13th September 2017, 3:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 13th September 2017, 8:05 PM by A Black Falcon.)
Dark Jaguar Wrote:The reviewers didn't really have the mental tools they needed to evaluate level design. They saw that Sonic was moving and controlling like Sonic should and proclaimed "a return to the 2D style". Later, they would proclaim "Sonic was never good" using these Advance games to justify that.Hmm... that could be part of it, but thinking about it, I think that most of them are handheld games is a key part of the reason. A lot of people (somewhat wrongly) think less of handheld games than they do TV console ones, and Dimps' first six Sonic games were all handheld titles. They have cripplingly bad level design problems and sometimes other issues, sure, but they're 2d Sonic and it's only a handheld, so it's fine!
But then Dimps made Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, and only the graphics were improved versus their handheld titles, not the level design... and people suddenly started actually paying attention to how bad Dimps' level designs (and physics) are in their Sonic games, and most judged Sonic 4 Ep. 1 harshly as a result. I'd guess that the same exact game would have gotten better reviews on handhelds because of the much lower expectations people have for handheld games.
And maybe Dimps at least partially paid attention? I mean, after Sonic 4 Ep. 1 Dimps made three more Sonic games, and those are probably their three overall best ones -- Sonic Colors (DS), Sonic 4 Ep. 2, and Sonic Lost World (3DS). That last one is probably my favorite Dimps Sonic game. So maybe what Dimps needed all along were reviewers who actually took their handheld games seriously and compared them more directly to the Genesis Sonic classics. I doubt Dimps could ever make something people love as much as Sonic Mania, but when they were finally significantly criticized they did try to improve, at least.
Quote:Colors is pretty fun, and so is Generations. Lost World felt like an evolution the series needed to me when I first played it, but it's the execution where things fall apart. It's a lot harder to go back to that now. I really do want good 3D Sonic, that is good enough that a 3D game doesn't need to force in 2D sections to get fans to like it. 3D sonic is just so hard to get right, but if Lost World style parkour (with better and more obvious controls) and a less powerful "boost" mechanic can be combined with solid level design that makes you want to explore and also provides multiple "speed paths" through those other sections, then Sega can get there.I don't know, Lost World is fun. It is really hard to get 3d Sonic right, and none of the 3d Sonic games match up to most any 3d Mario game, but that's a decently fun one... though sure, it has some issues.
Quote:Just don't let Dimps get involved.Sure, unless it's as good as 3DS Lost World is...