Actually Doctor Strange, the reviewers don't respect the new style of Sonic games (2006, Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Boom) and will be a bit harsh, but will be crazy nice and generous to the old style (Colors, Lost World). Generations might be an exception because it was flat out fun for both parties.
But for those of us who do kind of like the new style, we just have to turn the other cheek to most reviews and opinions.
Then explain the relative praise for Unleadhed, Sonic Adventure, while everyone hated on Sonic 4? This bias is absurd. Sonic 2006 and Shadow The Hedgehog were complete and utter crap attempts to modernize Sonic. Shadow the Hedgehog is a game that involves an emo hedgehog running around and shooting guns and being dark. Sonic 2006 was a game involving a love between a Hedgehog and a human princess, Time Travel, and other Sonic living in a world full of humans where the story was dark and serious. Sonic Boom on the other hand goes from light and cheerful(ala Batman:The Brave and the Bold) to so much cheese the state of Wiscounsin had to check to make sure they hadn't been robbed.
The problem with all of these versions is that Sonic makes about as much sense as every other platformed mascot made in the 90s. Rather then embrace the fun nature of the characters and the absurdity of it at moments they either feel the need to create a serious story built around characters that are absurd or a complete cheesefest that turns everything wrong with the characters up to 15.
A good game comes up gameplay first, then a story. These games are examples of the story coming first.
