The third Sonic the Hedgehog movie may not be the last. In a recent interview, director Jeff Fowler hinted that the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will include another character tease, set?ting things up for a potential fourth film.

Fowler revealed the news while speaking with Entertainment Weekly. While discussing what's next for the film franchise, Fowler said the third movie will have a post-credit scene featuring a new character. While he doesn't outright confirm a Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Sonic 3 will offer some kind of hint as to where the series ?can go.

"It's fun to see the fan debates online about who's coming up next, who's going to be teased at the end of the film," Fowler told Entertainment Weekly. "We have a lot of? the same conversations. We've all got our favorites on the filmmaking side, and we're all making great cases for 'it should be this one or that one.' It is fun to keep that anticipation. This movie is no different i??n terms of teasing new characters."

There's no slowing down for Sonic and friends

It's pretty much tradition now for the Sonic movies to include a sequel tease. The first movie offered a glimpse of Miles "Tails" Prower (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) right at the end, setting him up as the deuteragonist for the sequel. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 happily surprised viewers and fans with their first look at Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves), who'll act as th?e antagonist of the? third movie.

Naturally, that leaves us wondering: Who's on the docket for Sonic 3? I, for one, believe the prophecy will be fulfilled as Big the Cat appropriately enters the big screen �maybe. It could be Metal Sonic if the bot doesn't appear in the third movie, but having another anti-Sonic may start getting stal??e. We might get Chaos (no, not those), which could move the focus back to Knuckles and the Master Emerald. There's a chance it'll be Amy the Hedgehog, turning the trio into a quartet. But it's too early to say for sure.

We'll know for sure once Sonic the Hedgehog 3 zips into theaters on December 20, 2024.

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The "Year of Shadow" has hit its first snag. Sonic x Shadow Generations leaks have popped across the Internet a few days shy of the game's October 25, 2024 release date. If you're a spoiler-avoidant Sonic the Hedgehog fan, now might be a good time to curl up.

Shadow Generations has made its way onto emulators early.

The Nintendo Switch build of Sonic x Shadow: Generations seems to be the source of most, if not all, of the leaks we're seeing. While gameplay screenshots from Generations' new Shadow's storyline have been drifting in for at least a week, the more advanced leaks we've seen over the last few days seem to have started with a YouTuber named Vexi.

Based on a statement in the description page of their first Generations leak video, Vexi somehow got the game's Switch build early and ran it on an emulator. It's impossible to tell w??hat Switch emulator Vexi played the game on, but the footage's high frame rate leads me to suspect it's one of the higher-quality ones, like Ryujinx or Suyu.

Vexi isn't the only one posting Generations leaks. Extensive gameplay videos, cutscene captures, and even unedited footage of the game's final boss fight and ending are cropping up on YouTube and X (the messaging app formally known as Twitter.) The Sonic fandom's reactions to this leak ??have been pretty ?mixed. Some fans are barreling toward the leaks like moths to a flame; others are lying low, trying their best to avoid spoilers, waiting patiently to experience the game's biggest twists when it's officially released.

Sonic x Shadow Generations spoilers are only going to get worse from here

Unfortunately, as is usually the case with leaks of this magnitude, things will only get worse for Generations players hoping to go into the game spoiler-free from here. Early access for Sonic x Shadow Generations: Digital Delux Edition will start tomorrow, and players who purchased it will be free to upload content from their game playthroughs onto social media. So far, SEGA has done nothing to stop the flood of Generations leaks already pouting in, so I seriously doubt they will act any differently once the Digitial Delux Edition goes live.

How to avoid Spnic X Shadow Generations leaks and spoilers

Avoiding spoilers is never a walk in the park, especially when you share fandom with people who don't care about being spoiled and assume everyone else feels the same way. If you want to go into Generations blind, I'd recommend steering clear of social media for a few days. Block any hashtags related to Sonic x Shadows Generations and tell YouTube not to recommend Generations videos to you. If you're careful, you should be able to stay spoiler-free until Generations officially drops.

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Sonic X Shadow Generations' latest trailer shed light on the Sonic Generations remaster's Shadow-centric storyline. Hidden amongst glimpses of a biblically accurate Black Doom and Shadow’s groundbreaking new “Doomâ€?powers were hints that the game will confirm a theory that the Sonic fandom has been kicking a?round for years.

Sonic Generations' Time Eater is a mystery Sonic fans are desperate to solve

For those who haven’t played Sonic Generations since its initial release, the game’s time-twisting story is kicked into motion by the Time Eater, the latest in a long line of ancient, eldritch horrors co-opted by Sonic’s perennial arch-enemy, Dr. Eggman. Unlike Sonic Adventure’s Chaos or Sonic Unleashed’s Dark Gaia, the Time Eater doesn't have any apocalyptic prophecy or ancient mythology associated with it: its lore starts and ends with? Eggman finding it in space and using it to strand Son??ic and his friends across time and space.

The Time Eater’s utter lack of a backstory has been a bee in the Sonic fandom’s collective bonnet for years. As is often the case with “official series canon gaps,�many fan theories have formed around the Time-Eater and its nebulous origins. One of the most popular theories argues Sonic Generations isn’t even the Time-Eater’s deb?ut, that its existence is a lingering relic of Sonic’s most infamous adventure.

The Time Eater might be another name for Sonic's darkest enemy

Sonic fans hate almost everything about 2006’s Sonic the Hedgehog, more commonly known as Sonic �6. Everything except for Mephilles the Dark, the game’s main villain. One of two entities born from the splintered form of the sun god Solaris (yeah, this will be a bumpy ride), Mephill??es embodies the fallen divinity’s calculating mind. Thanks to some time travel shenanigans, Mephilles assumed the visage of a crystalline clo??ne of Shadow and dedicated every second of his existence to reclaiming his original form.

Mephilles is widely regarded as one of Sonic �6’s only highlights. His design is memorable, his line delivery is delightfully Shakespearian, and he even has a surprisingly unsettling leitmotif that underscores most of his scenes. Unfort??unately, the game's story ends with a paradox that wipes him out of existence, and he’s only made minor cameo appea??rances since. Unless you believe the “Time-Eater is Mephillies theory,�that is.

This theory has no official name, but the one I use sums it up pretty succinctly. It suggests that the remnants of Mephiles/Solaris somehow re-entered the timeline after Sonic '0??6 removed itself from the continuity, decaying and mutating into the Time-Eater. Typically, this is where I’d say this is “just a theory,�but one of modern Sonic’s chief architects has noted that, as far as he’s concerned, that’s t??he truth.

Ian Flynn, the lead writer of Archie and IDW’s Sonic the Hedgehog comics and screenwriter of Sonic Frontiers, said in a 2012 blog post that he t??hinks Mephlllies is, in fact, the Time ?Eater. In the post, Flynn outlines the critical evidence backing this theory, highlighting the similarities between their time-manipulating powers and their shared affinity for black and violet. He even pointed out that the area leading up to the Time Eater’s boss fight in Sonic Generations is littered with f?laming torches, a potential nod to Mephilles�status as a fallen sun god.

Ian Flynn's in the perfect position to make the Time Eater Mephilles theory reality

Most Sonic fans have been endorsing Flynn’s theory on the Time Eater for?? years, but the new Sonic X Shadow Generations trailer has given them even more reason to wonder. Not only did it confirm that Mephilles is returning as a boss in Shadow’s storyline, but it also ended with an ominous shot of the Time Eater laughing sinisterly as the black hedgehog discovers a still-alive Maria and Gerald Robotnik in White Space.

Knowing how much Sonic writers love to dredge up Shadow’s trauma, his reunion with Marai and Gerald probably will not end well for ??the parties involved. While Eggman commands the Time Eater, he cares about Gerald and Maria, so I doubt he’d pull his grandfather and cousin through time to mess with Shadow. Mephillies�is another story.

Shadow holds more responsibility for Mephilles�defeat than any other character in Sonic �6, and unlike Eggman, there’s no depth he?? won’t sink to get what he wants. If he wants to hurt Shadow, I can’t think of a better way to do it than by forcing him to see the two people he cares about most meet their tragic fates all over again. It’s possible, if not likely, that Mephilles/Time Eater also brought Black Doom back, setting the stage for one of the gnarliest father-son reunions in video game history.

Ian Flynn is the head writer for Shadow Generations, and one of his chief talents as a writer is revisiting and revitalizing unresolved plot threads within the Sonic mythos. With that in mind, I think one of the wi??ldest Sonic fan theories is about to become canon lore. 

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I never imagined Sonic the Hedgehog would become the star of a cinematic universe, but here we are. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is whipping out the big guns, pitting Sonic against his greatest rival in a big-budget adaptation of the storyline that forever changed the Blue Blur's video game series.

Hot off the heels of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (and the Paramount+ meme-fest that is Knuckles), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sees Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves) emerge from the, well, shadows, to menace the world. As the film's surprisingly epic trailer explains via voiceover, Shadow was born out of Project Shadow, a sinister government operation with shocking ties to Sonic's (Ben Schwartz) archenemy, Dr. Robotnik ?(Jim Carrey).

Project Shadow is a pivotal moment in the Sonic series' deceptively expansive lore, weaving plot threads the franchise still follows today. Whether you're a Sonic veteran looking for a refresher or a newer fan wondering what the actual heck's happening in Sonic 3, I've got the answers you seek.

Project Shadow's video game history

Introduced as the inciting incident of Sonic Adventure 2, Project Shadow is the stuff of conspiracy theorists' wildest dreams. Started by the United Federation, Project Shadow was a research program created with the outbound goal of achieving immortality. Of course, being a top-secret study funded by multiple superpowers, Project Shadow had ??a secret aim: creating the ultimat??e lifeform.

Knowing they’d need the finest mind in the world to pull off this ambitious scientific endeavor, the United Federation sought none other than Robotnik’s grandfather, Gerald. Gerald had a personal reason to accept the U.F.’s proposal: his ?granddaughter, Maria, suffered from a fatal genetic condition?? that only something as radical as Project Shadow could hope to cure.

Gerald’s research, conducted inside an orbital medical center named Space Colony ARK, didn’t go well initially. His early experiments birthed a runty reptile known as the Biolizard, who mutated into a? volatile monstrosity Gerald and his colleagues couldn’t control. With his superiors threatening to slash the program, it looked like Gerald’s efforts w?ould come up to nothing. Then aliens happened. Really.

Somehow, Gerald came into contact with Black Doom, the leader of a violent race of extraterrestrial conquerors known as the Black Arms. Desperate to save Maria, Gerald wrote up a devilish pact with Black Doom, offering to give the interstellar warlord control of Project Shado??w’s final product if he agreed to lend Gerald some of his bl??ood so he could complete his research. Being a complete monster bent on galactic domination, Black Doom agreed, unaware (or unconcerned) that Gerald never planned to fulfill his end of the bargain.

Using Black Doom’s DNA, Gerald finally created the ultimate lifeform: Shadow the Hedgehog, who formed a deep bond with Maria. Unfortunately, the U.F. caught wind of Shadow’s sheer destructive potential and started having second thoughts on the ?whole “unkillable bioweapon�thing. The U.F.’s military, the Guardian Units of Nations, ended up taking matters into their own hands, launching an all-out assault on the ARK. In the ensuing chaos, a G.U.N. soldier fires a fatal shot into Maria??, setting Gerald and Shadow on the path of vengeance.

Project Shadow opens up exciting opportunities for the Sonic film series

Project Shadow is one of the grimmest plot points in Sonic canon, and it looks like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will adapt it faithfully. While Gerald will appear alive and well (physically, at least) in Sonic 3, one of the final shots confirms Maria will suffer a similar fate to her game counte??rpart. These developments leave a Sonic fan like me to wonder wha??t other bits of Project Shadow lore will make it onto the big screen.

The Biolizard, Shadow’s surrogate brother, didn’t appear in Sonic 3’s trailer. However, Sonic and Shadow’s last fight against it in Sonic Adventure 2 is one of the most iconic boss battles in the series, so I’m willing to bet Sonic 3’s climax will end up using it as a template. Since Shadow gets cold feet about Gera??ld’s plan to (spoilers) crash the ARK into Earth, Gerald could call in h??is first “child�to finish the job Shadow won’t, forcing Sonic and Shadow to work together to save the world.

The Black Arms' involvement in Shadow’s creation also goes unmentioned in the trailer, which is odd since Sonic X Shadow Generations looks like it's picking this plot beat back up after almost two decades. However, that might be because Paramount wants to save that revelation for a later Sonic project. The Knuckles proved that a Sonic side-series can be successful, and I doubt the company will pass up the chance to give Reeves�S?hadow a spin-off? where he goes up against the Black Arms, fully completing his transition from villain to hero.

I’m very interested to see what Sonic 3 does with Project Shadow once the movie hits theaters ??on December 20, 2024. And now maybe yo?u are too, if you weren’t already.

The post Sonic The Hedgehog 3: What is Project Shadow? appeared first on Destructoid.

