Sonic Generations

by Sega

• Iconic environments from gaming history come to life in beautiful HD for the ultimate Sonic adventure, each revisited, recreated and re-imagined with stunning results
• Once you complete each level and "free" Sonic's captured friends, you'll get to go back and take on more challenges with them at your side
• Master Classic Sonics famous spin-dash attack and utilize Modern Sonic's "Sonic Boost" as you complete the all-new tracks

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B005EYRAUK
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: November 22, 2011
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,548 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #27 in Video Games > Nintendo 3DS > Games > Action

Product Description

Platform: Nintendo 3DS

Play as both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic in the ultimate Sonic experience. Master the moves of each character as they race through each environment on their own specially designed track.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stands out from the console versions! December 20, 2011

By Jack-of-All Games

Platform for Display:Nintendo 3DS

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Is it better than the console versions? No.
Is it shorter? Yes. (By 2 zones)
Do these questions matter? Nope.

You know why we were all hyped for this game? Because it is a flashback of nearly the blue blur's whole history, with familiar environments that cast all new levels! To top it all off, you finally get to play as Sonic's original design again, as well as compete with other players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

This version stands out from the Xbox/PS3 game due to its different worlds (With the exception of Green Hill Zone) and said online play. Players get to romp through the greatness that is Green Hill (Sonic 1), Casino Night (Sonic 2), Mushroom Hill (Sonic and Knuckles), Emerald Coast (Sonic Adventure), Radical Highway (Adventure 2), Water Palace (Sonic Rush), and Tropical Resort (Sonic Colors).

Classic Sonic plays nearly exactly like in the original Sega Genesis games! While the Genesis-era levels for him are duplicates of the originals (Without the miniboss for Mushroom Hill, though), the rest of the levels (Dreamcast-era and so on) are all-new, yet they fit with the classic platform-orientated gameplay amazingly! Eventually, Classic Sonic gets the Homing Attack, which locks onto enemies for Sonic to hit. People may not like this addition, since people recognized it from the Adventure games, which were way after the Genesis games (Although it was first in Sonic 3D Blast as you could use it when receiving the Golden Shield). The console versions of Sonic Generations also had this attack (As an optional feature), but players could enable or disable it. Personally, I think it adds to the gameplay nicely, but in case if you just don't want to use it, I suggest you just try not to press B twice in a row....

Modern Sonic, on the other hand, is more focused on speed. Like in the Sonic Rush series and Sonic Colors for DS, Modern Sonic is equipped with a Boost bar to go extremely fast, as well as the Homing Attack. While it's still somewhat platform-orientated, Modern Sonic is best defined by his much faster pace, as well as certain in-your-face surprises (Whoa! A giant totem pole is falling towards Sonic!).

Also exclusive to the 3DS version is the Special Stage. Special Stages are for rewarding a Chaos Emerald after completing obstacles where you must collect orbs to be able to Boost to dash to collect the emerald. The gameplay here is like that of Sonic 2's or Sonic 3D Blast's Special Stages.

Remember when Sonic had to race Metal Sonic? Or when he was chased by that killer whale? How about when he was venturing through the neon Casino Night Zone? You can relive those moments in this game, and they fit perfectly with the new level layouts!

The graphics are hugely lush and very colorful and detailed. Heck, since you don't need a 3D TV to see it in 3D (obviously), you can just go and gaze at the visuals at their finest with ease and awe. The music is from the respective Sonic games that the worlds represent, but the soundtrack is still pretty robust and catchy.

Online play is a very nice addition. You can race another player worldwide through any level that you have beaten in the main game. Like racing games such as Mario Kart Wii, there are points rewarded to you as the other player loses those amount of points. The result is well done and adds to the replay value greatly.

