#sonic chronicles. sonic battle. sonic advance 2 and 3

[sonknuxadow]

well now i kind of want to play another game but idk where to start i have so many unfinished games

[neomel]

Alrighty fellow insane sonic fans i have something very cool for you today: a WORLDBUILDING theory!! this is something that's been kicking around in my head for so long that i forget it isn't something I've shared with many others yet lol

[ This post primarily covers stuff from Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Advance, and ignores Sonic Chronicles and Sonic Pocket Adventure as they have been struck from canon (see: Encyclo-speed-ia) ]

[ It should also be noted that this theory is built on the idea that "the world" as depicted in Sonic Forces is not accurately depicting the entire globe, but rather depicting Eggman's takeover of just the island archipelago where the animal cast lives (South Island, West Side Island, Mirage Island, Northstar Islands, Angel Island) as to explain its geography and lack of human characters ]

Right! So, a big theme in the environmental design of the original Sonic Adventure was having the Sonic cast sort of "cross over" into the human world more - the wording on this was initially nebulous, but with updated translations and clearer official word recently, we now know that it means that the "human world" is moreso like a mainland populated by humans that exists separately from the animal-inhabited island archipelago of Sonic 1, 2, CD, 3&K and Superstars (see: Sonic Origins). My immediate first point of comparison - of all things - is something like the first Madagascar movie, where the lemurs are able to be a fully functioning society in a region completely isolated from humans.

Except it's not quite like that movie, is it? We see in Sonic Adventure (and further in Unleashed, 06) that animal characters like Sonic and c.o are able to exist just fine within the human world, to where Amy has flat-out moved into Station Square. Big and Tails, too, have settled down by the Mystic Ruins close to where Angel Island (sometimes) crashes down by, Rouge owns a club in Sonic Battle - you get the gist. Animal characters, the majority population of the islands as we see in Forces and the IDW series, are able to migrate into the "mainland" human societies, but it appears to still be a rarity, likely not even something everyone has the opportunity to do (Big might've been born on Angel Island, Tails and/or Sonic can fly any of Sonic's friends to wherever they want to go, etc.). The most contact humans have with the animal world is through the Mystic Ruins site, or Eggman using his excessive wealth to fly in and try and effectively colonize the islands as we see in Sonic 1, 2, Superstars, CD, 4.1 and 4.2 (for note: CD, 4.1 and 4.2 take place on the same island of Mirage Island)

Sonic Adventure 2's level select is obviously to be taken with a grain of salt as a stylized take on a world map, but it seems to infer the same thing that Origins' main menu and Angel Island's close proximity to the Mystic Ruins both corroborate - the island archipelago inhabited by the animal characters seems to be quite close to the mainland "United Nations" landmass, most evidently close to Rouge's Route 280 level. And given how often Eggman lays his sights on the islands as a primary target for his schemes (Heroes may well also be taking place on the islands, as Seaside Hill is confirmed to be near/on South Island), it would make sense from the United Nations' POV to try and make access to the islands more accessible. For example, to enable easier import and export of goods, help citizens evacuate from possible disaster (eg. how the Metal Virus in IDW described how it was impossible to evacuate to anywhere else but Angel Island), and so on - a way to connect the two societies more smoothly only makes sense.

With ALL that context and preamble out of the way, this is my theory, and where Sonic Advance finally comes into the picture:

Radical Highway in Sonic Adventure 2, and later Neo Green Hill Zone from Sonic Advance, were together depicting a brief attempt to connect South Island to the United Nations mainland.

You may think this is a bit of a nutty conclusion to draw given how little of a story Sonic Advance actually has, but I think there's a lot we can glean from just the environmental design of Neo Green Hill Zone alone. Compared to the original Green Hill Zone, and most of the levels in the Classic Sonic games that aren't just flat-out urban cities/facilities seemingly built under Eggman's control (Star Light, Spring Yard, Chemical Plant), Neo Green Hill Zone's touches of human infrastructure are far more...friendly, for a lack of a better word. There's parasols and wooden scaffolding, a grind rail or two along paved sidewalks, yet the natural beauty of the area is left entirely in tact. Nothing about it appears like Eggman's work, yet it is quite evidently structured for human interests, for tourism and walking/biking rather than all the funky ways in which Sonic's animal cast are comfortable moving around. Then there's of course the name: NEO Green Hill Zone, as if it's reinvigorating the idea for a fresh new facelift, re-marketing it!

But how does all that connect to Radical Highway?

Radical Highway (and Mission Street by extension) have a quirk unique to them when compared to almost all other urban city levels in the series - as you can see in the image above, they're themed around still being under construction. Compared to a level like Lethal Highway from Shadow the Hedgehog (or the aforementioned Route 280 from SA2) the holes and gaps in Radical Highway are presented as being specifically because the winding roads are still under construction. You can see this on the level map above too - Route 280 and Route 101 appear to be part of a long, linear, already-finished stretch of road, wheras the area of Radical Highway and Mission Street is filled with gaps, inlets and breaks in the road. Route 101/Route 280 already appear to fill the function of letting people cross between the two city areas depicted on Adventure 2's world map...so then, what exactly is the construction and general wobblyness of Radical Highway for?

Well, let's look at Sonic Advance again: Specifically, the end of the Neo Green Hill Zone stage, and the way the game progresses immediately thereafter:

The natural beach environment of Neo Green Hill Zone Act 2 suddenly bows out before the Eggman boss fight to give way to something quite interesting: A red bridge extending out from the island's coast. The bridge's architecture doesn't quite match that of Radical Highway, most notably using tall suspension wires hooked up to some off-screen upper portion of the construction, but I think the idea alone is fascinating enough: This is drastically more modern architecture compared to the rickety wooden bridges otherwise seen in Green Hill Zone. We're still a bit unsure of if Advance 1 takes place before or after Sonic Adventure 2, but if it's before - it may also be possible that the work on this bridge began on the South Island end of things *before* the mainland Radical Highway-end were finished with their work, with the idea of joining the two bridges somewhere in the middle.

Let's again also consider where this bridge takes our characters in Advance - to Secret Base Zone, a shockingly urban facility which we still don't really know the location of. Sonic and c.o need to zip-line into its entrance, with a background that only features light and buildings far off into the distance - is it possible that the Secret Base exists sort of like an oil rig in the middle of the ocean, inbetween South Island and the mainland, as some sort of production facility for the UN? Regardless, it serves as a pit-stop in the Advance campaign - after it, we can pretty cleanly chart a roadmap for where the cast travels. Casino Paradise's ocean background seemingly depicts it as being part of the coastline (bottom left of the SA2 map), Ice Mountain is pretty clearly meant to be another area of Ice Cap Zone given how it leads to the Angel Island Zone - which is, in reality, a dilapidated Sky Sanctuary. Effectively, the campaign seems to go from South Island, to the bridge connecting South Island to the mainland, to a coastside Vegas-like casino wonderland built by Eggman, which is near the Mystic Ruins and thus near Angel Island by extension (it may be connected to Night Carnival from Sonic Rush?). And all of it connected thanks to the works of a bridge, seemingly set up in Adventure 2 with Radical Highway being under construction, possibly with the goals to connect the two core parts of Sonic's world.

Whew! That's pretty much all the words I have, and I've now reached the max cap of images per posts. I truly don't know how many Sonic fans care about these granular details and concepts about the environment of Sonics world in games from 20+ years ago, but I hope it got some gears turning - and if there is some merit to this, it may further get you wondering as to why the path connecting the two was seemingly cut off in the end? Given the cityscapes we see in Forces and IDW, it's possible that this mutual relation between the two worlds lasted for a fair while - what could've possibly led to that bond being broken? Maybe Unleashed breaking the world apart had something to do with it...

Thanks for reading this far if you did - and feel free to add your own ideas or things I might've missed in all of this!

[jawz-idk]

My opinion and rankings of every Sonic Game, I will list every game down below in case you can't read the titles

(it goes from right to left)

Superstars wasn't on this list but it would be at the bottom of good

Yes, I think Unleashed is not only my favorite Sonic game but also my favorite game, ever, I know that's a pretty hot take but... I'm hot so idc ✨

Black Knight is so underrated yall, story is S tier Ost is one of the best and the gameplay is pretty fun, give it a try

Stay safe.

