Sonic the Hedgehog Appreciation Thread

[Louis_Cypher]

In addition to favourite games, what are people's favourite Zones? Judging on whatever you want, whether pure aesthetics or level design. Sonic's Zones have some beautiful aesthetics though. I used to study the Zones as a kid, imagining the geography of Moebius. I paid special attention to all the lesser known ones from Game Gear titles, etc, trying to fit together how the 16-bit and 8-bit titles covered different lands on Sonic's planet.

We got some new stuff in Sonic Mania, such as Press Garden Zone:

I think it's a pity that main series Zones are re-used so often in modern titles, when there are dozens of obscure titles' Zones that are ripe for a Sonic Mania style remaster. They just keep using Green Hill Zone over and over. You could take say Aqua Lake Zone, Gimmick Mountain Zone, Scrambled Egg Zone or Crystal Egg Zone from the Game Gear instead. It's the one criticism I might have for Mania; that it re-used mainly Zones from the mainline games, which often don't fit together, so Oil Ocean Zone is on West Side Island, but Lava Reef Zone is on the Floating Island.

Clearly Oil Ocean Zone for example is near Robotnik's capital, Metropolis Zone, on West Side Island, probably supplying it energy. There are many other dystopian cityscape zones, probably all regional capitals, industrial hubs, ruled and built by Robotnik as dictator of Moebius, staffed by roboticised slaves maybe, or animal labour guarded by badniks. Scrap Brain Zone and Gigopolis Zone on South Island, Metallic Madness Zone on the Little Planet, Launch Base Zone on the Floating Island, etc.

There are several pastoral Zones on different islands that are where the Moebians seem to live: Green Hill Zone and Turquoise Hill Zone on South Island, Emerald Hill Zone on West Side Island, Palmtree Panic Zone on the Little Planet, Angel Island Zone and Mushroom Hill Zone on the Floating Island, etc. Those are the bucolic areas where Robotnik hasn't yet industrialised.

Here is a re-imagined Turquoise Hill Zone from a Sage 2018 fan game:

In terms of my favourites, there are too many Zones to pick from in terms of aesthetics. I love pretty much everything in Sonic 3 & Knuckles. They all look great, and that is my favourite art in the series. Just look at that pixel art, it's beautiful. Hydrocity Zone, Ice Cap Zone, Lava Reef Zone and Sky Sanctuary Zone are all stand-out for their beauty. Even Sandopolis Zone looks great, whether people dislike the level or not.

Some of my least favourite are in Sonic 2, which is why I have mixed feelings about that game. It's a long game that originally had no save system. First, there is the notorious Metropolis Zone - "Act 3" which has that infamous screw at the end, plus terrible enemy placement, like that one Shellcracker badnik. Then, many people feel Death Egg Zone is unfair, since you have Zero rings and two bosses. Although I can now, with experience, reliably kill Metal Sonic in 14 seconds, and wait out Robotnik's bullshit, I agree it's an unfair final Zone.

I always judge games in isolation, as if there were no external guides, no videos; everything you need should be inside the game. How would a person just playing casually not ruin their entire game, without a save file (having to play the entire game again just to have the chance to learn patterns)? Death Egg Zone was always bullshit IMO, even if Sonic 2 is the game that introduced spin-dash, Super Sonic, the Tornado, and Miles Tails Prower.

 

[Louis_Cypher]

Also some of the stuff from other 8-bit, 16-bit or 32-bit side-games could easily be revisited in future Sonic Mania type titles, or fan games. I was glad Sonic CD levels were used in Mania. Something like Tails Adventure or Knuckles Chaotix. The colourful design on Knuckles Chaotix was interesting. Here is Botanic Base Zone from Kunckles Chaotix:

 

[Kabas]

Only played 3D Sonic fangames recently. If we're talking about favourite visuals i liked Oil Ocean and Aqua Lake part 1 the most from Sonic: Encore.

Sonic: Encore, fangame.

Hilltop Zone and Sunset Boulevard from Sonic GT

Sonic GT

More

While i like city levels i am not very fond of the casino levels though.

Sonic Robo Blast 2 has a lot of very beautiful and creative fanmade levels but i am struggling really hard with getting used to the controls.

