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If there was an award for ‘most fanatical fans’, then Sonic’s followers would be in with a shout of winning it. They just love to pore over every little detail, not only of the games themselves, but every little scrap of pre-release footage and information, in the hope they’ll find out something new.
Why? F*** knows. But what it does mean is that there’s a load of information around that is absolutely fascinating if you have even the slightest interest in ol’ Spikey Head. I’ve collated the most amazing facts and displayed them here for your eyes to gawp at. How many did you already know? Let’s find out…
Sonic’s first appearance was NOT in Sonic 1
He was featured in coin-op racer Rad Mobile months before Sonic 1s release, dangling from the rear-view mirror as a little toy. Awwww, how cute. Of course, he also appeared in Super Monaco GP II before Sonic 2 came out, running across the bottom of the Select Your Rival screen as the cars race on. But that was when everyone knew who he was. Still cool, mind.
There is a Sonic game that doesn’t have Sonic in it
Knuckles Chaotix on (recites from gamz journalism handbook) Segas ill-fated 32X was a Sonic game that didnt feature Sonic. Instead, Knuckles takes centre stage. Yes, that is really weird. But whats weirder is that its never been ported to any other console. GBA could probably have run the game, so quite why Chaotix has never appeared on a Virtual Console service or compilation package is anyones guess. Sonic does technically appear in the ‘good’ ending credits, but that hardly counts. You can’t play as Sonic. In a Sonic game.
Sonic is really ‘Sonny’. From… Nebraska?
Sonic wasnt always blue. There is a document written by Sega of America (with several necessary revisions) that sets out the official origin story for Sonic, which was later used for comic adaptations. The earliest draft is called the Sonic Bible and reveals some strange back-story decisions, like Sonics dad dying after falling into some toxic sludge, Sonic being called Sonny (no mention of Cher) and that hes from Nebraska. The only other notable character I know linked to Nebraska is Ike from South Park. And he didnt even want to go there.
Robotnik/Eggman used to be a nice guy
Dr Ovi Kintobor was a genuinely nice character who wanted to save the environment… until a strange radiation wave combined him with the evil of six Chaos Emeralds AND a half-eaten egg. Honestly, Im not making this up. This is all from that first draft of the Sonic Bible origin story, which is absolutely bonkers. After the radiation blast, his name badge on his jacket read ‘Ivo Robotnik’ (backwards, see?) and the rest is history.
Sonic is blue because he ran faster than the speed of light
On a treadmill on Kintobors lab, Sonic ran faster and faster simply through training really hard. He passed the sound barrier, then managed to travel faster than light itself. Technically he should have finished running before he started (or maybe the treadmill should have been the time traveller Im not a physicist), and when Kintobor slowed down the treadmill, Sonic was blue and his spikes were now like a Mohawk. Cool.
Sonic Team had to slow him down for Sonic 1
Sonic was too darn fast in early prototypes. One early build of the game looked amazing, featuring 7 layers of parallax scrolling (according to Yuji Naka), but early builds moved so quickly, it was a little too dizzying to be playable for any length of time. So Naka slowed him down to a pace that was controllable and enjoyable. Still brain-meltingly fast in some sections, but crucially that speed was used sparingly, for maximum impact.
There is an arcade Sonic game
It’s called SegaSonic The Hedgehog and featured an isometric perspective, with some reasonably impressive special effects for its time. It has never been ported to home consoles, which is no great loss in my opinion. Interestingly, however, it does feature Mighty the Armadillo, disproving the theory of anyone who says Mighty was actually meant to be Sonic in Knuckles’ Chaotix on 32X. Mighty’s been around since 1993. Fact. That other character is ‘Ray the Squirrel’, who only ever appeared in comics after that. Too many ‘Something the Something’ characters, perhaps.
Sonic’s enemies weren’t always robots
A playable demo of Sonic exists, made for a 1990 Japanese toy fair (before the days of E3), using different sprites and even featuring enemies from the original concept art. Look at the picture–that’s a pre-Badnik Sonic enemy right there. Sadly, we were supposed to be playing this build already in Sonic Mega Collection, but Yuji Naka cant find it. He wishes he knew where it was and wants it back. Meh.
