Celestia

Yeah it depends on the context, they don't exactly act like it's a formal team or anything even during the time they were explicitly working for GUN. Sometimes Shadow calls a shot, sometimes Rouge does, Omega gets to feel like he's the leader whenever violence actually is the obvious answer...it's the same with the other "teams" too. I'm not a big fan of the locked team setup anyway. For one thing I'd generally associate Amy as a part of "Sonic's team," especially as of recent games.

I think Amy should have a hyperrealistic gun instead of a hammer. If Ian Flynn doesn't do this then I'll lose faith in him. At this rate there's probably going to be an unannounced Shadow story in the annual that has something controversial happen, lol.

Well. This has certainly been a good example of why using tvtropes terms that haven't actually become standardized is maybe a bad idea. So now that y'all have literally made a separate topic for the latest one, are we done with terrible Shadow arguments that barely have anything to do with the comic book now?

It's clear it had an effect on the series, but I think the point where (for me) it went from being something I wasn't a fan of to absolutely ridiculous was when Tails wasn't playable in Sonic 4 Episode 2. I never really understood why the 3D boost games were so strict about it. I can understand most characters (besides like, Shadow and Blaze) not fitting into Sonic's levels, but...Colours aside they always have something like Classic Sonic or even the Avatar who have different movesets and level design. I understand people don't like having these secondary playstyles but I think it makes sense, just get the right designers on it and maybe don't rush them so much and you're good. (I know that's easier said than done but circa 2008 thru 2011 they had some pretty decent level designers so it's clearly not impossible.) Also, uh. ...Is that official? lmao I guess their Sonic marketing being really embarrassing like this goes back further than I thought.

There's only so much vertical room in the background, lol. If Shadow had been included he'd be even more obscured than Metal is and if that was the case, to be frank, you'd be complaining about that instead.

Blaze could be the star of boost-style games on the side, if they ever definitively move on from that for "main" entries. That would even be coming full circle since that style (kind of) started with Rush.

I'm absolutely going to say this every year at this rate but I sure do hope they stick with this style long enough for the entire cast to get one.

It's in the annual.

I'm actually really curious about the Rouge story. It'd be kinda nice to see her on her own in something for the first time since, uh, *thinks about the entire franchise*...her earlier appearances in Archie? (Shadow and/or Omega might still appear of course but I feel like they'd be mentioned if they were going to be featured heavily.)

Look, Amy goes where she wants. (See also: being on Prison Island inexplicably in SA2.)

Annuals are special double-sized issues that some books get. Typically released after, well, a year. They might do one each year but maybe not, kinda goes either way in my experience. ...Holy shit I just noticed Diana Skelly was among the artists?? That's awesome, I was really hoping she'd come back.