The quintessential Zone

Because death would've been too merciful.
User avatar
Esrever
Drano Master
Posts: 2981
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 2:26 am
Contact:

Post by Esrever »

I think my favourite levels were always the "speed highway"-esque stages in the 2D games, like Starlight Zone and Stardust Speedway. Completely ignoring aesthetics, there were a lot of better designed zones in the later 2D games. But as I've gotten older, I've grown more and more enamoured with the surreal style of the earlier games, and less enthusiastic about the art direction of 3&K. It makes it hard for me to pick favourite levels, because there's not much overlap between the best-looking and the best-playing stages.

(Mind you, the early stages still played great and the later ones still looked nice, I'm just being PICKY.)

User avatar
Zeta
Posts: 4444
Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 11:06 am
Contact:

Post by Zeta »

Yeah, there's a big divide on what kind of style you like in Sonic - surreal (Sonic 1, 2, CD, Heroes) or more realistic (S3K, SA & SA2).

While I think both, in the end, have merrits - I'm much more enamoured of the realer style, simply because too much surrealism makes me nauseous.

Meanwhile the realer style generally makes for more sensical stages . . . I appreciate random floating platforms covered in checkerboard as the next guy, but seeing Sonic run through what could actually be a real-life city just makes him and the stories told about him seem a lot more alive. It's an aesthetic thing.

Maybe we should have a poll based on this alone, just for the art style?

'Course, if I had to choose an "ideal" art style for Sonic, I'd rather see Sonic and the zones rendered in the Smilebit's Jet Set Radio style - urban, stylish, angular, full of character, and sharp. The cell-shading I can take or leave, but I think Sonic would feel at home in Shibuya-Cho. It's got the grittiness of his more realistic moments while still keeping the feeling of stylish surrealism that was prevalent in the earlier games.

But that's just one little guy's silly opinion . . .

User avatar
Chaos Control
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:54 pm
Location: Independence High School (in Iowa)

Post by Chaos Control »

Tell me about it.

Anyway, another cool zone was Sandopolis from S&K. The music rocks!

PRV
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:37 pm
Location: Churchill College, Cambridge, UK
Contact:

Post by PRV »

Probably the two zones that have made the biggest lasting impression on me are Emerald Hill and Casino Night. Emerald Hill, because it was the first Sonic Zone I ever played and, due to my all round not-very-good-at-Sonic-ness, one of only two Sonic Zones that I actually played for some time (the other being Chemical Plant). In particular, the BGM and those opening chords (which for a long time left be with the eroneous belief that all Sonic zones started with those chords) fixed the image of Emerald Hill in my head. The "green" zones are arguably the biggest zone cliché in the series, and Emerald Hill typifies them well enough.

In a similar vein, it's the music that fixed Casino Night in my head as well: Casino Night, followed by Emerald Hill, are my two top "2D Sonic" zone tunes. That and all the flashy lights and a difficult-to-describe sense of classiness that permeates the zone puts it up there on my quintessential Zone pairing.

User avatar
Stardust Speedman
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:12 pm
Location: Darmstadt, Germany
Contact:

Post by Stardust Speedman »

I think, between all the Sonic zones/stages I have ever played, my favorit Zone is Wacky Workbench. It was, in my opinion, the most difficult stage in Sonic CD and it had real cool Ideas. I think it is the most different Zone/Stage among all. I would really love to see a 3D version of it. The race with Metal-Sonic in Stardust Speedway could also be an excelent level, if it only was more challenging. The race was too easy and I think Sonic Team could make something metter of, not only this level, but the whole Sonic-CD-game. I mean it was a cool game, but it was just too easy. But I really liked the Special Stages.
I also love under-water-levels like Labyrinth Zone and Aqua Lake Zone. A 3D version of this zones would be very cool. It is really sad, that Sonic Team does not make any stages of that kind. However, I didn't like Tidal Tempest. You could play through the first act without entering the water at all. Do you call this an under-water-zone?
Rusty Ruin Zone was also a very good zone with cool music. I really liked Sonic 3D.
But there are lots of other good zones/stages. I could sometime make a list of my favorit zones/stages in every Sonic game I have played as yet.
Last edited by Stardust Speedman on Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:01 am, edited 3 times in total.

