The Hill Is Always Greener

Schlurp Schlurp

Don't. Turn. Around. On this most frightening of nights, The Hill Is Always Greener looks back at the bizarre phenomenon that is the Tails Doll. From its seemingly innocent origins to its horrifying legacy birthed by the Sonic fandom, we peer deep into the soul of this little ball of fluff until we too can...feel...the...sunshine...
(0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: The Tails Doll(0:04:02) The origin(0:07:03) The fan stuff(0:18:49) Comic appearances(0:25:30) Other cameos(0:28:46) Final thoughts(0:36:19) Outro
Amie Waters on Linktree
"Prophecy" by Asher Tye
"Who REALLY Started the Story of the Tails Doll Curse?" by TheMentok
Ted the Caver
Candle Cove
NES Godzilla Creepypasta
Sonic Shorts playlist
Comickpro
Karl Bollers talks about Tails Doll

That Sonadow’s Carrying a Car!

We're ready for primetime once again as we take a look at the second batch of episodes for Sonic Prime! With all the shatterverses now introduced, worlds start to collide as the Chaos Council spreads their influence and Sonic attempts to recover all of the missing shards, but new enemies and old friends both stand in his way. Has our opinion on the show changed with this new batch? How do we think the whole series will conclude? And seriously, what is it going to take to get rid of that freaking baby forever?
(0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic Prime "Season" 2(0:04:14) Avoid the Void(0:27:24) Battle in the Boscage(0:34:21) Second Wind/No Way Out(0:49:20) A Madness to Their Methods(0:56:35) Double Trouble(1:03:29) Cracking Down(1:09:44) Ghost of a Chance(1:22:56) Final thoughts(1:32:00) Series finale speculation(1:40:30) Outro
Amie Waters on Linktree
"Avoid the Void" on YouTube
"Battle in the Boscage" on YouTube
Tweet from Dejimon11 that is 100% correct
Tweet from animator Junni Enriquez showing some easter eggs snuck into Sonic Prime

Meow Meow Meow Meow

Oh boy. This is going to be a rough one. Were going back in time to the, uh..."birth(?)" of the Classic Sonic renaissance with Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode I. Released in 2010, this downloadable title sought to recreate the feel of the original Sonic games, with...questionable results. Does it feel any better to go back to today? What about the weird soundtrack? And does this game really have any sort of lasting legacy all its own?
(0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I(0:18:20) The music(0:24:50) How we played the game(0:33:15) The title screen(0:36:04) Splash Hill(0:49:25) Special stages(0:56:18) Casino Street(1:02:26) Lost Labyrinth(1:16:23) Mad Gear(1:23:30) E.G.G. Station(1:25:58) Ending(1:29:10) Episode II...and III?(1:32:48) What is the legacy of Sonic 4 Episode I?(1:40:24) Super Sonic(1:43:18) Outro
Amie Waters on Linktree
CVG report on the delay of Sonic 4 Episode I

The Kinect was Really Good Actually (ft. Dertek)

We've all been there. We've all got that one thing that we're super deep into, but one of our friends doesn't really get it. Maybe it passed them by, maybe it's just not their thing, who knows? Whatever the reason, perhaps being on the outside looking in has left them with plenty of questions that they've never quite been able to get the answers to. Well, this is something that we at The Hill Is Always Greener are aiming to change with our new series of "newbie education" episodes, where we bring on a guest who is NOT a Sonic fan and attempt to better explain what draws us to the franchise, as well as answer any of those burning questions they might have. And for this first episode, friend of the show Derek returns to ask all about environmentalism, getting into the comics, the lack of new RPGs, and much more. Plus, he'll have to answer a few devious questions of our own...
(0:00:00) Intro(0:04:49) What is it about Sonic that has made you stick with it?(0:13:17) Is the Sonic Cycle still relevant?(0:18:51) Quiz game: A.B.C.D. Station(0:41:32) Was Murder of Sonic a deliberate attempt to experiment with putting Sonic in a different genre?(0:45:59) Did Sonic Chronicles really poison the well for Sonic RPGs?(0:51:03) How do I get into the comics?(0:58:42) Quiz game: Animal Abstraction(1:21:38) Derek's trivia question(1:23:54) Why did they gate the best endings behind special stages?(1:28:30) Does Sonic still have environmentalist themes?(1:33:34) Quiz game: Know More Music (1:57:29) What was so bad about Sonic 4?(1:59:45) Do you think things have gotten better or worse since Yuji Naka left?(2:07:40) If you had to recommend one Sonic game to a newcomer, what would it be?(2:17:29) Outro
Amie Waters on Linktree
Derek's Twitch
Sonic Free Riders No Kinect Patch
Dick Kicker (Giant Bomb Remix)
Dreamcast: Where It Went Wrong with Sega's Mark Subotnick - The Retro Hour

