Sonic the Ranking
I don't really like adding games I've finished previously to my Played list if I know I'm going to replay them at some point, so until I do that, here's a ranking of my embarrassing Sonic phase!
I've excluded the games I haven't played; I've included seemingly duplicate handheld games. My relationship with most of these games is complicated, but I've probably had a good time with most of these at some point.
I've excluded the games I haven't played; I've included seemingly duplicate handheld games. My relationship with most of these games is complicated, but I've probably had a good time with most of these at some point.
30 Games
10 Comments
Everything about Sonic games feels fun, the characters, the music, the settings, but then you have to play them...
@DustyVita Yeah, it's an awful shame. I feel like that's a lot of SEGA in general (including Rodea and Balan) - that they have better ideas, better concepts and better worlds than they're actually capable of implementing in practice. Jet Set Radio's another of those big disappointments for me.
@Clearin I'm sorry! At least on keyboard, the controls just don't feel right - combine that with the few occasions of jank in Sonic/Shadow's stages, the awful turning (at least on keyboard, turning practically kills all momentum and inertia you previously had), horrible jump arc and imprecise aiming in Tails/Eggman's, and me just being plain awful at Knuckles/Rouge's stages, and... the game just simply wasn't enjoyable for me as interactive media.
If this was a ranking of soundtracks, this would be considerably higher (albeit not quite top tier), but... not here. Maybe I'll make a soundtrack tierlist, though! I could put my favorite standout tracks in the notes, too.
@Clearin I'm sorry! At least on keyboard, the controls just don't feel right - combine that with the few occasions of jank in Sonic/Shadow's stages, the awful turning (at least on keyboard, turning practically kills all momentum and inertia you previously had), horrible jump arc and imprecise aiming in Tails/Eggman's, and me just being plain awful at Knuckles/Rouge's stages, and... the game just simply wasn't enjoyable for me as interactive media.
If this was a ranking of soundtracks, this would be considerably higher (albeit not quite top tier), but... not here. Maybe I'll make a soundtrack tierlist, though! I could put my favorite standout tracks in the notes, too.
I'm with you, Jet Set Radio is the most charming game I never want to play again. Yakuza is something Sega has made that I like as a full package. Persona is pretty good too but that was acquired later rather than built themselves.
I'd be interested in playing Yakuza one day for a lot of reasons. I don't think I've got anything that can run the games, though...
aw RIP
Can never get too into Sonic CD because the mechanic of having to find the machine to break in every level and having to find out how to build up enough speed to get to the past to do it stresses me out too much. I know the time stones exist as an alternative to this, but in general I'm not a fan of Sonic CD's big, sort of maze-like levels. Everything else about it is really cool though, I wanna get into it more because of how hard it goes in on atmosphere and presentation.
I do genuinely enjoy Mania, 3&K, and CD. I have a soft spot for most of SA2 and SA1/06 are messy games that I think are funny. I think what drew me in was the strong sense of aesthetics, layered level design that makes for interesting routing, and a unique momentum based focus for platforming.
sonic cd at the top -> :D
sonic 2 at the bottom -> D:
sonic 2 at the bottom -> D:
it's kind of funny how much fire this list is getting compared to the mario list.
@BansheeNeet It's been a while since I've last played Sonic CD, but I've got a general idea of what ballpark the generators will be in the early levels, and by the time I've gotten near the end, I've got all the Time Stones already and plenty of lives, so I like to take my time, find a good spot to go to the past early and explore the stages to my heart's content. I like verticality in my platformers (ironic given how much of a Mario fan I am), so I don't mind how expansive Sonic CD's level design is (or how mediocre it is, at the end of the day).
@Sol2806: Same, except I don't have that same soft spot for SA2, and I've yet to play 06. I'm really looking forward to it one day, though - I feel like I'll get that same sense of passion and ambition from it, and that distinct "what could have been" feel with not enough technical competence to keep things together.
...aside from the story, anyway. that's like, whatever. imagine playing a sonic game for the story. yeah, uh, couldn't be me.
@heatten: I'm sorry!! I don't think Sonic 2 is a bad game, I just think it's... its level design is a little uninteresting compared to everything after it, and Sonic 1's best moments still leave Sonic 2's in the dust, in my opinion. It drags on for a little too long for a game without a save, the Special Stages are my least favorite, and I just prefer the other classic games' soundtracks.
@BansheeNeet It's been a while since I've last played Sonic CD, but I've got a general idea of what ballpark the generators will be in the early levels, and by the time I've gotten near the end, I've got all the Time Stones already and plenty of lives, so I like to take my time, find a good spot to go to the past early and explore the stages to my heart's content. I like verticality in my platformers (ironic given how much of a Mario fan I am), so I don't mind how expansive Sonic CD's level design is (or how mediocre it is, at the end of the day).
@Sol2806: Same, except I don't have that same soft spot for SA2, and I've yet to play 06. I'm really looking forward to it one day, though - I feel like I'll get that same sense of passion and ambition from it, and that distinct "what could have been" feel with not enough technical competence to keep things together.
...aside from the story, anyway. that's like, whatever. imagine playing a sonic game for the story. yeah, uh, couldn't be me.
@heatten: I'm sorry!! I don't think Sonic 2 is a bad game, I just think it's... its level design is a little uninteresting compared to everything after it, and Sonic 1's best moments still leave Sonic 2's in the dust, in my opinion. It drags on for a little too long for a game without a save, the Special Stages are my least favorite, and I just prefer the other classic games' soundtracks.
Clearin
3 years ago