Eras Update: Transitional

ALL about the transitional era

Era: Transitional

Main Years: 1999-2005

Gameplay Type: Following Sonic Adventure, the "main" games were now 3 dimensional. The player controlled Sonic or another character, with the end goal not always being to finish the level. For example, Knuckles would instead look for pieces of the Master Emerald. 

While the spin dash was still available, the "homing attack" became the weapon of choice. Sonic Heroes combined the gameplay styles of different characters, making them (speed, power, and flight), available all at once. While characters such as Gamma, Tails, and Eggman would use a form of gun to cover shooter based gameplay, Shadow the Hedgehog was the first (and only) to make it the main focus.  

However Sonic was not done with 2D side-scrollers, appearing in many handheld titles as just that.  

Character Designs and Personalities: Sonic and the rest of the revived characters received new, "cool" and flexible designs. While many "original" fans did not approve of Sonic being taller and suddenly having green eyes, the character with the most changes seemed to fly under the radar: Amy Rose. Amy was given a more mature and radically differing design. This is in part because the original character was 8 and Amy's age was revised to be 12. 

While the characters were always thick with attitude, having the characters officially talk led to them having more obvious character traits. Many of the characters had quick and witty comebacks, although only if it fit their character (Eggman, for example, was more formal in his wording, being an adult scientist and not a sassy teenager).        

Story Type: Now that scripted cutscenes were normal, the stories become more involved, though the plots still largely at least started with stopping Eggman. Mainly Eggman would unleash a threat only for it to get out his own hands. 

In a game on the borderline between this era and the next, Shadow the Hedgehog, Eggman is not the main threat (Black Arms) and was not responsible for it, either (in contrast to Heroes, where Metal Sonic was technically still Eggman's fault). 

More characters were introduced, with Sonic meeting much of what is now the main cast. Most of these characters were heroes (Tikal, Cream, etc) or became heroes (Gamma, Shadow, etc).

The handheld storylines were not too complex until Sonic Battle, which contained several story modes. The plot of Sonic Advance 3, while a third "advance" title, is a sequel to Battle.     

Visuals: Although there was a good deal of early CG type art, they seemed pretty proud of the 2D "Sonic Channel" designs and art, with the characters' artwork being featured in box art and menus. 

The graphics of this era have not aged well, and the mouth animations have contributed to memes. However the creative and expressive openings have been well remembered and in some cases recreated. From Sonic Heroes on, the CG cutscenes became more prevalent and important.    

The settings now used real world inspiration, such as with Sonic Adventure 2, which was based on California. Common locations were cities, ruins, beaches, haunted houses, and space.  

Music: The music of this era redefined what to expect from Sonic games. Often praised, the music used a lot of guitar and rock, while not excluding experimental or funkier genres. 

Starting with Sonic Adventure 2, certain characters became associated more with certain songs, such as Sonic having peppy punk-rock vs Knuckles having snazzy rap and hip hop. This was somewhat echoed with the contrasting vocal themes in Sonic Heroes. 

Shadow the Hedgehog, being a spinoff based on another character, did not use the same mix in genres, instead focusing on a heavier rock and using the vocal themes as an allusion to the personality. While not as memorable, the music of the handheld games served as a nostalgic connection between "classic and modern."          

Voice Cast: From Sonic Adventure on, Sonic's official voice was Ryan Drummond and Eggman (Robotnik)'s was Deem Bristrow. Knuckles' voice changed a bit until Sonic Adventure 2, when Scott Dreier took the job over. Tails voice often changed because his "real-life boy" actors voice would mature, leaving Tails with a total of three different actors in this era alone. Jennifer Douillard voiced Sonic's self-proclaimed girlfriend, Amy. Lani Minella voiced Rouge (as well as Omachao) and David Humphrey joined in 2001 as Shadow. Jon St. John doubled as Big the Cat and Omega. 

In 2003 Sonic X was dubbed in English by 4kids. 4kids used their own voice cast for the series (rather than hiring the current voice actors or anyone from the DiC cartoons). After Sonic Advance 3 (2004), Sega replaced their "game" cast with the group from 4kids because they wanted Sonic to have the same voice in all media (rumors say Deem Bistrow's death was also a factor). This cast would start in the last/borderline transitional game, Shadow the Hedgehog. 

This is a notable difference than in Japan where much of their cast has been the same since Sonic Adventure. 

Controversy 

Although Sonic X was popular with western audiences, fans of the games did not take well to the sudden switch. In particular fans felt cheated that Ryan Drummond would not be back as Sonic. 

Fueling their dismay was the fact that earlier Drummond had actually offered to move to voice Sonic in Sonic X. To make things worse, Sega did not announce the change in 2005 and failed to tell the actor he would not be voicing Sonic anymore. Despite this Ryan Drummond himself does not have any hostility for his replacement voice actor(s).   

 

Main Voice (Sonic): Ryan Drummond

Memorable Theme Song (for Sonic): "It Doesn't Matter" (from Sonic Adventure 1/2). 

Memorable Catchphrases (Sonic):  "Talk about low budget flights...I'm outta' here!" "TARIIAAAAA" "That was cool!" (Sonic Adventure2)  "Let's blast through with sonic speed!" "BLAST AWAY!" "It's all over...for YOU!" (Sonic Heroes) "Time to Party!" (Sonic Battle) "YEAH!" (Sonic Advance 3)

"Kids, don't use formula 1 race cars to chase hedgehogs!" "Yeah I've got a name. It's Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog" "Do I look like a cat to you?!" (cartoon)

Cartoons and other Appearances: Often attributed to the modern era, the main cartoon of this era is Sonic X. The anime adapted the Sonic Adventure series fairly closely but Sonic Battle loosely. It also featured many staples of the era like Tails' being an inventor/pilot, Amy having obsessive crush, and soap shoes.  

