Red Mountain is straight up my favorite stage in the whole game. The variety of platforms to the variety of ways to traverse it to the act shift to the soundtrack, it's all so amazing! I enjoyed it so much that for some reason when I did Knux's version of the stage I used to try to follow the path Sonix took through it, just for fun.
Dang you too? I'm SOO glad I wasn't the only one in this, to be honest. I think a lot of the early aspects of 3D Sonic get overlooked due to the boost era. But man, did this game set the precedent for a lot of classic Sonic elements.
It's sad because Red Mountain has great transitions, great music and great atmosphere. It has a lot of exploration. Like levels such as Emerald Coast, Casinopolis and Speed Highway. It sucks to see it not get the respect it deserves
you know, when i first heard you say "red mountain" i kinda scrunched my nose up, but then i thought about it and... yea, i think it might be the most unique level in the series now that you mention it. the closest we've gotten afaik was maybe pumpkin hill in the direct sequel to adventure, but that frankly didn't have as much range as red mountain. it just took the spookiness of the underground without the lava and brought it upstairs. ... a tangent to follow but. come to think of it, it's kind of weird how much death overall as a theme comes up in SA2's levels. i never hear people mention how many ghosts, graves, tombs etc are in this game about a dead girls' best friend who himself (at the time) canonically died at the end of the game too or how it's about letting go of the past and moving on. which is just SUCH a thing to put into what they may have at the time thought could be the last sonic game due to the dreamcast's failure to keep up w it's competition. that's unrelated but, yknow. huh. damn.
The caged Ghost NPCs are definitely intentional. There's an electric chair decoration in the level that you wouldn't see unless you looked for it. The stripes are supposed to make them look like they have old timey prison uniforms on. You can even see some attached to a ball and chain. The music samples another song called ghetto red hot and I have no idea how they got away with it since they sample it for basically the entire song.
Speed Highway is definitely my favorite level from Sonic Adventure (and all these years later I'm still really glad that's the one that got reimagined in Sonic Generations), but I absolutely love Red Mountain, for the reasons you mentioned.
I wish you highlighted some of the really cool shortcuts in this level such as spin dashing up the mountain after going past the bridge to get some rings and lives as well as the light speed dash trail of rings that are easy to miss but reward the player with lives and a really good shortcut. Also even effectively using the spindash in the second act can skip huge chunks of the level and save time. I felt red mountain had the best shortcuts in the game. While speed highway is the better level it had a lot of secrets but they weren’t very useful speed running wise and a lot of the ones that are there like at the beginning with the towers or jumping across the top buildings in act 3 were very clearly unintentional even if they made the level very fun to speed run
Red Mountain is amazing! It's up there with later boost stages like like Seaside Hill & Sky Sanctuary from Generations as prime examples of what I think Sonic in 3D should be. I think all of those would make my top five or at least ten 3D Sonic stages.
Red Mountain is easily my least favorite Sonic level. The first act is just kinda eh, sure it's a lot more open and has pseudo-exploration elements and puzzles with the switches and rockets, but there is a very clear and easy best path. The exploration is never more than looking around a single corner. Act 2 is a lot more linear, which I generally prefer, but it's just not that good of a linear level, imo. The music and atmosphere are great, but otherwise the platforming is just decent at best. Emerald Coast is a great tutorial level with a cool set piece, windy valley is just a solid linear level, even lost world is incredibly unique, but Red Mountain is just kinda unremarkable.
Lost world is more underrated it has so many skips (some which probably arent intentional but are still really fun to do) and a really good song that ends up not being played for more than 2 seconds because of a glitch people hate the stage way too much because of the water snake which honestly isnt that bad
Yeah, I don't know why so many people hate on that game so much. It may have a terrible story. But the gameplay, music, and overall polish are all pretty good, not gonna lie.
@@Plexi.TYes it's truly mind blowing how sonic team was able to put a whole different game pushing way past the limitations of the dreamcast all in the second to last stage of sa1. And despite all that it ended up being the most forgettable stage in the game. Really shows how high the highs of this game can go.