And yes I think the very first Sonic game (Sonic The Hedgehog 1) is shit... I'm sorry it was great for 1991, but now? Unplayeble in my opinion

This is all my opinions, if you disagree tell me why! Meeting people who agree with you is fun... BUT FIGHTING IS BETTER :>

The games:

Peak: Sonic Unleashed

The elit: Sonic Adventure 2, and Sonic And The Black Knight

S tier: Sonic Generations (my beloved 💛), Sonic Mania, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Colors, Sonic Cd(eez nuts)

Great: Sonic Frontiers, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, Sonic Riders (2nd best racing game of all times)

Good: Sonic Lost World, Sonic Rush, Sonic Heroes (mid asf I'm sorry), Sonic advance 3, Sonic Dash (unicronicaly a banger), Sonic Advance, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic 06

Meh... : Sonic Chronicles: and thé dark brotherhood (I am the only person who has played this game ever I swear to god lmao) Sonic Riders Zero Gravity, Sonic Advance 2, Shadow The Hedgehog

Shit: Sonic And The Secret Ring, Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic Racing, Sonic 3D BLAST, Sonic The Hedgehog 4 episode 1 & 2

The shit eating elit: Sonic Free Riders, Sonic Forces (what a constipation this game was) and Sonic Boom Rise Of Lyric

Never Played (oh god here we go):

Sonic The Hedgehog 1 & 2 for the master systheme, Sonic Chaos, Sonic Pinball, Sonic Drift, Sonic Triple Troubles (really gotta play the fan remake of that one), Knuckles Chaotix (seems good), Sonic Drift 2, Sonic Labyrinth, Sonic Blast, Sonic The Fighter (genuinely we need another Sonic fighting game), Sonic Pocket Adventure, Sonic Shuffle, Sonic Pinball Party (how many Sonic pinball games are there WTF?!) Sonic battle, Sonic Rivals, Sonic Rivals 2, Sonic All Stars Racing, Sonic Colors for the Nintendo DS, Sonic Generations for the 3DS, Sonic Jump, Sonic All Stars Racing Transformation, Sonic Lost World for the 3DS, Sonic Jump Fever, Sonic Boom Shattered Crystal, Sonic Runners, Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom (wtf is that), Sonic Boom Fire and Ice, Sonic Runners Adventure, Sonic Forces Speed Battles, Team Sonic Racing

I hate this

Stay safe.

[shinigami-striker]

Evolution of Knuckles | Friday, 02.02.24

Here's an evolution of Knuckles the Echidna throughout the Sonic video game franchise (since his debut in 1994 with the North American of Sonic the Hedgehog 3) down below.

1994

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GENESIS, 02/02/1994)

Sonic & Knuckles/Sonic 3 & Knuckles (GENESIS, 10/18/1994)

Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble (GAME GEAR, 11/15/1994)

1995

Sonic Drift 2 (GAME GEAR, 03/17/1995)

Knuckles' Chaotix (SEGA 32X, 04/20/1995)

1996

Sonic the Fighters (ARCADE, May 1996)

Sonic 3D Blast (GENESIS/SATURN, 11/09/1996)

Sonic Blast (GAME GEAR/MASTER SYSTEM, 12/12/1996)

1997

Sonic R (SATURN, 11/18/1997)

1998

Sonic Adventure (DREAMCAST, 12/23/1998)

1999

Sonic the Hedgehog: Pocket Adventure (NEO GEO POCKET COLOR, 12/20/1999)

2000

Sonic Shuffle (DREAMCAST, 11/13/2000)

2001

Sonic Adventure 2 (Battle) (DREAMCAST/GAMECUBE, 06/19/2001)

Sonic Advance (GBA, 12/20/2001)

2002

Sonic Advance 2 (GBA, 12/19/2002)

2003

Sonic Pinball Party (GBA, 06/01/2003)

Sonic Battle (GBA, 12/04/2003)

Sonic Heroes (MULTI-PLATFORM, 12/30/2003)

2004

Sonic Advance 3 (GBA, 06/07/2004)

2005

Shadow the Hedgehog (MULTI-PLATFORM, 11/15/2005)

Sonic Rush (DS, 11/15/2005)

2006

Sonic Riders (MULTI-PLATFORM, 02/21/2006)

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (PS3 & XBOX 360, 11/14/2006)

Sonic Rivals (PSP, 11/16/2006)

2007

Sonic & The Secret Rings (WII, 02/20/2007)

Sonic Rivals 2 (PSP, 11/13/2007)

2008

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (PS2/WII, 01/08/2008)

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (DS, 09/25/2008)

2009

Sonic & The Black Knight (WII, 03/09/2009)

2010

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (MULTI-PLATFORM, 02/19/2010)

Sonic Free Riders (XBOX 360, 11/04/2010)

Sonic Colors (Nintendo DS version) (DS, 11/11/2010)

2011

Sonic Generations (MULTI-PLATFORM, 11/01/2011)

2012

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (MULTI-PLATFORM, 2012)

2013

Sonic Dash (MOBILE, 03/07/2013)

Sonic Lost World (10/18/2013)

2014

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (WII U, 11/11/2014)

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS, 11/11/2014)

2015

Sonic Runners (MOBILE, 02/25/2015)

Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom (MOBILE, 07/01/2015)

2016

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice (3DS, 09/27/2016)

2017

Sonic Mania (Plus) (MULTI-PLATFORM, 08/15/2017)

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle (MOBILE, 09/08/2017)

Sonic Forces (MULTI-PLATFORM, 11/07/2017)

Sonic Runners Adventure (MOBILE, 12/20/2017)

2019

Team Sonic Racing (MULTI-PLATFORM, 05/21/2019)

Sonic Racing (APPLE ARCADE, 09/19/2019)

2022

Sonic Frontiers (MULTI-PLATFORM, 11/08/2022)

2023

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (PC, 03/31/2023)

Sonic Superstars (MULTI-PLATFORM, 10/20/2023)

Sonic Dream Team (APPLE ARCADE, 12/05/2023)

2024

Sonic X Shadow Generations (MULTI-PLATFORM, Fall 2024)

and many more to come soon...

[crusherthedoctor]

I'm up for new villains, but not every one gotta led to "let's use this to dunk on Eggman's 'silly' villainy again" debates.

(Saying this as someone who witnessed this quite a lot of times with Bowser. I understand being fatigued with both being the final boss in most instances, but let's not entertain the idea that both series need new or "better" main villains.)

The problem is that this franchise has usurped Eggman with new villains so many times that you expect it every time a new one shows up, even when there's no hint of it until the end.

I don't think enough fans realise just how many times it's actually happened, and how it conditions you to expect it. Chaos in SA1. Gerald/Biolizard in SA2. Neo Metal Sonic in Heroes. Out of control Emerl in Battle. Out of control G-Merl in Advance 3. Black Doom in ShtH. Mephiles/Solaris in '06. Nega in Rivals 1. Nega again in Rivals 2. SCR-HD in Zero Gravity. Ix in Chronicles. Dark Gaia in Unleashed. Lyric in Rise of Lyric. The End in Frontiers. These are just the games, not even counting the times it's happened in the comics. They might not all work the same, and some may be more indirect or unintentional than others, but the final effect remains the same: leaving fans with the impression that Eggman is a chump by comparison.

Even during the Pontaff era, where this cliche was mostly and thankfully absent (that includes Lost World, since it was ultimately a subversion), I still felt dread when the Deadly Six and Infinite were first revealed. That's how much I've been conditioned to expect it. I know it sounds dramatic, but what do you expect when it's went on for this long, and has now returned with a vengeance thanks to the double whammy of IDW and Frontiers?

I lol at anyone who expresses fatigue at Eggman being the final boss, since it's in part thanks to them that he rarely gets to fucking be it. But muh Nega-Wisp Armor reskins? Yeah, what about them? You don't suppose the solution would be to simply branch out, instead of replacing him with less interesting characters (if they even have a character to speak of) that normally have shit boss fights anyway?

