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First Look and Details for Sonic Generations 3DS

Don your scuba masks, because here comes one hell of a flood.

Earlier, we reported that Nintendo Power confirmed Sonic Generations on 3DS. Now, thanks to forum member Effexor, we have delicious gigantic scans of the article and images of the 3DS version for your consumption.

But for those of you who don’t want to sift through all the text to find whatever tasty morsels of information are in there, just hit the jump for the key details. You can also find the scans down below.

-The chosen level for Sonic 2, at least as far as the 3DS version is concerned, is Casino Night Zone. Sorry, Chemical Plant fans!

-That said, Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka says that the 360/PS3 and 3DS versions will have a different selection of stages to offer more variety. Stay tuned.

Bosses in the 3DS version are exclusive to it. We have our first look at a boss, and it’s the old familiar final boss of Sonic 3‘s Launch Base Zone, Big Arm. It also has a few new tricks up its sleeve (no pun intended), such as flying into the background and punching forward. As a bonus, he’s being piloted by the classic version of Dr. Eggman, also confirming the two hedgehogs may now have to contend against two doctors.

-The story of the games are fundamentally the same: a new evil presence has erased all of time and space (calm down, Sonic 2006 people) causing Modern Sonic to fall into the past and meet his pudgy past self.

-Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic are both represented. Classic Sonic will play just like everyone expects him to: Genesis-era Sonic, with a stronger emphasis on platforming than speed. Modern Sonic, however, brings his talents from Sonic Rush, Rush Adventure, and Sonic Colors DS, keeping the same style of gameplay from there of high speed, homing attacks, rails, drift sliding into small passageways, and exclusive level gimmicks.

-Special Stages make a return, but not from any of the classic games. From the looks of it, the Special Stage chosen hails from Sonic Heroes, meaning Sonic will need to speed through orbs and mines in a race to catch the emerald.

-Jun Senoue is the mastermind behind the music here. For classic stages, the music will largely be the ever familiar tunes with some touch ups, as heard in Green Hill Zone videos, while Modern Sonic will get full remixes of them. Conversely, modern stages will use their original musics for Modern Sonic (with some tweaks) while Classic Sonic will get chiptune remixes of them.

–In that context, while not an official confirmation about a certain Sonic Adventure 2 stage by any stretch, the article states that a Dreamcast-era stage is present. Calm down.

-Iizuka also states that the 3DS version will have only characters key to the story while the console version will feature a very large cast of characters. Sort of like the opposite of Sonic Colors, in that regard.

-The reason no Wii version exists was due to the desire to make a Sonic anniversary game in high definition, which Iizuka says the Wii is not capable of handling. Development for the platform was canned early on with the decision to create a version of the game for Nintendo’s audience on the 3DS. The engine and physics are being built from scratch.

-This is the first time that the music producer for Sonic 1 and Sonic 2, Masato Nakamura from the band Dreams Come True, is letting Jun Senoue and the rest of the sound team mess around with his musics from those games.

-Not Generations related, but Sonic Team heard all the critical (and sometimes asinine) feedback from Sonic 4: Episode 1 and is using it in the development of Sonic 4: Episode 2. More on that at a future date.

 

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71 Comments

  • Reply

    Very impressed so far, definitely going to pick this up with the 360 version, especially since the levels are completely different. Surprised they went with Sonic Heroes special stage, that was one of my least favorite, but who knows, they could throw in more than just one type of special stage. I cant wait for this game! And hopefully all those whinny fanboys who complain that “the game sucks because Sonics eyes arent green” will finally shut up

    • Reply

      Uhh, most of these ‘fanboys’ complain that Sonic’s eyes ARE green. 😛

      • Reply

        Uhhh, yeah, what he said lol. Probably shouldve re-read that before i posted it. Thanks for catching that, meant “are green” not “arent green”

        • Reply

          Tell me this: Why would those “fans” care about the most MINOR aspects in Sonic??? I mean, seriously…GREEN EYES? They are desperate to complain about anything 🙁

        • Reply

          I have no idea, I guess u can never make EVERY single person happy no matter how hard u try, theyll always find something to complain about. And I know I’m going to be looked down on for saying this, but ive liked even Sonic 06. But cmon, give me a valid complaint like “the loading screens are too long”, not that Sonic doesnt look exactly the same as he did 20 years ago. I dunno, hopefully this game will finally bring back Sonic in the eyes of the gaming community. Because right now, Sonic doesnt get a hell of alot of love from most video gamers, and I get harassed because i still play Sonic and enjoy the games…

    • Reply

      i will always be confused on why they complain about eye color yet nobody cared about in sm64 when mario got blue eyes

  • Reply

    Now where’s the guy that told me it wouldn’t come out ?

