Dr. Crusher Presents: The 30 Days of Sonic the Hedgehog Mk.II (Daft and Tolerating It)-PAGE 72, FIN

[Echidna Adventurer CC14]

Okay, time for a little 30 Days of Sonic Retro Playback!

Retro Question #1!

I DO have a few plushes and figures (Just recently picked up the GE Shadow and Rouge plushes, in fact) and I'd be super interested in more small-scale figures of more obscure characters that the Jazwares line never got to like Rouge, Chaos, the Deadly Six, Omega, and so on. (I'd also LOVE for GE to make an Omega plush.)

Retro Question #2!

I like the more underutilized stuff like Rainforests, Castles, and spooky levels in general. You could name a million different Green Hill variants, but something like Hang Castle sticks out more in your mind as something really unique and memorable.

Retro Question #3!

Gotta go with my bro the Battle Lord. Still awaiting his exalted bardarshness to return to the comics so he can...I dunno, body slam Eclipse with his pinkie finger? Uppercut Snively into the upper stratosphere using only his mind? Continue to kick the crap out of Naugus to my utmost glee? Whatever he does, I'm sure it'll be nothing short of awesome. Also want to give a shout-out to the Deadly Six, who I've really come to appreciate lately after rewatching Lost World's story a couple of times. Those sadistic creeps are some very entertaining baddies.

Retro Question #4!

Can't really remember too many specific circumstances, so I'll just say through the Archie thread. That's probably the Sonic-related discussion venue that I've put the most posts into, there are some really awesome, thorough posters there regularly, and it's always fun to see where discussion goes next.

[Celestia]

Retro Question #1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of? (I realise this one might feel like a repeat of this year's own memorabilia-related question from before, but I felt this one was still different enough in the sense that it also asks for what you would like to get in the future.)

 

As with last year, I don't have any plushies or figures of any Sonic characters. I'd love a Sonic one...or in my wildest dreams S&K's Mecha Sonic, I dunno if he's had any merch at all though.

 

Retro Question #2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

 

In no particular order:

1. The [Whatever] Hill Zone levels!
2. Water levels!
3. Haunted levels (from Pumpkin Hill to Cryptic Castle...we really need more of this level trope in Sonic)

Retro Question #3: Who is/are your favourite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

 

I'm really fond of the DiC cartoons' villains in general (well, AOSTH and SATam's, anyway). This extends to Archie as well. Of course there's a few I don't care much for, but the ones I do like are pretty cool. I also love Chaos, the Biolizard (yeah it's out of nowhere, but I don't mind), and the Deadly Six.

 

Retro Question #4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

 

I've made a few other friends in this fanbase elsewhre on the interwebs, but mostly here on SSMB. In fact I think I've made more internet friends in general here than anywhere else, which makes sense since this is the longest I've been on a forum (while remaining active, that is).

[skull902]

Question #22: Which commercials are the most memorable for you?

 

I absolutely love the Sonic Adventure 2: Battle commercials. In early 2002, my family and I were really getting into the WWF (now of course WWE.) Let's stop right there. You may be asking, "Mr. 902, what the hell does that have to do with this question?" Well, on Monday nights they had (and still have) a show called "Raw." And on "Raw" in early 2002, TNN (now Spike) would show a lot of video game commercials during the breaks. Plenty of these commercials were for the GameCube and the games for it. A few of them in particular were the SA2:B ads. I don't remember what I thought of them when they were originally airing, but I loved seeing them whenever I would pop in a tape we had of the recorded wrestling shows. I just think it's great that some guy is trying to direct a hedgehog that clearly doesn't know what's going on. And he's like, yelling at it through a megaphone as if he'll get through to it. "IN FRONT OF THE WALLPAPER!" "WHAT PART OF SUPER-SONIC SPEED DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!" And then in one of them he apologized for yelling at it, and the hedgehog's just kinda balling up like it doesn't care. That kinda stuff I find pretty funny. The ads didn't show much gameplay, but I can certainly tell that they really wanted to push the multiplayer for the GameCube release, and for good reason. For those out there who haven't played the versus mode on Dreamcast, it sucks. It is god-awfully terrible. Major slowdown, the controls were borked if I recall correctly, and you could only do Hero VS Dark which is kinda disappointing. The GameCube version really is an improvement.

 

An honorable mention would be the commercial for Secret Rings. I was going through a pretty bad time in my life in February 2007, and one of the things that offered me a good escape was TV. I seem to only remember the commercial airing in late-night hours, which was when I'd be watching TV mostly. It's a fun little commercial, showing everyone having a good time with the game, and I think that's why I liked it. Everyone likes having fun with their buddies, and I guess the commercial subconsciously reminded me of better times.

[ElectricAngel]

Multiple questions? Gah! Well, they can't be too hard

 

Day 23: Retro Questions

 

#1: Do You Own/Want Any Sonic Plushies?

 

I don't. But I do want one. I recall when the Sonic and Tails Boom plushies came out in the USA, I wanted both really badly. I called my sister to go check the nearest Toys R Us since she was the only one from our family in the States. Sadly, she couldn't find any. I still want those plushies to date. Amy and Knuckles would be nice too.

 

#2: Top Three Zone Types

 

Hey, I remember this question from last year. Anyway, 

 

#1: Tropical/Beach levels. I really like those levels where there's ocean and sand, and maybe some trees as well. Kinda like Unleashed's Jungle Joyride, or Sonic Advance's Neo Green Hill Zone. In games, levels like these look really nice. They tend to have beautiful graphics that just pop out of the screen. And I'm also a really big fan of beaches and forests and stuff so it's nice to be running around these areas at high speeds.

 

#2: Industrial levels. Stages like Scrap Brain Zone, or Metropolis Zone. I like these stages because.. well, I just like the idea of overly industrial levels. It just looks nice, with many explosions and smoke everywhere. It gives an epic feel of adventure and that you're taking down these places and destroying everything. 

 

#3: Cave levels. I can only think of Mystic Cave Zone for this one, which is a shame. I'd like to see more areas take places in ca- oh, wait, Sonic Lost World had a cave level in Windy Hill. Yeah, ok. Well I like those because of the ominous, mysterious feeling they give. I kinda wanna see Knuckles in a cave level. Maybe have him go there for story purposes, like to decipher some ancient Echidna text or whatever. Caves don't allow for much exploration, since they're closed, but I like them. It's the aesthetic thing, I guess.

 

#3: Favourite Villain Besides Eggman

 

;0; But Eggman's the best! Aww. Well um, does Dark Gaia count? It's kinda hard choosing since aside Eggman, there's only been the Deadly Six and just random monsters. And the random monsters never talk. They're just asses. But Dark Gaia I like. His/Her/Their design is really nice, I feel. Plus with the ability to essentially brainwash millions of people, that's kinda awesome. In a villainy way. Even Eggman couldn't have that power, Magic Conch Shell or not. 

 

#4: How Have You Made Friends in the Sonic Fanbase?

