Classic Sonic Thread

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

I was just reminded that I recorded this. The single worst audio bug I’ve ever seen from one of my own games. It was a bad pin connection between Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles.

 

[Ikagura]

Still the 2d era.

I don't think there's a proper "2D era" but in the same time Advance is featuring Modern Sonic.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Triplets.

 

[Ikagura]

I'm maybe biased but I like the European box art for Sonic 1

I do agree that the pink/beige may look a bit girly/too light for the eyes they did a great choice by keeping the Japanese designs for Sonic and Robotnik in the background.

I'm probably weird but while I absolutely despite the "mohawk quills" design of American Sonic (seen there)

I also don't really like the random shapes and colours of the Japanese one despite their popularity

I would've loved to see Green Hills from the US one with JP Sonic's design. The European one is probably the closest to what I wanted to see with the game's cover.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

I'm maybe biased but I like the European box art for Sonic 1
View attachment 61331

I do agree that the pink/beige may look a bit girly/too light for the eyes they did a great choice by keeping the Japanese designs for Sonic and Robotnik in the background.

I'm probably weird but while I absolutely despite the "mohawk quills" design of American Sonic (seen there)
View attachment 61332

I also don't really like the random shapes and colours of the Japanese one despite their popularity
View attachment 61335

I would've loved to see Green Hills from the US one with JP Sonic's design. The European one is probably the closest to what I wanted to see with the game's cover.

Yeah, the PAL cover is the best one. I think the U.S. cover has the best composition, but the PAL cover IS Sonic. I can’t speak much on it being “too girly” because nowadays I put next to no stock in such a criticism, even if it does influence the decision making of people who are too worried about being judged. I just think it looks nice!


Never cared for any of the Japanese covers outside of CD and up until Jam. Jam, being a compilation, makes sense to have the jumble of shapes and colors. I’ve always disliked the earlier covers because I think the character art and the shapes clash, whereas the Jam art doesn’t for some reason? It’s weird, but it’s how I feel.

 

[Ikagura]

Yeah, the PAL cover is the best one. I think the U.S. cover has the best composition, but the PAL cover IS Sonic. I can’t speak much on it being “too girly” because nowadays I put next to no stock in such a criticism, even if it does influence the decision making of people who are too worried about being judged. I just think it looks nice!

Too bad the PAL version of Sonic is so slow (50 Hz for the win!). Composition as in Green Hill Zone right?

I mean girly as in the 90's standard. If they chose another colour (maybe greenish to showcase nature?) it would've probably been better.

Never cared for any of the Japanese covers outside of CD and up until Jam. Jam, being a compilation, makes sense to have the jumble of shapes and colors. I’ve always disliked the earlier covers because I think the character art and the shapes clash, whereas the Jam art doesn’t for some reason? It’s weird, but it’s how I feel.

I think they scream 90's but I prefer non abstract covers in my games personally

CD is good but I prefer the background of 3 showcasing Angel Island.

I absolutely love the Saturn era artworks though

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Too bad the PAL version of Sonic is so slow (50 Hz for the win!). Composition as in Green Hill Zone right?

I mean girly as in the 90's standard. If they chose another colour (maybe greenish to showcase nature?) it would've probably been better.


I think they scream 90's but I prefer non abstract covers in my games personally
View attachment 61343

CD is good but I prefer the background of 3 showcasing Angel Island.

I absolutely love the Saturn era artworks though
View attachment 61344

I was thinking more of this cover for CD.

So beautiful. This thing is absolutely incredible, and walking past it on a shelf, I’d certainly check it out. But, for that kind of moment, I have to give flowers to the PAL cover.
It has less detail than the JP cover, yes, and it’s less of an art piece you look at continuously, but in the moment, I can imagine walking past this in the store and, whether it’s Metal Sonic’s eyes or the face of Sonic, I’ll take a moment to pick it up and look at it.

 

[Ikagura]

I was thinking more of this cover for CD.

View attachment 61353
So beautiful. This thing is absolutely incredible, and walking past it on a shelf, I’d certainly check it out. But, for that kind of moment, I have to give flowers to the PAL cover.View attachment 61354
It has less detail than the JP cover, yes, and it’s less of an art piece you look at continuously, but in the moment, I can imagine walking past this in the store and, whether it’s Metal Sonic’s eyes or the face of Sonic, I’ll take a moment to pick it up and look at it.

