Summary
- Sonic developers have merged 2D and 3D gameplay in recent titles like Sonic Forces, Sonic Colors, and Sonic X Shadow Generations.
- Some great Sonic games skillfully blend 2D and 3D sections, offering fans the best of both worlds without sacrificing the core experience.
- Titles such as Sonic Colors and Sonic Frontiers showcase the seamless switch between different gameplay styles, providing diverse and engaging experiences.
There has long been a debate among the Sonic fanbase about whether 2D or 3D is the best gameplay formula for the Blue Blur to follow. In an attempt to please everyone, Sonic Team and Sega have tried their best to incorporate both styles in many of the recent games, and though this may feel a little clunky for some entries, there have still been other mainline titles that have managed to incorporate them both extremely well into the core experience.
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It's hard not to love racing through an area at lightning-fast speed when playing in 3D, but there's still something about that nostalgic 2D template that just feels right for Sonic the Hedgehog games. Needless to say, it's not always easy to pick between one or the other, but thankfully, there are many Sonic games where players can enjoy both without being forced to choose, with the titles below being the biggest examples.
Sonic Forces
Players Can Save The World With Two Different Gameplay Styles
Sonic Forces
- Released
- November 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Shooter, Fighting, Adventure
While Sonic Forces didn't exactly receive glowing praise upon its release, now that the series is in a much better state, a lot of fans have started to look back on it more fondly and appreciate it for what it was trying to go for. After Sonic is defeated and imprisoned near the beginning of the game, players must create their own character and partake in a giant war against Eggman and other iconic villains from the series. While most of the stages play in 3D, with players being able to make good use of their new grappling hook to launch themselves onto different pathways, there's also a nice mixture of 2D areas sprinkled in for good measure.
Admittedly, Frontiers is a pretty easy and forgiving game that never goes too far with its challenge, but it is still a lot of fun being able to blast through some familiar areas as a custom character in these different gameplay formats. The story is definitely a little hit or miss because of how outlandish it is, but Frontiers still has a pretty solid gameplay loop that fans of all eras can find some enjoyment in.
Sonic Colors
Use The Special Powers Of The Wisps To Navigate Through Eggman's Theme Park
Sonic Colors: Ultimate
- Released
- September 3, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- 3D Platformer
Sonic Color s is often considered to be somewhat of an underrated gem by many Sonic fans, and there are a few reasons why this is the case. While the vibrant aesthetic and introduction of the Wisp mechanic allow the game to feel completely unique from what came before, it also features a pretty decent balance between 2D and 3D gameplay, which will often switch in the middle of a stage. That said, the game is still predominantly played from a 2D camera angle. One moment, players will be cruising down Eggman's theme park while dodging any Eggbots that stand in their way; the next, they will be traversing across long gaps to avoid being killed by the spikes below, and this is all while playing with a 2D camera angle.
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Because the levels of Sonic Colors tend to be very short, it means that this constant switching back and forth never becomes irritating. If anything, it only helps to make the areas more unpredictable and, in turn, challenging. The story of Colors definitely isn't anything to write home about, but in terms of gameplay, it's well worth checking out, regardless of whether fans are more in love with the 2D or 3D games.
Sonic Lost World
A Slower And More Methodical Platformer With Some Fun Areas To Explore
Sonic Lost World
- Released
- October 29, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
While the Boost mechanic had quickly become a mainstay in the series after it was introduced Sonic Rush, Sonic Team decided to slow things down a little bit with Sonic Lost World by replacing it with a run button. While the run is a lot slower than what fans might be used to, it does also allow for a more methodical style of gameplay, allowing for some tricky platforming sections in both 3D and 2D. 3D worlds are all about cruising through the stage as fast as possible while taking out enemies along the way. Meanwhile, the 2D areas tend to be the most difficult, featuring plenty of valuable Red Rings to keep an eye out for.
One thing to note about Sonic Lost World is that while it can be a little tricky to get used to at first, it's one of the most satisfying Sonic games to master, making it an absolute blast to jump into again and again. A mixture of both 2D and 3D also helps to provide a nice amount of diversity to the core gameplay, ensuring that things never get too boring or predictable, especially when also combined with the new villains known as the Deadly Six, who are always keeping Sonic on his toes.
Sonic Unleashed
Unleashed Throws In Some Brief 2D Segments Before Jumping Back Into The High-Speed Action
Sonic Unleashed
- Released
- November 18, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Beat 'Em Up
Sonic Unleashed is already a pretty ambitious game considering it introduces the Werehog, a brutish version of the blue hedgehog who has his own set of hack and slash missions for players to complete. However, almost every day and night stage in the game follows the same formula of being primarily 3D while also throwing in a few 2D segments to keep things interesting. When developing the game, Sonic Team made sure that the 2D sections were incorporated in a way that wouldn't take away from the high-speed gameplay. Instead, these parts of the game provided small moments of respite to provide some fun platforming before getting players back into the action as quickly as possible.
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This means that there's always a fast and responsive flow to the levels, which makes them all truly exhilarating to run through. This includes the Werehog stages, which also contain this mixture of 2D and 3D to spice up the combat. Thanks to the Boost mechanic, players are also able to get back up to speed with the press of a button, so even if one of these 2D sections can feel a little slow, the player has full control to speed them up if they are skilled enough at controlling Sonic.
Sonic Frontiers
The Quirky Cyberscape Levels Take On All Sorts Of Different Layouts
Sonic Frontiers
- Released
- November 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
While Sonic Frontiers is often touted as the franchise's first attempt to dip into the open world genre, this doesn't mean that it leaves behind the traditional stage gameplay formula entirely. Scattered throughout each hub area are Cyberspace levels, which are short but sweet stages that players must complete to progress through the story. These fun levels can take on all kinds of different forms, so while the first few are very straightforward 3D platformers, the game gradually starts introducing 2D levels that often take on the theme of the island that they are based on.
Not only that, but many of the 2D areas also incorporate a unique 2.5D perspective where the camera is tilted in a way where players have a better view of what they are about to run into, making it just a little easier than the classic games. Considering there's a staggering number of Cyberspace levels packed into the game, including optional DLC stages, it's fair to say there's no shortage of fun to be had here for Sonic fans who love playing as the Blue Blur in both 2D and 3D.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
The Perfect Blend Of Classic And Modern Sonic
Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Released
- October 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Sonic X Shadow Generations feels like the game that finally mastered maintaining the balance between 2D and 3D gameplay, and it's achieved this in a pretty interesting way. For Sonic's campaign, players complete each stage with either Modern Sonic, who will take on a 3D view with the Boost mechanic, or Classic Sonic, who follows a more traditional formula with 2D platforming making up the bulk of his stages. Not only that, but there's also an abundance of challenges that provide objectives for players to complete while racing along the stage from a certain perspective.
When it comes to Shadow, though he has fewer stages than Sonic, each of these can also be played in either 2D or 3D depending on what mood the player is in. However, Sonic Team made sure to incorporate a mixture of fully 2D stages and also 2.5 areas that feel a little more modernized and easier to play, especially considering how fast Shadow can move with his new Chaos powers. It really does feel as though Sonic Team wanted to provide stages that every Sonic fan could enjoy in this remaster, and considering the glowing reviews, it's fair to say they knocked it out of the park.
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