 

Ah, well, I honestly have no idea. Somehow in my time here I've become friends with several members of SSMB. I'd name them, but I'm scared I might leave out someone by mistake. >_< If you're reading this, you know who are. And well, I'm not sure how it happened. I feel SSMB is just filled with plenty of really friendly, nice people. And I just sorta managed to make a few friends, I guess. Say that I'm avoiding the question, but I really don't know how to answer this. :U

[Willsy]

Day 23

Retro Question #1: i currently own a Sonic Colours action figure, two 3 inch Boom Sonic and Amy figures, and a Sonic Amiibo. If I wanted any piece of merchandise, it would have to be the Nendoroid Sonic figure or the talking Sonic Boom plushie.

Retro Question #2: I'm going to cheat a bit here and just say any three tropes from Sonic Colours. The game had arguably the most original and creative tropes in the series and it was really a nice breath of fresh air.

Retro Question #3: "I AM THE ULTIMATE OVERLORD; METAL SONIC!" No doubt in my mind that I have to go with this guy. Simply put, if it's not Eggman's that I love as a villain, it's definitely Metal. I still consider him as Sonic's truest rival, and a legitimate threat to Sonic.

Retro Question #4: Just Internet forums really, mainly here on SSMB. I have made a lit of friends here and I even talk to them outside of the site. That's really it though, I have never been to any conventions like Sonic Boom or Summer of Sonic.

[Your Vest Friend]

Day 23 Part 1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of? 

 

Ooh, you asked at a good time! Since the last time this question was asked, I've made two additions to my Sonic plush collection (figure collection is the same and I'm happy with it); classic Amy (just for completeness) and Espio, who was one of the ones I said was a plush I wanted!

 

 

And later this year Vector's planned to come out too, and Charmy some time down the road, so if those manage to be released, my like to have list will have crossed off two very prominent names! After that, it'd be ones that would be impossible to get official plushes for, like small time reptiles from other media.

 

Day 23 Part 2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

 

This one's fairly easy to answer since I don't think my likes have changed at all;

 

1, Carnival-esque levels.

 

 

They have a great sense of fun in the level design, and often the level layout as well to compensate for unique gimmicks. Levels like Casino Night Zone, Speed Slider Zone, Casinopolis, Casino Park, gimme all of them! Have to give props to the Advance series too; after the first installment, their carnival levels were some of the most imaginative around.

 

2. Beach levels.

 

 

I like being at the seaside in real life, so that's carried over into my game preferences. Seaside Hill is the most prominent example for me (especially the Generations remake), but I can take most beach levels, although preferably in 3D since 2D doesn't capture the duality as well.

 

3. Cyber-ish levels.

 

 

Like Carnival levels, these tend to have unique designs with memorable gimmicks. I wish there was more of them in the franchise to be honest, although my net is pretty wide since I'd lump Crazy Gadget as a hybrid of this and space level.

 

Day 23 Part 3: Who is/are your favourite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

 

Just like before, the addendum means nothing to me since I wouldn't pick him anyway. I think this time I'll just go back to two answers for it.

 

1. Ifrit

 

 

I think it has a bit of a cute quality to it. Maybe it's in the face because it looks kind of dopey and that makes it adorable. It's also got quite a unique set of traits for a monster of the week; it's got a neat, wyvern-derived design, it eats chao so it actually poses a personal threat to some heroes who enjoy chao like Silver (and Chaos would be so pissed), plus it has the inexplicable ability to mind control who it wants to defend itself, which can bypass even Sonic's extremely strong free will. Not bad for a monster summoned from another dimension.

 

2. Loot the Treasure Seeker

 

 

I use that title because he'd probably want a pompous title like that. Loot's a lowly thief, who thinks highly of himself and can be quite a neat freak, but has very crude methods of stealth in combination with his natural invisibility ability. You have to remember how chameleons in the comics were made in Archie to really appreciate how Loot stands out. In Penders' run, the chameleons were a village of completely xenophobic people just in their own little village, emulating how ordinary Espio's personality was at the time. Valdez had some interesting stuff done with him even if he was also very generic in personality (although snarky), but I class him more as a hero who got tragically altered by Eggman, not a willing villain per se. Ian's run introduced a new lot of chameleons...and made every single one of those a ninja, to emulate Espio's new role (not personality though, since Espio was still being played as a normal guy, just now with ninja baggage). And it was basically just really redundant to have every single one have the same occupation and stuff. Loot was the Sonic the Comic writers thinking of Espio's ability but applying in a completely different but logical way, which was basically what differentiated the two comics back then, and StC was all the better for it. With crocodilian guys showing up as Egg Boss grunts in the new continuity, I'm sure at least there are chameleons in different niches now. But at the minute, Loot stands on top as the best of them. 

 

Day 23 Part 4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

 

Ah...not greatly, I have to admit. I have quite a few close acquaintances throughout that I care about, but I wouldn't say I have like a social circle of friends that I talk to outside of my Sonic interest too often. I'm one of those rare cases where I'm just as anti-social online as in real life, since having anonymity doesn't alter the fact finding it hard to socialise is hardwired into my very biological fibre.

[Ripe]

Day 23

Retro Question #1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of?

No, I have not. Well, if I would find a good Sonic/Tails/Knuckles figure then yes. Too bad that Gamestop, where I buy my games only has about 5cm tall classic figures and Sonic amiibo. I would like to have it slightly bigger and modern look.

Retro Question #2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

1. City levels: I just like that they have had much variety in looks. I mean, in Generations there are 4 city levels and all of them look completely different. And in 3D games it seems that my favourite levels are City levels (SA1: Speed Highway, SA2: City Escape, Heroes: Metropolis, 06: Crisis City)

2. Hill levels: I really like the looks of levels like Green-, Emerald- and Seaside hill. And they are usually very fun to play (maybe because they are often starting levels)

3. Sky/Fortress levels: Again, I really like how much variety these have, whether it's Sky Chase/Wing Fortress, Sky Sanctuary, Sky Deck or Final Fortress. These are often in later parts of the game and challenging but (with exeption of Wing Fortress) they aren't really annoying. And Final Fortress is my favourite Final level in the series.

Retro Question #3: Who is/are your favourite villain apart from Robotnik?

I say Chaos. I really liked his backstory in SA1 and while his normal boss battles were quite "meh", Final boss fight is my favourite boss battle in the series. And I also like that his final, to me satisfying, conclusion really was a conclusion (unlike certain black hedgehog).

Retro Question #4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

I haven't (yet) made friends in fanbase because I'm quite newhere.

[Drawloverlala]

Retro Question #1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of?

my little brother has.. XD  he has Classic Sonic, Classic Tails, Classic knux, Classic Amy and Classic metal sonic figures.. then we have team heroes plushies..

Knuckles is from Sonic Underground meanwhile Sonic and Tails are from heroes..

 

Retro Question #2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

 

water zones

but just like Hydrocity. zone..if i can run over the water  and there is no big fish to eat me then is fine..

