View Full Version : Happy 20th birthday, Sonic
Sonic the Hedgehog was released in the United States 20 years ago today. In celebration, Sega released a Sonic Generations demo on 360 and PS3, but will only be available for 20 days.
I'm still a fan and am stoked about SG.
buzz_n64
06-23-2011, 11:05 AM
Just found out that for 360, you need GOLD membership in order to download, so I will just wait until the game comes out to try it out.
drmay
06-23-2011, 11:08 AM
Just found out that for 360, you need GOLD membership in order to download, so I will just wait until the game comes out to try it out.
You need Gold Membership to download any demos on xbox live.
buzz_n64
06-23-2011, 11:16 AM
You need Gold Membership to download any demos on xbox live.
Not true. Usually it's for newly released demos. Downloading a demo as we speak.
Sinizar
06-23-2011, 12:19 PM
You need Gold Membership to download any demos on xbox live.
You are misinformed. Demos are only exclusive to Gold members for the first week. After that they become available to Silver members which is the free part of the service.
allyourblood
06-23-2011, 12:21 PM
Okay, just got done playing the demo a couple times through. I'm don't know the first thing about game design/programming, but they just can't seem to get it right, even when the developers go back to the original formula (for the most part). I know it's only one level, but if the rest of the game plays in a similar way, I think Sonic's anniversary (like his past 15 years) deserves more.
Weird zoomed-in segments make it hard to judge movement and what's "coming up" in front of you, and something about the visuals makes it quite difficult to determine where Sonic is at any given time (if you've ever played or watched that amazing-looking Sonic remake out there, you've seen this same phenomenon).
Something I liked about the original 4 games was that even though there are a lot of super-fast segments, it never feels like you've completely lost control of Sonic; not so here. As in so many of the modern Sonic games, entering loops and hitting certain springs thrusts you into long passages of fluttery, blurry movement that leaves you staring at the screen, just waiting for things to slow down or stop so you can regain your bearings.
It looks really cool, though. Colors are wonderful and enemy animations are pretty funny.
I don't think I'll ever understand why there can't be a modern Sonic title that just absolutely blows the doors off the series; with so many tries, you'd think just one of these games could be a full-blown AAA modern classic. Look at Nintendo: whether or not you have liked every Mario platformer that has come out in the last 5-10 years, there's no denying the level of control, polish, and playability that goes into them; you pick them up and simply play, and everything feels right. The Mario series has nailed it so many times, it's embarrassing and frustrating to think Sonic can't bag one solid mind-blower every few years. Every time a new Sonic games releases, I always kinda hope it's gonna be that one title that restores the innovation and purity to the series, and it just never is.
I do think this 20th anniversary release is a nice idea though, and it's certainly not a bad game (judging from that one trial level, anyway). Beats the tar out of what Nintendo did for Mario's 25th, though I'm not sure anyone would've been offended if Sega had released Sonic 1-3 w/Sonic CD on a disc for $30 with some memorabilia. Actually...
Richter Belmount
06-23-2011, 12:50 PM
Mehhh
alec006
06-23-2011, 02:52 PM
You know your a Sonic fan when you can hear the rings sound and the Chemical Plant song in your sleep XP Happy 20th Sonic.
Gameguy
06-23-2011, 03:50 PM
I should go back to play the early games again, I believe Sonic was the first game I ever played. Still 20 years passing makes me feel old already.
Baloo
06-23-2011, 05:07 PM
Happy 20th Anniversary Sonic! Too bad after the 10th they royally screwed up the entire franchise...
Emuaust
06-23-2011, 05:27 PM
Happy Bday Sonic, oh how I loved your younger days but for some reason everything new you did after you became a teenager makes you look like a real dick.
