Speed Highway - Adventure vs Generations

[@bickuribox12]

The rate at which these come out has me stunned and psyched every time, THEY’RE SO GOOD

[@Ajakes]

Thank you so much man! 🙏😭

[@ar7hur06]

bickuribox12 jumpscare

[@zame-osomething5096]

BICKURIBOX12 MENTION!!

[@_SSCJ]

You two are two sides of the same coin. Both make great sonic essay videos just at different rates

[@epicgamner1139]

bro the founding father just entered the chat

[@woomyboy98]

Peak just dropped

[@camkid5866]

Indeed

[@ExessiveJazz-x8o]

Thought that as soon as I saw the thumbnail

[@Starpotion]

We are so back

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

I've been following your channel for the last few months and can keep quiet no longer. Your analysis of Sonic levels and history are not just some of the best Sonic videos I have ever seen, but some of the best video game content I have ever seen period. At a technical level, you put so much work into your videos with amazing drawings and editing that makes everything easy to follow. But beyond that, the depth and insight you provide on these levels is truly astounding. You approach these levels both emotionally as a Sonic fan in how they make you feel and as an artist in how they are designed. I never see analysis on the psychology of level deigns, how levels are visually constructed and arranged to draw attention to certain things. Its scarcely discussed how designers recognize player intuitions and habits and construct levels to meet that intuition or deliberately subvert that intuition to trip up players. All this comes from your background as an artist. You understand not just the creator's perspective in both how the creator communicates to the world and how the creator predicts the way the viewer will perceive their art. This is such a unique perspective I have never seen applied to game design and it is why your series on Sonic levels are so unique. Which isn't even to say the level of detail you analyze every level, that in itself is already excellent! But what further distinguishes your videos is how you communicate to your audience. I mentioned before the emotion you display for Sonic, the passion behind the project and that's a subset of your communication skills. You have a very grounded view of Sonic. You know the highs, the lows, and normal and the crazy of the Sonic games and the Sonic fans. Because you have such a wide understanding and nuanced understanding, you're able to communicate to Sonic and non-Sonic fans in a way that's easy for them to understand. It's hard for me to articulate, but there is there is little judgement in what you say. You judge the art for sure but you don't make the viewer feel judged. You say things in a way that isn't just easy for viewers to underhand but easy to accept. You say things that make people willing to listen and this comes down to your words, your tone, and your pacing when speaking and editing. You have self-awareness of Sonic and awareness of how others will interpret what you will say. I am simply very, very impressed with these videos and your style of communication. There is a real substance to what you say, a real passion behind how you say it, and a real awareness in how you communicate it. A single one of these traits can make a video great but you, against all probability, managed to capture all 3. That's what makes these videos exceptional and I am so grateful for stumbling upon your channel. Please keep it up and I humbly await your next video!

[@SamProcrastinates]

Dude this video was super fun and informative! Amazing stuff!

[@JOJO-oj8gy]

Sam jumspcare

[@thephantomdriver7210]

I love these Level Design analysis videos, I dont think ive ever seen such indept analysis of level design that not only discusses composition lighting and general placement of objects but also small details that have a psychological effect like on the dragon road with the merlons on the wall helping with selling the speed or the bending of the roads This is so unique and well done please keeping doing these!

[@Ajakes]

Thanks! I only catch these things myself when I sit down to make these, so it's really fun to crack into these levels and look around instead of getting a high score. They're doing so much VISUALLY, it's awesome

[@Unleash_YT]

1:13 That use of the rings for 'So' was genius lmao

[@Ajakes]

it was a last minute edit when I caught the circle, lol

[@CaptainF123]

We need the Seaside Hill comparison next. Going into detail on how the level design in each game was different yet similar in Heroes and Gens would be AWESOME

[@keelanbarron928]

Same.

[@Ajakes]

when people wanted more comparisons after Rooftop Run, this and Seaside Hill were the IMMEDIATE 2 I thought of

[@somehelluvafanboy8357]

​@@Ajakeswill you ever compare the Classic levels? Ik boost is fun and all and you're comparing mostly gameplay, but I feel like the Classic acts do an excellent job at translating some of the level design and ideas from the og level (such as the ever so-called out winery from Rooftop Run Night being in the Classic level and the bit between the clock climb)

[@iseethesea]

@@Ajakes In your Dragon Road video you said you'd only previously ran on water accidentally in Generations, but did you know there's a route in Seaside Hill Act 2 towards the beginning that requires water running, only indicated by a few rings off to the side? It leads to a cannon, and the camera draws far back to show you both how much you skipped by taking that route and what lies ahead. It's both efficient and impressive!

[@aronimacaroni2982]

seeing route 3 at the end of modern speed highway might have opened my 3rd eye lmao, always happy to learn new things about boost levels 10+ years later

[@Ajakes]

I honestly thought it was a glitch when I saw someone pull it off on KZbin

[@EthanMallonee]

Wake up, new level analysis dropped

[@KSword007]

This is good. Even great. Definitely awesome. Always outstanding. Never lsss than amazing. (In the time it took you to out this out, Ive discovered I am legitimately a Shadow impressionist now.)

[@SaulCadenas-r1q]

Is this a sonic colors reference?

[@KSword007]

@@SaulCadenas-r1q Yyyeeeeeeep

[@KSword007]

HOLD UP. I CAUGHT THE INITIAL D REFERENCE.

[@Blitzadler0803]

I'm always so giga excited for a new analysis/comparison Video :) You always do an amazing job

[@Ajakes]

Thank you very much!

