The Hill Is Always Greener

Hey, boomers! It's time to take a look back at the Sega-sational world of the UK in the 1990s! Special guest Chris McFeely of Sonic the Comic the Podcast joins us for a recap of Sonic the Hedgehog Beats the Badniks, a compilation of STC's first four Sonic strips. From the spikeball's speedy start to a clash with a cyborg chum, and from saving Sally's sibling to an encounter with an inorganic imposter, we look back at the comic's earliest days to see how they set the stage for the stories to come. (0:00:00) Intro (0:04:31) Chris's history with Sonic (0:11:52) Main topic: Sonic the Hedgehog Beats the Badniks (0:23:04) Enter: Sonic (0:44:49) Robofox (1:09:03) Mayhem in the Marble Zone (1:32:35) Day of the Badniks (1:47:06) Jake's thoughts (1:48:20) Final thoughts  (2:24:57) Outro Amie Waters on Twitter Sonic The Comic The Podcast Chris McFeely on YouTube

Grab your sports tape and pump up those muscles, because it's time for our first real deep dive on the Sonic Boom cartoon! This episode, we're looking back at "Robots from the Sky", the four part epic from the show's second season. Sonic and crew get an unexpected visit from some mechanical heroes, starting a chain of events that will take them all the way to a floating utopia under siege! It's a high stakes battle with robots on all sides and our heroes caught in the crossfire, so you'll definitely want to tune in... Or, you know, we can just hypnotize you into listening; that works too. (0:00:00) Intro (0:04:18) Main topic: Sonic Boom - Robots from the Sky (0:12:46) Part 1 (0:33:04) Part 2 (0:52:08) Part 3 (1:01:41) Part 4 (1:17:06) Final thoughts (1:21:49) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Robots from the Sky (Parts 1 and 2) Robots form the Sky (Parts 3 and 4)  

Welcome to the next level in 32X World! The gang is taking a little detour to Sega's ill-fated add-on and reaching into the Combi-Catcher to pull out the bizarre little side story that is Knuckles' Chaotix. With its unique ring band gameplay system, it is genuinely unlike any other Sonic game...but is that necessarily a good thing? Join us in the Newtrogic High Zone to find out! Don't worry, the bee should carry you most of the way. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Knuckles' Chaotix (0:03:47) Development and the 32X (0:21:00) The story and characters (0:51:20) Gameplay (0:59:06) Stages (1:10:57) Bonus and special stages (1:17:35) Final boss and endings (1:25:16) Final thoughts (1:42:15) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Knuckles' Chaotix is Fundamentally Flawed

It's our third birthday! So to celebrate it, we're going to be facilitating a different sort of birthday. That's right, for the first time ever, the gang is going to create their own fan character! What kind of animal are they? What's their personality like? Do they have any special powers? Are they a snappy dresser? If they see a guy getting beaten up by an Egg Pawn in a bodega, will they actually do something about it? All these questions and more will be determined as we work together to give life to the newest (unofficial) face of the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise! (0:00:00) Intro/main topic: Let's create an OC! (0:08:27) The creative process (1:28:36) We did it! (1:31:05) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Other artists' takes on the finished character (Part 1/Part 2)

We need your help, listener! Andross has declared...that it's time for The Toad Is Always Slippier, our long running Star Fox podcast that we've totally been doing this whole time is ready to cover the granddaddy of them all, Star Fox 64! This seminal space shooter remains a favorite of N64 players everywhere, and it's time we gave it its due with an extensive deep dive on everything that makes the story of this fox in space an adventure we can't help going back to again and again. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Star Fox 64 (0:10:11) The music (0:16:47) What is Star Fox? (0:20:45) We talk for way too long about robot legs (0:25:49) Star Fox 2 (0:29:25) The Star Fox team (0:52:50) Star Wolf (1:01:25) And the rest (1:09:20) The stages (1:21:24) The rumble pak (1:29:43) The ending and Star Fox 64 3D (1:43:38) Final thoughts and fan content recommendations (2:01:15) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree BONUS CONTENT: We commentate over the Star Fox 64 promo VHS Boss B Metal Cover by RichaadEB Corneria Theme Re-imagined by Tee Lopes (feat Andy Gillion) Star Wolf theme by warinside Learning Control remix by Rukunetsu A Fox in Space Starship Starship mods Ulala-ko [NSFW] tzarVOLVER [NSFW] bayboyzone [NSFW]

