Sonic Generations (ソニック ジェネレーションズ：青の冒険[1] Sonikku Jenerēshonzu: Ao no Bōken?, lit. "Sonic Generations: Blue Adventures") is a 2011 2D platformer video game co-developed by Sonic Team and Dimps and published by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS. A loose adaptation of Sonic Generations for the console/PC, it serves as the celebration for the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Like its console/PC counterpart, Generations' plot starts with Sonic and Tails get kidnapped by the Time Eater during Sonic's birthday. Trapped in White Space, Sonic and Tails team up with younger versions of themselves to get out of the dimension and save the world. While the console/PC version received critical acclaim, the 3DS version was met with mixed reviews: most criticized its short length and design, and deemed it inferior to Dimps' previous titles.
Plot[edit | edit source]
The game opens with the distant past; Classic Sonic is running through Green Hill. However, he stops after hearing some rumbling noises. A Time Hole then appears and the screen fades to white. Meanwhile, in the present, Modern Tails is preparing a surprise party to celebrate Modern Sonic's birthday. However, Sonic arrives early, surprising Tails, who asks him to wait. Suddenly however, rumbling occurs and a Time Hole appears, sucking Modern Tails into it.
Sonic later wakes up in White Space. After looking around, he finds Green Hill in a white and lifeless state. After running through the area, it is restored, and Modern Tails, who had been turned into a statue, is restored as well. Noticing the place to be awfully familiar, Modern Sonic and Modern Tails see Casino Night and Mushroom Hill in the distance. Modern Sonic decides to check them out while Modern Tails stays behind. Then, Classic Sonic runs through, whom Tails mistakes for Modern Sonic. Classic Sonic heads to Casino Night as well, leaving a confused Modern Tails behind.
After Classic and Modern Sonic (who are unaware of each other) restore Casino Night, Modern Sonic meets Modern Tails and tells him about the déjà vu he gets from visiting these places, with Modern Tails concurring with him. Later, after Mushroom Hill is restored as well, Modern Sonic and Modern Tails meet once again. Recognizing that they had been there before, they start to wonder what is going on.
Later, inside a Boss Gate, Modern and Classic Sonic see each other through a piece of glass, which they mistake for a mirror. Eggman's voice is then heard from a glowing exit, threatening them. Classic Sonic runs towards the exit, which Modern Sonic notices. Full of questions, he tries to head towards the exit too, but it closes before he gets to it. On the other side, Classic Sonic defeats Metal Sonic, before fighting Classic Eggman and his Big Arm. After defeating the doctor, Sonic sees him being sucked into a Time Hole.
Back in White Space, Modern Sonic and Modern Tails meet Classic Sonic and Classic Tails. Trying to find an explanation of what is going on, both the Tails' deduce that they are traveling through time and space, and that all of this might have been caused by the monster that sent them to White Space. The Time Eater then passes by before disappearing. As the Sonics head out to stop Time Eater, Classic Sonic spots a Spinner, which Modern Sonic defeats with a Homing Attack. Impressed, Classic Sonic picks up the move.
The Sonics proceed to restore Emerald Coast and Radical Highway, all while Modern Sonic defeats Shadow and the Biolizard. When the hedgehogs meet up with the foxes, the Time Eater passes by once again, accidentally flying into a Chaos Emerald and getting hurt by its surge of energy, before leaving. Upon seeing this, the heroes set to find the Emeralds while restoring the areas they pass through. Modern Tails also gives Modern Sonic a new pair of shoes for performing the Stomp. The Sonics proceed to restore Water Palace and Tropical Resort while Modern Sonic comes across and defeats Silver. He eventually comes across Modern Eggman as well, and defeats him and his Egg Emperor. Afterward, a Time Hole appears and sucks in the doctor, confusing the heroes.
