City Escape has everything that's great about Sonic packed into a single level. Phenomenal. I can't escape from the city if I don't have enough funds! - / zoomzike Follow me, set me free... AT / zoomzike
I am ashamed I never noticed these things either, this was a childhood favorite for me. I still go back and play it today, regardless of some of the bugs, it still holds strong today in my opinion.
And I don't think that's just nostalgia talking. I'd play this before forces and EVEN Mania. This one had bugs (what game doesn't?) but with a little tweaking, this would have got the 3d formula correct. I don't appreciate the boost formula all that much.
Imagine if this game was remade but had as many branching pathways as the Generations version of the stage. Same with Speed Highway if/when Sonic Adventure 1 gets remade.
Probably my favorite part about the animals in this game is that, like that hint to find them in this level, they'll only be useful to those that like to take things slower, the kinds of people who would really enjoy taking their time raising and customizing their Chao. Chaos Drives, on the other hand, are easily obtained from almost every enemy in the game, and only give direct stat boosts to one thing, making them more useful to the kind of player to speed through things, not focused as much on the appearance and specialties of their Chao.
I remember as a child whenever i was away from my Gamecube and got bored i would just close my eyes and play the level in my head wherever i was .. good memories
This Level as a whole is what makes gaming an art form. Just everything being timed so perfectly and you learning how to be sonic by the end of the level, while having fun in the process. It’s like a movie, so wild how everything is timed to perfection. It’s kinda like you’re picking your friends up to go out, and you rewind your favorite song to time the best part right when your friends gets in the car.
"The lines of its polygons visible" "That was a mouthful" The word you're looking for is wireframe. Man, I haven't even played this game (grew up with the Genesis games and the modern games starting with Sonic Heroes), but now I want to.
Most levels in the adventure games including 06 feel very natural by fitting into the world and directly into the story in certain cases. City Escape is one of the best examples of this if not the best, but let's take another level like Aquatic Base for example. Aquatic Base was an underground research facility in Soleanna where the kingdom was experimenting on the energy known as Solaris which could control time. The cutscene before you play it with shadow/silver, shows all these details. When entering the level, The characters will say how advanced this technology is and will see all kinds of technology the kingdom was working on, such as the balls of particles you can attract together. You will also notice the water through the glass which is the water, that you can see around Soleanna normally since we know this facility is below the city. Adventure 1 was exploring the world, and the levels often linked up well to the environments of the hub world. Sonic Unleashed took a more sonic adventure approach on linking the levels to exploring the world. Both Sonic adventure and unleashed ended with you in eggman's territory though and conquering it. Sonic Generations and After is were levels started to not feel connected to the story or world of Sonic. Generations got away with it due to being an anniversary game, but lost world and forces the levels felt completely random and without meaning. Levels began to feel like they existed due to low budget and lazyness. Sonic Forces had a few unique level designs but why are we traveling them. We go to Chemical Plant to shut down the death egg's power supply. I'm sorry but that's such a poor excuse to go to chemical plant. Why did we go to the Mystic Jungle? I know there was some sort of reason, but I lowkey forgot that's how pointless it was. The next game really needs to fix how they connect levels to the story and world of Sonic the Hedgehog!
@Christian McKee I didn't mean that every anniversary game should get away with something like that. Generations was marketed as a huge celebration of all past Sonic things. It was the first game to actively use nostalgia and old levels. It is fine for a franchise to celebrate past stages and ideas, in very careful moderation. And as noted earlier it was the 1st time we ever saw this. It would have been perfectly fine as a one time thing, but that obviously wasn't the case... I'm not even that large of a generations fan, but I think for the time it was an ok idea. But Sega just keeps using nostalgia after it and it's ruining the franchise.
Sa2 is full of great level design, also tails' First stage prison lane teaches the player very well on how to play with the mech gameplay, since knuckles and Sonic's gameplay Styles are much similar knuckles' wild Canyon shows you how the treasure hunting stages are much more open and free than the Speed stages, and we can't forget how the Chao garden rewards players Who collected Animals exploring the stages and how the garden is just a playground to get used to the game physics, sa2 (and sa1) really care to teach his players on to play the game, Just like the Classics on the Genesis
The level design throughout the rest of the game is great in its own right but there are some parts to it that don't feel as smooth as City Escape. When players first gain control of Tails in his mech, they're in a very restricted area and can't move around freely to learn the controls. I would've made the area a little more open so going through it doesn't feel as clunky; otherwise I agree with everything else you said!