The changes would affect the Archie comics to a point. Humans had to be written in (after years of Robotnik being the only one). Amy had to be redesigned and aged to match her game counterpart. Characters like Shadow and Rouge were introduced. However, as a whole the series proceeded with their own storylines and characters taking priority. 

Aside from Sonic Adventure, they did not do much to adapt the games as a main story. Infamously they mistakenly colored Maria Robotnik's hair brown. Also Shadow's chest fur was yellow for 20 issues (give or take).

The storylines during this time would vary greatly. While Sonic's fight to save the world from the Quantum Dial (a deadly weapon created by alien enemies, the Xorda) was liked, the fall-out was hated by fans. As a consequence of it, Sonic's girlfriend, Sally, becomes more worried about Sonic's welfare and subsequently breaks up with him (in a scene harshly criticized as out of character and nicknamed "the SLAP"). 

Confusingly, with Sonic now single, he shared a kiss with Bunnie, expressed feelings for a character called Mina Mongoose, and started dating yet another character, Fiona Fox (though he was supposed to be with Amy). 

This portion of the comics has become something of the "dark era" among fans. The writers were in disagreement about many plots and characters (including the drama of who Sonic should be with romantically). While the series was still lasting, the comic was in something of a downward spiral.  

Quote of the Month

 

"Didn't even break a sweat!" 

-Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Battle

Quote of the Month

 

"Ha! There's no strength in numbers!" 

-Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic 06

Shadow's "Lost Tracks"

Shadow the Hedgehog had its fair share of vocal themes. In addition to a main theme and a closing ("I am...All of Me" and "Never Turn Back"), there were four songs for the various possible endings. Going "Dark" rewards the player with the powerful "Almost Dead." Going "Neutral" results in either "Almost Dead" again (Dark-Neutral), the peppy "Waking Up" (True Neutral), or the sadder "Chosen One" (Hero-Neutral). Becoming a hero meant listening to the original version of "All Hail Shadow." And as a bonus, there was also an "E.G.G.M.A.N." remix, called "Doc. Robeatnix mix." 

However three other songs have become associated with the black blur's 2005 spin-off: "Who I Am," by Magna-Fi; "Broken" and "All of Me" by Sins of a Divine Mother. These tracks have been dubbed the "lost" tracks because they did not make it into the game. 

Up until recently, these three have been listed as a part of "Lost and Found," the Shadow the Hedgehog vocal album. As of my most recent wiki trek, however, I could not find evidence they were apart of the release. One person discussing them did refer to them as "unlisted" tracks, but checking various sources likewise put this in doubt. I am not sure. 

However there remains evidence that these songs were intended for the game. 

"Who I Am"   

by Magna-Fi

Background: It is believed that "Who I Am" was intended to be the title theme for the game (being replaced by Crush 40's "I Am...All of Me"). This is supported by the song's more general theme ("who I am") and with Magna-Fi also creating "All Hail Shadow," it makes the most sense. However, there is some speculation that this was an alternate for the Hero ending or that "All Hail Shadow" was created as a replacement. 

"Who I Am" was later remade for Magna-Fi's album, VerseChorusKillMe, and apparently there is a notable difference in guitar due to the departure of a band member. 

Reason It's "Lost": It was initially believed that Sega simply wanted a different music style for the intro. However it was the band's record label, Aezra, that prevented the song from being used. The exact reasons remain unclear, but they probably wanted (or had?) the rights to the song ("Lost and Found" and related OSTs being published by Wavemaster, Sega's audio development team). 

Lyrical Connections: The song heavily uses the line "This is who I am," the phrase Shadow says at the end of each story path. It also says "not a shadow of who I want to be," a clever play on words. The song insists "you're not ever gonna' change me," voicing Shadow's attitude after choosing his path. It also seems to voice anger at the other characters (Commander, Black Doom, Eggman) for using and targeting Shadow ("You never really understood me/you always put me down/like a dog that's beaten over and over/one day I'm gonna' take you down").  

"Broken" 

by Sins of A Divine Mother

Background: Because of an interview, the reason why "Broken" was not used has been confirmed. It would have been the Hero-Neutral song, but was replaced by "Chosen One." If "Chosen One" seems especially similar in tone, its likely because two members of Sins of A Divine Mother created the band A2/Mona Lisa Overdrive, which made "Chosen One" (as a replacement). 

Reason It's "Lost": The song was not used because they could not track the writer down in time to get his permission to use it. However the two A2 members suggested making a new song with a similar vibe, and "Chosen One" was born.    

Lyrical Connections: The lyrics seem centered on trying to make a difference or change in "broken" life. "Only you can make a difference, darling (always...)," easily fits the one character Shadow would always trust, Maria. The part "don't wanna' act like...someone else," could hint at Shadow not wanting to be like Sonic, while "just wanna' be like...everyone else," centers on Shadow being different and isolated from the rest of the Sonic cast. Also, the part about being "down" seems to really fit the "Vector" ending where Shadow feels he should not have been created.   

"All of Me"

by Sins of A Divine Mother

Background: Now it seems like "All of Me" is unconfirmed. Its only official connection was being a part of the "lost" group of tracks and I guess being associated with "Broken"/the game. Unlike "Broken" it was not mentioned any interviews and does not have a replacement (like "Chosen One"). However there is some circumstantial evidence. In addition to possible lyrical connections, there is one simple fact: there is no Neutral-Dark theme. 

In the game, "Almost Dead" plays for four endings while the other songs (such as "All Hail Shadow") are exclusive to two endings ("All Hail Shadow" being exclusive to the Hero endings). It seems like a missing song caused them to use "Almost Dead" twice as much.

"All of Me" is similar to "Broken," having a grungy "depressed" type of sound. However, it's not as sad, being angered and having more of a distaste for society than "Broken" or its replacement, "Chosen One." With this in mind, "All of Me" may have been intended for the "missing" Neutral-Dark ending. 

