I was no exception, at the time, though hindsight is wonderfully 20/20. It was… mediocre. A good first try, which should have led to an improved sequel (it didn’t) and a generally improving series of 3D titles (it didn’t). The GameCube remake was better-ish, but not enough to forget Adventure’s biggest issues.

I love how Tails controlled in Adventure though, , where flight was a glorified double jump, and wish that’s how he’d control in the 2D games.

Your views seem almost identical to my own, I’m glad someone else shares my opinion on the atrocious level design and lack of flow, it doesn’t feel like a Sonic game, it’s just an average platformer with Sonic thrown into it.

I think the main reason so many fans adore this game so much is simply because they are more interested in the idea of the game, than the actual gameplay itself. They cannot see past the fact that Metal Sonic is the main antagonist.

I think there’s also the fact that some people seem to gain a false sense of superiority when they say their favourite game in a series was one of the most obscure and less known titles, it makes them feel interesting and deep.

That’s just my take on it anyway, I couldn’t comment on Colors of Generations because I haven’t really invested any time into either of them.

Anywho, yes, Sonic 4 and Rush have horrible physics, but Sonic Advance 1, the very first, very closely mimics the Genesis games’ physics engine. If you mean Advance 2/3, then yeah, you’re right, but the first is on point.

Colors and Generations are not worth nearly the praise you’re lavishing. Admittedly I’ve only played a little of each, but I couldn’t stomach much more holding Up/Right and occasionally tapping Jump.

I’ve no idea who Taxman is, nor do I care, but unless he completely overhauls Sonic CD he’s not going to make it good.

Multiple paths don’t automatically make for stellar level design, so I’m not sure what you’re going for there.

Sonic 2 and Sonic 3&K also weren’t about speed. Neither was Sonic 1. All rewarded the explorer as well. The fact you had to explore to get Sonic CD’s “good futures” means squat; what good is exploration of it’s handled poorly? I could argue Megaman X6 rewards exploration too, by virtue of its level design being so horrendous as to require going out of your way — well beyond reason — just to find everything. Sonic CD is similar, for reasons already stated.

Visuals, music, intro, and ending mean squat when it comes to assessing gameplay, though when scrutinizing them on their own, they’re still bleh.

Sonic CD is the pure essence of something very badly made, regardless of when you became a Sonic fan, so please don’t play the “I played Sonic since day 1″ argument, as a great many of the franchise’s detractors could easily claim the same.

< .<

>.>

nonooooooononnononoooooooooooonnonoooooo

Anywho, your criticisms of Sonic Advance 3 scream “valid,” though I haven’t played the game since about a month or so after it came out. It may have been bias talking; I was likely impressed just because Advance 2 left me so bitter and the 3D titles weren’t impressing.

I loved the varied playstyles Advance 3 gave you, though admittedly ended up sticking to the uber-broken team of Knuckles on point with Tails assist most of the way through. I also enjoyed its final level and the boss fights, personally.

But I’ll give it another go at some point and watch for the things you mentioned. Thanks for commenting, and sorry again for the late reply.

Really?

Sonic Advance 2 is almost unbearable because nothing happens, ever. And then suddenly something does happen, and you die because fuck that game. The epitome of worthless trial-and-error Sonic bullshit.

But it’s still bearable, because it’s fun to watch Sonic run really really fast even if it’s incredibly pointless, and, I dunno, the bosses are solid I guess.

Sonic Advance 3 has everything horrible about Sonic Advance 2 (and they go ahead and make the bosses absolutely pathetic for good measure). They (smartly) added huge amounts of actual platforming, but then made Sonic’s acceleration in the air reaaaaally high. So the “fun” parts of the game become an unresponsive, sluggish mess while you try to avoid soaring over platforms with Sonic’s unreasonably good aerodynamics. Meanwhile, there’s still tons of trial-and-error nonsense because platforming sections occur in the most disjointed, inconvenient places possible (usually right after you’ve been holding right for a full minute). Plus, they actually make you *activate* buttons now. By jumping on other buttons. All the time.

And hub levels? Seriously?

Sonic Advance 3 is the worst Sonic game I’ve ever played.