 

 

 

City Zones:

because i love to watch billboards and details of the architecture.. just like in Apotos, Spagonia, or City Scape etc..

 

"I'm a crazy pizza man!"

 

oh forgot one:

Ancient  zones:

 

like Sky sanktuary , Adabat jungle ride, etcc...

 

Retro Question #3: Who is/are your favourite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

 

Eggman.. XD hahah sorry..

 

Metal Sonic of course! there is no melodramatic edgy past as Shadow on this character.. and he is cool (i don't hate shadow )

 

Retro Question #4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

 

umm.. well i guess thanks on my drawings... many people likes them, they comment me and i get so happy because of it.. because tht means they want to give their opinion, something i actually care about my drawings...

and  i always try to answer the best as i can in a friendly way and give thanks for it.

 

also when they sometimes comment unusual things and well i really appreciate when people sees beyond the drawing.. and when comment something more than one word and we start a nice conversation about something.. the things we like, the artist we like, fan character designs, re-designs, comic plots, comic projects, art in the games, Sonic music etc....  that's how i made friends  on this fanbase.. 

Edited June 23, 2015 by Drawloverlala

[Ducktor Naldush]

Day 23-A: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of?

 

Since last time, I added a Classic Sonic plush to my collection, that now is sitting on some of my comics. Adventure Tails is alone no more.

 

 

Sonic Says: Read Yu yu Hakusho, Medaka Box and Shaman King.

 

And yes, if I had some money to waste, I'd buy that classic Eggman plush in no time.

 

Day 23-B: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

 

My tastes didn't change from last time, so I'll just repeat myself.

 

1) Urban Themed Levels

Because Green Hills get really boring after a while. And with Spagonia and Soleanna, Sonic could very well be dashing through my town no problem. That's awesome. I mean, look at this:

 

 

Mamma mia! Un porcospino blu sul mio tetto!

 

2) Casino / Festival Themed Levels

Funky and Colourful, just like I like my casinos and theme park. Watch out for the pinball trap, Sonic!

 

3) Winter Themed Levels

Because I fucking love winter and snow. Now, this is strictly a Sonic discussion, but the same could be said for many other game series, like Mario or Kirby. Not Megaman because the thought of icy levels in the adventures of the blue bomber always reminds me of four words. "JUMP, JUMP! SLIDE, SLIDE!" Fuck you, Frost Man.

 

Day 23-C: Who is/are your favourite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

 

Well, I talked about three villains last time: Grand Battle Kukku XV, Erazor Djinn and another guy. Another guy I kinda miss. But I'll never see again. Such a shame. I loved his speeches and his magnificent bastard tendencies.

 

 

 

Goodbye, you wonderful Vandal Savage rip-off. I'll non-ironically miss you.

 

Day 23-D: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

 

 

 

By joining this forum and another Italian forum called "Sonic Dream". I'm not that much active on the latter, but I still keep in touch with some of those users. Wonderful people.  And, obviously, you're all great too, each one in his own way. I don't want to drop names because I'm afraid I'll forget someone, but if you're reading this, dear chaps, you know who you are. 

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

Question #20: What are your top ten (or less) cutscenes in the games?

Going with a Top Five

 

5) Sonic 06, Sonic's intro

As much deserved flack as that game gets in the gameplay department, watching this scene would make one wonder how they botched everything else up. This opening gets your blood pumping as you see a peaceful moment ruined by a sudden attack from Eggman's robots, only for Sonic to come in, smash all of them, and send one dropping off the edge of the platform with the tap of his foot. It was the kind of scene that felt like you were getting into a Sonic game come the time you actually get into the game.

 

4) Sonic Riders Zero Gravity Opening

 

3) Sonic Heroes's Opening

This one really gets the blood pumping. You see Sonic sprinting through a forest, jumping off stone pillars, and then nearly falls from a cliff that collapses under his feet until Tails catches him. Then they run into falling stone blocks, which is where Knuckles comes bashing in to clear their path. As you see all the other teams come together, it really catches your attention at how big the stakes would see here, as a cast of 12 heroes makes it look like it's going to be an epic adventure.

 

And this gets hightened by Eggman's Egg Fleet coming into view later on. You see, before this it was just a single Egg Carrier, but now it's a whole fleet of ships with some of them around the Egg Carrier's size. So you get the feeling that Eggman is really going all out here. Up until you see Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles blowing up the cannons and ships as they bound through the air of the metal remains of a ship. It's a scene that really has a lot of energy that we need more of.

 

2) SA2, Day X

This is one of Eggman's most definite moments as a villain. He takes control of an abandoned space colony, and demands the world surrender to him in a time limit. To prove that he's serious, he reveals a dark secret of the colony, the Eclipse Cannon, and demonstrates its power by blowing up half the moon. It's a scene that most supervillains wish they could gloat over, because you don't see a threat of such scale in most action cartoons in a family-friendly cartoon.

 

But this is second to the most spectacular scene of the games...

 

1) Sonic Unleashed's Opening

Every hero has a moment where they end up getting a boost in strength, either through willpower or through a power up, where they use their strength to finally defeat the villain and stop their scheme. But here is a bit different.

 

Normally when Sonic goes super, somebody's about to get their ass whooped. But while Sonic proceeds to deliver said ass whopping to Eggman's entire space fleet, Eggman manages to lure Sonic into a machine that saps that power out of him. On top of that, he uses that power to literally fracture the earth into pieces and laughs about it. This basically sums up whether Eggman would have used the Eclipse Cannon from SA2 on Earth - the answer: he would, provided the Earth was still intact or at least present.

 

Question #21: Which character interactions would you like to see that aren't common?

As far as the games go, for all the responses that have said "Anyone that isn't Sonic, Tails, and Eggman", funny enough those three interact the least with just about anyone who isn't Knuckles or Amy. And as far as the comics go, it's difficult to find what isn't common because we've seen a mix of other characters interact with those they've yet to meet in the games: Shadow with Blaze (twice) and Marine; Rouge and Omega with Blaze, Amy, and Cream and the Babylon Rogues; Knuckles with Shadow (and I've been dreaming for the longest to see these two fight each other to a draw); and lots of other mixes. And not just from Sonic either. There's not a lot of interactions that haven't been explored yet: Team Dark and the Deadly Six for one (and it probably won't be too long 'til we see that)

 

I'm gonna go with one that I've yet to actually see: Silver and Omega. Seriously, imagine a time traveling psychic trying to fix the wrongs to make right and a destructive walking arsenal coming into contact and the hilarity that can ensue from that. Granted, I'm talking more Omega's sociopathic, trigger-happy personality from Archie Comics, because that has to be the most interesting seeing him desire to torch everything to the ground while Silver would try to restrain him from doing something even more reckless. As an added bonus, place Omega in the ruined parts of Silver's future and see the interaction from that - Omega would probably go bonkers that there's nothing to destroy since everything is already destroyed.