Eventually, the Sonics and Tailses find the Time Eater after getting all seven Chaos Emeralds. It is then that Classic and Modern Eggman reveal themselves to be behind the Time Eater. The latter explains that, after his previous setback, he found the Time Eater. Impressed by its ability to erase time and space, he decided to use it to undo his previous defeats. To perfect the monster however, he needed Classic Eggman's help. He then gloats that while he was at it, he also kidnapped the Sonics and Tailses. Despite Modern Tails warning the doctors about the damage they are doing to the world with the Time Eater, they brush his warning off. Modern and Classic Sonic then try to take on the Time Eater but are overpowered. Just as the doctors try to attack the hedgehogs however, the Tailses save them. Unwilling to let their friends' aid go unsupported, the Sonics use the Chaos Emeralds to turn into Super Sonics, allowing them to defeat the Time Eater. In the aftermath, the heroes find themselves back in the present. There, Modern Sonic thanks his classic self for his help. Classic Tails then discovers that the portal to the past is closing. With no choice but to go, the two bid farewells to their modern selves, with Modern Sonic promising his classic self a great future.
In a post-credits scene, a miffed Classic and Modern Eggman are trapped in White Space, trying to find an exit. As Classic Eggman starts asking his modern self if they ever win, Modern Eggman tries to dodge the question. Taking his answer as a no, a disappointed Classic Eggman sarcastically says that he finds it very encouraging.
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
Sonic Generations is a 2D side-scrolling platforming video game, which plays similar to past 2D games such as the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors. The player can play as either Classic or Modern Sonic. Generations has seven stages, three of them taking place in the Classic Era, two in the Dreamcast Era and other two in the Modern Era. Each of them is divided into two Acts. The first Acts have Classic Sonic as the playable character, while in the second Acts, the player plays as Modern Sonic.
Classic Sonic's gameplay is similar to that from the Sega Mega Drive titles. He can run, jump and perform an Spin Dash as his basic moves. These Acts end by rotating a Goal Plate showing his face, similar to the earliest Sonic games.
Modern Sonic's gameplay resembles that from the DS version of Sonic Colors and Sonic Rush. As with Classic Sonic, he can run and jump, though he can also slide to pass through small areas, and Boost to become an almost unstoppable projectile that can destroy obstacles. These Acts end by touching a Goal Ring, similar to past 3D games.
In Sonic Generations, the player can find many Rings, which serve as the playable character's main method of protection. If the player is attacked while they are having at least one Ring, they will survive with the cost of losing all Rings. However, when they are attacked without having Rings, they will lose a life, or get a Game Over if they do not have any lives left.
Controls[edit | edit source]
| Button formation | Movement | |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Sonic | Modern Sonic | |
| Directional buttons/Template:Circle Pad left/right | Walk/Run | |
| Template:A Button (Wii/DS)/Template:B Button (DS) | Spin Jump | |
| Directional buttons/Template:Circle Pad up | Look up | |
| Directional buttons/Template:Circle Pad down | Look down | Crouch |
| Directional buttons/Template:Circle Pad left/right + down | Roll | N/A |
| Directional buttons/Template:Circle Pad down + Template:A Button (Wii/DS)/Template:B Button (DS) | Spin Dash | Slide |
| Template:A Button (Wii/DS)/Template:B Button (DS) while midair | Homing Attack/Jump Dash | |
| Template:Y Button (3DS) | N/A | Boost/Air Boost |
| START | Pause | |
Objects[edit | edit source]
Items[edit | edit source]
Characters[edit | edit source]
Playable characters[edit | edit source]
- Classic and Modern Sonic
- Classic and Modern Super Sonic
Non-playable characters[edit | edit source]
- Amy Rose (cameo)
- Big the Cat (cameo)
- Biolizard
- Blaze the Cat (cameo)
- Chao (cameo)
- Cheese (cameo)
- Classic and Modern Eggman
- Classic and Modern Tails
- Cream the Rabbit (cameo)
- E-102 Gamma (cameo)
- E-123 Omega (cameo)
- Espio the Chameleon (cameo)
- Knuckles the Echidna (cameo)
- Metal Sonic
- Mii (cameo)
- NiGHTS (cameo)
- Team Chaotix (cameo)
- Rouge the Bat (cameo)
- Shadow the Hedgehog
- Silver the Hedgehog
- Time Eater
Enemies[edit | edit source]
Stages[edit | edit source]
Generations' levels are set in reimagined stages from previous games. As with its console/PC counterpart, the game divides its levels into three major categories: "Classic Era", with stages from the Sega Mega Drive games, "Dreamcast Era", with levels from the Dreamcast games, and "Modern Era", which uses stages from the Nintendo DS games. The Classic Era has three levels, just like in the console/PC version, while the other two eras have two levels each.
