How You Misunderstood Sonic Level Design (+ Shadow Generations Impressions)

Comments · 295

• BU

  @bubbletea_ · 2 years ago

  every game got people like "is sonic gonna be good again?????"

  247

• WB

  @Wbubbles3998 · 2 years ago

  Great video mate, I always hated the “linear=bad” mindset, it’s not that the levels were linear that made the Forces stages bad, it’s that they didn’t require much from the player

  167

• SN

  @Sneeakie · 2 years ago

  Everyone bringing up Cyber Space seem to forget or ignore the Final Horizon levels, which are not only the best Cyber Space stages but include some of my favorite stages in Sonic. Shadow Generations takes more cues from them, mixing them together with Generations' style of level design to great effect.

  113

• SA

  @Samazuwhite · 2 years ago

  I&apos;ve said this one and many times and I&apos;ll say it again, Sonic Forces is the equivalent of PTSD for the Sonic fanbase. The very moment we see a linear path or little automation we start loosing our mind, both of them can work when having constant interactions with the level heck even Adventure two has some bits of automation and linear levels but people don&apos;t have a problem with those, and that&apos;s because of how the game made you interact with the level, you are constantly on your toes trying to go for the high score or cool trick. Could that been madr better with diferent path ways and expanding the level on the Adventure 1 philosophy? Yes probably.<br><br>But then again we are now on a new age for the Sonic games, and we&apos;ll see how this serie can reach his full potential again.

  100

• KI

  @KingoftheBashful · 2 years ago

  Forces really is the Sonic 06 to fans too young to remember the effect that game had on the franchise. Fans have gotten so scared of linearity thanks to that game, that just seeing it in any capacity will trigger a PTSD war flashback.

  40

• TH

  @thelightningangel4959 · 2 years ago

  The main problem with forces is the total lack of engagement for the player, like some stages can be beaten by holding forward or holding boost, cyberspace is somewhat better in this type of mindset cuz it wants you to do shit...but then it gets held back by its drawbacks: slower speed, vulnerable boosting, eyc

  43

• JE

  @jeromemccalla9520 · 2 years ago

  I feel that the boost levels post generations felt more like corridors with drag and drop box platform level design, unleashed and gens, &nbsp;levels felt organic and more like fun Mario kart courses.

  2

• MY

  @MysticClaws100 · 2 years ago

  The only 3D Sonic game that regularly has open levels is Sonic Adventure which has a lot of stages (or stage acts) that wrap around each other or has a lot of alternate pathways). Every other one is mostly linear with upper/lower paths or the occasional alternate route

  18

• GN

  @Gnidel · 2 years ago

  I believe that non-linearity is a difficulty balancing mechanism. If player gets to slower path instead of dying, then top paths can be harder and would require better inputs, while lower path can be easier. Otherwise the level design will cater to good players and he frustrating or will cater to casuals which can result in being too easy and boring.

  7

• HE

  @heehomgee4671 · 2 years ago

  I&apos;m a massive nerd and I&apos;ve been playing these games real recently so I wanted to share some of my thoughts:<br><br>- In defence of Forces, the game doesn&apos;t just end at the Red Rings but the two other sets of rings: Number and Silver Moon Rings. These really push you to figure out a lot of the game&apos;s little quirks, especially in Network Terminal with many branching paths via sliding in the factory segment. 100%ing the game actually made the experience a bit better and it plays pretty well enough so I don&apos;t really mind as much as others (But I totally get the major complaints).<br><br>- Heroes&apos; level design is also very repetitive and the &quot;Combat&quot; the game provides is barebones at best and the nuance is derived from upgrading your team as fast as possible so you don&apos;t have to put up with the awful enemy encounters. <br><br>- Also Generations&apos; ranking system is WAAAAAY easier than Forces, even if you die it&apos;s almost always an instant A-Rank, but the game is still one of the best games in the series so it&apos;s fun without it.<br><br>- Frontiers&apos; gameplay feels awful but I feel that not mentioning Final Horizon was a bit disappointing, while Base Cyberspace was some of the most boring stuff in the series, the new levels added in the DLC actually really impressed me and feel like a basis for Shadow&apos;s Campaign.

  6

• BE

  @betlergaen5757 · 2 years ago

  The thing in cyberspace too is that there&apos;s some examples of the levels having some engagement or encoraging the player to engage with it. Everyone brings 1-2 as the more fun level not because its amazing, but because of the time being harder to achieve, it makes the player play better to reach it, which is something thats not present on the other levels unfortunately

  16

• BR

  @Brandt2698 · 2 years ago

  Great video man. I agree with the points about linearity being good sometimes. I honestly believe games like forces have made people way too nervous and over analytical of the level design. We just have to see when it releases, if it’s fun it’s fun

  19