Comments on: Top 5 Sonic the Hedgehog Zones

By: Gravecat

Gravecat — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:55:22 +0000

I still have all my old Sonic stuff from when I was a kid, too, somewhere in an old cardboard box stored under a bunch of other boxes. ;3

Chemical Plant, I’m sure I’m biased on, since I’ve just always loved that sort of industrial setting since I was a kid, and still do. Casino Night was one of many that almost made the list, but let’s face it, there’s just too many good zones in the classic four Sonic games to fit into just five. ;3

Rocket Knight Adventures! I loved that game! Other than the end boss which I always felt was kinda crap, such a great game with some truly memorable boss fights. Two thumbs up for that.

Annnnd~ I think I know the S&K zone you’re referring to, though its name escapes me. Sky Palace or something? I forget. Good zone, though, but it didn’t quite stick in my mind like Lava Reef did. :3

By: Miranda

Miranda — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:36:46 +0000

Oh, and what was the name of that Zone (I think it was S&K) where you’re jumping around these little floating islands and you battle all the different Metal Sonics mimicking bosses from the earlier games? That was really sweet too.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:33:22 +0000

Wow, you’ve made me nostalgic! So much so that I might have to go rescue my plush Sonic doll from the “going to Goodwill donations” box in the back of my parents’ minivan…

This is a pretty good list, although I wouldn’t rank Chemical Plant Zone as highly, and I always HATED Sandopolis Zone because of those damned ghosts. Personal bias, though– for some reason, no other Sonic baddies ever gave me as much trouble as they did.

Also, my own list would include Casino Night Zone and Angel Island Zone, plus the special stages from Sonic 2 and 3.

On a semi-related note, did you ever play Rocket Knight Adventures? As far as I’m concerned, it had the coolest lava level in any 2D platform ever, because you’d have to jump out of frame when the lava rose too high and use a mirror-image to guide yourself.

By: Lu

Lu — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:32:17 +0000

It’s…not quite Metropolis, it’s hard to explain. But it has all the trappings and mechanics of Chemical Plant, including extra, friendly, and new mechanics to make even the newest of platformer gamers rage out with how annoying they are. And then sometimes they just throw you a level so full of bullshit that you want to scream till your throat is raw.

Either way, I would recommend grabbing a copy of Rush and Rush Adventure, since their platforming levels can genuinely be a good lot of fun, even though they so frequently miss the mark that made the originals so great.

By: Gravecat

Gravecat — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:08:33 +0000

I’m still confused about the idea of a steampunk Chemical Plant, though; isn’t that pretty much what Metropolis was? Still, it’ll all be Scrap Brain remixes in my mind. I honestly wish I could have fit Scrap Brain onto the list, but it simply wasn’t quite good enough to make the cut, not when Green Hill is so much more iconic.

By: Lu

Lu — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:04:36 +0000

Oh, Chemical Plant Zone is a shared favourite, believe me, but seeing it so horribly mutilated is just…It aims for the mark and misses entirely, giving something that does indeed try its best, but ultimately fails. If it had been anything close to the majesty, and with something near the great soundtracks that these levels had, then I think it might be better.

This being said, Blizzard Peaks on Rush Adventure was a stunning level and an excellent spiritual successor to Icecap Zone. I guess ultimately I get bitter about re-hashes of Chemical Plant, because they have never, and will never, be as good as the original.

By: Gravecat

Gravecat — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:00:03 +0000

I’m going to admit I haven’t actually played much of Rush at all, though perhaps I should do something to fix that at some point. And I’d disagree that re-hashes are bad, though — Chemical Plant is one of the most popular Sonic zones of all time, and it’s a clear remake of Scrap Brain.

With that said, I take it you more or less agree with my choices? Somewhat surprising, though perhaps our opinions will differ further when I post the worst 5 zones tomorrow. ;3

By: Lu

Lu — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:57:45 +0000

I really wish the Sonic Rush series of games had come just a bit closer to these five zones. It's clear in the games that some of them are blatant re-hashes, including the distinctly steampunk version of Chemical Plant Zone, Machine Labyrinth. While one could argue that these kinds of stages are a mere staple of the Sonic series, the uncanny similarities Rush and Rush Adventure's zones have with such memorable classics leave a bitter taste in the mouth, like a cheap imitation of cola, and a creeping, cold feeling. The elements are there, but when it comes down to it, it's just dead inside