Zones we hate

[Semi-colon e]

Central City in Shadow the Hedgehog is also flat out not enjoyable, the main reason I say this one as opposed to Lost Impact and The Doom is that at least they have nice music and goal rings. Central City has neither, it's yet another city level in ruins when there's already two of these, and the fact there's NO goal ring AND there's a time limit just adds to the hell. The only saving grace is that it's really easy to avoid playing in the story mode.

[Ristar]

SECURITY HALL. Good God I hate this zone. 

 

 

You know, I SUCK at treasure levels, it takes me like 10 minutes to finish one (I think the space one with Knuckles took me half an hour) You can imagine how tedious this was for me. I like taking things easily and this.....was not a very good experience for me.

 

 

Crisis City, Kingdom Valley and Dusty Desert were AWFUL but End of the world takes the cake. Everything about this stage is just bullsh-t. Specially Silver´s section.

 

Cool Edge Day was pretty good but oh my God, Bobsleigh part was tedious, and it may be only me, but I had a lot of trouble with that checkpoint near the falling bridge. Like seriously, why would you put a checkpoint there?

 

Shammar Night. Fuck the bees. 

 

Eggmanland PS2. Fuck time-based missions. Haven´t played PS3 version yet but I already know it´s going to be a pain from what I´ve seen.

 

Classic Planet Wisp. I found the Rocket Wisp power very annoying. Like Security Hall, I don´t think I ever want to play this again.

 

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Edited September 1, 2013 by Ristar

[Chaos Incarnate]

 

Shammar Night. Fuck the bees. 

 

Oh god yes! WHY DO THOSE BEES CONSTANTLY RESPAWN?!!!! It took me forever to beat Shamar Night. It honestly wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the annoying ass bees and respawning enemies. At least the music is better than the day stage them, I guess.

[Jet Prower]

Either I'm just more patient when it comes to games, or my years of playing games good and maybe not as good as numbed me to some of the troubles that others have with some of these games. Believe me, I know there are some annoying levels out there, but I dont think there was anything that ever made me want to just get so pissed at the game I wanted to break it of course. ^^;

[castell-neath]

From the "classic era" and in no particular order:

Labrynth Zone - all of it, too slow and does not flow properly to me!

Scrap Brain Zone Act 2 ( oh and 3 cor the above reason!)

Sonic 2 Special Stage 7 (!!!!!)

Hidden Palace zone - the Knuckles fight is too easy and as such is too much of an anti-climax

 

On the M.S / G.G - Labrynth, again!! Although the glider bit in sky high zone act 2 to get the emrald should get a worthy mention as well

 

From the "Dreamcast / ps2 era:

ALL Big fishing missions in SA1 - ah yes that well known speed sport "fishing" in a sonic game. enough said

ALL knuckles and Rouge missions in SA2 - I want to RUN in a sonic game, not bloody "hunt" endlessley

Bingo Highway - a far,far,far too long version of Casion night with annoying music

 

 

From the modern era:
White acropolis and any speed stage from 06 - A broken game but in these zones especially for camera and controls

Pretty much every Werehog stage in Unleashed, but  the 15 - 30 min long Eggmanland especially

Planet Wisp in Generations - too clunky and the endless shouts of "rocket" / "spikes" is annoying

 

And for good measure:
Casino Street in Sonic 4 Ep1

Special stage 7 in Sonic 4 Ep 2

[Kat]

Either I'm just more patient when it comes to games, or my years of playing games good and maybe not as good as numbed me to some of the troubles that others have with some of these games. Believe me, I know there are some annoying levels out there, but I dont think there was anything that ever made me want to just get so pissed at the game I wanted to break it of course. ^^;

Same here. Though the horrible controls and the clearly not self-inflicted deaths in Sonic 06 made me surprisingly furious. Haven't had that in a looong time (Mega Man X, I look at you!)...