I'm not opposed to the mere idea of non-Eggman villains existing in the series. I'm not that unreasonable. But when I'm conditioned to expect the worst because both the series and the fans can't get enough of it, you shouldn't be surprised when I express caution whenever they show up.

[steeltwigz]

I'm gonna list every Sonic Games I know abt. To see how many I can list. Off the top of my head, no Google searching allowed. Ok? (In the order that I think of them)

Sonic 1

Sonic 2

Sonic 3 (& Knuckles? Same game, right? Idk)

Sonic CD

SegaSonic The Hedgehog

Sonic 3D Blast

Sonic Pinball

Sonic R

Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

Tails Adventure

Tails Sky Patrol

Knuckles Chaotix

Sonic Rush

Sonic Rush Adventure

Sonic Battle

Sonic Advance

Sonic Advance 2

Sonic Advance 3

Sonic Chronicles

Sonic Adventure

Sonic Adventure 2

Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)

Sonic 06

Sonic Heroes

Sonic and the Black Knight

Sonic and the Secret of the Rings

Sonic Unleashed

Sonic Lost World/Lost World DS (the DS version is so different but idk if I wanna count it as a separate game)

Sonic Generations/Generations DS (? I think there's a DS version)

Sonic Mania (Mania Plus doesn't count as a separate game, since it isn't rlly a sequel? I don't think it is anyways)

Sonic Origins (Origins Plus doesn't count as a second game either ok?)

Sonic 4? Never played him but I'm p sure he's on Steam

Sonic Riders

Sonic Free Riders

Sonic Forces

Sonic Forces Speed Battle

Sonic Frontiers

Team Sonic Racing

Sonic's Schoolhouse

Tails and the Music Maker

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games 2015?/2017/2020 (I think there's 3 of em but I might b wrong)

Super Sega All Stars Racing (counts becuz Sonic is a playable character)

Super Smash Bros. (counts on the same logic as All Stars Racing)

Sonic Colors/Colors DS

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric

Sonic X (? Im p sure that's the title of the game as well but..)

[maistomedia-blog]

WASTELAND | Ultimate MultiFandom (297 FANDOMS)

Fandoms Used:

007: NO TIME TO DIE

1917 (movie)

2012 (movie)

24 (show)

300 (movie)

47 Meters Down

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

65 (movie)

6ix9ine: Gine

6 Underground

Against The Current: ‘’good guy.’’

Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D

All American

All of Us Are Dead

A Long Way Down

Ambulance

American Horror Story

Andor

Ant-Man & The Wasp

Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania

Arrow

ARMY OF THE DEAD

Ash Vs Evil Dead

Aquaman

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place Part 2

Avatar: The Last Airbender Movie

Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Endgame

Bad Omens: Artificial Suicide

Batman: The Dark Knight

Batman: The Dark Knight Rises

Batman Vs Superman

Battleship

Battle: Los Angeles

Barry

Better Call Saul

Black Adam

Black Knight

Black Mirror

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Summer

Black Widow

Blue Beetle

Birdbox

Break Even

Breaking Bad

Bullet Train

Bumblebee

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Live Action)

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Call of Duty: Ghosts (Live Action)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Call of Duty: Warzone (Live Action)

Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain Marvel

Captain Phillips

Cars

Cars 2

Cars 3

Cobra Kai

Colony

Creed

Creed II

Creed III

Crown The Empire: Blurry

Crown The Empire: Red Pills

DaBaby: Rockstar

Dahmer

Daredevil

Dark

Dawn of The Planet of The Apes

Dead by April: Wasteland

Deadpool

Dead Rising: Endgame

Death Stranding

Deepwater Horizon

Demon House

Destiny 2 (Live Action)

Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness

Devil in Ohio

El Camino

Escape Plan

Escape Plan: The Extractors

Escape The Fate: Ungrateful

Euphoria

Evil Dead Rise

Extraction 2

Fast & Furious 7

Fast & Furious 8

Fast & Furious 9

Fast & Furious 10

Falling in Reverse: Losing My Life

Falling in Reverse: The Drug In Me Is You (Reimagined)

Falling in Reverse: Voices In My Head

Falling in Reverse: Watch The World Burn

Falling in Reverse: Zombified

Fear The Walking Dead

From

FUBAR

Fury

Game of Thrones

Gemini Man

Ghosted

Ghost Rider

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Godzilla: King of The Monsters

GRAN TURISMO

Guardians of The Galaxy 2

Guardians of The Galaxy 3

Halo 5

Halo Infinite

Halo Series

Hellbound

Hawaii Five-0

Halloween Kills

Halloween Ends

Hannibal

Happy Feet 2

Harry Potter & The Order of The Phoenix

Heroes

Heroes: Reborn

HIDDEN STRIKE

House of Cards

Hypnotic

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones & The Dial of Destiny

Iron Man 3

IT

Jennifer’s Body

Jessica Jones

John Wick 3

John Wick 4

Joker

Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez

Kong VS Godzilla

Last Light

Light As A Feather

Logan

LOST

Lucifer

Man of Steel

Manifest

Matty Mullins: Glory

Mayans

Mechanic: Resurrection

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater

Miami Dolphins

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Mission Impossible: Dead Wreckoning Pt 1

Mob City

Moonfall

Morbius

Mortal Kombat 12

My Virtual Escape

Need For Speed

Nobody

Northern Rescue

No Way Out

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Orphan Black

Outer Banks

Outloved: Never Enough

Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim: Uprising

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

Peaky Blinders

Person of Interest

Pirates of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Power Rangers

Pretty Little Liars

Prison Break

Prey

San Andreas

Sons of Anarchy

Star Wars 3

Star Wars 5

Star Wars 8

Star Wars 9

Star Wars: Rogue One

Stranger Things

Rampage

Ready Player One

Reacher

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Resident Evil: Retribution

Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City

REVENGE

Revolution

Rise of The Planet of The Apes

Rocky

Rocky VI

Rogue

Saint X

Scream V

Scream VI

Sense8

Shang-Chi & The Legend of The 10 Rings

Sherlock

Silent Hill: Revelation

Skylines

Slender Man

Spider Man 3

Spider Man: Far From Home

Spider Man: No Way Home

Spiritbox: Circle With Me

Sonic the Movie

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Squid Game

Sucker Punch

Sully

Superman & Lois

Supernatural

T@GGED

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Out of The Shadows

Teen Wolf: The Movie

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The 100

The Amity Affliction: Like Love

The Batman

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Watch & The Wardrobe

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of The Dawn Treader

The Equalizer 3

The Expendables

The Expendables 2

The Expendables 3

The Expendables 4

The First Purge

The Flash

The Forever Purge

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Pt 1

The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Pt 2

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

The Incredible Hulk

The Last of Us

The Mandalorian

The Martian

The Marvels

The Matrix

The Meg

The Night Agent

The Preacher

The Punisher

The Purge: Anarchy

The Purge: Election Year

The Purge: TV Show

The Rain

The Revenant

The Society

The Suicide Squad

The Super Mario Bros

The Tomorrow People

The Vampire Diaries

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead: World Beyond

The Walking Dead: Dead City

The Walking Dead: Summit

The Witcher

The Used: Over & Over Again

Til Death

Thor: Love & Thunder

Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: The Dark World

Tiger King

Tomb Raider

Transformers

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Transformers: Dark of The Moon

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen

Transformers: Rise of The Beasts

Transformers: The Last Knight

Triple 9

Tron: Legacy

True Detective

Tua

Unbelievable

Under The Dome

UNHUMAN

Venom

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Wanda Vision

Wednesday

Westworld

Whiskey Cavalier

Wolves at The Gate: Peace That Starts The War

World War Z

Yellowjackets

X-Men: Apocalypse

Z-Nation

Zombieland

Zombieland 2

297 ^^

[themattress]

Eras of a Franchise:

1991 - 1999: The Classic Era - Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, Sonic Spinball, Sonic Chaos, SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic Triple Trouble, Knuckles’ Chaotix, Sonic the Fighters, Sonic Drift 1&2, Sonic R, Sonic Blast and Sonic 3D Blast all were released in this era, which then concluded with the simultaneous end of the old style, Sonic Pocket Adventure, and the start of the new style, Sonic Adventure.