Some have assumed that "Broken" was meant for that, however "Broken" was created before "Chosen One," the Hero-Neutral song (meaning without it there would have been another "gap," the Neutral Hero one). It's possible that "Who I Am" could have fit into this equation, but it's never really been referred to as a "Neutral" song. Its also possible "All of Me" was simply an alternate to "Broken."     

One final piece of sketchy evidence: Crush 40's "I Am...All of Me." Though similar in name, songs are not related, but it's interesting to note that Crush40's song is named "I Am...All of Me" or "I Am (All of Me)," never just "All of Me." Perhaps this was to avoid confusing it with a song already potentially made for Shadow the Hedgehog, Sins of a Divine Mother's "All of Me."   

Reason It's "Lost": If "All of Me" was intended for the game, it likely had the same background problems as "Broken." Fans have also been quick to point out the use of the word "Shit." Shadow the Hedgehog was originally intended for Teens, but they decided to somewhat tone-down the game for a E10+ rating. This may have led to the song being cut. That makes sense, but it easily could have been censored (as with a swear word in "His World").

Lyrical Connections: The lyrics describe a hopeless feeling with "all I've made is my last breath," "go away, no regrets," and "take all of me," possibly fitting into the attitude of a neutral ending. The song starts, "I just wanna' be happy, wanna' live my life alone," which describes' Shadow's personality. The song also seems to connect to the game with the repeated line, "it's all inside my head, and it's not real," which mirrors Shadow's confused memories. 

Perhaps the closest connection is: "how's it feel being innocent/and gettin' treated like you did a big crime/with the policeman and the government gunnin' for ya' all the time." If it's not a huge coincidence, then "gun" is a pun on GUN (the military in Sonic's world) and the "policeman" is the game's villainous GUN Commander--who orders his soldiers to shoot Shadow (even if he's innocent).  

"Tripod Baby"

M-Flo Loves Shadow the Hedgehog

Extra: Apparently "Tripod Baby" was originally a song from M-Flo's album, Beat Space Nine, and a part of their "M-Flo Loves" series (M-Flo is a successful Japanese hip-hop band). A special remix "Tripod Baby (Shadow the Hedgehog Mix)" was created and put on their remixed album, Dope Space Nine. The song was used in promotion for Shadow the Hedgehog. It's not in the game, but several promotional images were created along with a music video and a commercial. The song is a completely different genre than Shadow's usual rock, being more dance-like (or Shadow thinks so...) and it includes some Japanese portions.         

"Will he good or evil?" 

Personal Notes

I discovered the "lost" tracks years ago, mainly thanks to extended videos by Quadfactor. I like them a lot and generally consider them on the same level or greater than the songs used. It is unfortunate they did not make it into the game, but I am very thankful that it resulted in "I am...All of Me" and "Chosen One," as they are some of my favorites (of the Sonic series). 

As for Tripod Baby...I saw that ages ago. I remember being disappointed it wasn't like the other Shadow songs (back then I think I only knew of "I Am All of Me" and "Never Turn Back," anyway). I was shocked by the style and the partial Japanese and the music video being "horrible" CGI. I think I somehow found it purely because it "had Shadow dancing," which I thought would be funny.  

Lol, watching it again after all these years? After seeing the music video for "They Call Me Sonic?" 

It's not the bizarre disaster I thought it was. Well...maybe it's a little bizarre, but the song is catchy. Shadow the EDGEhog, baby!

Shadow the Hedgehog OST Review

Summary

The music of Shadow the Hedgehog has pretty much been forgotten by fans simply because they were upset they did not get Sonic Heroes 2. When I judged Shadow the Hedgehog as better than the Sonic-classic, I sighted the music as a reason. Does that decision remain? 

Defiantly. As I acknowledged then, the OST doesn't have the same variety in genres as other games, mostly relying on a heavier rock vibe. But this is a spin-off...

Sonic Riders' OST is awesome, but it did not diverge into many other genres either (in that case being mostly electronic/techno/future ish). Knuckles Choatix was a funky creation, but most of its songs used the same type of instruments and themes as well. Spin-offs adopt their own style, but for some reason that seems forgotten when it comes to this OST. 

It does have variety while keeping in with its own themes. "The Ark," for example, has its guitar/percussion, but it has its higher pitched artificial qualities. With those "back to the mic" samples, the song could have easily been in Sonic Rush. That song is actually a remix of Final Rush from SA2, and there are quite a bit of remixes and hints of SA2. The calm piano-led "Lost Impact" is also a remix of Sonic 3D Blast's Panic Puppet (Saturn), and some music like the "I Refuse" cutscene seems to reference "This Machine"/Heroes.  

Listening to this music alone, even levels I thought of as boring like Sky Troops seemed far more interesting (the level's brown/rocky design may have been to blame). 

Best Song: Central City

Runner-Up (s): Westopolis, Lethal Highway, The Ark, Lava Shelter, GUN Fortress, Lost Impact, The Doom, Digital Circuit, Mad Matrix, Death Ruins, Final Haunt, Space Gadget, Cosmic Fall, The Last Way, Blue Falcon, Heavy Dog, Egg Beater, Egg Dealer, Black Doom (boss), Black Bull, Battle Mode, Menu, Title Screen, Awake Hero/Dark, Chaos Control, 90% of the Cutscene music  

This was a tough choice--Leathal Highway, The Ark, Lava Shelter, GUN Fotress, Lost Impact--there were a lot of good options. Central City seems to be the best summary of the game's tension. It's speedy, guitar heavy, has synthetic parts that keep it a bit wacky. Rough, distressed, panicked...perfect for the city that's about to be blown up one way or another.     

Worst Song: Iron Jungle

Runner Up (s): Flying with Tornado

This is perhaps the only song that seems to live up to its "boring" reputation. I don't know if I'd call it generic, but it's short and quickly becomes repetitive (this level could be pretty long I think). It sounds a bit familiar but that doesn't save it.  

