A Trope A Week - Part 6: Flying Fortress

[Semi-colon e]

I forgot about Launch Base. The sunken lake thing for act 2 was really cool, made the base feel a lot different to many other levels before and after.

 

There's also Ocean Base, which ironically has very little water (but some annoying shit out of it), I'd actually say Twinkle Park is the real water level of the game, and one of the best levels in Advance 3 too.

[CSW]

I kinda like what Sonic Generations did to Seaside Hill. The Classic stage that is. Gotta say, it looks like a stage that come been in fruitation years ago. Not bad to me.

[Metamorphosis]

I like Aquatic Ruin Zone because you can completely avoid the water sections xD 

[a mystery]

It's a tie between Hydrocity Zone, Water Palace and Aquarium Park for me.

First, all three are rather water-heavy levels that actually manage to pull off some speed. It's not /that/ common in Sonic games, especially in recent titles and the very beginning... that Zone that must not be named. Good music, though.

The level designs are also rather solid, but I'm not exactly the best critic at that.

However, amongst all the water zones that I can think of, they have the best music. Hydrocity has that 90s' feel (I tried arranging into Sonic CD's style once, I know.) that I really love, whereas Water Palace is just straight-out Nagamuna doing his amazing job, and Aquarium Park is some rather amazing DnB. (I think, anyway.)

 

My favorite water stage though is Splash Hill. See all that splashing water everywhere! i kid

[Phos]

I actually dig labyrinth zone, the underwater puzzles actually work for me.

Hydrocity is another nice one. Really cool boss that takes advantage of Sonic's characteristics. Too bad it's followed by Marble Garden and Carnival Night, hate those levels, everyone's just waiting for Ice Cap by that point.

[spinny]

Oh dear, oh dear.

 

Water levels are without a doubt one of the most debatable tropes in the series. Me? I love 'em... except for Hydrocity. Yeah, I said it.

 

I love Labyrinth. Many people consider it as 'just plain dickish', but I see it as a fun challenge. Also, dat music.

I love Aquatic Ruin. Beautiful scenery, water sections are entirely optional... it's just too short, really. Also, once again that music is absolutely amazing.

Tidal Tempest... Labyrinth Zone 2.0, let's move on.

Hydrocity. This is where I usually switch off 3&K. There's something about this zone that just... doesn't appeal to me like Labyrinth and Aquatic Ruin do. The music's still pretty awesome though.

Zipping forward 11 years to Water Palace... well, Back 2 Back is an awesome song and I will admit, the gimmicks are pretty unique and do take the advantage of being a water level, something that can be seen as quite uncommon.

The entirety of Rush Adventure. Um... GET READY FOR A NEW VENTURE LA LAAAAAAA LA LAAAAAA LA LAAAAAAAA

I don't know if you'd count it as a water level, but I probably would. Dragon Road from Unleashed is probably the most notable in the game for me. So many setpieces such as those dragon paths, the Great Wall, riding on fireworks, spinning platforms (or whatever you wanna call them)... yeah, the only way it's a water level is 'cause it's set in a swamp. xD

Aquarium Park. It's Hydrocity, except in my view it suceeds this time. Beautiful music, beautiful scenery and beautiful (albeit at times incredibly linear) art design. Really fits in with the rest of Colours' levels with how colorful it is -- HOLY CRAP YOU CAN GO UNDERWATER IN A 3D GAME NOW!? Oh... but only in a 2D perspective.

Seaside Hill from Generations takes the ruins of Ocean Palace and slaps elements from Labyrinth, Aquatic Ruin and Hydrocity on the side. A nice reference to water levels from the past, and it creepily blends in very well.

 

Overall, my favourite? Probably Aquatic Ruin.

[-blank-]

Underwater levels... What can I say about underwater levels?

 

First off, the classic era underwater levels were hit and miss. Aquatic Ruin and Tidal Tempest were meh. They had some decent ideas but I never want to play through them and I'd hardly call them favorites. As for Labyrinth Zone, that place just outright sucks.It's slow-paced and boring.

 

Hydrocity on the other hand...

 

Oh my god.

 

This  is how a water level should be done. It's fast-paced, has excellent design, the music is fantastic, just everything about this zone is awesome. It's definitely my favorite zone of the classic era.

