This game is such an accomplishment, such an amazing pinnacle of achievement, and such a beautiful mesh of gaming new and old-fused together underneath the bright red shoes and fleet feet of the world's most famous hedgehog. This game has finally done sonic justice, and has all the intense action and fun of sonic adventure 1 and 2, with the addition of that classic platforming brilliance of the sonic 1,2,3, and knuckles era. The level design and adaptation are incredible, bosses are true to form, as well as the feel and overall atmosphere of the game. The levels are INSANELY fast pacedand feel actually well, FUN! I have been a diehard sonic fan for years, and have become discouraged with alot of Sega's decisionshowever this game takes the cake; and rights all previous wrongs. All the glitches have been fixed, and the game flows so continually and fluidly-(without the stupid side characters or annoying mini missions). There are other challenges which allow you to purchase upgrades from the shop-including the complete original sonic 1 game from the Sega Genesis console.
On top of this..there is so SO much morethe bosses, the music, OOOH GOD THE MUSIC
I have never felt this much nostalgia from just one gameand if you are either a sonic fan or ever enjoyed a sonic gamethen you HAVE to pick up generations today.
Sonic is back and, although he may have skidded, slipped, or slid a bit here and there, he is running harder and faster than ever before20 years later and never better.

It seems like that due to Sonic Colors, Sega's finally taken 3D Sonic games to the right direction. It's further proven with the release of Sonic Generations, a game that takes nearly all of Sonic's history and compacts it into one game, with new levels in those familiar environments! Naturally, we Sonic fans were all hyped. And what's even better is that the final product was no letdown.

Sonic Generations starts you off in the classic Green Hill Zone, re-imagined with entirely new level design, semi-remixed versions of the catchy level music, and brilliant graphical details! Once you start playing, it feels just like the Genesis Sonic games all over again, with the addition of X letting you automatically Spin-Dash (Although the original "Down+A" combination is still there), andB to crouch ("Down" still present too).

In case you didn't get enough of the game's from-the-start brilliance, there's also the Dreamcast-era Modern Sonic, who, like in Sonic Colors, is complete with Boosting, Homing Attack, etc. He gets his own versions of the background music as well. Since Sega's finally doing it right for 3D Sonic games, playing as Modern Sonic is just fun as it is playing as his old pot-bellied counterpart.

Remember when there were scenes like that giant truck chasing Sonic down a road in Sonic Adventure 2? Sonic racing Metal Sonic? Shadow? How about that time when he ventured through the Sky Sanctuary, and nearly drowned in the pink water from Chemical Plant Zone? You get to relive all of that in this game, and these events fit perfectly with the game's new level layouts (The giant truck can destroy some construction sites, changing those bits of level design for Classic Sonic!).

Of all that Sonic had gone through, though, there are only 9 Zones in Generations, representing games like Sonics 1, 2, 3, Adventure, Adventure 2, Next-Gen (The 2006 game, but thankfully, its Zone, Crisis City is actually a lot of fun here), Unleashed, and, of course, the recent Sonic Colors. You would probably think that the game is as short/long as the Genesis games, and while you could say that, there are lots and lots of challenges and achievements you can do and get, making the replay value grow largely.

Even if you did beat the game by completing its minimal requirements, you can't hide the fact that you have enjoyed the thrill ride throughout, from beginning to end. Happy Birthday, Sonic.

UPDATE (7/4/2012): As I was looking at this recently on Amazon, I realized the prices have dipped for both new and used copies of the game! Now that you can find it for under $20, there's absolutely NO excuse to skip this game!