Video game-based movie adaptations often prove disastrous, but Sonic the Hedgehog managed to avoid joining that club. The? rather unsightly first looks at the titular Blue Blur broke the Internet, but Sonic (Ben Schwartz) was redesigned, his live-action blockbuster debut tur?ned out to be a massive hit, and now, his beloved video game series has become the basis for an entire franchise.

Following up both Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the Paramount+ streaming series Knuckles is Sonic the Hedgehog 3. This time around, Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves) stands as the central antagonist, giving S?onic, Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (Idris Elb??a) a run for their money. Thus, they're left little choice but to form an uneasy alliance with their longtime enemy, Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who's also set to go on quite a journey of his own.

As revealed in the Sonic 3 trailer, Robotnik will come face to face with his equally scientifically-inclined grandfather, Gerald Robotnik (Carrey). If you're not too familiar with the extensive and sometimes complicated lore of the Sonic video game franchise, but want to learn a bit about Gerald ahead of Sonic 3, you've come to the right place.

Gerald's video game history

Though his brief appearance in the inaugural Sonic 3 trailer may indicate that Gerald Robotnik is a bit of a goof, much like his grandson, that's not quite the case. Since making his debut in the 2001 platformer Sonic Adventure 2, it has consistently been shown that Gerald is a brilliant scientific mind. He was specifically sought out to lead the secretive research program Project Shadow under the direction of the United Federation. He accepts, ultimately doing so to unlock the secret to immortality. With trial and error, he eventually crea??tes Shadow th?e Hedgehog himself.

Unfortunately, his time as one of the leading minds of Project Shadow comes to a swift end. As he completes Shadow, the government gets cold feet and deems his work a? danger to humanity. This eventually leads to him being sequestered on Prison Island, where he's left with no choice but to continue his research under the government's close watchful eye. Shadow, now completed, initially escapes custody but is soon brought to Prison Island and kept in suspended animation. Dr Robotnik later releases him from this imprisonment long after Gerald loses his mind and is executed.

Maria Robotnik and the future of the Sonic film franchise

Seeing as the movies don't follow the exact canon of the games, Gerald Robotnik could be up to all sorts of things in in Sonic 3. Surprisingly, ther?e's a good chance that his story in the film could be similar to that o?f his video game counterpart.

In addition to potentially aiding in the creation of Shadow the Hedgehog, t??he plot may hint at the tragic fate of another character: his granddaughter Maria Robotnik (Alyla Browne), who has been confirmed to appear in the threequel in some capacity. She's the main motivating fa?ctor behind Gerald's decision to join Project Shadow and, unintentionally, his descent into madness.

When he signs up, she's terminally ill, and he wants to use his research to save her life. Sadly, his involvement in the program leads to the exact opposite. With Project Shadow crumbling, troops fr??om the Guardian Units of Nations, or G.U.N., are sent to the Space Colony ARK, where Geral?d is conducting his research. With armed personnel swarming, Maria and her friend Shadow are forced to flee.

Shadow makes it out, but Maria is shot and killed by an ARK soldier, which sends Gerald into a tailspin and m??anifests in his plan to destroy the world us?ing Shadow. It's entirely possible he could seek revenge for her death in the film and use Shadow as the means to do so, or she has yet to be killed and will be over the course of the film, setting up a fourth movie.

All in all, Gerald Robotnik, despite not being the most well-known character in the Sonic canon, remains one of its most vital. It will be interesting to see how he's used on the big screen when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 premieres on December 20, 2024.

The post Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Who is Gerald Robotnik? appeared first on Destructoid.

Although the summer of gaming showcases wrapped up with presentations from Nintendo and Limited Run Games this week, Sonic the Hedgehog fans had been hoping to see Sega air one of its Sonic Central sh?owcases, especially with it being Sonic's birthday on June 23. Unfortunately, the company has recently confirmed it has no such presentation planned at all this month.

As spotted by Sonic Stadium, social media and community manager Katie Chrzanowski made a point of confirming this during a recent livestream to celebrate the anniversary of the Sonic series. That's not to say there couldn't be one later in the year but, for now, "There's not one happening this ??month... We don't have news on when a Son??ic Central is going to be."

You can't blame fans for expecting a Sonic showcase of some kind in June considering Sega has been holding them regularly the last few years, with last year's one even taking place on Sonic's birthday. Admittedly, these showcases don't quite rival the hype of a Nintendo Direct, but they've still offered some neat updates on whatever Sonic related projects were in the pipeline.

The second half of 2024 is slated to be a big one for the franchise since not only is there a remaster of Sonic Generations coming out in October, but t?he third l??ive-action movie is scheduled for December. And both of these projects will prominently feature fan-favorite Shadow the Hedgehog, who's making quite the comeback this year. Admittedly, Sega debuted a new trailer and further details on Sonic X Shadow Generations during Summer Game Fest this month. As much as I want to see even more of that game, we've probably had our fill for the time being. However, details on the third movie are shockingly slim; there hasn't even been a?? proper trailer for it, meaning we know next to nothing about its general plot. A brief trailer was shown to attendees at CinemaCon in April, but it was never uploaded afterwar??ds for everyone else to see.

Even if a Sonic Central had taken place this month, though, it's unlikely it would've included a movie? trailer based on previous showcases. The first movie had already premiered before the first Sonic Central ever aired, and the second movie's debut trailer was shown during The Game Awards 2021. As such, any June Sonic Central may have teased the upcoming movie, but not shared any major news about it. Although this only begs the question of when and where Sega and Paramount intended on talking about the movie, especially with it coming out in six months.

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With two movies, a successful 3D outing, and a newly launched TV series, Sonic the Hedgehog has seen a much-needed resurgence. So, Google Play celebrating the B??lue Blur with fun Sonic trivia sounds appropriate and good fun. Except that everything the big, search company posted was bafflingly wrong.

On April 27, Google Play took a shot at sharing some interesting Sonic factoids in a thread on X. It began with the somewhat odd message of "Sonic, but as you scroll he gets older and older." Maybe that should have been a warning. What foll??owed was a fever dream of wildly incorrect facts, inviting even the official Sonic ac??count to step in and ask what the hell was going on.

Sonic fans swiftly arrive to correct the king of search with their own fact-finding

It all fell apart with ?the first fact post. Unwarranted jabs at Sonic's potbelly notwithstanding, the company appropriat??ely began with a fact about the original game.

"1991 Sonic," the message star??ted. "The cover? Rotund. Husky. Still fast as lightn??ing. The actual game? 8-bit GLORY."

Right. Where do I start? In fairness, most of this fact is true; Sonic is quick and pudgy, and his outing began in 1991. But the game launched on the 16-bit Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, which left the 8-bit systems in the dust. The image paired with the words is also wrong. As X users quickly pointed out in the context window, the screenshot Google Play shared was from the 2013 mobile port of Sonic the Hedgehog 1.

At first blush, it's innocent enough of a mistake for casual researchers navigating unf??amiliar zones. But this is an official Google account. Oh, and it gets worse. So mu??ch worse.

There are eight (EIGHT) posts much like the above, each one hilariously wrong. I mean, even the joke about MSCHF boots is dubious, especially if it's referring to the $350 Big Red Boot that would look more in line with?? what Astro Boy rocks rather than Sonic's kicks.

Sonic fans rushed to add context to each image in Google's concerning experiment. But context be damned in the truly hopeless cases. Feel free to absorb this shot of Sonic Prime, mutilated by what could be an AI tool in an attempt to force poor Bi??g the Cat to shuck his mortal coil:

It didn't take long?? for the thread to draw t?he eyes of even the official X account for Sonic the Hedgehog, which appeared a bit worried.

As another X user pointed out, this isn't the first time Google Play has been mistaken about Sega's mascot. In 2020, the company shared a post that challenged users to guess the name of a game based on a blurry gif and a musical jingle. The game was obviously Sonic the Hedgehog, but it was paired with a pixel tune that had existed nowhere in the franchise. Someone later discovered where the song came from, and, no, it had nothing to do with Sonic.

I suggest you check out the thread in its entirety. It's utterly bonkers in all the right ways. This, frie??nds, is art.

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Many video game characters are present in our minds every day, due to our beloved memories of playing their games or their iconic personalities. From Vault Boy's memorable smile to Mario's bright overalls, here are the most iconic video game charact?ers, ranked.

10. Vault Boy

This could be recency bias, but Vault Boy is much more iconic than he used to be, partially thanks to the Amazon Fallout TV show. This figure is seen in the fictional propaganda from the United States government, before the universe's nuclear fallout occurred. He adorns all the tutorials for players in the game and has a s?mile that you can't forget.

He's on shirts, mugs, and there are many toys based on the character, including an odd rubber duck figure. Overall, his design works so well because he perfectl?y encapsulates the cheesy advertising we'd expect from the mid-20th century to an almost creepy extent.

9. Crash Bandicoot

WOAH! Crash Bandicoot is the first PlayStation mascot who truly?? took a sta??nd to Nintendo's might. Calling out Nintendo outside their HQ with a speakerphone in an infamous ad campaign, this marsupial is an iconic character from the '90s.

The difficult, yet well-crafted level design in his PS1 trilogy of games made him stand out even more. His tongue-in-cheek attitude was more appealing to older fans who have moved on from Nintendo, and while he's less in the limelight nowadays, Crash Bandicoot's remake N'Sane Trilogy sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

8. Cloud Strife

He's dreamy. He's strong. But most of all, Final Fantasy 7's Cloud is iconic to many, especially those who grew up during the original PlayStation era. With his impressive Buster Sword, he is a mighty hero facing a devastating villain known as Sephiroth. He may be tough and quiet in the beginning, but as the story unveils itself, he becomes a relatable hero as he learns to open up more. The spiky yellow hair and green eyes also make him stand out among the rest, especially with his updated appearance in Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

7. Link

The Hero of Time is an iconic character within the gaming landscape. His green tunic, Hylian Shield, and of course the Master Swo??rd are all distinct visual signifiers in their own right.

Link acts as our view into the world of The Legend of Zelda. And yes, he might not speak a single word??, but Nintendo captures his personality through his yells and physical communication. The blonde hero solves tough puzzles with cool items, gadgets, masks, and more, and triumphs over evil in the end.

6. Lara Croft

While many scoff at BAFTA's list of most iconic video game characters for having Lara Croft in first place, she is still an important figure in the industry's history. She's arguably the most popular female protagonist in video games. The Tomb Raider games were critically acclaimed and sold millions. She was featured in many advertisements for Pepsi, Lucozade, and other brands; I vividly remember seeing them as a kid. She ??even had her own movies starring the popular Angelina Jolie, in a time video game adaptations weren't common.

Lara Croft proved to many that a strong female protagonist can lead a successful video game franchise. It has sold over 95 million copies since her deb??ut in the '90s. She and her dual pis?tols are iconic.

5. Pac-Man

Before there was Mario or Sonic, Pac-Man ruled through conquering arcades. His high-score-focused game took over the world. "Pac-Man sold 400,000 gaming cabinets to arcades around the world and made $3.5 billion in lifetime sales by 1990," according to Statista.

In a world before consoles, that's a huge number. While his presence isn't as well-known nowadays, you can still buy plenty of merchandise from stores like a Lego version of the cabinet, watch his Disney TV show, and of course, play the exciting World's Largest Pac-Man in modern arcades today. He even got a cameo spot as a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character.

4. Master Chief

Locked and loaded, Master Chief took over the gaming zeitgeist when Halo: Combat Evolved was released in 2001. This armored hero has been Xbox's figurehead for over two decades, leading one of the most popular sci-fi ??storylines in gaming. The green suit and visor is iconic, as millions of players stepped into his boots for the campaign and took p?art in online multiplayer. He is a figurehead for the Xbox era of gaming, as we shifted more towards multiplayer.

The Super Bowl Halo 3 trailer still stands as some of the best marketing a game has received with impressive vi?suals, and ??Master Chief right in the center of the action. He's a badass.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog

Going "faster, faster, faster" has always been riveting in the Sonic the Hedgehog games. Sonic's depicted as the "cool" mascot next t??o Nintendo's cheerful Italian plumber. He spins on the floor, can dash through the air at breakneck speeds, and runs around the Green Hill Zone with no problem. He even wags his tail at the title screen and taps his foot if you leave the game idle.

Most of his games, especially the original tetralogy, have memorable stages, music, and boss battles that remain in our memories. He's even a popular movie character, making over $700 million at the box office with two films. A third Sonic film is on the way, with Keanu Reeves voicing Shadow. Sonic is likely to spindash on our consoles and mobile systems fo??r many more decades to come.

2. Pikachu

The most ador??able creature ever created, Pikachu, takes the second spot. Characterized heavily by the anime in popular culture, this Pokémon is beloved for its bright red cheeks, lightning (or heart)-shaped tail, and cute voice by the talented Ikue Ōtani. You just want to reach out to this electrical mouse and pet its fur, hence why so much merchandise like plush has been released.