[Dizcrybe]

Hydrocity and Aquatic Ruin were the best ones cause the former was fast-paced, had awesome music, and was actually fun. Aquatic Ruin was good because it allowed you to completely skip the water if you stuck to the top path.

Edited May 25, 2013 by Longshoreman X

[Dandp]

Excuse me while I gush for a moment.

 

Oh how much do I love hydrocity? Good question. Too much.

I don't know how, but hydrocity has grown to be my favourite level in any video game, I just adore it soooo much. Mabye it's the music, mabye it's the level design, I don't know. All I know is that I have alot of fun playing it.

 

Not to say it doesn't have its issues. Act 2 for example is pretty automated, repeating the same path twice, just in different location for some odd reason. Besides that, the level is fantastic.

 

And heck, for a water level, at least it's kind enough to give you a water shield so you won't drown (if you can find it)

I can't describe it, I simple love it.

 

Not to mention, the project Chaos remix - Walk on water. That song. Humina Humina Humina Humina.

[Jolt_TH]

Again sorry for the delay on the new trope!

Anyway, time for another trope, this week we will be delving into another common trope that is very common to the Dreamcast and Modern (I guess it is boost now) eras, especially Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Unleashed. That's right, this week we are focusing on the...

Urban/City Trope

First appearing in Sonic 1 as the penultimate Zone, Urban tropes have generally been about speed and can be some of the speediest levels in the game. Usually containing buildings, cars and other objects one would find in a City. Come Sonic Adventure Sonic was running around city's that looked like something we might drive through on our way to work or school, adding a lot more detail than his genesis outings (which were more urban than city) including things like benches, signs, trashcans and especially advertisements! (Chao in Space anyone?). Even Heroes with its classic Sonic inspiration had a city themed level (albeit pretty futuristic) but lost a lot of the detail that the other two games had. 06 while set in a more realistic world actually only really had one City level, and that was set in an apocalyptic future! Shadows game on the other hand was pretty much all about City/Urban Levels.

Then along came Unleashed and it really felt like Sonic was zooming through real world locations (well they were based off of the real world) with fantastic visuals and all the little details that showed the love that was put into the game.

Some Examples

Starlight Zone

Sunset Park

Gigaopolis Zone

Stardust Speedway

Speed Highway

City Escape

Radical Highway

Mission Street

Grand Metropolis

Crisis City

Pirate Island (yes it's a city)

Windmill Isle (again its an Urban/City area)

Rooftop Run

Empire City

This one is slightly easier for me, but not much, mine has to be...

Rooftop Run

I absolutely LOVE Rooftop Run, I could almost say it is my favourite level in the entire series, but I don't wanna push it.

This level, based of off Italy I believe? is just gorgeous. I love the way the level looks, I love the way the level plays, I love the music, it's just great. The stylised buildings make a change of scenery from the usual modern day cities we got in the games before, the lush reds, browns and terracottas mixed well with the pale yellow and creams of the flooring, add in the little flashes of colour from shop windows, awnings and flowers and you just have a gorgeous looking stage. Generations increased this by adding brightly coloured balloons and other festive decorations like streamers and flag chains hung between lampposts.

Given I have only really played the Unwiished and Generations version if this stage (I've played Unleashed HD a couple of times) I just love how the level plays out, running through the streets of Spagonia the level uses the existing geography of the city in the level itself, grinding on fancy handrails and speeding through tight alleyways and sharp turns of the city feels right and really satisfying to play. The set piece is REALLY stunning, making your way to the too of the clock tower before grinding down and seeing the whole city sprawling below you, I still get awestruck everytime I play, generations making it brighter and more colourful by adding the aforementioned hot air balloons. The blimp chase with classic sonic is also great fun and you also interact with the clock tower a bit more by moving its hands before jumping into Eggman's blimp. The end if the level ends with the chase scene along the top of the aqueduct, with more breathtaking views at the natural beauty around the city aswell as the architecture of the aqueduct itself. All in all its a gorgeous level.

The music of Rooftop Run is possibly something that makes it so fun to play, it's fast, upbeat and generally cheerful and optimistic. The violin mixes well with the electric guitar and gives the song a unique yet pleasing sound (listen to pretty much any Yellowcard song, they use violin too) and I love the underlying melody for the violin aswell, it gives the song it's underlying momentum and feel, which mixed with a few bits of guitar riff MAKE Rooftop Run ... Well Rooftop Run. I bet most people could guess the song from that melody alone! The tune is well composed and isn't too messy for the ears and sounds almost deceivingly simple, but it is SO effective, it is probably my most listened too track on iTunes (well the THREE versions) I'm not sure which version is better but the Unleashed and Modern Remix are the ones that always pop into my memory.