[Neon The Hedgehog]

The last level of Unleashed was a pain. Not necessarily because it was hard, but because it took me so dang long. It would have been nice to have a place to save in-between the final Werehog and Sonic levels.

       The final boss in generations was a pain too. You had all of these possible controls to use but after an aggrivating while I realized you did not need a lot of these controls to win the level.

[Jet Prower]

Same here. Though the horrible controls and the clearly not self-inflicted deaths in Sonic 06 made me surprisingly furious. Haven't had that in a looong time (Mega Man X, I look at you!)...

 

Really, the only thing that frustrates me at times are when I'm doing things to collect achievements or ranks. Since you most of the time have to do the level perfect, it can be rather tricky to do so. Unleashed was tricky, but it was at leasst fair. Of course the last level takes a long while to master, but I eventually did do it back then. Due to Sonic 06's load times and such. Having to constantly reload things and if you fail, restart the entire level, I've never been able to complete all the achievements for Sonic 06. Both Unleashed and Generations I've perfected or one hundred percented.

[Ryannumber1gamer]

That's right. This thread is for those annoying stages that make you moan every single time you have to go through them. 

 

There's one level I'd like to mention.

 

Lost World (Sonic Adventure)

 

I hate this level. I hate this level. I hate this level. Did I mention I hate this fucking level?

 

First off, the music is easily the worst out of all the songs in Sonic Adventure. It has none of the energy found in the other songs whatsoever. It's boring to listen throughout this boring level.

 

There is far too many gimmicks in this level, from a giant snake that you need to constantly wait for in order to progress, to hitting switches to run on walls, to rotating mirrors in order to light up paths, to hitting switches to open doors, to one of the annoying fall once and restart the whole section gimmicks. 

 

Then there's the fact that Sonic's controls just seem to freak out half of the time. When on the giant snake, Sonic constantly moves slightly to the left or right, which means risking him falling off, and another example, when you have to use the walk on walls panels, there's times where he will jump, go on the panel for a few seconds, and then fall, causing you to have to restart the entire level. I just hate it so freaking much.

 

[Osmium]

Even though I don't hate it, I still groan when I have to go through it. Carnival Night Zone Act 2. This stage is the primary example of how to not make long stages.

It is WAY too long for it's own good, and it's boring. Act 1 suffers this too, this zone has almost no real challenge, it's just endless bumpers and barrels and platforms. You just go on and on and pray you make it to the end before the timer runs out.

I seriously don't think I've ever made it through Act 2 without running out the timer. It's ridiculous.

The odd thing is too, this is the only zone where I complain about length and time. I actually quite like Marble Garden and Sandopolis a lot.

[Lisbon]

Marble Zone, namely Act 3. 

 

I may not be incredibly talented at Sonic games or games in general, but completing this level went from being a challenge to being a chore really fast. Special shout out to Act 3, where there seemed to be endless amounts of things coming down from the ceiling in an attempt to flatten Sonic, enemies popping out of what felt like nowhere, and this goddamn platforming section where it was either land on these little dropping weights or just fall all the way down into the lava, forcing you to either redo about half of the level or just die right then in there - and in most cases, it was the latter of those two. Checkpoints were spread pretty thinly as well, I might add, and the landing zone for the falling weight-thingies it expected you to land on was pretty damn small.

 

Difficulty like that can quickly make things go from being a challenge to being a chore, and that is what Marble Zone became to me.

 

I did beat it, though, and Spring Yard Zone isn't nearly as challenging, so I don't even know.

