Sonic Live in Sydney (Album) Review

  

Details

"Sonic Live in Sydney" was a musical preformed in "SegaWorld Sydney," an an amusement park closed four years after opening. Sonic was oddly featured with blue arms and Sally (from the "Sat Am" cartoon) was also featured in a lot of merchandise. The musical featured costumed actors of Sonic, Robotnik, Tails, and Sally, but it was later replaced with a puppet show. Knuckles appears on the CD for promotional purposes, not being a part of the storyline. Where Robotnik kidnaps Sally, falls in love with her, and Sonic knocks Robotnik out with a sleeping potion. This is a very obscure and odd piece of Sonic history.  

 

Summary

The disc features three original songs and then the performance. 

The beginning of "What are we waiting for " sounds like it steals the tune something, I just can't think of it! Regardless, it's...something. There are points when it becomes pretty obvious "Sonic" is a female. Eventually when it gets to the chorus, it is actually catchy, and no less cheesy than the Sat Am opening. 

"Give Me Chaos" has a "Monster Mash" quality to it, with Robotnik's narration. Kind of amusing but worse. The next song, "Thank You for Being You," is even worse than that. It's very 90s ish, and kinda' makes "My Sweet Passion" seem like a master piece. It could be cute, but it's overly drawn-out. I don't think it's very "Sally."

The performance is odd story wise, but based on audio: Sonic and Robotnik's actors aren't perfect but they do a decent job at imitating their DiC cartoon voices. Impressive considering the accent differences I guess. Tails and Sally's voices are way off, though. Tails is insanely annoying and Sally's accent is confused. There are quite a bit of musical elements from the Genesis games, specifically Sonic 2, I think, but serves more as a background to the dialogue.  

  

Final Ranking: E

Um. It's not as bad as I thought, truthfully. I guess the chorus of "What are We Waiting For" is the best moment. The songs...aren't terrible, but fairly cheesy. The fourth track, "the show," is really the worst part.

As a whole...I gotta' wonder how none of this has shown up in a YTP or parody. I guess it's just that obscure. 

Is IDW Amy...Amy?

Amy Rose has come along way from being chased and carried away by robots. Character development is a good thing, yet...I don't know how I feel about IDW Amy. 

Back when the series was announced I assumed Tangle would "be the new Sally," but it soon became clear that responsibility would fall upon Sonic's other main flame: Amy. 

 Though Knuckles headed the freedom fighters resistance in Sonic Forces, Flynn never bothered trying to make Knuckles into a leader. Instead Amy became the leader of the Restoration and helped keep people together during the Zombot rein of terror saga. Currently she's helping Cream out, and...let's just say her days of pulling out a hammer whenever Sonic talks to another girl are over. 

Amy's crush evolved her into a fan-girl. She did start to grow out of this once before, but then the games flipped her back where she started. Her Sonic Boom portrayal was more mature, but that was literally a whole other world. Still, it seemed to impact her in Forces. And now IDW? 

I think that might be the problem? She acts more like Boom Amy than Amy, except Sonic knows about her crush. On the other hand, Archie Amy never really hit the fan-girl faze, usually just being too young yet more mature than her game counterpart...so maybe it's Archie Amy without Sally around...?

I liked the crazy, angry, fan-girl Amy seen in the 2000s and maybe most famously in Sonic X.  Girlish and immature, it may she may not have had the calm of a leader, but that didn't stop Cream, Cheese, and Big from helping her. Amy's peppy and sometimes crazy attitude made her unique and memorable. 

Still, I didn't mind it when games like Sonic Unleashed tried to have her grow up a bit. I don't dislike Boom Amy, either, but she seems a bit cynical or judgmental, and that wasn't really a part of her personality before. 

If Amy had flaws, it was jealously and a quick temper--neither seem prevalent in IDW. In the comics the only problem she has is second-guessing herself. She doubts herself and then pulls herself together to get whatever she needs done...but isn't that just a bit too perfect? I'd like an outburst here or there, at least, but this version of Amy always keeps her annoyance under lock and key... 

I just don't know whether to applaud Flynn for developing Amy into a smart leader (without making her a clone of Sally), or criticize him for changing a character from the start instead of letting progress come on its own (she actually assumes this new role in her first appearance). 

