Sonic Generations remixes vs. their original counterparts

[spinny]

As we all know, Sonic Generations was a nostalgiafest full of callbacks to past Sonic games. Therefore, the game wouldn't feel nearly complete without remixes of past tunes to blend in. Whether it be the Classic, Modern and White World themes of the main nine levels or the unlockable 'generic' MIDI-style remixes or the remixes of songs such as Door into Summer, the Sonic 2 results screen, the Heroes and Mega Collection menu themes and lots more, it cannot be denied that anyone who was once a fan of Sonic can find memories within this soundtrack.

 

But here's one question... how do you think they are when compared to their respective source material?

 

Some may be a no-brainer such as the Classic remixes of the classic stages being the originals with cleaner instruments, but some such as this:

 

 

or this:

 

 

can be considered quite debatable among the community for the changes made to the songs. A lot of fans of the original City Escape theme dislike the new instrumentation in the classic mix and Ted Poley/Tony Harnell's new vocals in the modern mix, while others now see the old City Escape as really beginning to show its age.

 

Modern Speed Highway and Modern Seaside Hill have also been criticized by some people for not really adding any flavour to the original track at all. Both Emerald Coast remixes from the 3DS version suffer a very similar problem also.

 

So, in a nutshell, how do you guys think the Generations remixes are when you compare them alongside the originals? Me personally, I think all of the remixes are plausible besides both of Emerald Coast's out of the 3DS version and Modern Radical Highway, the latter because it sounds like it coming out of a... oh, that joke's as rusty as Rusty Ruin, it doesn't work anymore.

 

Anyway, over to you guys! What are your thoughts on the Generations soundtrack compared to the source material?

Edited May 27, 2013 by Super Spindash

[MamboCat]

The first Generations music I heard was Big Arm, and I thought it was awesome. I might have even done an air guitar in the office when I heard it!
 

Then I realised it was exclusive to the 3DS version and I was a sad panda.

 

Most of the remixes are great, but some of them I hear little difference in, such as Modern City Escape and Modern Rooftop Run. By and large I think I prefer the Classic remixes of the Modern levels. Especially when they don't go nuts with the tinny drums. I like that there are themes besides the main levels too, such as the music from Chaotix being included... and the new Balloon Park theme made me squee! :3

[Kamakai]

It really depends on the song... I mean, I love Modern Chemical Plant, but Modern Green Hill is bland as hell. But I prefer most of the remixes over the source material.  Except For True Story, MGHZ, Metal Sonic, Modern CE and Classic CP. They are all kinds of ear torture.

[SilentDoom]

For the console version, all stand up or are better than their originals except for Modern Chemical Plant, For True Story and Modern Planet Wisp.  Those are definitely worse.

Edited May 26, 2013 by SiLeNtDo0m

[Blue Wisp]

Modern Seaside Hill have also been criticized by some people for not really adding any flavour to the original track at all. 

Wat.

 

I mostly prefer the Generations remixes. They feel much more "clean" albeit the original tracks still have a special place inside of me. Next to my kidney and above my stomach.

 

Chemical Plant Modern is so amazing. <3

 

EDIT:

except for Modern Chemical Planet

 

>:I

Edited May 26, 2013 by The Blue

[t0ms0nic]

I prefer practically every single remix in Generations over the originals, both Classic and Modern versions, feeling that they're all much cleaner (especially Modern Rooftop Run's use of violin instead of guitar and Classic Emerald Coast not having such blaring guitars) and only really have qualms with two bits of music in particular; Classic Seaside Hill and the remix of Heroes' Menu Theme for the Options.

 

Classic Seaside Hill is a massive dissapointment, especially since it's a remix by Jacques of all people. It's a hugely watered down and overly laid back version of the original, and feels a bit insulting to have not based it on Sea Gate while using Seaside Hill as a finishing touch, much like Senoue's Modern Seaside Hill remix using Ocean Palace. I would have at least expected Jacques to give it a poppy/dance feeling like Labyrinth or Hydrocity, but he really dropped the ball. It's a shame considering I think his cleaner remixes of Egg Dragoon and Silver's boss music are some of the best touch-ups on the soundtrack.