@@Plexi.T Some people say it's best, others say it's worst, I wouldn't say it's a bad or even mediocre game. It's good. I think first 2 are better tho.
I didn't realize Red Mountain in Sonic's campaign on Sonic Adventure wasn't underrated in Sonic's campaign on Sonic Adventure wasn't underrated in Sonic's campaign on Sonic Adventure was an underrated stage. I always thought it was a really amazing stage. Love the music for both parts of the stage. Really great stage too. By underrated stage I thought you were going to talk about a version of a stage for another character's campaign. Like maybe there's some underrated stages for knuckles campaign maybe for example
@Sly88Frye yeah, I guess I should have specified the Underrated feom Sonics campaign. Sonic Adventure has a lot of levels from other characters that I would also consider a treat as well.
tbh red mountain just one of those examples of how sonic adventures art direction was peak like I hear a lot of people praising sonic unleashed and it’s design and how it looks pretty but like sonic adventure was right there like years before it and I won’t sit here and lie to you and say it looks better the unleashed but the feel it was trying to going for in that game, and even in the sequel was much more appealing than sonic unleashed as that game went for a more Pixar style I don’t know it just looked too cartoony when sonic adventure games really made you feel like you’re actually there going through sonic campaign well sonic unleashed feels a Watching a cartoon
Exactly. There's so much creativity and precedent that Sonic Adventure brings to the table, it's actually insane. Things like the refined homing attack, Sonics voice, the rock and roll aesthetic, and serious storytelling. (Tbh, the classic games had this as well to some extent).
I think everyone forgets about red mountain simply because it comes right after speed highway
Yeah, you're probably right. It's such a shame too, because I also think Speed Highway is one of the best in the game.
Red Mountain is straight up my favorite stage in the whole game. The variety of platforms to the variety of ways to traverse it to the act shift to the soundtrack, it's all so amazing! I enjoyed it so much that for some reason when I did Knux's version of the stage I used to try to follow the path Sonix took through it, just for fun.
Dang you too? I'm SOO glad I wasn't the only one in this, to be honest. I think a lot of the early aspects of 3D Sonic get overlooked due to the boost era. But man, did this game set the precedent for a lot of classic Sonic elements.
It's sad because Red Mountain has great transitions, great music and great atmosphere. It has a lot of exploration. Like levels such as Emerald Coast, Casinopolis and Speed Highway. It sucks to see it not get the respect it deserves
you know, when i first heard you say "red mountain" i kinda scrunched my nose up, but then i thought about it and... yea, i think it might be the most unique level in the series now that you mention it. the closest we've gotten afaik was maybe pumpkin hill in the direct sequel to adventure, but that frankly didn't have as much range as red mountain. it just took the spookiness of the underground without the lava and brought it upstairs.
... a tangent to follow but. come to think of it, it's kind of weird how much death overall as a theme comes up in SA2's levels. i never hear people mention how many ghosts, graves, tombs etc are in this game about a dead girls' best friend who himself (at the time) canonically died at the end of the game too or how it's about letting go of the past and moving on. which is just SUCH a thing to put into what they may have at the time thought could be the last sonic game due to the dreamcast's failure to keep up w it's competition. that's unrelated but, yknow. huh. damn.
The caged Ghost NPCs are definitely intentional. There's an electric chair decoration in the level that you wouldn't see unless you looked for it. The stripes are supposed to make them look like they have old timey prison uniforms on. You can even see some attached to a ball and chain. The music samples another song called ghetto red hot and I have no idea how they got away with it since they sample it for basically the entire song.
Thanks for telling this mate, as I didn't know that.
Speed Highway is definitely my favorite level from Sonic Adventure (and all these years later I'm still really glad that's the one that got reimagined in Sonic Generations), but I absolutely love Red Mountain, for the reasons you mentioned.
