Underground is Better than Sat Am (Part 3)

Pre-Robotnik (Sat AM)

Origin Plots

Sonic Underground dedicated a not only it's theme song, but three episodes to explaining the Hedgehog's "beginnings." Sat Am expanded from it's original explanation (in it's pilot) as well, featuring a great deal of what happened in an important 2-parter. 

Brief Comparison

In Sonic the Hedeghog, Dr. (Julian, in this 'verse) Robotnik tricks his way into power and promptly takes over. King Acorn is thrown into the "void." Sonic's Uncle Chuck has a startling confession--he designed the Robotisizer. It was supposed to help Mobians, but in Robotnik's hands it became a tool of evil. The young Freedoms Fighters--little kids at the time--narrowly escaped to Knothole.

In Sonic Underground, Robotnik's take-over was for-told to Queen Aleena, Sonic's mother. She was given a chance to protect herself and her children, but it meant separating from them. They were destined to reunite and stop Robotnik, but she can not make contact with them until the right time.

Each hedgehog was raised in a different background and saw a different side to Robotnik's rule. They found each other, but their guardians would all be robotized. Sonic already had ties to the resistance, and the other two joined "the freedom fight." The three vowed to find their mother and stop Robotnik. 

So...

Underground's plot is a bit more complicated, expanding on the Mobius seen in Sat Am. It also took the time to show the characters "getting to know" each other while in Sat Am they are all already friends. While I find Sat Am's episode interesting and comical, it's hard to believe Sonic wouldn't recognize himself or older Sally. Just as a personal preference, I also preferred Jaleel White voicing younger Sonic (in Underground) rather than a different voice (Sat Am).

Surprisingly, I also think it was generally "darker" than Sat Am, mainly for when Sonic's adoptive parents are taken to be robotisized and Sonic comes back to find the house in flames.

Usually I prefer sci-fi over fantasy, and Underground's defiantly incorporates more fantasy elements. The Sat Am version certainly has it's points, too. Still, Underground showed more changes in the characters from who they were to who they are now. Plus they created an emotional tie that out does Sally and her father's. Despite the differences, Underground has more impact.