Let's not get started on Blaze...

Underground is Better than Sat Am (Conclusion)

He looks like a train, lol. BTW, Kath Soucie (Sally's voice) also voiced the Little Train that Could, lol

Sat Am was good for what it was, but when it comes to which Sonic cartoon is better, Sat Am falls pretty low. Sonic X had the "closer to canon" advantage of being made past games like Sonic Adventure. AoStH had a strong Sonic/Tails bond and memorable ytp moments with Robotnik, Scratch, Grounder, and Coconuts.

A lot of people did not like Underground, though. It was close to Sat Am, but that wasn't good enough. They wanted Sat Am back, and didn't get it I guess (THE COMICS WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH?!) 

Sonic Underground was different and complex, but it had advantages over Sat Am. Slight animations and visual improvements. The cast of characters were smaller but better and more focused. The origins were more in-depth. Bringing the show ever-so-slightly closer to the games. Having an epic intro, an improved plot, still fairing at it's worst.  It's "dark" moments out did Sat Am's "dark" tone, it had longer and superior episode arcs, and the episodes were more impactful.  

Sonic Underground the power to challenge the other cartoons, but Sat Am can't compete. It had less episodes, it was the second oldest, it had odd comedy and foolish characters. While it's large cast, relationships, and more dangerous Robotnik were admirable, the execution left much to be desired. It's disadvantages are simply not easy to ignore, especially with the praise the show receives from fans. 

I like Sat Am and would likely rate it above Boom and the OVA. However it's extremely overrated for what it is. Sonic X is probably overrated, too, but it deserves the attention. Sat Am created some memorable characters that had better lives in the comics. It is not nearly as spectacular as long-time fans say. 

Underground is similar to Sat Am, and I think there are hints it was supposed to be in the same universe (such as the absence of Tails). But Underground improved upon the former while giving itself new life. The singing may not have been the highlight, but Manic and Sonia fit the world of Sonic even better than Sally and the Freedom Fighters. It's a real shame it's never gotten the same affection.  

BEHOLD THE TRUE POWER I POSSESS!

Underground is better than Sat Am (Part 10)

Best/Memorable Moments

The Sat Am cartoon had some good moments, but Underground fared better overall. 

Sat Am

When I think about what was good with Sat Am, Sonic and Sally immediately come to mind. Though they didn't have an entire episode focused on their relationship, it would show up from episode to episode. In one case Sonic is talking in his sleep about the love of his life, gathering Sally's attention...until she realizes he's talking about Chilidogs. In the end they take down the Doomsday machine together. Even though Sally could get annoyed with Sonic's immature attitude, they were close and hinted at their affection for each other.  

The episodes with Uncle Chuck were surprisingly emotional and memorable as well. The Void, while an odd ball, is fascinating for revealing the fate of Sally's father as well as changing Nicole's personality. The time travelling two-parter, "Blast to the Past," is always memorable, too. 

  

Underground

It make have had some lame episodes, but the good ones easily come to mind. 

Easily one of my favorites is an episode with Manic. After finding their birth place, he finally feels the sense of "home" he never had before and wants to stay. In the sweet end, he realizes this siblings are his home. Manic also proves his worth in episodes like "Three Hedeghogs and A Baby."

Sonia has a few memorable centric episodes herself, like when she was torn between her brothers and her old lifestyle in "The Price of Freedom" and "The Last Resort." Even Bartley became less of a dXXX after Robotnik accused him of a crime he did not commit.    

In another case the group turns a (practically E-series) robot called ARRT to their side, and ARRT saves them at personal risk. Cyrus' debut is also notable. And how about the 3-parter co-staring Knuckles?   

Who can't resist when they met their egypt-ish ancestor and find he looks like Sonic? Or when they travel dimensions and find they are their own worst enemy...

Sonic's re-occurring fear of water is something that set the show apart, as well as Manic's impulse thievery and Dingo's weird crush on Sonia. 

So...

Sat Am's best moments revolved around it's characters and it's balance between serious and comedic. A lot of the episodes seemed too similar, though, and blur together. Parts of Underground were better than others, but it seemed like they tried to keep the plots more unique. In total, the risk was worth the reward because the moments in Underground pile up in comparison to Sat Am.  