Ice Cap’s amazing music is a real song by the Jetzons
An unreleased song by 1980s band the Jetzons (whom Id never heard of until this came up–sorry) called Hard Times is clearly the source for Sonic 3s sensational Ice Cap Zone music. Its long been a fan favourite, so it was weird to hear it being sung (with words and everything) when the bands record label, Fervor Records, released the previously unpublished song in December 2009.
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Mario basically invented sidescrollers. Sonic brought the genre into the 90s. of these iconic mascots have been bitter rivals since the console wars of the early 1990s, when Sega and Nintendo were exchanging heated ad campaigns, and schoolyards were divided over which character was the best. Recently both characters have overcome their differences to appear in a few games together, but that hasnt put a stop to the debate.
GamesRadar houses hardcore fans of each mascot. The US team has Henry Gilbert, owner of far too many Mario toys, and in the UK is Justin Towell, a man that holds a world record in Sonic 2. Both took a side to advocate for their chosen characters supremacy. And, just to keep things interesting, their discussion focuses on the characters and their history, rather than individual games. Who wins? Thats for you to decide.
Henry says: Mario innovates, Sonic imitates
Henry: For all his speed, Sonic has always been playing catch-up to Mario. Virtually every core Mario game is built around new, Inventive-yet-simple concepts, while Sonic adapts at a snails pace, with inconsistent results. Which would you rather have: A tail that allows you to fly, or stretchy werewolf arms? Star portals that shoot you around outer space, or fishing with Big the Cat?
Justin: Tsk, Henry! First talking point, and already you’ve had to resort to game design over “who’s the better hero.” But OK you wanna talk innovation? Sonic literally kick-started the modern age of gaming. Basically, there’s the dinosaur age (NES, Super Mario Bros), then the modern era (1991 onwards). Not to mention the fact that the cancelled Sonic X-Treme for Sega Saturn demonstrated all of Super Mario Galaxy’s core concepts in 1996. And that wasn’t even deemed up to the hedgehog’s standards, so was scrapped! Finally, where’s the innovation in New Super Mario Bros 2, eh? You literally said yourself “The formula is getting too familiar.”Mmmm. Innovation.
Justin says: Sonic’s the more entertaining showman
Justin: Sonic can accelerate to ridiculous velocities, giving the player the sheer white-knuckle thrill of a rollercoaster. He runs up walls and across the ceiling, hurtling down grind rails, grabbing hold of rockets, using a metal door like a surfboard down San-Fran style streets and even holding on to a missile just to hitch a lift. This is more exciting than emerging from a pipe, saying Wahoo! to imply at least he’s having fun, and dressing up like a ninny.
Henry: I cant argue that Mario is as showy as Sonic, because Sonics biggest problem is valuing style over substance. All the cinematic instances you mention were used to obscure the fact that his games are designed to be raced through as fast as possible, lacking in depth or replayability compared to Marios games. But if you want showy moments, jump through any star portal in Mario Galaxy to see something really impressive.
Henry says: Mario got 3D platforming right the first time instead of never
Henry: Before Super Mario 64, the people developing 3D platformers had no clue what they were doing. Mario invented so many of the rules for 3D gameplay, and his titles innovate with every sequel. Conversely, Sonic struggles with 3D gameplay to this day. Last years Sonic Generations remained filled with missed jumps, bad camera angles, and demoralizing deaths. After so many games, will Sonic Team ever be able to grasp the third dimension?
Justin: Sonic’s first experiment with 3D platforming (his Christmas NiGHTS appearance doesn’t count) was the Sonic World bit of Sonic Jam. The slower speed (about right compared to 2D Sonic’s platforming) was perfectly weighted and controlled just fine. A game built around that would have rocked, but instead we got Sonic Adventure. Which, while admittedly dodgy control-wise, at least had more gameplay variation than any Mario game. Platforming, pinball, bumper car racing, exploration, fishing, shooting, flying even an entire virtual pet-raising minigame.
Justin says: Sonic’s character design is intrinsically cool
Justin: Sonic scythes through enemies by effectively turning his spines into a buzzsaw. Just picture that for a second. A razor-spined hedgehog curled into a ball and spinning around so ferociously, he can carve through metal. Sometimes even rock. By comparison, what can Mario do? His bum is a mass of such blunt, bludgeoning inertia, he can use it to smash bricks. What an undignified ‘ability’ that is.
