Sonic Generations PlayStation 3

Released on 04-Nov-2011

• Sonic Generations confirmed for PC release

  Sonic Generations confirmed for PC release

  Sega has revealed that its forthcoming platform game Sonic Generations will be released on PC this November.

  The eagerly-awaited title, which is being released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its star Sonic the Hedgehog, will feature all of the same content as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions and will launch alongside them this November.

  Sonic Generations sees the videogame icon teaming up with a version of himself as he appeared back in 1991, with each level set to be playable in old-school 2D or in the 3D style seen in modern Sonic games.

  Each stage will be based on a classic location from one of Sonic's past adventures, providing long-time fans with a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

  The game will support stereoscopic 3D visuals both on consoles and PC, as will the separate handheld edition coming to Nintendo 3DS.

  Published: 14/10/2011

  Published: 14/10/2011

• Battlefield 3 holds steady atop UK charts

  Smash-hit shooter Battlefield 3 has retained its position atop the UK all-formats chart, despite a strong challenge from Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

  EA and DICE's acclaimed action game managed to continue its blockbusting pace to see off Naughty Dog's latest PlayStation 3 adventure, topping the official GfK-ChartTrack rankings for a second week.

  However, second-placed Uncharted 3 was still able to generate massive numbers of its own, recording the 11th best PlayStation 3 launch ever, while far exceeding the debut of 2009's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

  Third place went to FIFA 12, while the ever-popular Batman: Arkham City and Just Dance 3 rounded out the top five.

  Sega's latest Sonic the Hedgehog adventure, Sonic Generations, also cracked the top ten, slotting in at tenth place.

  Next week's chart will be rocked by the imminent launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which is likely to break more than a few sales records when it debuts on Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3.

  Published: 08/11/2011

• Sonic Generations Review

  Happy birthday Sonic! He's twenty years young, and judging by the latest instalment of this apparently never-ending series, he's got a good few games left in him yet. Sonic Generations is both an homage to the original Mega Drive Sonic the Hedgehog, released in 1991, and the suggestion of a possible future for the interminable hedgehog where 2D and 3D live happily together.

  3D has always been a bit of a problem for Sonic. Resplendent in 2D - fast, varied, interesting with tons of replay value - the hedgehog struggled to follow his great rival Mario into the third dimension, hoodwinking critics with the Emperor's New Clothes of Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast before settling into a pattern of unsatisfying 3D platform games that threw you into bottomless pits every ten seconds and tried to tell stories instead of just spin-dashing.

  Sonic boom?

  SEGA has pulled itself together in recent years and gotten Sonic back on track, though, most notably with last year's Wii exclusive Sonic Colors, and Generations continues that trend. Using the conceit of a nasty time-travelling new enemy who has disturbed the course of history, it gives you control of the original 2D Sonic and his 3D counterpart in the same game, switching you between 2D levels and 2D/3D hybrids.

  This allows the developers to emphasise the best elements of the series - the incredible speed, the precision platform sections, the variety in level design and the many hidden sections and alternative routes that will keep you coming back - while reducing the frustration associated with bottomless pits, running out of lives and losing control of your character into occasional frustrating footnotes. They're still issues, but you don't encounter them anywhere near as much as you used to do because most of the game is in a format that you actually like.

  Magical mystery tour

  Since this is a magical mystery tour through the series' history, SEGA has also gone through and picked out some of the best settings of the last twenty years to use as the basis for each of the levels. You start off in the familiar Green Hill Zone, but before long you're in Sonic 2's Chemical Zone, Sonic Adventure 2's City Escape and even Sonic Colors' Planet Wisp.

  The action is relentlessly colourful and engaging thanks to the many context switches, meaning that you can be racing up the side of a gigantic, sky-scraping clock tower and then leaping into an airship one minute and trawling through a factory riding platforms and using rockets to boost through loose metal plates five minutes later. Nothing outstays its welcome, save perhaps the Crisis City levels, brought in from the disastrous Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 release. (Honestly, as if that awful game hadn't suffered enough.)

  Shop for skills

  As well as straightforward Sonic levels where you just aim to get to the goal without losing all your lives, Generations has you heading back through the various Acts trying to fulfil mini objectives, like rescuing a bunch of cute critters or outrunning Knuckles, so that you can unlock Boss Keys, which predictably need to be used to tackle the few boss characters who block your path between Zones every hour or so. The challenges are many and varied, although sometimes more trouble than they're worth.

  Another new idea thrown in for this celebratory release is the Skill Shop, where you can spend the points earned by completing levels on gameplay modifiers like an instant brake or higher top speed. In a nice touch, you can also unlock an in-game Mega Drive controller, which you can plug into an in-game Mega Drive and play the original 1991 Sonic the Hedgehog in its entirety. It's still awesome.

  Generations gap?

  Sonic Generations is a return to form for the hedgehog, then, although it still suffers from many of the same old problems in places. The jump is slightly laggy, the bottomless pits can be infuriating and it's also too short - over in just a few hours if you speed through the Zones and do the minimum of challenges. It's great fan service for die-hard Sonic fans, though, and a great choice for the kids this Christmas as well. Sonic may not be the all-conquering gaming hero he once was, but he's pretty good value for this twentieth birthday party.

