With the release of the new Sonic X Shadow Generations, fans of the Blue Blur are once again diving into the high-speed world of Sonic. But it also brings up a question that has been lingering in my mind for some time:
Is Sonic truly built for the world of 3D gaming, or is he better suited for 2.5D adventures?
Sonic's transition to 3D platforming has been a mixed bag for quite a while. While there is an appreciated formula in the 3D adventures, such as Sonic Adventure, the speed of the gameplay, characters, levels, and the camera are not always cohesive to me. I find myself searching for synergy in some of the games, but it can feel a bit off when the flow gets disrupted by awkward areas based on one or more of the factors mentioned above. While challenging response times can be engaging, being on a fixed track (2.5D) can make the experience feel much smoother than having full 360-degree movement during the acts (to be specific).
Sonic and Shadow, with their incredible speed, sometimes feel too quick to handle in certain areas, leading to a less enjoyable gaming experience. When surfing on aerial tracks and using trigger buttons to move from track to track, the gameplay feels much more cohesive in the 3D areas and the standard 2.5D platforming areas because it removes the loose movement that can detract from the experience. The 2.5D stages in Sonic X Shadow Generations and other titles take me back. The controls are tighter, and I think the players can focus more on different moves and quick-time events under these circumstances without worrying about the characters feeling out of control or too fast to manage in terms of accuracy. The original Sonic Generations game garnered support from me because of its 2.5D gameplay, and with the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations, I'm able to get my 2.5D gameplay fix while taking on... Black Doom.
Nintendo successfully took Super Mario to new heights with Super Mario 64 and beyond, but Sega still needs to refine its approach to delivering full 360-degree action with Sonic and friends. While Sonic X Shadow Generations shows promise, it has some of those same challenges that other Sonic games have... that still deliver a level of frustration. Overall, regardless of the route Sega takes, I hope they keep their sights on being better than Nintendo and being the mighty rival we once knew. I want the choice between buying a Sonic title & a Mario title to be a difficult one, because they're both just that bad ass. This isn't about being anti-Mario, it's about us benefitting from great games. Achieving this with a 2.5D game is possible, and Sonic X Shadow Generations does a commendable job of balancing both 2.5D and 3D elements for the most part, even if I occasionally fall off the tracks. Enough of talking about the game, check out the first 30:
Sonic X Shadow Generations:
- Past meets present in SONIC GENERATIONS! Modern and Classic Sonic team up to defeat Dr. Eggman and the Time Eater to restore their timeline to normal!
- Spin dash through a greatest-hits collection of 3D and 2D versions of iconic stages from past Sonic games, now with updated visuals and reworked cinematics
- In this new standalone campaign, Black Doom has reemerged and threatens to take over the world. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world.
- Harness Shadow's new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!
- Rescue Chao hiding in every level, rack up the highest pinball score in the Casino Nights zone, and check out the museum for behind-the-scenes art, music, and more!