2000 - 2009: The Dark Era - Mainline games of this era are Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Sonic Unleashed, and the Wii “Storybook” titles Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight. It’s known as the Dark Era for both the relative darkness of the games’ storylines and the increasingly declining critical reception to said games and the franchise on the whole. The side games included the Sonic Advance trilogy, Sonic Battle, Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic Chronicles, Sonic Riders, Sonic Rivals 1&2, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, and of course the unlikely crossover with Nintendo, the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games sub-series.

2010 - 2019: The Meta Era - Mainline games of this era are Sonic Colors on the Wii and DS, Sonic Generations, Sonic Lost World, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Forces. While everyone loved Generations, Colors was loved by critics but divisive among fans especially in regards to the new, lighter and more humorous style of writing established in it, and the other games were flat-out negatively received by critics and fans alike. The side games included the ill-conceived Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Sonic Free Riders, Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, Sonic Dash 1&2, Team Sonic Racing, Sonic Runners which was later reworked into Sonic Runners Adventure, and of course Sonic Mania, later upgraded into Sonic Mania Plus, which was considered by many to be the greatest Sonic game ever made.

2020 - present: The Renewal Era - Following the unexpected success of the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie and its sequel, we got Sonic Origins which remasters Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles, followed by the first mainline game of the era: Sonic Frontiers, which returns the series’ storytelling to the Dark Era’s more serious sensibilities. For better or worse, it will be the template going forward.

[owlixx]

Operation Terminus

So…I’ve canceled my plan to play/replay the first nine Assassin’s Creed games following my current playthrough of Valhalla. Instead, I’ll be cleaning up my “backlog”. Given the nature of what I do and how I play games, that’s less about which games I “own” and more about which games I’ve already sunk some time into.

Games I’m close to finishing:

* Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Xbox

Yeah this is the one I’m currently doing so definitely going to finish here before moving on, but I maybe do some small sonic game runs before digging into this operation proper.

* Phoenix Wright 1 3DS

I’m sooooo close, I’m like halfway through the final case, the DS exclusive one.

* Midnight Suns Xbox

Okay admittedly I’m only like…just past the start of Act 2 but this one is a priority before all the information completely leaves my brain. Plus the DLC is all out now and I own it!

* Wind Waker Wii U

I’m literally over halfway done with the triforce hunt so this is super close but I lost about an hour of progress last time I played over a year ago and haven’t touched it since. Shouldn’t be more than a couple days of playing left.

* Sonic Unleashed Xbox

Stuck on empire city, I just need to get some more medals to progress. Using a guide should help.

Games I’m near or around half done:

* Skyward Sword Wii U

In Lanayru Desert for the first time, not yet to the dungeon. So 1/4 - 1/3 done with the game? The motion controls kill me but standing up might help

* Metroid Prime 1 Wii U

Similar to wind waker, lost a good chunk of progress last time I played to space pirates. I don’t think you can turn down the difficulty after starting a playthrough but I should if I can.

* Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze Wii U

Stuck on boss of world…3? I do really enjoy this game when it works well

* Wario Land 3 Switch

I think I’m around half? Game is just big and other stuff came up

* Hot Shots Tennis Get A Grip PS Vita

Actually no idea how long this game is but it’s awesome

* Ratchet and Clank 2 PS3

I think I’m around half? Just got new ps3 controllers

* Bulletstorm PS3

I think I just started act 4 of 7, enjoying it so far

* War For Cybertron (dad?)

Okay admittedly I’m like less than half done with the first of two campaigns but I think I’ll be trying this coop soon online with my dad

* Fire Emblem Awakening 3DS

I think I’m on chapter 8 of 25

* Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes Switch

I can’t remember how far I got actually but I feel like I poured a good amount of time in already

* Xenoblade Chronicles Wii

Maybe 1/3 done with game?

* Professor Layton 1 DS

Maybe 2/3 done? I tried to omit games I’ve already beaten from this list unless I’m super close to beating them again and it’s been a while

* Mario Kart 7 3DS

I just kind of plink away at unlocking all the courses now and then but this shouldn’t take long with any effort applied

* Monster Tale DS

Again no clue how long this one is but I feel like I’m a good chunk into it, maybe 1/4

* Deadpool PS3

I think I’m on chapter 4 of 8

Games I Can Skip The Intro On:

* Mega Man Battle Network DS

I’m past the first main boss but not yet to the second. Playing a fan Tran of the Ds remake

* Mega Man Battle Network 2 GBA

I think same as above

* Death Stranding PC

Honestly this is a huge game and I’m only maybe 6 hours in

* Disco Elysium PC

Maybe 15 hours in?

* Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3

Barely past tutorial

* Bayonetta Wii U

Literally just past tutorial

* Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga Remake 3DS

Out of tutorial and past first main boss

* Final Fantasy Tactics Advance GBA

Decent clip into this one, maybe 15 hours, but it’s a huge game

* Puzzle and Dragon Z 3DS

Still in the tutorial in the main game, on world 3 or 4 of the Mario version

* Pilotwings Resort 3DS

I mean, it’s such a short game that the couple hours I’ve played is like half of it

* Dragon Age Origins Xbox

Maybe ten hours in? Big game though

* Final Fantasy VI GBA

Only 2-3 hours in and a huge game

* Twilight Princess Wii U

Just past the tutorial if that

* Crisis Core PS Vita

Think I’m still in the first real mission after the tutorial

* Locoroco PS Vita

Towards the end of world 2

* Patapon 2 PS Vita

Okay not actually far in but I’m considering the five or so hours I spent in Patapon 1 to be a kind of sunken cost tutorial

* Dead Space Extraction Wii U

I think…3 missions in? Out of 10?

* Sonic Colors Wii U

On world…3? Out of 7? Played before and replaying taking turns with partner

* Uncharted Golden Abyss PS Vita

Okay just past tutorial admittedly

* Wipeout 2048 PS Vita

Like Mario kart, i plonk away at this here and there

* Luigi’s Mansion 2 3DS

First of five mansions down

* Retro Game Challenge DS

I wanna say I’m on the third or fourth game of 8

* Grand Theft Auto 4 PS3

Maybe 2-3 hours in

* ICO PS3

1-2 hours in

* Demon Souls PS3

Okay barely even got past making a character, just got to the hun world at all

* Pokémon Sun 3DS

Okay this one I’m actually more like half done with I think, maybe closer to 1/3 but it’s been a while.

* Elebits Wii

Maybe 3 or 4 of the 25 levels done

[xolta]

Games part 5

Xolta's Big old recommended games list Part 5 gen 6-7

Dreamcast: Illbled(mind fuck/ surivival horror) Sonic Adventure 1&2(platformer) Chu chu rocket(puzzle) Crazy taxi1&2(taxi em up) Dynamite cop(beat em up) Jet Set Radio( 3d platforming) Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (adventure) Power Stone 1&2(platform fighter) SoulCalibur(fighting) Space channle 5(rythm)

Game Boy Advance: Advance Guardian Heroes(beat em up) Advance Wars(Tatics) Astro Boy: Omega Factor (anime em up) Bomberman Max 2(bomber man) Bomberman Tournament(zelda like rpg) Bubble Bobble: Old & New (singel screen platformer) Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (metroidvania) Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (platformer) Digimon Battle Spirit 2(platform fighter) Drill Dozer (platformer) F-Zero: Maximum Velocity (Future racing) Fire Emblem (Srpg) Game & Watch Gallery 4 (mixed bag) Godzilla: Domination! (kaiju fighting) Golden Sun (rpg) Gunstar Super Heroes (Run and gun platforming) Justice League Heroes: The Flash (im speed em up) Konami Krazy Racers (kart racing) Metal Slug Advance (run and gun) Metroid Fusion (metroidvania) Pinball of the Dead (pinball) Mario advance series(platformer) Sonic Advance series(platformer/ bullshit pits) Summon Night 1&2(rpg/Gay charters in the 2000s) Super Puzzle Fighter II (puzzle) Wario Land 4(platformer)