Those ranks are probably the biggest thing that makes SA2 the most replayable 3D Sonic game. They can be pretty strict and actively challenge you to master the ins and outs of the level design and the way each character plays and moves. The ranking system in the new games is terrible. There are tons of levels where they will basically give you an S rank just for not dying.
@@JEK_VaNNNNN I remember dying so much in an Unleashed stage where you have to do quick time events in a session. I made it to the end and got an S Rank. ?
It's nice to see more positivity towards Sonic Adventure 2; that game is my favorite of the series, and yet that feels like a minority as of late (where everyone calls us out for being 'nostalgia blind')... I even had some friends recently criticize the game heavily since "going fast" is apparently all Sonic needs (they enjoy Forces a lot for this reason) I also hear the argument that we only need to play as Sonic and not his friends, which is a shame since I do find then charming (though goofy, it isn't a straight serious franchise anyway) It's not like I hate the other Sonic games either, a lot of them just feel like missed opportunities to me... Adventure 2 will probably remain as my favorite title on the series, so I'm just happy that it exists at all, and I can return to it at any time
I really wish they'd being SA1 Tails back. Several characters in that game were at least reasonably fast, and one of the things I hate about the new games is how much they've taken to heart "Sonic (and sometimes Shadow) is the only physically capable character in the series". Yes, he should be the fastest, but the gap in power level doesn't need to be so big that they become cheerleaders like in Generations. Even if the company can't use them correctly/wants to have only Sonic playable, they could at least put some effort into making them seem less pathetic.
16:19 It may be the best shuttle loop in the franchise. But the best shuttle spectacle belongs easily to SA1's Speed Highway. It starts off by entering a building through the highest floor. Approaching a barren room, constructed fully by glass. But it cannot contain your weight so it breaks under your feet and cues in a sound akin to mechanical whirring. Your entire fucking gravitational force gets completely redirected, and forces you to fall, but you instantly correct your body to run down this entire fucking behemoth of a structure as the music blasts in a fucking rapid-fire panic attack track. The dangerous night atmosphere challenges you to an insanely fast-paced section that really stretched your reflexes to the max. The height is clearly superior, it's a 30 second nosedive that feels like it has no end the first time you play it. SA1's skyscraper makes SA2's look like a cheap condo. The speed feels leagues above SA2 with some very readable animation. And it's a controllable part of the stage with risks and rewards, unlike watching Sonic run a straight line with no consequence. All to then transition to a heartwarming city, that was captivating, yet allowed you no opportunity for respite, as police would still chase you to the rest of the level... Honestly, that's just the best level in SA1, and can very much compete with this level as a whole. Fascinating analysis, tho. Keep this shit up. Easy sub.
That part of Speed Highway is utterly fantastic; now if you did a loop into it then you bet City Escape's one would be getting the silver medal instead of gold. Thanks!
Very apt description of precisely how that portion of speed highway feels. I always wondered about that mechanical whirring sound that comes right before the music kicks in. I always imagined that Sonic’s shoes had some secret wall-clinging ability that got engaged at that moment. Also, the music that plays during the section feels like the mechanisms of ones mind rapidly coming apart... the cat meowing sounds are totally out of left field and sound totally bizarre over a choir of restless atonal electronic beeps.
Oh I hear ya. I can forgive the invincibility jingle in this level if only because it ends the moment you jump off the last horizontal bar (at least for players going at an average pace). Thanks!
Just finished the video. I didn't know any of this story and I think I played this level 1000 times (I blame sharing a console with siblings and cousin for that). This really makes me want to go back to play this game over again. Was already one of my favorite games. Soundtrack alone was legendary. Can't wait to see / remember what the story was
It's totally worth playing again, just don't be surprised if a few mechanics in the non-speed sections feel a little outdated, have a good time if you play it again though!
