The Hill Is Always Greener

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
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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
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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
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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

Telltale’s Team Chaotix

What goes up must come down, and nowhere is that more true than with our latest topic as the gang looks back at the series' first major multiplatform release, Sonic Heroes! This follow-up to the Adventure duology had a lot of interesting ideas that stumbled in execution thanks to an infamously troubled development cycle, and is seen by many as the start of the series' downfall. Can our hosts sort through their mixed feelings and find this game's redeeming qualities, or is even the real super power of teamwork not enough to salvage this one?
(00:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(00:14:15) Main topic: Sonic Heroes (skip past the eating noises)(00:16:43) Development history for perspective(00:21:52) Initial thoughts(00:39:14) The story(00:50:27) Seaside Hill/Ocean Palace(00:56:23) Grand Metropolis/Power Plant(01:11:03) Casino Park/Bingo Highway(01:16:51) Rail Canyon/Bullet Station(01:22:47) Frog Forest/Lost Jungle(01:27:04) Hang Castle/Mystic Mansion(01:29:25) Egg Fleet/Final Fortress(01:40:10) Other teams(01:58:27) Last Story(02:00:37) The music(02:05:58) Final thoughts(02:10:35) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Jake's drum cover of "Open Your Heart"
The Fall of Sonic Team: Sega's Collapse, Crunch, and Chaos in the Early 2000s
Lani Manella’s comments on directing the English versions of the Sonic games
Where to start with the Sonic Heroes PC version on modern systems
Unfinished Sonic Heroes cutscenes

Robotnik Doxxes Amy Rose (ft. Dave Bulmer)

Jake is out this week, but in his place, Dave Bulmer from Sonic The Comic The Podcast joins us for the finale of our Sonic CD episode trilogy to look back at three different comic adaptations of Sonic’s adventures on the Little Planet. From early STC to the end of Archie, it’s a wild journey through time and space as Sonic and Metal Sonic square off thrice over. Whether you’re an Archist or a Boomer, you won’t want to miss it!
(00:00:00) Foreword(00:00:40) Intro(00:12:13) The Sonic Terminator (STC)(01:01:44) Prank #1: Archie's Metallix story(01:06:29) Jake's take: The Sonic Terminator(01:11:06) Go Ahead, Mecha My Day (Archie)(01:40:18) Prank #2: SatAM Mecha Sonic concept art(01:43:30) Jake's take: Go Ahead, Mecha My Day(01:51:38) Genesis of a Hero, Part 3 (Archie)(02:17:02) Jake's take: Genesis of a Hero(02:19:07) Prank #3: The American Sonic CD manual(02:26:06) Final thoughts(02:30:41) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
Dave Bulmer on Twitter
Dave Bulmer on YouTube
All the images we used to prank Dave
Sonic The Comic The Podcast
Jon Gray explaining the recolored digital Archie issues
Retronauts on Sonic Comics (with Dave Bulmer and Bobby Schroeder)
Thanks, Ken Penders

Terry the Tired Traumatized Tidal Tempest Temp

It's the battle of the Sonic CD soundtracks as the Japanese and American music go head-to-head, track-by-track. Have we got the power to save the land, and can we reach the other side of the rainbow? Is there a deeper level of symbolism behind some of the tracks? And when the dust settles, which of the two soundtracks will reign supreme?
(00:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Battle of the Sonic CD soundtracks(00:05:58) Opening themes(00:14:07) Jingles(00:22:08) Special Stage/Boss theme/Game Over(00:33:26) Palmtree Panic(00:49:28) Collision Chaos(01:02:33) Tidal Tempest(01:17:44) Quartz Quadrant(01:31:20) Wacky Workbench(01:43:38) Stardust Speedway(02:03:54) Metallic Madness(02:17:01) JP-exclusive bonus tracks(02:22:27) Ending themes(02:29:46) Final thoughts(02:36:43) Outro
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VGMpire 116 – Sega CD with Spencer Nilsen
VGMpire 117 – Sonic CD with Spencer Nilsen

I Ran Past Her Before She was Born

This episode, the gang takes a trip back in time to revisit Sonic CD! Once one of the series' more obscure entries, the game has since established itself as a core piece of Sonic's past, and a major influence on his future. But is Sonic's adventure on the Little Planet worthy of the praise it's received, or would it be best left as the game time forgot?
(00:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(00:08:09) Main topic: Sonic CD(01:20:30) Secrets and cut content(01:39:40) Final thoughts/Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
PMEX Remix v.0.95
Sonic CD USA manual
Beta Bonus Stage
Time Travel concepts for Sonic 2
Cut level R2
Sonic CD Hidden Content
Desert Dazzle
Final Fever

A Holster with a Breadstick in It

This is it, folks! After a long wait, it’s time for the gang to discuss Sonic’s latest cinematic adventure, Sonic the Hedgehog 2! Did the sequel live up to everyone’s expectations? What are our predictions for the future of the franchise? And will it ever stop feeling weird to say the words “Sonic Cinematic Universe” out loud? Almost certainly not!
(00:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 the Movie!(00:02:53) Our few gripes(00:18:45) Gushing about the rest of the movie(01:45:33) The post-credits stinger/predicting what comes next(01:59:57) Final thoughts(02:04:50) Outro
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Gotta Get My Moon Tan On

You might have seen the new Sonic movie, but that's not going to help you since we're talking about an old Sonic movie! Strange, isn't it? The gang takes a look at the much-beloved anomaly that is the Sonic OVA from the mid-90s to discuss curious accents, memorable fashion choices, and why Metal Sonic is still so gosh darn cool all these years later.
(00:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(00:06:35) Main topic: The Sonic OVA(00:07:55) Behind the scenes details(00:23:13) Part 1 recap(01:08:46) Part 2 recap(01:46:27) Final thoughts(01:50:10) Outro
Amie Waters on Twitter
SM64 Generations mod
Sonic OVA (OST Reconstruction) playlist by Mr Kingalocious (SoundCloud)d
Ben Schwartz reads iconic Sonic lines (YouTube)