Henry: Please Sonics design is forever mired in the 90s. He may look extreme and radical by those standards, but these days he has the same qualities of Poochie from The Simpsons. Marios design is so timeless he doesnt need sharp edges and fancy shoes to be memorable. And bonus points for his character design somehow making a fat, mustachioed guy in overalls cute.
Henry says: Mario has more skills than jumping
Henry: Sonic might be faster, but can he play tennis, golf, drive a motorcycle, and bowl all while being a doctor on the same day? Marios immediately great at every new sport or hobby he tries, no matter if hes an archeologist (Marios Picross) or takes over a team of role-players. What does Sonic have to brag about? Being an air rider, driving a car thats much slower than him, and becoming a crummy pinball?
Justin: To answer your questions: Can Sonic play Tennis? Yes: Sega Superstars Tennis. Can he play Golf? Yes: Sonic Golf DX. Ride a motorcycle? Yes: The Hot Wheels Sonic The Hedgehog pack. Bowl? He is the bowling ball in Twinkle Park in Sonic Adventure. Being a doctor? Well, Sonic beats a Doctor in every game. Archaeology: Seriously? You’re using archaeology in an argument about ‘who’s best’? And as for role-playing: Freakin’ BioWare made the Sonic RPG on DS. Bio. Ware.
Justin says: Mario’s a mass-murdering scumbag
Justin: Have you seen how many creatures Mario has crushed to death? As opposed to Sonic, whose sole motivation is helping his woodland chums. See those robotic enemies? Inside those are cute little bunny wabbits and birdies. Know what’s inside the Goombas that Mario stomps on all the time? Squishy guts and sadness. It’s horrific to think about what Mario actually does to the many innocent inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom. FOR SHAME.
Henry: This attack on Mario is the same stance politicians take against Grand Theft Auto when they call it a murder sim. Much like Niko Bellic, Mario can run through the game avoiding virtually all of his enemies, aside from his boss fights, and those practically force the battle by trapping him in a room. Hes only as much of a killer as you want him to be. And dont try and make Sonic sound eco-friendly. Just imagine how much damage he did by blowing up multiple Death Eggs in Earths atmosphere.
Henry says: Mario’s friends aren’t the worst characters ever
Henry: I may loathe Waluigi, but I wouldnt trade him for any Sonic character created after 1994. Egg Man, Tails and Knuckles are fine, but losers like Charmy Bee, Cream and Silver are still totally lame in comparison to the annoying baby versions of iconic characters like Donkey Kong, Peach and Yoshi. Plus, for as strange as some Luigi and Birdo fans might be, thats nothing compared to the mass of furry fandom that characters like Amy and Rogue attract.
Justin: Everyone knows you judge a man on the strength of his enemies, not his friends. In which case, Mario is equivalent to a dinosaur who’s a couple of coins short of a one-up. Sonic’s up against a certified genius. You wouldn’t catch Robotnik standing on a bridge over lava and leaving an axe by it. And if you wanna talk friends, Sonic’s have better theme songs, have no ‘Weegee’ equivalent (shudder) and not one of them has nuclear-grade flatulence. Win.
Justin says: “Super” Mario can’t even touch regular Sonic’s abilities
Justin: Mario needs to resort to (rather dubious) mushrooms to become Super Mario, at which point his abilities are only verging on the resting state of regular Sonic. Comparing the two characters’ Super states has a clear winner, given that Super Sonic is frickin’ invincible. Mario, however, turns small again with just one hit. Thats rubbish. Super Sonic can jump some six times his own height, turn on a sixpence and sports a huge, flaming manga hairstyle while he’s doing it. And that’s not even mentioning Hyper Sonic, who can soar through space, smashing through asteroids with his face.
Henry: Ill admit that Mario doesnt unabashedly rip-off Dragon Ball Z when he transforms, but all this sounds like Sonic is overcompensating. Marios different powers are all about nuance and grace, not flying as fast as you can to the end. And by the way, no matter how small he gets, Mario can breathe underwater, which is a lot more than I can say for Sonic.
Henry says: Sonic 2006
Henry: I mean, cmon
Justin: Thats low.
Justin says: Hotel Mario
Justin: Right?
Henry: Not cool, man.
Where do you stand?
So where do you stand in this culture clash? And more importantly, which editor do you think won the debate? Explain in the comments and vote in the handy poll below!
Who do you think won the debate?
Need a crash course in both of these characters? Check out our list of the best Mario games and the best Sonic games.