[@epicgamner1139]

bro says "i promise they wont all be this long" do what you must but i certainly wont argue with more peak content

[@Ajakes]

a bit of OVERINDULGENCE never hurt anyone (besides all the new viewers I am scaring off)

[@epicgamner1139]

@@Ajakes to hell with them i say BRING ON THE OVERINDULGENCE

[@flare376v]

Embrace the yapping

[@BuckyTee]

@Ajakes this is my first video I watched of you but I surely wouldn’t mind a “Yapping Sandwich With Extra Yap Sauce and Yap Pickles TM”

[@Neonlight3934]

22:40 I just realised they use Classic Sonic Segment to decorate Modern Sonic backgrounds. That's both a nice detail and genius asset reuse. 46:16 This is insane, I learned you could get up there with a Speedrun trick by bouncing from the skyscrapers. I had no idea there was a dev intended route this entire time. That's insane.

[@gabrielxzy8576]

Something I was expecting and I'm unsure if you noticed is that, in Gens, after the running down the building part the sky changes, and till the ending, Speed Highway is meeting it's dawn, just like SA1. It's genius, they didn't want to leave the classic SPH aesthetic, but they still referenced that "Dawn Avenue" part. On the resulting screen, is even more noticeable that the day is dawning, it's like if you were to continue that road, you would find yourself on the streets of Station Square. Great video!! These level design analysis are incredible, so interesting to see all of this and see more about the devs works. And I also didn't know about both the dash ring skip at 23:00 and that you could catch the rocket a second time at 46:20, for all these years. Keep up the good work!!!!

[@MysticClaws100]

I know SA1 and SA2's speed levels off by heart so there was no surprises for me here regarding SA1's Speed Highway's level design but I was surprised to see some of the alternate routes and shortcuts from the Gens version that I hadn't seen before. The path to the route 3 at the end was crazy to see in particular.

[@Ajakes]

I don't even know how you'd discover that one naturally lol, I feel like it would just be sheer luck at that point, speeding forward with the rocket and being like "hold up, that wasn't a homing reticle... was it?"

[@sirkjohno0129]

Can I just start by saying that I love the stick figure diagrams you use for these analysis videos? They make me feel so involved and welcomed to join in on the conversation of a blue hedgehog speeding through a highway! My memories of Speed Highway - I remember playing the Generations level first as I only first played Adventure after, I think it must have been 2012 when I bought a Dreamcast Collection for the Xbox 360 that also had Space Channel 5, Crazy Taxi, and Sega Bass Fishing. Needless to say, besides dabbling into Crazy Taxi, I basically only bought the collection for Adventure because my mum wasn't exactly willing to use the Xbox Live Marketplace for Sonic games I never grew up playing. In Generations, it was an exhilarating blast to go through. If the classic era was to set the scene with iconic levels, the dreamcast era felt like the levels were picked based on their set pieces (I remember that fans voted for them), and where I think City Escape and Seaside Hill were great picks for their games, Speed Highway was an excellent precursor for those levels and their set pieces. In fact, SA1 is full of those set pieces that sees Sonic go through the ridiculous, from the orca chase in Emerald Coast to the snowboarding down Ice Cap, and it's a testament to Goin' Down that the community loved it so much. But obviously, there is just much more to Speed Highway than the run down the building. I feel that beginning does tune us into the man-made environment being fleshed out for Sonic, truly a groundbreaking development for the series that has introduced a level theme Sonic Team have gone back to so much that it's practically a given to gave a city themed level in the games these days. That's a legacy if I've ever seen one, and one I sometimes come back to the Jehtt meme video about Sonic evading his taxes: Tails: "Speed Highway was literally built with taxpayer dollars." Sonic: "Yeah, and they used the money to build loop-de-loops on the road. Which, granted, cool as hell for me... but man, morning commutes must be hell for everyone else!" Where I think a lore explanation comes in requires us to look into the other characters speeding through Station Square-- remember when Dr. Eggman tried to nuke the city towards the end of Tails's story, but it was a dud? Tails then beat Eggman in a race to the bomb. If I were Dr. Eggman and had the power to erase all of my defeats, I'm pretty sure I'd also want to remove my first canonical defeat to Sonic's sidekick, not even Sonic. That was just embarrassing for the doctor! Would love for Seaside Hill and Rail Canyon comparisons with their Sonic x Shadow Generations variants (and crossing in with Ocean Palace and Bullet Station.) Sonic Heroes was my first game in the series, and I still love playing it dearly, so I'd love to hear you analyse those stages.

[@Ajakes]

I just bought the Dreamcast Collection recently! (for collecting purposes) Interesting you played the Gens version first, that's kinda what I went through with Rooftop Run. Although with Speed Highway, I think I actually prefer the Gens remix haha, whereas I love how they did Rooftop Run in Unleashed. As the first real "city" level, I think Speed Highway broke a lot of ground, and it's setpieces are memorable because of that. That's why I have a lot of respect for Speed Highway. Sure we got tons of city levels now, but look at the home run they made on just their FIRST attempt, it's fantastic! Also if I were Eggman, I'd try and forget the entire Tails storyline, cause he lost to him TWICE (at the rocket AND when he fought him proper afterwards rofl, poor guy left embarrassed). Really excited to hit a Heroes level sometime next year, so stick around!

[@TIME-DEV]

I always enjoy how you like to break down camera angles and visuals and stuff, visual language is so interesting.

[@deannkosi2079]

46:18 And THIS is why i love watching these videos!! Watching this completely blew my mind and i just had to try it out myself!! Thank you soo much for showing me this!!

[@Ajakes]

No problem!

[@BillehBawb]

this video and analysis is soooo good how do you pump these out so fast

[@Ajakes]

I think the rush of recent views got me all hyped up to work on things, though I probably need to slow down in the future for my own sanity lol. But now I got christmas break for that yayyy!! (thx for the comment!)

[@reziorenji]

Dude, you produce some of the most engaging Sonic analysis on this platform. Keep it up!!