User avatar
Omni Hunter
Omnizzy
Posts: 1966
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:50 am
Location: MK, Satan's Layby
Contact:

Post by Omni Hunter »

I won't say it twice.

User avatar
Pasta
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:56 am
Location: In a cracker jack box, waiting to be found...

Post by Pasta »

Sonic 1: Starlight Zone. Awesome design, great music, and just feels good to play.

Sonic 2: TIE! Hilltop and Metropolis. You have no idea how badly I wanted to say Hidden Palace. That level was just awesome, so sad it got canned. In fact, all the canned levels ruled, even Genocide City. That would have been so cool....*sigh*

Sonic 3: Hydrocity and Launch Base. Launch Base's background was just awesome, and do I really need to explain Hydrocity

S&K: Lava Reef. No question.

Sonic 3D: Volcano Valley, Diamond Dust, and Rusty Ruin. I can't choose. They all rule.

Sonic CD: Never played it. Desparately want to. :cry:

Sonic Adventure: Haven't played enough of it to tell.

SA2: Two words: Green. Hill.

User avatar
Brazillian Cara
Posts: 1729
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 5:30 pm
Now Playing: the waiting game.
Location: On a never-ending quest to change my avatar.

Post by Brazillian Cara »

Just to add:
Sonic Heroes- Egg Fleet. I don't know why, it just feels all like "It's war! Let's blast this shit and go home!!" everytime I play it (and yes, it's a good feeling). The music only helps.

User avatar
Omni Hunter
Omnizzy
Posts: 1966
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:50 am
Location: MK, Satan's Layby
Contact:

Post by Omni Hunter »

Really? All I noticed were "Drops! too man goddamn bottomless drops!". Oh, and "Fish!".

User avatar
smiths32
Posts: 310
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 5:02 pm
Location: Scotland
Contact:

Post by smiths32 »

Well to be fair, Egg Fleet was probably the best level in Sonic Heroes and had an excuse for all those bottomless pits.

User avatar
Starscream
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:33 pm
Location: Ghent, Belgium

Post by Starscream »

Heh, I was just about to create a topic on this in the main forum when I checked the poll section to be sure. :smile:

So, taking only the classic games into account (S1 to S3K), I gotta admit it's a tough choice. I'm not big on most of the original Sonic's Zones actually. Green Hill is a classic of course, and I love to play Starlight or Labyrinth Zone, but they don't appeal to me that much game-play wise because of their difficulty. I'm surprised to see so much love for Spring Yard. Honestly I hated it. Probably my least favourite Zone from Sonic 1. I can play the tune on my bass guitar though. :smile:
I think my "relative dislike" for Sonic 1's levels lies mainly in the difficulty. The original is by far the hardest of the series and with the exception of Green Hill there aren't any zones you can really speed through.

Sonic 2 has all-round great Zones, but none really stand out for me. Chemical Plant and Oil Ocean are favourites, and I'm tempted to include Sky Chase. My least favourite has to be Aquatic Ruin. Slow and dangerous.

I suppose Sonic 3 (& Knuckles) is where it's at for me. Hydrocity, Ice Cap or Mushroom Hill. Tough choice. All three are some of the fastest Zones in the series (*the* fastest has to be Ice Cap Act 2, period!), but in the end I think I'd have to go with Mushroom Hill. I think someone else said it here: Mushroom Hill encompasses all things great about Sonic.

Let's say:

*Graphics: Labyrinth Zone
*Game-Play: Mushroom Hill Zone
*Music: Hydrocity (especially Act 2!) and Oil Ocean

On a sidenote, anyone ever noticed how none of Sonic & Knuckles' levels have water in them? I suppose it makes sense as far as Flying Battery, Sandopolis, Lava Reef, Sky Sanctuary and Death Egg goes (duh! :smile: ) but still it's a bit weird how all the water levels were clustered in Sonic 3, while S&K has none.