Speaking of replay value, like the console versions, this game has a whopping 100 missions. However, you'd need to unlock said missions, but once you do, be thankful that there's even more to the game than it shows to begin with. The game is actually very short. You can beat the game within perhaps a couple hours. But even if you did beat the game with its minimal requirements, there is absolutely no doubting that you had enjoyed the thrillride throughout, from beginning to end. While it wasn't better than the console versions, it certainly was close. Besides, whether you have the console version or not, this game is still a must-buy.
Happy Birthday, Sonic...

(Note: You should buy the game from a store. Copies online are overpriced as of this writing, and are as expensive as Wii games) Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Birthday, Sonic! September 21, 2012

By Skull13

Platform for Display:Nintendo 3DS|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Don't call it a comeback! He's been here for years! I've been a true Sonic fan, and this is the best Sonic game right now. Taking everything from the past, including game mechanics and mixing them with a formula that worked in Sonic Rush turns this game into one of the best right now. Classic Sonic plays like a normal Sonic game. Modern Sonic plays like a Sonic Rush game. Very enjoyable. I've found barely any flaws with this game. I love it!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool game! A must have for Sonic fans who own a 3DS! January 25, 2012

By krshadow

Platform for Display:Nintendo 3DS

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

With all the games coming out for the 3DS, this game is at the top of the list, along with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Mario Kart 7, and Super Street Fighter 4 3D. The story is quite short, but I found it fun to go back and work on my ranks. Now I have all S ranks, and over 300,000 supporter points on my profile card! This game is great to have when you're bored and you want to play something very fun! At first, I heard people dissing the game saying it's not as good as the console version, well I say it is! Although the modern sonic is not full 3d, the sidescrolling is very fun. The 3d gameplay isn't as fun, in my opinion. I grew up on sidescrolling 2d sonic, and that's what I've always preferred.

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Blast from the past! November 22, 2011

By Donny morales

Platform for Display:Nintendo 3DS

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Sonic generations 3ds is really fun! Its great to play the old school levels from the genesis days. The online multiplayer is awesome! I love racing against people. Theres also a lot of great stuff to unlock. Cant wait to use the street pass :)

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great expansion to the stellar console version experience May 5, 2012

By Relytia TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Platform for Display:Nintendo 3DS|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I love Sonic Generations. It's a fantastic platforming-action game and one that is, in almost every possible way, a true celebration of the Blue Blur that any self-respecting Sonic fan should love. The 3DS version is no different. It's gotten a surprising amount of flak, though, and honestly, I don't feel the common complaints reflect honestly and fairly on this awesome title. I'll admit, this version of Sonic Generations is very difficult for me to objectively rate. I have a lot of nitpicky thoughts about it that aren't technically flaws or complaints, but rather questions due to confusion at some design choices that went into making this game. Still, even though some things about this title confound me, I cannot deny that it is just as enjoyable to play through as the console version. It's just different.

Any Sonic fan knows immediately what Sonic Generations is about. It's essentially a title that is meant to celebrate Sonic's 20th year anniversary by presenting a simple plot involving a universe/time paradox mechanic that makes it possible for us to revisit some of the more famous levels from Sonic's history. While the story may not be particularly deep or anything, the writing is fantastic, with tons of charm and humor that is genuinely well done. The plot in the 3DS version, however, is a lot more convoluted and confusing to follow because the snazzy cutscenes of the console version have been done away with in favor of idle, gesturing 3D model talking heads, much like the DS Sonic Colors did.... Overall though, I felt the presentation and development of the story in the 3DS version would only be understandable to those who are already very familiar with the console version. Who cares though? Sonic has always been about awesome, fast-as-sound platforming through brilliantly imaginative environments with a stellar soundtrack in the background, and that's where this game really shines.