It's Shadow the Hedgehog, baby! Special guest Abby Denton joins us as we go on another character deep dive, this time on everyone's favorite ultimate life form. In his almost 25 years, Shadow's easily become one of the series' biggest faces, but what exactly makes him who he am? Join us as we explore his past, ponder his future, and...spend a really long time talking about Gogurt for some reason. (0:00:00) Intro (0:04:10) Main topic: Who is Shadow? (0:15:30) The "amnesia arc"  (0:22:00) Sonic '06 (0:38:58) TV and film (0:46:50) Archie (1:03:05) Sonic Boom (1:07:10) Sonic Forces (Episode Shadow) (1:12:10) Sonic 3 the movie (1:41:05) Who is Shadow to you? (2:08:00) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Gamer Mom: The Mom Who Games on Kickstarter

Remember that sense of delight and wonder you'd get when you'd force your parents to stop off at a fast food restaurant, reach into a bag containing foods that would slowly come to destroy your body over the intervening decades, and pull out a tiny plastic symbol of the power mass consumerism held over the youth of a generation? Well we do, and we're excited to talk about it! That's right, The Hill Is Always Greener is looking back at the history of Sonic the Hedgehog fast food toys! From Sonic 3 the game to Sonic 3 the movie, and from windups to LCD games to "here's some cardboard, make it yourself", we cover the breadth of Sonic's kids meal collectables over the last 30 years! (Warning: this episode may present a choking hazard to children under 3 years of age.) (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic fast food toys (0:03:17) Burger King (1993, Sega Zip Strips) (0:07:53) McDonald's (1994, Sonic 3) (0:17:07) McDonald's (1994, Happy Train) (0:20:50) Carl's Jr. (1996, Sonic the Hedgehog and Pals Mini-Viewers) (0:25:50) Burger King (1998, Sonic R) (0:29:58) Jack in the Box (1999, Sega PC) (0:32:59) Burger King (1999, Sonic Adventure, cancelled) (0:36:57) Denny's (2000, Sonic Underground) (0:40:15) McDonald's (2003, Sonic Adventure DX LCD games) (0:43:05) McDonald's (2004, Sonic Heroes LCD games) (0:47:15) McDonald's (2006, Sonic X) (0:50:23) McDonald's (2007, Sonic X) (0:51:30) Red Rooster (2012) (0:53:24) Carl's Jr. (2015, Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice) (0:56:27) Subway (2018, combining gears) (0:59:21) Arby's (2019, Sonic Dash) (1:01:40) Kura Sushi (2020) (1:03:39) McDonald's (2022, Sonic 2 the movie) (1:06:39) Burger King (2023, Fidget toys) (1:08:40) McDonald's (2023, buildable Toys) (1:10:14) McDonald's (2024, Sonic 3 the movie) (1:14:06) Final thoughts (1:17:53) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sonic McOrigins Plus

We're gonna be blunt: it is amazing we're here right now. If you had said this was even a possibility six years ago, we would have laughed in your face. But it's true: we now have a big-budget live action cinematic adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2, and it's GREAT. Join us as we do a deep dive on the third Sonic movie, which takes one of the series' most beloved stories and "Carreys" it in a bit of a different direction. Are we happy with all the changes they made? Does Keanu live up to our expectations, or is his characterization just a Shadow of the original? And how about those WILD Sonic 4 teases at the end? One thing's for sure: You're bound to live, learn, and laugh a lot as we give this movie its due! (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic 3 the movie (0:05:15) Non-spoiler discussion (0:26:37) Spoiler warning (2:44:14) Credits scenes and predictions (2:56:28) Final thoughts (3:03:27) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

Order up! It's lunchtime, and we're looking to state our appetites with a discussion about all sorts of Sonic related foods! But we're not just stopping at chili dogs, oh no. We've prepared a full course meal, complete with a smorgasbord of savory dishes from both sides of the screen! From oversized sandwiches, scrumptious sundaes, and burgers of questionable quality in Sonic's world, to jammin' jams, cerulean curry, and pasta peripherals in ours, you're guaranteed to be full after this discussion. But make sure to leave room for dessert: our review of the official Sonic cookbook! (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic foods (0:04:00) Appetizers (0:08:29) Mobian Morsels (0:35:49) Real-Life Refreshments (1:13:45) Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Cookbook (1:29:31) We Have Food At Home (1:52:16) Final thoughts (1:57:15) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sandwich Zone (Sonic Generations mod) An Exhaustive List of Every Sonic the Hedgehog Food Product Franco American - Sonic the Hedgehog Pasta commercial: Franco American - Sonic the Hedgehog Pasta commercial Sonic the Hedgehog Milk Ice with Shock Rocks commercial: Sonic the Hedgehog Milk Ice with Shock Rocks commercial

