/vr/ - Retro Games

Sonic: After the Sequel, obviously.

In all seriousness, I'd go with Sonic 3 & Knuckles. It manages to differentiate the playable characters without making them completely incompatible, the physics are balanced, and the level design is mostly fluid (fuck Sandopolis).

Sonic 1 has the heaviest, clunkiest physics of any Sonic game I have ever played, and I'm disappointed that Sonic Colors decided to emulate that style. Sonic 2 was fast, but lacking in substance (Tails=yellow Sonic?). Sonic CD was hit-and-miss in every aspect.

Shame it had the second-least coherent story (after '06), most pointless gameplay styles (FISHING), and worst gameplay mechanic that kept cropping up for some reason (Adventure Fields, which were re-used in '06 and Unleashed).