[@stardust-reverie]

this was super thought provoking about speed highway and i have a lot to say but the thing i wanted to say most is: you never bring up how the skybox changes and the sun starts to rise after Goin’ Down in generations! which is one of my favorite details about the level because it’s such a subtle and nice little homage to At Dawn even though they couldn’t adapt it directly

[@Ajakes]

True, I should have mentioned that more. I honestly only ever catch it on the results screen, I always forget it's changing AS you continue through the level, it blends in so well

[@stardust-reverie]

@ it really does!! :D

[@EngineMusic]

20:16 i have been playing this game for about 10 years now and i NEVER knew that this path was down here WHAT???

[@Ajakes]

SURPRISE!!!

[@the-civil]

The fact that you drop these videos at such a consistent pace and they’re really high quality is inspiring. Keep it up I love watching these

[@Ajakes]

I appreciate that, thanks!

[@ru-binchannel8419]

Extremely unusual content and I love it! I always enjoy hearing about Sonic's levels, after all levels are one of the most important elements in the Sonic the hedgehog series of games

[@williamdent2947]

I LOVE how polite you are when it comes to critisize, its so nice to see a reviewer not complain every second for the sake of complaining

[@frailfangs]

in the YEARS of playing generations i NEVER knew about the rocket regrab (or that the rocket route even existed?!?) maybe i saw it in a speedrun and never registered what happened. but that's CRAZY. these comparison videos are a HUGE joy to watch, i love them!! your commitment to being respectful to the love people have for the rough elements of the series also brings a big smile to my face. huge fan!!

[@RiverdudeCovers]

Dude you have GOT to be an industry plant with how fast you crank out all of these AMAZING videos. Without a doubt i am so happy i found this channel. Keep up the great work youre incredible!!!!

[@codified_]

As a kid playing Generations with no idea of the context of the stage, this level made me feel like an unstoppable criminal Nighttime, helicopters, spotlights, police monkeys (I didn't know those were just Eggman robots), breaking every piece of glass I can see and always running, it was a new, different, and very fun way of wanting to go fast I'd say this level does a better job at making you feel wanted dead or alive than City Escape funnily enough Generations was my first Sonic game, and while I really liked the previous levels, Speed Highway was the only to REALLY inspire me to play the rest, Sonic going through a vibrant city, running on walls, down a building, through buildings... it seemed awesome compared to the mostly cartoonish previous stages (again, I also liked those, but in my kid brain they didn't compare)

[@_SSCJ]

Idk why but these videos always make my day. Thank you for peak content.

[@Ajakes]

Thanks for always watching 'em!

[@darkhorse744]

Ooohhhh, hell yeah! I love both versions of Speed Highway, so watching a breakdown on them is gonna be good.

[@Astra-dx]

The amount “OH SHIT THAT EXISTS?!” I’ve had in this video is a lot. The humor, writing, editing and analysis to stage design, shot composition and sheer “wait that was an hour?!” Chefs kiss of a video champ

[@John1497]

This video was awesome definitely subscribing

[@VampyWampy]

You have no idea how happy I am to see you keep doing these level comparison videos. It's like, I'm finally seeing someone else appreciate these levels as much as I do! Your style is genuinely so unique and charming, keep it up!!

[@Ajakes]

Gushing about this new hobby has been a dream come true, thanks for catching the vids! ❤️

[@GavinKujava]

Man just wow your content is phenomenal

[@tricktrook3174]

Bickuribox12 already pointed this out but again, you upload INSANELY fast considering the quality of the art and the script. Because generations is a boost level I never really explored it too much, and I didn't explore alot of SADX's speed highway because of the way sonic controls in that game. So watching this video discovered so many secrets to me, like at the 2d section with 3 floors I NEVER EVER even THOUGHT of the fact that you can jump to skip the first part. Also LIKE JUMPING OF THE TRICK PLATFORM WILL SKIP 2 FLOORS LIKE WHAT?! this gave me a better perspective on generations level, details that I never saw now pop out more than ever and its genuinely impressive how much stuff sonic team can put in a part of a level that almost nobody is going to see. So yeah great video, great format (also I ADORE your art style), great comedy and overall great job! I hope more people will see your content because it's genuinely inspiring.

[@orangeflipgram6549]

Really good break down of the level design. Love it!

[@theperfectpixl]

I dig how you decided to compare between versions of Adventure! Focusing on how the changes alter the vibe of the stage over whether they’re intentional or a bug or whatever is a great approach.

[@Ajakes]

Thanks! I was thinking back to our convo last month when we talked about it. I originally landed on just DX, but decided "eh I SHOULD include the OG in here" halfway thru, which is why it might feel a little quick lol. I'm glad you pointed it out to me though, that comment really helped me in making the vid 👍👍

[@gaborobles3411]

32:56 the way sonic's quills bend down as he runs down the building is so weird and yet so funny, I always wondered why that happens

[@MetalLegacy34]

Gens and SA1 are my two favorite Sonic games. Sonic’s Speed Highway is my favorite Adventure level and Gens’ Act 2 is my third favorite from that game. I have played both of these stages dozens if not hundreds of times. The fact you pointed out multiple things I’ve never seen in both versions is absolutely mind boggling. Job well done 👍

[@angel107011]

Goddamn, you are churning these videos out. Not that I'm complaining, just hoping you're not burning out soon. You've become one of my favorite YTers recently, so I'll be there always when a new vid drops. Happy holidays!