| No. | Stage | Era | Original game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Hill | Classic Era | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) |
| 2 | Casino Night | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | |
| 3 | Mushroom Hill | Sonic & Knuckles | |
| 4 | Emerald Coast | Dreamcast Era | Sonic Adventure |
| 5 | Radical Highway | Sonic Adventure 2 | |
| 6 | Water Palace | Modern Era | Sonic Rush |
| 7 | Tropical Resort | Sonic Colors |
Special Stages[edit | edit source]
Special Stages appear as an updated version of the ones from Sonic Heroes. These are unlocked automatically upon completing both Acts of a stage, but do not have to be beaten right away. A Chaos Emerald will be achieved if the stage is completed; however, Super Sonic is exclusive to the final boss, unlike in the console and PC versions.
Bosses[edit | edit source]
The 3DS version of Generations has two categories of bosses: "rival" bosses, which are fought in the second level of each era, and major bosses, which are reimaginations of bosses from previous games that fought at the end of the era in the location they were originally encountered. Additionally, a final boss, the Time Eater, is fought at the end of the game.
Rival bosses[edit | edit source]
| No. | Boss | Era | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metal Sonic | Classic Era | Casino Night |
| 2 | Shadow the Hedgehog | Dreamcast Era | Radical Highway |
| 3 | Silver the Hedgehog | Modern Era | Tropical Resort |
Major bosses[edit | edit source]
| No. | Boss | Era | Location | Original game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Arm | Classic Era | Launch Base Zone | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 |
| 2 | Biolizard | Dreamcast Era | Cannon's Core | Sonic Adventure 2 |
| 3 | Egg Emperor | Modern Era | Final Fortress | Sonic Heroes |
| 4 | Time Eater | N/A | Lair of the Time Eater | Sonic Generations |
Version differences[edit | edit source]
Classic Sonic[edit | edit source]
- Classic Sonic's physics in this game is more in-line with his physics in the Mega Drive-era games, most notably the Spin Dash not being as powerful movement wise as the console/PC version, as well as being able to gain speed and momentum from rolling down hills.
- The Homing Attack is given to Classic Sonic's moveset as part of the story, and there is no way to disable it once it is unlocked. In the console/PC version, the Homing Attack for Classic Sonic is only unlocked once the player finds all of the Red Star Rings. It can be purchased from Omochao's shop and can be equipped and/or removed at any time.
- While some of Classic Sonic's levels in the console/PC version occasionally feature dynamic camera angles (giving it a 2.5D appearance as opposed to 2D), Classic Sonic's levels in the 3DS version strictly use the 2D camera, with Modern Sonic having the 2.5D camera instead.
- The Goal Posts at the end of Classic Sonic's levels use a different pose for him than the console/PC version. It is not animated, and Eggman's side of it uses his Modern face instead of his Classic one.
Modern Sonic[edit | edit source]
- While Modern Sonic's gameplay in the console/PC version is a mix of 3D and 2.5D platforming (similar to Sonic Unleashed and the Wii version of Sonic Colors), his gameplay is solely in 2.5D (similar to Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure and the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors).
- The Stomp is not usable by Sonic until he reaches the Modern Era, while it is available from the start in the console/PC version.
- The Tension Gauge feature from the Sonic Rush games is featured in the Nintendo 3DS version, where Sonic can temporarily get infinite boosting by collecting enough Rings to fill the Boost Gauge. This feature is absent from the console/PC version.