    • Reply

      You all didn’t see it, but he left like 12 comments (all flagged by our filter) flipping his lid and saying it will still suck.
      Haters to the left.

      • Reply

        You know, this comment reminds me of what I’ve been doing in IT at school with Dreamweaver, using indenting to hide titles of text in favour of images to show the title instead.
        In other words, the title using standard text gets hidden to the left where it cannot ever be seen by normal browsing.

      • Reply

        Ah well, too bad, I would have loved to see his FUUUUUUU-type reaction.

      • Reply

        Was that MarioTehPlumber from Youtube?

        To be honest, I wouldn’t know..

  • Reply

    brb creaming myself over the Heroes special stages making a comeback.

    *puts on sunglasses*

    Or should I say cumback?

    • Reply

      You sick, sick person…

    • Reply

      Sounds like you, sir, had a nerdgasm

  • Reply

    Great to hear that the 3DS version won’t be the same. Even better is the fact that comments and criticism on Sonic 4 didn’t go to waste.

  • Reply

    Looking pretty good! I might just get this game too if I get a 3DS. So, that’s a double-if.

  • Reply

    So Casino Night is only on the 3DS version? ;.; Damn it!

    • Reply

      I know right. That stage deserves to be on the consoles. Its THE casino level

      • Reply

        if thats the case we may have … casiopolis *shudder*

        • Reply

          man, if I have to play that level again, I’ll kill myself…

        • Reply

          altough there is a chance of casino park

  • Reply

    While this is good news and I like what I’ve seen, I think a colours/unleashed daytime engine could work well(and look stunning) on 3ds.

    • Reply

      Here’s the probable reason why the 3DS is not going to hold the Unleashed/Colours engine – Motion blur with boost. It just doesn’t seem like that it could be viewable on such a small screen (to which Iizuka defines as HD, somehow…)

      • Reply

        Simple: remove motion blur. If that’s all that’s in the way I say why not? We can only hope.

        • Reply

          Actually, it’s more complicated than that – processes and stuff. I just want to ask someone how powerful the 3DS is in comparison to the HD consoles as it’s already been said it’s more powerful than the Wii…
          Plus, having that rush by for the Unleashed/Colours engine probably isn’t good for a handheld otherwise you’d have to be going at racing/driving game pace, which is several times slower than the speed Modern Sonic goes.
          Besides, the Rush/Rush Adventure/Colours DS engine is one of the better Sonic engines out there!

  • Reply

    Well I guess this means Modern Sonic’s gameplay= Sonic Rush 3DS and nooooooo Casino Night Zone = boring we have too many Casino zones.
    Aside from that, Classic Sonic having different stages, supposedly different game play and seeing the Launch Base Boss gives me hope for THIS game after all!

    • Reply

      Isn’t Casino Night the best of the Casino zones, though? I remember playing it for the first time with my friend back when I was a n00b at Sonic games and it was awesome!

  • Reply

    now i have to buy both lol

  • Reply

    It’s great that the first boss is from launch base rather than green hill…for the 5th time. Anyway I’m glad both versions are different. I was worried the 3DS version would be a watered down console version c:

  • Reply

    “The reason no Wii version exists was due to the desire to make a Sonic anniversary game in high definition, which Iizuka says the Wii is not capable of handling”

    Meanwhile, in Iizuka’s world, the 3DS’s 400×240 + 320×240 somehow meets the criteria for “high-definition”. Must be because it’s an “analog” game as opposed to a “digital” one.

    • Reply

      I thought of that, too.

      And btw, I lol’ed.

    • Reply

      Actually, the 3DS has some pretty Stunning visual technology. And besides, SEGA had to deliver to their Nintendo audience someway besides the soon-to-be-outdated-by-the-Wii2 (Project Cafe) Wii Console.

