Sonic Generations

The speeding ball of blue wowed gamers worldwide as he ran, span and looped-the-looped his way around frantic Zones like Green Hill and Marble.

Now, the 16-bit icon is back with Sonic Generations – a birthday treat for all fans, old and new.

We had a quick spin on the new game (out early November on Xbox 360, PS3 and 3Ds) and reckon SEGA has struck gold rings with Generations.

First off, it’s double delight because you get to choose between old-school Classic Sonic from 1991 and the 3D Modern Sonic. The former offers side-scrolling levels while the latter jumps into a dizzying world of in-your-face stages.

But has SEGA managed to maintain the true essence of a gaming legend while at the same time offering up a modern day twist? Or would it end up all over the shop like Doctor Eggman’s crazy moustache?

We headed into the Green Hill Zone, Act 1, as Classic Sonic to find out.

Even before blast off we were impressed with the stunning HD graphics, along with the well-known, rather catchy, soundtrack chiming in the background – and it got even better when Classic Sonic set off.

Despite looking a little on the chubby side, the spiky star flew through the level. And it didn’t take long for nostalgia to get the better of us thanks to the return of Sonic’s trademark Spin Dash – still as awesome as it was back in the Nineties.

The music, slick level design and bright backdrop made this more than just an enjoyable trip down memory lane. It was an engaging Sonic workout, with enough trips and traps to frustrate even the most hardened gamer. At the same time, it maintains the Sonic charm that has mesmerised millions over the years.

The innovative menu system allows you to quickly choose between the two Sonics for each stage. So next up, it was time for Modern Sonic, a somewhat leaner version of his Classic predecessor.

This gave us a different look at the re-vamped levels, with the gameplay feeling more like modern Sonic titles (Colours, Unleashed etc). Bounding around these environments needed a slight adjustment to our Sonic technique – well-timed Homing Attacks and Sonic Boosts were essential in scoring quick level times.

Story wise, Sonic’s universe has been thrown into chaos when a mysterious new power creates “time holes” which pull him and his pals back through time. As a result he encounters some surprises from his past as well as meeting a strange new enemy.

It’s this hook that means gamers can enjoy defining eras from 20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog.

To be honest, it doesn’t matter if you prefer the old Sonic or the new one. Playing as either incarnation in Sonic Generations is a gaming rush for all ages.