Story[edit | edit source]
- Due to hardware limitations, the story is told using text boxes with no voice acting unlike the console/PC version. Unlike the Sonic Rush games and the DS version of Sonic Colors, the characters are animated rather than being still images.
- All of Sonic's friends (besides Tails) do not appear in the 3DS version (excluding their cameo in the credits), with the only characters being the Classic and Modern versions of Sonic, Tails, and Eggman, along with the Time Eater.
- The cutscene where Classic and Modern Sonic see each other in the mirror happens before the Metal Sonic fight, rather than the Classic Era boss.
- Two cutscenes show Classic Sonic learning the Homing Attack from Modern Sonic, and Modern Tails adjusting Modern Sonic's shoes so he can use the Stomp, which were not in the console/PC version.
- Whereas they appeared before the final boss and at Sonic's party in the end of the console/PC version's story, Shadow and Silver have no role in the 3DS version's story.
Stages[edit | edit source]
- Aside from Green Hill, all of the stages are different from the console/PC version.
- There are also fewer stages in total, with the Dreamcast and Modern Eras having only two levels instead of three.
- This game features Water Palace from Sonic Rush. It is the only version to a feature a level from a handheld game instead of the exclusive console games.
- Unlike the console/PC versions, and excluding bosses, there are no levels representing Sonic Heroes, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), or Sonic Unleashed.
- The Classic Era levels for Classic Sonic are directly taken from their respective games, while he instead gets new maps in the console/PC version.
- Special Stages appear in the Nintendo 3DS version and are used to collect the Chaos Emeralds, rather than obtaining them from bosses like in the console/PC version.
- Whereas the hub world allowed Sonic to freely be controlled in the console/PC version, the hub world in the 3DS version is menu-based.
- The rival fights are accessed from the Boss Gate, like the bosses, rather than a separate part of the hub world.
Boss battles[edit | edit source]
- Metal Sonic, Shadow, and Silver's rival battles are simply races to the finish, rather than actual battles.
- Metal Sonic and Shadow's races also take place on normal stages, like Silver, rather than using stages exclusive to the boss fight.
- Aside from the Time Eater, the bosses are different than the console/PC version, using Big Arm, the Biolizard, and the Egg Emperor instead of the Death Egg Robot, Perfect Chaos, and the Egg Dragoon.
- The final battle against the Time Eater works differently in the Nintendo 3DS version than the console/PC version.
Other[edit | edit source]
- Hints are given by Tails rather than Omochao, and are accessed by pressing a button on the touch screen rather than passing him in the level.
- The credits simply show screenshots of the stages' origin games in the background, rather than showing gameplay footage of them.
Other modes[edit | edit source]
Profile card[edit | edit source]
The profile card shows the player's user name, their rank (from Beginner to Grand Master), how many years have passed since they became a Sonic fan, their favorite Sonic game, as well as their favorite character, their Mii, and the points it has. On the back (the player can turn the card by pressing Template:R Button (DS)), it shows the progress they had in the story, how much they have unlocked in the Collection Room, how many missions they had unlocked, how many Rings had been collected, their play time, and all of the ranks the player has achieved on the stages.
The player can also unlock card patterns for it by leveling up the card. The card patterns were taken from different Sonic games, including all the ones that are represented in Sonic Generations. There are patterns of games such as Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic Spinball, Sonic the Fighters, Sonic Riders, and Shadow the Hedgehog. Some of Sonic's transformations, such as Excalibur Sonic and the Werehog, receive a card pattern.
When a card is leveled up two ranks, the card changes to a new color. For example, when a card is Rank Beginner (second-lowest rank), the card's color is yellow, but if the player reaches the next rank (Intermediate), the card turns orange. Once the player has reached the Grand Master Rank, the card turns silver and has a shining effect. When the player reaches the final rank, Legendary (999999 points), the card turns golden and sparkles.
