Board 8 > ITT I rank Sonic the Hedgehog characters

(+) Yeah! (+)

I like that boss aesthetically, but the actual fight is super easy. I think I actually prefer the Generations version of that fight more, even though it lacks Super Sonic.

Chaos always makes me happy to fight because it feels like a huge journey to get there and they build him up perfectly. You fight his screwy lesser versions, you have to fight over these emeralds the whole game, and then it just destroys the whole damn city you've been jumping around in.

And there's something satisfying about just trying to sprint headlong into it and exploding out of it as Super Sonic. I like it far more than the other creature of the week fights in the 3D games.

It's also an awesome physical design. Love how that thing looks.

Perfect Chaos rules because Open Your Heart is the best buttrock Sonic song.

Chaos works because there's logical buildup to it. Metal Overlord also works for this reason, though less so. It's also the reason why Finalhazard isn't as good, since it basically comes out of nowhere.

Chaos is a good final boss. I'd probably rank it second personally.

JackMan posted...

I like that boss aesthetically, but the actual fight is super easy. I think I actually prefer the Generations version of that fight more, even though it lacks Super Sonic.

My thoughts exactly.

Imagine Chaos in a 2022 Gaming Engine. IMAGINE...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/2/9/AATFBfAADafR.jpg

Infinite
First Appearance: Sonic Forces

Jesus I am always so split on this dude.

So Infinite is a jacakl with the edgiest mask ever and the rest of his appearance is actually pretty solid with his ruby on his chest too. It's actually teetering the line of being unbearably cringe and sorta cool.

Basically, Infinite used to be a mercenary trying to defend Eggman's base with a bunch of other merc friends and Shadow kicks his shit in and threw a fit over it. Eggman then gave him a Phantom Ruby to give him INFINITE power. Infinite got his revenge on Shadow later and trapped him in... virtual reality. Then he fights Sonic and friends and mostly has the power and ability to easily beat anyone, notably Silver. Oh, and at some point he makes your Avatar piss themselves, which is cool, but the Avatar stands up for themselves.

And he'll take them into NULL SPACE and tries to drop VIRTUAL SUNS on people, and it weakened him so Sonic and Avatar could beat Infinite and he died from a corny ass line from Sonic. Jk he actually just gets shot back into Eggman's reactor and is consumed by it. Pretty sure he's dead idk.

So alright, there's aspects of Infinite that are good, but aspects of him that are complete shit. Like I don't even know how you balance them. He's just a mercenary heavy with incredible power that's so strong that Sonic can only beat him when he's weakened and then he is... I guess killed dead? He's a dark, edgy dude who feels a little out of place. Like Shadow is the same kind of dark and edgy, but it feels like they tried to push even those boundaries and it comes across as... weird.

There are times in which Infinite is legitimately cool, and times where it just feels like they're trying too hard and it backfires. I personally don't enjoy Infinite all too much, and I think they could have done something with this character to make him fit and work better. Just scaling down his power works a lot. Not making him this uber powerful goon. He's just not interesting enough for that and it becomes his whole character.

I mean, he's a complete afterthought by the end. It's just difficult to care about Infinite, and I don't necessarily need to see him back when there's much better options for Eggman's sidekicks.

Rank: D

https://youtu.be/LDu9AY15fQI

Should have made him edgier imo. Not enough of him screaming about how he WAS NOT WEAK.

Final Hazard is the best because the scenario is the best. The actual lizard might be the weakest part, but there's still a lot of build from the space station that has been the setting for half the game plummeting to earth and shadow's arc culminating in the sonic dbz tag team. And all the side characters cheering you on damn.

Mechanically not great

pjbasis posted...

the space station that has been the setting for half the game plummeting to earth

No, the giant lizard is plummeting to earth. The space station just happens to be stuck halfway up the lizard's butt.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/9/4/AATFBfAADa3u.jpg

Classic Sonic aka Santiago the Hedgehog
First Appearance: Sonic Generations

I seriously don't get Classic Sonic. It's a fun idea, but I just don't know how well it works, especially when it's used in anything but Sonic Generations.

