Wins Editors’ Choice Award but Says “Neither Sonic is perfect”
We have our first major review for Sonic Generations, and it’s from IGN, who awarded the console version of Sonic Generations an 8.5 out of 10 and its Editors’ Choice Award.
The review, by Jack DeVries and Brian Altano, praises the game for its level design and its deep dive into nostalgia. But there are flaws; the side missions and short boss battles were called out, and neither reviewer were wowed at the visuals, judging by the individual 7.5 score the graphics received. There are small control quirks as well:
At times the Classic version can feel floaty, and his Modern counterpart can stop dead in his tracks with every minor error. But these feel like small complaints compared to the exhilaration of playing a Sonic game that never stops the action to make you battle with stretchy arms. Bouncing between the two distinct modes does sometimes cause mishaps, though; it’s easy to forget that 2D Sonic lacks his 3D counterpart’s homing attack, leading to some incidental ring loss and occasional deaths. Likewise Modern Sonic has a limited boost meter instead of a spin dash.
The closing remarks, in part, say that “it feels refreshing to be able to say that Sonic is good again.” It also feels refreshing to hear that from the mouth of an organization many fans criticize for being anti-Sonic. For more insight and more peeks inside the game, the video review is below.
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Wait, but Sonic Colors got a 9…stupid IGN!
Nice!
didn’t think it would get a 9 but still thats high
this game is now my #1 in my top sonic games list.
I knew it, ever since the first review of this game it’s going to be the same score. With that said I’ll take it, it’s not a 9 but with the ratings that IGN has given Sonic’s other games it’s a step up… maybe even a little bit from Colors. Can’t wait to play it and can’t wait to see GameTrailers and X-Play’s screwed up overly negative review of the game.
No, Sonic Colors got an 8.5 as well.
However, it’s probably clear that these guys give Generations more respect. I can tell by the “SONIC FINALLY DOESN’T SUCK!” banner on the tab to the review.
@Cheddly
It got an 8.5 too.
@Cheddly
It got an 8.5 too, I’m pretty sure.
“Sometimes Clunky” meaning “We’re boost spammers who want it to be a straight line”.
@Raggtime Sonic
Its ironic that Gametrailers gave Colors the 6, since they gave Shadow a far-too-high 8.3.
Anyway, The IGN score is as I expected, and I’m pleased with it. This is the second 8.5 we’ve seen and I expect most of the others will be in or around the same, unless Destructoid acts like their retarded selves again.
Oh wait, that was Kirby’s Epic Yarn that got the 9(seriously?). But honestly, the Xbox controls are much better, and 7 bosses is a pretty nice amount. Well, 4 bosses and 3 rivals, but still. I would’ve given it a 9.3ish.
Well, they pretty much praised everything that I wanted good in the game, so I’m happy.
C’mon, I want at least one nine from a big-time reviewer! Plus, a 7 for sound? It’s got n amazing soundtrack! And you can change the music for any level! Got to be a 9 at least for sound, guys!
Sonic’s friends aren’t all dumb (looking at Knuckles).
How can Classic Sonic be floaty “at times”? Either he is, or he isn’t.
IGN usually pisses me off with Sonic (Unleashed was NOT THAT BAD), but I suppose this is an acceptable score (I usually add 1-2 points to their scores). I thought the graphics were quite impressive. Everything looks beautiful and detailed. I don’t know what they’re seeing…
Also, “Modern Sonic has a limited boost meter instead of a spin dash.”
…
THAT’S. THE. POINT. God’s sakes, why do you think they split them up in two?!
Yeah, watched/read their review.
I know I’m going to love EVERYTHING about this game now.
Yay. Now to resume waiting for Sonic Adventure 3, Shadow the Hedgehog 2, and Sonic Chronicles 2.
Sorry IGN, but I could listen to Escape from the City ALLLLLLLLLLLL DAY.
Aww… I’m so proud of you, Blue! <3
Even though Colors scored higher… but it's still only by half a point, so it's still allllllll good! o3o
A word of advice guys don’t say Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations are better than Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 there are fans that will attack you. =/
@Gooch
Yeah, you’re right. Destructoid bitched about the Wii Sonic Colors, but gave the DS version a much higher score. I suppose they’re going to give the 3DS Generations a higher score?
Not that it’s going to be a bad game, I think it’s going to be great, but it’s just not the same…
Wow. How odd that I could like they review despite the video displaying the guy sounding like a complete douchebag the entire time. lmao
I’m sorry, but a lot of reviewers do this too. They try to be “funny” and make corny, obvious and snotty jokes even if it’s not really based on anything. They tried to act like they were making fun of SEGA because their running fixes the time line. It’s just not funny cuz they’re making crap up.
