Sean

Huh, I saw those exact cases, but for Australia... You can get the game, but with no artbook or holographic cover. Except you will always get those with the Switch version.

Cool. I mean it's lame, but interesting that such exists.

South Korea got the short straw of the stick but at least got the game.

I'll be surprised if there is a reversible cover with a Samsung Super Aladdin Boy variation.

There's also a version exclusive for Brazil, it does comes with the artbook, but not the holographic cover.

Yeah needless to say I'm glad I imported the US and JP versions.

What vehement hatred? I'm cool! We're cool! It's just video games right?!

 

I love the way Lost World looks.

I don't care too much for how Forces looks though.

For starters, there's the simple fact that the three games in question the art direction are directly associated with (aside from LW and Forces, it also shows up in Runners) aren't very good on their own terms. So from there you've already got some negative association attached to the art direction itself.

On a more broader point, I'd say it's also reflective of a point that the Sonic series has proceeded to move away from being a graphical showcase; which has historically been a constant element for the games (even the more subpar/terrible games) until this artstyle started becoming en vogue. While the current art direction has been generally received well outside the fanbase (and even among fans, isn't universally considered awful); the games they're attached to haven't really been considered visual showstoppers--nothing from Sonic released so far in this generation can really be said to compete with the best of the current generation, even in terms of its own genre (re: the remakes for Ratchet and Clank, Crash, and Spyro; or even Super Mario Odyssey). Yes, as others have said, cutting-edge graphics are far from necessary to make great games, but it does make for a favorable point for the games and the series as a whole in regards to their presentation/production values.

Another thing is that it also has the "NSMB" symptom in which its presentation is starting to seep into other venues of the series, as part of a general branding image. It's shown up in the aforementioned Runners mobile game, and the upcoming TSR racing game has been accused for adapting this art direction.

On a side note, I also think the first and third point is also a factor on Mania's presentation having been very well-received. Going for an authentically 16-bit/32-bit approach means you'll have to wait longer if you want a Genesis Sonic game with 2010s graphics, akin to current Donkey Kong Country or Rayman games. But it's art direction does offer something visually distinct from the current crop of Sonic games, let alone Sonic titles in recent years; and it's also attached to a great Sonic product inof itself.

E: Fourth point--for people who aren't really jazzed about the NSMB art direction, or Mario's artstyle in general; Sonic taking heavy aesthetic notes from its former rival (especially Lost World in particular) also isn't really a fantastic look to them either.

I personally just think pink and green don't go together very well.

@Sean

I always thought her classic design was cute. I do however agree with the idea some folk have that her spikes would look better pointing upwards instead of just being a direct copy of Sonic's spike style.

@Blacklightning

Actually red & green or pink & green are technically complementary colors the same as blue & orange, so when used right it can look really nice... but oddly it doesn't seem to appeal to nearly as many people as blue & orange or yellow does.

The colors bother me. Literally just change her shirt to another color and it would be good to me.

too many colors. most sonic characters have one clear main color, maybe a secondary color, and a few small accents, but classic amy is kind of splattered with all different colors and it ends up feeling a little garish by comparison.

also while i'm not really onboard with the whole "pink sonic in a dress" line of thought, a different hairstyle does make her more visually unique.

Weird. The colors never stood out to me in any particular way

the stars leave streaks so long

the colors feel so wrong

i've always felt like this- i'll keep on fleeing

I never knew that was a thing...

People who don't wash their hands in general are disgusting

I wash my hands after gaming, to avoid catching gamer disease.

Peach, Rosalina and Bowser are my favorite Mario characters. What do I win? ;')

Everyone I met that didn't like peach was a fucking loser

@Wraith @Sean

Duly noted. 

Dragon maid was a great anime. I hope we get more seasons.