 

Heroes' Menu Theme... come on, compare

versus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QELctK0n5ic. The remix is lacking all the energy and bouncy nature of the original, and I'm surprised Senoue really dropped it there when I love the rest of his contributions to the soundtrack, especially Classic Emerald Coast, Modern Sky Sanctuary (Senoue and Jacques need to team up more often) and Modern Seaside Hill.

 

... but that's really it. If I want to listen to anything else that's been featured in Generations, I'll listen to the Generations remixes instead of the originals.

[JezMM]

The biggest disappointment for me was Supporting Me.  What a lackluster remix.  I mean they say don't mess with perfection I guess because I adore the original, but the newer one just felt really lacking, like the atmosphere was completely extracted out of it and reduced to its core basic tune.

 

 

A controversial one is Radical Highway Modern, lots of people dislike this one but I'd certainly say it's better than the original, genuinely interesting and varied, whereas the original is repetitive as hell.

 

 

Pretty much most of the tracks I prefer to the originals otherwise, but more for their "newness" than because they are objectively better.

[Splash the Otter]

With very few exceptions (none of which apply to the level music), I think the Generations remixes>the original tracks every time! The same holds true for the 3ds version apart from Tropical Resort, which I'm not sure they even remixed...

[Da Blu Hedgie]

With very few exceptions (none of which apply to the level music), I think the Generations remixes>the original tracks every time! The same holds true for the 3ds version apart from Tropical Resort, which I'm not sure they even remixed...

 

They only remixed tropical resort act 2 by giving it a heavy guitar and speeding it up.

[PSI Wind]

Emerald Coast Act 1 in the 3DS version adds an amazing guitar solo

It's the better one, hands down :V

[Da Blu Hedgie]

Classic: every classic remix outside of chemical plant, green hill, casino night and rooftop run is superior to it's original version. 

Modern: everything is superior to it's original version, except radical highway, tropical resort, city escape (it's pretty meh really), and planet wisp.

Bosses: big arm, perfect chaos phase 2 are superior. Biolizard and shadow's boss themes have clearer lyrics so they win only because of that 

[Mr Useful]

I love some of the credits remixes. Crisis City is beastly, Escape from the City's old vocals with the modern remix's instruments, and Green Hill with a new baseline.

[MegasonicZX]

I pretty much prefer all of them to their originals except classic seaside hill and emerald coast since they seem to take away more than they add, also egg dragoon since its pretty much the original but without some of the main instruments that pull the song together overall.

[Dandp]

HD gave us some great remixes, like the Crisis City Classic remix. Most of the random remixes (Like the collection room and Challenge: Mission 5) came out fantastically, adding an extra bit of retro Sonic love.

 

Dimperation game us such tunes as Radical fartway (which I love funnily enough) and the increeeeedible Big arms remix. However the other parts of the soundtrack were far less spectacular.

The soundtracks were both fantastic, but the 3DS version was kinda crap. Few tracks I really loved.

[KHCast]

Rooftop Run act 2 I like better than the original.Same for act 1. The credis remixes are also pretty killer.(Crisis city a big one).

Aside from Sky sanctuary and Seaside hill Classic and Planet Wisp, I'd say all the songs are better than their original counterparts.

[C4k3]

Other than Planet Wisp (seriously, that remix was very weak) I think Generations did a damn fine job of remixing the tracks that we've known and loved over the years.

 

I honestly can't get enough of Modern Green Hill, both its normal and boosting variant. It's fast, energetic and I think it's the perfect way to start off the adventure (well, for the modern side at least).

 

I also liked how the Classic era's Act 1 tracks sound more like an remaster rather than a remix. It stays true to the original versions but also gives them a fresh feel.

Edited May 26, 2013 by TheCakeMiester

[Semi-colon e]

Crisis City and Rooftop Run as both Sonics were so strong with their themes, remixed so, so well.

 

I also fucking love Modern Speed Highway as despite being similar to the original, it's got more bass and heavier drums, which makes it kick more ass and is very pumping, underrated I think. Classic Speed Highway was just awesome club music though.

