I don't get how Lost World is peoples absolute favourite game in the series. If it was your first sonic game and genuinely enjoy it more power to you but regardless on what anyone says, it is nowhere near on par with Generations or Unleashed on terms of quality and level design, along with falling behind the Adventure games in terms of story and usage of the games mechanics which Lost World uses as little as possible. The "Deadly Six" are the most boring villains in the franchise with the worst boss fights along with it.
It fails to achieve its goal to replicate the fluid gameplay style of the Mario Galaxy games. There is a reason why this is the only game that uses this Modern Sonic gameplay and should stay that way.