Best Vocal Song: I Am...All of Me

Runner-Up (s): Never Turn Back, Chosen One, Waking Up, Almost Dead, E.G.G.M.A.N. (Dr. Robeatnik Mix) 

"Never Turn Back" and "Chosen One" could have easily taken this spot, but "I Am...All of Me" is phenomenal. The lyrics perfectly switch from one contrast to another--"Brave hearted hero, black hearted evil"--and the vocals perfectly capture anger and confusion. It the ultimate theme for the game (and for Shadow's journey). 

It's a real shame that it's just been dubbed the "edgy" theme ("Almost Dead"? Way edgier).   

WHY, GENERATIONS? WHY UNLOCK SPLASH HILL LIKE 2ND AND I AM ALL OF ME 2ND TO LAST?! YOU SUCK!

Worst Vocal Song: All Hail Shadow

Runner Up (s): -____-

Uh...what is this doing in the worst section? This song is awesome. NOTHING EVER FILLS THE HOLE INSIDE YOUR HEART! 

I really like the whisper-y "bow your heads now all hail Shadow," and while the chorus might have been a fairly stupid concept, the rest of the lyrics are so fitting. 

However (surprisingly) I think this is the weaker of the vocal songs. I guess the fact that Crush 40 covered it (better) kinda' takes away from it.  

I felt like listing the Eggman remix would be a cheat, besides...

E.G.G.M.A.N. (Dr. Robeatnik Mix) > E.G.G.M.A.N.

Final Ranking: S

I was pretty indecisive about this one, A rank or S rank? There's nothing really wrong with it. Epic stage music, vocal themes, cutscene music, menus music...Underrated and mislabeled, that's for sure.  

I don't think it's better than the S-Ranks I've given so far, yet it seems just as good or better than the previous A-ranks...

I guess this will be the cut-off point for S ranks. 

Shadow the Hedgehog Review

Rank @ End

Summary

Edgy!

Gameplay and Level Design

The gameplay is pretty good. It's got the speed of a Sonic game mixed with other elements. The guns are easy to adjust to, and there are many types. Sometimes choosing the right weapon means the difference between a A and C Rank (Hint: choose an Alien Weapon over a GUN one, even if it doesn't have as much ammo--it packs a better punch). The vehicles are more disappointing. The cars/cycle are fair, and the hovercraft would be okay if it were a bit faster. But the odd "jumping" and shooting ones are a invitation for disaster. Chaos Control and Blast are awesome for giving invincibility and unlimited ammo alone, but are even better considering their abilities. 

The missions could be a hard/easy, and it really depends on each specific one. As a whole I think it was a good idea because they are technically optional and fit into the plot so that they are not as random/forced as missions in, say, the Secret Rings. 

I like the visible designs. There are a lot of distressed scenes and spins on familiar locations. The maze that is the level layout, however...for most it's manageable, but Mad Matrix, The Doom, and some others are hard to navigate. Having 80% of the path covered in toxic waste in levels like Prison Island wasn't the best plan, either.    

Story and Characters

The main idea of an alien invasion makes for an action-driven plot. Unfortunately Black Doom lacked "Mephiles" level creepiness. I think having a "lacky" or even treating Doom's Eye as a different character would have helped keep the leader more of a mystery (instead of a demanding son of a bXXXX). Except for being tied to a "promise" that he knows nothing about, Shadow does not have a good reason to side with the Black Arms. 

Adding some "behind the scenes" with GUN and the President may have been an attempt to mature things. It would be fine, if not for the constant 2 cutscenes that ALWAYS play after Westopolis. I like the GUN Commander because it explains GUN's overzealous behavior in SA2. Sir, the hedgehog we caught just escaped from one of our helicopters because we wouldn't give him pizza. A HEDEGHOG?! MOBLIZE THE TRUCK, NOOOOW! But sir, that Truck will crush the cars parked-- I GAVE YOU AN ORDER SOLIDER! Yes sir!    

The flashbacks proved interesting, but considering all of the talk about the past and it's importance, I kinda' wish there was more of it. It feels like more time is spent with Shadow thinking he is an android than with Maria's death or promise. 

Overall, I think the different paths was a smart move, but it makes it hard to tell what's "canon." I wish one of the endings would have been the "true" events (the neutral-hero one, maybe?). The last story is a bit long to watch, and I'm not sure if it's worth it. The Black Doom reveal is cliche, and I almost wish the villain had explained so at the beginning to confuse Shadow then. The video with Gerald and Maria was the best part of Last Story, plot-wise. After Shadow's huge quest to "find the truth," he decides to throw it all away? I like it in retrospect, but at first I really didn't like how he tossed Maria's photo.    

I liked that the supporting cast was either able to help, or could be ignored. There is a large cast and it's cool to see Shadow bond with characters he wasn't really seen with before like Knuckles and Espio. Still, story-wise Rouge's character is underused. At least Omega got a role in the android plots. She's there for the fight with Doom in the dark end, but not in the cutscene? What's with that? And I think she would have fit in the neutral-hero end better than Vector. 

Music and Voice Acting

The tracks really fit the situation. Central City and Westopolis are intense. Lost Impact is slower and more mysterious. More of a electronic vibe is used for the levels that take place in the digital dimension. The entire game does not have the same diversity in genres as a traditional Sonic game, but while being mostly edgy-rock and guitar-heavy, it's awesome. The vocal tracks, including the likes of "I am All of Me" and "Never Turn Back," are possibly some of the best in the series ("Chosen One" is particularly fitting), though it's a shame some of them had to be "lost." Sadly that resulted in the neutral-dark path not really having its own theme.

