The Sonic Conundrum (Part 2)

In the first part of my Sonic Conundrum article, we discussed how Sonic was never necessarily a good game when he first started out, and how the critical acclaim he received for his classic games was somewhat undeserved.  If you would like to read the first part, you can find it Here.  

For this second part of the article, we will be discussing how 'modern' or 3D rendered sonic games are actually more compelling and more appealing than their 2D side-scrolling predecessors.

Enter Modern Sonic.  Sonic's first foray int the 3D gaming world technically goes all the way back to Sonic 2, in which the bonus levels allow you to travel in an 3D environment, but we are going to be focusing on games that use 3D action platforming as the main gameplay element.  This trend started with Sonic Adventures on the Dreamcast (No, Sonic 3D doesn't count).  Before Sonic Adventure, Sonic games mostly involved sidescrolling action, and as I concluded in my previous article, these games honestly didn't make Sonic's speed work as a gameplay element.

So how exactly does modern Sonic pull off the speeds that Classic Sonic could never hope for?  The answer lies mainly in the overall design of his newer games.  By virtue of the viewing angle, over sonic's back, modern sonic games tend to give you more warning before you run into an obstacle.  When looking over sonic, you can see distant objects as you are quickly approaching them, unlike older sidescrollers which throws things in your face with little to no warning.

Targeting with the homing attack

Also, the homing attack, which was introduced in Sonic Adventure, provides a lot more depth to combat.  In more recent installments, the homing attack has also been given a targeting reticule to indicate what enemy the homing attack has targeted, and it warns you when an enemy is near, adding even more utility to the homing attack.  The homing attack also provides a quick way to gain momentum from being airborne in certain situations, providing a smoother gameplay experience.

Also, the Sonic narratives in modern games are very engaging.  Cinematic cutscenes with voice acting on an epic scale are not a rare happening in the Sonic franchise.  I'd say that the storylines in recent sonic games might be the most endearing parts about them.  The narratives make us feel something for Sonic and his friends, and might actually make us overlook the game's mediocre gameplay.  Oh yeah, and the music is crazy awesome too!

I will never understand the nostalgia people have for the original Sonic games, as the modern games are overall more appealing in every way.

With this being said, modern Sonic games do have a lot of issues, and are certainly far from perfection in many cases (Sonic '06 anyone?).  Yes, there are still many scenes where you cannot see the stage ahead of you properly, and yes, Sonic still does have issues with the controls being loose, but it is substantially better than in the days of yore.

I personally think that Sonic needs an overhaul of his core design to become a truly endearing game concept, but in recent history, Sonic has been taking things in stride, and maybe one day he will have the truly perfect game he deserves.

Until then, I will be waiting patiently on the sidelines.

What do you think?  Are modern Sonic titles really better than the classics?  Let me know in the comments below!