Sonic Generations : General Hacking Thread

[Mega]

Are we seriously picking fights and calling names over the level selection and how 'diverse' it is? :/

Why don't we just wait and see what Sonic Team has planned? They could surprise us with new twists on these stages, a-la GHZ.

[Carbo]

This is the part we aren't getting. We're describing to you how varied and iconic these levels really are. I keep looking at that list, and with the exception of Ice Cap Zone and a proper Casino level (which is being represented as DLC, showing that they're aware of it's importance) I can't see them picking a more appropriate level list. It's varied, it's iconic, and everything screams Sonic the Hedgehog.

I can go the same way with this cause I honestly don't see how this list is worth defending beyond just "everyone's favorite level in this", personally I still think that iconic levels should have fuck-all to do with a cohesive sense of variety throughout 20 years worth of Sonic's history.

No matter what sub tropes that can be applied or sugarcoated, the point remains, there's a shit ton of levels they could have that could show the true diversity of what Sonic has to offer. Listening to fan opinion only takes you so long and if anything it'll just make it even worse. Instead it's just "mildly varied" with five of the levels just being "cities with different palettes and objects". It's just so lackluster, especially for a series that has pretty much made itself famous of having colorful worlds in all forms and colors. Hell, at this point I'd believe that this game would be liven up just with a desert level.

I have my "favorite level list" just like the next person, but this list is so safe played and appeals as a whole to what you'd expect from a random poll on a forum. Sky Sanctuary is probably the only real surprise. If the game proves me wrong and the levels will be HOLY SHIT levels of varied, then I'll get off my cynical pedestal. But for now that's not happening.

Edited June 24, 2011 by Carbo

[Ferno]

Did you try diagonally.

[Nepenthe]

It's not a matter of people absolutely not noticing the differences as much as it is people disagreeing with what the differences are implying. I was told last night that Ocean Palace is essentially a water/ruins zone. I disagree; It's tropical/ruins. The water element is pretty much nonexistent considering you can't interact with it all that much despite the fact that it's there, unless we now want to say City Escape is also validly a water level simply because they pasted a picture of the ocean in the background. Same with a supposed city element to Casinopolis due to it's background, as well as the Crisis City mention. Someone said it has mountains in the background, thus implying it has a tertiary mountain element. I call bollocks on that. The main element you are running around in is a city while fire provides a secondary hazard. So it's city/fire, not city/fire/mountain. That one is just such a stretch that I'm absolutely flabbergasted it was made.

Regardless, even if we are supposed to just buck up and accept that all of the secondary tropes cover each other, how does that address the repeating ones? Instead of a city that's on fire, why couldn't we get a huge-ass cave that has lava in it so that now we have two non-repeating elements? Instead of a tropical/ruins level (and an aerial ruins level; lulz two ruins levels ftl), why couldn't an ice, pinball, or base stage be substituted? This implication that we're not allowed to be disappointed because Crisis City has mountains is almost insulting. The continued idea that anyone who has a problem is bi-polar or unappeasable because one facet out of the entire fuck-awesome package irks us is definitely insulting.

[Eternlo]

Screw it, everyone is bitching to much.

I have a better idea, make it TMNT Generations, it could be a video game version of Turtles Forever.

[Preston]

Look, I'll give you all reasons to be happy with the list. You ready?

Green Hill Zone. It's the first stage of the first Sonic game, hello!

Chemical Plant Zone. Glistening grape soda in glorious HD.

Sky Sanctuary. It has Egg-Robos. Enough said.

Speed Highway. Zooming pass neon lights and exploring the "At Dusk" section.

City Escape. GUN the Truck.

Seaside Hill. A tropical ruins level to break away from the city levels.

Crisis City. Um...

Rooftop Run. We have a Tokyo-style night city and a San Francisco-style day city. Why not a European day city?

Planet Wisp. A grassland-industrial hybrid to break away from the city levels.