      • Reply

        I saw a 3DS at GameStop the other day, and frankly, I was underwheled. The 3D effect was exactly the same as 3DTVs: instead of real 3D, it’s just stacked cardboard cutouts. Lame.

        Incidentally, 3D is not the same as “HD”. 3DS is nowhere close to “HD”, which starts at 1280×720 (going by the most common definitions).

        • Reply

          Wait, waitwaitwait…
          what defines “Real 3D” to you?
          I’ve seen a 3DS in action myself, and it works just as well. I guess you’re saying that because that’s how you think of what it appears to look like…but then again, there’s NO possible way we’re getting so much more advanced technology that it projects like a hologram anytime soon!

        • Reply

          Well, honestly, I own one and I never noticed the ‘stacked cardboard cutout’ effect you speak of. Anyway, this page is about Sonic Generations and not the 3DS in general.

    • Reply

      it is true that the 3ds have gcn/wii graphics that are not hd but they may be making this because the ds version of sonic colors did good in reviews like the console version

      • Reply

        Except it doesn’t. 3DS is still only 400×240+320×240. Both Wii and GameCube output 640×480, which is higher horizontal resolution than the 3DS. (Or on PAL systems, ~704×576, which is higher horizontal *and* vertical resolution than the 3DS.)

  • Reply

    Help! I’m hyper-ventilating.

  • Reply

    I’m starting to feel the rug being pulled out from under us again…!

  • Reply

    Fancy that. I went back and played Sonic Rush not that long ago and found myself enjoying it more than Colors DS, oddly enough. Despite Colors DS having a fair amount of platforming, Rush required a lot more. It just wasn’t stop-and-go platforming. Also I played Sonic 3&K not that long ago. I’m especially eager to see levels from that in 3D (meaning 3-dimensional, I could actually care less about the whole “popping out” thing.)

  • Reply

    “Jun Senoue … mastermind”

    No, just no. Calling it now: everyone will praise the music for simply being beepy and existing inside a Sonic game.

    • Reply

      Because Classic music isn’t allowed to sound classy? Go kindly fuck yourself, sir.

      • Reply

        I was under the impression that the music was going to be original to the game, but if it’s all just remixed songs, then I can live with that. Chill dude.

    • Reply

      I’m hoping this won’t be as much of a “sonic 4” experience. And as far as I know the music’s just remixed

  • Reply

    I want to see Stardust Speedway as a level there! That would be too awesome play through!

    • Reply

      Good to see I’m not the only one who wants SOMETHING from Sonic CD showing its face here.

      • Reply

        I know, right? If they have most of the classic levels on here, they should pick this level!

      • Reply

        Actually, I’ll agree. I’ll take ANY Sonic CD level. Wait. No, scratch that. Any level that ISN’T Collision Chaos. or whatever has the boss you fight against entirely on bumpers and shit.

  • Reply

    Well, I’m getting both the PS3 version and the 3DS version.
    I have the money saved and everything. I knew SEGA wasn’t holding back on us at all! Truly, this is a great 20th for everyone’s lovable little chubby….or thin hedgehog!

  • Reply

    So the question i want to know now is who gets to have sonic3’s Ice cap zone 😀

  • Reply

    I kinda hate that the 3DS version has exclusive levels and one of them ends up being Sonic 3. My hopes of all handheld levels has just been dashed.

    • Reply

      Don’t make them SPEED UP development, though!
      (lolpun, look for your unintentional one)

      • Reply

        >My hopes of all handheld levels has just been dashed.

        >Don’t make them SPEED UP development, though!

        Is that it?

        • Reply

          Yup. That’d be the one.
          Man, I think I’ve been on Halolz a bit too much.

    • Reply

      The 3DS being different than the console version adds extra appeal to it though, just like how Colors DS is vastly different than the console version. If it was a lot like the console version, people would only complain that they were too similar AND COME ON YOU KNOW THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

  • Reply

    Regarding the special stages, I personally don’t think it’s going to be limited to Heroes-style. I think each stage will be based off a different Special Stage from the modern and classic era.

  • Reply

    -This is the first time that the music producer for Sonic 1 and Sonic 2, Masato Nakamura from the band Dreams Come True, is letting Jun Senoue and the rest of the sound team mess around with his musics from those games.