There are two different versions of each level too, one for "Classic Sonic" and one for "Modern Sonic." Classic Sonic's levels play exactly like the old Genesis titles, with the same kind of level design and, thankfully, the same classical physics system that we all know and love. I must say, Sonic Team nailed the Classic Sonic gameplay in every version of this game. In fact, I think the 3DS version feels even more like the classics than the console version does, because everything in the 3DS classic levels is at the same scale as the classics too. In the console Generations, classic Sonic's levels were bigger in scope and even faster than the Genesis titles ever were, but in the 3DS version, it truly feels like this is just new graphics and sound overlayed on top of the old gameplay engine. It really is fantastic.

Modern Sonic's gameplay is very similar to the modern portable Sonic titles, such as Rush or Colors on the DS, so it's still 2-D, bizarrely enough. In addition to running and jumping, however, you'll also be homing attacking enemies (although Classic Sonic gets that ability later in the game too), grinding, boosting, and sliding throughout the adrenaline-pumping stages that seem to send you in every which way. Paths will take you to the foreground, the background, and everywhere in between, giving the gameplay a 3-D sense of scale, and I feel it really lends a feeling of organic life to what would normally be a 2-D "flatformer." Trust me, nothing about this game is "flat" or "lifeless." Overall, Modern Sonic's levels are characterized by an over the top craziness that saturates the whole experience. It's really awesome.

The audio and visual work done to bring the classic levels into the year 2011 is amazing. The 3DS version is essentially like a portable Gamecube, in terms of graphical power, and it really looks snazzy on that small screen. Some complain that the screen is too small to keep track of Sonic or the gameplay taking place, but I disagree, I had no problems as I played the game. The game is so colorful and capatilizes so well on the art design of all of the Sonic titles represented here, and the 3-D visual effect of the game was implemented excellently. The same goes for the music, which is also amazing. Obviously the source material for the songs were brilliant to begin with, but the remixes in here are almost all simply fantastic. Overall, the visual/audio aspect of this game is just great, and as a lifetime Sonic fan, I was overcome with nostalgic joy the entire time I played this game.

Now, here is where I'll voice my confusion about the game. It may be ranty/rambly, so I apologize ahead of time. First off, special stages make a return in this game, and each one is amazingly fun. It's basically a blatant copy of the special stages from Sonic Heroes. It's 3-D, and it works very well, so... Why wasn't Modern Sonic's gameplay 3-D?! It's obvious from the special stage that the 3DS version was more than capable of 3-D gameplay. What gives? In all honestly, the Modern Sonic gameplay in this version feels more like the 2-D segments in the console version of Generations, or the 2-D segments in Sonic Colors (the Wii version), than it does the handheld modern titles, if that makes sense. I don't get it. I think it would have been a real benefit, and made a big difference in adding to variety, to make Modern Sonic play like he does in the console version. This is a big oversight, in my opinion.

The game is also shorter than the console version, by two stages. Granted, besides Green Hill Zone, every level in this version is unique and different, which is great. Same goes for the boss fights, for the most part. In many ways, this 3DS version feels like a DLC expansion pack to supplement the console version with six new levels and three new boss fights. I don't say that as a complaint, as I think more Sonic history being given the Generations treatment is a superb thing indeed. Unfortunately, the game is far too short. I beat it in a mere 2 1/2 hours, with all chaos emeralds in my possession and the final fourth boss beaten. I beat Sonic 4 Episode 1 in the same amount of time, but I spent $10 on that game, not $30 like this one, so I must complain about the small content volume.

