The Hill Is Always Greener

You Got Any Libs, Man? (ft. FreakZone Games)

The gang is joined by game developer and former fan game creator Sam Beddoes of FreakZone Games to talk about the long and storied history of Sonic fan games, and the profound effect they've had on the franchise over the years. From their humble beginnings using whatever assets and tools were available, to their massive expansion in scope and scale, to many creators going on to develop their own original games, we cover some of the most interesting and memorable examples that have stuck with us over the years. Expect splat sounds, flashing neon signs, Tenchi Muyo references, massive character rosters, and so much more in this jam-packed episode, by and for the fans!
(0:00:00) Intro/Main Topic: Sonic fan games(0:06:06) Sonic Boom, 1995, Martin Braid(0:19:24) Sonic Robo Blast, 1998, Johnathan Wallbank (Sonikku)(0:23:50) Sonic Chaos and its (many) sequels, 1999-2002, Kadir Aytaç Aksu (MagicgrafX)(0:31:44) Super Mario and Sonic, 1999, FreakZone Games(0:40:34) The Search for Knuckles, 1999, Johan Leion(0:49:21) When Tails Gets Bored, 2000, Sonic Vegemite(0:50:35) Tale of Two Sonics, 2001, Ashura Hedgehog(0:58:51) Retro Sonic, 2002-2008 (demo), Christian Whitehead (The Taxman)(1:01:30) Ultimate Flash Sonic, 2004, Dennis Gid(1:05:34) Sonic Before the Sequel + After the Sequel + Chrono Adventure, 2011-2013, Felipe Daneluz (LakeFeperd)(1:10:24) Sonic Utopia (demo), 2017, MrLange and Murusaki(1:18:34) Sonic World DX, 2014-present, Sonic World DX Team(1:21:42) Sonic GT, 2020, Gabriel Gonzalez(1:23:50) Sonic Smackdown, 2020, ArcForged(1:24:51) Sonic and the Fallen Star, 2022, StarDrop(1:27:43) Big's Big World, 2021, Michael Ropple(1:29:40) Sonic Dreams Collection, 2015, Arcane Kids(1:31:35) Final thoughts(1:37:48) Outro(1:41:10) Sonic Boom (remix) by Faulerro
Amie Waters on Twitter
FreakZone Games
Spectacular Sparky
Sonic Boom
François Lionet
ClickTeam
Super Mario Vs NWO World Tour
Bubba in the Turd Dimension
Sonic Robo Blast
Sonic Robo Blast 2
Sonic Chaos
Super Mario and Sonic
Super Mario and Sonic Return
Freddie The Frog
The Search for Knuckles - Internet Archive
Chaomega
When Tails Gets Bored
Tale of Two Sonics
Big Punch Studios
Retro Sonic
Ultimate Flash Sonic
Sonic Before the Sequel
Sonic After the Sequel
Sonic Chrono Adventure
Sonic Utopia
Sonic World DX
Sonic GT
Sonic Smackdown
Sonic and the Fallen Star
Big's Big World
Sonic Dreams Collection
Freedom Planet
Spark the Electric Jester
Project Rascal
Brock Crocodile
Advent NEON
Lightspeed Lina
Midi & Melody

Raised in a Test Tube with a Trumpet in his Hand

It's time for another listening party as the gang pick things up where they left off last episode with a look back at the dual soundtracks of Sonic 3D! On one side, a 16-bit sound team at the peak of their ability. On the other, rich CD-quality sound that feels right at home on the Saturn. Hear cartoon sound effects, robots raving, and even some surprising connections to future Sonic games, as we take a look back at some of the unsung great tracks of the classic Sonic era.
(0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic 3D listening party(0:11:00) Openings(0:17:21) Main Menu(0:20:00) Invincibility/Speed Up(0:24:00) 1-Up/Stage Clear(0:27:02) Special Stage(0:32:33) Boss Battle(0:38:14) Continue/Game Over(0:40:30) Green Grove(0:50:28) Rusty Ruin(1:01:30) Spring Stadium(1:11:46) Diamond Dust(1:21:25) Volcano Valley (1:29:13) Gene Gadget (1:37:20) Panic Puppet (1:48:09) The Final Fight(1:52:10) Unused tracks(1:58:43) Ending/Credits(2:06:05) Final thoughts(2:13:23) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
GameHut
Continue - 30th Sessions Version feat. Lyn
Sonic 3D Blast LOST BITS | Prototypes & Unused Content [TetraBitGaming]
Sonic 3D Blast OST || Panic Puppet Zone Act 2 || Metal cover by #ProgMuz

Don’t Ever Talk to Me or My Son or My Son or My Son or My Son...