Anyway as per usual OVER TO YOU GUYS!

[Spin Attaxx]

I like how when people say "Robotnik's the only human on Mobius", I can just point to Spring Yard/Star Light/Chemical Plant etc. and say "then what's living in those pretty human-looking cities?".

 

But I suppose my favorite would be Star Light Zone. I like how it's set at night and how the lower on the level you are, the closer you are to a building in the background. It also gets points for being the fastest zone in the original Sonic, and the music.

[FriendBot]

It's between Speed Highway and Empire City for me. But if I were to choose, I would choose Empire City because of how cool it looked. The fog was nice and it defintely looks like a modern city of this time. The music is also one of my favourites in Unleashed, DAT SAX!

[Semi-colon e]

CIty levels are often some of my favourite levels for the variety of locations and the thrilling speed and heights you can get. I'm a massive fan of Speed Highway and Crisis City from Generations. Speed Highway for both Sonics looks so visually fantastic and there's so many areas to see, such as inside malls, hotels, along highways, on rooftops, running along the building walls, grabbing helicopters and rockets, and the beautiful sky.

 

Crisis City in Generations is more of a fire level with a city motif, but the tragic fiery future works so well, especially in the Modern level with it's more vibrant fiery colours and more challenging level design.

 

I generally love city levels elsewhere, I was a big fan of the original Speed Highway in SA1 (which is why I wanted it in Generations), both versions of Rooftop Run, Starlight and it's surprisingly realistic buildings and massive speed, Stardust Speedway (mostly for visuals and music but really crazy level design too), and Skyscraper Scamper's Day Stage in Unleashed was one of the best levels of the game, for having actual alternate routes at various points, and while imo looking kind of bland, having a lot of variety in a single level. The best parts were the rooftops with the grass and trees on them, but I like Speed Highway more otherwise.

[Splash the Otter]

My favorite urban levels are the Generations versions of Speed Highway or City Escape. In fact, I used to hate urban stages before I saw the ones in Generations, which changed my opinion considerably.

[FireBird75]

Yayz, time for my favorite level trope! Many of these are gonna be my level(s) in the game(s) their in. Oh well, let's list the faves:

 

Star Light Zone: I freakin' love this level. It has practically my favorite everything in it. (music, theme, level design, boss, etc.)

Sunset Park: Probably the most memorable level in Triple Trouble.

Speed Highway: My favorite level in the SA. Looks fantastic in Sonic Generations. Classic remix FTMFW! 

City Escape: My favorite level for the city trope and I don't think I need to explain why. YOU ALL KNOW WHY! And it only got better with Sonic Generations!

Mission Street: Great music and great for chaos drive farming.

Radical Highway: A badass opening stage for a badass character.

Grand Metropolis: I swear this is the good future for some Urban level. Gotta love that M&S remix!

Route 99: Three acts of speed and platforming goodness.

Pirates' Island: A city and ancient ruins!? Meh the music's nice!

Windmill Isle(Apotos): Smoothest opening stage ever!

Rooftop Run: Second all-time favorite and, once again, got a kickass remake in Sonic Generations.

[Dizcrybe]

I've come to like the idea of Sonic tearing up city streets and causing property damage ala City Escape. Just grinding on whatever resembles a rail, flipping his tiny little fingers to logic all the while, boosting through roads, cars, and buildings.

[LordMetallix]

I have to say that Speed Highway and Rooftop Run both are my favorite Urban/City level trope.

Rooftop Run just has  great atmosphere and level aesthetics by blending many of the famous styles of European architecture and reproducing it into a near Pixar-esque quality. All the while maintaining a high sense of speed and exploration with great bits of platforming thrown into the mix. Its definitely in my mind one of the best levels in modern Sonic games if not THE best. Also we can't forget the awesome music, epic violins and guitar= awesomesauce.

Speed Highway has a great at night aesthetic that I rarely see in Sonic games, and it definitely shows in Generations just how beautiful it can be will all the bright lights and awesome skyline. The highways generate a true high speed environment with a huge emphasis on going fast down the twist and turns of the floating highway. And of course no one can forget the running down the building scene which is one of the most memorable Sonic scenes of all time. All the while hard guitar is blasting you in the face.