Things have taken a dark turn for the second half of our “Genuary” discussion, as our favorite antihero emerges from the shadows once more. Shadow Generations put the dark hedgehog face-to-face with his past yet again, with levels and foes alike coming out of the woodwork to take another shot at him. Could this truly be the new defining take Shadow has been waiting for? Does it offer any new roads forward for the character, or just retread old ground? And does this trip through his memories truly live up to the hype, or would we rather spend our time trapped in the Doom Zone? Plus deep dives into the Dark Beginnings prequel shorts, and Gerald's Journal! (0:00:00) Main topic: Shadow Generations (0:10:25) Dark Beginnings (0:19:41) Space Colony ARK (0:49:20) White Space (1:10:22) Rail Canyon (1:23:41) Challenge acts (1:32:33) Biolizard (1:41:35) Kingdom Valley (1:48:02) Sunset Heights (1:52:23) Metal Overlord (2:07:25) Chaos Island (2:15:38) Mephiles (2:33:27) Radical Highway (2:46:25) Devil Doom (3:01:06) Gerald's Journal (3:38:16) Final thoughts (3:46:45) [Extra] Tokyo (3:53:06) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Shadow Generations (Matt McMuscles) - YouTube

Let's do the time warp again! It's the first half of our unofficial "Genuary" celebration, as we take a look back at Sonic Generations, one of the blue blur's most beloved adventures. A celebration of Sonic's first two decades, now back on store shelves with a shiny new remaster, is this trip down memory lane as good as we remember, or has time not been so kind? Plus, we'll be taking a look at its often neglected 3DS counterpart as well! (0:00:00) Main topic: Sonic Generations (0:08:54) Classic Sonic (0:19:34) Green Hill (0:35:51) The story (0:49:57) Chemical Plant (0:52:56) Sky Sanctuary (1:07:03) Challenge stages (1:09:43) Metal Sonic (1:13:50) Death Egg Robot (1:18:27) Speed Highway (1:24:02) City Escape (1:32:14) Seaside Hill (1:37:25) Shadow (1:40:58) Perfect Chaos (1:44:40) Crisis City (1:49:25) Rooftop Run (1:55:28) Planet Wisp (2:00:58) Silver (2:04:00) Egg Dragoon (2:14:52) Time Eater (2:22:31) The 3DS version (2:44:48) Final thoughts (2:53:29) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

The promised time is upon us... That's right, we are FINALLY talking about the Sonic X anime! Friend of the show JezMM returns as we revisit the show's take on the events of Sonic Adventure 2. Does this version of the story live up to the original? Do its additions and changes actually improve the narrative? And could replacing characters from the original story with Chris Thorndyke...actually be to the show's benefit? A frightening concept, to be sure. (0:00:38) Intro/Main topic: Sonic X - The Shadow Saga (0:24:38) Episode 33 (0:53:30) Episode 34 (1:24:22) Episode 35 (1:39:48) Episode 36 (2:00:20) Episode 37 (2:26:33) Episode 38 (3:09:18) Final thoughts (3:23:02) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

It's that time of year again, and the gang is getting into the spirit of the season with a new creative exercise: coming up with their very own Sonic holiday specials! From a tale of Tangle trying to find the perfect present for her BFF, to the Freedom Fighters looking to bring some festive flair to their little hole in the ground, plus Tails getting some gift-giving tips from old Saint Nick, and even a Sonic F twist on some holiday hijinks from the Archie archive, these four forays into festive fiction are sure to show you what this time of year is truly all about: acquiescing to corporate mandates. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Pitch Attention - Holiday Specials (0:09:45) Tangle's Not-So-Silent Night (Jeremy's pitch) (0:35:30) Sonic the Hedgehog's Big Festive Bash (Chris's pitch) (0:55:34) A Two-Tailed Christmas (Jake's pitch) (1:13:24) The Sonic F Ostensibly Nondenominational Holiday Spectacular (Luke's pitch) (1:40:26) Final thoughts/Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