Following on from last years platforming masterclass Sonic colours, Sonic Team returns to celebrate 20 years of the blue blur with Sonic Generations. Here Modern Sonic (the long quilled, homing attacking, boosting trickster from Sonic Adventure onwards) teams up with his former self Classic Sonic (the short, tubby, Spin Attacking, Spin Dashing hog of the 16-Bit era) via a time travelling plot involving an outer space beastie know as the Time Eater. As a 20 year celebration each of SG's nine stages have been selected from nine previous games in the series spanning three eras- Classic, Dreamcast & Modern. All redesigned with entirely new layouts. Acts 1 are played with C Sonic as strictly side scrolling 2D levels (albeit stunningly rendered using the hedgehog engine) and Acts 2 are played with M Sonic were you will mostly be running into the screen at ridiculous speeds. A game for every Sonic fan then, genius. The nine stages are unlocked three at a time once you have cleared all acts of the current era as both Sonics in addition to a few of each stages' own Challenge Acts (more about them later).

Classic Sonic Overview

This is what all the old fans have been waiting for. Ever since the release of last years craptastic Sonic 4 Sega fans worldwide have been clamouring for a return of the original hog from the early 90's. C Sonic can run, jump, roll, Spin Attack, Spin Dash and that's it. In the original games Yuji Naka's expert coding created an unrealistic pinball feel to Sonic's physics were he could build momentum bouncing from one enemy to another. For SG C Sonic uses the Havok engine to create a more realistic feeling of momentum and as such the player can no longer build momentum chaining enemy attacks. Also C Sonic's jump is slightly gimped- he can't quite jump as far as he could in the classics after a small run up. But the main area in which ST have dropped the ball is the rolling. The roll friction is too high when going downhill causing Sonic to slowdown when he should be speeding up. Bizarrely this problem does not occur on flats were he can travel in a ball for some distance. To accommodate this deficiency the Spin Dash has been souped up and levels tend to be platform orientated. One noticeable exception to this is Chemical Plant which like the original is a mass of ramps and loops but to get him rolling at the correct speed he is sent through a series of boosters. Another anomaly are the invisible boosts at the top of most ramps throughout the game which overshoot Sonic into the air by meters. You more than build up enough momentum to clear them all without the unnecessary boosts (especially when using the overpowered Spin Dash) so why they exist is a mystery. Overall this is a valiant attempt at re-creating the Classic Sonic gameplay. The speed is there (the running itself improved over the originals), the physics are correct and veterans will get a big kick out of playing as the short spikey once again. But next to the classics? The gameplay is nowhere near as good.

Modern Sonic Overview

Modern Sonic's gameplay is the best it's ever been in Generations. As fusion of the Unleashed & Colours play styles Sonic primarily sprints into the screen but every so often switches to a 2D perspective to hop platforms. 3D sections revolve around the boost (built up by collecting rings and performing air tricks similar to Colours), the quick step (a lightning fast side step used to avoid obstacles), and of course the homing attack which can be used in either perspective to lock onto and destroy enemies. Due to their incredible speed M Sonic's acts are often more exhilarating than C Sonic, the downside to this being they also feel a lot more on-rails and linear despite the equal amount of branching routes due of the numerous choke points and fixed 3D angle camera making it difficult/impossible to backtrack. If C Sonic's acts are built for exploration M Sonic's are all about speed. The difference being you can also speed run the classic levels but the Modern Acts do not offer the same flexibility if you want to travel in any direction other than forwards. When played as the developer intended the Modern stages are a blast and there is nothing like executing a perfect run through Green Hill Act 2 (probably the greatest Modern Sonic level ever created) chaining boosts/homing attacks/air combos to achieve your best time. Boss/Rival battles of which there are six in the game are mostly handled by M Sonic with only the first two (from the Mega Drive era) played with the little guy. Once you have learnt their patterns Boss/Rivals are quite easy and best played on hard mode. Taking on Sonic Adventure's Perfect Chaos to the tune of 'Open your heart' by Crush 40 being a particular highlight.