And there could be another level after that. What kind of level? That remains to be seen.

[Scar]

Okay, fuck this discussion then. I've said what I think, and now I'm just getting annoyed with repeating myself. I'm being treated as though I'm unreasonably hating on the game. I'm not. I'm very reasonably being disappointed with the selection of levels, after looking and considering it from every angle.

EDIT: Angel? Lol. I wrote "angle" first and correctect myself. Ah, when you get pissed off...

[EXshad]

This topic has really gotten stupid.

Again, I'm overall happy with this list, and trust me, I've tried my hardest to see all the differences I can... which is why I'm mostly happy with it. After much rethinking and scrutiny, I still don't like the inclusion of Speed Highway. Why is that so hard for some people to understand? It's an opinion. And it's not like I'm saying the whole list is crap; quite the opposite, I think it's rather well done, to be honest. I just wish they added a TINY bit more originality. That's all.

You can't even say I'm disappointed; this whole leak has made me feel secure about knowing how great this game will be. I just found something I don't like and commented on it. This is my only complaint with everything so far, I promise. But if not liking that ONE thing warrants a maelstrom of bashing and people screaming "LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES NOT THE SIMILARITIES DUR HUR" nonstop, then fine, so be it; go on and show how ludicrous this fan-base can really be.

LIKEWISE, to the people at the other side of the spectrum, try to understand that Sonic Team is merely trying to include the most iconic levels in the game that perfectly encapsulate the feel and tone of the game they're from. The level list might not be as varied as past games because of that, but so far, the 4 levels we seen DO seem very unique from each other, including Green Hill and Seaside Hill (strangely enough). And if Sonic Team can make THOSE levels look THAT different from each other, just think of how good everything else will look! That's how I approach it anyway.

...though I'm still unhappy with Speed Highway, and sadly, the only thing that will change my mind is gameplay evidence that it's gonna be very different from the other city levels.

[Pawn]

Oo;; Wait, wait, wait. RubyEclipse actually commented on this list... and said that some stuff in it was actually incorrect? Oh dear. I'm hoping he's just referring to things like mission structure or something.

Edited June 24, 2011 by Lungo

[TheDanimator]

Looks like another Fact vs. Opinion debate! I love those!

Speaking of which, I LOVE the Unleashed version of the Tornado! That means that it's infallibly awesome, right?

No?

You mean my opinion of something doesn't always reflect the reality of said subject?

My word! That means that the new Tornado design must neither be good NOR bad, but subject towards the individual's opinion!

[Joshi]

So you know some people are whining bout how there's no.. progression, no moving from Green Hill through deadly traps until we reach Eggman's base at the end.

Are these people forgetting that the game is an adventure through time? There's no sense of drawing closer to Robotnik because you're not. You're just drawing ever closer to the present. You're not even fighting Robotnik, you're fighting the Time Eater. And lemme tell ya,kids, Lavos don't live in no robot factory.

A progression like what some people are asking for just doesn't make sense for this game.

[frokenok3]

Actually, i think i understand Blue Blood and in the end it's his opinion. He deserves to have one as we all do.

I don't think he's gonna hate the game because of the stage selection but i'm sure he would enjoy the game even more if a casino was in or a winter theme or an underground theme for ex. Mystic cave zone!

Personally i am happy with the list. I 'd like to see Ice Cap or Hydrocity or maybe Starlight carnival. Also let's not forget that ST might surprise us or there will be DLC packs.

Edited June 24, 2011 by frokenok3

[Eternlo]

I'm sorry but...that was just. ...So well timed.

[Ferno]

Crisis City. Um...

[Chooch]

Can someone tell me why Sky Sanctuary is considered as such a Godly stage? I wanted Icecap (or Hydrocity) instead of Sky Sanctuary...

Edited June 24, 2011 by Chooch

[Nepenthe]

The game isn't just for the fans, SEGA can't survive just off of us. Yes Sonic Team could have put out a much more varied list, but then it would have had less of an nostalgic impact on the average gamer.