CapnCrunch53
06-23-2011, 07:37 PM
Happy Birthday Sonic, until recently all I knew of you was Sonic 2 on the GameGear (and I never beat that first boss :mad:)
Last week I picked up my first ever Genesis and got Sonic Spinball with it, and today, on Sonic's birthday, I bought Sonic 2 for the Genesis (I've heard it's one of the best, along with CD). The cart needs a bit of cleaning but I'm looking forward to playing. Sonic's still drawing new fans after all these years :)
hbkprm
06-23-2011, 08:48 PM
i love the demo to sonic generations
Vlcice
06-23-2011, 09:54 PM
allyourblood, I can't disagree more. I thought Sonic Generations was *amazing*! It's everything I wanted Sonic 4 to be - great level design, great gameplay and really excellent physics. It's different from the old games, but definitely not worse - I actually like their tweaks to the spindash, for example. I'm really excited about this game now.
I'm surprised you said the camera was too zoomed in - I'm pretty sure it's actually further out than in the old games. You're not playing in 4:3, are you?
allyourblood
06-23-2011, 10:41 PM
I'm surprised you said the camera was too zoomed in - I'm pretty sure it's actually further out than in the old games. You're not playing in 4:3, are you?
No, 16x9, and as mentioned, this occurs only at certain points in gameplay. During speedy segments, the camera naturally zooms out to give a better view. I'm a big, big fan of the 16-bit series, and perhaps my standards are too high, but this simply isn't the Sonic game I've been waiting for. Sonic 4, and now this, seem to me like half-hearted, big-budget apologies to fans and critics more than anything else.
Collector_Gaming
06-23-2011, 10:57 PM
just played some sonic 2 on my collection for the xbox happy birthday sonic!!!
substantial_snake
06-23-2011, 11:50 PM
Is it just me or does it feel like their is a jump delay? It was driving me crazy on my first two play throughs.
Overall I thought the demo was actually too fast in certain segments. I also felt largely pointless as a player, outside of maybe 10 jumps I did nothing other then hold right. Sonic to me has always been about platforming first with speed second..and this game feels more or less the reverse of that.
dgdgagdae
06-24-2011, 12:14 AM
Is it just me or does it feel like their is a jump delay? It was driving me crazy on my first two play throughs.
Overall I thought the demo was actually too fast in certain segments. I also felt largely pointless as a player, outside of maybe 10 jumps I did nothing other then hold right. Sonic to me has always been about platforming first with speed second..and this game feels more or less the reverse of that.
I felt the same way. I had a trouble jumping over a couple of spikes near ledges, just because it wasn't responding quite how I felt it should. And other than that, yes, I was just holding right the entire way.
That, and it seemed to give me a bit of a headache, I think because it was all so blurred.
Emuaust
06-24-2011, 02:59 AM
Too blurry and the camera is, most of the time too close to the action, Sega really anooys me here because they almost have it right but are still so far off. I also have little faith in the Modern Sonic levels, it wouldn't of hurt them to give us a demonstration of that as well would of it?
The 1 2 P
06-24-2011, 03:07 AM
I've downloaded the demo but I haven't played it yet. I did like the trailers I've seen of this game over the last few weeks. As for Sonic, I've been playing since his first Genesis outing but I kind of skipped over the Saturn stuff. It use to be one of my favorite series but I haven't played any of the new games from the last 5 years or so. Atleast not yet.
portnoyd
06-24-2011, 08:01 AM
Honestly, never saw the allure of Sonic at all. He's fast! Woo.
Man, stuff like this just makes me feel really, really old. I can remember the day that Sonic came out. I was 20 years old, living with my brother in the LA area. I owned a Sega Genesis and a TurboGrafx-16, and I was super hyped for the arrival of the Super Nintendo that was going to come out in late August, just a few months away. That was definitely one of the best times in gaming right then. I remember playing a lot of PGA Tour Golf on the Genesis, and a bunch of PC Engine imports from this place near where we lived.
20 years can really fly by.
If any 20 year olds are reading this... TRUST ME... 20 years goes quick, so try to enjoy those 20 years.
The 1 2 P
06-25-2011, 12:36 AM
I just played the demo and enjoyed it. It's like a combination of the old Sonic games(1-3) with parts of Sonic 4. It does go pretty damn fast(about 2 and a half minutes to beat it) but I didn't mind. I'm just wondering why they are only keeping it up for 20 days.