[@WeristRiCK]

We love that you spent so much time and effort into these, its so much fun to see you need out on these things frfr, and your animation is peak

[@infidel5928]

A few things I took notes on before I yap: - the "so" at the beginning with the rings really got me - the "sonic running and splatting into hard objects" saga continues - the undertale reference (that took me back) - the sonic exe start menu down the hall cracked me up - that camera flip in the building dive did something to me in og sonic adventure - that rocket shortcut was magical like what were they smoking bc we need more of THAT Now onto my thoughts! First off, don't stop pausing! You're always noticing the subtle ways the developers use background elements to point the player in the directions they want you to go or highlight sections that are upcoming or will be important later. Its some truly blink and you'll miss it stuff, especially in Gens because you're going so fast, that they honestly didn't have to implement but they did because it's so clear they were passionate about what they were making. Generations is especially guilty of this and with the beautifully updated graphics and gorgeous blue color palette, you can just tell they were proud of this level. (Now imagine if the story got that much love and polish- hey who said that?) I also appreciate that while its clear DX is the least favorite of the bunch, you don't bad mouth it for a moment! It does have its merits like all things and I'm so happy the tone of the video remained fun and positive. This version of Sonic Adventure is one many people grew up with and was their first exposure to the series. I think it's really important to give the DX version its respects in that regard, even if the aesthetics don't quite live up to the original or Gens. Speed Highway is certainly a bunch of highways in which you can gain speed on and they did amazing things with such a simple concept. I think I might prefer it to Skyscraper Scamper now and I'm like Unleashed's number one glazer LOL. We'll just have to see when I play all of them! Anyway, another banger video, always a good day when these pop up and interrupt me drawing XD

[@Ajakes]

That's exactly the reason I wanted to be patient with DX! Not to say, "look at how much DX RUINED EVERYTHING," but instead say, "hey, if you were a kid and played DX first, then Speed Highway will probably feel like THIS to you." Game "feel" (kinda broad, maybe "presentation") is very important for these games, and it's why I end every analysis with that question. I'm not interested on what's right or wrong, and instead getting to how the experiences (however they were done) made people feel. DX can still make you feel hollow and empty and you hate it, I'm fine with that, but I wanna get to the heart of why, and then see it from a different perspective. There's enough videos pointing out all it's flaws, like, what would I add to that lol. And that's ANOTHER big long tangent you didn't deserve, but here we are!!! Anywho, thanks for understanding, I was thinking about it a lot rofl. But thanks for the great comment, as always! Excited to see what you end up drawing! (also thank u for catching the sonic.exe down the hall lol, I was hoping someone would)

[@infidel5928]

@@Ajakes We love tangents in this household! I'm glad you took a different approach because seeing the 100th "this thing is bad and you should feel bad for liking it insert topic here" video can get pretty boring! Probably more Boom!Sonic - kinda in love with the guy atm, I think his sass is top notch. Also CONGRATS on the bickuribox12 comment! I saw them and was like "YOOOO!" Remember me when ur famous!! (this is a joke btw XD)

[@ClawedAsh]

@@Ajakes I gotta just add, the fact you approach both 06 and DX in that way makes me incredibly happy, especially given your personal bad experience with 06. I grew up with 06 and adored it, so when I heard you didn't like it in the Shadow Gens video I admittedly got worried, but then you handled that in the most mature and awesome way possible. And that mature way of handling it has made a Crisis City comparison video my most anticipated video for you, I'd love to see how you handle it Whoops- kinda went on my own little tangent there

[@polygauze]

I love this video so much, I don't even know where to start? First things first, in the generations section with the first green spinner in the building (which you might stomp on) in the background there is some escalators, referencing the classic act of the stage (kind of surprised you didn't mention it?) and the blur in generations also takes a HEAVY backseat showing the buildings in their full glory, it's truly wonderful. My only critique is you didn't talk about the music the much, but it's fine. (Also god bless you for using sonic CD music, it really highlights the nightlife of this stage) I really love this video, it's up there with the kingdom valley and rooftop run videos, the overanalysis of that one long stretch of glass road connecting the two buildings was really cool Also will you be covering the rival flights/boss fights? It'd be cool to see something like that in the future! (Sorry for the long comments I enjoy these video to an unreasonable degree 🙏)

[@Ajakes]

When I make the Classic video, I'll get into all that stuff, promise! 👍 And I typically don't mention the music cause I don't know anything about music theory in general besides how it makes me feel lol, but I suppose that's the main point about my level videos right? I'll try and tackle it more in future videos. People have been suggesting a Boss fight comparison video, and I'm really into the idea, I hope to do that within the coming year. Thanks for commenting AND being a CD soundtrack enjoyer 🙇

[@sh4rdzzino]

1 hour of peak content, thank you bro

[@gluten1221]

i love discovering cool new youtubers mere hours after they upload and becoming obsessed with their whole channel

[@danlad5467]

Really great video once again! Keep up the great work!

[@betterthanbrooklyn5806]

dude I never slowed down to find that shortcut in the 2D pillar section let alone that rocket REGRAB??? That shit is sick as HELL man holy.... You really just make me want to replay these games every video you make! REALLY look forward to every analysis!

[@azuredusk991]

I have a personal memory of Sonic Adventure 1 DX, specifically the GameCube version. I loved using the many cheats available with Action Replay, and I appreciated that the Chao Garden was compatible with the Game Boy Advance. The unlockable minigames from the game were a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the mission mode. After all, where else could you play as Metal Sonic or Cream the Rabbit? Although people don't like the dx version it's still got a place in my heart. I know this is a long comment sorry, I’m back from my vacation, and I’m just in time to catch this new video! As always, I’m genuinely impressed by the music, the editing, and the visuals. It’s exciting to see how well this is gaining traction, and I can only imagine the incredible potential you have with other games, especially considering the passion you infused into the large Sonic video. I’m looking forward to seeing you finish this project with a spectacular conclusion; I have no doubt it will be amazing! Also, I’m still waiting for a Discord link to be included in the description. On a side note, could you please make the Eggman sandwich from Sonic Unleashed? It would be great to see that featured in your next comparison video, especially alongside my character! And don’t worry, I promise it’s not poison! :3 Keep up the fantastic work; I can’t wait to see what you come up with next! Once again I hope you enjoy your break well

[@Ajakes]

when I finally got all my emblems and unlocked Metal Sonic (my beloved) I felt like a GOD, I value DX just for that haha. Hope the vacation was fun! Glad this landed at the right time, I can't wait for more in 2025. Discord i'm still thinking about, I kinda enjoy my privacy if we're being honest, but I don't want people to feel trapped in the KZbin comments. Maybe a subreddit eventually, I still gotta think on it, apologies! In the meantime though, we keep the videos coming. BTW do you have a reference sheet for your character? (Also thanks for the comment!)