Xbox (og): Beyond Good & Evil (adventure) Blinx: The Time Sweeper(platformer) Breakdown(first person action) Burnout 3 (raceing) Crazy taxi 3(taxi em up) Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge(plane fighting action/plup em up) Fable(rpg) Gladius(rpg) Halo 1&2(fps/ i perfer the pc port) Jet Set Radio Future(action 3d platforming) Ninja Gaiden Black (charater action) Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (Fps/tps) Panzer Dragoon Orta(on rails shooter) Phantom Dust (action/wackey) Psychonauts (platformer) Super monkey ball deluxe(ball rolling/rage)

PlayStation 2: The Adventures of Cookie & Cream(platformer) Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance(action rpg) BCV: Battle Construction Vehicle(janky vehicle combat) Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (3d metroidvania) Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (3d metrovania) DarkWatch(fps) Final Fantasy X-2 (jrpg) Final Fantasy XII (jrpg) Gitaroo Man (rythm) God Hand (charater acrion) God of war(charater action) Grand Theft Auto 2-3(sandbox action) GunGrave (big dumb action game) IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix (combat racing) Katamari Damacy (Ball rolling action) Killzone (fps) Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (platformer) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (hack n slash) Maximo vs. Army of Zin (Platformer) Metal Slug Anthology(collection) Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary (mixed bag) Nightshade(action hack and slash platformer/Ninja ass and tits) OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast(raceing) King Kong(adventure) The Punisher(tps) The Red Star(beat em up/shooter) Samurai Western(samuri em up) Sega Classics Collection(collection) Shadow Hearts series (jrpg) Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1&2 (jrpg) Shinobi (action platformer/Ninja ass and Dick) Soul Calibur 2&3(fighting) TimeSplitters 1&2(fps) War of the Monsters (3d kaiju fighting) The Warriors(beat em up) We heart Katamari(ball rolling) Dragon quest 8 (jrpg) Viewtiful Joe 1&2(CRAZY ACTION/i perfer the gamecube versions)

Gamecube: Alien Hominid (run and gun) Animal Crossing (life sim) Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and The Lost Ocean (jrpg) Beyond Good & Evil (action adventure) Bloody Roar: Primal Fury(fighting) Custom Robo (mecha combat) Donkey Konga (rythm) DragonBall Z: Budokai 1&2(anime fighting) F-Zero GX (future racing) Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles(action rpg) Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (tatics rpg) Gauntlet: Dark Legacy(hack n slash/warrior needs food badly) Kirby Air Ride (racing) Lost Kingdoms (jpg) Mario Kart: Double Dash (kart racing) Mario Superstar Baseball (baseball) Mega Man Anniversary Collection (collection) Metroid Prime 1&2 (fps/3d metroidvania) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (rpg) Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (platformer) Puyo Pop Fever (puzzle) Resident Evil 4 (surivial horror) The Simpsons Road Rage (crazy taxi clone) Skies of Arcadia Legends (jprg) Sonic adventure 1 &2(platformer) Super Monkey Ball (ball rolling/rage) Super Smash Bros. Melee(platform fighter) TubeSlider(future racing) Ultimate Muscle( Wrestling) Viewtiful Joe 1&2(CRAZY ACTION) X-Men Legends (action rpg) Sonic heroes(platformer)

Nintendo DS: Advance Wars: Dual Strike(tatics) Advance Wars: Days of Ruin(tatics) Aliens: Infestation(metroidvania) Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow(action rpg) Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow(metroidvania) Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin(metroidvania) Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia(metroidvania) Contra 4(run and gun/hard) Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies(jrpg) Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime(action adventure) Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker(monster rasing rpg) Elite Beat Agents(rythm) Final Fantasy Tactics A2(srpg) Izuna 1 & 2(rouge like/rpg) Kirby Canvas Curse( kirby rolling) Kirby Squeak Squad(platformer) Kirby Super Star Ultra(platformer) The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass(advenutre/ gimmicks abound) The Legendary Starfy(platformer) Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ(shoot em up) Metriod prime pinball(pinball) Lunar Knights(action adventure) Mario kart ds(kart racing) Metal Slug 7(run and gun) New Super Mario Bros.(platformer/bah bah sim) Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword(charater action) Okamiden(adventure) Pokémon Platinum& daimond(monster rasing rpg) Pokemon soul sliver and heart gold(monster rasing rpg) Pokémon Black and White 1&2( monster rasing rpg) Scribblenauts 1&2(puzzle) Scurge: Hive(metroidvania) SNK vs Capcom: Card Fighters DS(tgc) Sonic Rush (platformer) Sonic colors(platformer) Super Mario 64 DS(3d platformer) The World Ends With You(action rpg) WarioWare: Touched!(mirco games)

Xbox 360: Bayonetta (charater action) Beautiful Katamari(ball rolling) BioShock 1&2 (fps with some rpg elements) Blue Dragon(rpg) Burnout Paradise (raceing) Crackdown1&2(Sandbox tps) Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage (manily anime em up) Halo 3(fps/I perfer the pc version) Lost Planet 1&2(tps) Tekken Tag Tournament 2(fighting) Vanquish (tps/Exploding knees) Viva Piñata(life sim) Sonic Generations(platformer) Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (action adventure) F.E.A.R. (fps/horror) Forza Motorsport 3(sim racing) Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (kart racing) Call of Duty: Black Ops 1&2(fps) Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2&3(fps)

Wii: Animal Crossing: City Folk(life sim) Battalion Wars 2 (rts/tps) The Conduit (fps) de Blob (platformer) Donkey Kong Country Returns (platformer/ i perfer the 3ds version) Epic Mickey (3d platfroming/Bad camera) Excite Truck (racing) Excitebots: Trick Racing (racing) Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn(Srpg) The House of the Dead: Overkill (light gun) Kirby's Epic Yarn(platformer) Kirby's Return to Dream Land(platformer) MadWorld (charater action) Mario kart wii(kart racing) Metal Slug Anthology (run and gun) Metroid Prime Trilogy (fps/3d metroidvania) Monster Hunter 3 Tri(monster hunting) Muramasa: The Demon Blade (action) NEW Super Mario Bros. Wii(platformer) NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (flying/jank) No More Heroes 1&2(action/ i hear other versions are better) Okami ( adventure) Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers( hack and slash jank cheese cake fest) Rodea the Sky Soldier (flying platformer/ dont play the wiiu version its trash) Sin & Punishment: Star Successor(rail shooter) Sonic Colors (platformer) Super Mario Galaxy 1&2(3d platfromer) Super Smash Bros. Brawl (platform fighter) Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars(fighting) Wario Land: Shake It(greed) Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure(puzzle adventure) Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (law em up)

psp: Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (paltformer) Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (fighting) Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (law em up) Metal Slug XX (run and gun) Power Stone Collection (platfrom fighter) Wipeout Pure(future racing) Wipe out pluse( future racing)

[thesonicexperience]

Planned Games (in order of release):

Pre-Sonic Adventure Games:

Sonic 1

Sonic 1 (Game Gear)

Sonic 2

Sonic 2 (Game Gear)

Sonic CD

Sonic Chaos

Sonic Spinball

Sonic Drift

Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Sonic Triple Trouble

Sonic Drift 2

Knuckles' Chaotix

Tails' Skypatrol

Tails Adventure

Sonic Labyrinth

Sonic 3D Blast

Sonic Blast

Sonic R

Post-Sonic Adventure Games:

Sonic Adventure

Sonic Pocket Adventure

Sonic Adventure 2

Sonic Advance

Sonic Advance 2

Sonic Pinball Party

Sonic Battle

Sonic Heroes

Sonic Advance 3

Sonic Rush

Shadow the Hedgehog

Sonic Riders

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

Sonic Rivals

Sonic and the Secret Rings

Sonic Rush Adventure

Sonic Rivals 2

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

Sonic Unleashed

Sonic and the Black Knight

Sonic 4 Episode 1

Sonic Free Riders

Sonic Colors

Sonic Generations

Sonic 4 Episode 2

Sonic Lost World

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice

Sonic Mania

Sonic Forces

Team Sonic Racing

Sonic Frontiers

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic Superstars

Sonic Dream Team

That's 55 games!