[Dark Qiviut]

At least Crisis City, as someone pointed out, could have some Flame Core, and Chemical Plant has Mega Mack (so water).

Edited June 24, 2011 by Attitude Adjustment

[Voyant]

The water element is pretty much nonexistent considering you can't interact with it all that much despite the fact that it's there, unless we now want to say City Escape is also validly a water level simply because they pasted a picture of the ocean in the background.

Edited June 24, 2011 by Voyant

[Ferno]

It's the essentially the beginning of the climax of the Death Egg saga.

The stage starts with the Death Egg rising out from over the cloud cover, taking its place back in the sky, floating ominously over the beautiful landscape. It starts to send out Egg Robos to terrorize the place. The misunderstanding between Sonic and Knuckles has finally resolved and the two have them have set aside their differences to team up, defeat Eggman, and get back the Master Emerald.

Sonic is speeding his way up Sky Sanctuary, a place that has long been unseen and untouched by people other than Knuckles for a great number of years. He makes his way up higher and higher, destroying Egg Robos as he makes his way up using various teleportation devices before reaching the final one.

Mecha Sonic zooms by and destroys the teleportation device, a message to Sonic that 'There is no escape'. They fight one last time and he's incapacitated. The ground beneath Sonic begins to crumble and in a mad dash for the Death Egg he uses his amazing speed to climb up the tallest tower and infiltrate Eggman's mighty, Star Wars inspired stronghold.

Meanwhile Knuckles, steps away from reclaiming the Master Emerald, takes on Hyper Mecha Sonic, a Master Emerald imbued Mecha Sonic who has absorbed some of the Emerald's power. It should be noted that when Knuckles defeats Hyper Metal Sonic he doesn't sit there incapacitated, he explodes and he's gone for good.

Sky Sanctuary is fucking epic, tragic, and beautiful all at the same time. It's the best Sonic stage. Okay? Okay.

[Preston]

As for Chemical Plant, I'm definitely interested in playing that one. I'd love to have Modern Sonic race through some diluted Pepto Bismol.

[Pawn]

Crisis City is one of the more intriguing level atmospherically in Next Gen. Chaos everywhere; it's real-life hell in Silver's point of view

As for Chemical Plant, I'm definitely interested in playing that one. I'd love to have Modern Sonic race through some diluted Pepto Bismol.

[Voyant]

Again, if the point wasn't to necessarily put in fan favorites but simply the most iconic levels as determined by the public, what was the point in asking the hardcore base what their favorite levels were in the first place?

Edited June 24, 2011 by Voyant

[Scar]

Again, if the point wasn't to necessarily put in fan favorites but simply the most iconic levels as determined by the public, what was the point in asking the hardcore base what their favorite levels were in the first place? Anyone who's not been living under a rock since 1991 can list off the most iconic stage(s) of each main Sonic game. If Sega had come out and simply made that clear, no one would have gotten their hopes up for levels that, under the current guise of "it's for the public", were absolute shots in the dark. Really, do you honestly think this many people would be railing for Twinkle Park, Hydrocity, or even Radical Train if we knew from the beginning there was no way they would risk going for levels with varying popularity? Hell no. So why ask us in the first place?

[Ferno]

It's grape soda. Get it right. >=I

They should just make it yellow.

Yes I'm implying what you think I'm implying.

Lemonade.

[Dark Qiviut]

Again, if the point wasn't to necessarily put in fan favorites but simply the most iconic levels as determined by the public, what was the point in asking the hardcore base what their favorite levels were in the first place?

It was a poll targeting fans in general, and it was publicized for everyone to see. Anyone hardcore or otherwise were able to vote for them.

So why ask us in the first place?

They did this for research. The poll is an indication what people were looking for and what they remember for each game. The poll was a marketing ploy to help solidify Sonic Team's stance as to what levels they should go for.