[@LTElight]

I really love these videos, keep them up!

[@quillllly]

"Next one will be easy breazy" Guys it's definitely Eggmanland trust me

[@Ajakes]

you cracked the code

[@Hobhunks]

It has been 13 years and I NEVER knew about that third route to the end. Generations is a special one. Class work as always chief.

[@NickDerMitHut]

Holy moly. I did NOT know HOW MANY Routes there actually are in Generations. Great Video, incredibly fun to watch and the humor and jokes are peak as always

[@colinwungus5110]

Incredible work! I hope you had a relaxing holiday and enjoyed the life-sized sonic made entirely out of Grimace wedge pieces that I tracked you down to deliv- I mean that Santa brought you… :’)

[@michael4numbers]

And here I thought I already knew everything about Speed Highway 😭. Awesome video!

[@theperfectpixl]

One think I like about SA1's Going Down section over Generations is that the obstacles blocking your way inside the building are escalators crisscrossing the building, the fact that they're completely flat being kinda hidden by your rapid descent. While in Generations, they're more of a generic box. Still a great set piece either way, but I love that little detail. Just another bit of that 'Sonic in our world' stuff you touched on.

[@Ajakes]

I KNEW those were escalators, but wasn't sure, which is why I went with tubes rofl. But I agree, would've been cool if they were bridges between the other side of the hotel you had to dodge pass, instead of like, rectangles lol

[@Kagikarma]

The ironic part of this video is that I spent some Microsoft Christmas money to GET SA1DX on my Series S, also got GGST and DBFZ, but HOLY I didn't realize there was so much going on in both SA and SG, the background does a lot of heavy lifting, not to mention I discovered some new tech for my next speedrun of Speed Highway when I play Generations! Take that one week break, you deserve it! (But as per usual gotta put my prediction for the next Unleashed Level for new years, so Cool Edge this time, am I right, am I wrong, neither of us know untilt he end of your well deserved break!)

[@Ajakes]

Time to get all 130 Emblems! You wanna be METAL SONIC, DONTCHA?!?!

[@Kagikarma]

@@Ajakes I DO, BUT I SAW A 100% OF SA1 DREAMCAST RETRA ACHIEVMENTS MASTERY VID AND IT LOOKS LIKE HELL FOR THE CHAO GARDEN BUT DX DID PORT SA2 CHAO MECHANICS TO SA1 BUT NOT ALL OF THEM???? Ima have to look into that by consulting the ancient tomes (My 2017 edition of the SOnic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia, real book look it up) I'll have ot consult both the normal entry and DX entry.

[@Swagmaster07]

The darkness of DX is not very intentional, because they removed the original lighting engine which used tone maps, and replaced it with a simpler one that does not use the tone maps, which doesn't even work on the PC version... This is one of the reasons everyone mostly prefers "mr 98" over DX, except when you mod DX I guess you can call that the 98 version if you get all of the Dreamcast mods.

[@Sonix_NMH]

TL;DR: Great level. Both in SA1/DX and in Generations. Whole Heartedly agree with you. And I'm grateful you broke this level down in depth. I even appreciate that you took the time out of your day to FAIL the beginning Glass Wall Runs cuz I literally have NEVER seen the Failure Path at the beginning for myself. I think Speed Highway being put into Generations really resonated with me when I first played Generations 17 years ago because. As you've said. It's a great level. And I loved it the most of all the revisits because it went ahead and managed to recapture every part of the Original Level in one form or another. And I do think this may be the case for most people, but I am positive that Speed Highway was what made me fall in love with Sonic as an idea of a Spectacle-filled Platformer. I believe Sonic 2, SADX, and Heroes were my first Sonic games. However, with Sonic 2 I only ever got as far as Aquatic Ruins when I was a young lad. So despite seeing Chemical Plant a lot, I didn't see value much of the Classic Sonic games (BACK THEN. I love them as much as DC Sonic now). Heroes, while I played it a lot and eventually it became my FAVORITE Sonic of all time, it just was unfortunately, played AFTER I played a lot of SADX. So, that being said, SADX would be the first Sonic game I've played and beaten until the end of the story. So, enough of making my case for why SADX is my GameCube Childhood. I just think that Speed Highway was a great way to solidify the idea of Sonic having Spectacle as a playable cutscene apart of levels. With the slow build up across Sonic's campaign. Emerald Coast's Orca > Windy Valley's Tornado > Casinopolis' Pinball Machines > Ice Cap's Avalanche > Twinkle Park's Carts + Rollercoaster. All for it to peak at Speed Highway's GOIN' DOWN Run. A little unfortunate that IMO, the spectacle gets toned down in Red Mountain, Lost World, and Final Egg. Sky Deck technically has no spectacle for me too but, I think the danger of being in the sky might fill in the gap. So, you're right. I think Speed Highway did in fact just strangle Generations by the head after slamming it's Resume down and made it's case on why it DESERVED to be in Generations. It's a damn fine level that left an impression with a piece of Spectacle that sort of feels like it fits right at home with an Action Movie. I will say though, as I want to make a case for the Station Square, slow segment being represented within the Sonic Generations level. As you've noticed, at the end of the Gens level, the sunrise is there -- Much like how the Sun is out in the Epilogue of SA1/DX's Speed Highway. One of the Routes to the Ending of the Gens level has you running along an office building -- Much like one of the Wall Runs in the original level. And lastly, the fact that there's some regular, precision platforming going on within the last segment of the Original Level's epilogue, that does happen with the Generations level of having to go thru the 2d section with the idea of exploring around for better routes. Aka the Verticality of the 2D segment, to me anyway, simulates the idea of climbing along the buildings of the original building. Granted, I can understand how most of what I just said could be considered a Stretch, but it has the same effect as, say. Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled's interpretation of the Crash Nitro Kart level, Out of Time. Yeah, really pulling out the ideology of Game Design with CRASH Bandicoot of all things. Basically though, in CTRNF, while they didn't have the Gravity Gimmick of CNK, they still replicated the Clock Tower's Huge U-Turn by remaking the U-Turn inside of the Clock Tower instead of riding up the side of it. Here, I think they simulated the Precision Platforming of the OG SA1's Station Square segment just to a (farfetched opinion) degree with the new, under the highway precision platforming 2d section. And now I make a TL;DR at the top of this Comment cuz wow I could probably make my own Yap Essays on Levels too.