 

Another one I'd like to see would have to be Shade and Blaze. Shade may only have had one (bland) appearance, but we can glean something out of it and develop something with her and Blaze. Two serious, duty-minded characters with a fierce desire to uphold themselves to the best of their ability. But where as Shade is likely more pragmatic and possibly ruthless given her time under a militaristic tribe of her own people that subjugates others, Blaze would likely be more considerate of others due to her duty requiring she protect other people and attack invaders with extreme prejudice. It's an interesting clash, one of a former imperialist and another of a current monarch.

 

And it would be very interesting to see a combo team of Tails and Rouge working together. Two flying characters, one a spy, the other an engineer, working together. Of course there would be some difficulty directing it somewhere without something bringing the two together like a common goal, because there's not much incentive for the two to work together unless you create it. When that happens, then we could see something sprout from them.

 

Question #22: Which commercials are the most memorable for you?

The one for Shadow the Hedgehog, but for all the wrong reasons. It's memorable because it's Shadow the Hedgehog, a character that was thought to have died in SA2 is here in a game of his own, in a dark city, wielding a gun while an explosion blasts behind him as he walks toward the camera. I mean, it's hard to get such an image out of your head as he advances toward you with the expression of a stone-cold soldier.

 

Question(s) #23:

Retro Question #1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of?

I have plushes of Sonic, Shadow, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. I'd get more, but the other plushes I've see suck major ass in terms of how the characters look. Also, as I've said in a previous question, I have Joyride Studio statues of Sonic and Shadow, and I have a Modern Sonic statue of his 20th anniversary that I got from an anime convention.

 

Retro Question #2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

I'm a bit of a sci-fi fanatic, so...

 

3) Space Stations

The feeling of being in space, floating around above the planet, is one of the most energetic things that capture a greater sense of scale as you look into the starry abyss. It's also great to explore the habitats set there, mostly created by Eggman, but some created by others. Still, it has a nice view of the Earth when you get a chance to look at it. Makes you feel like you're really risking something fighting beyond the pull of its gravity.

 

2) Futuristic Cities

I love seeing Sonic's take on a futuristic city, seeing the peaceful and productive uses of technology rather than the destructive and militaristic power used mainly by Eggman. You see a contrast with brighter cities of technology, which have a sense of optimism, compared to the darker take of Eggman's technology, which have a sense of despair.

 

Speaking of which...

 

1) Eggman Bases

At the same time, I love that sense of despair, or rather the sense that if Sonic (and by extension, me the player) fail to stop Eggman, this is what it would be like for the rest of the world. Eggmanland is the crown jewel of this symbolism - a carnival of hell created by a highly intelligent madman in his own image. Plus, it just gives more incentive to see the villain finally achieve a goal so you can work to stop it.

 

Retro Question #3: Who is/are your favourite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

Well, fuck. If I can't say Eggman, then I'll go with Imperator Ix of Sonic Chronicles.

 

Ix is the revelation that Knuckles isn't the last of his kind. But at the same time, the rest of his kind aren't truly very nice people aside from Tikal. Ix is also just as much the embodiment of Knuckles in many different ways, being aggressive, often arrogant, and powerful. But he also contrasts with Knuckles in that he is incredibly intelligent, manipulative, and far more adaptable, not to mention a leader while Knuckles is more of a survivor. That's not to say that Knuckles isn't adaptable - he'd have to be in order to survive as long as he has - but that Ix is more rapidly so, probably as a result of him being a leader of a group of echidnas which would require he do what he can to ensure his tribe's survival in a hostile place. They also contrast in how they protect what they have left of their culture, Knuckles by fighting off anyone who trespasses on the only thing he has of a home and Ix by manipulating others into fighting themselves while his group progresses to the point they can hold off an assault.

 

There's tons of contrasts here, the technological military might of Ix with the spiritual and mythicism of Knuckles. The isolation of Knuckles coming to terms of peacful integrating with a world beyond his island versus the forceful integration of Ix that leads to a aggressive isolation as that integration breaks and the people under his tribe fight against him. The Roman and Ninja influences of Ix's Nocturnus verses the Aztec/Mayan and possibly Egyptian of Knuckles's tribe. The extinction of Knuckles's tribe versus the survival of Ix's. It goes on.

 

However much Bioware's handheld division botched up the franchise lore in their research here in Chronicles, they opened up a new door leading to a treasure trove as well.

 

Retro Question #4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

Mainly by chatting with them on this forum. Others we kinda meet up in random places, but they're not really long lasting friendships for the most part.

[Kiah]

 

Day 23: A Blast from the 30 Days of Sonic Past on Sonic's 24th Anniversary?!

Classic Sonic approves! And me, of course! 

Retro Question #1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of?

When I answered this question last year, this was my plushie collection:

Basically my Sonic plushie collection was a lot of Sonics and not a lot of everyone else. I definitely needed to fix that as I wished and still wish to have a plushie of every character of the main Sonic cast.

A little over a year later, THIS is my Sonic plushie collection:

In case you forgot or didn't know, I'm 31 years old with this collection of Sonic plushies that is growing. I have absolutely NO shame

Retro Question #2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

The beauty and diversity of the places in Sonic's world knows no bounds, which made it rather tricky to select the my top 3 favorites. After giving quite some thought to my choices, I came up with these 3 tropes in descending order:

Ice/Snow Trope:

I love levels that have a weather element to them, especially snow. The snow levels such as Sonic 3's Ice Cap Zone, Sonic Unleashed's Cool Edge and Sonic 4 Episode 2's White Park for example are all absolutely amazing to look at with the wintry white beauty. I've always found the snowboarding gimmicks to be fun too.

Carnival Trope:

I like this trope for several reasons: they are levels taking place at night, Carnival levels look amazing, brightly lit amid the dark night sky with bold beautiful, bright colors and fun playful details such as the Ferris wheels and balloons in Tropical Resort, for example. Aside from that barrel in Sonic 3's Carnival Night Zone, these levels are fun to play.

Food Trope:

I like this trope the most because it seems to be the most creative to me (not to mention I have a huge sweet tooth as well). As far as I know, Sonic Colors and Sonic Lost World are the only games to have this type of trope, but it never ceases to amaze me. Cake, cookies, candy, donuts, ice cream, cheeseburgers all being part of the level design...I continue to be most impressed with Sonic Colors' Sweet Mountain and Sonic Lost World's Des(s)ert Ruins Act 2, and how, well, delicious they look I thought this level in Sonic Colors was the most creative with loop de loops being made out of candy canes, for example. Every time I play through these levels I always see something new. I had no idea that a level design based on food would be so fun to both look at and play through!

Retro Question #3: Who is/are your favorite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

Zazz from the Deadly Six.

He is a wild, loud, obnoxious, unpredictable, short-tempered, explosive, vengeful, violent, inconsiderate, disrespectful, ruthless villain that is also funny:

There is so much going on in this cutscene, but the banter between Sonic and Zazz I found to be funny which what I admire the most about Zazz. He provides additional laughs with some of his quotes in Sonic Lost World:

~"Bring it on and I'll rip it up!"