User avatar
Frieza2000
Posts: 1338
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:09 am
Now Playing: the fool
Location: confirmed. Sending supplies.

Post by Frieza2000 »

Yes, that made the water shield especially confusing if you had S&K without Sonic 3.

User avatar
jenkins
Posts: 599
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:09 am
Location: Belchertown, 20 minutes from everything
Contact:

Post by jenkins »

I don't know why no one's mentioned Egg Rocket Zone. That zone had everything that a zone needs: amazing music, brilliant graphics (Advance series had the best 2d graphics), a cool boss (in Cosmic Angel), hard enemies, jumps requiring skill and patience, the longest time limit in any Sonic level (24:99 minutes!), and the best level gimmick ever: it moved upwards! This zone kicks waay to much ass, I can't fit it all here.

User avatar
Omni Hunter
Omnizzy
Posts: 1966
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:50 am
Location: MK, Satan's Layby
Contact:

Post by Omni Hunter »

Actually, going back to an age old arguement, the graphics in the Advance series are neither better or worse than the old school Sonic games. There's a style difference with the Advance being more cartoony and resembling the new Sonic but that's the only difference.
Maybe you prefer the style which is what I think your getting at.

Looking at the Egg Rocket level, I suppose it's actually one of the best levels in the advance series. It was kind of epic and was better than all the other penultimate levels in the Advance series.

Personally I love the Starlight Zone, a level where technology didn't go bad like in Scrap Brain. The amount of layers in the level is excellent too, you have multiple star layers, then the city skyline and the cool old buildings near the levels bowels, so there's a lot to look at. The stuff like the street lamps, traffic cones and so on gave a nice sense of a wierd but strangely the most realistic level in the whole game.

User avatar
jenkins
Posts: 599
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:09 am
Location: Belchertown, 20 minutes from everything
Contact:

Post by jenkins »

Well...maybe. I think that the old style just wasn't much to speak of to begin with, except in Sonic 2. And, while I appreciate anyone who likes Egg Rocket, I can't say the same for Star Light. Nice music, though.

User avatar
Stardust Speedman
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:12 pm
Location: Darmstadt, Germany
Contact:

Post by Stardust Speedman »

Sonic (MD) - Labyrinth Zone

Sonic (MS) - Jungle

Sonic 2 (MS) - Aqua Lake Zone

Sonic 2 (MD) - Wing Fortress Zone

Sonic CD - Wacky Workbench

Sonic & Tails - Sleeping Egg Zone

Sonic Spinball - Toxic Caves

Sonic 3 - Marble Garden Zone

Sonic & Knuckles - Sandopolis Zone

Sonic & Tails 2 - Tidal Plant

Chaotix - Botanic Base

Sonic 3D - Rusty Ruin Zone

Sonic Blast - WORST SONIC GAME EVAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sonic R - Regal Ruin

Sonic Adventure - Sky Deck

Sonic Adventure 2 - Crazy Gadget (Haven't seen Green Hill yet.)

Sonic Advance - Egg Rocket Zone

Sonic Advance 2 - Egg Utopia

Sonic Battle - Metal Depot

Sonic Heroes - Bingo Highway

Sonic Advance 3 - Chaos Angel

Sonic Rush - Dead Line

Shadow - Cosmic Fall

Sonic Riders - Dark Desert (Haven't seen Sega Ilusion yet.)

------------------------------

Tropical, Hill or Leafy - Marble Garden

Lava - Marble Zone

Pinball or Casino - Bingo Highway

Aqua - Labyrinth Zone

Speed Roads - Stardust Speedway

Mechanical Base - Wacky Workbench

Jungle - Jungle

Sky - Sky High Zone

Cave - Mystic Cave (I think it's the only real cave zone/stage which is not actually a lava level.)

Pipy - Scrambled Egg Zone (I think it's the only really pipy zone/stage.)