 

[Falksi]

In addition to favourite games, what are people's favourite Zones? Judging on whatever you want, whether pure aesthetics or level design. Sonic's Zones have some beautiful aesthetics though. I used to study the Zones as a kid, imagining the geography of Moebius. I paid special attention to all the lesser known ones from Game Gear titles, etc, trying to fit together how the 16-bit and 8-bit titles covered different lands on Sonic's planet.

We got some new stuff in Sonic Mania, such as Press Garden Zone:

I think it's a pity that main series Zones are re-used so often in modern titles, when there are dozens of obscure titles' Zones that are ripe for a Sonic Mania style remaster. They just keep using Green Hill Zone over and over. You could take say Aqua Lake Zone, Gimmick Mountain Zone, Scrambled Egg Zone or Crystal Egg Zone from the Game Gear instead. It's the one criticism I might have for Mania; that it re-used mainly Zones from the mainline games, which often don't fit together, so Oil Ocean Zone is on West Side Island, but Lava Reef Zone is on the Floating Island.

Clearly Oil Ocean Zone for example is near Robotnik's capital, Metropolis Zone, on West Side Island, probably supplying it energy. There are many other dystopian cityscape zones, probably all regional capitals, industrial hubs, ruled and built by Robotnik as dictator of Moebius, staffed by roboticised slaves maybe, or animal labour guarded by badniks. Scrap Brain Zone and Gigopolis Zone on South Island, Metallic Madness Zone on the Little Planet, Launch Base Zone on the Floating Island, etc.

There are several pastoral Zones on different islands that are where the Moebians seem to live: Green Hill Zone and Turquoise Hill Zone on South Island, Emerald Hill Zone on West Side Island, Palmtree Panic Zone on the Little Planet, Angel Island Zone and Mushroom Hill Zone on the Floating Island, etc. Those are the bucolic areas where Robotnik hasn't yet industrialised.

Here is a re-imagined Turquoise Hill Zone from a Sage 2018 fan game:

In terms of my favourites, there are too many Zones to pick from in terms of aesthetics. I love pretty much everything in Sonic 3 & Knuckles. They all look great, and that is my favourite art in the series. Just look at that pixel art, it's beautiful. Hydrocity Zone, Ice Cap Zone, Lava Reef Zone and Sky Sanctuary Zone are all stand-out for their beauty. Even Sandopolis Zone looks great, whether people dislike the level or not.

Some of my least favourite are in Sonic 2, which is why I have mixed feelings about that game. It's a long game that originally had no save system. First, there is the notorious Metropolis Zone - "Act 3" which has that infamous screw at the end, plus terrible enemy placement, like that one Shellcracker badnik. Then, many people feel Death Egg Zone is unfair, since you have Zero rings and two bosses. Although I can now, with experience, reliably kill Metal Sonic in 14 seconds, and wait out Robotnik's bullshit, I agree it's an unfair final Zone.

I always judge games in isolation, as if there were no external guides, no videos; everything you need should be inside the game. How would a person just playing casually not ruin their entire game, without a save file (having to play the entire game again just to have the chance to learn patterns)? Death Egg Zone was always bullshit IMO, even if Sonic 2 is the game that introduced spin-dash, Super Sonic, the Tornado, and Miles Tails Prower.

Hydro Coty Zone and Ice Cap Zone both stand out for their aesthetics and challenge design.

Sonic 3 (and Knuckles) is stage design porn for the most part. Few games make gimmicks interesting, challenging and fun, but Sonic 3 (&K) nails it.

 

[Louis_Cypher]

Aqua Lake

Wow, didn't know any fan game had revisited Aqua Lake Zone from Sonic 2 (8-bit) on the Game Gear. In 3D no less:

It's that kinda authentic reverent love for the material, attention to detail, that really makes a cool hobby community.

Forgot to mention that another run destroying moment in classic Sonic, like Metropolis Zone - "Act 3" from Sonic 2, was Labyrinth Zone - "Act 3" from Sonic 1. That boss jumping sequence at the end of the act, with the wall spikes, I personally think, was a little too harsh, and I wouldn't personally want to have only three lives to attempt it. How would a new player even know that the objective was to simply climb? I imagine people could lose all their lives attempting to smash into Robotnik, as that's how I approached it at first. Would prefer never to play this without a save state, but it's not as bad as Death Egg Zone in Sonic 2, since you might have rings at least. Water levels are of course not Sonic's best friend, with that PTSD inducing drowning music lol, but they are usually not that bad if you calmly grab a bubble at each opportunity. Another part of the reason I like Sonic 3 & Knuckles, it doesn't have any unfair moment for new players, that I can recall.