 

Seaside Hill as both Sonics was kind of bland, sure Modern's added Ocean Palace but it's pretty much exactly the same as the original.

 

I think Sky Sanctuary Classic with it's cleaner sound and added effects was also much better than the original track, and the Modern one was good too.

 

In the 3DS version we've got Big Arms but also Classic Radical Highway and I actually love what Cash Cash did to Back 2 Back.

 

Planet Wisp and Radical Highway Modern are where they dropped the ball imo. Egg Dragoon also sounds pretty much the same as the original, I literally can't tell the difference. I see what Planet Wisp Classic went for, but I think an Act 2-3 style remix to go with Modern's Act 1 remix (that could have also changed more) would have made the feel less jarring and more reminiscent of Colours.

 

I feel like a lot of the tracks didn't do enough differently, especially where Senoue's concerned, Ohtani's remixes all added different stuff that wasn't in the original or combined all the versions (Crisis City Modern did all this) but Senoue's were more remasterings with slight changes than full blown remixes.

 

Chemical Plant Modern is an odd one in that I loved it initially but like it a lot less now, even though it's still a really great track and remix.

 

I think I prefer the Generations versions more most of the time, often because they're touched up versions, but even then some of the remixes are fantasic.

[Eternal EX]

For me it really depends on the song. Since I own the Console version most of my opinions about those remixes very. Planet wisp and Rooftop run.....eh. I didn't really care for the original so my thoughts about those remixes were still blah. Modern and Classic CE. This was big for me. I personally preferred Modern CE over the classic and original. It was just great hearing how it changed and how it feels 10 years later. Now for the Classic remix, I hated it at first. But over time it grew on me. Not to the point of liking it, just to the point of it being better than RTR and PW.

 

Crisis City....this is an example of both remixes surpassing the original and being one of the best stage songs in history. Everytime i heard the Classic Remix, my hype level went through the rough. And how amazing the stage was really gave it some well needed justice. Modern remix was great as well along with the stage, but it in no way (personally) surpasses the Classic version. Another good example was Modern and Classic Sky Sanctuary. It's Classic version was basically a more clean version of the perfect song. While the Modern version was something NO ONE expected. I personally thought it was going to be a orchestra heavy song when I was getting hyped for the games release. How wrong was I. Yet I still enjoyed it.

 

Personally, it just depends on the song. Some remixes were better than the original while there were the remixes that were on par or worst than the original.

[AlphaRuby]

I feel that the worst remix is of Super Sonic Racing by Cash Cash.

 

Seriously, why did they replace good singing in the original with auto tune crap? 

[TheOcelot]

I found nearly all of the music in Generations (PS3) really enjoyable. I like what they did with the music for the 'modern' take on the classic zones and the 'classic' take on the modern stages. I always felt the best thing about Generations was the massive music library.

 

My favourite track in Generations was their new take on SA2 track 'For True Story' (Sonic's second boss battle with Shadow). The original track is a really nice piece of music. Generations version sounds quite a bit different, the music deliberately starts off more slowly and gives a slightly more dramatic/menacing kind feel to the atmosphere which suits Generations take on the boss battle. I adore both versions.

 

This is both pieces of music being played at the same time:

 

 

Another one I really like is the 'modern' take on Chemical Plant. It gives a fresh feel whilst not sounding too different from the original.

 

 

 

I just can't get enough of the nostalgia!

Edited May 27, 2013 by -Clara Oswald-

[Spin Attaxx]

That Toxic Caves remix really sticks in your head when playing Chemical Plant.

 

Otherwise, it's a bit 50/50 for me.

[Milo]

I thought most of the classic remixes for the console version were good. Classic Green Hill, Chemical Plant, Sky Sanctuary, and City Escape I thought were all pretty great, they had a nice general "90s retro" feel to them despite being remixed with more techno/dramatic instrumentations for them. Classic Speed Highway, Seaside Hill, and Rooftop Run in particular I thought were remixes that sounded like something that would had come out of the Saturn era of Sonic, which I liked. The only ones I didn't like of the main remixes were Classic Crisis City and Classic Planet Wisp, which went for the techno/dramatic feel that was used the Genesis level remixes with slower instrumentation, but they seemed more generic as a result. Out of them all I think Planet Wisp was my least-liked, I think that remix in particular was a missed opportunity to make it a Genesis re-arrangement of the Gameland version of Planet Wisp.