   

  

  Goal:
  + Lovely new 2D Sonic levels.
  + Wonderful tour of hedgehog history.
  + Unlock the original Mega Drive game.

  Offside:
  - Slightly laggy controls spoil the party.
  - Bottomless pits. Just stop.
  - Only a few hours long.
  

• Sega outlines plans for next-generation Sonic games

  Sega has revealed that it is already dreaming up concepts for how Sonic the Hedgehog games will look on the next generation of consoles.

  Speaking to Eurogamer, Sega's Takashi Iizuka said he believes the successors to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms will provide all sorts of interesting ways in which the fast-paced 3D Sonic games can evolve.

  He reassured fans that the extra graphical power will not lead Sega to try and add more realism to Sonic's colourful world, but suggested that new visual tricks like improved lighting could help make future Sonic titles more convincing and involving.

  Meanwhile, Mr Iizuka also said he believes the iconic blue hedgehog is a "perfect fit" for Nintendo's new Wii U, which will be released later this year and will introduce a revolutionary tablet controller.

  "How we will apply using the controller to Sonic is something we're still thinking about at the moment," he added.

  Sonic celebrated his 20th anniversary last year and is currently riding high from the success of the popular Sonic Generations, as well as the crossover hit Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
  

  Published: 15/03/2012

• Bring On the Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he is a massive #@+! and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

• Sonic Generations - Review

  
  

  

  Happy Birthday Sonic!

  He's twenty years young, and judging by the latest instalment of this apparently never-ending series, he's got a good few games left in him yet. Sonic Generations is both an homage to the original Mega Drive Sonic the Hedgehog, released in 1991, and the suggestion of a possible future for the interminable hedgehog where 2D and 3D live happily together.

  3D has always been a bit of a problem for Sonic. Resplendent in 2D - fast, varied, interesting with tons of replay value - the hedgehog struggled to follow his great rival Mario into the third dimension, hoodwinking critics with the Emperor's New Clothes of Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast before settling into a pattern of unsatisfying 3D platform games that threw you into bottomless pits every ten seconds and tried to tell stories instead of just spin-dashing.

  Sonic Boom?

  SEGA has pulled itself together in recent years and gotten Sonic back on track, though, most notably with last year's Wii exclusive Sonic Colors, and Generations continues that trend. Using the conceit of a nasty time-travelling new enemy who has disturbed the course of history, it gives you control of the original 2D Sonic and his 3D counterpart in the same game, switching you between 2D levels and 2D/3D hybrids.

  

  This allows the developers to emphasise the best elements of the series - the incredible speed, the precision platform sections, the variety in level design and the many hidden sections and alternative routes that will keep you coming back - while reducing the frustration associated with bottomless pits, running out of lives and losing control of your character into occasional frustrating footnotes. They're still issues, but you don't encounter them anywhere near as much as you used to do because most of the game is in a format that you actually like.

  Magical Mystery Tour

  Since this is a magical mystery tour through the series' history, SEGA has also gone through and picked out some of the best settings of the last twenty years to use as the basis for each of the levels. You start off in the familiar Green Hill Zone, but before long you're in Sonic 2's Chemical Zone, Sonic Adventure 2's City Escape and even Sonic Colors' Planet Wisp.

  The action is relentlessly colourful and engaging thanks to the many context switches, meaning that you can be racing up the side of a gigantic, sky-scraping clock tower and then leaping into an airship one minute and trawling through a factory riding platforms and using rockets to boost through loose metal plates five minutes later. Nothing outstays its welcome, save perhaps the Crisis City levels, brought in from the disastrous Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 release. (Honestly, as if that awful game hadn't suffered enough.)

  

  Shop For Skills

  As well as straightforward Sonic levels where you just aim to get to the goal without losing all your lives, Generations has you heading back through the various Acts trying to fulfil mini objectives, like rescuing a bunch of cute critters or outrunning Knuckles, so that you can unlock Boss Keys, which predictably need to be used to tackle the few boss characters who block your path between Zones every hour or so. The challenges are many and varied, although sometimes more trouble than they're worth.

  Another new idea thrown in for this celebratory release is the Skill Shop, where you can spend the points earned by completing levels on gameplay modifiers like an instant brake or higher top speed. In a nice touch, you can also unlock an in-game Mega Drive controller, which you can plug into an in-game Mega Drive and play the original 1991 Sonic the Hedgehog in its entirety. It's still awesome.

  Generations Gap?

  Sonic Generations is a return to form for the hedgehog, then, although it still suffers from many of the same old problems in places. The jump is slightly laggy, the bottomless pits can be infuriating and it's also too short - over in just a few hours if you speed through the Zones and do the minimum of challenges. It's great fan service for die-hard Sonic fans, though, and a great choice for the kids this Christmas as well. Sonic may not be the all-conquering gaming hero he once was, but he's pretty good value for this twentieth birthday party.

  GAME's Verdict:

  The Good:

  • Lovely new 2D Sonic levels.
  • Wonderful tour of hedgehog history.
  • Unlock the original Mega Drive game.

  The Bad:

  • Slightly laggy controls spoil the party.
  • Bottomless pits. Just stop.
  • Only a few hours long.

  Published: 10/11/2011

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