level is.
Sonic 2- Casino Night 1 (GEN)- almost iconic in its brilliance.
Sonic 2- Metropolis 3 (GEN)- also an absolute bastard.
Sonic 2- Aqua Lake 2 (SMS)- still for me the best 'water' level in any Sonic game.
Sonic 2- Scrambled Egg 2 (SMS)- classic and tough at the same time.
Sonic CD- Stardust Speedway 1 or 2- best level in CD imo.
Sonic 3- IceCap 1 (GEN)- by far the best bgm in any Sonic game, and a fantastic level to boot.
S&K- Leve Reef 1 and 2 (GEN)- both fantastic levels with great twists to them. My favourites out of all 14 zones of S3&K.
Sonic Adventure- Speed Highway- fastest level in the game (obviously I'm talking Sonic only) and imo the most fun.
Sonic Adventure 2- Green Forest- fast. Very fast. And a Sonic stage rather than Shadow's.

Think I've rambled on enough here. :)

[Trevelyan]

I love the bonus stages on Sonic 2, especially if you've got a friend playing as tails. The SMS master system Sonic1 had some good levels, been about 13-14 years since I played it however! I have fond memories of it though. I think Id miss levels in a bundle & the challenge of nailing a complete game, but I might turn to a bundle with a few mates.

[CosmicMonkey]

The first thing that springs to mind is the first (proper) level of Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast. It's fast, looks gorgeous and the section with the Killer Whale was awesome. I'm not proclaiming it to be the best level in a Sonic game, but it was certainly a damn good way to show off the new Sonic game. Playing this when it came out on Japanese import was amazing.

[MrSparkle]

first level of marble zone with the grass that lights on fire when you step on the little islands.

[Chuplayer]

The lava level in Sonic 3 or Sonic and Knuckles where you can see the background going to shambles and the fortress rise. Absolutely epic.

[Blitzwing256]

Genocide city level from sonic2 beta

[SpaceHarrier]

Emerald Hill Zone - Sonic 2 (classic by-the-sea action, now with corkscrews! Amazing music)
Emerald Coast - Sonic Adventure (perfect first action level for the best Sonic game)
Pyramid Cave - Sonic Adventure 2 (the only fun egyptian/desert stage imo)
Sky Sanctuary Zone - Sonic and Knuckles (gorgeous graphics; old school fun with metal sonic)
Spring Yard Zone - Sonic 1 (relaxing and intense at the same time.. those spiky-headed guys with feet coming out of their mouth always freaked me out for some reason)

[thom_m]

Sonic 1 - Green Hill ZOne, Star Light Zone

Sonic 2 - Emerald Hill Zone, Casino Night Zone, , Hill Top Zone (yeah, I know), Metropolis. Let's face it, the whole game is pretty cool.

Sonic 3 - Marble Garden Zone

Sonic & Knuckles - Mushroom Hill Zone, Flying Battery ZOne



Genocide city level from sonic2 beta

Hehehe. Hidden Palace would've been a hell of a nice level, though.

[Blanka789]

Unsure of the name, but the level where you race Metal Sonic in Sonic CD is my all-time fave. For a more obscure choice, I also like the Gigalopolis (spelling?) zone in Sonic Chaos.

[j_factor]

Sonic 1 - Scrap Brain Zone, acts 1 and 2 (I hate act 3 though)
Sonic 2 - Oil Ocean Zone, Metropolis Zone
Sonic CD - Wacky Workbench
Sonic Chaos - Electric Egg Zone
Sonic 3 - Ice Cap Zone, Launch Base
Sonic & Knuckles - Death Egg Zone
Sonic Triple Trouble - Robotnik Winter Zone
Sonic 3D Blast - Gene Gadget
Sonic Adventure - Speed Highway
Sonic Adventure 2 - Crazy Gadget, Sky Rail

Gigalopolis is a stupid name. I know it's supposed to be like megalopolis, but with "giga" instead, but I always read it as gigalo-polis. City of gigaloes? Makes me think of David Lee Roth every time.

[Haoie]

Absolutely Oil Ocean.

Serious, is there any other level anywhere that's even remotely similar to that?

An ocean of oil.

[Night Driver]

I love the Marble and Labyrinth zones.

... now that music is stuck in my head.

Sweet!

[Ackman]

First 4 stages from Sonic 2, love that chemical zone, just love it to death.

[chrisbid]

First 4 stages from Sonic 2, love that chemical zone, just love it to death.

i love the chemical zone too, but adding water to the fastest levels ever designed was a big mistake

[calgon]

Sonic 1: Marble zone, springyard zone
Sonic 2: Aquatic Ruin, Mystic Mine, Oil Ocean
Sonic 3: Hydrocity
Sonic CD: Collision Chaos, Tidal Tempest, Wacky Workbench, Stardust
Knuckles: Mushroom Hill

[modest9797]

Green hill hands down.

[MrSparkle]

I have had the casino music from sonic 2 stuck in my head for about the last decade, every now and then i find myself humming saying what the hell is this music. Then it hits me sonic 2 casino music yet again!

[Ackman]

i love the chemical zone too, but adding water to the fastest levels ever designed was a big mistake

I def see your POV, but it is kinda exciting and mean at the same time only the last part of the chem zone is kinda tricky, but I've played it so many times I know the kinks, still die and get angry 3/10 times though lol.

I couldn't stand sonic cd, sonic 3 or knuckles chaotix and I really, really hate the Casino Zone from Sonic 2, I wish I felt differently I think I'm just too grumpy.

Erm but I kinda do have a soft spot for Sonic Heroes : P

[calgon]

I def see your POV, but it is kinda exciting and mean at the same time only the last part of the chem zone is kinda tricky, but I've played it so many times I know the kinks, still die and get angry 3/10 times though lol.

I couldn't stand sonic cd, sonic 3 or knuckles chaotix and I really, really hate the Casino Zone from Sonic 2, I wish I felt differently I think I'm just too grumpy.

Erm but I kinda do have a soft spot for Sonic Heroes : P

Interesting, I have a likewise opinion. I dislike sonic 3, (s+K was ok) and most of sonic 2 and chaotix. I do feel, however, that Sonic CD was the best entry in the franchise, with part one comming just below that.

[Ackman]

I probably should give cd another shot someday I remember seeing it in a store when I was a kid and being blown away, but once I finally got a hold of it I wasn't that impressed.

I think I did like most of Sonic 2 though (except the Casino) and 1 was good but I don't know if it was missing something? It's still pretty good though.

I wouldn't give chaotix another chance though awh hell no.

[Ascending Wordsmith]

http://info.sonicretro.org/images/f/f2/Aquaticruin.png

Definitely the Aquatic Ruins. It's the perfect blend of water and land in a Sonic stage, not to mention it's nicely tucked away at the feet of the mountains. There's a few nifty things I like about it as well. Some of the plant life hovers so low to the ground that Sonic rustles through the leafs causing some of them fall. Also, there's waterfalls, loops, hollowed logs, and Grecian columns all over the place. In some places, Sonic can even skid across the lake surface. Did I mention the AWESOME soundtrack for this level?

[Sabz5150]

Sonic 2 - Oil Ocean Zone, Metropolis Zone


I concur! :D

[blackride]

Sonic 1- Green Hill Act 1 is by far my favorite. I think this is because its the most played level for me due to the fact that I used to demo the system with that game to my friends. Awesome level!