Fantasy - Sleeping Egg Zone

Ice - Ice Mountain Zone

Agyptian - Sandopolis

Kiddy - Music Plant

Ships - Marina Madness

Non-Agyptian Ruin - Chaos Angel

Mountain or Canyon - Rail Canyon

City - Central City

Prison - Prison Island

Harbor - Metal Harbor (I think it's the only harbor zone/stage.)

Space - Cosmic Fall

Techno - Techno Base

Castle - Cryptic Castle

Digital - Mad Matrix

Alieny - Black Comet

------------------------------

Race - Speed Highway

Treasure Hunt - Mad Space

Escape - Hot Shelter

Shooting - Cosmic Wall

Fishing - WORST IDEA EVAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

------------------------------

Special Stage -
1. Sonic CD
2. Sonic Heroes
3. Sonic (MD)

------------------------------

Boss -
1. Egg-Go-Round
2. Unknown
3. Labyrinth Zone Boss
(Haven't seen Nonaggression yet.)
Last edited by Stardust Speedman on Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
j-man
All-Time Everything GHZ Award Winner
Posts: 3227
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 3:07 pm
Now Playing: Sea of Friends
Location: Entirely Unmoving
Contact:

Post by j-man »

Image

User avatar
Stardust Speedman
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:12 pm
Location: Darmstadt, Germany
Contact:

Post by Stardust Speedman »

I don't really get what you mean. If you mean this topic has been dead for years, I just didn't want to open a new topic for this.

User avatar
Shadow Hog
Posts: 1776
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2006 8:21 am
Location: Location: Location:

Post by Shadow Hog »

Hey, at least he didn't post furry porn.

User avatar
jenkins
Posts: 599
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:09 am
Location: Belchertown, 20 minutes from everything
Contact:

Post by jenkins »

Very true. I was beginning to worry...three in one day? Ouch.

Stardust Speedman, do you have any reasons for those choices? Some of them are pretty odd to me, and I'd like to know why you picked them.

User avatar
Stardust Speedman
Posts: 53
Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:12 pm
Location: Darmstadt, Germany
Contact:

Post by Stardust Speedman »

Sonic (MD) - Labyrinth Zone:
I love under water zones! They’re usually challenging and I like the threat of drowning. Labyrinth Zone has ingenious level design with a lot of different challenging things happening in it. It is very varied and isn’t just a zone which you can run through without anything special happening in it. The boss of this zone is also one of my favourites. It is different from all the other bosses in the early Sonic games. You don’t have to defeat Eggman, but have to survive from the water. It’s challenging and interesting.

Sonic (MS) - Jungle:
The visuals in this level are very nice. It has some cool features in the level design. I like especially act 2, because the level goes upwards and it’s challenging, because you have to be careful to not fall down again. The boss is a little bit unfair, but I still like it.

Sonic 2 (MS) - Aqua Lake Zone:
I love under water zones! I especially love act 2! Most of all, I like the part in the level where you go up with a bubble and have to avoid the crayfishes and the spears. Unfortunately, the boss is very lame. Act 1 is good, but you can take a shortcut which makes the act so short, that makes the act practically useless, except for collecting lives. I like the music in this zone very much!

Sonic 2 (MD) - Wing Fortress Zone:
I never really liked Sonic 2 (MD) that much. I mean I like it, but compared to the other jump-‘n’-Run-Sonic-games it is my least favourite. I even like the Advance games better. I have chosen Wing Fortress Zone, because I like the Idea of having a level on a giant aeroplane and because the zone is challenging, but not as annoying as the other zones in this game. I also like the heroic music.

Sonic CD - Wacky Workbench:
I’m very fascinated by this zone! It’s the most unusual zone in Sonic’s history! You have a lot of cool features in this level. It’s totally chaotic (I love chaoticness!) and you are always moving, especially up and down (Woooooooooow, my head’s spinning! XP). And another cool feature is that you can loose you’re way. You really have to search to find the exit. Unfortunately, all bosses in Sonic CD are lame.

Sonic & Tails - Sleeping Egg Zone:
I like all the jumping around with the springs and the whole breakable and falling platforms. You can do a bunch of different experiments in this zone with this features and this makes the zone interesting.