As I complete each game, I'll update this list to cross them off. The list is also subject to change, but it shouldn't change very much.

[blazehedgehog]

Okay, I've now actually sat down and watch Chaomix's video, which this ask was in reference to.

His point in general here is that during a time where we were getting games like Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, Youtubers were actively trashing the series as hard if not harder than ever. A second wave of people were washing over Sonic 06 and this is when the famous IGN "Sonic was never good." quote was born.

Now, obviously, we all have our own perspectives in life. To tell the truth, I had learned to stay away from Youtubers who were talking about Sonic games in general because it wasn't until very recently that it felt like anyone actually treated the series as anything more than an easy target to dog pile.

Like, for example, I did not subscribe to Somecallmejohnny until, what, a year ago? Two years ago? Johnny wasn't even doing anything wrong, but there was a vibe when people talked about Sonic on Youtube I did not gel with, positive or negative. So I'm actually kind of unfamiliar with some of what he's talking about.

However, that's not to say I'm totally unfamiliar. In particular, I was in circles of people who were very games journalism adjacent, some of which have gone on to become very successful writers in the games media space. I still heard my fair share of dissenting opinions, and even when something like Sonic Colors would come out, there was always this tinge of "yeah, but..."

And that's because for every game like Sonic Rush, there were at least three games like Shadow the Hedgehog. I mean, look at the release list for yourself:

Sonic Adventure 🙂👍

Sonic Pocket Adventure 🙂👍

Sonic Shuffle 😫

Sonic Adventure 2 🙂👍

Sonic Advance 🙂👍

Sonic Adventure 2 Battle 🤔

Sonic Adventure DX 🤔

Sonic Advance 2 🙂👍

Sonic Battle 🤔

Sonic Heroes 😫

Sonic Advance 3 😫

Shadow the Hedgehog 😫

Sonic Riders 🤔

Sonic Rush 🙂👍

Sonic 06 😡

Sonic Rivals 😫

Sonic the Hedgehog: Genesis 😡

Sonic & The Secret Rings 😫

Sonic Rush Adventure 🙂👍

Sonic Rivals 2 😫

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity 😫

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood 🤔

Sonic Unleashed 🙂👍

Sonic & The Black Knight 🤔

Sonic Colors 🙂👍

Sonic 4: Episode 1 😫

Sonic Riders Kinect 😫

Sonic Generations 🙂👍

Sonic 4: Episode 2 🤔

Sonic Lost World 😫

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric 😡

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal 😫

Sonic Runners 🤔

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice 🤔

Sonic Runners Adventure 😫

Sonic Mania 🙂👍

Sonic Forces 😫

Sonic Colors Ultimate Edition 😫

Sonic Frontiers 🤔

Sonic Origins 🤔

Sonic Superstars 😴

Out of 41 games there, I would only consider 11 -- barely even a quarter -- to be something in the ballpark of "actually good." And this is me being generous, because some of these games require a much more nuanced opinion than just sticking an emoji next to their name. There's a lot of "it's good, but..." games in those 11. Even if you're already thinking about what games I skipped in that list (and I skipped more than a few!), I think you can still agree on that.

If 2010's Youtubers were looking for low hanging fruit, they didn't exactly have to reach very far. And one could even argue that the success of Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations is what got those folks to go back and revisit Sonic games they'd missed -- thus throwing open a pandora's box of titles that were often mediocre at best, and at worst, were like staring into the Ark of the Covenant.

Something I hate -- and I mean really, really hate, is when people hear I'm a Sonic fan and treat me like I'm an outsider. I've had a lot of people instantly discount my opinions because they see me as a Sonic fan who makes excuses for bad games.

So for a long time, and I mean a long time, I have made an effort to keep an outsider's perspective in mind. To try and identify blind fandom and what my Non-Sonic-fan friends think of things. What Non-Sonic-fans online think of things. Not to betray my own feelings, but to stay realistic with how the rest of the world looks at Sonic the Hedgehog and his games.

This is why, I think, to some people, I come off looking a little detached. Like maybe I'm on the verge of lapsing out of the Sonic fandom. The former is true (on purpose) but the latter isn't. What may look cynical and bitter is me being realistic and constantly keeping an eye on the temperature outside.

It's funny how there's a throughline towards the end of Chaomix's video about these "2010's Youtubers" trying to rewrite Sonic's history, when from my perspective, that's also kind of what his video is trying to do.

Like, sure, yes, of course: the IGN "Sonic was never good" was stupid. There are plenty of little legitimate sleights you can be actually angry about... but if ProJared or whoever plays Sonic 06 and goes "Wow, this game sucks", is he wrong?

Like this video is about a certain era of Youtube, in the 2010's, yeah? And he interviews guys like Sam Procrastinates towards the end, where Sam posits that maybe Sonic Lost World and Sonic Forces were a response to these 2010's Youtubers. That seems kind of insane to me, given Sonic Generations was 2011, and you had Takashi Iizuka out there immediately calling the shot that Sonic Generations was closing a chapter and whatever they did next would be something totally new.

So 2010's Youtubers were already ruining and influencing the Sonic franchise by 2011?

Parts of this video feel super disingenuous. I'm sure they experienced hard times, but it's been like that for a lot longer than they think.

What do you think of the idea that YouTubers in the 2010s are the reason Sonic had/has a bad reputation?

It's really stupid. Completely unfounded.

You know why Youtubers in 2010's felt that way? Because a lot of people outside of the Sonic fandom felt that way.

I was in high school when Sonic Adventure 1 came out. I got my Dreamcast for Christmas in 1999. Purely by surprise, my brother sent me $200 for Christmas that year after not hearing from him for a decade. I was living in Colorado, and we'd had a white Christmas, meaning the roads were too slick to drive anywhere on December 26th. But I knew I wanted that Dreamcast.

The local Wal-mart was a little over a mile away. So, I bundled up and hiked it. With other money I got for Christmas that year, I had just enough for the Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure, an off-brand VMU, an issue of Official Dreamcast Magazine with a demo disc, and a lightgun -- I'd wanted House of the Dead 2 and I was desperate for a home port of The Lost World.

I played Sonic Adventure all day, every day, for like a week. Some of that was the fault of the cheap VMU I got -- it wasn't even a VMU, it was just a memory card, and it was half the price of the official thing. For whatever reason, Sonic Adventure (and ONLY Sonic Adventure) had trouble saving to that thing. My saves would frequently corrupt and disappear. I didn't mind as much as you'd think. I willingly and happily replayed Sonic Adventure over, and over, and over, and over.

When I got back to school in January of 2000, a lot of other kids had gotten Dreamcasts and Sonic Adventure. And it turned out I was the Sonic Adventure evangelist.

I wouldn't say everyone hated Sonic Adventure, but they were pretty frustrated with it. The main talking point was that there were too many characters in the game and most of them weren't very good. Everyone had their ranking list for who they'd rather be playing as, and universally, everyone just wanted to keep playing as Sonic. Knuckles, Amy, and Big brought up the rear for the most-hated gameplay styles. A lot of kids were saying they weren't even going to bother finishing the game if it meant having to play as Amy and Big.

My point of view was that it was normal. Sonic 2 introduced Tails, Sonic 3 introduced Knuckles, so it makes sense that Sonic Adventure would introduce new playable characters as well. It did little to address their complaints that most of the non-Sonic characters were annoying.

This sentiment never went away. A year later, in 2001, Penny-Arcade, basically the biggest webcomic in the world at that point, awarded Sonic Adventure 2 "the best Sonic game where you do not play as Sonic" award, which was less of an actual award and more of a jab at how Sonic wasn't actually in 75% of that game.