[@spinningsilver270]

"It's busy, but it's...not? I know that sounds insane, but with every light shining, it somehow never gets distracting for me." No, that makes perfect sense. The massive amount of moving pieces might feel overwhelming, but they're all intricately woven together in a way that subconsciously guides you. Like being on a well made roller coaster. You could call it...controlled chaos.

[@Blud-4938]

The fact that you upload long and high quality videos and still have a semi consistent upload schedule is quite baffling, i love it

[@MrLag525]

No idea how you upload these so fast but I'm all for it! Would love to see a city escape analysis for gens and sa2 sometime

[@Hutch2Much]

holy shit dude how do you get these done so fast while i wish the stage in gens wasnt so washed in blue, the stage itself in gens is definitely fantastic, yeah. i had no idea about that rocket shortcut, thats insane! speed highway also one of the best levels in adventure imo; so often adventure stages feel like you can just skip half the stage with an easy spin dash jump, but speed highway feels like every path was so intentionally placed. just the right amount of spectacle too, love it

[@Ajakes]

Speed Highway feels like long runways complemented into more open level design. It's one of the levels that you can look at just the roads and be like, "oh yeah, that's a Sonic level alright." SPEED was absolutely the name of the game on that stage

[@DylanBatista-qo2ip]

MY FAVORITE MAN POST AGAIN LET GOOOOOO❤

[@ncsr9675]

I really love your video man! who would guess watch a 1 hour video about a highway would be fun. I hope the next video could be about some hills on the seaside!!! edit: 48:02 in case u do a seaside hill video, you need to talk about the music, bc in both in heroes and generations theres part where sonic does something that sync to the music (in heroes is a cannon in the beach, and the generations is a part with speed boosters and springs, also if u go fast enought, ocean palace starts at the exaclty ssame time u enter the turtle/kart route). sorry any broken english

[@myghostflower]

best christmas gift 🙏🙏🙏

[@ClassicSpeed]

I love that you mentioned all 3 life capsules at the start. I'm the developer of the sadx archipelago mod (a randomizer that involves multiple games and currently supports sa1, sa2 and shadow 05) and adding life capsules as location checks made me learn SO much about the game. Also I consider myself a huge sonic adventure and generations fan but I didn't know about the sadx after failing the screwed part, the failed path on the wall running and that wild double rocket thing. I love your videos dude. I hope you do sonic gens' city escape or shadow gens' final rush/chase next ❤

[@Ajakes]

Hey that's awesome! Thanks for the modding work, you guys reshape these games in such interesting ways, a randomizer sounds right up my alley! And yeah, the life capsules were almost always like the "flag" that got planted in interesting routes, whenever I found one I knew I was onto something lol. Thanks for the comment dude ❤

[@ClassicSpeed]

@@Ajakes Not my mod, but I would really recommend playing The Emblem Challenge mod for SADX. It replaces all the life capsules with emblems, and collecting them all feels like a deep dive into the darkest parts of Sonic Adventure (like the hidden room at the end of Final Egg, where you have to wait 5 minutes to enter, lol). Also, thanks for the response, it makes me feel a little cooler, like you c:

[@Dweble_pebble]

46:00 actually made me go "you can do that!?" bravo, insane video

[@Ajakes]

IT'S INSANE

[@ebigemu7574]

I NEVER noticed the small details in this level. As usual peak, informative content

[@Lana_305]

I can't wait for the eventual comparison between Sunset Heights in Sonic Forces and Shadow Generations. Even funnier when you realize it won't be as tedious with Forces' short stages. Also small thing, but I love how Sonic poses while smiling at the camera before grabbing the rocket at 40:36. Some modders have even used this to their advantage by adding specific camera angles with modded levels, the Final Rush mod being a prime example that I love.

[@Ajakes]

Oh that's awesome, I didn't know that about the mods. Do you remember the name of the Final Rush one?

[@CoolJosh2002]

Excuse me while I go and set a new best time on Speed Highway Gens because HELLO?! Route 3! I never knew about that! Loving these videos! Keep em coming!

[@Magaleg]

both versions of speed highway are so much fun to speedrun especially adventure's speed highway in my opinion Great Video as always!!