Edited June 3, 2013 by LordMetallix

[Kamakai]

Starlight: The first one there is, and is my favourite level from Sonic 1 with good reason. Awesome music, good level design, and being the 'speedy showcase level' makes this one of my favourites.

 

Sunset Park: The only level I remember from Triple Trouble by name. I've developed an odd love for it, even though I never got past here when I was younger

 

Radical City: Well, as part Casino level, part Urban level, this is a weird one to say the least. Gotta love the music though... too bad the stage itself is in a mediocre game.

 

Speed Highway: The fastest level in Adventure, no questions asked. I'll always remember this awesome level for the iconic 'goin' down' chase.

 

Station Square (HUB): I dunno if this counts, but I love this hub world more than any other, because: It has the entrances to Speed Highway and Emerald Coast, it has awesome music, and it's small with memorable locations.

 

City Escape: Without a doubt the most iconic urban level in Sonic history, and boy, it comes with a lot of it. A kickass vocal song, so many iconic moments like the truck chase, and it's featured in the multiplayer TWICE. Not once, but TWICE!

 

*I'll post more later on*

[Jolt_TH]

Well guys new week, new trope!

This week we are focusing on a whole new theme, the last few have been pretty...grounded, yup that's right this week it's...

Flying Fortress Trope

This trope, as is probably obvious, is set in the skies above sonic's world. huge mechanical behemoths that Eggman is generally working from, although the majority if the time you don't confront him properly on them, with only 2 instances of this trope being used as a final level (Sky Base and Final Fortress).

Usually being Eggman's base, they are chock full of traps and tricks to catch out our blue hero, bottomless pits adorn the level, one of the places where they can do so naturally! Precision platforming is usually what is called for on these levels (Looking at you Wing Fortress!) and they can punish you quite badly for messing up (insta death anyone?)

Although can anyone tell me why Sonics world has good weather 90% of the time?!

Some Examples

Sky Base Zone

Wing Fortress Zone

Flying Battery Zone

Egg Rocket Zone

Aero base Zone

Egg Fleet

Final Fortress

Altitude Limit

Sky Troops

Air Fleet

Levitated Ruin

Starlight Carnival

Sky Deck

Sky Fortress Zone

This one is tricky, there are two i LOVE!

Sky Deck

Personally I love Sky Deck, it is definitely my most played level in Sonic Adventure. To tell you the truth, I'm not too sure why I love Sky Deck so much but I'll give it a go!

The level gives you a really good feeling like you are progressing through the world in a meaningful manner, being one of the two levels that you end in a new place for the HUB world (Speed Highway is the other) and I love that! The three parts to the level are quite different to each other one with speed, another skill and the final platforming, which breaks the level up nicely yet they all feel connected.

From the get go you are shot out of the cannon trying to find your way to Eggman, running down the gangways avoiding being shot at, feels like Eggman in really out to stop you, making the level more interactive as the objects in the background fire at you. This first part is mainly speed based, with abundant dash pads and straight hallways for Sonic to zoom down in search of ol' Eggy. The second part is more skill and puzzle based, having to hang on at the right time to avoid being blown off while also avoiding the cannons and airplanes Eggman sends your way, ending with a shoot off with another giant cannon that you must hit at the right time to destroy. The third and final part is rather platform heavy, not that it's a problem, with sonic having to jump between moving platforms, ladders and even a pulley! Right at the end Eggman seemingly rotates the entire Egg Carrier trying to be rid of you, making Sonic needing to jump up the Egg Carrier while avoiding falling debris.

The level itself looks the part with metal grey struts and bolts everywhere and the lovely sky blue background contrasting the level nicely. A lot of the gimmicks look like they belong like the monkey bars and the pulleys aswell as the rotating tubes (although what they are for I have no idea!) and are some really good gimmicks in themselves that were interesting and useful.

The music...well the music is awesome, I love the track to Sky Deck, it's quite rock guitar heavy, but has a little bit of synth or electronica in there too, I kinda see that as a Sonic vs Eggman theme in the song itself, considering its Eggman's base and Sonic has come to take it out. Its lively and fast paced to match the level itself and I get a real kick out of it. The third part of the song uses a slightly different version, more mechanical and less guitar than before, i don't like this version as much as the first but it still keeps the main melody with a slight remix. All in all i think it's a great track and can get the blood rushing and the adrenaline pumping!

