Sonic Lost World (Wii U)
The best thing a modern Sonic game has ever done is copy Mario. This became apparent in 2010 with Sonic Colors and that was the best 3D Sonic game until now. Honestly, It's difficult to describe how accurate and perfect Sonic Lost World feels. It's like this is what Sonic should have been since he first transitioned into 3D. Its Mario Galaxy inspired 3D level design is phenomenal and really complements this franchise's more fast paced gameplay. No more uncontrollable speed getting the best of you and poor level design allowing you to fall straight off the edge of the stage. Instead, you find yourself exploring multiple routes with its cylinder shaped worlds which encourages exploration rather than mindlessly dashing to the finish line.
The speed Sonic is known for is still very much alive in Sonic Lost World, just not the main focus this time around and that's not a bad thing. Slowing down allows more opportunity for a platformer to be great as opposed to moving so fast you don't know when or if you're going to make or land a jump. While the latter captures the ability of the character well, it makes for a sloppier experience in a series that used to balance speed and platforming so well, that it rivaled the mustachioed plumber.
Gameplay wise, Lost World is a huge leap in the right direction. Holding the triggers to spin dash and run feels great and is even completely controllable in tight areas since Sonic maintains a steady much slower pace reminiscent to his Genesis days and is spot on with your reactions. Not once did I have issues with turns or adapting my movements to camera angles because Sonic moves exactly where I'd want him to, unlike previous games where the camera would jeopardize an entire level with a faulty jump due to a camera change. The game has its fair share of 2D levels and while not as impressive as the 3D levels (shocking) can be just as enjoyable.
The music for Lost World is often times relaxing even if forgettable. The story is simple and very Saturday morning cartoon and less forcibly convoluted like previous games and for what it's worth, very well done. Recent Sonic games like Colors and Generations have attempted this approach to story telling, but lacked in delivery. Cutscenes felt like they were just there to remind you that there's a story whereas Lost World actually attempts to add depth rather than pointless character interactions.
My only gripes with Sonic Lost World are the uninteresting boss battles and the difficulty spike in some of the later levels. The Sinister Six, Monstars, or whatever the hell they're called were annoying stereotypical personalities that offered no challenge whatsoever. While some boss battles were creative, others were just completely uninspired with some ending way too soon. Even the final boss fight was very easy and ended quickly. Not to mention, it was recycled from Sonic Colors which is very disappointing. Wisps also make a very unwarranted return as an excuse for Sega to implement some sort of gamepad functionality that was unnecessary to the overall experience. There's also no explanation as to why these wisps are on this world... They're just there, tacked on. The difficulty spike was also a major problem. It's like the game doesn't know who it's trying to cater to. The story is very kid friendly and the bosses are laughable but I can't imagine any kid getting passed some of these levels. They offered a great challenge for someone like me but also killed my enjoyment making these harder levels less thrilling to replay, a problem that has plagued many Sonic games before.
On one hand, I think it's sad that Sonic is clearly taking cues from Mario but on the other, it just works so well. As someone who has been unimpressed and even let down by recent Sonic entries, Lost World managed to impress me. In short, Sonic Lost World captures the essence of what made the Sonic franchise good in the 90s and is taking it to heights never seen before. My only hope is that the series can continue to do this well in the future.
Score: 8.5/10
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (2013)
So this game almost slipped by me as I've never seen or heard anything of it until one hopeless day when I decided to look around the Xbox Live Marketplace. It looked interesting so I downloaded the demo and I just had to buy it, which I did for a great sale price. As it turns out, Castle of Illusion is a remake of a Sega Genesis game released in 1990 and after skimming through a video playthrough of the original, this game is definitely the best version and something I'd love to see done more to retro games rather than constant ports to every new system. It's essentially what REmake is to Resident Evil and Metroid: Zero Mission to the original Metroid. It's faithful to the original game and anything that is modified or new is only there to further enhance the experience.
The gameplay is pretty simple as are most platformers, though the controls do feel a bit slippery which can ruin a jump or two in some of the more intense moments of the game. Castle of Illusion is quite short in length for a modern game but every second you spend with it is certainly sweet, oozing with charm in every detail. The game does have some replay value for those who want to collect and unlock everything as there are plenty of secret areas you'll probably have missed on your first playthrough as well as a time attack mode which unlocks after beating a level. There's no other way to put it, the game is just fantastic. Seriously, if you like Mickey Mouse or just want to play a fun and charming 2D platformer, go check this game out now! It's games like this that validate digital release games.
Score: 9.0/10