Underground is Better the Sat Am (Part 9)

 Pilots and Multi-episodes

The pilots of these shows are not as strange as AoStH's or Sonic X's 2 pilots. They were just normal episodes (...as far as we know?). They both establish the basics of the shows, but Sat Am gets a few points off because...

Sally's different appearance, which...actually may have been cuter. No explanation, though, just confusion that affected the comics and Sally's color scheme in her random AoStH Christmas Blast appearance.

Let's not forget that Rotor's look randomly changes in season 2 as well. 

Also, Nicole is a bulky as heck!    

"Blast From the Past" was an awesome 2-parter. It had time travel! Sonic and Sally facing their younger-selves! Chuck, Sal's father, the surprising origins of the robotisizer! Snively with hair?!

Still, the time stones were not accurate, or the "floating island" (where's little planet?). Plus Sonic being an adult in the opening when...well...

Small problems aside, it was still a lovable 2 episodes. 

Though there wasn't one like it again, the second season did have a bit of a story-arc as they gathered what they could to fight the Doomsday Machine.

 

Underground has 3-part episodes, though, that out-do all those.

The origins saga is a bit stronger in the beginning (literally) as it shows how they met each other and set out on their quest to find there mother. The first episode is strong, but the others are flat in comparison. Still, it takes the time to explain some things, like how Manic lacks his siblings quick attacks but has the more powerful instrument.   

The next is a trio of episodes featuring Knuckles, who has returned after his initial appearance. It has some bizarre twists, like Chaos-Dingo or whatever, but the addition of Knuckles makes it a better set, even if his voice isn't the best. 

It's always hilarious interesting to see Knuckles get tricked (gotta' feeling this at least partly--along with Sonic 3 obviously--influenced Sonic X). It's also nice to see them pair Sonia up with someone who isn't a rich jXXXXXX more her speed. Adding a character from the comics was a bit odd, but he's sort of like Knuckles' version of the Oracle and fits right in. 

Conclusion

Alone I think "Blast to the Past" might be better than one of these "sagas," but together it's defiantly a win for Underground. Combined with the funny-looking pilot, and Sat Am's at a disadvantage. 

This might have been from Underground's pilot (not that different than normal).

Underground is Better than Sat Am (Part 7)

Best Worst Moments? 

What the--

Despite being made with a lower-budget, the DiC Sonic cartoons have a soft spot among fans. Some like the light-hearted, Sonic and Tails focused Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Some the more experimental Sonic Underground. But for some reason, Sonic the Hedgehog, or the "Saturday Morning" show, seems to be the most easily remembered. 

I like the cartoon, but I would not call it the best. With that in mind, I've been explaining some of the things that made Sonic Underground a better show. 

Neither were perfect, though, and this time I'm addressing some of the all-time lows for each series. 

Underground

THE SINGING

While it could be cute, for the most part the triplet's little songs were a mistake. Some, like "Fun in the Sun," seem to be random and just quickly written into the plot. Others, like "Face your Fear," just don't sound very good. And others, like "Liberty's Gonna Rock," suffer from both of these problems. 

Not all of them sucked. If memory serves me correct, the ones featuring Manic's voice faired better. And the "first" song, "Someday," is rather fitting. The best option would have been to have their band as a hobby rather than a necessity--like Sonic's band in (oh no--but yes) Sonic Boom. 

Even though music was made into a theme of the show, many times it came across as forced and awkward.  

REUSED PLOTS

The second most cringe-worthy element of Underground was when they'd "borrow" a plot from a previous show. This is most noticeable with "Sonic Tonic," but also "Who Do You Think You Are," which reuses the amnesia idea. 

DUMB TRANSFORMATIONS

In the previously mentioned "Sonic Tonic," the feet of whoever drank the "tonic" would grow into comical size. Only it's not funny, it's just stupid. Some of Dingo's shape-shifting wasn't very pretty, either.  

THEY TRIED TO KILL ROBOTNIK WITH FLOUR

Okay, that's not what happened at all. Actually, they essentially had an opportunity to take him out, but let him go. Always kinda' bugged me. 