[The Chairman Of The Board]

Lost World (Sonic Adventure)

 

 

I used to hate it, more specifically the section at the end with those lights I could never get those to work and also that part at the end of that section with that light dash when you have the electric shield UGH one more part that section at the very end where you have to fall in that hole you, don't know how many times I forgot about that and spin dashed and flew over and fell all the way down. Another one I have to say is Launch Base Zone is S3&K I can never figure that place out every time I play through that zone it is like a maze (the beginning not the part with the water even though sometimes I have trouble with that place). And OH MY GOD how could I talk about Sonic levels I don't like to play without mentioning LABYRINTH ZONE. I HATED this zone as a kid. Now it isn't that bad but I still don't like to play it. Also about that zone, if you hit Dr. Robotnik 8 times will it defeat him???? I have never hit him more than like 3 or 4 times in that section. I have used Debug mode to get up there before him but I still couldn't hit him 8 times.

[Promethean0416]

For the first Sonic game, I'm going to go with Labyrinth Zone (Act 3).

 

I do recognize this zone as the Sonic franchise's first underwater stage, but to me, completing it was a nightmare. Over 20 years ago, I attempted this stage and could not get past the first act of this zone, just kept dying underwater.

 

20 years later, after purchasing the game again, I managed to beat the first two acts with little trouble. But when I got to the third act...hoo boy. For starters, the beginning has a tricky section which you must time your jump specifically to land on a platform to get to the next part of the level, the maze level is more complex and you're underwater (most of the time) with spike traps, annoying fish enemies that sap your rings, and spike balls. And the "battle" with Robotnik? One of the nastiest ever. If you die during the "battle" and you hit the save point prior, you have absolutely NO RINGS to replenish yourself with (except a shield, I think), and you have to get past all the traps, spikes, and flame shooters while dealing with rising water which slow you down. All done without taking a hit. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I sill think the early Sonic games are great. But this level...what were the creators thinking?

 

EDIT: Oh, forgot about the time limit while underwater. If you fall during the chase scene, you're pretty much dead.

[The Chairman Of The Board]

I agree with you but when I read

 

what were the creators thinking?

 

I started laughing and thought AVGN yelling "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING"

[Ripe]

Somw stages that I hate include Labyrinth, Sandopolis, Wacky Workbench, Mad Space and Casino levels from Heroes.

But easily the worst is Flame Core from 06. First of all, lava is everywhere and it's impossible to get rings back from that. Then there is those falling rocks and wall running which is very unreliable. And then there is those flame pillars which can surprise you. And many enemy rushes and those dark sections. And Sonic's and Shadows story you need to play as both Knuckles and Rouge. And Silver's level is the worst because of Silver's own gameplay.

[Failinhearts]

The ARK levels from Shadow The Hedgehog can kiss my ass.

[LindseyWalker]

I've only played Sonic 2 and parts of Sonic 3 and Knuckles + Sonic Adventure so I'm probably not best qualified.

I think all the levels from those games are great, except the boss on Hidden Palace. Whoever thought that boss was good was crazy! I died so many times to that boss because it was so tricky to trigger the bombs to hit the red guy. Maybe with a controller on the Genesis it's easier, but on the touchpad it's a nightmare.

 

Also, whilst the level's good. That water-pit in Chemical Factory Part Two is really frustrating since small platforms aren't ideal for a game as fast as Sonic (and I think they are pushing it in slower games like Mario anyway).

 

Overall though, from my limited experience, I'd say the weak levels are in the minority.

[Moppsy]

Marble Zone: All the Acts.  The sudden shift from speedy platformer with Green Hill Zone to slow and tedious in Marble Zone was a bad case of difficulty whiplash.  Lets just say it took me a really long time to beat Marble Zone....

 

Right now I find Labyrinth Zone to be a walk in the park in comparison.

[ThePrinceOfSaiyans]

I don't know, I have this immense hatred for Wacky Workbench, but I'm not so sure I'd consider it the worst stage I've experienced. 

[kirby1up]

sonic lost world 3ds special stage 1 after dealing with the gyro controls for who knows how long before the timer ran out I stopped playing the 3ds game and haven't touched it since then

[Phos]

Even though I don't hate it, I still groan when I have to go through it. Carnival Night Zone Act 2. This stage is the primary example of how to not make long stages.