Sonic Spinball - Toxic Caves:
I’m actually not really sure with this choice. Something just made me choose this level and I can’t explain why.

Sonic 3 - Marble Garden Zone:
This zone in Sonic 3 is the zone with the coolest features. I especially like the spinning top platforms which take off in the air when you run on them. You can do a lot of experiments with them and try to reach new places. The altering ground and the main boss are also interesting, although the boss gets really easy once you know how to beat it. The acts are huge, not only horizontally but also vertically, and there are a lot of places you can go. Very good level design!

Sonic & Knuckles - Sandopolis Zone:
One of the best zones ever! Again, the zone is full of cool features, especially act 2. I love the settings, since I’m a big fan of ruins, ancient buildings and pyramids. I like it very much that act 1 is outside and act 2 is inside an ancient building/pyramid. The most interesting features are the ghosts that appear when the level gets dark and the rising sands and time doors. Plus, the zone is huge!

Sonic & Tails 2 - Tidal Plant:
I love under water zones! The level design in this zone is marvellous! Almost all 3 acts are completely under water. The whole zone is very challenging and has some cool ideas. The music is lovely!

Chaotix - Botanic Base:
Chaotix is most fun when playing with someone else. It’s almost unbelievable how fun this can be, if you play it with the right person. The main idea of the game is very cool and gave the game potential to be very great. But unfortunately, the level design is not that special and it doesn’t give you much opportunity to use the special features of this game, especially in single-player. I actually can’t remember the zones that well. I just choose Botanic Base because it’s beautiful and has the best music. But Marina Madness is also very beautiful, probably more beautiful than Botanic Base.

Sonic 3D - Rusty Ruin Zone:
The music in the Mega Drive version is awesome (not only in this zone - I don’t like the music of the Saturn and PC version.)! Probably the Sonic game with the best sound tracks! Apart from the great music in this zone, the visuals are also very nice, because of the ruinal setting. What I like most in this zone are the fans that send you whirling. Cool feature which gives you a lot of possibilities for experimenting.

Sonic Blast - WORST SONIC GAME EVAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sonic R - Regal Ruin:
I can’t remember the tracks in this game that much. I can only remember that the tracks which I enjoyed most were Regal Ruin and Reactive Factory. I can’t remember which one I enjoyed more, but I chose Regal Ruin, because I love ancient settings!

Sonic Adventure - Sky Deck:
Most chaotic and challenging stage in Sonic Adventure with the coolest features! I especially like the tilted camera angles in some parts of the stage.

Sonic Adventure 2 - Crazy Gadget (Haven't seen Green Hill yet.):
I really like controlling Sonic upside down and tilted in 3D Sonic games!

Sonic Advance - Egg Rocket Zone:
Without question, the best zone in the whole game! It is actually the zone in the game which has really good level design and original ideas, especially in the first act. The music rocks in both acts. The boss is challenging in a good way.

Sonic Advance 2 - Egg Utopia:
Since all the zones in Sonic Advance 2 feel the same, it’s hard to say which one is the best. I chose Egg Utopia because it’s the most challenging one.

Sonic Battle - Metal Depot:
Because of the music and because it’s horizontally stretched, thus, different from the other arenas.

Sonic Heroes - Bingo Highway:
I like the Bingo tables and I love the music!

Sonic Advance 3 - Chaos Angel:
The most original Zone in all of the Advance games with the coolest features and excellent music! This is actually one of my most favourite zones ever! A pity that the other zones in Sonic Advance 3 are by far not as cool as this one! Everything is actually right in this Zone: The music is fantastic! The ancient setting is fantastic! You can run really fast in this zone, but still are challenged and have great platforming sections. This is how all the Advance zones should have been, but most of them failed to be, because of lack of balance between speed, platforming and challenge. The permanent chaotic feeling in this zone only helps!

Sonic Rush - Dead Line:
Altitude Limit and Dead Line are the zones with the coolest features in Sonic Rush. I was not sure which one to choose, but I decided to choose Dead Line, because I like the rockets and getting shot by the springs from one screen to the other. I also love the battle between Sonic and Blaze. Plus, I have one of the best scores EVER!!! In Dead Line act 1 with Sonic: 118064 points! After all, Sonic Rush is my most favourite game of all time!