 

 

All of the remixes of the Genesis levels used for the rival/boss battles (both JP and US variants of Stardust Speedway and Death Egg Robot) are rather great. The remixes of the Genesis/spinoff Sonic games used for the level missions are also great (Super Sonic Racing and You're My Hero in particular are lovely), whereas the rest of the bonus tracks are...meh, namely because they sound like the original songs rushed through FL Studio with some synths and other effects added to them (Flying Battery for starters).

 

Pretty much all of the classic remixes of the Genesis era on the handheld version are excellent for the same reasons of the Genesis remixes of the console version. The classic Radical Highway remix is also one excellent piece of work. Whereas the other remixes sound more like rearrangements of the original songs. They're passable only because the original songs were great as they were, but more could had been done with them. And then in the case of Tropical Resort, it's just the original song ported to the game, presumably because of the game's short development.

Edited May 27, 2013 by Gabe

[w00tkins]

In terms of Sonic soundtracks, I don't hold Generations in very high regard. It has a habit of almost completely copying the source material, but doing so with inferior sounding instruments (Seaside Hill Modern, Egg Dragoon).

 

Green Hill Modern sounds messy. Something about the trumpets and the main synth just don't fit together. I feel like the melody gets lost in all the other instruments because of the synth Senoue chose. It's not prominent enough.

 

The handheld version seems to suffer these problems more often than it's console brothers, with cheap sounding production all over the place. Tropical Resort Modern, Supporting Me, Mushroom Hill; these all sound worse than their originals.

 

There are some highlights of course. Both versions of Crisis City are great. Classic has a downright catchy hook and Modern is a tense, thrilling re-imagining of the original. Circuit Freq provide an interesting spin on For True Story, (albeit missing one particular electrical flourish present in the original).

 

Overall though, I prefer the originals.

Edited May 27, 2013 by w00tkins

[a mystery]

...I call myself a musician, and I have nothing to say, other than that the remixes are mostly better than the originals.

 

I'm... just gonna think it out a bit.

[KHCast]

I thought most of the classic remixes for the console version were good. Classic Green Hill, Chemical Plant, Sky Sanctuary, and City Escape I thought were all pretty great, they had a nice general "90s retro" feel to them despite being remixed with more techno/dramatic instrumentations for them. Classic Speed Highway, Seaside Hill, and Rooftop Run in particular I thought were remixes that sounded like something that would had come out of the Saturn era of Sonic, which I liked. The only ones I didn't like of the main remixes were Classic Crisis City and Classic Planet Wisp, which went for the techno/dramatic feel that was used the Genesis level remixes with slower instrumentation, but they seemed more generic as a result. Out of them all I think Planet Wisp was my least-liked, I think that remix in particular was a missed opportunity to make it a Genesis re-arrangement of the Gameland version of Planet Wisp.

 

Crisis City Classic considered bad? But not Seaside hill classic?

Crisis City didn't exactly feel slow, or generic. I mean Seaside hill Classic was generic. It seriously did the most expected thing you could imagine in a Classic remix. Crisis City on the other hand makes good use of the electric guitar and rock elements, overpowering the "techno" element you explained.

 

Sorry if I come off as rude, but I just can't comprehend why someone says Seaside hill Classic isn't bland, yet say Crisis City Classic is.

 

In terms of Sonic soundtracks, I don't hold Generations in very high regard. It has a habit of almost completely copying the source material, but doing so with inferior sounding instruments (Seaside Hill Modern, Egg Dragoon).

 

 

Overall though, I prefer the originals.

Care to explain why you prefer the originals? What about them did you like better. like Crisis City, or Speed highway classic for example. What made the originals better?

Edited May 27, 2013 by Gonard