Orphans Really Love Chili Dogs

Hello! ¡Hola! Willkommen! Bienvenue! Konnichiwa! Alooooha! How ya doin'? Yo! And in any language, welcome to The Hill Is Always Greener! In celebration of the recent release of the Lego Sonic the Hedgehog theme, the gang takes a look back at Sonic's guest appearance in the toys-to-life crossover Lego Dimensions, a subject that CyberLink knows all too well. Join us as we break down the Sonic level pack and its many references and callbacks brick-by-brick, and how it set the stage for more Lego Sonic on the screen and on toy shelves! It's the most comedic celebration of Sonic that you'll find in any dimension!
(0:00:00) Intro/Sonic Superstars initial thoughts(0:06:51) Main topic: Lego Dimensions(0:13:23) Sonic Dimensions(0:17:15) The (close-enough) music(0:22:56) Green Hill Zone(0:24:35) Special Stages(0:28:16) Emerald Coast Clash(0:31:30) Formidable Foe Fiasco(0:34:35) Metropolis Zone Mayhem(0:38:25) Marble Zone Meltdown(0:41:57) The Labyrinth(0:43:13) Death Egg Showdown(0:49:31) Adventure world(1:02:35) Character interactions(1:07:27) Other Sonic stuff(1:08:43) Lego ideas Sonic(1:10:30) Lego Sonic theme(1:13:10) Final thoughts(1:20:35) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
The Lego Dimensions Tracker co-authored by CyberLink
BricksToLife - List of Canceled Year 3 plans for Lego Dimensions
Lego Ideas - Sonic Mania
Lego Sonic the Hedgehog sets - Announce trailer

Canonball: A Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfiction

Brace yourselves, folks: you're in for a weird one. In the spirit of creativity, The Hill Is Always Greener have decided to stretch their writing muscles and craft their very own Sonic the Hedgehog fanfiction...by gamifying the process in the most absurd, ridiculous way possible. Filled with violent gamer rage, age-related injuries, taxes, body horror, and even the unexpected return of a much beloved abridged series, this is one episode that needs to be heard to be believed.
(0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Let's write a Sonic fanfic!(0:02:13) Our history with Sonic fanfics(0:11:05) Excerpt: "Metal Mastermind" by Turrican23X(0:14:10) Setting our ground rules(0:18:31) Luke - Characters denigrate other video game franchises (Change!)(0:25:40) Jeremy - Sonic is unable to run for some reason(0:31:37) Chris - Character uses a curse word(0:37:56) Jake - Inexplicable crossover that doesn't compliment either universe(0:41:55) Jake - Christian rock music (It's On You!)(0:45:53) Luke - Karaoke(0:47:53) Jeremy - Drastic character change (Change!)(0:53:18) Chris - Truth or Dare(0:56:50) Chris - Tragic backstory out of nowhere (Put This In!)(0:58:46) Jake - Incongruous Intercourse(1:03:06) Luke - One of the main characters has to stop and do their taxes before continuing the story(1:05:44) Jeremy - Coffee Shop AU(1:09:23) Chris - Eggman wins(1:14:40) Jake - Reference an early 2000s Toonami show(1:18:53) Luke - Breaking the fourth wall in a bad attempt at humour(1:20:34) Chris - Breaking the fourth wall in a bad attempt at drama (It's On You!)(1:23:55) Jeremy - War is on the brink, and can only be stopped if 1 character can deliver something, but 2nd character is stopping them(1:27:36) Chris - Friend gets hurt(1:30:31) Chris - Character from another SEGA franchise appears(1:32:57) Jake - Heroic snack-rifice(1:35:11) Jake - Brand new Super form (Put This In!)(1:39:58) Luke - Romantic moment (Change!)(1:43:50) The full story recap(1:53:05) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Marin Miller
"Whose Line Is It Anyway: Love Hina Edition" by JonJ
"Sonic: Chaos in the System" by Faulerro
"Trial and Error: Speedy Turnabout" by CyberLink420
"Metal Mastermind" by Turrican23X

The Studiopolis Iceberg (ft. Ginger Hail)