Negatives

Aside from C Sonic's roll being broke there aren't too many. On the whole level design is of high quality but both acts of Planet Wisp are a letdown. In Act 1 the player only gets access to the Spikes Wisp, and in Act 2 we only get Rocket. This removes the puzzle element of the original Planet Wisp (Sonic Colours) were the player could use all eight Wisps to find secrets and access faster routes and because the same two Wisps are spammed they're not as fun. Another disappointing aspect is the stage selection. Of the nine stages we get four cities and two 'Hill's and while the cities are all very different a more diverse line up would have been nice. I really could have done without Seaside Hill and Rooftop Run in favour of something more distinct such as Hang Castle & Chun Nan. My final gripe concerns the Challenge Acts. Each stage once complete unlocks a series of challenges that range from races with doppelgangers to treasure hunting. They're a nice extra to help pad out content but being forced to backtrack and complete a few for each stage before the next era unlocks disrupts the flow of the game and feels like a chore.

Conclusion

Negatives aside Sonic Generations is a spectacular anniversary title the likes of which have never been seen. Making both Sonic's playable was a masterstroke and to finally play as Classic Sonic again, now in glorious 2.5D is a joy to behold. Sonic Team have out done themselves with the level design which often surpasses the Mega Drive games. Standout levels include City Escape Act 1 in which the pursuing GUN truck actually alters level geometry depending on how fast you are and the maddening Crisis City Act 1 which requires precision platforming skills but once mastered provides great satisfaction. S Ranks are easier to attain here than in previous outings and rely on memorising routes. The cut scenes also deserve mention as another highlight where C Sonic's distinct personality comes through despite the fact he is mute. There is a wealth of extra music, artwork & character upgrades awaiting those who unlock all achievements, all stages provide huge replay value and there is a great final boss battle which I won't spoil. Do not listen to negative reviews about this game. Framerate issues are barely noticible and do not affect gameplay at all. If you're a Sonic fan of any era, or even just a casual Platformer fan you can't afford to miss this one. Happy 20th Sonic!

Wow..just wow..my boy made a comeback :). This game is what die hard sonic fans have been waiting for. Also, with this game, it shows the new generations of gamers why sonic is such an iconic figure in gaming. For years Sonic has been on "vacation", appearing on sad sad games with his nemisis Mario >.>. Bouncing around from game to game, making cameos, appearing on defferent games, milk cartons, and various street corners across america. Well!!! The Blue Blur has finally got off of his blue rump and put it into overdrive with this game..*tear,sniff*, i'm so proud of you!! :D

OK! So here we go! This game is fast! I mean Fast! Probably the fastest installment in the sonic series to date, which is good, 'cause that means that he is getting back to his roots instead of following the bland platform games that have graced consoles as of lately. In this game you play as both, past sonic (small, chunky, spunky, and silent), and you also play as future sonic (all atitude, super-fast, all sonic.) You get to roll through some of the greatest sonic stages put together from past sonic games from the 90's on up, AND, you get to do them as both, past sonic and future sonic.

Alot of old friends appear in this game, well, i guess they would have to appear since they were KIDNAPPED O.O!! Hey, no one said that the story line was a top 10 N.Y. best sellers list candidate. :p. So yeah, sonic was chillin' at his B-day party his peeps through for him, you know, munchin' on a chilidog, when WHAM!!! a space time continuum??? Thingy!? Popped out of the sky, and swipped up his friends!!! WOOOOSH!!! Now sonic is out to try to free his friends and save the day again since the plummer in the red hat can careless about Tails.

Both sonics are fun to play as. Past sonic is more reminiscent of the original games from back in the early 90's. A little platform mixed with 2d/3d changes. The enviroments are amazing looking, and you can easily get lost in it if your not careful. Future sonic is FAST!!!! I mean FAST!!!! He zips through stages at remarkable speed. Sometimes a little to fast. :p Now, every game has its draw backs and this game is of no exception. When running with Sonic, if you get hit, the speed stops instantly. It can slow down your momentum for a bit. Also, there are not to many boss battles to get involved in. But,these cons verses the pros really do not hurt the game in the least bit. You can purchase upgrades for the Blue Blur and run through a few challanges that a fun.