The graphics are wonderful, the bosses have NEVER been that complex in Sonic, the music is awesome and able to be changed if you don’t like it, the WereHog was fun just some people’s personal preference was that it was unfitting, and there aren’t that many bad Sonic games. Some are less-than-awesome but are still okay. I’m looking back and thinking about how freakin Unleashed is nowhere NEAR sucking in comparison to Heroes, Shadow and 06. 06 we know had potential, and Heroes and Shadow weren’t amazing but they were just as enjoyable as most Sonic games. I mean SEGA didn’t miss attempts to make the games as fun as the classics. SA1, SA2, Heroes, Shadow, Unleashed and Colors WERE as fun as the classics or more. There’s also simply more to DO and more to SEE. I love the classics but come ON! You’re not going THAT fast in THAT much detail. It’s just a good and fun game.
I’m not really angry here. xD Just pointing out stuff. I like that they gave it a decent score tho. =p I mean it is one of the best Sonic games in a while. They got one thing wrong tho. Listening to the fans = trouble. That’s why some of the games were so far-fetched. Do people think fanfics are GOOD or something? lmao SEGA listens to fans in terms of feedback and and inspiration like ALWAYS. Just this time they had a brilliant idea to take the best of our feedback from the past. The only thing they listened to from the present was what levels we liked most and what people disapproved of in Sonic 4 physics-wise, which were probably going to be improved in the console version regardless since, unlike 4, this is actually REPLICATING the classic gameplay. lol
@SonicLegends
Oh, I’m fine with that, in fact, I almost agree. But diss Shadow the Hedgehog and you will feel the wrath of The Shadow Emperor! >:)
They Complain about hitting enemies as classic Sonic, and Missing…. Resulting in Ring loss…….
You held back the score because There was no *Press a Button to Win* Feature…….
They didn’t even go into how there was Platforming in Modern Stages, and how the Boost was only used sparingly for Long Stretches, and they make it out to be all Sonic can do….. ign….
I’m looking more forward to sonic CD rather then generations. I didn’t think generations was gonna be special really.
It’s just a number with a decimal point in it.
*looks at kool* *shakes head in shame*
Dear IGN, You don’t get tired of listening to City Escape. City Escape gets tired of you
@Kool
Because of Modern Sonic, huh?
@Cheddy
Nice. XD
@Sideshowshayne
Exactly! You JUST explained why it pisses me off so much! X-D
They complain about things that were 100% INTENTIONAL AND MEANT TO BE. How is it daunting to play as two different Sonics? I had no problem with it. They have different designs and physics! And moves! It’s not that hard! Biggest insult (Term I use loosely, but I digress):
“Modern Sonic doesn’t have a spin dash, just a boost.”
…THAT. IS. THE. POINT!! THEY’RE MEANT TO BE DIFFERENT.
I know it’s not a big deal in the long run, and I know I’m going to sound REALLY conceited, but ignorance just pisses me off! It’s like they don’t understand a basic platformer.
Few boss battles? Compared to what? And the textures aren’t something you’d stop to look at? BULLSHIT! I looked at modern green hill for 10 mins just standing there. And they probably said clunky controls cause they suck at the game.
@darkgomugomu
1.) Silver, Shadow, Metal Sonic, Perfect Chaos, Death Egg Boss, Time Eater,Egg Dragoon. That sounds a lot to me.
2.) That was blatant lies on their part. I’ve had multiple screenshots as my desktop. Hell, my favorite part was the catacombs of Green Hill. The rays of sunlight shining down through the openings of the cave are simply breathe-taking.
3.) Oh BOY do they. Sonic Unleashed review: They jump off a cliff on purpose, press the boost button multiple times, and couldn’t stay straight for 5 seconds. Tons of gamers usually blame controls when they die and/or take damage when that’s far from the truth most of the time (pending on the game, but still).
I disagree about the visuals (Green Hill, Planet Wisp, Sky Sanctuary, and Seaside Hill look beautiful!!!) and a few of the boss battles were a bit dissapointing (save for Metal Sonic, Death Egg Robot, Perfect Chaos, and Egg Dragoon), and the controls aren’t clunky judging from the second demo).
But still, glad that IGN gave Generations an 8.5/10 as well as the Editor’s Choice award.