~"He's gettin' pretty close. I'm gonna have to bring in my A game if I wanna mop the floor with his spiny butt!"

~"There's that little punk. I've been dreaming about pounding his sorry blue butt!"

~"You're going home in a box!"

These are just some of the things Zazz has said which makes him a very entertaining villain.

Even Zazz's boss fights are entertaining as he show's his wild and uncontrollable ways and continues to provide laughs via his outbursts yelling at and also taunting Sonic.

Overall Zazz's interesting and varied personality in regards to his qualities easily makes him my favorite Sonic villain aside from the awesome Doctor himself

Retro Question #4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

Being a Sonic fan since the beginning at age 7 back in 1991, I didn't have anyone aside from my younger siblings to share my love for Sonic. We would play the video games together, watch AoStH and SatAM together and draw Sonic, the SatAM cast and Knuckles all the time but aside from that, I had no one outside of my family to have fun with all things Sonic.

Then THIS HAPPENED, which caused me to leave Sonic for 15 years, only to make a totally unexpected return to the Sonic series back in 2010. Shortly after getting back into Sonic, I found the Sonic Stadium's main page and eventually I found the SSMB, which I lurked around for about a year.

Finally on Saturday, February 11, 2012 I finally took the plunge and joined the SSMB. I was a nervous wreck but I was elated to finally be around some Sonic fans other than my siblings for the first time in my life at age 28. Doing so was one of the best decisions I've ever made, mainly due to this happening in now 3 years time:

My friends, with my list growing quite a bit since the previous question! A lot of these friendships started with me just being me with me being friendly and caring in my efforts to help others out (which I really enjoy doing) for the most part. Some of these friendships have turned into incredible bonds which started mainly from a PM where I have gotten to know and befriend members here such as Verte, Dr. Crusher (whom I've gotten even more closer to since the previous question), Felix, Mysterion and just to name a few that have brought me many smiles among other things in our many pleasant conversations. New friends that I have made since this question came around includes Kool Kirb, Killtank, Steven Tyler, TCB (who was actually the first SSMB member I met IRL), Seriously I would be here all day if I was to mention everyone that I am friends with as well as why here at the SSMB.

Interestingly enough though, being a moderator here at the SSMB has opened the door to some friendships as well. Starting off with my fellow Staffmates, especially Nepenthe and Tara. These ladies are great and are so fun and pleasant to talk to as I've had the pleasure to talk to them plenty of times aside from mod stuff

I forget what moderator action I had performed, but I received a PM from skull902 thanking me for doing it. That action led to that PM which lead to a friendship that has definitely blossomed in a few months. It's not often that a mistake ends up benefiting me let alone a mistake of someone else! Especially being able to befriend this kind-hearted and friendly young man

Hi-fives (and hugs!) for all of my friends!

Even though I finally made friends within the Sonic fandom rather late in my life, it's better to have had it happen late than never, as I honestly couldn't see it any other way. I really wish some of you I could meet in real life but hanging out, interacting and having fun with you online will have to do. It's been a real honor and joy to be friends with many of you as I admire my friends a lot here, and I look forward to getting to know you all even better as well as getting new friends as well in the future as you can never have too many friends

[Strickerx5]

Day 23: Blast from *omg 4 questions...* the Past!

 

RQ 1: Do I have any plushies/ figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that I'd like to have one of?

 

I actually have had quite a few Sonic plushies and figures over the years. Going to fairs a lot back then and having relatives who only know you love Sonic will do that XD. Though, I can't say I've ever been too fond of them. I mean, I like them, but I never go out of my way to get them. I think the only time I actually put effort into getting one was the Generations Collector statue.

 

RQ 2: What are my top 3 zone tropes?

 

The first would definitely have to be ice themed. There's just something about Sonic being in an icy area that is just pleasing to the eye. I think it's the blue on blue. Add in the extra detail you can put on it (like Holaska) and it truly is a great theme.

 

Next would have to be a tropical theme. The color scheme of blue, yellow, and green have always been visually interesting to me and these sorts of levels usually have a tone of that. Also, I love the beach so there's that too. XD

 

Finally, I do love myself a good city/ urban theme. I mean really; City Escape, Spangonia, ect... there are a tone of city levels in this series that are just a blast to play.

 

RQ 3: My favorite villain besides Robotnik?

 

It would probably be (oh yeah, spoiler alert for those who haven't played Black Knight) Merlina. She just came out of no where for me and just went against the norm for the series. Not to mention her reasons for doing so being realistic and understandable as well. I seriously hope this series gets more villains like her.

 

RQ 4: In what ways have I made friends within this fanbase?

 

Well, I have been able to start up good discussions with others (some who would eventually become good friends of mine) through this series. Not to mention the people in my life who have actually played the series way before I became a fan of it that were already my friends. Though, I'd be stupid not mention all of you. I've been on this forum for about 5 years now and the community that has been here is just outstanding. Sure we have our moments but at least a dozen as many good moments. You guys are some fantastic people who I'm happy to call friends

[Covskin]

RQ1 - Plushies!

 

This hasn't changed since last year:

 

 

 

RQ2 - Zones!

 

I loves me a good Hill Zone. Emerald was my absolute jam as a kid, but add in Green being the most perfect level ever, and boom. I like my factory levels too, solidifed by Chemical Plant. Finally, Eggman's air fortresses, what with things like Egg Fleet.

 

 

RQ3 - Villains!

 

StC's Super Sonic was a glorious invention and really added a new spin on a concept that hadn't really ever been explored, or even explained. The idea that Sonic could push himself so far that he lost all self-control was brilliant, especially when it was a necessary evil at times to defeat the strongest of opponents, like Brutus for example.

 

 

RQ4 - Community!

 

All my intereactions have been through this place, and by extension, Summer of Sonic, which was a great opportunity to meet other members (as well as other Sonic fans, but the SSMB peeps were my main draw).

[Adamis]

Day 24

 

Retro Question #1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of?

 

I have some figures and plushies, yes (Sonic, Shadow, Big, Knuckles, Tails especially) and I would love to get plushies of Bark, the Chaotix, Fang, Ray, Amy, Antoine, Tekno...

 

Retro Question #2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

 

- Tropical and sunny zones like Palmtree Panic, Windmill Isle and Seaside Hill

- Ancient ruins, like Marble zone, Lost World, Hidden Palace...

- Haunted mansions, like Hang Castle/Mystic Mansion

 

Retro Question #3: Who is/are your favourite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

 

Fang. I'd like to see him return in the games, he would be a great villain for Knuckles.

 

Retro Question #4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

 

Through Deviantart and especially Sonic the Comic Online, I've met great people online, some of them are friends to me.

[Sapphire]

Day 21: Which character interactions would you like to see that aren't common?

 

I'd love to see Blaze and Knuckles interact. They both have similar duties thrust upon them with guarding their respective emeralds, and (at least with Adventure-era Knuckles because Boom destroyed Knuckles's perfect characterization) they are both somewhat subdued and both seem pretty wise. I feel like they could have some pretty interesting conversations. 