This game (along with Rush) was the first to feature the 4kids cast. I'd say it was a move for the better...but I can see why people were upset. Jason Griffith's Shadow voice is perfect, but his Sonic voice here is a bit odd. Instead of saying "Yo!," for example, it's a drawn out "Y-ho!" Rebecca Honig (usually Cream) voiced Maria in this game differently than she did in Sonic X. It's not bad, but I'm not sure if it was better than her voice in SA2. Some characters like Tails are louder/annoying while others like Cream are hard to hear. It wasn't their best, but generally the cast did alright.   

   

Visuals and Graphics

I liked the grungy menu, but by the time I got to the fire in Shadow's eyes I felt like it was too far. CG cutcenes look good, but why did they waste time on the Eclipse Cannon scene? I don't care if it's an Independence Day reference, "real" Maria's deserved that quality. 

The graphics aren't good. The designs are cool but the execution is clunky and looks like garbage.  

Final Thoughts

• This game is misportrayed as overly violent and edgy to the point of cheese. They overdramatized things especially in the intro and with the box art, I'll give them that. But the guns aren't realistic in the slightest, and are quite an improvement from Gamma/Tails/Eggman's weapons. 
• Oh, and the "assassinate the President" mission was shooting a plane that will survive if the mission is completed or not.
• I did not mind Shadow swearing. I found "damn, not here," relatable. But it was a bad idea for the other characters (Sonic, Knuckles, Espio) because it seems unnatural (especially Sonic). 
• I kinda's wish the game HAD been rated Teen, just so people would not XXXXX about it. 
• It's pretty hypocritical, too, because fans will say the guns and swearing were mistakes and than rant about the dub of Sonic X censoring swearing, alcohol, and death.   
• Though it wasn't seen as a good move at the time, I like the 4kids cast a lot. They'd get better more in the 2007 range. 
• I get why fans were upset with what happened, in particular with Ryan Drummond (who wasn't even informed of the change!). But even though Griffith's Sonic was different, it was still that "Sonic-type" of voice that Drummond, Jaleel White, and even the OVA guy seemed to have. The change to Roger Craig Smith's deeper, 2010-esque take on Sonic was so much more radical. 
• It was cool to have two sorta' warring factions fighting, but it'd be BETTER if they acknowledged the player. If you're helping GUN, do they have to shoot at you?! The Heal Canon can help, but really?!
• It was cool to see the different sides of Shadow. 
• Expert Mode is pretty cool and the instructions could be funny.
• Forget Heroes and Generations. This is Charmy's best game.  

 

Final Ranking: B

I gotta' say, I was on the fence between giving this a B and a C. I guess the replay value gives it the edge (no pun intended). 

An experimental game, Shadow the Hedgehog is not without its faults. It is fun, though. The plot was not perfect, but having aliens invade remains a better point, and the mission/plot structure isn't bad. I'd have to say the gameplay is pretty good for a modern game, and easier than many other shooter-games. Shadow had its own, "darker" theme and stuck to it, which I think is fair since it's a spin-off. Still, it's not gonna' work for people who look for more variety.    

Sonic Rivals 2 Reveiw

Rank @ End

Summary

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Visuals, Level Design, and Graphics

The graphics are horrible. The game art/card art or whatever is fine, but other than that...visually, this handheld game may be one of the worst. As far as setting, they try to do new things, but the graphics are just so bad they are barely salvageable.  

On the other hand I liked the different "racer"/etc outfits. Looked neat/funny. 

Gameplay

The idea of racing the other characters is a clever way to capitalize on the idea of speed. This type of gameplay, where almost every level is a race where the players also attack each other, likely inspired many of Sega's future apps. It's a neat idea, and if it worked as well as the Metal Sonic race of Sonic CD or a 2-D version of the Sonic/Shadow race in SA2, it would be awesome. Unfortunately it's not at the same quality. 

Even though the controls should be simple, they can get confusing. Press this button, press that button! I liked the special moves, but some work better in this case than others. For example, Tails' flight is virtually useless because of the level design--not a good choice. If the "rush" boost wasn't used so much nowadays, "Sonic Boom" might not bother me, but this version of the boost seems so inferior. I think Shadow's "Chaos Control" as well as Silver's "Psychic Control" are the best. 

Even though it's 2-D, it does not play out nearly as smoothly as the classic games or the Advance or Rush series. There are also rival fights/challenges that would be nice as a bonus mission but are instead required and therefore unwelcome. The boss fights varied from being what I'd expect to something more frustrating.     

Story and Characters

Each character is linked to another. Playing Sonic's story, for example, also means playing as Tails, even though Tails has a separate story. This is a little excessive--maybe it should have been one story per pair rather than per character. 

Sonic and Tails have a pretty basic story, but the character interactions are funny. This game is kind of like Heroes in that sense, driven by the characters involved. Only instead of all working together, the different pairs turn on each other, ha ha. 

The plot involving Rouge and Knuckles is like SA2, and though they are allies it works just as well. Silver and Espio seem like and odd combination, but it was a smart way to include the two. Shadow and Metal Sonic may be Sonic's biggest rivals, but it's still odd to see them together. Since Metal doesn't talk, it's more of Shadow's story (which is fine by me!) but Metal proves he isn't totally worthless in the end. 

Like with the first one, it would be nice if there was more of an explanation with Nega. Also, while I like that some characters get "the full story" and others think it's just Eggman, I think Sonic should have at least been suspicious. Considering Heroes and the first Rivals, being fooled a 3rd time makes the Sonic seem like an idiot. 

Music and Sound Effects

The music is pretty harsh and not very memorable. The Mystic Haunt one was okay. "Race to Win" is awesome/impressive for a handheld, but it could get annoying being in the first level. 

One of the main advantages in comparison to the last Rivals game and the Rush series is that the cutscene audio is not as limited. Whereas previous games just had small clips ("getreadytobeschooled," etc), every character had several sayings and spoke during the cutscenes. Though the cutscenes were still limited, it was nice to actually hear the characters talk.    