 

[lightbane]

I wish there were more non-Sonic games, such as another Tails Adventure game, Shadow 2: the Edgening, a Silver game where Psychonauts meets speed, etc. The best would be a game, multiplayer or not, where you design your avatar, and then you're thrown into the world to explore and run around, literally.
That would let you explore these bizarre zones at your leisure.

 

[Louis_Cypher]

I think a side-scrolling Sonic Metroidvania would be good. That's kinda what Tails Adventure was.

Perhaps you could explore an ancient ruin as Knuckles and get better claws able to dig and climb more surfaces.

 

[Kabas]

Shadow 2: the Edgening

Psst, i got something that might interest you.
https://sonic-lockandload.github.io/index.html

But in all seriousness there appears to be quite a few fan projects that are dedicated to Shadow.

 

[lightbane]

Psst, i got something that might interest you.

Interdasting, I knew some of these, not sure if they're finished though. Either way, thanks anyway.
Can't wait to see what they'll do with Shad this year with the incoming Sonic 3 movie.

 

[Tarkleigh]

Stopped the video after one minute, downloaded Triple Trouble 16-bit, got all six chaos emeralds by Tidal Plant, exited and went back in to make sure that it saved my progress, was pleased that it even saved my points. Pretty good. Like being able to use the lives that have always been abundant to retry special stages for emeralds.

Finished the game yesterday and was quite impressed. I did not own a Game Gear back in the days, so I did not know the original and had no idea what to expect. I watched a longplay once I was finished and was very impressed with all the cool changes the devs made. Certainly an excellent fan game that could certainly stand on its own as a paid game.

That being said, I actively hated the Atomic Destroyer zone as it was just unfair game design and a massive difficulty spike. Other than than that, the only thing I can complain about is no stage select once you clear the game.

 

[Ezekiel]

Stopped the video after one minute, downloaded Triple Trouble 16-bit, got all six chaos emeralds by Tidal Plant, exited and went back in to make sure that it saved my progress, was pleased that it even saved my points. Pretty good. Like being able to use the lives that have always been abundant to retry special stages for emeralds.

Finished the game yesterday and was quite impressed. I did not own a Game Gear back in the days, so I did not know the original and had no idea what to expect. I watched a longplay once I was finished and was very impressed with all the cool changes the devs made. Certainly an excellent fan game that could certainly stand on its own as a paid game.

That being said, I actively hated the Atomic Destroyer zone as it was just unfair game design and a massive difficulty spike. Other than than that, the only thing I can complain about is no stage select once you clear the game.

I just finished it. Waited until my next (this) weekend to do the remainder. It does have stage/act select. I finished it as Super Sonic, so maybe that's why.

 

[I eat frozen vegetables]

Sonic Overture

 

[Ezekiel]

The final level in the remake where you are Super Sonic has music that's more metal. The drums. I know a ton of gamers players are metal-heads, but it doesn't really belong.

 

[Louis_Cypher]

Some more fan games, concepts, or work in progress games:









These ones move slightly further away from the classic art style.

 

[I eat frozen vegetables]

Shadow 2: the Edgening

Psst, i got something that might interest you.
https://sonic-lockandload.github.io/index.html

But in all seriousness there appears to be quite a few fan projects that are dedicated to Shadow.

And of course, we cannot forget about Project 06.

 

[Hell Swarm]

I would like to see the Chaotix team and the linked ring gameplay explored further. The concepts neat but the level design is unplayable.

 

[I eat frozen vegetables]

I would like to see the Chaotix team and the linked ring gameplay explored further. The concepts neat but the level design is unplayable.

I know there's a ROM hack that does that for Sonic 2. Same goes for Sonic Robo Blast 2.

 

[Hell Swarm]

I would like to see the Chaotix team and the linked ring gameplay explored further. The concepts neat but the level design is unplayable.

I know there's a ROM hack that does that for Sonic 2. Same goes for Sonic Robo Blast 2.

It's such a weird mechanic I don't think you can just insert it into Sonic 2 and have it be enjoyable.