While the World Map is the same, the Hub Worlds are now more upgraded.Sonic's rank animations are recycled from Sonic Generations (the E rank is recycled from Sonic Unleashed instead).The E rank is now the lowest rank instead of D.The extra lives from an A or S rank are added automatically. Sonic is no longer controllable during the results screen.
As such, the button to activate Super Sonic is different than the one for the Wisps.
They then get off the elevator, take a gander at the Tropical Resort, then Sonic carelessly runs off into Act 1.
The cutscene where they are riding up the elevator is now happening in real time instead of in a flashback. They eventually find an elevator that leads up a long pole.