This is the biggest bullshit I have ever seen.
First thing, Marble Zone is a perfectly well designed platform level, it is not a "go fast, press X to win" deal, but it makes use of the tight controls Sonic has for its platforming parts and if you are good enough, it is perfectly possible to go fast in those bits.
Second thing, Sonic 1 has a pretty obvious fast-platform-fast level setup going on:
- You start out in Green Hill Zone, arguably the best starter level of all times, which show you the ropes and how fast Sonic can go.
- Then you move out to Marble Zone, given this is Sonic's first entry, it plays safe and goes with a general platformer feel.
- Beat that and here comes Spring Yard Zone, where Sonic's pinball physics and overall speed makes the level a joy to play.
- Labyrinth Zone arrives, the weakest level of the game, and while it is possible to go "fast" here, it means skipping most of the level.
- After going through pain, Star Light Zone comes into play and it is one of the fastest levels overall if you play it good (stay in the upper routes) or tight platforming if you play badly (stay in the lower routes)
- Scrap Brain Zone, as the final level, plays up on both being fast while platforming, making good use of Sonic's pinball mechanisms in its gimmicks. The third act is Labyrinth Zone 4 but it is very short if you go fast during the beginning.
- Final Zone is a boss level and as no platforming nor speeding.
This is a product of its time, obviously, given it was Naka's first go on a Sonic game and platformers being a safe bet. This so-called "fad platformer" ended up spawning a few entries building up on this "fad gameplay". Those later entries by Naka (Sonic 2 and 3&K) focus on the speed-based gameplay with platforming being a part of the overall level design instead of having dedicated levels, meanwhile Oshima took the platforming-based gameplay and made it a whole game in Sonic CD, and while it is a controversial title itself due to that, most do argue it is a good take on Sonic.
Finally, all classic mainline Sonic games (Sonic 1/2/3&K/CD) do stand the test of time and its gameplay still holds up nowadays, as one can see by the mass appeal of Sonic Mania by the overall gaming community. Naka's contributions to the industry will be remembered forever, as a competent programmer and designer, bringing out games like Phantasy Star, Sonic and NiGHTS. It's truly regrettable he is planning on ending his career here.
For such a "talentless hack", he sure did a lot of good, but I guess being edgy on the internet and shitting on people and their work brings out more funny internet points.