The ranks are:
- Novice (Yellow)
- Beginner (Yellow)
- Intermediate (Orange)
- Skilled (Orange)
- Advanced (Red)
- Expert (Red)
- Pro (Blue)
- Master (Blue)
- Grand Master (Silver)
- Legendary (Golden)
Versus Mode[edit | edit source]
Sonic Generations features a local wireless and Wi-Fi 2-player race mode, where the player can use Download Play to send a signal to another 3DS user (though both players must have a copy of the game), or challenge the world by using the Wi-Fi connection. There are also online leader-boards between their races and world-wide races. By playing online races, one can earn points and card patterns for their profile card, and after playing more online races, the player can unlock extra content in the collection room, as well as some of the 100 extra missions.
Also by playing online races, the player can obtain a special skill to use in the main game (the player can only get one skill per day). The skills are:
To use a skill, the player must press Template:L Button (GBA) or touch the skill icon on the touch screen.
Due to the Nintendo Network closure that took place on 8 April 2024, the online multiplayer portion no longer works.
StreetPass[edit | edit source]
StreetPass is used to unlock special content and challenges, and is activated when someone with a Nintendo 3DS passes by someone else with a 3DS. The player can also use the Nintendo 3DS's "Play Coins" (earned by using the pedometer) to buy content such as new missions (which usually cost five Play Coins each) in case one is unable to StreetPass. The player can also unlock extra content by playing online. With StreetPass, the player can exchange their profile card with other players. Once the player StreetPasses somebody, their profile card gets upgraded in various ways.[2]
Time Attack[edit | edit source]
In this mode, the player can see how fast they can clear a stage, a rival, or a boss fight, and can share their time in online leader-boards. All stages can be played for a top time, and 300 Supporter Points (for the player's profile card) are awarded for each time submitted to the leader-boards.
Development[edit | edit source]
On 18 April 2011, Sonic Generations was finally announced for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A GameStop release list printed on 7 May 2011 showed a Nintendo 3DS version of the game with a tentative release date of 31 December 2011. Later in the month, a Sega-Sammy earnings report listed Nintendo 3DS and PC versions of the game; however, a revised version of the report no longer listed either version.[3] The June 2011 issue of Nintendo Power finally confirmed that a 3DS version of Sonic Generations was in the works.[4] It contained an in-depth preview and interview with Takashi Iizuka.
The 3DS had minor story changes as well. The writers for the story are credited as Ken Pontac and Warren Graff of Happy Tree Friends fame. They had also worked on Sonic Colors and MadWorld. Tetsu Katano, who directed Sonic and the Black Knight and did work on the Adventure series, directed the 3DS edition. Like the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, Sonic Team and Dimps co-developed the Nintendo 3DS edition of Sonic Generations.
Cast[edit | edit source]
Classic Sonic is silent throughout the game, but still shows his personality through his actions and gestures. Aaron Webber mentioned in an interview, that if anyone were to be Classic Sonic, it would be Jaleel White.[5] Aaron had to make a choice whether Classic Sonic would be voiced by Jaleel White or have no voice at all. Aaron also mentioned that he grew up with the classic cartoons of Sonic like Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and he thought Jaleel White did a fantastic job.
For the first time, voice overs exist not only for English and Japanese, but also for German, French, Italian and Spanish. The French voice cast and German voice cast (except for Shadow) all reprise their roles from Sonic X.
Soundtrack[edit | edit source]
The soundtrack for Sonic Generations is titled "Blue Blur: Sonic Generations Original Soundtrack" which includes the soundtrack for both the console/PC and Nintendo 3DS versions of Sonic Generations.[6][7]
The music in the game was remixed by Jun Senoue and Tatsuya Kozaki, with guest remixes done by Tomoya Ohtani, Kenichi Tokoi and Naofumi Hataya (who remixed the classic versions of the Genesis stage themes), among others.
Unlockable music[edit | edit source]
Unlike the console/PC version, which allows unlocked tracks to be played in regular stages, unlockable music can only be heard in the extras menu in the 3DS version. Additionally, the 3DS will continue to play the tracks in sleep mode if headphones are connected. The majority of vocal song tracks included are abridged compared to their full-length original versions.