Great Debate pits two editors in a head-to-head battle to debate some of gamings hottest topics. Have a subject you want them to discuss? Let us know in the comments and well wrangle some editors to talk it over.
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You most likely knew Casino Night Zone was coming: the level was a pre-order bonus for GameStop customers. The Sonic 2 stage has been reinvented for Generations in the style of Genesis spinoff Sonic Spinball, which would have been a pretty great game if it had cost somewhere around $5. Japanese players are paying 320 MSP for the stage, which means it’ll probably run you $4 when it comes to America, which technically makes it a pretty great value.
Above: We’re so scared right now
Also available are avatar costumes that will make your XBLA avatar look pretty darling. Slap some thick glasses and badges for a couple of indie bands on that Amy Rose outfit and boom, instant hipster chick. Of course, it also comes with a furry hedgehog cowl, as do the Sonic and Super Sonic varieties – which, if you’re that terrified of people thinking you might be a fur-fetishist, could put you off paying 240 MSP for it. But it shouldn’t, because they’re delightful.
Finally, there are themes for XBLA and PlayStation 3, which are commanding prices of 240 MSP and ¥200 ($US2.50) a piece. These all ought to hit Western consoles soon, so start saving up your real money for digital goodies!
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]]>We have to give Sega and Sonic team credit for even recognizing these games exist after the way they’ve been treated by many Sonic fans and the press. But can they spin crap into gold by remaking stages from those three games in 2D and 3D? And will Generations even recognize the fan hate for Sonic’s interspecies kiss? With just weeks till the game’s launch, we’ll know soon.
Oct 7, 2011
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Above: Colours? Check. Leaves kicked up as Sonic passes? Check. Authentic physics model? Well…
Firstly, the graphics look good, following the source material closely so that retro fans get the nostalgia kick the game has been designed to deliver. It appears Modern Sonic will be racing through the orangey, autumnal version of the level, while Classic Sonic will be enjoying a stroll around the greener version, complete with those weird pulley things from the 16-bit original. I never really liked them, but you can’t say they don’t look authentic here.
Above: Squeak… squeak… squeak… squeak…*checks watch* squeak… squeak… squeak…
Modern Sonic’s into-the-screen sections do look a tad basic, but perhaps that’s to exaggerate the 3D effect (am I being too kind on it by saying that?). Take a look and see what you think:
Above: More PSP than Gamecube quality, wouldn’t you say? Also, grinding leaves must surely hurt his feet
3DS’ graphical capabilities are limited compared to the big consoles and thatinto-the-screen sections require more scenery to be drawn at any one time, so the compromise is fair enough. But I am liking the look of the side-scrolling sections a lot more at this stage. Look:
Above: Why don’t hedgehogs live in toadstools? Cos there’s not mushroom inside
Hopefully we’ll get to see the level in motion soon. In the mean-time, there has been a new trailer released for the big version of the game, which shows previously unseen areas, like Seaside Hill from Sonic Heroes. Check it out below, then head on over to ourscreenshots page (opens in new tab)to see the rest of the new 3DS screens.
17 Aug, 2011
17 Aug, 2011
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]]>More importantly, Sonic just so happens to star in one of the FINESTVG CINEMAS EVER MADE! Of course I’m referring to theSONIC ADVENTURE INTRO (opens in new tab), which I struggled to recreate usingspankin new footage from Infamous 2, L.A. Noire, Duke Nukem Forever, Red Faction: Armageddon, and tons of others. See all the trailers featured in their entirety below.
SONIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY- teaser
L.A. NOIRE – Vice Trailer
INFAMOUS 2 – Quest for Power trailer
DUKE NUKEM FOREVER – Babes trailer
SPIDER-MAN: EDGE OF TIME – teaser trailer
RED FACTION: ARMAGEDDON – Kara trailer
PORTAL 2 – Turrets
SHIFT 2: UNLEASHED – Dangerous Corners trailer
WARHAMMER 40K SPACE MARINE – Behind the Scenes: The Universe
MORTAL KOMBAT – Shang Tsung proile trailer
RIDGE RACER UNBOUND – MT1 trailer
DRAGON AGE II & MASS EFFECT 2 – Sequel Celebration trailer
MX VS ATV ALIVE – Bar to Bar trailer
THE SIMS 3 – Generations trailer
VIRTUA TENNIS 4 – World Tour trailer
SOCOM 4 – Single Player Campaign trailer
BATTLEFIELD PLAY4FREE – Launch trailer
Apr 9, 2011
More importantly, Sonic just so happens to star in one of the FINESTVG CINEMAS EVER MADE! Of course I’m referring to theSONIC ADVENTURE INTRO (opens in new tab), which I struggled to recreate usingspankin new footage from Infamous 2, L.A. Noire, Duke Nukem Forever, Red Faction: Armageddon, and tons of others. See all the trailers featured in their entirety below.
SONIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY- teaser
L.A. NOIRE – Vice Trailer
INFAMOUS 2 – Quest for Power trailer
DUKE NUKEM FOREVER – Babes trailer
SPIDER-MAN: EDGE OF TIME – teaser trailer
RED FACTION: ARMAGEDDON – Kara trailer
PORTAL 2 – Turrets
SHIFT 2: UNLEASHED – Dangerous Corners trailer
WARHAMMER 40K SPACE MARINE – Behind the Scenes: The Universe
MORTAL KOMBAT – Shang Tsung proile trailer
RIDGE RACER UNBOUND – MT1 trailer
DRAGON AGE II & MASS EFFECT 2 – Sequel Celebration trailer
MX VS ATV ALIVE – Bar to Bar trailer
THE SIMS 3 – Generations trailer
VIRTUA TENNIS 4 – World Tour trailer
SOCOM 4 – Single Player Campaign trailer
BATTLEFIELD PLAY4FREE – Launch trailer
Apr 9, 2011
More importantly, Sonic just so happens to star in one of the FINESTVG CINEMAS EVER MADE! Of course I’m referring to theSONIC ADVENTURE INTRO (opens in new tab), which I struggled to recreate usingspankin new footage from Infamous 2, L.A. Noire, Duke Nukem Forever, Red Faction: Armageddon, and tons of others. See all the trailers featured in their entirety below.
SONIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY- teaser
L.A. NOIRE – Vice Trailer
INFAMOUS 2 – Quest for Power trailer
DUKE NUKEM FOREVER – Babes trailer
SPIDER-MAN: EDGE OF TIME – teaser trailer
RED FACTION: ARMAGEDDON – Kara trailer
PORTAL 2 – Turrets
SHIFT 2: UNLEASHED – Dangerous Corners trailer
WARHAMMER 40K SPACE MARINE – Behind the Scenes: The Universe
MORTAL KOMBAT – Shang Tsung proile trailer
RIDGE RACER UNBOUND – MT1 trailer
DRAGON AGE II & MASS EFFECT 2 – Sequel Celebration trailer
MX VS ATV ALIVE – Bar to Bar trailer
THE SIMS 3 – Generations trailer
VIRTUA TENNIS 4 – World Tour trailer
SOCOM 4 – Single Player Campaign trailer
BATTLEFIELD PLAY4FREE – Launch trailer
Apr 9, 2011
More importantly, Sonic just so happens to star in one of the FINESTVG CINEMAS EVER MADE! Of course I’m referring to theSONIC ADVENTURE INTRO (opens in new tab), which I struggled to recreate usingspankin new footage from Infamous 2, L.A. Noire, Duke Nukem Forever, Red Faction: Armageddon, and tons of others. See all the trailers featured in their entirety below.
SONIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY- teaser
L.A. NOIRE – Vice Trailer
INFAMOUS 2 – Quest for Power trailer
DUKE NUKEM FOREVER – Babes trailer
SPIDER-MAN: EDGE OF TIME – teaser trailer
RED FACTION: ARMAGEDDON – Kara trailer
PORTAL 2 – Turrets
SHIFT 2: UNLEASHED – Dangerous Corners trailer
WARHAMMER 40K SPACE MARINE – Behind the Scenes: The Universe
MORTAL KOMBAT – Shang Tsung proile trailer
RIDGE RACER UNBOUND – MT1 trailer
DRAGON AGE II & MASS EFFECT 2 – Sequel Celebration trailer
MX VS ATV ALIVE – Bar to Bar trailer
THE SIMS 3 – Generations trailer
VIRTUA TENNIS 4 – World Tour trailer
SOCOM 4 – Single Player Campaign trailer
BATTLEFIELD PLAY4FREE – Launch trailer
Apr 9, 2011
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