Except for the songs, which are impossible to ignore, I'd say these worst moments weren't too bad. Still, even though the music is worthy of most of its criticism, each song was just about minute in length. Repetitive, but nonetheless a small part of the episode.  

To clarify, the main weakness was mostly the vocals/lyrics. 

Sat Am

USING POWER RINGS TO SAVE THE DAY EVERY EPISODE

Well maybe it wasn't every episode, but it sure seemed that way. It made the episodes predictable, and, unlike in Sonic X where the ring simply helped Sonic, in a lot of Sat Am episodes they were always the solution. I get that Uncle Chuck made them for Sonic, but it also seems to have other random traits whenever the plot demands it. It even helped restore Uncle Chuck for some reason. 

ADDING RANDOMS WIZARDS AND MAGIC

Sonic Underground was filled with some random fantasy storylines, usually with the Oracle character. The reason it gets a pass, though, is that its main plot already established the show with fantasy elements like a prophecy and magical medallions (talismans). 

Sonic the Hedgehog (aside from being about talking animals) was not created with the same themes. Clearly set in a dystopia, with evil robots and "future" technology like Nicole, the show leaned more into Science Fiction. Many "magical" items such as the Power Rings were inventions. Other, more mysterious powers like the "Power Stones" at least had unknown origins.

However, characters like Lazar, the Guardian, Nagus, and even the "Headless Gopher" are all extremely random and go nowhere fast. With some creative thinking, Sonic's speed could have been taken away by some new Robotnik weapon. Maybe Naugus could have been a shape-shifter rather than a sorcerer. 

Point is "magic" often came out of nowhere and was used as an lazy way to move the plot forward. The Time Stones don't resemble their in-game versions, so why even bother? Make it another invention by Uncle Chuck. Or have Rotor do something useful for a change.   

ADDING IN RANDOM DINOSAURS/DRAGONS

Hey, Underground fell victim to this one, too, when they introduced Knuckles. However, it didn't take over the plot and wasn't really memorable. 

Sat Am had a whole, fairly random episode dedicated to "terapods." Then came "Dulcy." Not just the cringe-y character, but the episode as well.  

REDUCING TAILS TO THE BABY OF THE SHOW

As mentioned before, even though Tails didn't make it into Underground, his Sat Am counterpart did not even come close to competing with the Sonic-Tails dynamic in AoStH.

Let's ignore that for now, and just look at what Tails did do on the show...

Riding in Sonic backpack, calling Sally his "aunt," having stories told to him, being ignored by his friends (even Sonic) when he thinks there is something up with Sally, playing hockey, picking flowers...

Tails was the baby of the show. While he was running alongside Sonic in Sonic 2 and even saving Sonic in some episodes of AoStH, he wasn't even considered an offical freedom fighter until near this show's end. 

What bothers me the most about Tails' role is that he's TEN. Not 8 like he is now. Not 4-5 like in AoStH. He's TEN. The oldest version of Tails (aside from the Archie Comics where he went on to be 11) yet he acts like the youngest. And, really, the others are only around 5 years older, so what makes them think they're more adult?   

 THOSE RANDOM ANTIONE EPISODES

Last time I checked, this was Sonic the Hedgehog, not Antione Depardieu. Yet strange episodes like "Hooked on Sonics," "Fed Up With Antione/Ghost Busted," and "The Odd Couple/Ro-Becca" gave the character too much screen-time for my taste. Especially "Fed Up With Antione" and "Ro-Becca," ugh.  

GRIFF

That whole episode: no. Not a good idea. 

As if Antione wasn't bad enough...

So...

Ah, well. They both had weird, annoying, and down-grading moments. Despite the mostly out-of-place singing or poorly written lyrics, I don't think Underground completely suffered. To it's credit, Sat Am wasn't completely tainted by these things, either. But it doesn't help, and I really can't stand what happened with Tails.   

 Overall I think Underground faired better than Sat Am. Least it didn't take away from who the characters were. 

Underground is Better Than Sat AM (Part 6)

Plot 

In Part 3, I discussed the origins of both the "triplets" of Sonic Underground and "the freedom fighters" of Sonic the Hedgehog ("Saturday Morning"). I explained that while Underground included some odd/surprising elements, it was more captivating and developed.  