Back in 1996, the Sonic series marked the end of one console generation and the start of another with Sonic 3D Blast/Flickies' Island, a radical and controversial departure from previous series entries. Now, some two and a half decades later, the gang decides to give this oddball adventure another fair shake and see if it's stood the test of time. Join us as we discuss its ties to an early Sega arcade game, the wild variation between its versions, and a definitive way to play the game born from 20 years of hindsight.
(0:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(0:06:10) Main topic: Sonic 3D(0:13:28) Sega Saturn version(0:19:50) Our personal histories(0:27:05) Visual and soundtrack differences(0:35:35) Special stages(0:39:58) The story(0:41:58) Green Grove Zone(0:46:46) Rusty Ruin Zone(0:50:18) Spring Stadium Zone(0:54:52) Diamond Dust Zone(0:56:32) Volcano Valley Zone(0:58:51) Gene Gadget Zone(1:01:03) Panic Puppet Zone(1:04:37) The Final Fight(1:11:28) The Director's Cut(1:19:32) Sonic 3D In 2D/Sonic Blast (Game Gear)(1:22:19) Final thoughts(1:28:06) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
SAGE 2022
Sonic Fan Game Bot
Sonic the Hedgeblog
Sonic Encore
Mekanikko
Seaside Fireflies
GameHut
Coding Secrets
Sonic 3D Director’s Cut
Sonic 3D in 2D

The Twelve Zones of Christmas

It's the last episode of the year, but we're not about to leave you out in the cold. Instead, the gang is pitting 12 ice-themed stages from across the Sonic series against one another to figure out how they rank. Which ones best use their winter theming? How much does their music leave an impact? And can any stage hope to dethrone the one everybody expects to take first place?
(0:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(0:11:48) Main topic: The Twelve Zones of Christmas(0:13:34) Icy Isle(0:16:57) Ice Cap(0:29:57) Robotnik Winter(0:36:40) Diamond Dust(0:42:53) Ice Paradise(0:51:07) White Acropolis(0:56:08) Blizzard Peaks(1:02:13) Cool Edge(1:09:31) White Park(1:15:44) Frozen Factory(1:21:32) Kodiak Frontier(1:27:08) Press Garden(1:34:09) Final ranking and thoughts(1:40:30) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Sonic Triple Trouble 16-Bit
Sonic and the Fallen Star
Unleashed Project
Sonic Lost World Improvement Mod

I Boo Your Cheers!

The holiday season is upon us, so the gang is curling up by the fire with mugs full of cocoa to revisit some festive Sonic content spanning 25 years. First up is "Sonic's Christmas Blast", where the coming of a new Santa Claus also marks the end of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Next, they'll jump forward a few decades to watch the ball drop in the Sonic Boom episode "New Year's Retribution". Finally, it's a double dose of short, 2D animated goodness, with the Sonic Mania Adventures, Holiday Special and the "Chao in Space" short. So put your Chao and your Flickies to bed, enjoy the delicious slow-cooked roast, and join us in celebrating the festivities with everyone's favorite blue Santa stand-in.
(0:00:00) Intro/Sonic's Christmas Blast(0:37:40) Sonic Boom - New Year’s Retribution(0:56:44) Sonic Mania Adventures - Episode 6(1:02:54) Chao in Space(1:11:34) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Sonic Christmas Blast | Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog - YouTube
Sonic Mania Adventures - Part 6 (Holiday Special) - YouTube
Sonic Presents: Chao In Space - Official Animation - YouTube
Chao World Extended

Time Curry

We're traveling through time yet again as the gang finally look at their first SatAM episode with the "Blast to the Past" two-parter! Our hosts join Sonic and Sally in going back in time to witness Robotnik's takeover of Mobius, with some surprising reveals along the way. Expect discussions of forgotten lore, Robotnik's lineage, the oh so dulcet tones of Tim Curry, and so much more!
(00:00:00) Intro/Main topic: "Blast to the Past"(00:20:07) Part 1(01:23:57) Part 2(01:49:59) Final thoughts(02:03:06) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Ben Hurst Interviews
Colin Kintobor
One Man's Quest To Eradicate Every Goku In Dragon Ball FighterZ
Poo-Chi