Oh right, I forgot the PAL cover was like that.

Sonic being closer to Metal is also better.

 

[Tonberry]

Idk if these has already been asked here but I'm curious.
Am I the only one who prefers the US soundtrack in Sonic CD over the JP one? Both have great tunes but I always liked the US one more in general.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

But, for U.S. covers, Sonic 3 and Knuckles are second to none.

I remember drawing a recreation this cover myself with crayons when I was ten. I was in love with it. Sure, you can complain about character stylings, but it’s so dense and full. I absolutely adore everything about it. And just when you thought it wouldn’t get better…

This is my favorite Sonic cover, one of my favorite game covers, one of the best covers I’ve ever seen. Black background, red Genesis logo, beautiful yellow glow, all accompanying THAT LOGO.

I’ve wanted a shirt of this for years. I know they sell them, so I’ll get one someday. It’s perfect. I dream of a T-shirt of the logo on the front, “WELCOMETOTHENEXTLEVEL” on the back, and the game logo on the sleeve.

 

[NotGodlike]

thought it wouldn’t get better…View attachment 61357
This is my favorite Sonic cover, one of my favorite game covers, one of the best covers I’ve ever seen. Black background, red Genesis logo, beautiful yellow glow, all accompanying THAT LOGO.

I’ve wanted a shirt of this for years. I know they sell them, so I’ll get one someday. It’s perfect. I dream of a T-shirt of the logo on the front, “WELCOMETOTHENEXTLEVEL” on the back, and the game logo on the sleeve.

Then afterwards there's... whatever the hell this is

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Idk if these has already been asked here but I'm curious.
Am I the only one who prefers the US soundtrack in Sonic CD over the JP one? Both have great tunes but I always liked the US one more in general.

You won’t find many, but you’ve found me actually! I think Japanese OST is a better listen outside of the game, no doubt. But, when I’m playing, I think the U.S. soundtrack brings a gravity to the game that is absent from other titles in the classic series. Not to mention, it sounds absolutely LEGENDARY through a great sound system. That’s actually why the soundtrack was replaced: SOA thought the JP ost wasn’t a good enough showcase of the CD quality sound of the SEGA CD unit. They knew Sonic CD would be the biggest game for the unit in the west, so they redid the soundtrack to take better advantage of dynamic ranges for speakers.

I don’t know if I agree with that, but I think the U.S. soundtrack sounds more intense and that totally changes the vibes of the game in a way that I adore.

Post automatically merged: Apr 23, 2025

Then afterwards there's... whatever the hell this is

View attachment 61358

So, fun fact, this is actually a clay model. It existed in real life. I’ll find a photo of it and share it here in a second.

Post automatically merged: Apr 23, 2025

Looks like Super Sonic with a messed up face. Lara Croft is next to him.

 

[Tonberry]

You won’t find many, but you’ve found me actually! I think Japanese OST is a better listen outside of the game, no doubt. But, when I’m playing, I think the U.S. soundtrack brings a gravity to the game that is absent from other titles in the classic series. Not to mention, it sounds absolutely LEGENDARY through a great sound system. That’s actually why the soundtrack was replaced: SOA thought the JP ost wasn’t a good enough showcase of the CD quality sound of the SEGA CD unit. They knew Sonic CD would be the biggest game for the unit in the west, so they redid the soundtrack to take better advantage of dynamic ranges for speakers.

I don’t know if I agree with that, but I think the U.S. soundtrack sounds more intense and that totally changes the vibes of the game in a way that I adore.

Post automatically merged: Apr 23, 2025

So, fun fact, this is actually a clay model. It existed in real life. I’ll find a photo of it and share it here in a second.

Wow, didn't know that was the reason they changed it. Cool!

I'm probably a bit biased because my first exposure to Sonic as a kid was the intro to CD with the Sonic Boom song on a friend's Mega Collection game, and I still think it's the single coolest piece of Sonic media ever made.

As for the soundtrack though, there's just something so incredibly 90s about the US OST that I absolutely love. It's got all these cool rnb-like beats and choirs and groovy bass lines and I'm just all for it.