This particular creature is so popular that it has five of its own games: Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Let's Go: Pikachu, Detective Pikachu, Detective Pikachu Returns, and the infamous Hey You, Pikachu! The last game has you speak to the Poké??mon through a microphone and interact with it on the Nintendo 64.

The electric mouse even starred in a movie, Detective Pikachu, with Ryan Reynolds lending his voice to the Pokémon. According to The Numbers, the film's box office growth is over $425 ??million. It certain?ly caught us all.

1. Mario

Wahoo! Mario is the most iconic video game character, without a doubt. He helped bring back a love for video games after the crash in the '80s with thrilling platforming and ingenious marketing. He took the world by storm with one stellar game after another. When a new mainline Mario ??game is?? announced, it's a huge deal to the gaming community.

Nintendo was "playing with power," as the Italian plumber warmed everyone's hearts with his plucky attitude and smile. He?? has remained a cultural icon, from his style to his voice, performed by Charles Martinet. The whimsical?? tone and funny Italian accent Martinet provided added so much to the role.

When Chris Pratt was announced as the voice of Mario for The Super Mario Bros. movie, almost everyone scoffed at the idea. However, the Illumination film was beloved by a wide audience around the world, breaking over $1.35 billion at the box office, according to The Numbers. Mario is simply iconic.

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After yesterday's title reveal and announcement of Jim Carrey's return for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic fans were eating well. Now, IGN revealed that six actors have been added to the cast in unknown roles, including alum from Breaking Bad, Ted Lasso, and Watchmen.

As IGN states, the upcoming third installment in the live-action Sonic The Hedgehog film series will add on Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso), Jorma Taccone (The Lonely Island), Alyla Browne (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), James Wolk (Watchmen), and Sofia Pernas (Blood & Treasure).

Alongside the new actors, all of the original cast and voice actors are returning. This includes? Ben Schwar??tz's Sonic, James Marsden's Tom, Tika Sumpter's Maddie, Idris Elba's Knuckles, Lee Majdoub's Agent Stone, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey's Tails.

Can You Feel The Sunshine?

Alyla Browne is an interesting one, considering she's the youngest of the bunch. With the movie being Shadow's full debut, it's not hard to imagine her playing his only human companion, Maria. In Sonic Adventure 2, Maria Robotnik is a terminally ill girl who conn??ects with Shadow. If they're to tell Shadow's origin story, she's a huge part of why he's the way he is.

The Sonic Adventure comparisons get larger with the addition of Krysten Ritter. The Breaking Bad and Jessica Jones actress is a big win, considering her solid resume. But what does it have to do with Sonic Adventure 2? IGN makes a slight nod to a rumor that she may play Rogue the Bat, a spy character who first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2 and has since become a staple of Sonic games.

After all this, who's playing Shadow the Hedgehog? Unfortunately, it's still under wraps at this time. But fear not, I did write a list of potential actors for the spiky anti-hero a month ago. If you want more Shadow before the film's release, SEGA just revealed Sonic X Shadow Generations, a remaster of the 2011 game.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 races into theaters on December 20 this year. Before that, a TV spinoff featuring Knuckles will launch on Paramount+ in the summer.

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This morning brought us our first Sonic the Hedgehog 3 teaser trailer, and with it, indications that Jim Carrey will retu?rn as the nefarious Dr. Robotnik.

Paramount Pictures dropped the twenty-second tease this morning which showcased the Sonic 3 logo alongside confirmation of the movie's December 2024 release date. In the background audio of the clip, you can hear Jim Carrey's disti?nct laughter as the iconic Sonic villain.

You don't have to merely go on Carrey's Doctor Eggman laugh as proof of his return. Variety also confirmed the news this morning.

Carrey, one of the most prolific comedic actors of all time, revealed in 2022 that he would be retiring from acting. Speaking to Access Hollywood, Ca?rrey stated "I’m retiring. Yeah, probably. I’m being fairly serious."

He went on to note that he likes "my quiet life." Carrey said, "If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break.�/p>

Carrey's quote came out shortly before Sonic the Hedgehog 2 went on to be wildly successful at the box office. So while the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 script likely isn't "written in gold ink," Carr????ey's paycheck to return as Dr. Robotnik just may be.

You won't have to wait until December to get your Sonic movie universe fix, though. Knuckles, a six-episode live-action series is planned for early 2024 on Paramount Plus. The series will feature Idris Elba returning to voice the warrior Echidna. It will take place between the events of the Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 movies.

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Fans excited for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 got a nice little tease today. Jeff Fowler, director of both 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog and 2022's Sonic the Hedgehog 2, published a tweet today teasing the emergence of one of the blue blur's most iconic villains, Shadow the Hedgehog in next year's Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

The point of the tweet was twofold. Fowler shared an image teasing the lower half of Sonic's genetically engineered rival, but also confirmed that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was "off and running" with development.

Shadow the Hedgehog was revealed as a tease during the conclusion of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. While his team was searching for Dr. Robotnik, G.U.N. Commander Walters was informed that a 50-year-o?ld file was found that contained coordinates to a secret site hosting something called "Project: Shadow". We then see the black hedgehog open his angry eyes within a containment cell. The background of the image Fowler posted today looks to be that very same site.

Shadow the Hedgehog originally debuted as a foil to Sonic in the Sega Dreamcast's Sonic Adventure 2. Due to? the character's popularity, he became a series mainstay, acting as an anti-hero of sorts who strives to do good but by any means necessary.

Fowler also confirmed today that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is on track for release in December of 2024. However, that won't be the next time you're able to jump back into this live-action Sonic world. Paramount confirmed in February 2022 that a live-action Knuckles series was in the works with Iris Elba returning. The studio also teased that they were planning to expand the Sonic ??live-action universe with several other ??projects as well.

The Knuckles live-action series is slated to arrive on Paramount+ early next year. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 races to theaters on December 20.

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There's a new Sonic the Hedgehog game imminent in the form of Sonic Dream Team, and now fans get a first look at the game's intro. Ahead of the game's launch, the official Sonic YouTube has revealed a stunning animated intro, with Sonic Mania artist Tyson Hesse lends ?his talent t?o the animation. 

The almost two-minute animatic pain?ts a pretty cool image of what we’ll experience come December 5.  We get a glance at Dr. Eggman’s dreamscape plus some story details. And who doesn’t like animated Sonic? Rhetorical question. Everyone loves it.

It doesn't hurt that the Sonic Dream Team intro is animated by Hesse, whose impact on the Sonic series has been nothing short of influential. Getting his start doing fan art of the self-proclaimed “Fastest Thing Alive,�he found work within the Sonic Archie comics. His classic style was loved by fans, which made his later involvement in the opening animation of Sonic Mania a feast for the eyes. Since then, he’s spearheaded tons of Sonic-based media and become a beacon for fans.  

Speed of Sound Asleep

SEGA revealed Sonic Dream Team earlier this month. It’s a 3D platformer similar to other franchise entries like last year’s Sonic Frontiers. This time, you can play on your iPhone, as Dream Team is an Apple Arcade exclusive. Sorry Android users, but robots don’t tend to be friendly to the hedgehog, as history has shown. This isn’t Sonic’s first tour on Apple Arcade, as Sonic Dash+ and Sonic Racing grace the platform. 

The story follows Sonic and his friends as they battle fearsome foes within Dr. Eggman’s twisted dreamscape (sadly not related to NiGHTS into Dreams). With the addition of Cream and Rouge, a new sheep character is introduced: Ariem. Supposedly a guardian of the ancient dream device (stolen by Eggman) called the Reverie, her appearance in the newest title will be pretty large. Personally, the Kingdom Hearts-like water dive in the beginning put new meaning into Dream Drop Distance.

Sonic Dream Team launches on December 5 on Apple Arcade.

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Sonic has been enjoying renewed popularity in recent years thanks to the two Sonic the Hedgehog movies that have become some of the highest-grossin?g video game adaptations. Sega hopes to capi??talize on this by bringing more of its franchises to a non-gaming audience.

In an interview with CNBC, Sega's chief operating officer Shuji Utsumi revealed that the platforms they are considering include movies and even Roblox. The second Sonic movie grossed an impressive ?$405.4 million, so it's no surprise that th?ey hope to replicate this success with its other IPs.

IPs that are being considered include Like a Dragon (previously known as Yakuza). An adaption could be a hit, as it already has a huge followi?ng. As Sega reveals, the franchise has sold 21.??1 million units.

Persona may also find itself on more platforms. It's easy to ??imagine it being adapted to a film series or even a television series, as the franchise already features gripping narratives and plenty of relationships and friendships to explore.

Sega denies acquisition rumors

There have been rumors that Microsoft is keen to purchase Sega, but Utsumi denies this. He ?explains that several companies are interested in acquiring Sega, and though it is an honor, he doesn't believe that "kind of transaction is going to happen."

This doesn't mean that Sega isn't planning to make some acquisitions for itself. Utsumi claims the company is still looking for growth during a time when Japanese studios are doing well while "European studios are s?truggling" following the post-COVID-19 sales decline.

We've seen some of the effects of this through the seemingly endless waves of layoffs that have struck the industry. Utsumi remains optimistic, and he believes that the future is bright so long as "you have solid development studios and also s??olid IPs."

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A mod now available for One Step From Eden lets players take control of Super Sonic in the popular deck-building roguelike. The mod, developed and released on the Steam Workshop by user SoulCakeLive, comes packa?ged with 6 spells, a weapon, and an artifact mean??t to eviscerate your foes left and right. 

“As my way of celebrating the first anniversary of #SonicFrontiers, SUPER SONIC IS NOW PLAYABLE IN @OneStepFromEden!! This includes an outfit swap for Super Sonic 2!�SoulCakeLive said on Twitter.

Super Sonic’s spell??s available in this mod include:

• Super Sonic Wind, a targeted wind ability that moves in a direct line to your opponent.
• Super Homing Shot, which sends a barrage of attacks in varying directions.
• Super Earth Crash, which halts enemies for 5 seconds.
• Maximum Avatar, which sends clones of Super Sonic to attack all enemies on the field.
• Mach Burst, which allows you to teleport to an enemy, unleashing a damaging attack.
• Time Break, which stops time for 7 seconds and allows you to unleash heck on enemies.

In addition to these spells, this mod also includes a weapon, Super Sonic Boom, which bombards enemies with a non-stop volley of attacks; and an artifact, Chaos Emeralds, which allows players to recover 20HP every ?10 seconds during battles.

Also, the mod comes with an outfit swap featuring the Super Sonic 2 design from Sonic Frontiers: The Final Horizon. So, it’s hardly your average asset swap mod, and is more akin to an additional, albeit unofficial, DLC pack for One Step From Eden. 

It would appear this pack has even been noticed by the developer, Thomas Moon Kang. In a response to the original tweet by SoulCakeLive, the account for One Step From Eden replied with “That’s super cool.�nbsp;

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Sonic and friends are back for an all-new 3D adventure...on the Apple Arcade. Announced via X (Twitter) and YouTube, SEGA and Hardlight's Sonic Dream Team will launch exclusively on Apple Arc?ade on December 5th.

According to a post via Apple, Sonic Dream Team is a new 3D action platformer that follows Sonic a??nd the gang as they stop Doctor Eggman. This time, he has discovered a dream manifestation device called The Reverie. As Sonic or a host of playable friends, folks will navigate insane dreamscapes, rescue allies, and avoid ?Eggman's goal of world domination. 

Dream Weaver

Despite the title being exclusive to Apple Arcade, Sonic Dream Team looks to be pretty fleshed out. We have our usual Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, but we also get Rouge the Bat and Cream the Rabbit (alongside Cheese the Chao). This will be Cream's first playable appearance in a main game since 2019's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

As for gameplay, it looks pretty similar to Sonic Lost World, with players being able to navigate stages freely in 3D. However, it also looks to be open world to a degree, though how vast the world may be has yet to be seen. Boss battles are also present, as we see Sonic fight a giant enemy crab (not that one) and Tails battle a laser-shooting robot. Regardless, the worlds look vibrant and fun, which is typical for a series such as Sonic the Hedgehog.

A new animation is also shown in the trailer, sporting some impressive visuals. The studio that created the animation is Powerhouse Animation Studios. They have previously animated for the Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence short and the cinematics for Sonic Origins. Outside of Sonic, Powerhouse is responsible for the Castlevania animated shows, most recently Castlevania: Nocturne.

Sonic Dream Team launches on Apple Arcade on December 5.

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I can’t remember the last time I was as upset with a game as I am with Sonic Superstars.

I don’t talk about this enough, but growing up, I was a bit of a Sonic kid. There was a time when I considered Sonic 3 & Knuckles one of the greatest games of all time, and I’ve continued to appreciate it as time goes on. That title wasn’t just great because of its finely tuned platforming mixed with breakneck speed. It also offered m?emorable levels, amazing music, unique characters that offered replay incentive, and a story with twists and turns told without w??ords.