Shadow - Cosmic Fall:
The best 3D Sonic stage ever! Great music, which really suits the feeling of the stage, great visuals (I really like space stages in all 3D Sonic games!) and very challenging in a nice way! I love all the moving and rotating platforms and the feeling that you are permanently falling. The part of the game where you have to jump around with the jumping vehicle is also very challenging and fun. All in all, great feeling in the whole stage with cool gimmicks!

Sonic Riders - Dark Desert (Haven't seen Sega Illusion yet.):
Although Sonic Riders is a cool racing game, all the tracks feel pretty much the same. I am really not sure which track is my most favourite, but I chose Dark Desert because it has the best music in the whole game and I am a fan of ancient settings. I chose Dark Desert instead of Sand Ruins because Dark Desert looks nicer, because it is played in the night and you have a beautiful moon in the background. It’s also more challenging.

------------------------------

Tropical, Hill or Leafy - Marble Garden

Lava - Marble Zone:
I love the music and the gimmicks in this Zone, especially the floating bricks on the lava. But the most important reason for choosing this as the best lava zone ever is nostalgia!

Pinball or Casino - Bingo Highway

Aqua - Labyrinth Zone

Speed Roads - Stardust Speedway:
I love the visuals in this zone, especially in the past! I also loved the race against Metal Sonic the first time I played it, but once you manage to beat Metal Sonic, you realize that the race was actually a little bit poor and it could have been done much better. Still loved the idea!

Mechanical Base - Wacky Workbench

Jungle - Jungle

Sky - Sky High Zone:
One of my favourites of all time! The music is waaaaaaay cool and I love jumping around on the clouds and flying around with the hang gliders and dodging the spikes. The boss is also interesting and challenging. I might even like this zone better than Aqua Lake Zone, but I’m not sure.

Cave - Mystic Cave (I think it's the only real cave zone/stage which is not actually a lava level.):
I really like the music and the setting in this zone. Especially the setting is pretty unique. But it lacks in level design, just like most other zones in Sonic 2 (MD). I chose this zone, because there is probably nothing else to choose from. XP

Pipy - Scrambled Egg Zone (I think it's the only really pipy zone/stage.):
The zone is not that spectacular, but I chose this zone, because there is probably nothing else to choose from. XP

Fantasy - Sleeping Egg Zone

Ice - Icecap Zone:
I’m not a very big fan of ice zones in Sonic games, but Icecap Zone from Sonic 3 is the most interesting one.

Egyptian - Sandopolis

Kiddy - Music Plant:
The question is, is kiddy good at all? But apart from the kiddy style, Music Plant is quite good. Well, it’s just Sonic Advance 2: Nice and fun, but could have been much, much, much better!

Ships - Huge Crisis:
The choice would have been between Marina Madness and Huge Crisis. Although Marina Madness looks very beautiful, the winner is obviously Huge Crisis, because it’s Sonic Rush and it’s much more fun!

Non-Egyptian Ruin - Chaos Angel

Mountain or Canyon - Rail Canyon:
This is my second favourite Stage in Sonic Heroes. I actually like stages which are mainly on rails. Their challenging and fast! I especially like the several direction changes when you are on the rails which make you say: “Woooooooooow, my head’s spinning!â€￾ XP

City - Central City:
One of the best 3D Sonic stages ever! You have a big city with no goal ring and have to search carefully for bombs. There are a lot of places you can reach and you really have to search. The time limit threatens you to be fast. There are a lot of things happening in every corner of the city and it’s just awesomely chaotic!

Prison - Prison Island:
The choice would have been between Prison Lane, Iron Gate and Prison Island. Obviously, Prison Island is the winner, because the other two are just shooting stages. But Prison Island is a very good stage anyway and has very nice music.