This game is a giant step in the right direction for Sonic, and i hope it is a taste of things to come. I'll give this game a 4.5 well deserving stars out of 5. Happy Birthday Sonic, and welcome back to the limelight! You were missed. :)

Be you veteran gamer from the 80's or 90's or a younger gamer who came into gaming after the onset of 3-D, you know Sonic The Hedgehog by one face or another.

This game offers them both and SEGA has really managed to blend the two together in a delightfully fun way. Both 2-D and 3-D forms of Sonic gameplay are present depending on which incarnation of Sonic you wish to play as, and both offer a solid, unique experience of play. As the past and present Sonic you blast through levels representing all the major installments in the Sonic video game franchise. 2-D and 3-D interpretations of classics like Green Hill Zone, Chemical Plant Zone, City Escape and Speed Highway will take all Sonic fans on a high-speed journey down memory lane.

Whatever problems I had with previous 3-D Sonic games are all but abolished in this game and the 2-D has been faithfully recreated bringing back that fantastic SEGA Genesis feel with contemporary graphics.

Sonic fans big or small will enjoy this anniversary tribute to Sonic and even those unfamiliar with Sonic games will find the dual nature of this game endearing.

I strongly recommend this title to gamers of all ages and affiliations.

Since Sonic Colors on the Wii sonic has finally become good again and it seems that sonic has brought the best of sonic from his Genesis glory to the modern games into this one package. Whether or not you are a fan of this series, this speedy action platformer is among the best the 360 has to offer.

In this game, you play as the classic sonic who has 2d side-scrolling physics-based platforming gameplay. As classic sonic you'll be running, jumping, spin-dashing, and rolling. While coming close to the classic gameplay, there are some problems with rolling, you dont get a heightened re-bound when hitting an enemy from high up, springs sometimes stop your control, and the spin-dash is too fast and very overpowered. But I digress, The classic gameplay is extremely fun and addictive complete with brilliant re-imagined levels with marvelous level design.

The other half of this game consists of the boosting, homing-attacking, wall-jumping, stomping, sliding Modern Sonic. While at first glance of Green Hill Zone Act 2 his gameplay seems to be a linear "hold x to win", it drastically improves. By the time you enter the 3rd zone, Modern Sonic perfectly blends together platforming, exploration and speed. His levels are extremely addictive as there are many different ways to beat the levels. Although I expected to enjoy classic sonic more, I prefer Modern Sonic as I can speed ahead and see the obstacles in front of me. I love how it never feels like you have to go fast or use the boost (even though there are a few areas that require it).

In addition there are a few boss and rival bosses (the final boss stinks compared to the rest of the game) which are very fun and unique, but It would be better if there were more of them like 1 boss per zone, or Act 1 mini-bosses like in Sonic 3 and Knuckles. When you finish the short main game there are many challenge levels to play which are all pretty fun along with red rings to collect. Completing these extras you can unlock new music to play in levels and missions and artwork. The music in this game is also awesome which is to be expected in any sonic game.

This game also has a story, which is lame, some of the voices are good while a few are pretty bad. Mike Pollock does an outstanding job at voicing Dr. Robotnik/Eggman and a few scenes are fun to watch, but most are pretty lame. Classic Sonic is mute in this game but it works very well with his over-expressive character which I love. I wont dive any further into the story, but this is definitely one of the best sonic games to date and is a must have for any person who has played a sonic game, anyone who hasn't played sonic should give this game a try since it brings out the best this series has to offer and proves that sonic is an icon.

Best Modern Sonic game on the market.

GOOD SIDE:

Take everything that was considered good about the 3D Sonic the Hedgehog series in the past 10 years and consider it amp-ed up by a multiple of about 100.