 

[NotGodlike]

So, fun fact, this is actually a clay model. It existed in real life. I’ll find a photo of it and share it here in a second.

Post automatically merged: Apr 23, 2025

View attachment 61361
Looks like Super Sonic with a messed up face. Lara Croft is next to him.

So basically in Europe they decided to figure a full on clay model for a box art?
I wonder why there specifically, but, that's certainly interesting... Even if a little weird lol

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Wow, didn't know that was the reason they changed it. Cool!

I'm probably a bit biased because my first exposure to Sonic as a kid was the intro to CD with the Sonic Boom song on a friend's Mega Collection game, and I still think it's the single coolest piece of Sonic media ever made.

As for the soundtrack though, there's just something so incredibly 90s about the US OST that I absolutely love. It's got all these cool rnb-like beats and choirs and groovy bass lines and I'm just all for it.

Have you heard this? Absolutely amazing work here!

 

[Ikagura]

Idk if these has already been asked here but I'm curious.
Am I the only one who prefers the US soundtrack in Sonic CD over the JP one? Both have great tunes but I always liked the US one more in general.

I like some of the US tracks but they don't fit Sonic that much, same with 3D Blast's Saturn OST.

Then afterwards there's... whatever the hell this is

View attachment 61358

Funny 90's CGI lol.

But I'll be honest, I'd take that over the same Sonic model render used in 3D sonic games since Unleashed. I'm tired of seeing that same face on every major release, even Frontiers has a cool cover but the same model...

 

[NotGodlike]

But I'll be honest, I'd take that over the same Sonic model render used in 3D sonic games since Unleashed. I'm tired of seeing that same face on every major release, even Frontiers has a cool cover but the same model...

Aww, don't tell me you don't like this one smugly looking same model of Sonic who surely won't come into your house

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

I like some of the US tracks but they don't fit Sonic that much, same with 3D Blast's Saturn OST.


Funny 90's CGI lol.

But I'll be honest, I'd take that over the same Sonic model render used in 3D sonic games since Unleashed. I'm tired of seeing that same face on every major release, even Frontiers has a cool cover but the same model...

Agreed! It’s a different model, but the DESIGN hasn’t changed. And it sucks! It’s the design I grew up with too, so there’s no bias here. In this era of stylized games and films, it would be great to see a return to the “graffiti” style for Sonic that Uwekawa established back in the late 90’s. I think, with current tech, such art could be done justice in-game!

 

[Tonberry]

Have you heard this? Absolutely amazing work here!

Man that's sick.
This one was always my favorite.

EDIT: Oops, linked the wrong one at first!

I like some of the US tracks but they don't fit Sonic that much, same with 3D Blast's Saturn OST.

Yeah I guess it depends on when you were introduced to it. I had only played like, a bit of 1, 2 and 3 before I played CD so my frame of reference was pretty narrow, and that's probably why I think US CD fits, since it's a sound I like without it "interfering" with what Sonic is (to me).

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Aww, don't tell me you don't like this one smugly looking same model of Sonic who surely won't come into your house

View attachment 61364

Not gonna lie, I do actually want this guy if it’s the Alton Towers statue from the time of the Sonic’s Spinball (no relation to the game) ride.

 

[Tonberry]

holy shit lmao

 

[Ikagura]

Agreed! It’s a different model, but the DESIGN hasn’t changed. And it sucks! It’s the design I grew up with too, so there’s no bias here. In this era of stylized games and films, it would be great to see a return to the “graffiti” style for Sonic that Uwekawa established back in the late 90’s. I think, with current tech, such art could be done justice in-game!

Maybe some older (and newer) fans don't like that 90's style of graffiti but I think it gave Sonic a proper identity rather than having a generic 3D model.

I loved the SA1 one. Shame how awful DX' looked on the other hand.

Speaking of Uewaka and 3D Blast again:

The Japanese release on the Saturn came in '99 so it had that Classic/Adventure mix

 

[Tonberry]

Maybe some older (and newer) fans don't like that 90's style of graffiti but I think it gave Sonic a proper identity rather than having a generic 3D model.

I loved the SA1 one. Shame how awful DX' looked on the other hand.