Then the Gamecube ports started coming in, which, if you've watched my Definitive Way to Play series, you'd know that SA1 and SA2 were quick and dirty ports that introduced a lot of problems in visuals, control, and sound. Reviews for those versions deservedly slammed them, citing poor music that drowned out the dialog, rapidly dated visuals, and a generally buggy presentation, on top of all the problems people had with the original Dreamcast releases.

After that, the decline really hit its stride. Sonic Heroes, then Shadow the Hedgehog, then Sonic 06. A real triple whammy of things just getting worse, and worse, and worse. Sonic 06 in particular was so much worse that it hit the fabled point where it wrapped around to being kind of funny for some people.

All of this was YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS before "2010's Youtubers" ever stepped in front of a microphone. Those people were just recounting the lives they had lived.

Anyone who thinks 2010's Youtubers did anything are just revealing how young they were back then, and how ignorant they were about the general temperature of things beyond "after my nappy time and my juice box I'm going to play the colorful animals game, yay!!!"

Before that gets me into too much trouble, I'd also like to say that obviously, times change. Opinions are a fluid thing. There will always be a "younger generation" that thinks about things in a different way than the older generation. Anyone, no matter what era they grew up in, can go back and find some beloved nostalgic classic getting blasted by critics. (For example: recently I rewatched Howard the Duck, a legendary bomb for Lucasfilm, and I loved that movie as a kid)

Loving something that you realize everybody hated when it originally came out is kind of just part of the human experience. A rite of passage, almost. But it helps to embrace that perspective, understand it, and realize you can still keep liking that thing regardless.

2010's Youtubers did nothing except exist.

[centralcitylibrary]

Central City Library's Tiers of Canonicity

With a franchise going on as long as Sonic, with as many different writers handling the reins, inconsistency isn’t just likely, it’s to be expected. So how do we, at the Central City Library, handle canonicity?

Well, the best explanation is always the most consistent one, so let’s begin with an objective metric to organise priority for entries. This will be handled by way of “tiers”, so to speak.

Sonic Team canon: the core games (platformers developed by (or in collaboration with) Sonic Team). That list includes the following:

Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis/Mega Drive)

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis/Mega Drive)

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

Sonic 3D Blast: Flickies’ Island

Sonic R

Sonic Adventure

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure

Sonic Shuffle

Sonic Adventure 2

Sonic Advance

Sonic Advance 2

Sonic Pinball Party

Sonic Battle

Sonic Heroes

Sonic Advance 3

Shadow the Hedgehog (NGC/PS2/XB)

Sonic Rush

Sonic Riders

Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3/360)

Sonic & the Secret Rings

Sonic Rush Adventure

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

Sonic Unleashed (both the PS3/360 and PS2/Wii versions)

Sonic & the Black Knight (technicality, as part of the storybook subseries)

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1

Sonic Free Riders

Sonic Colours (both versions)

Sonic Generations (both versions)

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal

Sonic Lost World (both versions)

Sonic Free Runners

Sonic Mania (explicitly ties into Sonic Forces)

Sonic Forces

Team Sonic Racing (explicitly referenced in Sonic Frontiers)

Sonic Frontiers

SEGA themselves appear to agree with this as taking the highest priority, going by the Steam page of The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog. Yes this is an April Fool’s game, but they still give us a specific indication of its canonicity outside of the “everything is canon” gag.

Games canon: all official games not developed by Sonic Team, specifically those not rendered non-canonical. No list provided due to volume.

Expanded canon: all official alternative media, specifically those not rendered non-canonical. This list includes:

Sonic Forces (promotional comic)

Sonic Mania Adventures

Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW comics)

Sonic Prime (Television series)

Sonic Channel short stories

Miscellaneous shorts released on the Sonic the Hedgehog Youtube account

Miscellaneous canon: all official information put out that isn’t in a story in and of itself, including

Miscellaneous videos on the Sonic the Hedgehog Youtube channel

Miscellaneous information on the Sonic Channel website

Information books such as the Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-Speed-Ia

Miscellaneous tweets on the official social media accounts - primarily stuff like SonicPict, the gag posts are likely of little actual relevance.

Non-canonical information, the primary reason this isn’t excluded entirely is because sometimes it can be interesting to talk about these sources despite their non-canonicity. This list includes:

All Word of God statements (given the franchise is in constant flux, secondary WoG statements have suggested ignoring WoG as a legitimate source before, and, sometimes, people are just wrong)

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball & Sonic the Fighters (makes irrevocable errors to the continuity, namely putting in more Chaos Emeralds than what actually exist)

Sonic Chronicles: the Dark Brotherhood (one of the few games to be explicitly confirmed non-canon without a WoG statement)

Games with no story (such as a majority of the Sonic Cafe games)

Media set in alternative continuities will not be mentioned primarily because if it comes up it would be as part of their own dedicated lore pieces.

But even within each tier of canon they’re going to be conflicting evidence, so here’s some more information on what takes priority:

Information that’s presented within the individual games/[primary medium] takes priority above all else, as those are the actual stories as they exist

Attached media (such as game manuals) would take the next highest priority, as it is indeed directly attached to the media.

Official books relating to the media (such as official game guides) come next.

Both English and Japanese will be used, due to the writers for various games in the series being Japanese or English first and (by extension) having their stories written in English or Japanese, though the original language will be given automatic priority.

Non-Japanese sources prior to Sonic Adventure (released in 1999 outside of Japan) will be discarded due to the three main regions (Japan, USA, and the UK) having different continuities outright.

Within even these tiers, the most consistent explanation (that is to say the information with the least contradictions) takes the next highest priority.

And lastly, if multiple pieces of conflicting information are equally consistent, the most recent explanation takes priority.

I hope this makes our stance on the subject of canonicity clear for the present and future.

[biolizardboils]

The Sonic movies have gotten me curious about the game lore, but I’ve never played a sonic game since they aren’t really the type of games I’m normally into gameplay wise so idk

oh thats great!! the struggle is real, ive chosen to learn about lots of games instead of playing them, Sonic and otherwise. luckily for you, there's three great ways to do just that:

Watch cutscene compilations on YouTube! So many people do this that there's lots to choose from nowadays. In some games the characters have important (or at least flavorful) dialogue during gameplay, so if you see it, don’t skip past it. Most of these videos are an hour long, so get some food and make it a movie night!

Read Sonic News Network and Sonic Retro! These are by far the most expansive Sonic resources on the internet. I'd say the former site is more helpful than the latter in terms of Lore, though there's a few exceptions I'll explain further below. Anyway, I suggest starting with SNN's page on the series as a whole, to get a feel of how the games' universe "works". At the bottom, there's a collapsed widget reading "Navigation templates to Sonic the Hedgehog series". The first two lists in there contain nearly every lore-important game: read those in order, and you should be set!

Read the Encyclo-speed-ia! Okay, I only recommend this one if you find the Wiki format distracting and have at least $50 to spare. It’s got some minor lore goofs, but it gives precise, yet detailed summaries of all the plots that require such. I own a copy, but it came out less than six months ago so I won’t be making or sharing a full scan. I can, however, transcribe certain sections and DM them to you if you ask nicely enough

here's some extra tips that I wish I'd known starting out, feel free to ignore them if you’re here for a good time and not a long one:

Almost all the games “happened” in a single timeline that matches their order of release. The few exceptions are Mania (which takes place in the Classic era) and some next-door neighbors that can be swapped around without changing much. No Zelda-style clownery here!

Some games are non-canon for various reasons. These include being alternate takes of canon games (8-bit Sonic 1 and 2), Sega declaring them so and reintroducing its characters later (Knuckles’ Chaotix), being developed by different studios and borrowing from other canons (Spinball, Chronicles). Feel free to skip them... or look into them anyway, because they’re still interesting in their own right!

Like many Japanese franchises this old, the older games were subject to regional rewrites and honest mistranslations. When in doubt, assume the Japanese script or text is the canon one. This comes into play the most in two areas:

The Classic Era Quadrilogy (1, 2, CD, 3 & Knuckles). Since elaborate cutscenes weren’t possible yet, the specifics of these games’ plots were written in their manuals. These were changed for Western audiences, but the Japanese ones can be read in English on Sonic Retro. Click on their titles at the start of this bullet point, then scroll down a bit!

