The Sonic Rush series proved that 2.5D platforming still works great for the series, but apparently those don't exist just because they're on a handheld. As for a console, the answer is almost as simple: There's TOO MUCH SPEED. If the fans could just stop whining about there not being enough SPEED in the 3D games, they might realize that the levels in the Genesis days (the later levels in each game) weren't especially fast-paced, it was more about precision than getting through as quickly as possible. But no, the audience demands "MORE SPEED," so we get these ridiculously linear levels that are either pathetically easy or artificially difficult. Breakneck speed simply doesn't work in 3D platforming, but people have seem to forgotten that breakneck speed isn't what the original Sonic series was actually about.
As for too many characters, I think the problem can be solved even more easily: Have the other characters' missions be optional side quests, not necessary for the completion of the story. Same with story, so long as they make the cutscenes skippable I could care less if they shove one in or not, so long as it's an excuse for good gameplay.
Oh, and by the way, the poll should include this question as well:
Charli said:
Humans. Remove them. Back to mobius please.
Robotnik, not eggman. (I don't care what the Japanese find funny, to us it's just lame)
For the umpteenth time,
neither of those names were ever canon. Eggman has ALWAYS been called Eggman in Japan. And there's no going "back" to Mobius because there was never any "Mobius" in the games, the only time they ever called anything "Mobius" was in the American-made cartoon shows.