[@NEW_OG_GAMER]

The end of speed highway in sonic adventure, feels like a morning after you stay up all night. Relaxing, calm, and welcoming. The tight corners like a blanket, wrapping around you and welcoming you back after a long and fun night. Sonic generations ending feels exactly how you said it feels, I can't say it any differently! I love seeing more of your simple animations, the randomness and humor of each one. My prediction for the next video? It's unleashed, and I'll be saying cool edge. Will I be correct like last one? IDK. But you've showed it a bit and talked about it(if my memory serves me right.) so, I'm locking holaska cool edge day! And Total not because it's my favorite level!

[@MistiryShak]

I don't mind at all if these videos are long, you've got so many great things to say about these levels that I drop everything to watch them. This is the kind of level design analysis I yearn for

[@Ajakes]

those of you who don't mind the vid length are the true heroes 🙏

[@Abykitty06]

dude how do you pump these out so quickly they are perrrrfect, i love these sooooo much, this is an awesome christmas gift, thank u so much :3

[@Ajakes]

they're so much fun to make, thanks!!

[@FIlipThePeaTwo]

dude thank you so much my recomended latley has been nothing but less then 2 minute clips i needed this

[@ashe2258]

These videos just make me appreciate the levels even more than before. Thanks for another amazing video.

[@GrayoftheGalaxy]

Love this series! The production quality for these is through the roof, I don't know how you do it. Be sure to take care of yourself, and enjoy some rest for the holidays.

[@Ajakes]

Planning to relax a bit now, I appreciate it!

[@Cashew1405]

THE TUBE IS IN GENS!?! These videos kick ass, man

[@jruler93]

Glad to know this was posted after you were arrested, not after you died. I love both the Adventure and the Generations versions of this stage, though Generations definitely hits higher highs.

[@tempest.2k]

28:46 ohhh sick DC swirl. love your visual flourishes like that in this series

[@Ajakes]

nice catch 😉

[@mrstickmantas]

20:23 never seen that before, great video

[@classicsd2]

i love the level comparisons and the level reviews theyre so fun to watch!

[@SnaksiXD]

Babe wake up new Ajakes Sonic video. Your content shifted exclusively to Sonic level analysis real quick. I hope you're not feeling this as an obligation as "the funny sonic level design guy".

[@Ajakes]

I'm honestly having a ton of fun with it, and the reception has been very positive, so I think I'm gonna keep moving forward with it. Eventually tho I'll branch back out into other stuff. 👍

[@0retro0]

infinite sounding like pyro is insane i love that i dont wanna write a million notes about this one so im just gonna sit back and relax. i bet its gonna be a freaking awesome time

[@Kitty255Again]

I was about to subscribe, but... I was already subscribed. Either you're the Rooftop Run guy, or YOU BROKE INTO MY HOU-

[@dylantillery6665]

ajakes you are the goat every single one of these is peak please never stop doing what you’re doing

[@Ajakes]

tysm dude 🙏

[@Ian-jo6ko]

You went above and beyond with the whole police subplot, man. Super funny 🔥

[@Ajakes]

tyvm🙏

[@zerorock41]

36:30 That's a visual glitch introduced in Shadow Generations! The reflections aren't so vibrant in the 2011 release.

[@Ajakes]

My 360 copy still has that same issue, but I am playing the 60fps mode through backwards compat, so that could be messing with some things

[@ClawedAsh]

@@Ajakes I played the original version on the 360 relentlessly, I swear that there was never any reflection issues in that stage in 2011

[@SaviTheGamer]

Absolutely fantastic analysis!! This was a super fun watch.

[@philipknightson4204]

I only recently got Generations for Christmas, and Speed Highway was a great time. I'd like to ask a few questions about this series. If you do Space Colony ARK, are you just going to talk about Shadow Gens and Final Rush/Chase or every ARK stage (SA2, Shadow, and Gens)? Do you have plans for the Unleashed night stages, the Gens classic stages, or Mania comparisons? How are you going to compare Green Hill, Chemical Plant, and Sky Sanctuary? If you do Mania comparisons in the future, can you do Lava Reef? It's my favourite level in Mania and I've never played S3K so I'd like to see how they differ. These videos have quickly become some of my favourite Sonic videos, great work.

[@Ajakes]

Ey you got Generations, how you been enjoying it? Answers to Questions: - Space Colony I'll def combine with both Final Rush and Chase, it's really pulling from both. Still deciding on 05 with that one - I plan to do all those videos eventually, I just have a big backlog of videos I gotta sort through cause I say yes to everything - Green Hill and Chemical Plant will be larger videos (Green Hill especially) as they have a lot of versions I'm gonna compare with. Sky Sanctuary tho is pretty solo, so that should come quicker - I hope to do all Mania comparisons once I crack into Classic stuff, so Lava Reef is a guarantee!

[@philipknightson4204]

​@@Ajakes The game is great, but I'm playing it with my younger siblings who aren't very good, so it's taking a while, but it's a great time. My only real issue so far is that I don't like challenges being mandatory in games, but it's only one per zone, so it's not a big problem. I'm excited to get into Shadow's game when I'm done. - For the ARK, I imagine it could be like your Kingsom Valley video, where you follow Final Rush, Final Chase, and Act 1, and then sprinkle in 05 and Act 2 when they come up. - Makes sense, there's a lot of levels to cover, and I look forward to all these videos in the future. - Very exciting. Is Green Hill going to be Sonic 1, SA2, Gens, and Forces? - Very exciting. Do you plan to do modern 2D games like Rush or Advance, or just the Mega Drive games? - And another question, what game is planned after Unleashed and Generations? I'd like to see SA2 or Mania, but I dont doubt they'll get their time in the spotlight eventually.