 

I'd also really like to see more Rouge and Knuckles interaction. We really haven't had much since Sonic Adventure 2, and their banter in that game is perfection! Can you guys tell that I really miss Adventure-era Knuckles yet?

 

Day 22: Which commercials are the most memorable for you?

 

I've always been a huge fan of the Sonic Adventure 2 Battle live-action hedgehog commercials. They do a perfect job at combining funny, cute, and making the game look fun and awesome. 

 

I also remember right on Sonic's 20th anniversary, I was in France for a trip. I was riding the subway and I looked down at my feet for something. Right under my foot was a full-page newspaper advert saying "Happy Birthday Sonic!" in French! I didn't pick it up because it was reeeally dirty, kinda ripped, and I wasn't about to pick up and keep trash from a subway, but I thought that was too awesome and I still remember that ad to this day.

 

 

It had a graphic somewhat like this one. ^

[Forte-Metallix]

Day 23: Birthday Throwback:

 

1) My plushies/figures I have/want: I have plushies of the classic versions of Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Metal Sonic. And I have nearly every Jazwares Sonic figure, plus some from the Tomy Boom line.

 

I would really like to have action figures of the Archie post-SGW Freedom Fighters, but, y'know, licensing rights. I also don't have the Boom!Amy or Sticks figures yet because I'm hoping Tomy will rerelease them with their weapons.

 

2) My favorite three Zone tropes: Grassy Hills because of their sereneness and legacy, City for the hustle-and-bustle tone, and Eggman bases because of their variety and challenges.

 

3) My favorite non-Robotnik villain: Aside from Fleetway!Super Sonic and good bad ol' Metallix, I've grown fond of Naugus. His voice in SatAM was delightfully creepy, and I love how he rose to power in the pre-SGW timeline through manipulation and brainwashing. He'd be a great politician in our world!

 

4) How have I made friends through Sonic: Right here, of course! Throughout my life, I had never met people who share my love for the Blue Blur. When I started college, I found this website and became enthralled by the amount of creativity and acceptance. Then, just a little over a year ago, I built up the courage to join. As soon as I introduced myself, I was bombarded with warm welcomes and great jokes!

 

You guys are like another family to me. You've all been there for me through the good times and the bad. Whether it's playing Mario Kart 8 against Ryan, watching movies with Felix, or seeing the latest masterpiece by Spin Attaxx, I can't even begin to count the number of fond memories I've had here. 

 

Thanks, everyone. You're all WAY PAST COOL!

[-blank-]

Well, a blast from the past eh? I can dig.

 

So...

 

 

Retro Question 1:

 

At one point I had plushies of Sonic, Tails, and Shadow. Then my dogs got to them. =/ That said, I'd like to have another Sonic plush one of these days.

 

Retro Question 2:

 

Top three favorite zone tropes? It's probably changed from last year, but my current favorites are;

 

Snow/Ice Tropes: I'm a fan of winter and snow so these ones are a given for me. My favorite level in this trope is Sonic Advance 2's Ice Paradise. I love how it's a bit more tech-based than other levels of this style and the music sounds like it belongs in a Christmas song. xD

 

Flying Fortress Tropes: I've always liked the way these ones looked. Out of all the fortresses that Eggman's had over the years, these tend to look the coolest. Sonic and Knuckles Flying Battery's a favorite of mine in this trope.

 

City Tropes: In my opinion, there's nothing like racing through a city with all those giant skyscrapers in the background. I have a fondness for Skycraper Scamper from Sonic Unleashed. Shame that it was only in the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game.

 

Retro Question 3:

 

Favorite villain other than Eggman? Merlina. I find her rather original and I like how she's not inherently evil - she's just trying to make the kingdom she loves last longer, but she's going at it that completely wrong way. I'm also kind of a fan of Fang. I really want him to return someday.

 

Retro Question 4:

 

Why, through forums like these! I still think I need to reach out to more people here, as I don't talk to many people though. I aim to change that one of these days.

[PickleBrows]

Day 23: Retro Questions

 

1. Plushies/Figures

 

I do currently own various Jazzwares figures including the three 10 inch figures, the minifigures by F4F and the Sonic Nendoroid. I'm not planning on getting any more any I'm actually hoping to off load many of them soon once I figure out how. Never the Nendoroid though, couldn't do that.

 

2. Favourite level types

 

Tropical - It's a theme that's not used often and I really do like the added flavour it has over the typical grass type. Frog Forest from Heroes was always a favourite for me.

 

Beach - We haven't had an original beach level really since 06 but I do enjoy these levels. It's a weird mixture of escapism and the relaxed feeling you get at the seaside that makes these work for me.

 

Fleet - To clarify, that's air fleets so Sky Fortress and Egg fleet. I like how these levels signify the beginning of the end. Your goal is in sight but you've still got mountains to climb.

 

3. Favourite Villains

 

Probably Metal Sonic. I've always liked his sinister demeanour and it's always fun seeing him and Sonic go at it with each other.

 

4. In what ways have you made friends within the fanbase?

 

Cards on the table, I don't actually know. I don't often interact with people outside of the statuses and topics. I could probably disappear from here for several months and people likely wouldn't notice. 

 

However, this year's been pretty nice. The game nights are always a laugh, Felix is always up to Smash shenanigans and I've talked to one or two people privately about personal issues they've been having, hopefully it helped in some way. All these extended interactions have been great and I'm certainly hoping for more in the future.

 

That said, I love reading people's daily posts around here. There's some great banter to be had and it's nice to be a part of it.

[Vertekins]

Day 23: Retro Questions

 

1. Plushies/Figures I have or want.

 

Ha, I have SOOOOO many!

 

My figures? I'll let the photos do the talking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plush toys?

 

 

 

2. Favourite level types

 

 

3. Ice-themed levels

 

There's always been a pretty consistent thing about icy zones. Their music is consistently amazing. In particular, Cool Edge Night is my fave song in the entire series.

 

But then that's only one single aspect as to why icy stages are amongst my absolute favorite. These kinds of stages tend to have the most awesome meldings of settings. I mean...

 

- Icecap changes from snowboarding down hills to going into an ice crystal-composed cavern to eventually leading you outside where it's snowing lightly and there's glaciers in the background.

- SA's Icecap is effectively Sonic 3's Icecap in reverse

- Ice Mountain melds snowy hills with underwater gameplay

- Ice Paradise is a cool combination of ice and city

- Twinkle Snow is like a more fantasy-ish take on Ice Mountain.

- Holoska has cool running on water segments not to mention the bobsleigh.

 

2. Forest/Jungle theme

 

Can't help but love these bountiful natural green wonderlands.

 

They're often graphically-lush and have the best musical themes. They also tend to show how well the Sonic series shows-off it's contrast to it's famous industrial Eggman bases as well. Makes me somewhat contemplate one of the things that Sonic is fighting for and why Eggman must be stopped.