The Best of the Best for One Low, Low Price

It’s a mega-sized episode this week as we look back at a collection of collections! Over the years, Sega has released quite a few compilations of classic Sonic titles to make sure the blue blur and his origins stay relevant to the current audience. These collections have played a big role in bringing in new Sonic fans over the years, so join us as we take a look at all the ways they (Sonic) Jam-packed these gems into one tiny package.
(0:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(0:08:11) Main topic: Sonic compilations(0:12:21) Sonic & Knuckles Collection(0:20:44) Sonic Jam(0:34:42) Sonic Mega Collection(0:55:35) Sonic Mega Collection +(1:05:24) Sonic Adventure DX(1:08:12) Sonic Gems Collection(1:22:15) Sonic Classics Collection(1:28:05) Other compilations(1:32:25) Sonic Origins(2:00:38) Final thoughts(2:03:56) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
The History of Sonic Game Collections
Sega PC Reloaded
Sonic Mega Collection print advertisement
Stealth comments on Sonic Origins
Sonic Origins devs on how the game came to be
Sega Is Delisting Multiple Classic Sonic Games In May Ahead Of Sonic Origins Release
Sonic Origins 1.04 patch notes

I’m Very Grateful for Your Help, Satan

It's time for another new episode to drop, and this time we're mixing things up by taking a look at an entirely different Sega franchise, Puyo Puyo! This classic puzzle game series was first and most closely tied to Sonic through Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine in 1993, but the blue hedgehog and those multicolored blobs have proved to be a match-4 made in heaven, and continued to create combos right up to this very day. So listen in find out just how deep the connection between the spiny speedster and the Sorcery Saga spinoff goes.
(00:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(00:02:34) Main topic: Puyo Puyo(00:14:01) Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine(00:43:01) Sonic Mania(00:47:02) Puyo Puyo Fever: Carnival Edition(00:49:08) Puyo Puyo Quest(00:50:50) Puyo Puyo Tetris 2(00:55:15) Sega All-Stars series(00:58:30) Sonic Forces(00:59:10) Sonic Runners(01:02:34) Final thoughts(01:08:57) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Puyo Puyo Quest Sonic collab cards
Sonic Runners Revival

OnlyPhantoms

The spooky season is upon us, and even though CyberLink's mic is haunted by evil spirits (sorry about that!), the gang unites for a special Halloween mini-sode to talk about Sonic: Night of the Werehog! So grab your cameras and step into the moonlight as we look back at a delightful little short that deserves to be considered as timeless and eternal as its ghostly antagonists!
(00:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic: Night of the Werehog(00:02:25) Behind the scenes(00:12:03) Full recap(00:32:14) Alternate ending and original storyboards(00:36:03) Final thoughts(00:42:04) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Night of the Werehog storyboards

Eggman’s Super Sucky Machine

OK class, settle down. Welcome to Sonic Educational Games 101. As it states in your syllabus, we will be covering the surprisingly wide variety of Sonic games intended to teach younger players. Individual lessons include the histories of the Sega Pico and various Leapster handhelds, the identification of several common music tracks, and a mathematics lecture by visiting professor Christopher Thorndyke. Make sure you take notes, as this will all be on the exam...
(00:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(00:05:55) Main topic: Sonic educational games(00:08:00) What the heck is a Sega Pico?(00:13:07) Tails and the Music Maker(00:22:35) Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld(00:32:25) Sonic's Schoolhouse(00:50:40) Sonic X (Leapster)(00:59:13) Sonic the Hedgehog (LeapFrog Didj)(01:10:00) Sonic's Edusoft(01:16:25) Final thoughts(01:23:37) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
SEGA Pico flashcart
Tails and the Music Maker - Full Playthrough
Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld - Full Playthrough
Sonic's Schoolhouse - Full Playthrough
Sonic's Schoolhouse - The Cutting Room Floor
Cartoon, Music Theme 03 - Sound Ideas (SFX Library)
Sonic Robo Blast 2 - Sonic's Schoolhouse Mod
Sonic X (Leapster) - Full Playthrough
Numbers on the Run: Count on Zero
Sonic the Hedgehog (LeapFrog Didj) - Full Playthrough