Notes of the frustrated gamer
I'm no Sonic fan, as demonstrated by these notes I took as I attempted to play Sonic Generations
for the Nintendo 3DS:
- I simply cannot go without mentioning this irritating thing on Green Hill, Act II: I can't get past the level's very last obstacle, the giant falling totem pole. Okay, so I'm supposed to press "Y"? Fast, slow? What does this game want of me? Hey, I'm a gamer! I don't need manuals or tutorials to figure things out! This, however, is simply ridiculous. This game does nothing to cater to series newcomers. For that matter, it's not much fun at all.
- Okay, seriously? Even after playing Green Hill, Act II about ten times or more, I still can't avoid that infernal enemy? I have gaming reflexes. Even when they kick on, there's simply no way to avoid it, except by having the level memorized. Is this what Sonic is all about?
- Control flaw: when I take Sonic into a sliding position, I can't simply lift my finger off of the down button to get out of it? Apparently, jumping is the only way to do that, and what if I go spiraling out of control into a pit of death?
- Starting on Mushroom Hill, Act I: enjoying the graphics, but still confused as to whether I'm meant to play the level 50 times in order to memorize it so I can flash through at hyper speeds, or take my time getting through molasses-slow portions such as that up-down lever...thing that I just encountered.
- Again with the whole "What speed is this meant to be played at?" question: so some kind of jump that I couldn't avoid just catapulted me over a huge mass of rings? So...can I go back for them, or am I on a schedule of some kind, or what?
- Sorry, I won't be playing that one again. Memorization is something you only do in school, against your will. If the only reason I have to return to something is to be humiliated again and again, I'm not doing it.
- Okay, on to Act II. Did that mushroom, completely innocent looking, just jump out of the ground and attack me? Seriously? There should be a "Video Game Designing Code" that prohibits the abuse of players or something.
- I beat Metal Sonic! ...With, what, maybe 10 presses of the "A" button? How can one expect to get invested in this game?
- Fighting Big Arm has been the best part of this game so far. It...it...it actually employed my brain!
- Whoa, Sonic's got cool moves...it's just too bad I'm not even doing anything to pull them off except tiring my thumb out by endlessly holding the D-pad.
As you can see, I have yet to be impressed by a Sonic game, and I'm rapidly losing the desire to like him at all. Sonic Generations
was frankly insulting to me. On the user profile, it asks what Sonic game your favorite is, which was like a slap in the face. Maybe it doesn't seem this way to people who're familiar with the series, but Sonic Generations
just seemed to be, I dunno, full of itself or something like that.
Haha - I liked the memorization was meant for school bit. I loved the early Sonic games way back on my Genesis, but back then and earlier, most games were really about memorization and twitch reflexes. I have heard that Generations on the 3DS is a different, and inferior experience to the console versions, but I haven't played either yet.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I suppose there must have been a reason why Sonic rivaled Mario back in the day...I just haven't found it yet! Not that I'm searching very hard: there's also a reason why Mario's still king and Sonic...isn't.
DeleteIt's interesting, because my younger two kids really liked Sonic games more than Mario for quite awhile. I think Sonic back in the day was 'new', and the gameplay and feel of speed when it was introduced on the Genesis was pretty awesome. There wasn't anything else quite like it that I recall, and I know I really enjoyed the loops, twists and jumps back then.
DeleteI think Mario though has evolved far better. Nintendo did a far better job of taking Mario into 3D while still offering deeper, more enjoyable 2D options.
Sonic's foray into 3D never went nearly as well, and Sega all but abandoned the 2D offerings for a long time. I'm also not sure that Sonic's speed on 'the small screen' is a good thing, which maybe hurts the 3DS appeal for some people?
My son's looked at picking it up for his 3DS a few times now, but hesitates on pulling the trigger to date. :)
This blog really made me laugh, Holly! I feel the same with games I can't figure out...which is, well...MOST of them, lol! :D Keep up the good work. And it makes you feel any better, I get frustrated with Sonic video games too fast. Personally, they make me too dizzy, and are a little too fast in my opinion. Happy graduation to us this Friday, lol!!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! I'm gonna celebrate the end of the semester with an all-nighter...and by not playing Sonic! Woot!
DeleteLOL - if not Sonic - what do you have in mind? :)
DeleteOh, there are just too many possibilities...Xenoblade Chronicles, Metroid Prime, Golden Sun, Metroid: Zero Mission, Super Metroid (I'm lovin' the Metroid series lately!), Kid Icarus: Uprising, Super Mario Sunshine...I'll play them all!...maybe.
DeleteI've really been enjoying Kid Icarus: Uprising, and weren't you still tackling Other: M at some point too? (just to add to the Metroid titles). Xenoblade is still one I need to get my grubby little mitts on.
DeleteIndeed! Now I'm gettin' all excited! I just have to get through the final stretch of the semester...!
DeleteNot Sonic Generations? Yeah, I found that game pretty horrid. Still gave it 88/100 for some reason. I might have to revist that review soon and make some changes! For the game side of things, I'm currently playing Kid Icarus: Uprising and I'm TRYING to find time for Xenoblade Chronicles, but I'm struggling to find time!
ReplyDeleteAnd you likely need a lot of time for Xenoblade, no? I've heard that game can be a huge time-eater.
DeleteI'm glad I'm not the only who dislikes this game, even if you only dislike it a little. Xenoblade Chronicles is definitely a game that requires time. I'm finding it hard to seek that time as well.
DeleteHolly, if you haven't tried Sonic Colors yet, give that one a shot. It's still got a few frustrating moments and design choices, but overall, it's got enough fun and spectacle (and great music that actually deserves its *three* album soundtrack on iTunes) to make it worth a $19 price tag...or at least a rent.
ReplyDeleteThank you for saving me from trying 3DS Generations. :) Aside from Colors, I haven't enjoyed a Sonic game since Sonic Heroes -- and that one I liked more for its music and atmosphere than loosey-goosey gameplay. Oh -- and the 25% of Sonic Unleashed (all daytime levels) that didn't suck. :)
Agreed. I got Sonic Colours for about $20 Australian, which is an awesome price!
Delete@ Rich T.
DeleteI actually have played Sonic Colors! I reviewed it and everything. I sure did like it a lot more than Generations, but it didn't turn me into a Sonic fan on any scale. The graphics and soundtrack were two things I praised the most in my review. So the soundtrack is available on iTunes, you say? That is nothing short of awesome!