Classic Sonic looks like Sonic... but cute?

And that's where a lot of my problem is with Classic Sonic. He's a wide-eyed innocent looking hedgehog without any of the attitude we saw in the games. Like Sonic absolutely had a personality in the original games, just looking at the sprite where he had a more aggressive expression, a cocky grin as he waggles his finger on the title screen. There's just nothing that makes sense with Classic Sonic when he seems much pudgier too.

I'm not going to dump on it too much, provided they keep it separate for the most part, but then this Classic Sonic is also the one in Sonic Mania and then Sonic Forces. Why is he in Sonic Forces? You couldn't figure out something else to do platforming with? I don't know what you'd do, but including Classic Sonic again is just lazy and another issue with the game filled with issues.

There's a reason the Santiago the Hedgehog meme caught on, because this Classic Sonic isn't anything like the Classic Sonic we once knew. I'm okay with it more as a difference with, say, the different versions of Mario. Like regular Mario and Paper Mario. I just don't find Classic Sonic that interesting as a character, even if the design is pretty alright as cute Sonic.

I don't really need to see him again though. I think people got tired of him in Sonic Forces, so I don't think that'll be an issue now. Figure out something else for 2D if you're going to do that format again (which it seems like they will not if Sonic Frontiers is anything to go by).

Rank: D

https://youtu.be/mxaT6WDTkgg

https://twitter.com/semifreqsonic/status/1544675032672133121?s=20&t=FjPvAx8x0u7f8lJm-sE2RA

Yeah I always thought making a distinction between classic and modern sonic was just weird. The concept for the character didn't really change just because he started speaking.

It was just an excuse to have a combination of 2-D and 3-D levels for Generations and do a throwback to the original Sonic design where he was shorter and rounder

I guess there's no better way to sell the old vs new theme in generations specifically.

The weirdest thing about Classic Sonic is it's canonically the same Sonic from Sonic Mania Adventures, who acts completely differently.

If anyone wants the deep lore dive on Final Hazard and why it sucks:

https://twitter.com/semifreqsonic/status/1545037420969619456?s=20&t=wBV3Yu9lVtfiiUmfMcqEvQ

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/0/1/AATFBfAADbYp.jpg

Silver the Hedgehog
First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

IT'S NO USE!

Silver is a silver-furred hedgehog with a more futuristic vibe with "hair" coming out in five points from his forehead. I actually like the design a lot, but I feel like if he were literally any other animal, it would be a better design to adopt and change around.

That's sort of where a lot of my issues land with Silver: he was created as the bastard third playable hedgehog in the very bad Sonic 2006 with a completely different playstyle where you just toss boxes around mostly. Havok Engine yay. Thematically, I think the psychic concept is fine but holy hell was it ever jank in Sonic 2006, and trying to put him on equal footing with Sonic and Shadow was a mistake too when his combat is so much more different.

Not to mention his character is batty. He's from a destroyed future? And I guess his story is that when something big happens in the present it fucks up his future, so he has to come back and... man, they need to figure out something with this dude that isn't just popping back and forth through time. Like just have him be locked out from the future and instead just trying to live in the past and trying to figure a way to the future again. I dunno. Time travel gets weird.

That's basically all of his appearances though, starting from Sonic 2006 onward. He comes across at kind of whiny sometimes and incredibly naive, the latter of which is fine. It's just that he doesn't seem like he fits sometimes which sucks since he does bring something different to the franchise. I like that there's some kind of psychic weirdo forever chucking boxes. But it doesn't give him a lot of excuse to be around.

What I do like, however, is that they've kind of leaned into treating Silver like an absolute fucking dork. Because he is, and he's best played as one. Everyone should be dunking on him and teasing him, mostly in a good-natured way. Because he's this fish out of water weirdo who mostly just wants to do what's right and is relatively jovial, but he's just... not from this world. It works. I hope they keep leaning into that.

I don't know that we need to see his gameplay again unless they can really think of a way to make it work, but I like the idea of him being a buddy who can help out. I like seeing Silver, overall, even with his kind of dopey entrance into the franchise. I'll gladly take more of him if they can figure out how to make him work.

