I feel like they've been improving like, one feature for their last two games. Sonic Unleashed's running stages were awesome but their gimmick stages sucked ass. Not to mention the shitty-as-fuck level system that I still hate. In this one, evidently the gimmick actually works. I'm giving Sonic Team a cautious "good job, guys".
Of course I'll still rent it and play it. I sold my soul to Sega way back in the day.