Mike Pollock handles the shift between Eggmans with ease. Pete Capella seemed to perfect his version of Silver, which wasn't that bad to begin with. I've begun to wonder if it was maybe a script issue rather than voice acting, but this is another case where Kathleen Delaney's Rouge voice better than in Sonic X. Amy Palant's Tails has the opposite effect, though. Her voice for him was great in season 3 but seemed higher-pitched in the games for some reason. Most of the voice acting was perfect, and the cast did a good job. 

Metal Sonic had no voice, so he was basically voiced by Eggman, lol. 

Final Thoughts

• This is a good game for those who like the characters and their various personalities and abilities. However, Sonic's own role isn't the biggest.
• I liked that even though, for example, Shadow and Rouge were not allies in this game, they weren't at each others' throats, either. The same could be said for Knuckles among Sonic/Tails.    
• It would have been interesting to see a Rivals 3 (---with Blaze the Cat). Maybe they could have upgraded things. 
• The races in Sonic Generations were inspired from these.   
• Silver calling Tails HALF-PINT is the best Silver quote. "It's no use" is nothing. 

 

Final Ranking: C 

This is another case where the characters make the game very enjoyable, but eliminating that does not leave much behind. Barfy graphics, cute plot. 

Okay, I guess he noticed the laugh was off...

ShtH is Better than Heroes (Conclusion)

I like Sonic Heroes. It's a good character driven game and introduced some fascinating concepts. Unfortunately while it easily snags the title of "fan-favorite," Shadow the Hedgehog is teased. 

Heores was good, but it was not without it's flaws. ShtH had it's own problems, but overall it was a better game than Heroes: 

• Part 1--Attitude
• Part 2--Gameplay
• Part 3--Conflict
• Part 4--Scoring
• Part 5--Music
• Part 6--Levels
• Part 7--2-player
• Part 8--Main Character
• Part 9--Missions
• Part 10--Replay

Shadow was more experimental. It was character driven, but in a different way. Instead of focusing on the power of team work, its themes expanded to identity, revenge vs justice, and right vs wrong. 

Best way to use a keyboard.

I don't think ShtH was perfect, but it does not deserve to be treated like a big joke. They went overboard with the "edgy" qualities and over-dramatized the guns. No one complained about the GUNS in Sonic Forces because they were unrealistic and called a silly name (Wispon). The guns in ShtH were not realistic in the slightest: oversized, alien, and...whatever the heck the Omachao gun is. They were fun and helped differ the game from a typical Sonic one (though as a reminder, Gamma!). The game is not nearly as over-the-top as the intro.  

HUGE, CARTOONISH GUN

Between the two, there were many parts I felt tied. Graphics are practically the same. The plot varies--while the end twist was better in Heroes I'm not sure that applies to the whole game (a letter from Eggman saying he's taking over the world, seriously? Alien invasion was an epic way to start in comparison). Voice Acting also varied--for many of the original cast Heroes was their best game and for the 4kids ShtH was maybe their worst. However Charmy's voice in ShtH was still better than his original voice, and the same could be said about many other characters. Most notably with Shadow...David Humphrey was great, but Jason Griffith immediately matched the character perfect. Ryan Drummond was doing his best take on Sonic at that point, though. So those were all debatable points that I felt neither "won."

  

Shadow the Hedgehog still beat Heroes in many other categories, with replay value being the most notable. Again, while I don't hate Heroes, I don't think it quite deserves the credit it gets. Meanwhile ShtH deserves a lot more. 

A step farther: Shadow the Hedgehog deserves a sequel. Tails and Knuckles are good characters but to have them go solo would be out of character nowadays. Silver's backstory(s) are too unclear. I'd like to see a Blaze spin-off maybe the most, but she lacks the popularity and is not as easily recognized. 

Shadow can go off on his own, has clear origins, and is "the 2nd most popular character in the canon." Sonic 06 improved from Shadow the Hedgehog, and Forces showed there's still a chance for the character. If he were to star in his own title they could fix their mistakes while keeping what made the game fun. Unfortunately, Sega no longer takes risks, and a spin-off starring another character, Shadow or otherwise, WILL NEVER HAPPEN. We can hope for another "episode/story," though...     

ShtH is Better Than Heroes (Part 10)

REPLAY

Sonic Heroes tried to do some small things to keep it playable past the story, but it was easy to immediately loose interest. Shadow's unique style guaranteed a difference, though. 

Heroes

A lot of Heroes' extra features come at the cost of emblems or A-Ranks, which are not easy to get. As covered last post, the missions are another alternative option, but there's no real motivation to play them. 

With the different teams and emeralds, finishing the game is a bit more challenging than others. Still, once it's done it's not quite the same. While a fan of the levels and characters will want to return, the complex gameplay elements (fly, make a wind tornado, etc), missions (Chaotix), and length (levels) make it have less appeal. 

Shadow

Shadow's story and mission layout create endless possibilities over 300 combinations. The paths lead to the same six choices, yet the shape of that path can be changed with ease. 

The locations have their challenges, but they aren't forced, either, since the missions are technically optional. There is a large amount of characters, but you don't see them all at once like Heroes. One could play an entire storyline without encountering Rouge, or another without encountering Tails. The only constant characters are Sonic and Black Doom since they both appear in the first level. The simple controls also aid this game in comparison to Heroes. 

Also, since the game has a fast start (alien invasion!) it's easier to return to than Heroes' slower, drawn-out plot. Seeing Shadow's different personalities and actions (such as sparing or eliminating Eggman) is an added bonus. 

Outside of the story, A-Ranks are more realistic and so is expert mode, giving gamers more to do.     

So...

Shadow the Hedgehog has a longer lasting effect than Heroes, or most other Sonic games. 

In the "classic" days level design and different pathways helped keep the game fresh. The transitional era had interesting locations but mainly only one way to go. Shadow used its missions, characters, and story to solve this problem. 