Sonic games, at their best, are legendary. And when Sonic Mania came out back in 2017, the potential for another golden age of 2D Sonic games seemed tantalizingly real.

That brings us to Sonic Superstars, which has the key ingredients for a fantastic Sonic game. It has clean and charming visuals, some stellar music, and new innovations like Emerald Powers and four-player co-op. In fact, when I played a demo of it a few months ago, I actually really liked ?it! That slice of the game was wacky multiplayer fun, with levels that featured a lot of neat gimmicks. I’ve looked forward to playing Sonic Superstars since, and by the time I sat down with my controller in my hands, I was really in the mood for some good old classic Sonic.

This is not good old classic Sonic.

Sonic Superstars (PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 [Reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Sonic Team, Arzest Corporation
Publisher: Sega
Released: October 17, 2023
MSRP: $59.99

Get a load of this

Sonic Superstars starts off well enough. The animated intro introduces our core cast of characters as well as our villains: Eggman, Fang, and what appears to be some robot. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy are all playable from the outset, and they all control just how longtime fans would expect them to. The one slight exception is Amy, who sports her Sonic CD look and has a handy double jump. Sonic Superstars wants to evoke the Genesis Sonic g??ames, and on ??a very superficial level, it succeeds.

Much fuss is often made about the physics of Sonic games, and Superstars feels basically right in this regard. Playing on my PS5, I couldn’t directly compare it with something like Mania. But movement felt at least roughly the way it should. Gimmicks like flying around as Tails felt familiar, so my muscle memory from the Genesis days was intact. It does seem like the game borrows its core physics from Mania, with its slight changes like Knuckles having a small delay when he falls on the ground. But with how good Mania was, I'm perfectly okay with this.

Even in its first level, Superstars leaves a generally strong impression. Listening to upbeat music while spin dashing through loop-the-loops felt great. That rhythm of slow platforming building up to those moments of sheer speed gave me that classic Sonic rush. Unfortunately, shortly after this, the cracks began to show all over Superstars�design.

You’re not good enough to be my fake

Level design in Sonic Superstars is a persistent issue. Some believe Sonic games are about speed, but going fast and racking up rings is generally a reward. Those adrenaline rushes motivate you to brave trickier paths or tackle tough platforming challenges just to get to that next roller coaster. Meanwhile, in Sonic Superstars, I quickly found that the last thing I ever wanted to do was go fast.

I don’t mean through those scripted, speedy sections. Those were usually fine. But for much of the game, I found that maintaining even moderate speed consistently resulted in getting hit by something offscreen. Enemies and obstacles often appear in front of you without giving you enough time to react to them, resulting in cheap hits even when you think you’re in a safe section. Sonic Superstars is not a hard game; it’s just easy to get hit.

Superstars exasperates this issue with a few of its level-specific gimmicks as well. For example, in the jungle level, you'll grind down vines at high speeds. Great idea, except you can't enter your ball form, making you susc??eptible to any surprise enemies that pop up. In another level, a persistent countdown in the background will instantly kill you unless you hit switches throughout the level. So it's basically the mechanic of finding bubbles when you're underwater, except the distribution of those switches is really inconsistent. Even when you know the optimal path to go, juggling this mechanic doesn't really add anything other than another excuse to reset your progress.

Many levels just feel off, with uninspired gimmicks that seem like desperate attempts to make each level feel distinct. In fact, even some of those tightly scripted speedy sections spilled me right into spikes or obstacles. In classic Sonic games, I could eventually get into a sort of flow state where I was just engrossed in the level design and platforming. But with Superstars, I felt like the game always ??snapped me out of any groove I was on the verge of entering.

Chaos Control

Of course, Sonic Superstars has two new tools t?hat should, in theory, counteract some of these rough edges. The first is the Emerald Powers, which you can earn whenever you find the hidden bonus stages in each zone.

I do quite like these in concept, honestly! Whenever you acquire one, you can equip a power using the right thumbstick and activate it with the press of a button. You can use each power once, and powers replenish whenever you hit a checkpoint. Some of these can be useful. For example, the power shown in the opening cinematic that makes several clones of your character rush across the screen wor?ks as a serviceable screen clear. The bullet power, which lets you repeatedly dash in any direction (including through the air), also has decent use cases.

However, in practice, many powers add functionally nothing. On screen prompts will inform you to, say, use the water power that lets you swim up waterfalls. Outside that context, that power might as well not even exist. Another power lets players reveal secret rings and platforms that wouldn’t appear otherwise. So, obviously, unless the game tells me to use it, I’d have no idea where to use this power since it reveals things I can’t see.

I wound up only rarely using Emerald Powers outside of those prompts. They’re nice in the situations you can make them work. But in general, this feels like a feature that solely exists to put something on the back of the box. I did use them occasionally during boss battles, but don’t worry, I’ll get to that can of worms later.

And we all did it together

Sonic Superstars' other major innovation is its inclusion of four-player co-op. Now, in my first impressions, I said that co-op in a 2D Sonic game is a fundamentally broken prospect. Superstars adds useful systems to make co-op play work, so it's certainly better than multiplayer Sonic 2 or 3. For example, a player left behind can instantly warp back to the location of whoever is further ahead. Unfortunately, despite my great first impressions of the demo, co-o?p play is impossible to recommend in ?the full game.

To test the multiplayer, I once again enlisted my girlfriend, w??ho is somehow not sick of playing every pl??atformer I want to review. Given that I’m at least a moderate Sonic fan and she’s only played the Genesis titles a few times as a kid, our results were mixed. She often felt frustrated by how easily she could get left behind, and she eventually had a hard time tracking where she was on the screen. When you try to play Superstars with people of varying skill levels, th??e multiplaye??r really falls off.

As she put it to me after our session, “I wouldn’t not play Sonic Superstars, but I wouldn’t offer to play it either.�Unfortunately, even if sh??e wanted to continue our session, we would have run into some major issues.

Actually, it’s not really multiplayer

I originally planned to write about how Sonic Superstars works as a sort of pizza and beer (or soda for the kids) co-op game. You know, the type of chaos simulator where you and a friend can laugh off the rough edges and just enjoy some good company. Except Superstars quickly proves itself to be deliberately hostile towards its own multiplayer experience.

First of all, after you complete the campaign in Sonic Superstars, you can unlock a few extras to lengthen your total playtime. However, any and all gameplay you unlock after the fact is solo only. Additionally, even within the main campaign, you’ll be forced into single player levels regardless of whether or not you’re playing multiplayer. For a game that markets itself as a multiplayer experience, this is straight-up unacceptable. Anything good I could have said about Superstars as a co-op experience is nullif??ied when so m??????????????????????????uch content locks out your friend(s).

As it is, the game is vanishingly short if you play just the main campaign. My run, which involved collecting all the Chaos Emeralds, took me about six hours. I don't typically complain about how long a game is, but I can’t imagine dropping $59.99 on a game to play with friends just to get this little out of it. Could you replay it with different characters? Sure, I guess. But one playthrough may be enough for most, because it’s time to dive into the big problem with Sonic Superstars.

This game of tag is boring

The boss encounters in Sonic Superstars are straight-up unforgivable.

Many can argue whether boss encounters in classic Sonic games are good or not. For me, even in the most uncharitable of readings, bosses at least felt like quick skirmishes. Most don’t take that long, and even the more infamous bosses have memorable qualities. For example, is it cheap and unfair that the final boss of Sonic 2 can kill you in one hit? Yes. But the imposing music, the view from space, and the designs of Metal Sonic and the Death Egg Robot make for a tense cli??max. Additionally, once you "solve" the fight, you can clear both phases in about five minutes or so.

Conversely, Sonic Superstars bosses feature some of the most aggravating designs I’ve seen in a modern platformer. You’ll almost always start off in some kind of dodge phase, in which you have no ability to inflict damage. The boss will reveal some kind of vulnerability, you hit it, and then back to the dodge phase. Those dodge phases are consistently way too long, and ??generally just repeat the exact same mechanics until the boss is on its last legs. While some bosses provide a secondary moment of vuln??erability, even perfect play makes these encounters drag to ridiculous degrees.

Now, you may think that doesn’t sound that bad. I mean, bosses in platformers typically go down in about three hits when they’re designed like this. Surely, they wouldn’t need double that amount of hits to go down, right? No sane development team woul??d design bosses like that yo??u’d need to hit six times, right?

Well, I’ve bamboozled you, because bosses in Sonic Superstars can take seven or eight hits to go down. Even the most mundane boss can take upwards of five minutes to finish, and you’ll find them at the end of almost every act.

You’re not the boss of me

To make matters worse, Sonic Superstars has one of the worst boss themes I've ever heard in a Sonic game. It sounds like a 10-second intro to a longer song that never got completed, so instead of finishing it, they adde??d a key change to hide that it's looping over and over again. On the plus side, I found a glitch that actually stops the boss music from playing. I took advant?age of this at every opportunity.

While I tried to just deal with the boss encounters, they actually got worse the longer I played. Once I had a hang of the game’s weird level design, I started to cruise through each Act quicker and quicker. But for the bosses, there's precious little you can do to speed them along. I realized that, in many cases, I was spending more time with the bosses than with the levels themselves.

Even the final boss of the regular campaign was so long and tedious that I practically screamed at my screen “Okay, I get it!�A moment that should have been exciting and climactic was instead something I just wanted to end. Meanwhile, a final boss in a mode that unlocks after the campaign was similarly repetitive, except it uses one-hit kill moves to reset you to the start of the ten-minute encounter. I typically like to clear these kinds of challenges just as a point of pride. But Superstars had already so thorough??ly drained my patience that I just put down my controller and said "I'm good."

I can best describe Sonic Superstars as a game that at no point wants to offer an engaging challenge. Instead, it simply tries to make the player get hit or lose a life. It’s a type of difficulty I’d compare to dodging lightning 200 times in the Thunder Plains in Final Fantasy X. Instead of offering an interesting obstacle to overcome, it consumes so much time that the tension comes from the thought of repeating that agonizing gameplay again. It’s like the developers looked at that final boss of Sonic 2 and ignored everything aside from “kill player in one hit.�/p>

Can't hold on much longer

The most deeply frustrating part of Sonic Superstars is that it does have moments of brilliance. Aside from the awful boss theme, several tracks in Sonic Superstars are genuinely fantastic. Additionally, individual levels can be really fun to play. Pinball Carnival and Cyber Station are generally great levels, with the latter having... well, one phase of a decent boss encounter. In certain moments, you can see the great game that Sonic Superstars could have been. That said, nine times out of ten, the game only ever feels this good when it’s borrowing tropes and ideas directly from past Sonic games.

The thought crossed my mind that Sonic Superstars feels like a Sonic fangame. But to say that would be an insult to the dedicated fanbase that has crafted absolutely excellent Sonic games through sheer love for the franchise alone. Sonic Mania proved that there are people who get Sonic. They understand what makes these games fun, what problems the games may have, and how to rekindle the magic that made 2D Sonic so amazing. By comparison, Sonic Superstars feels like something an AI would spit out if you told it to make a Sonic game. All of the bits and pieces are there, but it lacks t?he heart and passion that the classics had.

Frankly, Sonic Superstars feels like the first draft of a game that still needs a lot of fine-tuning. If you're a devoted Sonic fan, you may play Superstars and appreciate it for those occasional highs. If that is you, know that I have no hard feelings about you or your gaming tastes. My frustration lies solely with the fact that a 2D Sonic the Hedgehog game shouldn't stumble over itself like this. If anything, the moments I still managed to enjoy Superstars reinforced just how solid the Sonic formula is. Superstars just doe?sn’t cut it, and it’s hard to see so much potential squandered so carelessly.

Sonic Superstars is a game that understands the broad strokes of 16-bit Sonic games, but not any of the finer details. The new ideas it brings to the table are undercooked, and its multiplayer component is too poorly utilized to recommend. There are undoubtedly moments of genius here when everything lines up just right. But any goodwill I had for the game was ruined by the tedious, arduous boss battles. If you’re a Sonic fan w??ho has thoroughly mastered the classics, you may find some entertainment here. But you deserve so much better than this.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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The existence of Sonic Superstars is a beautiful, mystifying conundrum.

If you owned a Sega Genesis growing up, you probably know that a co-op Sonic game is a bad idea. Sonic runs too fast, the screen moves too quickly, and player two often gets lost off-screen. So when I learned the upcoming Sonic Superstars would offer a multiplayer sidescrolling Sonic experience, I couldn’t help but scratch my head. Sure, our own Eric “the Hedgehog�Van Allen covered this already, so I knew the game was already toying with some 2D Sonic fundamentals. But the how and why of a Sonic Superstars co-op mode continued to eat at me. How could a game like this ever work?

