Sonic Generations Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS, PC
Dev: SEGA/Sonic Team
Pub: SEGA
Release: November 1, 2011
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Mild Cartoon Violence

The gameplay is definitely what makes the Sonic Generations feel like a real return to greatness for our favorite blue hero. However, the game is bolstered by a metric ton of unlockable content. As you play through the game you can unlock collectibles, upgrade Sonic's abilities, and gain access to new Sonic friends in-game. Unlocking everything definitely takes some effort, providing plenty of incentive to replay levels over and over.

Sonic Generations Screenshot

Unfortunately, Sonic Generations has a few issues that hold it back from being the true blockbuster it deserves to be. One of my main problems with the game is the lackluster visual design. Repetitive elements, simplistic enemy design, and poor animation contribute to an overall look that's not quite up to par. Frame rate drops and poorly implemented motion blur also add to this game's visual woes.

Audio is a different story, however, and the game does a great job of mixing old Sonic tunes with new music and sound effects. And if you are as big a fan of the music, the soundtrack is unlockable, so you can listen to all the memorable tunes from the game any time you want.

Sonic Generations was the game Sonic fans have wanted since the beginning of this generation. As fans, we've had to deal with quite a bit of disappointment from the Sonic series in the past decade, and there's been a lot of resentment building up over the years. I never thought I would ever recommend a Sonic game again, but here we are. Sonic Generations is a great game, and it deserves your attention this holiday season. Let's just hope that the development team keeps up this level of quality so that in the future, Sonic games like Generations become the rule rather than the exception.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Senior Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.2

Graphics
Visuals aren't great, but work well enough.

4.0

Control
Controls are easy to use.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Soundtrack is a great mix of classic and new Sonic tunes, and it sounds great.

4.3

Play Value
With tons of unlockable content, you'll most likely play each stage several times.

4.1

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Twice the Fun - Play as both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic in the ultimate Sonic experience. Master the moves of each character as they race through each environment on their own specially designed track.

The Best Just Got Better - Iconic environments from gaming history come to life in beautiful HD for the ultimate Sonic adventure, each revisited, recreated, and reimagined with stunning results. Also, these environments are presented in stunning new stereoscopic 3D for a whole new way to play!

Unlock New Adventures - Once you complete each level and 'free' Sonic's captured friends, you'll get to go back and take on more challenges with them at your side.

Infamous Bosses and Rivals - Take on some of the most notorious characters from Sonic's past as you fight for ultimate supremacy.

Master Your Moves Master Classic Sonic's famous Spin Dash and Spin Attack and utilize Modern Sonic 's 'Sonic Boost' as you complete the all new tracks.

All New Content - New and exclusive environments for the Nintendo 3DS include an unlockable 'special stage'. Each environment features two tracks – one for Classic Sonic and one for Modern Sonic - designed to showcase the unique features of both Sonics.

2-Player Versus mode - Take on your friends and earn valuable status points.