What happens when you take a team of talented creators with ties to the Sonic fanbase, and give them Sonic Team's blessing and guidance? You get one of the greatest Sonic games of all time, that's what! Special guest Ginger Hail joins the team to talk about the one and only Sonic Mania, a game with the most unlikely of origins that remains one of the blue blur's most lauded adventures. We dissect this game from top to bottom, from its snappy gameplay, to its many surprising additions and callbacks, to its incredible soundtrack, to...okay, let's be honest, this is just gonna be us gushing nonstop for two and a half hours, so if that sort of thing sounds up your alley, tune in!
(0:00:00) Intro(0:04:03) Main topic: Sonic Mania(0:19:55) The music!(0:34:20) Green Hill Zone(0:47:07) Special Stages (0:55:24) Chemical Plant Zone(0:59:43) Studiopolis Zone(1:10:06) Flying Battery Zone(1:16:01) Press Garden Zone(1:19:30) Stardust Speedway Zone(1:28:24) Hydrocity Zone(1:35:33) Mirage saloon Zone(1:44:49) Oil Ocean Zone(1:51:36) Lava Reef Zone(1:58:27) Metallic Madness Zone(2:06:27) Titanic Monarch Zone(2:16:24) Egg Reverie Zone(2:19:48) Other modes(2:23:54) Final thoughts(2:31:55) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Ginger Hail on Twitter
carnivalnight.zone
Egg Reverie + Fist Bump Vocals
Studiopolis Zone (Act 1) Jazz Cover by insaneintherainmusic
Motobug the Badnik in Sonic the Hedgehog

Maybe She’s Born with It. Maybe It’s Master Emerald. (ft. FangGuu)

It's time to dip back into Sonic Adventure once again, but perhaps not in the way you expect. Special guest FangGuu joins the gang as they take a look at two VERY different and very controversial comic adaptations of Sonic's first real foray into 3D. First, Archie Comics desperately attempts to make the game's story work within its universe at the eleventh hour, with questionable results. Then, Sonic the Comic almost wholly abandons the source material in the name of attempting to give the comic a proper send-off for its final storyline. Shocking character death, backstories upon backstories, controversial endings, and so much more await, so tune in to see how that rough transition to 3D translated to the page.
(0:00:00) Intro(0:02:35) Archie Comics(1:18:17) Sonic the Comic(2:26:13) Final thoughts(2:29:38) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
FangGuu on Twitch
Sonic Adventure Fan Comic
Hazel - Sonic Adventure is Beautiful

Because N is Funnier Than Q (ft. Prismaeya)

Special guest Prismaeya joins the gang to look back at Sonic Advance, one of the blue blur's first appearances on a Nintendo system! What was it like seeing Sonic show up on "the competition" for the first time? How well does Amy adapt to the gameplay of a traditional Sonic sidescroller? And does Dimps' freshman outing with the Sonic series still hold up to this day? All this and more await, so grab your link cables and get ready to experience Life Advanced!
(0:00:00) Intro(0:03:12) Main topic: Sonic Advance(0:16:22) Music(0:20:36) Multiplayer(0:23:09) Tiny Chao Garden(0:25:43) Gameplay(0:31:40) SonicN(0:33:45) Amy is playable!(0:43:33) Special Stages(0:46:57) Neo Green Hill Zone(0:48:00) Secret Base Zone(0:56:37) Casino Paradise Zone/Ice Mountain Zone(1:00:00) Angel Island Zone(1:05:40) Egg Rocket Zone/Cosmic Angel Zone(1:12:08) X-Zone(1:16:57) Moon Zone(1:31:52) Sound Test(1:34:40) Final thoughts(1:39:28) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
prismaeya on Twitch
2D Illustration Shader mod for Sonic Frontiers
Sonic Adventure 2 (Dark Story + Final Story) | Real-Time Fandub Games

Cope, Seethe, Mald, Hedgehog (ft. JezMM)

Happy birthday Sonic! To celebrate the blue blur's 32nd anniversary, friend of the show JezMM joins us for a discussion all about the game that started it all, 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Listen in as we reminisce over the catchy soundtrack, the (sometimes) high speeds, and our collective terror every time the Labyrinth looms before us.
(0:00:00) Intro(0:03:16) Main topic: Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)(0:11:29) Starting the game(0:16:31) Green Hill Zone(0:22:50) Special Stages(0:31:10) Marble Zone(0:40:25) Spring Yard Zone(0:48:09) Labyrinth Zone(0:57:14) Star Light Zone(1:04:27) Scrap Brain Zone(1:10:56) Final Zone/The music(1:17:54) The ending(1:22:45) The Master System version(1:30:18) Other ports(1:35:55) Final thoughts(1:43:22) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
JezMM on Twitter