Fortunately, during a recent event held by Sega, I was able to sit down with a demo of Sonic Superstars that let players get into the trenches of the two-player co-op experience. And after playing the game myself, I was again reminded that multiplayer 2D Sonic really is a fundamentally broken prospect. But rather than try to fix something that can’t be repaired, Sonic Superstars instead embraces the insanity of its premise and molds a chaotic, riveting experience for Sonic fans to sink their teeth ?into.? And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

[caption id="attachment_399959" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

You can call me Knuckles

My session with Sonic Superstars began with testing a Jungle-themed zone by myself, since this was the demo's designated solo level. I picked m??y boy Knuckles—which, look, back in the Genesis days, Knuckles was the coolest. If you think I’m not going to try Knuckles first, then obviously, you didn’t know me at seven years old. Which makes sense, as the odds of that are statistically improbable.

Anyway, this turned out to not be the best way to first experience Sonic Superstars. Every character in the game has unique properties, and Knuckles is weirdly weighty. Sure, gliding is as fun as it ever was, but Knuckles always has to kind of brace himself when he lands from a noticeable height. For a series focused on speed, this felt awkward and really messed with my muscle memory. Sonic games don't necessarily need to control the same, but Knuckles spec??ifically felt off because of this.

Also, I’m not entirely sure about the physics of Sonic Superstars in general. I know this is always a super contentious thing with Sonic games, as the 3D games tend to feel just a bit differently than the sprite-based ones. And sure enough, your jump arcs and hang times are different enough from the classics to feel noticeable. That said, it's far from the worst the series has seen, and it likely is something you can quickly get used to. In other words, it's more Sonic Generations than Sonic 4.

I got through the level just fine, but I really wanted to see how Superstars fared in co-o?p. This is where everything changed.

[caption id="attachment_399960" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Open your heart

A Sega representative asked me if I had any questions, so I vocalized my desire to test the co-op. I was looking at the screen, so I couldn’t really see what happened, but the next thing I knew, I had Paste Magazine’s Moises Taveras on the couch with me. We kicked off our co-op trial by jumping into Superstar’s Gree?n Hill Zone equivalent stage, and oh boy, did things get goofy quick.

Much like performing the Safety Dance, you can easily leave your friends behind in Sonic Superstars. Rushing ahead of your co-op partner to capitalize on speed boosts is not only natural but expected. Even if both players happen to be together through the faster sections, whoever is in front will lap up all the rings while everyone behind earns nothing for their troubles. This sounds like a bad thing, but it actually added to the experience??. There were so many moments where Taveras and I were commenting on how disjointed our ring counts were, only for one person to instantly grab 70 rings in a few seconds just because they were the first person to jump on a spring. Those kinds of moments fit so well in a couch co-op setting.

Fortunately, the game puts protections in to prevent the “player two Tails�situation from the Genesis titles. When a player gets left behind off-screen, they can warp back to the leading player almost instantly. This means no one is ever not playing for too long, which helps keep the party enga?ged. Additionally, the game lacks a traditional extra life counter. When one player gets wiped out, they’re put on a cooldown timer. As long as at least one person is still alive on screen, you’ll get back ?into the action sooner than later.

I really like this dynamic. Losing progress in Superstars usually meant we both messed up so catastrophically hard at the same time that we needed those extra seconds of staring at a blac?k screen to process it. It was always good for a laugh, which I value most in multiplayer games like this.

[caption id="attachment_399964" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Live and learn

Luckily, Sonic Superstars appears to balance the antics with actual platforming pretty well. We also tested out Pinball Carnival Zone, a well-trodden theme for a Sonic level. During sections that involve paying homage to the 1993 seminal classic Sonic Spinball, the camera zooms out to give players a wide view of the playing area. We usually didn’t need to linger on these parts for too long. However, something about playing with another person makes the prospect of getting rings via a silly minigame section so compelling. It really drives home the â€?śjust for funâ€?vibe the game kept giving me to that point.

Similarly, the last level we got to demo involved a futuristic computerized setting. Honestly, I think the game really hit its stride here. All the player characters become pixelated versions of themselves, which is just aesthetically fun to look at. And all throughout the stage, everyone would get sucked into little minigames that changed the pace of the game. At one point, we both turned into squids that had to slowly swim through dangerous obstacles like we were playing the dam level of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the NES. At another point, we turned into little mice in what I assume was a Chu Chu Rocket homage. Each involved unique mechanics that were ?easy to grasp and enjoyable to play.

It all came together in a way that did feel like Traveras and I were working together. You know, instead of just fighting over who jumps on the springs to steal all the rings first. The balance of slow and fast sections are key in any Sonic game, but they’re really the glue that holds Sonic Superstars together. In fact, I’d say the creativity of these slower parts is what really elevates Sonic Superstars as a whole. I never knew what to expect next, ??and I hope that feeling carries throughout the full game.

[caption id="attachment_399965" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Walk into my mystery

Meanwhile, if you want to get any Chaos Emeralds, that's fittingly where the chaos of Sonic Superstars gets downright super.

Remember those special stages from the original Sonic the Hedgehog? Those return here, but with everyone on your couch trying to navigate the rotating mazes at once. These were already silly in their original form, but the extra confusion of managing multiple people on screen made them extra goofy. At one point, Traveras and I simultaneously landed on the one game over spot right at the beginning o??f the stage, which made us both question our lives before we could return to any platforming.

The other special stage involves an oddly Spider-Man-inspired mechanic of swinging from giant rings to chase after a Chaos Emerald. While these only put one player on the screen at once, the game would alternate players every three swings. This served as a good moment to grab a drink, only to frantically go, “WAIT it’s my turn already!?�before slamming your beverage back on the table. I don’t know where these bits will rank among all Sonic special stages, but I did enjoy them here.

I’m not sure if these are the only two kinds of special stages in Sonic Superstars, but they do get the job done. Of course, the prevailing question I had was whether the game as a whole was actually wacky fun, or if I was merely enjoying a novelty that would wear off after a day or two. This, I think, will be the make or break of Sonic Superstars. And honestly, I?? can see the full release going either way.

[caption id="attachment_399966" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Sega[/caption]

Gotta follow my rainbow

I have a sinking feeling that Sonic Superstars will be a divisive game. As I mentioned, my first impression of the game as a solo experience wasn’t necessarily glowing. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun, it just wasn’t Genesis Sonic. Meanwhile, the co-op doesn’t lend itself to hardcore Sonic play. The friend group that lik??es to carefully work togethe??r and play optimally could easily feel frustrated playing this one.

However, for the type of couch co-op experience I look for, I’m oddly optimistic for Sonic Superstars. It’s dumb. It’s really dumb. But I mean that in the kindest, most endearing way I can. It’s the type of game you pop on with friends while you all enjoy some drinks and shout about what is even happening on the screen. I’d compare it to something like the New Super Mario Bros games, though I think Sonic Superstars comes out on top as a co-op experience. The former game can make mishaps kind of frustrating, whereas Superstars expects and relishes in them. You need the right friend(s) to make it w?ork, but if you do, I think this one has potential.

Either way, we’ll see how the full version of Sonic Superstars fares when it launches on October 17 ?for the Nintendo Switch.

The post Hand??s-on: Sonic Superstars co-op is cha??os controlled appeared first on Destructoid.

Sonic the Hedgehog made sure to show up at Gamescom 2023, and with that came a treat for those who bought Sonic Frontiers. A short teaser trailer for?? ?an update called "The Final Horizon" was unveiled, promising new story, new playable characters, and new challenges.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMbtrz3ut9w

The trailer itself isn't terribly illuminating on its own. We see a giant robot looking down on Sonic and friends, which goads Sonic into taking out some Chaos Emeralds. As a hedgehog naturally does, he goes Super Sonic shortly after, and the teaser ends. This might mean something to those who played Sonic Frontiers, I just didn't join Destructoid fast enough to cove??r it. That said, I know that Super Sonic always warrants celebration, so I'm excited for?? that!

Though details on The Final Horizon remain scarce, we do know it will release for free. While Sonic Frontiers remains a somewhat divisive game, I'm happy that fans of the title will get a n??ice bonus for their loyalty. I'll be p??lenty curious to see how this update pans out when it launches on September 28.

The post Son??ic Frontiers to ??get free The Final Horizon update on September 28 appeared first on Destructoid.

Sonic the Hedgehog, known as Ogilvie Maurice Hedgehog among true fans, is one of the most famous mascots in video game history. Still, unlike Mario, who's yet to appear in a mainline game that's not an absolute blast, the blue blur is reminiscent of those once-promising actors who had to start taking roles in C-list movies to maintain t??heir exuberantly decadent lifestyle. It's a tough pill to swallow, but we have to accept that Sonic h?as starred in about as many crappy games as he has in good ones.

Which one is the worst of the worst?

[caption id="attachment_395790" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

10. Sonic Labyrinth

This little-known Game Gear title tells the marve??lous story of that time when Dr. Eggman replaced Sonic's fast shoes with slow one??s.

You can tell someone believed Sonic could do no wrong when they made a game that did away with the thing we liked most about the series. The bold move could've worked, yeah, provided that the developers had put solid mechanics and puzzles in place to make up for the absence of speed. They didn't. The only possibly interesting thing here is witnessing Sonic's first foray into the isometric perspective that we'd later see in Sonic 3d Blast. More on that other mess later.

Sonic Labyrinth just isn't fun as it is. It wouldn't have been fun even if it played fast either, though that would have at least made it confusing, uncontrollable, and thus at least pretty funny.

[caption id="attachment_395791" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

09. Sonic and the Black Knight

One of many gimmicky Sonic games. In this once-anticipated Wii exclusive, Sonic has a sword! Isn't that bada?ss? Maybe, if the goddamn thing worked properly.

Though?? it looked nice and featured some neat Sonic tunes, most critics and fans couldn't help but point out the fact that the game just didn't make good use of the Wiimote. The haphazard integration o??f the Wii's controller made the combat go from unfun to straight-up broken.

Do you know who also didn't find the game all that badass? Well, Sega itself, considering how the company pulled it from store shelves just one year after its release along with all other poorly-reviewed Sonic games in an attempt to increase the value of the Sonic brand.

In any case, Sonic as a brave sir knight reeks of the exact same desperation that Transformers: The Last Knight did �the one where we find out the Transformers' unexpected connection to Camelot—and I just can't help but find that hilarious. Forget the upcoming GI Joe x Transformers crossover. We want an awful Transformers x Sonic collab now.

[caption id="attachment_395793" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

08. Shadow the Hedgehog

I must apologize for the attempted bamboozling. I know damn well that Shadow isn't just a re-skinned Sonic, but please allow me to ex?plain.

Even a hypothetically decent version of this game would only ever appeal to Sonic fans, so they’re its only victims. They're only most of the people who'll look for an article such as this in search of vindication. Also, I will never have the opportunity to rank the worst Shadow The Hedgehog games because no compan??y in its right mind?? will ever make another one.

The devs seemingly believed that arming the edgiest-possible character with guns would make up for all sorts of technical shortcomings, and I find that beautiful. Like many games on this list, Shadow The Hedgehog is rough in terms of playability, but it features three different endings where Shadow murders Dr. Eggman with a Karate chop, so I just can't put it in a worse place than ??this.

[caption id="attachment_395797" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

07. Sonic Free Riders

Sonic on the Kinect. Do I really need to explain myself o??n this one? Ugh, OK.

What's wild is that Sonic Free Riders looked good, had some sweet Sonic tunes, featured a decent enough story, and had a lot of stuff to do. But guess what, it played like crap. As with nearly all things Kinect, Sonic Riders was highly unresponsive. I'd like to believe it just refused to force its owners to perform all the embarrassing moves required to get it to work. If that's the case, then I salute you, Sonic Free Riders.

[caption id="attachment_395794" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

06. Sonic The Fighters

You know things are about to get wacky when not even the title makes sense. What the hell is that "the" doing in the middle of the title? That reads?? almost as awkward as this thing plays.

I’d argue that most Sonic games aren’t even very good at doing what they’re supposed to, which is making Sonic's speed enjoyable, so it comes as no surprise that I don’t like Sonic when he’s trying to be Tekken. It's just so sad to see all these once-successful character?s having to resort to fighting it out to pay their bills.

Actually, to be entirely fair, this doesn't feel like it was trying to outright copy Tekken. This feels like they were trying to make a Sonic fighting game in a garage where the only game they had for reference was Star Wars: Masters Of Teras Kasi, one of the worst fighting games of all time. If that rea?lly was their plan then, well, they've succeeded.

[caption id="attachment_395795" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

05. Sonic and the Secret Rings

I think it's absolutely wild that Sonic’s take on the Arabian Nights doesn't fall on its face for accidentally featuring some tone-deaf message regarding the Middle East.?? Surprisingly, the game doesn’t accidentally say anything offensive, though that might be because it doesn't really have anything to say at all. The gameplay is half-baked, but what steals the show is an ending so dumb it immediately earns this game a high place on this list.

Spoilers: Sonic gets to make a wish to make his love interest happy �naturally a human-looking girl, because Sonic is like Mass Effect’s Shepard before he was even a thing �and instead of wishing for basically anything that could actually improve her life, he asks for a mountain of handkerchiefs so that she can cry as much as she wants. Yes, I'm not making this up.

