Real creative use with the Egg Chasers when climbing the clock tower along with the beginning being a snippet of the Hub World, Spagonia University complete with all of the continent flags. Classic goes through a cleverly disguised chemical plant tube and jumps off before the blimp explodes. I really like the part where you have to ride the clock handles and spindash into the center, opening up the clock which causes the blimp to crash. This is WAY better than the Werehog as there's not much of a bottomless pit and the camera isn't much of a hindrance. You travel through the wine cellar, pushing the barrels on top of the Egg Fighters, and even get to climb the clock tower in a platforming section.
minus the switches, combat, and Dark Gaia monsters. This stage is one huge homage to the Werehog level.