 

But yeah, I love Sonic 1's Game Gear's Jungle Zone. I've always found the way Angel Island zone turns from lush to blazing quite the change of pace, White Jungle was one of the most atmospheric stages in SA2 next to Lost Colony and Frog Forest had an interesting gimmick in the form of the rain-summoning frogs.

 

1 - Urban/City-themed levels

 

These stages tend to be really stylish ways of showing-off Sonic's speed. Speed Highway was amazing at showcasing Adventure the first time it was ever revealed and lived up to that in the final product. City Escape is IMO the best first level in any 3D Sonic game because it's such a great opening to the game and it's seriously cool how Sonic Team USA took influences from their surroundings at the time.

 

This theme also plays extremely well with the futuristic theme too. The Riders series shows this off most aptly and I only wish that 'Futuristic City' was a more common level trope in the main series. Grand Metropolis and Power Plant in Heroes were good at doing this.

 

3. Favourite non-Eggman Villain

 

Erazor Djinn. Easily.

 

Total badass. Very powerful, very competent and incredibly evil. Literally the only things that stopped this guy was his own lamp and even then, the only way in which Sonic dealt with him after his Darkspine form couldn't truly finish him was to use his own magic against him, which in itself is a testament to the immensity of his power.

 

Everything about Erazor's scheme and mannerisms were totally diabolical from emotional manipulation of his previous lover/friend to blackmailing someone else to do his dirty work on pain of death to summoning a robotic monstrosity from the very bowels of hell to expand upon his dirty work. Did I mention how he showed absolutely zero remorse for murdering Shahra and even went to the lengths of kicking the dog by mocking her power as a "Mere genie of the ring" after he did so?

 

Erazor is pretty unique as a villain in that he showed absolutely no desire to repent and had the audacity to be defiant right to the very end both in his efforts to resist fulfilling Sonic's wishes to the way he tries to goad Shahra into defending him when Sonic has condemned him to his prison. His plot to gain the World Rings were beneficial to him on both counts - Get Sonic to deliver him the goods by cursing him with an eventually fatal curse under the pretense that he'll remove the curse if this prerequisite is fulfilled when he has every intention of killing him and if Sonic refuses, let him die anyway. He accomplishes this Morton's Fork in just the 2nd cutscene.

 

Take heed Mephiles; This is what evil and competence really looks like.

 

4. In what ways have you made friends within the fanbase?

 

Most of the time I get PM's and just click with others so very naturally. I've met many of my fan friends offline such as Roareye, Lucky, Hogfather, Crusher, Lister, Moonlight Silence and more, been priviledged to meet the aqauintances of these fine, friendly people

 

I also have numerous friends on Tumblr as well whom I clicked with.

[Kaze no Klonoa]

Before it's too late.....

 

Day 21: Klonoa' seriously late on this thing

 

So what interesting character interactions would I like to see more often? It seems weird, but I want to see more character action between the G.U.N. and Sonic (And pals). The G.U.N. agency has it's ups and downs apparently, from chasing after Sonic because they can't tell that he obviously looks different from Shadow, to Sonic apparently fighting alongside a G.U.N. bot (And promptly being defeated) by Shadow in Shadow The Hedgehog. Beyond that, I want to see more interaction between this group of militia and the hedgehog (And pals). G.U.N.'s urgency and utmost force would be a much more interesting side-by-side clash with Sonic's calm and spirited objectives.

 

Day 22: Radio Shack! The Sanic Commercial.

 

This commercial in particular is something I remember seeing a lot back in 2008.

 

 

I dunno, isn't it silly that the kid instantly turns into some weird monster hybrid? I guess the reason why it's so memorable is because of how many times I've seen the commercial. Of course I wasn't interested in Sonic at the time, but I was interesting picking it up. Never really got around it though, I wonder why >_<

 

Other runner ups are the Sonic Colors and Generations commercials. I also remembered seeing this commercial online for Sonic Heroes:

 

 

It's pretty cute actually.

[Ratcicle King]

Question(s) #23

 

Retro Question #1: No, I really don't have any, tho' I'd love to own a Sonic one, just to have it standing around somewhere in my gaming table, you know, just make it looka bit more alive. Maybe a Sonic Amiibo in the near future.

 

Retro Question #2: Final Levels like Scrap Brain or Metropolis, which just show how Eggman's done quite a number to the habitat he used as his base, Lava Stages if only for how pretty they can get if done right, like Lava Reef, and Stormy Levels, since they give an epic vibe, even better before a big battle, like Final Fortress and Thundercloud Acropolis.

 

Retro Question #3: Pretty obvious at this point, Zavok xD

 

Retro Question #4: Two of my best friends I met on a Sonic forum, I think 5 years ago. Doesn't seem like much but it is, belive me. And I managed to convert at least two more great friends of mine into Sonic fans too, meaning we became a lot more closer and had a lot more to discuss, so the frachise in general gave me two great friends and brought me closer to some other already great friends.

And obviously, this forum, I might not have a lot of SPECIFIC friends, but just having this conglomerate of people to discuss all sorts of subjects, make events and joke around is always great and so much fun.

[...]

Question #20: Your top ten (or less) Sonic cutscenes?

 

5) Sonic saving everyone in the Subspace Emissary

 

 

For anybody who played Brawl, you had to admit this cutscene was made of pure, unadulterated awesome. Sonic saving the Smash Brothers from certain death at the hands of Tabuu is just poignant to me, and even tho' Live and Learn doesn't actually play during this scene as edited into the video, it just makes it even better.

 

4) Sonic vs. The Dark Queen

 

 

When I first got Black Knigh when it came out, I was set aback from how serious this cutscene was in tone, especially for a Sonic game. Merlina mercilessly kicking Sonic's sorry ass along with Caliburn's blade being mostly cut off was honestly a bit scary for me. But the main reason I love this cutscene is how Sonic shows how truly courageous he is, refusing to back down and fighting for what's truly right. It's really sad how this was Griffith's last voice performance, because he did an absolutely great job in this and game in Unleashed.

 

3) Sonic Riders' opening sequence

 

 

I gushed about this in another post, time to do this again. I adore this intro, and it got me pumped to play the game every time I booted up my GameCube to play Sonic Riders after school. Good times, they were. Beautiful animation and visuals, with the rockin' awesome theme Sonic Speed Riders blasting in the background just makes it a winner in my book, it's an adrenaline rush that lasts for two minutes, but it's a great intro to a great game.

 

2) Sonic '06's opening sequence

 

 

Brilliant way to start off what would end up being the outright worst Sonic game, but there's still a lot to be appreciated in this. For anybody who's going into the game blind, they'd easily think they'd be in for something great, and for good reason. With the breathtaking animation and perfect use of music, action and suspense, it's quite possibly the only remotely "Sonic" thing in this game. Sonic creating a whirlwind and coming in with his usual snark ("Hey, that's a pretty snazzy performance there!") is just awesome, and don't get me started on the part where he tips one of Eggman's robots off the edge with his foot.