The thing I would love to see return is Eggman and the level itself trying to stop you aswell as Eggman changing the fortress (in this case the direction of down) as it mixes the level up and makes it different but also reminds you that you are on his base and he has the home field advantage (also that he is a more active villain but that's for other topics!)

Flying Battery Zone

A Special mention to Flying Battery, I love this level too for this trope and feel it deserves a special mention. Using a mixture of high speed segments and platforming segments the level flows really nicely and is quite different in that the majority takes place INSIDE the fortress rather than hanging off if it. The Miniboss Is also really original and fun to fight. The level looks amazing and the colour scheme really works wonders with the purple and gold against the dark blue background aswell as all the gears and pistons moving in the floor and walls themselves. Or course one of the best bits is the level music, it is really a great piece!

As always guys...over to you

[Spin Attaxx]

I like Sky Base's music as well as the fact that it's the only airship Eggman's ever used that isn't Wing Fortress #X - it being, well, an airship.

 

Wing Fortress, I like how one could use a glitch (that realisticly ISN'T a glitch) to essentially go on top of the level and move really quickly there. Also gets props for music, three ring TVs floating in midair (?!) and it being one of the first instances of "Eggman" being used in the West.

 

Really, ALL flying fortresses have great music. Final Fortress has a nice background of a dark black storm. LOVE IT.

 

....in fact fuck it, I have an addicton to ANY big airship. They're cool. I even thought up one of my own. Made a crappy model out of it in K'nex too.

[Semi-colon e]

I. Fucking. Hate. Sky Deck. It's so glitchy and the homing attack chains often don't stretch far enough, or the camera wacks out, or you hit the rocket to get to the cannon at the end of the first section too soon which causes you to inexplicably die. And then there's the stupid sections in the last part where your controls don't work unless you skip them with a well timed spin dash and you just spazz out on the ground. Eugh.

 

Wing Fortress and Sky Fortress are pretty cool, as is Flying Battery, but honestly I've never felt strongly about the aerial base tropes. Egg Fleet was really fun too, but very quickly it became the same sections repeated, which kind of hurt it as a level overall. And Final Fortress was moody and epic as hell despite being a straight line. There was so much grandeur to the size and scale of the thing that it made me wonder what's in all those little areas.

 

Sky Base, however, was awesome and impressive for the consoles it was on. Dark skies, thunderstorms (we need more of this), fantastic music (especially the music taken from that game's Scrap Brain, but Act 2's was as well), and there was a sense of progression. Act 1 is in the sky, platforming to reach the underside of the fortress. Act 2 is platforming around the giant airship, and Act 3 is where you're inside taking on Eggman.

[Jolt_TH]

I must say I have to get a hold of Sonic 1 master system, I have heard a lot of good things about it

[FireBird75]

Flying Fortress? Not a lot of favorites here but here goes:

 

Flying Battery Zone: *listening to Act 2's theme while typing*

The Egg Carrier: Egghead was right.  This was a masterpiece even if was just hub.

Egg Fleet: Epic music that gets you pumped up to go against an armada of the doctor's finest!

Final Fortress: Some fans say the music contains bits from Volcano Valley (Genesis/Mega Drive). I guess I hear it but idk.

Sky Troops: Great music, much better visuals than Glyphic Canyon, and Eggman is the Hero mission. Can't do much better than this.

Huge Crisis: Better than Altitude Limit in every possible way and we get to beat up GUN again.  Good stuff!

Starlight Carnival: My personal favorite stage...of Colors

Sky Fortress Zone: Act 1 drags out for far too long, but Act 2 completes shits all over Wing Fortress it's not even funny.  Act 3 is pretty great too (w/ Loopy Loos making their much awaited return!).  Yeah, this is my favorite of the trope.

[Kamakai]

I love SA's soundtrack, and one of my favourites is 'Skydeck-a-go-go! So no wonder I love it so much.

Egg Fleet and Final fortress are pretty cool. Again, have to hand it to the music. Also, Egg Fleet being the best level in Heroes helps it's cause.

... Y'know, none of the others are memorable to me at all. :/ Oh well.

[-blank-]

Flying Battery has to be my favorite flying fortress level. I love the design and the music is fantastic.