Sonic is such a fun and interesting franchise because of how much just completely random and insane shit SEGA did during almost his entire lifecycle. It's a very surreal mix of the Genesis doing gangbusters, then the 1-2 punch of the Saturn and Dreamcast as they desperately tried to get people to buy them. They really, REALLY wanted you to think Sonic was cool and prayed that would get consoles sold, and I guess it worked because here we are. Personally, my favorite Sonic is that very specific Jam-Adventure 1 era, he's awesome. I just lied, actually, the best Sonic is his art from Sonic Screensaver. No, seriously, look up his sprites in that, it is peak Sonic I think.
A bit more info on the sonic jam jam: it was a promotional item given to people who pre ordered sonic jam on the sega saturn in japan only. Each flavor apparently tasted like what they look like: Blueberry jam for sonic, Orange marmalade for tails, and Strawberry jam for knuckles. All 3 came in a box with a big sonic jam sticker on the top.
It's always been surreal to me that the "Man of the year" short was done by the same people that did the 90's Warner bros cartoons. Look at it, it's just an episode of animaniacs with Sonic dumped into it.
I’m so glad to have stumbled across your channel back in the Pokémon video, you just have this very chill style to your presentation that makes watching so much fun. Can’t wait for more 💜
This script was so much fun to work on with you, and it’s awesome seeing you bring it to life with the final video. Really makes me happy seeing everyone get a kick out of it too!!
01:21 Despite Xtreme looking absolutely abysmal from a gameplay perspective, I can't help but marvel every time I see it. The style - with the fisheye lens, combination of sprites and polygons, the twisting geometry - is so neat. I really wish it hadn't been slated for use as the next Sonic game because it looks so wholly unsuited to Sonic-style speed and gameplay. With the right character and gameplay style (something more exploration and challenge based, ala Gex) I think it could have been a great game. The worlds look so fun to explore, but not in a Sonic way, if that makes sense. I'm getting a more of a "contemplative" platformer sort of vibe, with the levels opening out as you fulfil certain challenges (extending a bridge, diverting a river into a waterfall, an avalanche revealing a long-forgotten cave entrance etc.)
I think it's a waste that not much of it was repurposed in later titles. Like maybe at least have the fisheye lens style as special stages instead of the whole game revolving around it, or even at least remixing Space Queens.
I love the 3D hub world so much and till this day, I just wish they made an entire game out of that. If they could make that Hub world, I don't see why they couldn't make more of them and set them up as the levels. Basically yeah like sonic Xtreme was suppose to be. But I mean this would have been different, it wouldn't have exactly been sonic Xtreme, but it would have been a 3D sonic running around in a 3D world and that would have been amazing on Saturn. In fact, I said the same thing about sonic r, which I also loved. If they can make these 3D levels to run on, they could have made a whole mainline game out of that concept
I just realized, if you were to fuse the concept of Sonic Jam Hub World, with Sonic R tracks, with the plot, story, and level themes of Sonic 3D Blast, you would get an amazing mainline 3D Sonic game on Saturn. Like the biggest complaint towards 3D blast was that it wasn't true 3D, it was Isometric, but if they had made the game in the style of Sonic Jam Hub World, and Sonic R track design, they could have made 3D blast the perfect game for Saturn. Things id do if I had a time machine lol
Yeah the TT trilogy is really interesting in retrospect, perhaps if they were given more time and freedom we couldve gotten a single good game out of it
Cool vid, lots of interesting info in here. I'm glad you mentioned the actual Sonic Jam... jam. No idea if it was released in Japan. I don't think I've ever seen other pics of it anywhere else. Also, 7:39 that one upload of OVA was actually taken down after like 10 years of being on YT by... Bandai in 2021. I think they still take it down from time to time? Maybe they stopped. But you can still easily find it on YT ... and anywhere else. Again, cool video!
I love the Sonic 2 sprites, one of the best in the series. You might wonder, what does this have to do with the video? Well, our friend mentions how the concept art shows Tails maintaining his speed by spinning his tails, the thing is, to get to that there are some small animations before getting to that. Between Sonic and Tails there is a difference in frames for their jogs. While Sonic has more frames and shows a confident walk, Tails has the same amount of frames as Sonic in his first installment, apart from that, since his shoes are extremely long, he pushes his body forward while stretching his small legs, all of this to show you that Tails is not good at running.
Im mad that Sonic Origins was not like Sonic Jam. An original 3D Low Poly Sonic World to run around in would have paid homage to the missing Sega Saturn Sonic Game that never happened.
15:30 Archie's Sonic comics, Sonic Quest Issue #1. I think that artist of the cover (Patrick Spaziante) was trying to basically pay homage to this exact render.
Thank you for making a video on my all time favorite Sonic compilation of games. Even since I played Sonic 1 for the first time on my Dreamcast (worst way to play that game btw), I’ve always been a fan of him. Sometime last year I had gotten a physical version of Sonic jam for my Saturn because I heard how great it was & damn it was amazing. It holds up ridiculously well today, especially compared to the shit show that is origins (thanks Sega for always having strict deadlines). Anyways I think if you collect Saturn games, spending $300 for a physical version of Sonic jam complete in box is absolutely worth it
Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart is like one of the worst fan games I have played. There is no tutorial for anything and the controls are ass. Playing online is no fun when your ping is 400.
I was expecting a deep dive into Sonic Jam itself but instead what I got was a whole lot of random Sonic trivia only tangentially related. And trust me I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Y'know, I love Sonic Jam with all my heart, but I somehow never bothered watching this until now. Better late than never, I guess! Great video! I'll always be intrigued by the Sonic media Japan got around this time!
Actually loved this video, would gladly listen to you talk about random Sonic shit for an hour more if the video .lasted that long! This comment also serves as a petition for Amy Rose Raspberry Jam.
I recall reading somewhere that the Sonic Jam Jam was a pre-order bonus for the game at a certain store in Japan. I think it was a convenience store, but don't quote me on that haha
20:34 the only good thing about speed battle is the cool skina that people with skill can extract and then use to make mods for generations or frontiers That's it.
this video is so good, i thought you were some 100k sub channel but nah this video has like 500 views. keep doin what youre doin, its great :) (also sonic lighter goes crazy)
22:13 i agree with you. The Japanese box art of Sonic 3D Blast is really rad. But there is one issue with it. You see Sonic 3D Blast was released for the Sega Saturn in America in 1996, in Europe in 1997 and in Japan in 1999. Making Sonic 3D Blast as the Sega Saturn's final sonic game in Japan. And we all know that Sonic Adventure was released in Japan in 1998 so that art from the Japanese box art from Sonic 3D Blast came after Sonic Adventure.