    I’m not really sure, I mean, green hill gets remixed all the time. Sadv3 had 4 different remixes, Sonic Battle had a rock-ish mix, and they even rerecorded\mixed Sweet Dreams for Sonic 06. I suppose Jun Senoue himself didn’t have a direct role with any of that.

  • Reply

    I wonder what this means for the “PC” part of the release information by Sega of Japan?
    Perhaps some of our theories are right on being that it could be Project Cafe…

  • Reply

    Watching these screenshots makes me think what that green lighting in Big Arm fight shot would be?

    • Reply

      From the looks of it, it’s just an ambient light on the arena. Although, I’d love it if in pinch mode of the boss, you hear the ever familiar laser charging sound from Sonic 3K and it fires a huge laser swallowing 80% of the arena.

  • Reply

    I came, I saw, I came.

    I shall never refer to that boss as anything other than Squeeze Tag Machine though.

  • Reply

    As someone who enjoyed every sonic game (Even 2006, thanks those Let’s Play for making the game fun where I couldn’t on my own) I have to say…

    YES! YES!

  • Reply

    Just when I quit being butthurt about it not getting released on Nintendo, and they release this. Oh well, at least I have this to top off the list of games that I’ve gotta get for the 3DS. It looks like Launch Base Zone may be returning, and I loved that zone in Sonic 3. Hopefully 360/PS3 owners will get Casino Night Zone, but if you don’t there’s always Casino Paradise from Sonic Advance, The Beta Casinopolis from Sonic Adventure, Carnival Night Zone from Sonic 3, Collision Chaos from Sonic CD, Spring Yard Zone from Sonic 1, and many others that I COULD name off at the moment, but will not because that’s enough of a list right there.

    Also I would like to say one more thing: I’m sorry for the freakout I had earlier, I was mad because I thought Nintendo was getting the short end of the stick for Sonic’s 20th anniversary.(More like an old rivalry being brought back, eh?) Now that I know a release is going to happen, I’ve gone to a calmer mood and can’t wait for Sega to release it.

  • Reply

    how nostalgic, also i like the GHZ loop more in the 3DS version it looks more classic!

  • Reply

    >Pot-bellied Sonic brings back all his animations form the calssic days. Welcome back, buddy!

    Seems Nintendo forgot all about “SEGA does what Nintendon’t!”

    • Reply

      Wasn’t that, “Genesis does what Nintendon’t”?

  • Reply

    Looking good. I’m getting the Xbox 360 version (mostly because I don’t have a 3DS) but I hope that the Sonic 3 final boss will be in the 360 version, too. I’m so glad they’re putting him in, it’s probably my favourite Sonic boss ever!

  • Reply

    and boom goes the dynamite.

  • Reply

    Five zones that i want to see in the 3DS version, but that probably never gonna make it and why i want them back: Chaos Angel (SADV 3): GODLY EPIC MUSIC and FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU difficulty. Egg Utopia (SADV 2): Epic music and Death Egg. Simple. Metallic Madness (Sonic CD): Best “eggman base” level music ever made. Why? Whacky music(Talkin’ bout’ the JAP/EU version, although I like the music of the present of this zone on the US/PC version) and FFFUUUUUU difficulty (This is the ONLY zone on SCD that i couldn’t acheive a Good Future, SERIOUSLY). Stardust Speedway (SCD) : Best zone in Sonic CD, wich also has an EXCLUSIVE design theme that NEVER appeared in ANY other Sonic zone I know and an EPIC boss battle (Let’s admit: Metal Sonic PWNS all other of Eggman’s invetions.). Quartz Quadrantz (SCD): Zone – exclusive design theme and awesome past music. Now that i think of it, Sonic Team should put only fan – popular zones in the console versions and forgotten and portable zones in the 3DS version. Good, isn’t it?

  • Reply

    Dear, GENEHF
    I would like to ask how you made this article. Did you interview Iizuka personally, or was it from an existing japanese article?

  • Reply

    Dear Genehf, I would like to ask how did you make this article, did you personally speak to Iizuka, or did you take a japanese article and translated it and did you use something automated to translate it (google translate)?

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