Sonic Generations will star both the classic blue hedgehog you remember from your childhood and the tallish smirking blue hedgehog of the modern day.

How’s that all going to work, exactly? We tried the game’s E3 2011 demo at a sneak preview event last month. Put simply, although the entire game features 3-D graphics, there are two types of levels: Ones on a 2-D plane that star Old Sonic and are in the style of the classic Genesis games, and 3-D levels starring New Sonic where the camera is hovering over his shoulders. The E3 demo features two different takes on Green Hill Zone, that leafy checkered field where all Sonic games begin.

In this Wired.com video, a Sega spokesperson walks us through the basics. Sega hasn’t said whether New Sonic and Old Sonic will meet up during the game and play any sort of hybrid levels, or whether their gameplay will remain as separated as is shown in this demo.

Sonic Generations will be available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this November. A separate version will be released for Nintendo 3DS.