It is WAY too long for it's own good, and it's boring. Act 1 suffers this too, this zone has almost no real challenge, it's just endless bumpers and barrels and platforms. You just go on and on and pray you make it to the end before the timer runs out.

I seriously don't think I've ever made it through Act 2 without running out the timer. It's ridiculous.

The odd thing is too, this is the only zone where I complain about length and time. I actually quite like Marble Garden and Sandopolis a lot.

Yeah CNZ is rather poor, almost enough for me to say that Sonic & Knuckles is better off Without Sonic 3 attached.  I almost always time out on CNZ act 2, even knowing how to deal with the barrel.  

 

What pushes it over the edge is the zone it comes immediately after: Marble Garden Zone.  Not even the best Danny B remixes can make me ignore that this zone runs out of ideas even more quickly than CNZ, and they weren't even good ideas.  It just makes it even more bothersome when this level's dumb spinning platform things bungle up Generations' Sky Sanctuary Zone.  

 

Skyscraper Scamper from Unleashed comes to mind, having the same design issues as the rest of Unleashed (plus a few of its own) but doesn't share everything else's visual flare.  

 

Common whipping boy: Marble Zone.  It's not a bad level exactly, the problem I have is that it's just that, one level you go through three times.  Show me any screenshot of that level, and unless robotnik is in it, I could not tell you what act it was from.  

[Semi-colon e]

Central City in Shadow is terrible. It's not even like the Ark levels where there is at least a Goal Ring somewhere, and it's not like it has the ambience or amazing music of both stages. Central City is even more bland than Westopolis, has two shitty missions and no Goal Ring to escape this madness from, and it's all timed. It doesn't even have good music.

 

If the Tornado levels in Unleashed count, they're up there too. I already didn't like the QTEs, but an entire two levels of them that go on longer than most of the Day stages is an insult. I wasn't a mega fan of the SA1 ones, but they are at least actual gameplay!

[Dantemustdie00]

Any level involving those annoying Artificial Chaos enemies get's my vote, as well as Sky Babylon in Sonic Rush adventure, good music and all, but the enemies, plus the fire, plus the instant death lasers, AND the annoying balloon sections is just plain evil. Blaze at least makes the level easy with her hovering and immunity to fire, but Sonic gotta be extra careful.

 

Altitude limit in the first Rush game is also similar in regard, but not that much.

[Monkey Destruction Switch]

No Sonic Adventure 2 treasure hunting levels have been mentioned yet? Huh. I haven't actually played a lot of the later ones, but my older sister who actually bothers completing video games cites Meteor Herd as the worst.

 

I tend to think most of the levels in the classic games have some merit, even the frustrating, tedious and annoying ones, so I'm not sure I'm ready to really label one the worst. But I will say that Marble Garden Zone's spinning tops are awful (even if the level overall is OK), Carnival Night Zone Act 2 can be a real pain in the butt (though in general it's a fairly fun zone), and Labyrinth Zone...oi. Sandopolis Zone can be quite tedious too, but it has some really interesting gimmicks and a great aesthetic, so it's hard to hate. And Metropolis Zone can be annoying too. Slightly surprised it wasn't mentioned yet.

 

I don't hate Marble Zone despite it many flaws, though when I was a kid it stopped me cold. (Though when I was a kid I was awful at games, so whatever.) It can be frustrating and tedious and it's definitely an unpleasant change of pace after Green Hill Zone, but I don't know. It...can be fun, I guess? I kind of like it, actually...despite how hate-worthy it is in some ways.

 

I don't hate Lost World, though. I find most Sonic Adventure levels insufficiently challenging, so that was a bit of a nice change of pace. But I'll certainly concede it was inferior to some of Sonic's other later levels such as Red Mountain or Final Egg. Probably because there was a lot less fast-paced action.

[Goro Man]

I hate Mad Space! And I hate Rouge!!