SthH is better than Heroes (Part 9)

Part 9: Missions

Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Heroes has some similar ideas, but executed them differently. 

In Heroes, most of the teams simply had to make it to the goal in time, but Team Chaotix was cursed with a different outcome: doing random errands for their client. Eggman fully deserved the beating Charmy gave him.

In most of these levels the team would have to collect, interact with, or destroy something. For example, in Mystic Mansion they have to blow out all of the red torches. While the idea of exploration was nice for Knuckles and Rouge in the Adventure series, those two had different gameplay and an area designed differently to take advantage of that. 

Of course Seaside Hill for Chaotix is the same for them as with any other group...except they have to collect crabs! 

While the challenge kept them unique, some stages were better than others.

Additionally each level has an alternate goal for each team. Team Sonic, for example, has to complete the stage in a given time. They aren't very fun and seem tiresome. Except for emblems and A-ranks, there's not a real reason to work on them. 

Things are different in Shadow the Hedgehog. The missions are always optional, though they have to be completed in order to get any ending other than the pure neutral ones. Almost every stage therefore has the possibility to simply get to the goal in time.  

While similar to the Chaotix's style, there is more variety. Sometimes Shadow has to destroy a certain amount of enemies, or in other cases he has to take out a large tank or blimp. Similar to "Find the Lost Chao," Amy asks him to find Cream and then Cheese. Eggman asks Shadow to activate defense systems for him while Maria wants to help injured researchers in The Doom. There are more options and they fit the plot. They don't seem as random or demeaning. 

It also makes for good contrast, like in Central City where he has to either activate or sweep up bombs.  

Not all of them are easy. Both Black Doom and Espio expect a lot in Mad Matrix, and let's not forget finding the computer room with Vector. Still, it's balanced out by other stages. In the Ark Shadow can either shoot down the space colony's defenses or ride a Black Arms bird-thing around. Tails asks for help collecting rings in a stage where ringing a bell gives 50. 

Missions can be interesting and can reflect how well a player knows the game. However I'm a fan of options rather than requirements, and that makes ShtH the batter choice by far.    

ShtH is Better than Heroes (Part 8)

 Part 8: The Main Character

Sonic Heroes was a game that highlighted the benefits of trusting one another and teamwork while the less clear-cut Shadow the Hedgehog explored the trust's good and bad consequences. 

While Heroes did a great job with balancing the amount of characters fit into the game, Sonic himself was mostly just another Team leader. Shadow the Hedgehog, as the title suggests, was more focused on Shadow despite the inclusion of many other characters. 

The story for Team Hero is pretty simple. The rapport between Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails is the main attraction, perhaps highlighted best during the actual stages. In the story, though, there's little difference to make Sonic's role stand out. 

This is the first time he's taken his role-model position to the next level, actually leading Tails and Knuckles. Unfortunately the shift seems to go unnoticed. 

There is a moment of interest where Sonic admits he might not have made it to the end without Tails and Knuckles, but it's quickly replaced with in the Last Story with cheesy comments about the powers of team work and being "Sonic Heroes!"    

The Last Story was a great opportunity to contrast Sonic with his Metal double. That can be done with voice acting, appearance, and even "What I'm Made Of." But it's just not apart of the script or story. 

In Shadow the Hedgehog any path taken is about character development. Now, this game doesn't get too much weight for this because most of it is not CANON. Even if it's not all "real," it was still an important step forward.

In Heroes, Shadow worked with Omega and Rouge to track Eggman. Then he even suggested helping Team Hero in the ending. However, the game left many unresolved questions and used amnesia as an excuse to avoid them.  

The first cutscene establishes some important changes since Sonic Heroes. Mainly that he remembers a variation of Maria's death, but also that now (alone/no purpose) he's haunted and needs answers. Suspiciously Black Doom shows up at this exact moment and tells Shadow to go get the Chaos Emeralds.  

Shadow starts as neutral as possible. He's not aligned with a any character yet, not even Black Doom ("like it or not I have to believe him"). The reason he calls the humans pathetic is because his promise to Maria is lost in his head, replaced with GUN soldiers shooting her. He has no obligation to them--or hatred for them, at the start.

The game takes some unique twists, but mainly Shadow is good, bad, or neutral. 

• In "good" cutscenes Shadow doesn't like to admit weakness or friendship, but he shows respect where it's due. 
• The "neutral" cutscenes range from complete confidence to total depression. 
• The "bad" ones reveal that while Shadow can be loyal, he can also be a dangerous rebel. Either way he runs on ambition and a desire for revenge. 

The true end reveals a Shadow that's tired of being manipulated and just wants to move on. So he says goodbye to who ever he used to be and decides to "Never Turn Back." 

In Shadow the Hedgehog the supporting cast was the supporting cast. That was it. Sonic Heroes could have been Vector Heroes or Rouge Heroes or Amy Heroes because the attention was so divided. If it were a spin-off, it'd probably fine. But, again, it's a main game. In fellow multi-story main games like Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, or even Sonic 06, Sonic seemed to get the last moment to reveal something about his own character, like running off instead of taking credit, like saying goodbye to his than-dead rival, or even carefully watching a hint of a another life drift away.  

More centric, Shadow the Hedgehog was about Shadow. It showed sides to the character never seen before and sometimes never seen again, all while aiming to reestablish Shadow's role.      

Shth is Better than Heroes (Part 7)

2-Player

YOU MAY LOOK LIKE ME BUT I KNOW YOU'RE JUST A FAKE

Alright, this is a simple and sometimes unnecessary element, but it's been popping up in games since the original sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Both Sonic Heroes and Shadow the Hedgehog feature a "multiplayer" mode (with another controller, not online). 

Heroes, first.

Heroes has a couple different options, which at at a glimpse seems to be to it's advantage. Reaching the goal first, gathering rings, using the Bobsled and Special Stages...