I wish you highlighted some of the really cool shortcuts in this level such as spin dashing up the mountain after going past the bridge to get some rings and lives as well as the light speed dash trail of rings that are easy to miss but reward the player with lives and a really good shortcut. Also even effectively using the spindash in the second act can skip huge chunks of the level and save time. I felt red mountain had the best shortcuts in the game. While speed highway is the better level it had a lot of secrets but they weren’t very useful speed running wise and a lot of the ones that are there like at the beginning with the towers or jumping across the top buildings in act 3 were very clearly unintentional even if they made the level very fun to speed run
Red Mountain is amazing! It's up there with later boost stages like like Seaside Hill & Sky Sanctuary from Generations as prime examples of what I think Sonic in 3D should be. I think all of those would make my top five or at least ten 3D Sonic stages.
Red Mountain is absolutely one of my favorites to replay. The entire volcano segment is so good
really thought this would be about Robs's hot shelter level. Best part of the game.
ROB 😂
e 102 rob
My favorite Eggman mecha. R O.B.
Dude I love Red Mountain, it's my favorite stage
Red mountain is the best level in the game in my opinion
Honestly yeah, red mountain is an amazing level, there arent any stages i dislike in sa1 (outside of big)
Red Mountain is easily my least favorite Sonic level. The first act is just kinda eh, sure it's a lot more open and has pseudo-exploration elements and puzzles with the switches and rockets, but there is a very clear and easy best path. The exploration is never more than looking around a single corner. Act 2 is a lot more linear, which I generally prefer, but it's just not that good of a linear level, imo. The music and atmosphere are great, but otherwise the platforming is just decent at best. Emerald Coast is a great tutorial level with a cool set piece, windy valley is just a solid linear level, even lost world is incredibly unique, but Red Mountain is just kinda unremarkable.
Lost world is more underrated it has so many skips (some which probably arent intentional but are still really fun to do) and a really good song that ends up not being played for more than 2 seconds because of a glitch people hate the stage way too much because of the water snake which honestly isnt that bad
Yeah, I don't know why so many people hate on that game so much. It may have a terrible story. But the gameplay, music, and overall polish are all pretty good, not gonna lie.
@@Plexi.TYes it's truly mind blowing how sonic team was able to put a whole different game pushing way past the limitations of the dreamcast all in the second to last stage of sa1. And despite all that it ended up being the most forgettable stage in the game. Really shows how high the highs of this game can go.
heres your sub
Great video
@@thefatduck5598 thanks man
I agree.
listen to 1:33 for some sick beatboxing
Pariah695 had the same sentiment.
I know that guy. He has some great Sonic takes
@@Plexi.T So, you agree with my stance on Sonic level design then? As I have a similar belief to him.
@@Plexi.TSonic Advance 3 is his favorite Sonic game
Sonic Advance 3 is the worst Advance game
@Zerosaber91 I STRONGLY disagree, lol. I think it's easily the BEST Sonic Advance game.
@@Plexi.T Some people say it's best, others say it's worst, I wouldn't say it's a bad or even mediocre game. It's good. I think first 2 are better tho.
I didn't realize Red Mountain in Sonic's campaign on Sonic Adventure wasn't underrated in Sonic's campaign on Sonic Adventure wasn't underrated in Sonic's campaign on Sonic Adventure was an underrated stage. I always thought it was a really amazing stage. Love the music for both parts of the stage. Really great stage too. By underrated stage I thought you were going to talk about a version of a stage for another character's campaign. Like maybe there's some underrated stages for knuckles campaign maybe for example
@Sly88Frye yeah, I guess I should have specified the Underrated feom Sonics campaign. Sonic Adventure has a lot of levels from other characters that I would also consider a treat as well.
tbh red mountain just one of those examples of how sonic adventures art direction was peak like I hear a lot of people praising sonic unleashed and it’s design and how it looks pretty but like sonic adventure was right there like years before it and I won’t sit here and lie to you and say it looks better the unleashed but the feel it was trying to going for in that game, and even in the sequel was much more appealing than sonic unleashed as that game went for a more Pixar style I don’t know it just looked too cartoony when sonic adventure games really made you feel like you’re actually there going through sonic campaign well sonic unleashed feels a Watching a cartoon
Exactly. There's so much creativity and precedent that Sonic Adventure brings to the table, it's actually insane. Things like the refined homing attack, Sonics voice, the rock and roll aesthetic, and serious storytelling. (Tbh, the classic games had this as well to some extent).