[caption id="attachment_395796" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image By Sega[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_395798" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

03. Sonic 3D Blast

This one isn’t a glitchy mess or anything, but Sonic 3D Blast shows an interesting case of a Sonic game where the team seemingly managed to see their vision come to fruition. The problem here is that their vision sucked. The game does away with the traditional 2D sidescrolling gameplay and replaces it with an unfun isometric perspective that, guess wha?t, is still 2D. Sonic moves awkwardly, and the game's levels just aren't fun enough to suffer through.

We learn to see the signs as we grow. If it had been a good game, simply calling it Sonic 3D would have sufficed in getting everyone hyped. That desperate "blast" at the end of the ti??tle, probably a reference to th??e Genesis' much-touted and greatly exaggerated "blast processing", should have raised eyebrows. Sadly, most of us were too young and naive to see it back then.

This game hurts me on a personal level. Eight-year-old me didn’t have a Saturn or a PS1 yet, so I was thrilled to know that my Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) had a Sonic game that was supposedly in 3D. I got my parents to buy it, and that was the first time I felt seriously disappointed by a game I had high hopes for. It's highly unlikely that I was the only kid who had Sonic 3D Blast as nothing but an eye-opener when?? it came to dealing with unreasonable expectations.

[caption id="attachment_395799" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

02. Sonic The Hedgehog (aka Sonic �6)

Sonic '06 is bad to the point of being ashamed of its own existence. I mean, otherwise, how come one of the best speedrun strategies involves having Shadow kill himself? Th?e game doesn't want any of its characters to live in?? that doomed world anymore, so it rewards them with the ending credits upon death.

Ok??, now, even though that's a real speedrunning strategy, I'm well aware that this is yet another glitch. No way such a game would ever achieve?? this level of poetry without it being by accident.

There's nothing really new to say about Sonic '06. Even though expectations weren't exactly through the ?roof anymo?re, it still managed to disappoint greatly due to being unplayable upon release. Also, it looked creepy as all hell. Why is the main hub an asset-flip-looking city populated entirely by humans? Will Sonic ever grow tired of trying to seduce human girls?

You'll have a better time watching video compilations of Sonic '06 glitches on Youtube than playing it.

[caption id="attachment_213077" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Sega[/caption]

01. Sonic Boom: Rise Of Lyric

You knew damn well that the first place was only ever going to be either Boom or �6. Why Boom at #1? Well, I don’t even think it’s necessarily worse than �6. They’re both so bad that they verge on total ?unplayability.

After some time playing, we all lose the ability to count all the flaws, but I think this one is more deserving of the top spot because, at the time of its release, fans must've been like "eh, at least there's no way it'll be as bad as '06!". And it was. You gotta award so??me points to that kind of knife twist.

And there's more.

Whereas there's no alternate reality in which I could see Sonic '06's creepy human-Hedgehog crossover city working, I could totally see Boom working out. It's based on a popular animated series, and it actually looks cool. Sadly, the game went through a very ??rough d??evelopment cycle that fo??rced the team to release it in ??a terribly unpolished state.

Boom just has a much sadder story �the story of its development, mind you �and that's why it gets the top spot of the worst Sonic games. Also, Sonic '06 at least had some fine classic Sonic tunes.

The post The 10 worst Sonic games, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Everybody's favorite blue hedgehog has been having a good few years thanks to the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films and the excitement surrounding the upcoming Sonic Superstars game. Sega recently launched a campaign, called Fast Friends Forever, to celebrate the millions of fans the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has amassed over the decades.

The campaign has kicked off with a promotional video, as well as the launch of a website where fans can expect updates.?? Fast Friends Forever will last "all year long with a v??ariety of events and activations."

[caption id="attachment_396029" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega.[/caption]

Sonic and his pals

The Fast Friends Forever site currently promotes a few Sonic-related events. It announces the opening of an official Sonic-themed restaurant in San Diego on August 20. Here, ??you can enjoy "Sonic's classic chili dogs, Knuckle sandwiches, Blue Blur slushies, Golden Rin?gs, and more."

Music has always been an integral part of the Sonic franchise, and Sega has previously celebrated the series with beautiful orchestral recreations of Sonic soundtracks.?? As the Fast Friends Forever site reveals, The Sonic Symphony Tour will kick off on September 16 in London before heading to several cities including Los Angeles, Boston, Paris, and more.

//youtu.be/RMHLBPGouwc

As part of the campaign, a series of Fast Friends Forever digital comics is planned. These comics have been created by fans from aro?und the world, and the first one, titled "Live Without Regrets!", is already available. Created by Ian Jones-Quartey, the comic features Tails and Sonic, and it tells a story about never giving up.

//twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/?status/1689310641897750528?s=46&;t=S0QbrEQa7rSHobLwyn8t0Q

Though plenty of franchises have loyal and dedicated fan bases, Sonic is a little different, as the community has been particularly motivated to create tons of fan-made projects. ?The focus on friendship is relevant because, as the site highlights, Sonic "knows the importance of friendship, teamwork, inspiration, and loyalty." This has b?een demonstrated throughout the franchise, with Sonic becoming great friends with Tails, Amy Rose, and even Knuckles who initially appears as a rival.

Sonic fans also have Sonic Superstars to look forward to. The upcoming game seeks to capture the fun of the classic Sonic games, but it ditches the pixel art style of Sonic Mania. It is set to launch on ??October 17 on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.

The post Sega launc?hes Fast Friends Forever campaign to celebrate Sonic community appeared first on Destructoid.

Via Twitter (which I refuse to ever call “X�, Sega has revealed screens of the canceled Sega Saturn title, Sonic X-treme.

Sega had a really rough time in the late �0s. The launch of the Sega Saturn was an absolute cluster of confusion, as they had one foot in 2D while sticking another right up in 3D. Not to mention, Sega of America misunderstood its own market and thought that adding life support to the Sega Genesis was the best idea, delaying the arrival of the Saturn in Western markets. Some people blame its failure on the fact that there was never a mainline Sonic the Hedgehog successor on t?he platform. Sure, yeah, that might be part of it.

[caption id="attachment_395103" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

Development on Sonic X-treme began shortly after the completion of Sonic 3 & Knuckles. It star??ted on the Genesis/Mega Drive before bouncing to the 32X and finally the Saturn. Initially, it was just going to be a better-looking side-scroller, but by the time it reached the Saturn, it became a hybrid of 2D and 3D, the style of which is very much obvious in these screenshots.

It’s hard to say exactly when these screenshots are from. The development of Sonic X-treme was marred by unclear hardware specs, developer fallout and turnover, the dysfunction between Sega’s Japan and American branches, and life-threatening illness. It’s an absolutely bizarre development story. There were a lot of different revisions to the game, a?ll of them very different??.

[caption id="attachment_395104" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

Hopefully, with these images unearthed, we’ll get to hear more of the tale. For now, we can only look and wonder how Sonic X-treme would have turned out.

The post Sega unearths promot??ional screens for the cancelled Sonic X-treme appeared first on Destructoid.

Collecting rings the wrong way

Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka has been found guilty of insider trading following a trial in Japan on July 7, 2023. As IGN Japan reports, it was fo??und that through insider trading associated with the development of a Square Enix game, he had violated Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

Naka was handed a two-and??-a-half-year prison sentence, suspended for four years. Judge Madoka Hiruta also served him with two million yen and 107 milli??on yen fines, amounting to approximately $14, 000 and $1.1 million respectively.

[caption id="attachment_390834" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Square Enix.[/caption]

Yuji Naka's legal woes

Naka is known for being one of the co-creators of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, serving as the president of Sonic Team until 2006. He has worked on several titles outside of the blue hedgehog's franchise, including Balan Wonderworld, Phantasy Star, and Samba de Amigo.

Naka was arrested in November 2022, and it was alleged that he had purchased 10,000 shares (amounting to approximately $20, 000) in Aiming ahead of the studio announcing the Dragon Quest Tact mobile game for Square Enix. He was re-arrested on similar charges, this time for buying shares in Ateam, the studio that went on to release Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier mobile game.

He had previously pled guilty to the charges, admitting that there was no doubt the accusations are true. Judge Hiruta stated that Naka "was known as one of the world's most famous game developers, and had the authority to access joint development information". and he also commented that Naka had damaged the trust of investors and the soundness o??f the stock market.

Naka isn't the only Square Enix employee to find themselves in hot water. Taisuke ?Sazaki and Fumiaki Suzuki were also arrested for insider trading after purchasing 1??62,000 shares at a value of approximately $337, 250. It is reported that it was Sazaki who informed Naka and Suzuki about the potential rise in value.

Though Naka may be facing turbulent times, things are looking good for both Sonic the Hedgehog and Final Fantasy. The newly released Final Fantasy 16 has already sold over 3 million copies, while Sonic the Hedgehog fans can look forward to Sonic Superstars, which is slated to launch in late 2023.

The post Yuji Naka receives susp?ended prison sentence for insider trading appeared first on Destructoid.

Running left to right

There's a certain feeling a good 2D Sonic game can elicit. The sense of zipping through levels at a pace that seems way too fast, as even the scrolling screen struggles to keep up with how fast the blue blur is moving, is a core memory for those who grew up around a Sega Genesis. And it's a feeling I got when I was playing the newest Sonic entry, Sonic Superstars.

Sonic Superstars is, to put it frankly, a classic Sonic ?game. It's 3D in models but 2D in design, though there are plenty of twists to change that up. The base foundation is familiar: you run, left to right, across the screen to hit the goal. Every so often, Dr. Robotnik / Eggman will roll in with an increasingly complicated machine you'll need to bonk your head against a few times.

The basics of a classic Sonic game are here. It's the ways in which Sonic Superstars twists ??them just a hair that I enjoy, and think this might find a home on co-op players' system??s.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvdUzS?rP8Nw??&ab_channel=Destructoid

It's a party now

In the demo I played, as part of Summer Game Fest 2023, there were two level options and four characters. The first one I rolled up was a classic set-up, with lots of ramps and ledges to spin-ball over as my chosen hero, Sonic. If you're going to demo a Sonic game, you really have to start wit??h the basics, right?

But for other options, there are also Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. It's a set-up that instantly reminded me of a personal favorite, Sonic Advance. Immediately, I started to notice how certain levels might feel di?fferent playing as another character. Sonic might speed through the area, while Tails takes a higher route and floats along. Cliffside jumping puzzles were easily circumvented by Knuckles. Amy? She's got a hammer.

[caption id="attachment_386967" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

This becomes more noticeable as the levels' mechanics get more complex. Multiple avenues of progression felt available at any time, letting me carve a path through? all the obstacles laid ?out in front of me. Some areas let me jump in and out of the foreground and background courses, creating a neat 3D effect to the side-scrolling action. In another, I was hopping from vine to vine across a chasm, and navigating the fog of a dense jungle biome.

Sonic Superstars doesn't feel wildly different in the way, say, Sonic Frontiers did. I don't really think that's the goal. Superstars feels like it's trying to create a pick-up-and-play Sonic with some co-op appeal.

Because, yes, you can play this co-op. I didn't get a chance to try that part of the game out myself, but it seems like a great way to get a group together, like a New Super Mario Bros. for Sonic.

[caption id="attachment_386969" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

Embrace the power

Sonic and pals can also wield a wealth of powers, through the Chaos Emeralds. By finding special locations in each level, I could enter a 3D space ??where my character had to swing between grab points in order to catch a Chaos Emerald.

Once I na??bbed it, I could use a special power. Two of them were available to me during my demo; the first let me turn into water and scale waterfalls, while the second summoned a swarm of clones to attack everything on screen. These powers had limited uses, but it was an interesting little wrinkle to toy around with in this setting. These new tricks are neat, and I'm curious to see how much replayability or player expression ??they bring to running these levels. Even just finding a slightly different way to tackle an area, through use of my powers, was intriguing enough.

[caption id="attachment_386971" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

The Robotnik battles were fairly straightforward too, offering the right amoun??t of puzzle-challenge and platforming skill. ?The second one, in a jungle area, really had me working to figure out how to bonk it most efficiently.

It's hard to write too much more because, well, this is some classic Sonic. Sonic Superstars isn't really trying to radically reinvent Sonic. While playing it, I was just reminded of how good a 2D Sonic can feel. And I had a pretty enjoyable time working my way through it, even passing the controller off to friends who interrupt my appointments wanting to play. That last part really sold me on Superstars being a fun co-op game, and having that same couch vibe that a good Sonic can have.

Sonic Superstars is set for fall 2023.

The post Sonic Superstars feels like some classic Sonic with ?a few new t??ricks appeared first on Destructoid.

Return to the Shatterverse

Some good news for fans of the fun and suitably silly animated series, Sonic Prime �Netflix has confirmed that a new season of episodes will be pr??emiering on ?the streaming service this July.