There are a total of fifty unlockable songs:
Models[edit | edit source]
In the collection room, there is a section called "Models", which is basically the same thing as the statue room from the console/PC version of Sonic Generations. However, the statues are unlocked by doing the missions, rather than using special codes. It should be noted that all of the character and emerald models are from special missions, and the bosses are from boss missions.
The models are:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Dr. Eggman
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Amy Rose
- Metal Sonic
- Knuckles the Echidna
- Big the Cat
- Shadow the Hedgehog
- Rouge the Bat
- Cream the Rabbit & Cheese
- E-123 Omega
- Silver the Hedgehog
- Orbot & Cubot
- Chaos Emeralds
- Big Arm
- Biolizard
- Egg Emperor
- Time Eater
Sonic Boom[edit | edit source]
A Sonic Generations demo was playable at 2011's E3 Expo, under the name "Sonic Boom" (no relation to the animated series.) It was the first major American Sonic event, being hosted by Sega, and took place on June 8, at 6pm PT. At E3, Sonic Generations was playable in both the console/PC and 3DS versions. Green Hill, along with the boss Big Arm, was playable for the 3DS version. There was also a Birthday Song for Sonic sung at Sonic Boom and the ending of the song, "Happy Birthday Sonic!" was heard in Sonic Generations.[8] This song appeared at the Tokyo Joypolis event and at the Summer of Sonic event in London. It appeared at the Gamescom 2011 event in Germany, and at Tokyo Game Show 2011.
Reception[edit | edit source]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 69.50%[9] |
| Metacritic | 66%[10] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| Game Informer | 58%[11] |
| GamesRadar | 7/10[9] |
| IGN | 7/10[12] |
| Nintendo World Report | 8.5/10[9] |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 85%[13] |
| GamingXP | 84%[14] |
Compared to the console/PC version, reception to the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations was slightly less positive. GameRankings and Metacritic gave the game 69.50%[9] and 66%,[10] respectively.Official Nintendo Magazine gave the 3DS version a score of 85%, calling the game "hugely rewarding" for "high-score chasers" but did comment on the main story's short length. However, it concluded that the game was "an essential purchase for Sonic fans."[13] GamingXP gave the 3DS version 84 out of 100, stating "Sonic's debut on Nintendo's 3DS is a real success. The combination of the two different hedgehogs in the colorful 2D and 3D environments is pretty cool. The game is a little too easy, but there's tons of Sonic flair and enough content to truly satisfy the player."[14] IGN was slightly more mixed when reviewing the 3DS version, giving 7 out of 10, commenting that "Whereas the console version of Sonic Generations is a blending of old and new mentality in a fast-paced speed fest, the 3DS version is mostly just a Sonic Rush game where both playable characters happen to be Sonic."[12] Game Informer gave the 3DS version 58 out of 100, calling the platformer's level design sloppy, making the whole product feel like a rushed tie-in with the console version". There was however praise for the game's music, 3D visuals, special stages and simple fun levels.[11]
Nintendo Power magazine editors gave the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations the "Best Retro Revival" award for the Nintendo Power 2011 Awards.[15]
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- The internet poll asking fans what their favorite stages from each mainline Sonic game were also listed stages from Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight, suggesting that at one point in development, stages from both games were meant to appear in Sonic Generations but were scrapped later on.
- Because Sonic Colors was not announced yet at the time the poll was released, none of its stages appeared in the poll.
- This is the first Sonic game for the Nintendo 3DS.
- This is the first Sonic game to have stereoscopic 3D capability.
- This is the first handheld Sonic game on a Nintendo console that features fully rendered 3D stages and dynamic camera angles.
- This is the third 3D Sonic game not to use the main theme song (or even a remix) for the final boss, the other two being Sonic Heroes and Sonic and the Black Knight.
- Classic Tails' artwork seems to have "buckles" under his socks (above his shoes).
- Like the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, while using the Boost on a Dash Panel, Sonic performs a spin dash animation. In the 3DS version, he spins simply from touching Dash Panels regardless of initial speed and can defeat enemies during the roll.
- This is the first time Modern Sonic gets Boost Energy from both Rings and Enemy Power in a handheld console.