THIS! This is definitely what I've been feeling for so long! City Escape is absolutely amazing and newer Sonic games feel like they lack the clever level design, platforming and ingenuity of City Escape (not to mention the Chao Garden boxes, more open feeling for the levels whereas newer games feel narrow and too linear, and care taken into the level-specific vocal lines and also the posters scattered around City Escape). I really miss when SEGA used to make games like this.
I remember playing the demo in toys R us over and over and being amazed at the graphics they seemed like the graphics we have now adays it blew my mind I got goosebumps watching this
What's crazy about this too is that the original Dreamcast games have better graphics and audio quality compared to the Gamecube version, I've been watching a lot of comparison videos from originals to ports, you lose so much trying to transition a game to a different console! :O
I've played this game to is absolute death, 13 plus years playing this game, From getting every single emblem multiple times to creating immortal chaos. And to see someone BLESS my timeline with content like this. This my good sir gets a subscription.
Sonic Adventure 2 is my favorite Sonic game, and one of my favorites of all time. Just nostalgia from playing my old dreamcast. I've played City Escape the most of any levels
My Favorite stage is Metal Harbor But you really nailed the video SA2B is One of my Favorite games And according to the ingame counter, i no joke have played city escape 457 times
Metal Harbor's pretty great in its own right. 457 sounds close to the amount of times I've played the level, probably more since making this video, haha.
I will always remember the day I first played SA2B on my 6th birthday and how exciting and fresh an experience it was, as well as so immediately being blasted by such amazing characters, music and just...everything when the only other games I'd seen at that point were the first resident evil and old tomb raider games. I fucking love Sonic
It always makes me happy learning about little details I may have missed from levels I played in the past, so I thought I'd try and make other people the same way here.
@@zoomzike Yeah it's a neat touch, and I liked the video overall going over parts I may of just blasted through without really thinking of the level design.
Sonic Adventure 2's levels are a big hit-and-miss for me. Like, the speed stages (ex: the starting level! Who saw that easily coming?!) as well as the early Knuckles stages (I would go with Knuckles' gameplay as a whole, bit even if I tried my best, I could still be highly frustrated with going throight he stages past Aquatic Base), but the mech stages and the Rouge the Bat stages, on the other hand, could be highly frustrating and/or clunky (not all of them, some have the same fun as the majority of the game, let alone the OG Dreamcast version of SA2), except for the car stages.
"Don't want this first robot doing anything crazy right? So he's doing his purpose. You go dude. Have a nice day!" *A milasecond later* *"So after killing him-...."*
I like that the level ends on 21:13, just like the video. This is a great look at how well constructed this stage and game is and I'd like to see more videos like this. If only Generations' city escape were this good
Oh dang it ends at the same time, what a coincidence! Generations' City Escape is alright on certain aspects, but it forgets some key parts that made the original so great.
Yes finally someone gets it!! The brilliance of City escape. You are the first people I have ever seen on my life acknowledging the many ways (that the first Sonic section after the skateboarding one) can be overcome!! Level design should offer different ways to tackle the same object and this section as well as the rest of the level does it perfectly!! You have earned yourself a subscriber!
Me feeling the same way you did is what caused me to make this video in the first place; I needed people to see how great it was at doing what it was setting out to do. Glad you enjoyed!
@@zoomzike Yeah man it was awesome. I always wanted to make a blog or video about Sonic level design and highlight City escape. I've also gone ahead and seen a couple of your videos and it's clear to me that you know what you are talking about or you at least try your best. It's also clear that you are not just a person who just blunders mentioning obvious stuff. You try to actually make a proper case and hold the interest of the viewer, with some comedic relief and trivia thrown just for fun. I am honestly surprised your channel is still that small... but you will steadily grow as long as you keep posting quality stuff
I try to help people acknowledge details they may have missed in games/shows I enjoy. I do other stuff too of course but that feels like a trend. I'll be here to post quality stuff whether I grow or not, here's hoping growth does occur though! Thank you a bunch for the kind comment!
@Retendo Though this doesn't carry over to their modern games. There isn't much to do if you aren't running straight forward, and when you are... Aside from jumping a couple ledges you aren't doing much.