Rank: C

https://youtu.be/c4zwIGF0mFQ

I could have sworn that Silver shows up in the game where you have to rescue Sonic or something?

Sonic Forces? He does! He comes back to the past because Eggman took over the world and shit up his future again. Or something.

Silver is great. Dreams of an Absolution is beautiful.

I don't mind Silver. Vastly prefer him when he moves fast like everyone else though. Unforgivable that he was so slow in 06, intentional or not.

Silver's been growing on me lately

I do like Silver but, similar to how DBZA has overwritten my memory of some Dragon Ball characters, I have a feeling SnapCube has done the same for him.

Silver's okay, but I don't like him when he's used over much more interesting/fun characters, like the Chaotix.

All I remember of Silver is how annoying he is as a boss in Sonic 2006.

Honestly, Silver's issue is he's just so boring/unmemorable. Even the Babylon Rogues are more interesting.

https://twitter.com/SonicDepressed/status/1545585104998776833?t=Rz1V3v06nQ_P29mCbTLwaw&s=19

Well, unfortunately we have three different Mecha Sonics to contend with, and while I'm sure Zylo had meant the third one, let's have some fun with the others.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/7/9/AATFBfAADbuL.jpg
(This is actually official artwork)

Mecha Sonic Mk. 0 aka Silver Sonic
First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear)

I love this goofy little bastard Sonic copy.

This Mecha Sonic is canonically the first one and he is just a dumb looking silver sonic robot with a goofy visor and little blue booties and a yellow stomach. He just looks so stupid. Oh and he's got a jet pack and a grabber hand.

This is from the Game Gear version so you can't expect much, but he's legitimately awful to the point I actually find him endearing. One of his moves is extending his little grabber hand and his jet booties make him fly across the screen. Occasionally he'll curl into a ball and attack too.

You might remember him more from the Metal Sonic battle in Sonic Mania though where he sends out a bunch of them and you need to hit them into Metal Sonic himself.

Overally, this is such an ugly robotic version of Sonic, but I kinda like how much of a hodgepodge disaster it is.

Rank: E

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/8/0/AATFBfAADbuM.jpg

Mecha Sonic Mk. 1
First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Alright, now we're in business with Mecha Sonics!

This thing looks pretty badass. As a menacing clone robot of Sonic, it has everything it needs. It's just grey with red boots and spikes that rotate like a saw and then I only discovered this pretty recently, but the red eye is actually a singular eye rather than two eyes.

This one feels a lot better to face off against. I love how it actually looks evil and tough and how Eggman is watching the whole fight play out. I think it's pretty basic, but leading the entire game to facing a fake hedgehog like this at the end is really cool.

Ultimately, that's all there really is to it. Solid boss.

Rank: D

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/8/1/AATFBfAADbuN.jpg

Mecha Sonic Mk. 2
First Appearance: Sonic & Knuckles

Yo, let's just discuss this Mecha Sonic because it is an incredible version of a robot Sonic.

This is a lot more of a robotic version of Sonic. Like it's cold and uncaring and legitimately looks like a murder bot. It's blue like regular Sonic, but the coloring makes it seem like a much more metallic blue. It has a singular eye as well, and it's just imposing to face off against.

I love the design of it, and even though it's not as challenging in Sonic's run of Sonic & Knuckles, it's Knuckles' where it shines.

In Sonic's story, you face it during Sky Sanctuary, the penultimate zone, and after he's defeated, he uses the last of his strength to destroy the rest of Sky Sanctuary, forcing Sonic to speed away up the top as it falls to it's supposed doom.

However, when Knuckles is captured by the Egg Robo you've been chasing the entire time in the Sky Sanctuary after this, Knuckles manages to escape it's grasp just in time for Mecha Sonic to come out of nowhere and destroy it. And then the fight goes on as normal and when you think it's defeated, it speeds backwards and then hops on the Master Emerald and becomes Super Mecha Sonic! This moment was so god damn cool and it really makes it stand out as it gains so many more powers including chest lasers and whatnot. After Knuckles beats it this time, it actually does blow into bits.