Premiering back in December of last year, Sonic Prime sees Sonic the Hedgehog thrust into a multiverse known as the "Shatterverse" whereupon he embarks on a series of adventures with various alt-reality versions of his dopey friends, including Tails, K??n??uckles, Amy Rose, and Rogue.

The first season of dimension-hopping escapades saw The Blue Blur visiting a futureworld,?? the prehisto?ric era, a pirate world, and more. Also featured in the series was an entire cavalcade of Dr. Robotnik variants, which had all formed a council with to take over the entire Shatterverse.

//twitter.com/sonic_he??dgehog/status/1658852487854473217?s=20

Running for eight episodes, the show was considered a hit by the Sonic the Hedgehog community, with critics and fans praising the style, animation, scripting. and voice acting on off??er, even if the writing was criticized for being a little trite and repetitive. A co-production of Netflix Animation, WildBrain Studios, and Man of Action Entertainment, a total of 24 episodes were commissioned in all, which suggests the new season will feature a further eight adventures, with the remain eight to be screened later this year.

Sonic Prime Season 2 premieres exclusively on ?Netflix on July 13. Season One is available to ??watch now.

The post New season of Son??ic Prime comes speeding onto Netflix in July appeared first on Destructoid.

They've got a friend in you

Sometimes you need a friend to succeed against the greatest foes. Just like Woody & Buzz in the Toy Story films, you can also have grea?t companions in gaming.

They'll gu??ide you to the next location, give your character moral support, or sometimes even support you in battle. Here are the best companions in gaming history, ranked.

10. Midna (The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

[caption id="attachment_374779" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

The most memorable companion in The Legend of Zelda series is Midna. Her cheeky nature intrigues you as she gives a sly grin whenever you question her motives. That laugh is still in the back of my head too, even though I played Twilight Princess over a decade ago. Seriously, Nintendo, bring Twilight Princess HD to the Switch already.

She also helps Link turn into a wolf and take out foes in one fell swoop. Whenever the emotional track "Midna's Lament" plays, you also remember ??the moments in which the character is on the brink of death. You care about the character and want to make sure she's safe. That's a sign ??of a great companion.

9. Donald & Goofy (Kingdom Hearts)

[caption id="attachment_374913" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

As you'd expect from Mickey's best pals, Donald & Goofy are extremely loyal to Sora. They were tasked with following the key in the first game and have since grown a strong relationship with the keyblade wielder. Goofy surprisingly acts as the voice of reason in the group, giving the teenager advice, while Donald becomes the irrational-but-kind comedic relief. They're extremely helpful in the games, healing Sora whenever he's in trouble or teaming up for powerful attacks like Trinity Limit and Duck Flare, among others. They're even looking for their lost friend in the Kingdom Hearts IV reveal trailer within the darkness of Hades' Underworld.

8. Pey'j (Beyond Good & Evil)

[caption id="attachment_374915" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Ubisoft[/caption]

One of the best companions in gaming that very few have heard of is Pey'J. He's the uncle of the protagonist Jade in Beyond Good & Evil. He's a charming little pig that provides humor along the way as he encourages Jade to follow through on her plans. Without a father, Pey'J becomes that figure for her, providing valuable advice to the heroine. He's also a technical whiz, building elaborate boots that lift him off the ground and help Jade solve puzzles. Play Beyond Good & Evil and realize how cool Pey'j is in this game.

7. Sully (Uncharted series)

[caption id="attachment_374916" align="alignnone" width="1200"]?? Screenshot via PlayStation's YouTube Channel[/caption]

Someone that's always been there for Nathan Drake through thick and thin is Sully from the Uncharted series. Seeing potential in the youngster, Sully practically raised him to become a treasure hunter from when Nate was a teenager. ?During Nate's adventures, Sully ??has hilarious banter with the protagonist as he keeps up with the death-defying platforming ahead, despite his age. He's very loyal and treats Nathan Drake like a son. Their relationship is very sweet, and this comradery makes Sully one of the best companions in gaming history.

6. Atreus (God of War series)

[caption id="attachment_374922" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

The father-son relationship in the Norse-era God of War series is impeccable. Before Kratos teamed up with Atreus, he was ferocious, blunt, and, quite frankly, lacking in depth. However, as the relationship grew between Atreus and Kratos, the walls of his stoicism began to crumble. He finally began to care about the well-being of someone's safety, and it showed another side of the Greek god. It strengthens further in God of War: Ragnarok as Kratos learns to give his son more freedom and lets Atreus become who he wants to be. The natural progressio??n of t??his father-son dynamic is astonishing and should be praised. Other than the story elements, Atreus is helpful with setting up attacks for his dad and can cause damage with his bow and arrows.

5. Kazooie (Banjo-Kazooie series)

[caption id="attachment_374925" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via Super Smash?? Bros' YouTube Channel[/capti??on]

There are few other platforming duos that are more iconic than Banjo and Kazooie. In the Nintendo 64 era, they were the bee's knees as Kazooie helped the bear climb tough hills and glide across Treasure Trove Cove. The speech between the characters is endearing, even though Kazooie can be irrational from time to time. They also appeared as an exciting duo character in the Super Smash Bros. series. Hopefully, one day, Microsoft will finally remake Banjo-Kazooie or even develop a new entry for the Xbox Series X and S. Let's cross ?our fingers.

4. Ellie (The Last of Us Part 1)

[caption id="attachment_374928" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

There is a reason why Ellie is featured on the front of the cover rather than Joel. In The Last of Us Part 1, she is a key component of why the game has connected to so many fans around the world. This companion?, like Atreus, grows throughout the adventure as she begins to trust her father figure and is trusted to wield a gun to protect herself. Through her funny humor and sh?arp wit, Ellie is a great counterpart to Joel's furious nature. They work together as a duo so well, which makes the sequel devastating. By the end of the game, we truly believe how much Joel cares for Ellie due to the horrendous acts he pulls against the Fireflies to save her.

3. Clank (Ratchet & Clank series)

[caption id="attachment_374929" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

Clank is a quirky robot that stands (or hangs on) by Ratchet's side (or back). With his goofy laugh, the robot offers funny remarks about Ratchet's adventures. The two play off each other well as Clank provides the brains of the operation, while Ratchet is the brave warrior taking out waves of enemies with his cavalcade of guns. Their friendship is believable, and both the lombax and the robot go out of their way to help each other. Sometimes, it's even to their detriment, as we see in Rift Apart. 

2. Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog series)

[caption id="attachment_374930" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Sega[/caption]

Despite his young age, Tails is a genius inventor that helps Sonic in every way he can. Their friendship is endearing and has led them to many adventures, especially in the original Genesis/Mega Drive trilogy. One of the coolest moments is when Tails pilots the Tornado and escorts Sonic in Sky Chase Zone. In Sonic Heroes, he also helps Sonic and Knuckles fly through the air and land on the other side of hard-to-reach platforms. Sonic and Tails' friendship is like the hedgehog looking after a little brother?; it'?s adorable. Tails is easily one of the best companions in gaming.

1. Luigi (Super Mario series)

[caption id="attachment_374932" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Mario's longest companion and brother, Luigi, has always been by his side. As a fellow plumber, he has assisted Mario through many levels, fought goombas with his brother in the portable RPG series Mario & Luigi, and win tennis games as a duo. He was also successful in saving Mario in Luigi's Mansion, despite his huge fear of ghosts. While Mario and Luigi don't have the depth of Joel and Ellie's relationship, they are inseparable in the hearts and minds of many Nintendo fans around the world. Luigi's shy personality matches well with Mario's brave and upbeat quirks. It's evident from the movie adaptation of the seri?es that M??ario and Luigi are an amazing team in the final battle against Bowser.

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An April Fool's joke becomes real

It's not quite April 1 everywhere yet, but the Sonic social team is having a bit of fun. Today, a brand new Sonic game, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, is available for free on Steam.

A new mystery visual novel from Sega and the Sonic social crew, this is emphatically not a Sonic Team production. It is, however, a (head)canon title. You can find the Steam page right here.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC8sIhr-z5I

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is set aboard the Mirage Express, where tragedy has struck in the midst of Amy Rose's birthday celebration. A murder mystery party with Sonic as the victim does seem like it's t??urning partially foul though, and it's up to you, the player, to get to the bottom of things.

The adventure is set up in a classic point-and-click style, with characters from throughout th??e Sonic universe showing up for the festivities. It is ??rated E for Everyone, so it's unclear whether full-on murder is on or off the table. But you know what, I like the energy either way.

[caption id="attachment_371944" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

A good fool

We are coming up on the one day a year where many companies try to do some kind of joke or ribbing, to historically mixed results. Ranging from googly eyes and "Horse Mode" to fake game announcements, some of my least favorite ones are usually a game idea that makes you go, "hey wait, don't joke, that's a good idea."

So in that light, I'm happy to see The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, a Poirot-infused mystery adventure starring the Sonic crew, be an actually real thing. It's a fun surprise. Hopefully this is a good omen for what's yet to be announced over the next 24 hours. ??At the very least, I have a way to answer the burning question, "Who killed So??nic?"

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is out now, for free, on PC via Steam.

The post The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is?? a real and free game, out right now appeared first on Destructoid.

Including Tails Adventure

Remember Sonic Origins? Well its back...in Plus form! In a seemingly make-good effort (doesn't seem like enough!), Sega is adding an expansion pack (that's $9.99 as an expansion, or $39.99 as a standalone that includes Sonic Origins) that has a few content additions that a lot of Sonic fans might enjoy. The big takeaway? Amy Rose is playable in Sonic 1, 2, 3 + Knuckles and Sonic CD. The plussed-up Plus will also add new modes, animations, music, and ?other aesthetic options.

Here's the full description from Sega:

"Sonic Origins Plus will be available as an all-in-one bundle that includes the Sonic Origins base game and the Plus Expansion Pack, featuring 12 Sonic Game Gear titles, playable Knuckles in Sonic CD, and for the first time ever: Amy Rose as a playable character in Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD! This pack also includes previously relea??sed add-on content: Extreme ?Missions, Mirror Mode, new character animations, and additional backgrounds and music. The premium physical edition will also include a 20-page artbook and a reversible coversheet that pays homage to the classic 1990s era of Sonic."

Yep, Game Gear games. There's 12 in all, and Tails Adventure is a clear standout when it comes to preservation? and historical value: as I'd wager a lar?ge percentage of folks reading this article haven't played it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoyoWlOJILc

Here's a full list of Gear Game games included with Sonic Origins Plus

• Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
• Sonic Blast
• Sonic Chaos
  
• Sonic Drift
  
• Sonic Drift 2
  
• Sonic Labyrinth
  
• Sonic Spinball
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
  
• Tails Adventure
  
• Tailsâ€?Skypatrol

[caption id="attachment_370124" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

There's also a physical edition for Sonic Origins Plus

Clocking in at $39.99, the physical edition is available on Sega's website. The big draw is a 20-page a??rtbook, but it also has a revers??ible cover. Here's everything it includes:

Sonic Origins Plus Physical Edition

• Main game (12 Game Gear games emulated and playable in the Museum, Classic Amy as a playable character in Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, 3, and Sonic CD, Knuckles as a playable character in Sonic CD)
  
• 20-page art book
• Reversible coversheet with new, never-before-seen art
• All previously released Sonic Origins downloadable content

The post Sonic Origins Plus is adding 12 Game Gear games appeared first on Destructoid.

Speeding its way to a platform near you

Sega has announced brand new DLC content for its open-world escapade, Sonic Frontiers �The Sights, Sounds, and Speed bundle will bring new ch??allenges and features to The Blue Blur's latest adv??enture, and will be dropping on all platforms as soon as March 22, 2023... That's Wednesday!

Sights

"Sights" refers to an all-new Photo Mode. This much-requested feature will allow players to pause their game at any time, (I would assume outside of cutscenes), and take control of a freely moveable camera, snapping shots and Sonic and friends in action as they whiz their way across Starfall Islands. The Sonic Frontiers world is quite picturesque, it has to be sai??d, so any budding shutterbugs can now capture the? strange land in all of its fineries.

Sounds

The new DLC will also feature a Jukebox Mode, featuring 53 tracks packed with "your favorite Sonic songs". The first 13 tracks will be available at launch, with the remaining 40 being unlocked as you gather "Soun?d Memories" that are scattered around Starfall Islands. We better have some Marble Zone beat?s going on here or there's gonna be a sternly-worded letter heading Sega's way.

Speed

And, by the process of elimination, we can assume that "Speed" refers to two brand new Challenge Modes, devised to test the mettle of hardened Sonic Frontiers fans. Battle Rush will see Sonic standoff against an army of enemies, including Titans and Guardians, in a race against the clock, while The Cyber Space Challe??nge will task players with whizzing through multiple Cyber Space stages. back-to-back, in time-attack action. Both modes seem made to test players' speed and efficiency, as well as their combat prowess. Got to, indeed, go fast.