I love this earnest and enthusiastic analysis of this level's design. I think you did such an excellent job of tapping into what makes this such an iconic and beloved experience for so many people. So well made and I look forward to more (especially if it's about SA2)!
15:51 I discovered your little secret It goes something like this: "Not to many people actually take the time to find the little secrets of this video" Man I only saw your Lost Valley video and this one and this is just peak Video Quality, I still can't believe the fact that people that stare at a camera saying shit about sonic games have more recognition than this.
@@zoomzike To name some who mostly raise good points, there's Cooper Castille, Em.Bani, Victor Bluerush1992, and Retropolis Zone. They're definetely worth watching imo.
I love this game, and I love this level. Even more now that you've picked it apart and shown me why I should love it. It's clear that you're excited by this level, it makes you happy. It's this kind of excitement and passion that I love to watch. I might be commenting on a year old video but I don't regret a thing. Loved it!
Yes you good sir I want you to analyze everything in SADX and SA2B for the internet to finally learn these 2 games are some of Sonic's best (and for some people, our favorites). Great analysis of the level. If an Adventure 3 or a remake of these were made I want them to have bigger splitting paths like the Classics so we get the perfect Sonic experience. Maybe next time you can talk about how treasure hunting is actually amazing and perfect.
I don't know if I have the willpower to make a 12 hour analysis video on these entire games, but there are definitely other parts of them worthy of praise! Treasure hunting's neat.
@@zoomzike Whatever you feel you wanna do my man. I'd love to hear your thoughts on other aspects of the Adventure games. Earned a new sub anyways, interested in the Mario Party luck video as well :)
Very well analyzed! I’ve been playing this level for over a decade and you showed me things I’ve never seen before in City Escape! I would love to hear what your take on the Generations versions of City Escape
What pisses me off in the Generations version is that the modern stage is too short and feels incomplete, i still like it but it just upsets me. The Escape From the City remix is so fucking good tho.
Very well put, it's quite hard to perfectly explain levels designed well but done subtly. (especially in a game franchise as infamous as sonic). Great video man I'll make sure to stay tuned for more of your stuff.
I like how at the horizontal bars at 16:48, there's a red blur above Sonic, that doubles as a motion blur of his red shoes, and an indicator of where to press the A button to execute a move properly.
SA2 Is one of my favorite video games of all time. I really appreciated your in depth analysis on the level! You even taught me a few things I never realized like the animal in the pipe and the voices! :)
Perfect analysis. You pointed out every single detail that makes this level a masterpiece of game design. I for one picked up on most of these points on my own playing this as a kid. (I’ve always been very observant and receptive). However, you managed to pick up on certain details that even I missed! 10/10 video!
Mate your video presentation is beautiful, my favorite game and you have done this breakdown justice, and your little quips had my laughing all the way through
saw this video then did a quick glance at all your content and immediately subscribed! I cant believe i didnt find this channel sooner! but now im here heehee
I liked Adventure 1's a lot more. I thought Adventure 2 only had 1 truly outstanding Sonic level, and that is Final Rush. I think Pyramid Cave is average, Metal Harbor and Green Forest are good, City Escape and Crazy Gadget are very good, and Final Rush is outstanding. Though I feel like Twinkle Park, Speed Highway, Red Mountain, Lost World, and Final Egg are all outstanding levels.
@@ilikepie19921 Yeah, I find SA2 level design way too linear with the exception of Final Rush (and that is mostly rails). SA1 featured more expansive level design full with alternative paths and platforming, like in the classics. Hell, even Generations does this to an extent and it gets much flak for being a boost title. Not to say SA2 Sonic's and Shadow's levels are bad, but they comprise of only one route most of the time if you go for the goal ring.
Growing up on it, I've always been biased towards SA1, but trying to be objective, I think it does a really good job of putting a lot of atmosphere into its levels, which I think makes a big difference.
This video made me so giddy, as you walked us through the level. I was hearing every sound effect in my head and my thumbs kept wanting to play the game 😩 city escape and sonic sa2 are such a huge part of my childhood, the muscle memory I have from this game is nuts