The main plot, however, is a different subject. It sets the course for the series as a whole, and every episode has some kind of tie to it, big or small. 

Though it likely inspired Underground, Sat Am still is not as strong as it's successor.  

Main Plot Summaries

Sat Am Main

After the evil Dr. Robotnik took power, a group of teenagers decided to push back, called "Freedom Fighters." They use skill, sabotage, and various abilities to foil his plans and retake Robotropolis. 

Eventually they seemingly defeated Robotnik, though Snively got a way...and he wasn't alone.  

Underground Main

After the evil Dr. Robotnik took power, Sonic and his siblings became notable leaders of the "Resistance," a movement against Robotnik. They use skill, sabotage, and various abilities to foil his plans while searching for their mother.  

Had the time been right, the triplets would have reunited with their mother and full-filled their destiny by defeating Robotnik. 

Compared

As shown, the stories are quite similar. Sat Am actually has an ending, though it leaves on a mysterious cliffhanger. I like the idea of Sonic and Sally "winning," but the end bit undoes this. Even if there was a season 3, the new threat would have been Nagus--and I'm not sure that would have been a step in the right direction. 

While Sat Am does deserve credit for establishing this type of "freedom fighting" outline, Underground has improvements, such as expanding Mobius and adding a conflict of those "loyal to Robotnik." Ultimately, just as with their origins, Aleena really gives Underground a bittersweet edge over Sat Am.  

Side Plot Summaries (any notable sub-plot shown beyond 1 episode or shown to repeat)

Sat Am Sides 

• "Sonally"/Ant: Sally and Sonic's attraction to each other/Antione's crush on Sally.
• "Bean": Sally's search for her father.
• "Blast to the Past" Arc: Sonic and Sally attempt to time travel to stop Robotnik from taking over. 
•  "Doomsday" Arc: Sonic and Sally gather/use Power Stones to stop Robotnik. 
• "Pollution"/"NotKnothole": Robotnik continually tries to destroy the environment/nature in addition to his goals of destroying Knothole.  
• "Snively/New enemies": Snively hates his uncle and secretly wants power for himself. 
• "New allies": finding/convincing/rescuing others to help them (notably Uncle Chuck). 

Underground Sides 

• "Getting to Know You"/"Origins" Arc: Sonic, Manic, and Sonia's struggle to get along despite their different interests and origins. 
• Variations of this is shown through out, though it was most obvious in the origin storyline.  
• "Envy": One sibling (usually Manic) grows envious of another's power or childhood. 
• "Vow": The hedgehogs' try to find more information about their mother alongside their quest to find her.  
• "Bartlby": Sonia tries to help or get help from her ex-fiancé, who (usually) refuses to oppose Robotnik.   
• "Knuckles"/"Chaos Emerald Crisis": the group meets Knuckles the Echidna and struggles to get along with their differing goals.
• "Henchmen": Sleet and Dingo "rebel" and act on their own greed rather than their orders.   
• "New allies": finding/convincing others to help them (notably Cyrus). 

Compared

Surprisingly, both shows have a fair amount of sub-plots for a long cancelled DiC cartoon. 

Of Sat Am, the "Sonally" plot is my favorite. A sharp contrast from the "girl of the week" AoStH usually had, "Sonally" had great potential, but it was constantly dampened by Antione and their own behaviors. The idea would have worked better if Antione had given up on his fixation with the princess by Season 2. Likewise, it was fairly confusing for Sally to be kissing Sonic on the cheek every episode (via intro) without having them be in a relationship (annoyingly apparent in the episode with Griff, "Warp Sonic"). Though their feelings seem clearer by the final episode, the series didn't need rivals like Antione and Griff.

The other "sides" are fair. There were some great ideas with Uncle Chuck, but the rest...What even is Sally's father's name? In the comics it was Maximillian/Nigel, but they didn't even have a name for him in Sat Am. Plus what's the point of some of Robotnik's environment-killing plans? Why create acid rain and use chemical-filled "buzz bombers" when he could just drop a bunch of bombs like he did on Angel Island (Act 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3)?  In total, the side stories are a "start" but aren't explored very much. 