A revelation that made it so much cooler to me is when I found out that Mecha Sonic also has a single eye, and it's actually more like a power core. Because in it's animations when it takes the Master Emerald's power and when it fires the big ball lasers out of it's chest, it actually breaks open and exposes that the core goes through it's eye and chest. I'll show off the visual below, but it's really an awesome design and we deserve more Mecha Sonic from this game.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/8/2/AATFBfAADbuO.png

Rank: B

https://youtu.be/WxAMHdalv9E

Hah! Got the Doomsday Zone theme in here yet!

There's a mecha and metal sonic?

pjbasis posted...

There's a mecha and metal sonic?

Yep, they're not all the same, believe it or not

Leonhart4 posted...

Yep, they're not all the same, believe it or not

And that's not even including the comic's awesome Mecha Sonic.

One weird thing with Metal/Mecha is that Metal canonically appears before Mecha Mk.1, despite being superior in design. I guess Mk. 1 might have been a prototype Robotnik had laying around and just threw it at the wall to see if it stuck.

That final mecha sprite even looks a lot like the souped up Metal Sonic from Heroes.

PrivateBiscuit1 posted...

Hah! Got the Doomsday Zone theme in here yet!

Finally got it in here. Posting it along with Mecha reminding me of SMBZ.

Sticks the Badger

Bean the Dynamite

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/2/8/AATFBfAADb-k.jpg

Omochao
First Appearance: Sonic Adventure 2

I don't know what the fuck Omochao is but I'm all about it.

Omochao is a goofy-looking Chao, except he's a robot! And he has a silly little propellor on his head, crazy little eyes, and a charming yet unsettling smile.

After Sonic Adventure 1 had Tikal giving us hints, it made no sense for her to appear in the rest of the installments to do the same, so we get Omochao! A robotic Chao that we know nothing about. And that's fine. I don't want to know any more about Omochao than I already do. It's friendly, happy, and just wants to help. The less explained, the better!

He's got a little personality too and does not approve of being abused and will straight up stop helping you if you do it too much. I won't ever beg for Omochao to be in a game, but I'll always love when he's around because he's this charming little piece of Sonic that just works, if not a little bit weird.

Unfortunately, Sonic Frontiers doesn't appear to be giving us Omochao as a helper again, but I have no doubt that Omochao will keep appearing. I mean, they made him playable in Team Sonic Racing. That's ridiculous.

Rating: D

https://youtu.be/lcxNwdZlQT8

Current Rankings:

S Rank:
Dr. Eggman
Sonic the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog

A Rank:
Knuckles the Echida
Miles "Tails" Prower
Rouge the Bat
E-102 Gamma

B Rank:
Vector the Crocodile
Metal Sonic
Espio the Chameleon
Mecha Sonic Mk. 2

C Rank:
Amy Rose
Fang the Sniper
Silver the Hedgehog
Wave the Swallow
Gerald Robotnik
Tikal

D Rank:
Mighty the Armadillo
Infinite
Omochao
Ray the Flying Squirrel
Classic Sonic
Orbot
Mecha Sonic Mk. 1
Shahra

E Rank:
Cream the Rabbit
Mecha Sonic Mk. 0
Rookie

F Rank:
Big the Cat
Vanilla the Rabbit
Tails Doll
Professor Pickle

https://twitter.com/DoobusGoobus/status/1547294796783374337?s=20&t=K_XB0SMEkfJhhPNHP4Nf-Q

Chaos

this topic has inspired me to play Sonic Forces

Infinite is such a dumb concept for a villain but Liam O'Brien has such a natural talent for voicing bad guys that I wind up enjoying it when he's on screen anyway.

What is GUN?

And can I nominate jim Carrey eggman

LeonhartFour posted...

this topic has inspired me to play Sonic Forces

Infinite is such a dumb concept for a villain but Liam O'Brien has such a natural talent for voicing bad guys that I wind up enjoying it when he's on screen anyway.

Also the theme.

Emerl

Sonic Forces beated

A truly "okay" Sonic game

Infinite just needs a hug.

That was fast

pjbasis posted...

That was fast

Gotta go fast