Sights, Sounds, and Speed is the first of three DLC drops coming to Sonic Frontiers in 2??023. ?Later releases are set to include additional features and challenges, including an "Open Zone Challenge" and additional playable characters.

Sonic Frontiers is available no?w on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

The post New Sonic Frontiers DLC ‘Sights, Sounds, and Speed’ arrives this week appeared first on Destructoid.

All of them, actually

I will never say no to a rhythm game spinoff. I am, of course, a loud and unashamed fan of the genre. I'm always down for more rhythm games, but I'm especially fond of titles that recontextualize the music found in other games. I think ne??????????????????????????arly every video game would benefit from a supplemental mechanical examination of its soundtrack.

But obviously, some franchises are more suited to rhythm gaming than others. If I were to make a list of the greatest video game series soundtracks of all time, it would probably include Metroid and Halo, but those scores aren't exactly full of toe-tappers. So while I would play a rhythm game based on absolutely any soundtrack, I'd like to outline the franchises I think truly deserve the Theatrhythm treatment.

[embed]??//www.youtube.com/watch?v=?T0IxUMu036k[/embed]

10. Shovel Knight

Jake Kaufman is a very prolific and accomplished composer. The Shantae series could easily have made this list, but limiting myself to one Kaufman-heavy franchise, I have to give it to Shovel Knight. These games, from Shovel of Hope to Shovel Knight Dig, emulate the strict and structured chiptunes of the NES era but with more contemporary musical stylings?. These are perfect rhythm game soundtracks because they're s??table and rhythmically readable, even to the layman.

Plus, Shovel of Hope has a couple of tracks by Manami Matsumae, and I felt really bad about leaving Mega Man off this list.

[embed]//www.youtu??be.com/watch?v=UND5w??gnIino[/embed]

9. Assassin's Creed

I don't play Assassin's Creed very often. It's just not my cup of tea. But I do listen to Assassin's Creed pretty regula?rly. A rotating cast of phenomenal composers has brought an awful lot of wonderful tracks to life. A lot of score pieces from the series' history are so driven and thumping that I can practically see t??he beatmap in front of me.

I'm particularly fond of the Assassin's Creed Odyssey soundtrack, and I've found myself finger-drumming to the beat of "Legend of the Eagle Bearer" more than a few times. At the very least, we deserve a shanty-filled Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag rhythm spinoff.

[embed]//www??.youtube.com/watc?h?v=NH-GAwLAO30[/embed]

8. Undertale

Across Undertale and the first two episodes of Deltarune, series creator/composer Toby Fox has es?tablished a coherent and delightful sound to accompany his series' world. Li??ke Kaufman, Fox plays in the realm of chiptunes, and his are especially earworm-ish.

Some of Undertale's bullet hell moments already feel like a carefully orchestrated dance set to one of the game's wonderful battle themes. Concretizing that comparison with a full-throated Undertale rhythm game would be pretty great. As an aside, you can get a pretty Undertale-ish rhythm game experience out of 2021's Everhood.

[embed]??//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTLfV7Ru5VY[?/embed]

7. Donkey Kong Country

We've gotten pretty close to a Donkey Kong Country rhythm game in the past - there were no fewer than three Donkey Konga games, and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat almost counts - but there's never been a rhythm game solely focused on music from the actual DKC series.

Across the first three DKC games, David Wise, Eveline Fischer, and Robin Beanland redefined what Donkey Kong sounded like. Just about every track from the series is groovy and pleasant. To me, the beautiful soundtracks are the number one reason to return to Donkey Kong Country. A game dedicated to those soundtracks woul?d be a dream.

[embed]??/?/www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikQHkhL8YMM[/embed]

6. Guilty Gear

The precise inputs fighting games demand make them feel like natural siblings to rhythm games, but Guilty Gear feels particularly suited to travel between genres. Music has always been central to the franchise—series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari has composed music for nearly every franchise entry, and as of Guilty Gear Strive, every character has an independent absolut?e ?banger for a theme.

Guilty Gear is indebted to music on nearly every level. Characters like Axl Low take blatant inspiration from real-life rockstars, and there are probably more fans of the Guilty Gear soundtrack than the??re are fans of the actual series. A ??rhythm-based spinoff is an all-too-obvious pitch.

[embe?d]//www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO3??Ap0xOcAE[/embed]

5. Chrono

The Chrono duology will get a bit of rhythm representation in the form of DLC for Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, but honestly, I'm not sure that that's enough. Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross collectively play host to some of the greatest J??RPG music around. Yasunori Mitsuda is an incredible composer and his work alongside the legendary Nobuo Uematsu elevates the first game to incredible heights (the second one is pretty wonderful, too).

The presence of these soundtracks in Theatrhythm proves that they translate into a gamified context, so I think it would be nice to see them in their own game entirely. If you'll permit me to dream for a moment, I'd love a rhythm game incorporating some of Chrono Trigger's classic dual and triple techs.

[embed]//www?.youtube.com/watch?v=e9r5hx47kxM[/??embed]

4. Super Mario

I honestly can't believe this doesn't exist. If you ask a random person to hum a tune from a video game, good money says they'll go for the main theme from Super Mario Bros. There's no denying that the Super Mario series plays host to some truly iconic music.

After The Legend of Zelda got its own Crypt of the Necrodancer-themed rhythm spinoff, I figured Mario, king of the side-game, would follow close behind. But somehow, the series' soundtrack is still limited to cameo appearances in different rhythm games. I do want a Mario rhythm ?game, but more than that, I'm just shocked that the??re isn't one yet.

[embed]//www.youtu?be.com/watch?v=N8OHSXvne??OE[/embed]

3. Celeste

I dig the soundtrack from the original PICO-8 version of Celeste, but the series' sonic identity really came into view when composer Lena Raine joined the team for the 2018 remake. Raine's music makes Celeste feel like a sincere musical adventure, and that feeling is only enhanced by the game's "B-Sides"—tougher takes on individual levels featuring? brilliantly remi?xed takes on the original soundtrack.

Raine returned to score Celeste's DLC, Farewell, and she also wrote a couple of smaller tracks for the game's miniature PICO-8 sequel, Celeste 2: Lani's Trek. All of this music is phenomenal, and all of it would be as ??well-suited to a rhythm game as it is to a series of precision platformers.

[embed]//www.y??outube.com/wat??ch?v=55uDJ39W4i0[/embed]

2. Sonic the Hedgehog

I'm not even gonna write anything for this?? one. Just listen to it.

[em?b?ed]//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XV7TeThdVA[/embed]

1. Nier

Like the Chrono games, the Nier series will be featured in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, but it deserves an awful lot more. Composer Keiichi Okabe's work is responsible for at least a solid 40% of my personal fondness for Nier, and I don't think it's a stretch to call it some of the best video game music ever. Okabe's work?? is often melancholy and complex, but it's also frequently catchy and light.

The music of Nier is truly brilliant. I'd love to see it paired with a set of mechanics spec?ifically built around it. The only issue I can see with this plan is that I would probably never play anything else again??.

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I'm bad, and that's good

Heroes get a lot of love. The main character of a game is, by their very nature, the star of the show. But a great villain is often even more compelling than a great hero - everyone wants to save the world, but it takes a special soul to?? want to de??stroy it.

It's almost impossible to whittle a list of iconic video game villains down to just ten. It would be easy to simply point to the villains from games that sold really well, but that's not really what it means to be iconic. So I tried my hardest to compile a list of ten ?video game villains who are real icons; the ones who stand tall in the world of gaming, whose silhouettes are?? enough to send shivers down your spine.

[caption id="attachment_358899" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

10. Ridley - Metroid

The Metroid games have all sorts of great villains, but if you want to talk about iconography, Ridley's your guy. This nasty space dragon has done battle with Samus Aran on nearly every single one ?of her many adventures. To be fair, Samus has a pretty good reason to want Ridley dea??d: he killed her parents way back when.

Secretly, though, I think Samus got over that a while ago. She just wants to flex about beating the same alien pte??rodactyl like a dozen times.

[caption id="attachment_356767" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Nintendo[/caption]

9. Sephiroth - Final Fantasy VII

If you asked ten people who played Final Fantasy VII what Sephiroth's motive was, you'd probably only get three answers, and you'd be pretty lucky if one of them was correct. Honestly, it's hard to remember much about Sephiroth himself. He wears that really cool coat, he's got a huge sword, and he's a weirdly chill co-worker in Crisis Core, but that's about it. He's not even really the main villain of Final Fantasy VII Remake. So how does a character like that wind up on a "most iconic" list? Why does Sephiroth keep cropping up in Final Fantasy VII spinoffs and crossover events?

To answer that question, I'd like to give you a f?ew instructions. First, I want you to open up a new tab on your computer. Now head on over to YouTube, and type in "One-Winged Angel Distant Worlds." Go ahead and ??click on any of the first three results. See? Iconic.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVZVo2J53TM

8. Albert Wesker - Resident Evil

Looking at Albert Wesker now, it's kind of hard to believe that Resident Evil briefly tried to trick us into thinking he was a nice guy. See those sunglasses? Tho?se are very evil sunglasses.

Wesker is such a classic villain. He meddles in things beyond his understanding, he gets arrogant about play??ing God, he throws his buddies under the bus. Even his death is incredible - how many guys can make it through multiple self-engineered zombie apocalypses just to get launched into a volcano by a missile explosion? Just one. And his name is Albert ?Wesker.

[caption id="attachment_358901" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

7. Dr. Wily - Mega Man

Speaking of guys who love to play God, who could forget Dr. Wily? This old weirdo has one of my favorite backstories in all of video games. He had a friend in college, his friend was smarter than him, so he got mad and moved to the ocean to build wo?rld-dominating robots. Who wouldn't?

Mega Man games are great on their own, but they're even better for their wrinkly antagonist and his stupid petty robo-army. Now, only one question remains: where is Dr. Wily?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMTizJemHO8

6. Dracula - Castlevania

Maybe it's cheating to include Dracula on this list. I mean, he's Dracula. Of course he's iconic. But Castlevania's version of Dracula is a very specific ??take on the character, and one who's surely earned his place in the rankings. He's a frightening and sinister foe, and as if his long-standing anti-Belmont policy wasn't bad enough, he's also an awful father.

But, I mean, you've gotta give him credit for that dope line about miserable lit?tle piles of secrets. W??hat a cool guy.

[caption id="attachment_358903" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Valve[/caption]

5. GLaDOS - Portal

I have a feeling that anyone who's ever heard a single line from GLaDOS would include her on this list. You don't need to have finished Portal?, or even played very much of it?, to appreciate GLaDOS.

Ellen McLain's performance as GLaDOS in the original Portal is one of the best pieces of video game voice-acting ever, and she delivers similarly impressive results in every other Portal project and crossover. She's so deliciously cruel to Chell, both as a demanding taskmaster and as a very rude friend, and the amazingly resentful songs that play over the credits of both Portal games only serve to cement her ??as one? of gaming's greatest bad guys.

[caption id="attachment_358905" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Konami YouTube[/caption]

4. Pyramid Head - Silent Hill

..Sorry, Masahiro Ito.

[caption id="attachment_358906" align="alignnone" width="640"]? Screenshot via The Pokémon Company YouTube[/caption]

3. Team Rocket - Pokémon

Team Rocket rules. Why does this organization of super-criminals have such a bone to p??ick with one random kid? Why is their plan for world domination cen??tered entirely around children's sporting events? What, exactly, are they planning on doing once they've stolen all the most expensive pets in the world? How will that materially help them?

I don't know. But I'm glad they're out there trying, because I think they're very funny. They're also undeniably iconic. While they're only the main villains in two generations, they've been cropping up in remakes for years, and they even made a full reappearance as a secondary villain team in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

[caption id="attachment_358907" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via SEGA[/caption]

2. Dr. Eggman - Sonic the Hedgehog

Yo??u can call this guy "Dr. Robotnik" if you want, but he'll always be Dr. Eggman to me. He's a man who kinda looks like an egg. It just makes sense.

Ever since Dr. Eggman first started putting animals inside of robot suits, he's been one of the ??most ridiculous villains in the medium. That's fitting, given that his nemesis is a hedgehog who can move really quickly. There have been other Sonic villains, but I'd bet good money that you can't name three of them. Dr. Eggman, on the other hand, is a true icon. He's been given deeper characterization since his first appearance, but players have been enamored by this rotund rabbit trapper from minute one.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=03bAayBtcb0

1. Bowser - Super Mario Bros.

Was this spot ever going to belong to anyone else? Bowser, the big lizard who hates plu??mbers, is one of the greatest villains ??ever. He's also probably the only character on this list my grandpa would recognize, which is a huge argument in favor of his iconography.

Sure, Bowser has oscillated back and forth between "kidnapper" and "reluctant buddy," but at the end of the day, this guy can only be called a villain, and a very good one at that. Any dinosaur who can be a doting dad, a piece of paper, a tyrant king, a go-karting superstar, and Dennis Hopper is okay in my book.

The post 1?0 most iconic video game villains of all time, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.