Happy birthday. Nothing against Sonic, but I'm probably only one of 5 people that thought Alex Kidd was a much better mascot with much better games.
retroman
06-25-2011, 02:41 AM
what do you all think of Sonic 4? i for one like it and think its ok..my kids have it for Wii, which i played, but i got it for 360 and love it...weird yes..but i needed HD
Xtincthed
06-25-2011, 11:21 AM
i played so much Sonic 3 as a kid at a friends house.. congrats Blue Boy!
BetaWolf47
06-25-2011, 11:43 AM
Honestly, never saw the allure of Sonic at all. He's fast! Woo.
Same here. I like a few of the games, but they're far from my favorite platformers, even for the Genesis system. Level design and gameplay always seemed sort of "meh" for me. Especially those levels that loop until you find the right path.
kupomogli
06-25-2011, 01:05 PM
I've only liked two Sonic games. Sonic Spinball and 3D Blast.
I've never been a fan of the regular Sonic games because you're just blindly going through the stages pretty much. As for 3D Sonic games, not counting 3D Blast, Sonic Adventure and Sonic the Hedgehog PS360 were the only ones I've played, both being just as bad as the other.
Nebagram
06-25-2011, 01:40 PM
There are very very few Sonic games I haven't played and don't own. In fact, other than Knuckles Chaotix and the Pico games, I can't think of any.
As for Generations... it'll be a day one purchase for me for certain. I kinda liked the demo, as stated earlier the jumping felt a little sluggish but I'm sure it can be worked out in time for launch. It actually feels like the kind of game Sonic Team would've made in 1991 if they'd been able to, which is a good thing. And it bears more than a few similarities to that Sonic Fan Remix that got everyone nerdgasming a few months back.
BuckNutty
06-25-2011, 01:57 PM
Didn't know I shared a birthday with Sonic. I remember playing Sonic 3 I think as a kid on Genesis. Spent hours playing that game and hunting those rings down. One more Sonic and you can drink
Baloo
06-25-2011, 02:12 PM
There are very very few Sonic games I haven't played and don't own. In fact, other than Knuckles Chaotix and the Pico games, I can't think of any.
You're missing out on the best Sonic game if you haven't played Knuckles' Chaotix!
Emuaust
06-25-2011, 05:23 PM
You're missing out on the best Sonic game if you haven't played Knuckles' Chaotix!
Surely you jest?
substantial_snake
06-25-2011, 07:52 PM
Surely you jest?
Its not that bad, not great but not bad.
I liked the overall "buddy" mechanic of the game, it just fell into the same trap of adding a bunch of random characters for no reason other then to add a bunch of characters. I really just wish they took more time on refining the game because it could of been something pretty sweet with just more thought put into it..anyways its a ton better then 3D Blast. :p
Its not that bad, not great but not bad.
I beg to differ. I was one of the suckers that bought a 32X at launch for $169.99 or whatever the hell it was. Star Wars Arcade was cool, but other than that, the 32X was pretty much a disaster, and Knuckles Chaotix was supposed to be the savior. I got that game, played it for about an hour and was so disgusted with it. I think I took it to a friend of mine, who worked at Tower Records, and had him reseal the game, and I took that bitch back, lol.
substantial_snake
06-26-2011, 03:52 AM
I suppose if I went through all of that emotional turmoil then I might have a different opinion too. lol
I agree that the 32x was a pretty awful idea. The concept of the Neptune could of worked with a few titles developed specifically for the console utilizing the 32x enhancements could of been an interesting swan song as the final genesis variation. I don't think it would of been a huge windfall success but it would of certainty been better then another convoluted addon to the genesis. It would of also had the benefit of NOT starting the trend of burning 3rd party devs with failed hardware that Sega largely followed until the dreamcast but the past is the past. *sigh*
But yeah coming from the perspective of someone who got a 32x for free and paid maybe 20 bucks for Chaotix I would say that its an ok game. I enjoy messing around with the game and getting ridiculously fast using the slingshot system effectively through the levels. The music was decent and the stages were bight and colorful, I just think it fell flat because of lack of refinement. Anyways I had fun with the game sorry if you didn't. ;)