Harbor - Metal Harbor (I think it's the only harbor zone/stage.):
I chose this stage, because there is probably nothing else to choose from. XP

Space - Cosmic Fall

Techno - Techno Base:
The choice would have been between Techno Tower and Techno Base. Techno Base is in my opinion definitely better. It has nice visuals and has probably the best boss ever!

Castle - Cryptic Castle:
The choice would have been between Hang Castle, Mystic Mansion and Cryptic Castle. Cryptic Castle is my most favourite. It has awesome music, very nice atmosphere and pretty good level design. Better than the other two!

Digital - Mad Matrix:
One of the best 3D Sonic stages ever! It is huge, especially if you play the hero mission, has some cool features, looks nice and original and has one of the best soundtracks ever! I like to circuit in the circuit and I like the colour puzzles.

Alieny - Black Comet:
Lovely music! Nice level design!

------------------------------

Race - Speed Highway:
It is the only challenging and fun stage with Tails in Sonic Adventure. The first time I played it, it seemed to me to be the most difficult stage in the whole game. It gets easy after playing it several times, but it’s still fun.

Treasure Hunt - Mad Space:
I absolutely love this stage! I wished there was such a stage available to Sonic! All the circling around the planets and flying from one planet to another with wacky camera angles is just plane fun! The music is also lovely and fits to the stage.

Escape - Hot Shelter:
Probably the second best stage in Sonic Adventure! It has a lot of cool and fun features!

Shooting - Cosmic Wall:
One of the few shooting stages which is really fun! It looks nice, because it’s a space level, has very nice music and the low gravity makes it more fun to play. I also like the sections where Eggman is on a rail and has to shoot up oncoming things.

Fishing - WORST IDEA EVAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

------------------------------

Special Stage -
1. Sonic CD:
Looks very nice, has cool music and is simply fun to play! I like it that the game play is real 3D (you can move in any directions) and Sonic is always on the run. It is very challenging, has cool features and is probably the most original Special Stage ever.
2. Sonic Heroes:
The fastest Special Stage ever! The adrenalin kick in these Special Stages is incredible!
3. Sonic (MD):
I don’t know, but I just love it! It’s probably nostalgia.

------------------------------

Boss -
1. Egg-Go-Round:
While Sonic Advance 2 has flawed level design, I just love the idea of the boss acts! The fact that Sonic is always running gives a massive adrenalin kick and makes the battles more challenging. The music in the boss acts is especially fucking awesome! Egg-Go-Round is without a doubt one of the most challenging bosses in Sonic’s history.
2. Unknown:
Long, challenging battle which gets harder and harder all the time, since new challenges and surprises are added after every hit. Very original! The music is also very cool!
3. Labyrinth Zone Boss:
This boss is different from all the other bosses in the early Sonic games. You don’t have to defeat Eggman, but have to survive from the water. It’s challenging, interesting and triggers nostalgia.
(Haven't seen Nonaggression yet.)

User avatar
foxboy666
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:11 pm
Location: israel

Post by foxboy666 »

my most favorite zone is seaside hill, because of the clear sky, the sand and the BGM.
about the 2D zone, I can't choose between marble garden zone or route 99, but I can't compare 'cause the different gameplay and objects.

User avatar
DackAttac
Posts: 886
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:37 am
Location: Albany, NY / Boston, MA
Contact:

Post by DackAttac »

I was shocked to hear Lava Zone brought up so frequently, but after some reflection, I'd have to agree. The music is awesome, the scenery pretty, Act 2 has some really fun sections, and its layout starts to bring the plot to climax. That whole Boss area is one of the most effective edge-of-seat sequences they've done, especially since you're pretty much done for if you miss a platform and helped by the imagery of the Death Egg coming to life and being that close in the foreground. It's probably a cliché from some movie, but I love the concept of the volcano erupting, the volcano cooling and solidifying, and then erupting again from manmade means.

A runner up might have to be Emerald Coast. Linear it may be, it had plenty of shortcuts (some shocked me after owning SA1 for seven years) and is really the best argument I have for myself that Sonic can work in 3D. And that music. Cheesy strings and all, I love it.

Post Reply