Jonneh3003
Banned
Both Sonic Mania and Sonic Generations follow a similar structure where Sonic is pushed back in time and is forced to complete stages from his past. The execution of this premise is quite different between both games though so in this thread we'll examine which game did the better job of tackling time travel and reimagining old stages. Please mark any major spoilers as Sonic Mania is still in its early days.
I believe Sonic Mania does an excellent job at providing context as to why Sonic is running through older stages. To thwart Sonic, Robotnik frequently uses the gemstone found in the games opening to push him further and further away. What's interesting about this is Robotnik only uses this power a couple of times throughout the story so, like Sonic 3, acts and zones often bridge into each other which gives an excellent feeling of progression and world building.
Generations on the other hand takes place in a white void. While a hub works with the games structure I've always found it devoid of personality. I also don't like how Sonic seems to have forgotten areas like Green Hill Zone, the game doesn't have the same moment to moment thrill to me.
Both games do a great job of maintaining the key characteristics of each zone like Chemical Plant's deadly purple fluids. Speaking of Chemical Plant, both games feature it and Green Hill.
Each take their liberties with the level design and I love how Generations brings them to life with beautiful 3D visuals but I've always felt the design philosophies stray a bit too far from the originals. For instance, Generations likes to always keep the momentum going with speed boosters whereas Mania often leaves the player to gather their own speed.
Mania goes above and beyond on improving and innovating on the design of every returning stage while maintaining a feeling of familiarity. Generations achieves this to an extent but I'm not sure I would class any of the stages as "better" than their originals, if anything the designs are a significant step back. I also can't recall a moment that truly got my blood pumping like in Mania when
. Generations certainly has exciting elements like Sonic Adventure 2's truck but for the most part I found it to be a little safe.
Both games pay excellent homage to the Sonic series but in terms of both context and game design I feel Sonic Mania is the far better throwback. It does more than reinvent the classics, it has a vision to surpass them. Generations is still an excellent game but I had a far better time running through Green Hill and Chemical Plant in what is the true sequel to Sonic 3 and Knuckles. Not to mention Chemical Plant Act 2's boss!
So what do you guys think, which did the better job at bringing back the classics?
I believe Sonic Mania does an excellent job at providing context as to why Sonic is running through older stages. To thwart Sonic, Robotnik frequently uses the gemstone found in the games opening to push him further and further away. What's interesting about this is Robotnik only uses this power a couple of times throughout the story so, like Sonic 3, acts and zones often bridge into each other which gives an excellent feeling of progression and world building.
Generations on the other hand takes place in a white void. While a hub works with the games structure I've always found it devoid of personality. I also don't like how Sonic seems to have forgotten areas like Green Hill Zone, the game doesn't have the same moment to moment thrill to me.
Both games do a great job of maintaining the key characteristics of each zone like Chemical Plant's deadly purple fluids. Speaking of Chemical Plant, both games feature it and Green Hill.
Each take their liberties with the level design and I love how Generations brings them to life with beautiful 3D visuals but I've always felt the design philosophies stray a bit too far from the originals. For instance, Generations likes to always keep the momentum going with speed boosters whereas Mania often leaves the player to gather their own speed.
Mania goes above and beyond on improving and innovating on the design of every returning stage while maintaining a feeling of familiarity. Generations achieves this to an extent but I'm not sure I would class any of the stages as "better" than their originals, if anything the designs are a significant step back. I also can't recall a moment that truly got my blood pumping like in Mania when
Sonic uses a future sign at the end of Stardust Speedway Act 1
Both games pay excellent homage to the Sonic series but in terms of both context and game design I feel Sonic Mania is the far better throwback. It does more than reinvent the classics, it has a vision to surpass them. Generations is still an excellent game but I had a far better time running through Green Hill and Chemical Plant in what is the true sequel to Sonic 3 and Knuckles. Not to mention Chemical Plant Act 2's boss!
So what do you guys think, which did the better job at bringing back the classics?