http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=26748
I agree that Sonic's games had almost no learning curve, but I disagree that I was encouraged to go as fast as I can through the whole thing. There are parts in certain stages where running at full speed was the surest way to get splattered (e.g. Marble Garden, with swinging spiked balls and crushers near each other). I always saw these games as a fine line between running along straight and empty paths and walking in dangerous paths. If the game was nothing but running fast, then every single obstacle would be seen as a hindrance and every Power-up placed off the beaten path would be seen as a distraction. Sometimes you do need to stop and smell the roses, especially when there's a crusher in front of you that comes down sharply or a pattern to watch for in order to stay alive.
I agree that Sonic's games had almost no learning curve, but I disagree that I was encouraged to go as fast as I can through the whole thing. There are parts in certain stages where running at full speed was the surest way to get splattered (e.g. Marble Garden, with swinging spiked balls and crushers near each other). I always saw these games as a fine line between running along straight and empty paths and walking in dangerous paths. If the game was nothing but running fast, then every single obstacle would be seen as a hindrance and every Power-up placed off the beaten path would be seen as a distraction. Sometimes you do need to stop and smell the roses, especially when there's a crusher in front of you that comes down sharply or a pattern to watch for in order to stay alive.