In Underground, the sibling plots are understanding and relatable. The triplets share a love of music and want to defeat Robotnik, but they don't agree on everything. Sonia's used to luxury and doesn't want to give it up while Manic's used to having nothing and steals on impulse. Though Manic can create earth-quakes with his drums, Sonic's speed is easier to access. Sonic loves Chilidogs while Sonia thinks they're gross. So on. There was plenty of material to create arguments/conflicts, but the group always resolved their problems because they were family and cared for each other. 

Underground's other "sides" probably could have benefited from more development as well, but are a bit are still more coherent. For example, the episode "To Catch a Queen" introduces a character called Argus, who used to work with Queen Aleena. This writing allowed for a bit of Aleena's past to be revealed while also creating a potential "ally" type of plot.   

Conclusion

Sat Am established the idea of a "fight for freedom" against Robotnik, but Underground improved it.

Shut up Tails?

Dear Archie Fans

An abrupt reboot left many scenarios unsolved, and--as fans finally adjusted to the new world--it was lost too. Again, long-time comic fans were forced to make another adjustment: a world not just missing some Archie characters, but all. 

Some have enjoyed the new, IDW series. Others left quickly. Meanwhile the new canon pulled in fresh fans, too. 

Good or bad doesn't really matter. What matters is that the Archie comics had a long life. Nearly 25 years; nearly 300 issues in the main series alone. The freedom fighters may not be fighting off zombie hoards like Tangle and Whisper, but they've fought. Robotnik, other Robotniks, evil dimensional doppelgangers, magical and mystic beings, aliens, aliens, aliens...

Meanwhile characters like Scratch and Grounder, Manic and Sonia, Chris and Cosmo, Tenko the Canary--even one from Boom...their time was too short. Archie Sonic was cancelled. But the truth is Sally Acorn and the Knothole freedom fighters lasted a long time, and their fans should be thankful for that.    

It may seem as though Tangle and Whisper are getting all the attention. They are. They're new. Even Sticks got attention when she was new. If Sally--or Manic, or Cosmo, etc--had been created in this day and age, I'm sure Sega would be throwing them into mobile games too. 

But now the complexity of who the character is (and who the character is owned by) makes something like that harder. As for a comic revival or special, though, Archie characters have an advantage above the others. Many who worked on Archie migrated to IDW, and many of the fans did, too. And the fact that "bringing the characters back" has been suggested by the lead writer is a huge deal, really.  

But new fans. They always want the new fans. It may seem at the expense of the old fans. Yet in this case, it does make sense. Even though it builds up, 1 issue a month is a crawl. And just as a mega-man crossover can feel misplaced, a sudden change of pace so early or in the middle of a story-arc could be a catastrophe. And then the archie-conclusion would be rushed, too.     

Alternatively a merging of characters and ideas would be overly complex as well. Most of the characters would have to be severely changed to match the canon--those who could be used at all. 

Aside from that, the Sonic cast is already huge. IDW needed a few exclusive characters to be the face of the series; They needed to be unique. Combined, and their is little room or time for new versions of old characters. Take a look at the Sonic movie (as an extreme example). They didn't even want to risk "well known" characters like Tails or Amy. 

If Archie Sonic--or any other past Sonic incarnations--receive a new story, conclusion, or even a cameo, fans may be appeased. But even if it never happens, fans have to learn to accept the new characters and world. They don't have to like it or read it, but they have to accept that it's a new start. IDW is IDW, not the Archie. Despite some promise, the old comics may never resurface.

At the end of the battle, though, fans of Sally, Nicole, Bunnie, Antoine, and Rotor were luckier than most. Many characters have come and gone in the Sonic series. Who knows if Tangle and Whisper still be around in 10 or 20 years? Still, for better or worse, it's their time, now.  

Persistently whining about the Archie comics will not bring them back.

Underground is better than Sat Am (Part 4)

Part 4: More Accurate...? 

It's no secret neither of the series are too close to the game's canon. Back in the 90s the West developed it's own ideas, and had the freedom to expand beyond the basics. And in those classic days, that was possible.

But as "story" became more prevalent, it became harder and harder to connect the "Freedom Fighters/Resistance" and other ideas with "Team Hero" and those seen in the games. The comics bridged Sat Am and the videogames for many, but even small retcons and/or a soft reboot couldn't cover everything.  