Yeah I think the score for this game was fair considering how IGN usually bashes Sonic for cheap deaths and such, so I’m actually happy with this score and this means that Sega and Sonic Team have really gotten the formula for Sonic down now. Now the next thing we have to wait for is DLC
Not bad for IGN…
oh and one more thing. “oh i boosted into a wall…..THIS GAME’S CONTROLS SUCK!” Doesn’t this sound familiar? “oh i jumped over the dash panel and into a chasm…….THIS GAME’S CONTROLS SUCK!”
I wish game reviewers wouldn’t purposely mess up while playing to make games seem worse.
@darkgomugomu
Yup. Totally explains them xD.
WHAT THE F? HE RAN JUST RIGHT INTO THAT WALL! AND BOOSTING!
How is that “clunky controls”???
Also, IGN, don’t point out your opinion like it was everyone’s. IMO, I kinda like the Werehog, and I LOVED City Escape. And not everyone thinks Sonic friends are, as you call them “dumb”. I don’t, personally.
Knuckes is the best. Dumb IGN
you cant spell ignorant whiout spelling ign
I really wish IGN would stop acting like fucking idiots and purposely play horrible to make the controls sound like they’re really that bad.
And where the fuck did that shit from the other 2 games come from? Fuck off already IGN.
@Meta: Doesn’t this remind you of SatBK’s review? The sad thing is, this isn’t even ON the Wii…
Man IGN thats wack!! u know Sonic Gens deserves a 9 or higher. i would give the game a 9.8!! A 9.8 bcuz two small minor things i didnt like but im ok with and wont let it ruin the experience:
1. only 9 levels
2. 35fps wen it should be 60fps
Does no one else love the outrageous hypocrisy of getting mad at IGN for allegedly giving a score to Unleashed without completing it and then turning around and claiming a game they’ve only played a demo for deserves a 9.5?
Anyone? Anyone?
@x Me defenetly me (stupid ign i love The crisis city and planet wisp AND The city escape soundtrack
@Superskeetospro
Modern Sonic has a limited boost meter instead of a spin dash
I think the point they’re trying to make is that the boost feels like a downgrade from the spin dash, because it’s limited. Putting the classic and modern gameplay side-by-side really highlights the weaknesses of each.
@x
That’s not really hypocrisy. In fact, it’s pretty much exemplifying the same philosophy that they feel they can judge an entire game based on only a portion of it. The only difference is how much they liked those respective portions.
@ChaoticFox
Saying:
“You can’t give a game a score if you only played part of it”
and also saying:
“I only played part of this game but it deserves this score.”
at the same time isn’t hypocrisy?
Regardless, saying “Blahblah is stupid, this game deserves yaddayadda score” when you haven’t played more than one level is dumb anyway.
A lot of people, when they first pick up a Sonic game, will hold forward all the time, even when Sonic’s stopped against something. I remember seeing a video of 3DS Mushroom Hill Classic on this site, for instance, where there was a wall to the right you couldn’t see the top of. After repeatedly trying to hop through the wall (for some reason), the player gave up. The idea that you need to go to the left and bounce up never occurred to this player–to him, going left is blasphemy.
If the game has a boost, they will boost all the time and think it’s the solution to everything. The Sonic Unleashed videos I put up on YouTube get a lot of comments complaining that the PS3/360 version as too much platforming, for instance.
In other words, as much fun as you want to poke at “boost to win” or “hold forward to win,” this is EXACTLY what the John Doe picking up the game out of curiosity wants. That the complaints on the IGN review amounted to this means these people are of that group (that they have to do precision jumps, that Modern Sonic gets stopped if he hits a wall while boosting, that the boost gauge is too limited, and that obstacles are so frequent as to frustrate newcomers).
And I think Sonic CAN be a pick-up-and-play game. The series would’ve never taken off and become popular if it wasn’t. That’s part of the point of Classic Sonic and why you use him first. Once you get accustomed to the speed via Green Hill Classic, then Modern Sonic comes in and it builds up from there. Green Hill Modern is boost heaven, the way the aforementioned John Does would’ve liked it. From then on, there are tons of obstacles everywhere, and the training wheels are off.
Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Sonic Unleashed, I feel, WERE too beginner-unfriendly. Sonic Colors rectified this by beginning with boost heaven stages (Tropical Resort Acts 1 and 2), then going into old-fashioned 2-D to ease people in. That’s part of why it got a much better reception: This was a Sonic game you could begin on.
@X
OH, my bad. I misunderstood you. I thought you were saying that IGN were the ones giving the 9.5 to some other game, based on a demo or something.
I retract my statement. You’re totally right and that’s totally stupid.