- The console/PC versions have a white colored design on top and bottom, whereas the 3DS version has a blue design. Likewise, the HD and 3DS' version's Japanese names are "White Time and Space" (console/PC) and "Blue Adventures" (3DS).
- The rivals in this game appeared as playable characters in Sonic Rivals.
- In the console/PC version, the drowning countdown starts at four instead of five. In the 3DS version however, the countdown starts from the traditional five.
- The second era is the only era in which Dr. Eggman is not a boss.
- If a Ring Item Box is destroyed in the console/PC version, the sound when the player gets a Ring sounds ten times instead of one. In the 3DS version, however, it only just sounds once.
- Out of the seven stages in the game, four of them are the first ones in their respective original games, those being Green Hill, Mushroom Hill, Emerald Coast and Tropical Resort (assuming Sonic & Knuckles is treated as its standalone form, as this game does).
- Classic Metal Sonic's artwork pose is similar to Shadow's.
- This is the first handheld Sonic game in which the player starts a new game and are taken to the first stage, rather than showing the cutscene first.
- In the 3DS version, Classic Tails suddenly appears after the boss battle with the Death Egg Robot/Big Arm. Takashi Iizuka said that there was going to be an explanation but it never got worked into the game's story, and he wanted to leave it open to the fan's opinion.
- History of the 1st Stage: White Edition and History of the 1st Stage: Blue Edition are the Japanese pre-order bonuses for the console/PC and 3DS versions respectively, not the soundtrack as originally thought. They are both disks with separate soundtracks that consist of music from the first stage of the franchise.[16]
- Takashi Iizuka said that three original taglines for the game were "Blast with the past," "Déjà Blue," and "A speedy trip down memory lane."
- While the console/PC version has a level from Sonic Heroes as part of the second era (Seaside Hill), the 3DS version has a stage from it part of the third era (Egg Emperor). In the 3DS version, Sonic Heroes' stage representation is spread throughout the eras as the game's Special Stages.
- With the exception of the Egg Dragoon, all of the bosses in the console/PC version can only take half the amount of hits the 3DS version's bosses can (four in the console/PC version, eight in the 3DS version).
- The console/PC version of the game had the highway stage of Sonic Adventure, and the first stage of Sonic Adventure 2. The 3DS version is the opposite; it has the first stage of Sonic Adventure, and the highway stage of Sonic Adventure 2.
- On the console/PC version, Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic fight each rival (Metal Sonic, Shadow the Hedgehog, minus Silver the Hedgehog) in the areas Sonic fought them in the original games, but the 3DS version has Sonic fight them in areas he did not fight them in the original.
- The launch trailer for the 3DS version has a small mistake. During the Modern gameplay showcase, a clip from Classic Water Palace is shown.
- The 3DS version is to date the third game to feature monitors (instead of capsules or nothing) in Modern Sonic's stages. The first game was Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure.
- Both City Escape and Radical Highway are the first stages for both Sonic and Shadow in Sonic Adventure 2 respectively. Both stages represented the second era.
- In the console and PC versions, it takes about five seconds for Classic Sonic to get impatient and 35 to lay on the ground. However, in the 3DS version, it takes 30 seconds for him to get impatient and a whole minute to lay down.
- This is the first modern Sonic game on a handheld Nintendo system not to have Boost Mode. It is also the first where boosting through enemies is "seamless," not causing a split-second pause like in Sonic Unleashed (Wii/PS2) or the DS games.
- In the console/PC version, Omochao works as a guide by advising the Sonics, while in the 3DS version, Tails is the one giving advice (Classic Tails to Classic Sonic and Modern Tails to Modern Sonic).
- In the 3DS version, Classic Sonic's model becomes shinier when the player turns on the 3D effect.
- Orcas appeared in both versions of the game, in Seaside Hill (360/PS3/PC) and Emerald Coast (3DS).
- In the 3DS version, if Sonic gets a standard shield while having a Thunder one equipped, he will keep the Thunder shield instead of switching to the standard one.