The most accurate of the cartoons is Sonic X since it adapted several games, added many "modern" characters, and even had Sonic Team's support. Original characters Chris and Cosmo were both created by Sonic Team. The Japanese voice cast for the series were the same as in the games, and the English cast was added to the American games in 2005, while the show was still on-air. In the Japanese version, some in-game music is heard.     

Sonic Grinding, as in the games. 

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog was also accurate for America and for its' time. Tails was described as being with Sonic since he was a "cub," seen in the series alongside his name, Miles. Dr. Robotnik also had his first name, Ivo. Scratch and Grounder were based off enemies in Sonic 2, and Sonic and Tails were designed like their box-art counter parts. Occasionally certain items would show up (versions of Rings; Chaos Emeralds), and Sonic would tap his foot often like his idle animation.

Sonic mimicing "Classic" artwork in the AoStH pilot 

That leaves Sat Am and Underground (and Boom, but I'm not bringing that one up today!). Despite the lack of Tails, though, Underground is more accurate for a few other reasons.   

The most obvious answer is Knuckles. His voice is a bit annoying, but he gets tricked similar to in Sonic 3 and fights with Sonic a bit, too. He only appears a few times--less than Tails in Sat Am, but as mentioned in Part 2, Tails didn't have a very impactful role in Sat Am anyway (being far more memorable in AoStH).

The other reason Knuckles' appearance is more important is simply since it hadn't been done in a DiC cartoon before. Tails was in AoStH and Sat Am. But Knuckles didn't make it into either! 

"Time Stones"

Sat Am also had Rings while Underground did not. But while the "Power Rings" often helped save the day, they were rarer and had more abilities than those in game. That's fine, really. But the "Time Stones" were even less accurate, used more like a plot excuse to use time travel than the mystery gems seen in Sonic CD (where the "Future" and "Past" posts along with Sonic's speed caused the time travel).  

Though it did not have those, Underground had two versions of Chaos Emeralds to level the playing field. The first took the place of the Master Emerald rather than introduce the concept all at once. Not super accurate, but it was green and emerald-like. The second proved a bit more chaotic, but similar and hinted at more to come (though the series was cancelled). There were also several jewels in the series similar to the emeralds.   

NOBODY WHAAAAT?!

Robotnik was too cruel in Sat Am to match his egg-shaped game counter-part. Though a threat, Eggman was created to be silly. "Julian" Robotnik was nightmare-fuel instead. I discussed this in part 2, but it's not just the Robotniks...it's their reign of control, too.

In Sat Am, Robotnik has taken over Mobius. In Underground Robtnik's control is reaching farther and farther all the time, but he hasn't gotten to/robotisized everyone.

In the original games, Robotnik is trying to take over the world, but Sonic keeps wiping out his robots, beating his boss-machines, and destroying his dominating creations (Death Egg). If he already had world domination, the zones would look a lot worse (such as the bad futures of Sonic CD and later-made Eggman Land). So Undergound gets a slight edge. 

Underground also gets a point here because, like in later-made Sonic Forces, Robotnik's damage needs to be reversed little by little before a bigger attack. Though Sonic/Sally's finale-moment is similar to a Super Sonic attack, the world can't be taken back all at once, like Sat Am abrupt "end" sort of implies (the freedom fighters didn't accomplish much pre-doomsday). 

Also: while both series had characters that betrayed the heroes or Robotnik one way or another, ARRT in Underground was similar the E-series robots of Modern games. Bonus points.

The most important difference between these close series: travel. Sonic goes all over in the games, and Underground creates locations reminiscent of old zones and in a variety. Deserts, tundras, towns, cites, a resort...

NOW the scarf makes sense.

Sat Am meanwhile usually stays in Robotorpolis or around Knothole. They visit others, but it's not memorable. Usually dark and bland.

"I'm gonna fire my travel agent."

Undergound has a version of Knothole (Sanctuary), and Robotropolis, but the triplets weren't bound to those areas in the same way as Sonic, Sally, and the others were in Sat Am.

The shows are built around many of the same ideas--which contradict many of the later established game-elements--but they had creativity and used ideas where they could. Still, Underground has a slight lead in this category, making it another reason it's a better show.