While this engine is not showing off a game, or level design, it IS showing off the understanding of the fundamental mechanics that made 2D Sonic games so great now translated into 3D Sonic environments.
And while I really enjoyed those games they're fun platformers (Colours and Generations especially) they don't have the fundamental gameplay that made 2D Sonic so great in the first place. Sonic Colours had some great mechanics that took advantage of the Wisp powers to find new routes. For example, Unleashed's day levels were great for the incredibly fast Sonic game they made, Generations too. I agree and disagree, Sonic Team make levels that work well enough around the gameplay they have designed. And I think he's so high in the company that nobody can or will challenge him on his design choices. But the worst part is that he simply doesn't understand the fundamentals of what makes a great Sonic game namely momentum, speed and levels designs to make the most of them. There is a complete lack of direction, no game concept is ever built upon, just thrown out and started again. I feel like the blame lays upon Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team. It is not for a lack of talent the Hedgehog Engine 2 is quite beautiful and can be seen in use also in the new Sakura Wars game, so it's a versatile engine. It's such a shame that Sonic Team has never had the opportunity to make a game like this. I particularly like how the bounce pads now reflect the momentum that Sonic hits them at, instead of simply bouncing him upward in a fixed position. What's really important is the understanding of momentum based gameplay and platforming a fundamental part of what made Sonic games so fun, which is modern 3D Sonic games completely lack.
At the present time, it's just a proof of concept engine rather than a full game. I'm so impressed with this fan project that I had to share.
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