You know you have a good franchise on your hands when it can still be "Unstoppable after 20 Years" and has a high fun factor and some triple A titles. Sonic Generations is a 3D Platformer/Action game released in November 2011 for HD Consoles, Steam and the 3DS. It's an anniversary title that takes environments from Sonic's past and gives them a HD (Well, bar two of the levels) makeover and adds 3D To some of them. What you get is "Three Eras. Two Hedgehogs, ONE EPIC ADVENTURE! " .

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Since you've got two Sonic's, you also have two completely different gameplay styles, one for Classic and one for Modern.

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Classic Sonic tries to emulate the feel of the SEGA Mega Drive Sonic games (1 - Knuckles) and, while not perfect, plays much better than Sonic 4 : Episode I. You can Spin Jump with X and Spin-Dash with either holding down and then mashing X OR holding the Square Button. Rolling barely works though, it's almost as bad as Episode I maybe even worse because there are some parts of the level where you'd think that rolling would be beneficial to gain speed but it's not. The Spin-Dash however is really powerful, I'd go as far to say OVERPOWERED. You can gain so much speed with it it's unreal. 

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Before we get to Modern Sonic, let's talk about Classics level design. Classic Sonic's levels do have alot of alternate paths, which I like bit alot of them are gimmicky. Sure, gimmicks are what practically drive the Sonic series (At least, since 2004 anyways) but Classic Sonic's levels are really gimmicky. Green Hill isn't too bad, although it does have alot of swinging pendulums. Chemical Plant feels the least gimmicky to me, but it does have a few of those annoying "Block" platforming sections that plague most 2D Platformers. Sky Sanctuary has Teleporters and alot of hidden paths (which are a plus in my opinion). Speed Highway is a level that is nearly all block platforming with maybe only one or two sections of well, SPEED. City Escape's truck chases you through the whole level (which I actually like). Seaside Hill is the games water level, so there's not much I can really say. Crisis City (Yup. Even Sonic '06 gets a level) has Lot's of flame funnels you need to avoid. Rooftop Run it basically precise platforming to win and Planet Wisp DEPENDS ON THE SPIKE WISP. I CANNOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH. It's not like Colours where you can simply use the Wisp at will, you HAVE TO USE IT TO BEAT THE LEVEL.

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If you've played the HD version of Sonic Unleashed or Sonic Colours you know what's in store when you play as Modern Sonic. Homing Attacks, Quick Stepping, Stomp Moves, sliding and BOOOOOOOOST TO WIN. However, in Generations, Boosting all the time will not nessicarily mean you'll blast through a level. For the first time since Sonic '06, there's platforming in a 3D Sonic stage. Unlike Sonic Colours where it was straight running with a bit of drifting once in a while, Generations has alternate route and different levels of terrain you can go on to help you advance in the level. It's a change in pace and it's a really nice welcome back from the High Speed thrill that was Unleashed. I hope that future Sonic games continue this trend. However, I don't see the point in Moderns 2D sections, they're redundant especially because of both Classic Sonic AND the fact that Colours was 85% 2D. Also, just a forewarning, the Homing Attack doesn't ALWAYS work.

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Now Moderns Level design.
I could tell right from after the first drift in Modern Green Hill that Generations meant business in the platforming department. While there are level gimmicks, they don't really take away from the fun that is platforming and Speed. Green Hill is a fun and fast level that is straight to the point although alternate route are few and far between. Chemical Plant is deceptive at the start, as all the paths you seen in the background are place you can actually go and explore! Sky Sanctuary is the most platformy of all the levels, and it's a very good example of 3D platforming done right. Speed Highway is definitely the only time where boosting is fun throughout the entire stage and surprisingly it has some good alternate routes. City Escape is a blast, especially at the end when the G.U.N truck chase occurs. Seaside Hill is another example of 3D Platforming done right. Crisis City (fittingly enough) is probably the most glitchy of the levels but it has some nice 3D Running sections. Rooftop Run is ripped directly from Unleashed except all the set pieces are backwards and some of Unleashed's Act 2 is thrown in for some reason. Planet Wisp, again, DEPENDS ON THE ROCKET WISP. It's the most drawn out level in the game and I HATE HOW LONG IT IS.

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Graphically, the Hedgehog engine is pushed to it's most extreme limits here. Every level, both Classic and Modern look stunning (Except Planet Wisp classic) and are just absolutely breathtaking. I will say this now: Planet Wisp Modern will make you cry tears of joy for it's opening section. It's the most beautiful platforming level that has - In my eyes - ever existed. 

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The sound department went on all the stops for Generations soundtrack. I was worried that all of Moderns music would be Jun Senoue's signature butt-rock guitar but I was wrong. The majority of the soundtrack is just the best thing I have ever heard in my entire life. With - again- the exception of Classic Planet Wisp, all of the level themes are just amazing. Some unlockable songs, mainly from Sonic 3, Knuckles and the Advance games have also been remixed and they sound even better than before. In terms of Voice acting, well it's serviceable. It's never going to be as good as Sonic Adventure 2's but the cast, especially Dr. Eggman's Mike Pollock, do a good job giving the characters personalities. 

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I'm not going to say anything about the story, because that's spoilers and I don't want that. All I'm going to say is that it is extremely lacklustre and EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY Underplayed for the gameplay, and for a Sonic game that's kinda surprising. We don't even get an opening cutscene a la Sonic Colours.

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The game's difficulty is in the mid ranges. I'm also going to talk about progression here.Anyways, the game is divided into three eras: Mega Drive, Dreamcast and Modern. Each era has three levels, 30 Challenges, a Rival Battle and a boss. That makes for 122 things to do in Generations. To progress, you need to beat each levels act plus one of it's challenges to get one of three boss keys. You also have to fight the eras boss (MD: Death EGG Robot from Sonic 2, DC: Perfect Chaos from SA1 and MO: Egg Dragoon from Unleashed) and Rival (MD: Metal Sonic, DC: Shadow and MO: Silver) to get the Chaos Emeralds.

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The game is extremely short in terms of main story but it has 90 extra challenges, each with a collectable. Each level also has the Red Star Rings, for even more collectables. Good replay value.

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Overall, I think that Sonic Colours was no match for Generations. Generations kicked that much butt. I honestly think that this is the best 3D/2D Sonic game since Adventure 2. It's that freaking good. Also, City escapes music will never leave your head.

9.3 out of ten