 

1) Sonic Unleashed's ending

 

 

Sonic Unleashed is my favorite Sonic game out there, and the ending is one of the many reasons as to why. Sonic is brought back on the Earth's surface, left with only a bracelet worn by Chip. Chip's left to sleep for another million years in Earth's core with Dark Gaia, but not without leaving some quite touching parting words to Sonic. I just adore this ending, it tugs at the heartstrings and puts a thoroughly exhilarating experience to a pleasing close. I get chills every time The World Adventure theme swells once Sonic looks at the sunset, and promptly goes to do what he does best: run. I really like how the last shots focused on Sonic running along with Tails in his Tornado, because we know the two will be around the corner for a new adventure.

 

 

Question #21: Which character interactions would you like to see that aren't common?

 

Knuckles and the Chaotix. Yes, I know Knuckles Chaotix' was indeed a thing, but nobody talked in that game and they were banded together just because. Hell, in Heroes where the Chaotix finally made their big return, Knuckles and the team barely made any sort of interaction, a gaping discrepancy if there was one. It'd be awesome to see Knuckles and Vector butt heads especially, since the similarities in their personalities would make for some nice interactions.

 

Question #22: Which commercials are the most memorable for you?

 

 

 

 

The commercials for Sonic Adventure 2: Battle where they had the real-life hedgehogs in "auditions", they never fail to get a chuckle out of me. The guy blaring through his megaphone trying to get the hedgehogs to meet his expectations is hilarious and adorable at the same time, especially since they keep running around the room in places where they shouldn't be. I'd link a video, but I already linked five above. ;_;

 

Question #23: ...?

 

Retro Question #1: Do you have any plushies/figures of any Sonic characters, and/or are there any Sonic characters that you'd LIKE to have a plushie/figure of?

 

I don't know if this counts, but I had that Sonic hat for a while that came for free for those who pre-ordered Sonic Colors at GameStop. I've lost it, so sadly, I don't own any sort of Sonic memorabilia. However, what I do want is this bad boy:

 

 

Such great build quality, and I love me some Classic Sonic. Nendoroid's figures are always top notch, and I wouldn't mind nabbing this one day.

 

Retro Question #2: What are your top three zone types/tropes/etc in general?

 

1) Outer space

 

C'mon, space. The final frontier. I love me some space levels in my Sonic games. Some prominent examples include Starlight Carnival and Final Rush, mostly because of their stunning visuals and creative level design. There's just something exhilarating about running at high speeds in space.

 

2) Tropical island

 

Pretty much any opening level of nearly any Sonic game in existence has this trope, so you probably know what I'm talking about. Ever since Green Hill, most levels that use this trope have never lost their charm, especially with downright beautiful stages such as Seaside Hill and Windmill Isle.

 

3) Deserts

 

Okay, I know a lot of people aren't fond of deserts (or underwater) for that matter, but I still love 'em. Sandopolis, Arid Sands and Sand Oasis for life. <3

 

Retro Question #3: Who is/are your favourite villain(s)... APART from Robotnik?

 

Metal Sonic. Not only does he have a kickass design, but I like the general gist of him: an aggressive, even somewhat bloodthirsty robot that wants to prove that he is the true Sonic. Say all what you want about his portrayal in Heroes, but to see him orchestrate the entire plot himself and even come damn close to defeating Sonic & co. deserves at least some sort of admiration on his part. I'd kinda like to see him take a bigger role in the main series, especially since the villain has been just Eggman for the most part.

 

Retro Question #4: In what way(s) have you made friends within the Sonic fanbase?

 

Well for one, one way I've made friends within the Sonic fanbase is joining the Sega Forums, and eventually coming here. I've met some of my best internet friends on SSMB due to my passion for Sonic, and I'll always be thankful for that.

 

 

 

 

[Dr. Crusher]

~SSMB Has Cleared Querical Retro Quadrilogy Act 23!~

 

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." - Bob the Builder, You Can Fix Anything A.K.A. Toot Toot Lofty Warrior (200 BC)

 

Question #24: What was your most intense or nerve-wracking IN-GAME moment(s)?

 

This is the worst time to forget which buttons you configured for your emulator.

 

How good or how bad you are/have been at a game doesn't matter. We all have those one or two moments in which our minds were racing, anxious to prevent our player character from meeting their maker, bracing ourselves for the escape sequence we already knew was coming, planning ahead on how to avoid the pit in Mystic Cave, getting that last U.F.O. in the sixth Special Stage before time runs out, or doing everything you could to get a new record, and thensome. These moments can often become infamous to the person even for years on end, but not always. Nevertheless, can you recall the moment(s) that put your mind in a perhaps ironically focused frenzy, however big or small the moment in question may have been?

 

NOTE: It might be easy to get the wrong idea due to the wording of the question (and the image used for this one I guess), but this question is not about what you find scary or creepy in the games, so try not to get it mixed up. ^^;; Unless this is part of why the moment in question was tense for you of course, in which case, you're in the clear.

 

Crusher's Thoughts: This is probably going to sound really stupid, but the one that comes to mind for me is none other than the moving wall sequence in Sonic 3 & Knuckles' Hydrocity Act 2. Yeah, it's easy for me to overcome now, and even back then, I did usually get past it, but still, all I was thinking when I was younger was Great scott, the wall is moving, I need to get a move on, but I can't spin dash up to that platform quick enough oh no I can see it coming drat that spring pushed me back I need to hurry no no no nononononoit'sgettingcloserit'sgettingcloserifonlyImadebetterlifechoices. So yeah, I remained on-edge about that part for a while.

 

Sonic the Hedgehog 2's Death Egg Robot is another example for me, albeit in a different way. During my younger days, simply getting to the final boss was a rarity due to Young Me often cocking up in the Wing Fortress, so whenever I actually got to fight the guy, the pressure was on me even moreso to not screw up now. Not when I'm this close to beating the game.

 

So with that out of the way, you may now post awaaaaaayyyy!~

[FriendBot]

I'm gonna go with the original with the Dark Gaia bossfight.

 

Just everything about the build-up to this fight is great in every way. From Sonic losing his Werehog form to him going Super. The bossfight wasn't too bad either (PS2 version guys) but the pressure was on with the final phase with Super Sonic. That music defintely helped set the mood.

 

Dark Gaia is probably the most epic bossfight in Modern Sonic games and I like Unleashed for that and many other reasons!

 

Still haven't played Unleashed HD. X(

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Question #24: What was your most intense or nerve-wracking IN-GAME moment(s)?

 

No doubt, the 50x button-mash required to defeat Perfect Dark Gaia. Every time I tried to do this, I felt an immense amount of pressure and fear, my hands increasingly hurting each time I attempted the QTE, so much that I even had to wear gloves. I had to attempt it nearly ten times until I finally pulled it off. Seriously, having a giant laser fired at you and having to repel it in such a short frame of time was not like a walk in the park. I'd even think Perfect Dark Gaia was a very frightening boss in general, fighting an eldritch abomination under the Earth's core and all. Seeing Dark Gaia attacking Chip's Colossus every time I approached him hurt my heart, too. ;_;