- In the 3DS version, many of the stages remake their original layouts. Act 1 of Green Hill, Casino Night and Mushroom Hill are directly copied from Act 1 of their respective originals. Act 2 of Water Palace and Act 1 Tropical Resort are not exact copies and do feature new areas, but have the majority of the stage be a loose remake of Act 1 of their respective originals (the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, in Tropical Resort's case).
- Time Eater being initially believed to be the main antagonist only for Eggman to reveal himself as the true main antagonist near the end is a reverse twist to most 3D Sonic games; in which Eggman is initially believed to be the villain only for another enemy to be revealed as the true enemy towards the end.
- Not long before the release date of Sonic Generations, Sega sponsored a skateboarding sporting event that took place in Venice Beach of California named "Sonic Generations of Skate".
- The Silver the Hedgehog boss battle is the only recreated/reimagined boss in the game that was not based off a second-to-last or final boss. Metal Sonic, Egg Emperor, and the Egg Dragoon are boss battles that are second to last while the Death Egg Robot, Big Arm, Shadow the Hedgehog (final boss of Hero story in Sonic Adventure 2), and Perfect Chaos are all final bosses to their story modes and games.
- In the 3DS version, the main menu's music is the title screen from Sonic Mega Collection, and White Space theme is the main menu theme from Sonic Heroes.
- On the 3DS version's Profile Card patterns, the screenshot used for "Sonic Unleashed" comes from the Wii version, not the console/PC version, modified to include a directional shadow.
- This is the only Sonic game to have the Cyan Laser exclusive to a handheld game instead of appearing in both the home console and handheld.
- This is the only game dubbed in French, Spanish, German, and Italian to not have the Wisp announcer voiced in those languages, with the game using its English voice instead.
- When announcing the Cyan Laser, the announcer uses its voice clip from the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, rather than the Wii version.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sonic Generations name changes in Japan. TSSZ News.
- ↑ Sonic Generations 3DS StreetPass details. TSSZ News.
- ↑ Shadzter (20 May 2011). Sonic Generations 3DS & PC Listings Removed, Cream the Rabbit Teased. Sonic Stadium.
- ↑ Shadzter (24 May 2011). Nintendo Power Confirms Sonic Generations for Nintendo 3DS.
- ↑ Black Nerd Comedy (23 June 2011). E3 2011 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC! with StarSlay3r & Mo Chocolate - Black Nerd E3 (Part 4). YouTube.
- ↑ SONIC GENERATIONS Original Soundtrack:Blue Blur. Amazon.
- ↑ SONIC GENERATIONS Original Soundtrack:Blue Blur (Japan Version). YesAsia.
- ↑ Happy 20th Birthday Sonic. YouTube.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Sonic Generations (Nintendo 3DS) reviews. GameRankings (8 December 2011). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sonic Generations (Nintendo 3DS) reviews. Metacritic (8 December 2011). Retrieved on 8 December 2011.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The, Matt (22 November 2011). Sonic Generations Review: Dimps’ Reliable Quality Skips A Generation - Sonic Generations - 3DS. Game Informer. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 DeVries, Jack (6 December 2011). Sonic Generations Review - For the first time in a decade, the handheld Sonic is not the best. IGN.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Scullion, Chris (24 November 2011). Sonic Generations Review. Official Nintendo Magazine.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Sonic Generations 3DS Review - GamingXP - feel the eXPerience. GamingXP. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 GoNintendo - What are YOU waiting for?. GoNintendo. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.
- ↑ HISTORY OF THE 1ST STAGE Original Soundtrack Blue Edition. VGMdb.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Official website (Japanese)
- Official website (English)
Template:Generations (3DS) info
- Pages with broken file links
- Pages using Lua-based templates
- Sonic Generations (Nintendo 3DS)
- Alternate versions and ports
- 2011
- 2D platformers
- Games developed by Sonic Team
- Games developed by Dimps
- Games written by Ken Pontac and Warren Graff
- Nintendo 3DS games
- Rated E games
- Sonic the Hedgehog 20th Anniversary