[@celestia2564]

Speed Highway is just a really really cool level, I'd respect anyone saying it's their fav level in either of these games honestly. I knew it was possible to fail the wall run near the start in Generations, especially since the top path could catch someone off guard. But either I've forgotten the details or whenever I fell down there I just reset, because I was surprised to see a recreation of the tube from the original level! Also love that it loops back around to the lower path wall run section, that's typical Generations genius level design right there. If it was more of a fleshed out punishment path it'd be even better but in this case I can't complain. Also related to top path wall run, something I find very interesting is I don't think MANUALLY going from grinding straight to a wall run happens anywhere else in any of these games? If you have control prompts on they tell you to do that of course, but if a new player had them off I'm curious if they'd catch that it's possible on the fly like that. I was thinking about this relatively recently for some reason (?) so I'm glad for an excuse to yap about it in a KZbin comment. Since you brought up the connection to the beginning of the game a few times: I love that the Station Square levels in particular feel very "connected" to where they are in the hub. Not that the other hubs do a bad job of this but I think the context of the city makes it stand out more. Even something as simple as starting near the hotel in Emerald Coast and you never see a building like that again for the rest of the level goes a long way. SA1 really does have incredible vibes. ...Also now that I think about it I love how in Sonic's story this level isn't really that relevant to the plot but it's Tails' big important finale. (Also Knuckles finds some shards there, I GUESS that's important too.)

[@nixx7912]

Speed Highway isn’t my favourite stage in Generations, that goes to Seaside Hill. But there’s no stage more “Modern Sonic the Hedgehog,” than Speed Highway in all its iterations. No other level just sells it like Level 6. And it might be just the fact that it exist just to be a level. It doesn’t have to be there for any real reason, but it is. And I love it.

[@Ajakes]

It really feels like it was picked from a design point first, instead of like, "what a classic location from the game!" (i now know it was fan picked, but even IN that respect, it feels like people chose it because they heard Sonic was making a big "level" game, and they wanted some good-ass levels)

[@janposekany5392]

I love the little story telling you're putting at the beggining of these videos i love them 🥰

[@Ajakes]

haha thank you, I really appreciate that! ❤️

[@twotoned_echos]

0:22 Whoa wait wait wait, we're not the Smash community or the Minecraft community (low-hanging fruit ik)

[@Ajakes]

they go in the trunk

[@neoentertainment4957]

​@Ajakes no they are tied to the rear of the car, attached to kites, flying through the sky and getting clobbered by every street light

[@kaobunn]

was excited for this comparison! absolutely well said, the fact speed highway is good no matter what game it's in speaks volumes about its effectiveness i don't know if you ever saw that sonic x shadow gens keyart that sega dropped where sonic and shadow's paths are halved with one being speed highway and one being radical highway but it looks AWESOME also my jaw dropped when i learned you could grab the rocket again in that section, generations has some insane discoveries on replays

[@comicking428]

I have mixed feelings towards speed highways inclusion in gens. Gameplay wise i totally understand why it was so manys fav level in Adventure. Problem is aesthetically its competing against 3 other city stages in the same game and Adventure has other great levels that had remake potential like Twinkle Park and Lost World. Regardless, your reviews are top tier as always.

[@Ajakes]

Yeah, if we were going off narrative, (which most of the other Gens levels do), I'd pick something like Lost World (honestly that level is great as a stage, divorced from narrative), BUT at the same time, I wonder if it would have been jarring for players to start the "Dreamcast / Modern" era in Gens with a big mystical temple? I wonder if Speed Highway was a great / lucky pick to put the contemporary feeling of the Dreamcast era front and center. Something I will likely think about, way too much lol. Thanks for the comment!

[@comicking428]

@@Ajakes Understandable. I don't think the transition would be too jarring since Lost World does contain some elements of classic zones like Labrynth Zone and Acquatic Ruin, but I can also understand wanting to put the contemporary approach front and center. I'd probably put Lost World, City Escape, and either Bingo Highway or Hang Castle to rep the Dreamcast Era.

[@saintsrowpro]

Looking forward to another hour spent great Btw, Adam, will you deliver any thoughts on Sonic 3 movie?

[@Ajakes]

Thanks! I have thought about it, I think I might give it a little time before making a review, OR maybe I can lead up to it while reviewing all the other movies. Still figuring it out! Did you get to see it? / what did you think?

[@saintsrowpro]

​@@Ajakes yep, already saw it. It's great. Imo, even better than first two movies. Shadow character is so on point

[@Pikatwig16]

Wanna say, that of the levels in Sonic's half of the game, this is my favorite area shared by both Sonics. Both acts are amazing and I'm hoping Act 1 can get some love from you someday. I enjoyed both a lot. I even got the camera in Classic's act stuck on a Z-axis somehow (not a clue how). 20:35 I looked at that building because I was thinking it was that burger joint that's in the hub world of SA1, but nope. The label says 'Ring Juice'. The interior shot just brought that burger joint to mind. I'll admit that I always thought the hotel area (the 2D to be a little more specific) you run through in both versions of this stage was supposed to be the hotel that housed the Chao Garden and where Knuckles fought Chaos 2. Just seemed to line up in my head. Alongside you, I'll admit that I genuinely forgot the wall run didn't have the cop robots chasing you.

[@Ajakes]

YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT ABOUT THE HOTEL. I never made that connection but it fits super well for a level that's also trying to emulate Station Square alongside it. Good catch!

[@itsjustalter]

your videos get even better each time! loved every second of it, btw, jungle joyride(peak) when?

[@Ajakes]

you said it yourself. It's peak, and we gotta climb our way there... but dear god when we do, get yourself ready

[@pinksemporium3175]

This is one of the best gifts ever. I was literally just thinking about your videos. :D

[@Ajakes]

Happy Holidays!

[@pinksemporium3175]

You too!!​@@Ajakes

[@Hyp3rSonic]

​@@AjakesHappy (late) Christmas!