Finally, one last area of the game that is slightly confusing is the level choice. Obviously, for the classical era, Genesis games were selected. That makes sense. Then for the second "era" of Sonic, levels from his Dreamcast masterpieces were chosen. Again, it makes sense, I suppose. Then, for the last "era," one level was selected from Sonic Rush, and the other from Colors. What? Rush is the only portable game included here. I guess Colors was also on the DS and so there's technically two handheld games represented, but still, that just adds more confusion. I don't understand why only the third "era" has any portable games in it. There are tons of awesome level possibilities from Sonic's portable history to make this version of Generations unique as a salute to Sonic's handheld gaming past. The GBA's "Sonic Advance" series is a great example of this. Frankly, Sonic Advance is brilliant, and I personally consider it the true "Sonic the Hedgehog 4," Sonic Advance 2 is awesome as well. TONS of potential in those titles for Generations. If the inclusion of "Water Palace" and "Tropical Resort" indicates that this is a "Portable Sonic game" version of Generations, why isn't the Advance series featured instead of the Dreamcast titles since they were released at roughly the same time? And how about some of the fantastic Game Gear entries instead of Genesis games? How awesome would Bridge Zone have been instead of Green Hill for this version? I genuinely don't get it. A handheld themed Sonic Generations would have been incredibly unique. Oh well. That's the end of my rant, sorry if it went on too long.

All-in-all, however, this is still a stellar Sonic title. I think the reason it's gotten all the flak it has is that for years, handheld Sonic titles were always expected to be vastly superior games to the console titles. When the console version of Generations released and blew most gamers' minds, expectations for this handheld version skyrocketed. Frankly, I don't think this 3DS release is worse than the console one. Honestly, they're equal quality in terms of gameplay, but the console version is simply more complete, more coherent, and has more content in it, and that was enough to get this version an unfair reputation. I highly recommend it, though, if you want more of the wonderful experiences that the console version had. It's still a fantastic title. So buy it, enjoy the stellar "fasting thing alive" platforming, and blast through even more nostalgic Sonic wonderment. Read more ›

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars This is junk, get the Playstation port February 22, 2012

By tdl

Platform for Display:Nintendo 3DS

Fun: 1.0 out of 5 stars   

When I bought Sonic Generations on Playstation 3 it instantly became my favorite game. I almost cried when I saw all of the characters Sonic has encountered throughout his life had joined together to celebrate his birthday. I loved each and every level, even the ones I was not familar with. Even Crisis City was somewhat enjoyable. Then I bought the 3DS port and wondered if it was even the same game. It opened the same way as the Playstation version, with classic Sonic running through Green Hill Zone. Then it switched to modern Sonic's party. It was not much of a party. Instead of everybody being at the party it was only Tails. The Time Eater monster comes and wrecks time, although it was just a pitiful picture with no animation. Act 2 of Green Hill Zone starts. Modern Sonic does not even move in 3D. He is basically classic Sonic with a boost function. The Nintendo 3DS can handle a 3D platformer, so why didn't Sega make modern Sonic's levels in 3D? After Casino Night the levels die out. Mushroom Hill was junk. Emerald Coast was a disgrace to the awesome Sonic Adventure game. Radical Highway's level design was almost unplayable. An enemy sits in the background and shoots at you while you wait for a slow platform to come down. Who finds this fun? The modern era was terrible. Sega focused on levels from handheld games for the modern era. So where is that Sonic Advance level? What about Sonic 4? The entire era was wasted on levels from Sonic Colors. After finding the last level (the resort) completly unplayable I gave up. Story Mode was two levels short and felt rushed out. I tried online play. It was okay. I liked seeing what other people's favorite Sonic game was. Racing online was more of a gimmick. And the game had missions mode where I could unlock music and artwork.... The only problem is that to unlock a mission I had to spend 5 playcoins. In the Playstation version music and artwork could be unlocked by (1.) finding a red star in the levels or (2.) entering one of the many doors and completing a special objective. But with the 3DS version missions are purchased with hard earned play coins. Music and artwork were kind of useless. The Playstation let me replace the levels theme with the music I had unlocked. Do you want to fight the Death Egg robot to Palmtree Panic? Do you want Green Hill to play the Toxic Caves theme? Then buy the Playstation port. Do you want full 3D cutscenes? Then buy the Playstation port. Do you want levels that are functioning and playable? Then buy the Playstation port. Do you want junk that only takes 30 minutes to beat and to walk a thousand miles so you can unlock something? Then buy the 3DS port. The 3D is not even that impressive. Read more ›