Sonic Adventure 2. This game has possibly the most nuanced script and lore of them all, but it came out when game dubs were still often sub-par. If there’s any one Sonic game to watch subbed, it’s this one. If you go the YouTube route, look up “sonic adventure 2 retranslated cutscenes” and you should be good.

Don’t neglect the handheld and spinoff games! They’re on separate lists in that SNN widget, but more of them are canon than meets the eye! The ones with the most impact are the Advance trilogy, Battle, and the Rush duology in vaguely that order. There’s also the first two Riders games (the third one doesn’t introduce much lore) and the Storybook Series, which are self-contained but beloved studies of Sonic as a character.

In the series' first 15 years, every mainline game’s story was somewhat connected and built meaningfully upon the last. After the low reception of games like Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) and Sonic ‘06, this kind of storytelling was scaled back in Unleashed, then dropped altogether by Colors. The games that have come out since then have been standalone adventures without much lore between them. I’m not saying they’re not worth checking out, I just want to explain what happened since you might notice the change while reading/watching.

this came out way longer than expected oops fghjghjh. best of luck on your pilgrimage!! if you have any other questions, im all ears!! (also anyone else is free to add to this post if i missed something!)

[sugar-milkk]

it’s 1am and i can’t sleep so i made a list(with links) to every sonic game i could find an emulator for. they’re all from retrogames.cc and are playable in your browser!

(games below the cut!!)

sonic the hedgehog

sonic the hedgehog 2

sonic cd(u.s.a.)

sonic cd(japan)

sonic chaos

dr. robotnik’s mean bean machine

sonic spinball

sonic the hedgehog 3 complete(sonic 3 and sonic & knuckles)

sonic drift

sonic the hedgehog triple trouble

sonic drift 2

knuckles’ chaotix

tails’ skypatrol

tails adventure

sonic labyrinth

sonic blast

sonic 3d blast

sonic the hedgehog pocket adventure

sonic advance

sonic advance 2

sonic advance 3

sonic battle

sonic rush

sonic rush adventure

sonic chronicles

sonic & sega all stars racing

sonic colors(ds)

[theguythatdraws]

My Personal Video Game Collection

Nintendo Switch

Another Code: Recollection

Ark: Survival Evolved

ARMS

Danganronpa Decadence

Detective Pikachu Returns

DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders

Ghostbusters The Video Game Remastered

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

LEGO DC Super-Villians

LEGO Harry Potter Collection

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2

LEGO The Incredibles

Luigi's Mansion 3

Mario Golf: Super Rush

Master Detective Archive: Rain Code

Miitopia

Monster Prom XXL

New Pokémon Snap

No Straight Roads

Paper Mario: The Origami King

Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Strikers

Persona 5 Tactica

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon Scarlet

Pokémon Shield

Pokémon Shining Pearl

Pokémon Sword

Pokémon Violet

Pokkén Tournament DX

Ring Fit Adventure

Stardew Valley

Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario 3D All Stars

Super Mario RPG

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Nintendo 64 (I own the Funtastic Series: Jungle Green Varient. I got it from my dad, who got it from a friend of his from Puerto Rico)

All-Star Baseball 99

Donkey Kong 64

Gex 3 Deep Cover Gecko

Madden 2001

Mario Kart 64

Polaris SnoCross

Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA

Star Fox 64

Star Wars Episode 1: Racer

Wii

Bass Pro Shops: The Strike

Candace Cane's Candy Factory

Cooking Mama: Cook Off

Endless Ocean: Blue World

Game Party

Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Just Dance 2

Just Dance 3

Just Dance 4

LEGO Batman: The Video Game

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game

LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

LEGO Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars

LEGO The Lord of the Rings

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

Mario Strikers Charged

Mario Super Sluggers

Monster 4x4 World Circuit

New Super Mario Bros Wii

Pac-Man Party

Punch-Out!!

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure

Sonic Unleashed

Spore Hero

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Super Mario Galaxy

Super Paper Mario

Super Smash Bros Brawl

The Dog Island

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

The Price is Right

Wii Play

Wii Sports

Wii Sports Resort

Wild Earth: African Safari

Wii U (Yes, I have one)

Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know

Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations

Hyrule Warriors

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

LEGO City Undercover

LEGO Dimensions

LEGO Jurassic World

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

LEGO Star Wars The Force Awakens

LEGO The Avengers

LEGO The Hobbit

NintendoLand

OctoDad: Dadliest Catch

Scribblenauts Unmasked

The Lego Movie Video Game

Game Boy (System is Game Boy Color, Kiwi Variant. Got a a friend's yard sale)

Mega Man 2

Ms. Pac Man

Super Mario Land

Game Boy Advance (Got system [GBA SP] at Goodwill, previous owner didn't know what good games were. [All the board game ones] The other games are from my personal collection.)

Battleship, Risk and Clue

Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders and Original Memory Game

Connect Four, Perfection, and Trouble

Dinotopia: The Timestone Pirates

LEGO Star Wars 2 The Original Trilogy

Madden 2005

Operation, Mouse Trap and Simon

Rayman Advance

SpongeBob's Atlantis Squarepantis

Spy Hunter and Super Sprint

Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

Super Collapse 2

Super Mario Advance 4 and Super Mario Bros 3

Teen Titans

The Game of Life, Yahtzee, and Payday

Nintendo DS

Animal Crossing: Wild World

Art Academy

Artic Tale

Band Hero

Battle of Giants: Dinosaurs

Battleship, Connect Four, Sorry and Trouble

Dino Master

Dino Pets

Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition

DreamWorks Super Star Kartz

Fantasy Aquarium

Fossil Fighters

Fossil Fighters: Champions

Fossil League: Dino Tournament Championship

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Kingdom Hearts: 358 1/2 Days

Kirby Super Star Ultra

LEGO Rock Band

LEGO Star Wars 2 The Original Trilogy

Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games

Mario Kart DS

Namco Museum DS

New Super Mario Bros

Nintendogs: Chihuahua and Friends

Nintendogs: Lab and Friends

Paws and Claws: Dogs and Cats: Best Friends

Petz: Ocean Patrol

Plants Vs Zombies

Pokémon Diamond

Pokémon HeartGold

Pokémon Pearl

Pokémon White

Pokémon White 2

Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Scribblenauts

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron

Super Mario DS

Super Scribblenauts

World of Zoo

Zoo Hospital

Nintendo 3DS (most are eShop [RIP])

Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!!

Animal Crossing New Leaf: Welcome amiibo

Detective Pikachu

Fossil Fighters: Frontier

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

LEGO Jurassic World

Luigi's Mansion

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Mario and Luigi: Dream Team

Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam

Miitopia

Pokémon Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon Blue

Pokémon Crystal

Pokémon Emerald

Pokémon FireRed

Pokémon Gold

Pokémon LeafGreen

Pokémon Moon

Pokémon Omega Ruby

Pokémon Red

Pokémon Ruby

Pokémon Sapphire

Pokémon Silver

Pokémon Sun

Pokémon Ultra Sun

Pokémon Ultra Moon

Pokémon X

Pokémon Y

Reel Fishing: Paradise

Super Smash Bros on the Nintendo 3DS

Yo-Kai Watch

Yo-Kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls

Xbox 360 (I got this console from my aunt, but I didn't play it as much as the Wii)

Kung Fu Panda

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures

Sonic the Hedgehog

Tales of Vesperia

Playstation (Got this with my Dreamcast and Genesis, all three consoles and games came from my mom's co-worker)

Die Hard Trilogy

Tekken 2

Playstation 2 (I don't actually own the console, I got the games from my old co-worker.)

American Chopper

Max Payne

MX 2002 Featuring Ricky Carmichael

NASCAR Heat 2002

Smuggler's Run

Sega Genesis (I own the Mark 2, but PR and Spider-Man I got with my N64)

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2 copies)

Spider-Man and the X-Men: Arcade's Revenge

Sega Dreamcast

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

Namco Museum

NFL 2K

Sega Smash Pack: Volume 1

Sonic Adventure

Test Drive 6

Virtua Fighter 3tb