Consider the classic era of Sonic peaking with Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Classic Sonic portions of this game includes unlockables that integrate the gems (like Air Attack, Heat Shield, Bubble Shield, Bolt Shield) that made Sonic the Hedgehog 3 amazing.

This game, even in replay, gives me an adrenaline high.

BAD SIDE:

If you want to play as Tails (Miles) Prower, this isn't the game for you but who wants to play as Tails anyway?

With Sonic Generations, you get a Sega creation crafted specifically as a gift to the dedicated Sonic fans. Sonic fans who have been with Sega Team from the start with the Blue Blur, are finally given the game they have been waiting for. Sonic Unleashed was decent, games like the Black Knight and Colors served as stop gaps, but the game Sonic fans have been waiting for is finally here now, and it is good in every sense of the word.

Basically, Sonic of the current generation teams up with Sonic from the past in this epic time traveling Sonic game. This concept sounds a little gimmicky and weird, but the game finds a way to make it work, and it really does make sense. As modern Sonic and classic Sonic traverse through worlds and moments they have already experienced, they restore pieces of the world that has been put into a black and white limbo by the, "Time Eater." What this game manages to do really well, is take levels from different points in time in Sonic's game career, and turn them into beautiful HD renditions, that manage to retain what made the original level so special and memorable. From the get-go, Sonic veterans will be blasted with nostalgia when they hear the classic Green Hill zone theme, and tear through it at top speed, just as they did back on the Genesis so long ago. With two totally different styles being represented between the two Sonic's, one would think that one play style would be the weaker link, but they surprisingly work very well together, and help to keep the game fresh.

In Act 1 of each world, you take control of classic Sonic, in side scrolling action that feels like an HD remake of original sonic games. These levels are fun, and the controls are tight and responsive. These levels are fairly lengthy, and manage to be very challenging, particularly later in the game. In Act 2, you will speed through 3D levels as modern Sonic, in gameplay reminiscent of Sonic Unleashed. These levels also work well, while the controls aren't quite as tight, these levels manage to be lots of fun, and add a relief from the platformming that could otherwise become mundane. The boss levels at the end of each sequence of levels will serve as more blasts from the past, and are generally very creative. Where the game adds replay value is in its unique challenges. Only one challenge per world is required to advance, but beating them all poses a significant challenge to players looking to get more out of the game. These range from things such as collecting over 150 rings and making it to the goal in time, to beating Tails to the end of the level. These add significant replay value, while the challenges featuring Sonic's friends can sometimes seem very pointless and often times clunky and annoying.

Despite the areas where Sonic Generations is a bit weak, the clever and beautiful level design fully encompasses what has made the Sonic series so great for so many years. If you consider yourself a Sonic fan, you will truly appreciate the depth of the level creativity and the attention to detail that rushes nostalgia to you like nothing ever has before. From the moment you hear the Chemical zone music, you'll be humming it for the whole game, en route to your final confrontation with the boss. Even if you are not a Sonic fan, track down this game, and try to enjoy a trip through Sonic history that will truly have you appreciating the Blue Blur. This game is a must play for fans of Sonic, and even those who do not play many Sonic games should be encouraged to give this game a try, and allow Sonic to show them a little bit of his history.

This is a really great game. I've been a Sonic fan since the original games in the 90s. Sonic was my first video game when I was about 7 years old. This game brings some nostalgia and is exactly what I've always wanted from Sega since Adventure 2. It's also the first Sonic game I've really loved playing since Adventure 2. It's so awesome to get to play the classic zones with modern Sonic and the modern zones with classic Sonic.

The extra missions give good replay value especially with the ability to become Super Sonic (my favorite part about the old games). I have not played the HD gen Sonic games (Sonic 06 and Sonic Unleashed) so I have never seen Sonic look so good. The zones in the new era stages are interesting so maybe I'll go back to play those games despite poor reviews. I must note that Seaside Hill from Sonic Heroes is extremely well done. Kudos to Sonic Team for that particular level because it was way more fun on this game than I remember