Contrary to that idea, the differences in gameplay and goals are a mistake, here. For side missions and stages in general, it makes sense. However, to welcome a second player is to also welcome a new player. 

Heroes' is going to be a challenge for any new player, possibly even for returning players. So while player 1 is a genius at switching between flight, speed, and strength, player 2 is going to fall behind and get frustrated. 

The main way for this mode to work is if "Player 2" is already experienced with the game. 

Another con is that many of the choices are not available right way--the player has to get emblems, and Heroes isn't very generous with it's unlockables. 

Shadow 

Shadow the Hedgehog is rather simple: kill the other player first. Not very exciting, but what justifies it is the tie-into the plot of game (and to an extent, Sonic Heroes) by making the characters "Shadow Androids." Various versions of Shadow who believe they are the real Shadow.   

Like with Heroes, it works best with someone familiar with the game, yet victory for a new player is still a possibility. There are a few locations based on areas in the game but not the same exact layout, posing more of a challenge for "Player 1." Also, since some of the Androids already have arms (pun intended) the shooting-element should be fairly straight forward. 

As an added bonus, every side character--save hovering Charmy Bee and Black Doom ("Doom's Eye")--can be controlled with a second controller during the stages. This allows someone to potentially help with the mission or a boss fight, reminiscent of Sonic 2. It's not perfect, but it is a cool concept and something I'd like to see more often.     

So...

With online mode and wireless controllers, the days of friendly competition and sibling rivalries over video games seems to have morphed. In the early 2000s, though, it was a factor that helped build value, and something that should not be overlooked when considering older games.  

Neither of are the best in the series, but ShtH's different approach worked better than Heroes'.

Sonic Battle Review

Summary

Underrated and too easily forgotten. 

 

Plot and Characters

Battle is a great example of combining an easy-going, comedic atmosphere and one that's more thoughtful and concerning. 

Sonic's story is a lead-in, and as a whole not too involved plot-wise, but it sets up the basics and transitions the player into learning how to play. It's important, looking back, for both initially establishing Emerl as a "worthless" robot and creating a link (pun!) between Sonic and Emerl. 

Honestly, Tails and Rouge's stories were rather lame and the characters were probably better outside of their stories (as support) rather than as main characters. Meanwhile Knuckles and Amy each had a funny element to theirs and it kept the story moving while developing Emerl. 

The lengths that Cream and Emerl are willing to go to for each other in Cream's story is sweet. Also on the deeper side, Shadow's story debates "weapons" and purpose. The most emotional of the 8, Emerl's story shows how far the robot has come, the relationships he has formed, and the impact he leaves behind. 

Overall this is one of the best handheld plots, if not one of the best in general. 

Gameplay and Controls

Since this was released on the Gameboy, the controls should be simple. However, there are many combinations, even with only mainly A, B, and the D-pad. Though a new player should have plenty of opportunities to master this combination (as with any fighting-type game) it can be overwhelming.  

It plays out much better than other methods (such as those seen in Sonic Chronicles) though it can easily lead to frustration. Since every level is virtually the same, it can also lead to annoyance and/or boredom. 

While it's a fair fighting game, it's a fighting game, making this more of a spin-off in gameplay. 

Music and Sound Effects

The music is not as good quality and can get annoying. Seems kind of loud/harsh in some cases, but it can still be enjoyable. For example, I like the Battle elements mixed with Green Hill (for Green Hill). Fairly good tempo, which is important since every level is a fight, but some of the lower quality/high pitched parts can get irritating.  

Though they were limited to select phrases, the voice cast did an exceptional job. Everyone sounds in character and has the right energy, making lines like "Time to Party!" "Stone Fists!" and "Didn't even break a sweat!" memorable. 

The effects for the moves were unique and work fine except for the annoying beeping with one of Gamma's moves. 

Visuals and Design

The "Sonic Advance" type of sprites have actually aged well. It may have been more primitive, but it looks a lot better than other 3D sprites. The amount of variety in how the attacks are portrayed (as well as the variety in attacks) is admirable. 

The character/cutscene art is accurate, but some characters like Rouge only have 2 different expressions while others have more like 4. The maps are colorful, though it is a bit off (would Angel Island really be so close to Central City, etc). I think the "Club Rouge" idea was interesting. 

The locations during the battles, however, leave much to be desired. Rather lame, most have rectangles or squares that get in the way. Ultimately the background can be a nuisance. 

Final Thoughts

• Using the cheat codes and getting Emerl's special moves are very important because the final boss is very hard. 
• Tails' stupid virtual training is insane. 
• There is a TERRIBLE challenge Rouge gives Emerl, which is torture and/or impossible without any good special moves. 
• It's annoying when the cutscene makes it seem like you're about to fight 1 enemy but somehow you're fighting 3.  
• Editing/collecting skills with Emerl was kinda' like a precursor to the Avatar (Forces).  
• The Gerald's journals were a fascinating addition. 
• There has been confusion over when this game is set, and I think after Shadow the Hedgehog makes the most sense. 
• In Japan it was released before Heroes, but Shadow's reappearance as well as allusions to Team Dark imply it was after that game. 
• In America it was released after Heroes. 
• However, Shadow is not suffering from Amnesia as he was in Sonic Heroes-Shadow the Hedgehog, further implying the game is set sometime after the Black Arms invasion, but before the events of Sonic Advance 3 and than assumingly before Sonic Rush-forward. 
• The Sonic Battle Arc of Sonic X was important for Cream and strengthened her character. However, it's a much looser adaptation than the adventure sagas, and I wish that was more well-known.

Ranking (S is best, E is worst): B

This game has a touching story and some notable character development. However, it also suffers poorer quality elements and tedious difficulty levels. Among portable and main games alike, it does not fit in as well because of its different gameplay.

While the the characters and plot is certainly A-rank (maybe S-Rank) worthy, the rest of it tilts more average, resulting in a modest B. 

BLACK KNIGHT