Speaking of Uewaka and 3D Blast again:

The Japanese release on the Saturn came in '99 so it had that Classic/Adventure mix
View attachment 61371

It feels to me a bit like it's the fate of every IP that lives a long time.
It's inevitable that the ages of experimenting fade away once you find the "perfect" brand-friendly version and then it'll take ages to claw out of that pit and be expressive again. It's a shame, really.

It happened with Mario too, and only the like last two years have they begun trying small but new changes to the identity.

Sonic is pretty intrinsically 90s to me. There was always a touch of "wildness" to his image.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Maybe some older (and newer) fans don't like that 90's style of graffiti but I think it gave Sonic a proper identity rather than having a generic 3D model.

I loved the SA1 one. Shame how awful DX' looked on the other hand.

Speaking of Uewaka and 3D Blast again:

The Japanese release on the Saturn came in '99 so it had that Classic/Adventure mix
View attachment 61371

Fun fact: you will never own this version of the game.

I mean, you may, but you shouldn’t. It came out in 1996 in other regions, but didn’t hit the JP Saturn until 1999. At that point, all eyes were on Dreamcast, and combined with the game being what it is, and Sonic’s popularity in the region being lower, it just didn’t make it. As such, it’s somewhat rare in the Japanese library (still was mass produced, but it’s definitely uncommon) and so the price is darn high. Thankfully, Sonic Adventure came along and, from what I know, was quite the hit in the region. Japanese Sonic fans seem to lean heavily on Adventure as their nostalgia game, and I can’t blame them. It’s darn cool and fun!

Post automatically merged: Apr 23, 2025

It feels to me a bit like it's the fate of every IP that lives a long time.
It's inevitable that the ages of experimenting fade away once you find the "perfect" brand-friendly version and then it'll take ages to claw out of that pit and be expressive again. It's a shame, really.

It happened with Mario too, and only the like last two years have they begun trying small but new changes to the identity.

Sonic is pretty intrinsically 90s to me. There was always a touch of "wildness" to his image.

I think you can take that “wildness” and adapt it to the cool of today. Don’t follow modern trends: the series is big enough that it can BE the trend setter. If it wanted to, it could do something radical, and it would kick up a mighty storm online yes, but I have faith that it could pull it off. Especially in art. Gameplay has always varied with Sonic, but the aesthetics of the series have always been top notch, and are frequently the saving grace of games that I would otherwise dismiss.

*glances over at Battle, Advance 3, Zero Gravity, and Secret Rings*

 

[Ikagura]

It feels to me a bit like it's the fate of every IP that lives a long time.
It's inevitable that the ages of experimenting fade away once you find the "perfect" brand-friendly version and then it'll take ages to claw out of that pit and be expressive again. It's a shame, really.

It happened with Mario too, and only the like last two years have they begun trying small but new changes to the identity.

Sonic is pretty intrinsically 90s to me. There was always a touch of "wildness" to his image.

That's weird because Mario is still iconic and timeless looking.

And he's even better with the Switch and even Switch 2 era with how he looks in Mario Wonders and the upcoming Mario Kart World.

Mario evolves to become better over the years while Sonic is still in a constant identity crisis for over a decade and a half.

Sonic is intrinsically 90's in his themes but 2010's Sonic has little to nothing to do with 90's Sonic. Even his Adventure/Dark Age (Sonic Heroes to 2006) design was radically different from Classic and the Current Modern one.

Fun fact: you will never own this version of the game.

I mean, you may, but you shouldn’t. It came out in 1996 in other regions, but didn’t hit the JP Saturn until 1999. At that point, all eyes were on Dreamcast, and combined with the game being what it is, and Sonic’s popularity in the region being lower, it just didn’t make it. As such, it’s somewhat rare in the Japanese library (still was mass produced, but it’s definitely uncommon) and so the price is darn high. Thankfully, Sonic Adventure came along and, from what I know, was quite the hit in the region. Japanese Sonic fans seem to lean heavily on Adventure as their nostalgia game, and I can’t blame them. It’s darn cool and fun!

Is there a reason why 3D Blast and Sonic Underground both were Classic styled yet happened after Adventure?

I think the whole Modern Sonic idea is merely a big retcon whereas back when he came out with a new design Sonic was still the same guy.