It's a dark and stormy night...the perfect time to revisit an all-time classic Sonic comic, IDW's Scrapnik Island! Sonic and Tails have crash landed on the island of misfit tech! Will old foes become old friends, or are some grudges just programmed in too deep? It's time for the gang to take a look back and find out! (0:00:00) Intro/main topic: Scrapnik Island (0:17:22) Issue 1 (0:43:42) Issue 2 (0:59:08) Issue 3 (1:10:46) Issue 4 (1:30:57) Final thoughts (1:40:04) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

It's an adventure in time and space as The Hill Is Always Greener finally gets a chance to read the seminal classic novel, Sonic the Hedgehog in the Fourth Dimension. The second of the Martin Adams books, it sees Sonic and Tails sent back and forth through time on a quest to save planet Mobius, and perhaps the universe itself, from not only the machinations of Dr. Robotnik, but from forces outside of time and space as we know them. Does this chronicle of corrupted chronology stand up to the test of time, or is it best left in the past? It's time to activate our Mark-0 Gauss-Coyne prototypes and find out! (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic in the Fourth Dimension (0:15:26) The Sonic Story So Far/Prologue (0:17:55) Chapter 1: Baffled, Bothered, and Befuddled (0:35:49) Chapter 2: Yesterday Is Here Again (0:45:56) Chapter 3: Judgement Of The Science Dudes (0:52:47) Chapter 4: Arrival On - Where? (0:58:29) Chapter 5: Meister Blaster (1:05:05) Chapter 6: Everybody Needs A Mum (1:12:10) Chapter 7: Some Historical-Type Explaining (1:20:50) Chapter 8: When Are We Now? (1:25:03) Chapter 9: As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs (1:29:17) Chapter 10: Luck Of The Hedgehog (1:38:07) Chapter 11: Larceny Most Foul (1:44:10) Chapter 12: Infinity Is Nice, But I Wouldn't Want To Live There (1:53:35) Chapter 13: Sonics (Again) (2:16:30) Epilogue (2:20:00) Final thoughts (2:28:15) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sonic the Comic the Podcast STCTP interview with "Martin Adams"

Spooky times are here again, and we're celebrating by taking a look at issues 13 and 14 of Archie's Sonic X comic, a terrifying two-parter that features the return of King Boom Boo following his appearance in the show. But the only thing more terrifying than being trapped on an island with a host of possessed people out for your head...is the quality of these issues! OoOoOoOOH! ...Is that too mean? That might be too mean. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Archie Sonic X - "Hare 'em, Scare 'em" (0:05:55) Issue #12 recap (0:07:13) Issue #13 (0:34:43) Issue #14 (1:12:32) Final thoughts (1:17:20) Outro

Oh man, these Sonic games sure are great! But what if you could get a little something extra to give you a reason to go back after you finished it? That's exactly what we're going to answer in this episode, as we take a look back at the history of downloadable content in the Sonic series! From free little bonuses and contests in the Dreamcast era to the elaborate expansions and deluxe versions of today, Sonic's online offerings have continued to change with the industry, both for better and for worse, creating a fascinating legacy all its own. But one thing's for sure: listening to this downloadable episode will leave you very content. (0:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff (0:07:00) Main topic: A history of Sonic DLC (0:09:09) Sega Channel/Dream Library (0:12:54) Sonic Adventure (0:41:44) Sonic Adventure 2 (0:48:56) Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (0:55:03) Sonic Unleashed (0:59:51) Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II (1:02:43) Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing (1:08:11) Sonic Generations (1:11:14) Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed (1:17:26) Sonic Lost World (1:24:24) Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (1:25:09) Sonic Mania (1:26:02) Sonic Forces (1:38:59) Sonic Colors Ultimate (1:40:11) Sonic Origins (1:47:40) Sonic Frontiers (1:58:05) Sonic Superstars (2:07:50) Sonic X Shadow Generations (2:10:46) Final Thoughts (2:30:00) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sonic Adventure DLC on a Real SEGA Dreamcast Interview with Sonic Adventure Reebok DMX competition winner Neil Riddaway

It's time for another listing party, as we tackle perhaps the most controversial Sonic soundtrack(s) ever composed. Special guest RecD chimes in as we look back at Sonic 3 & Knuckles, a soundtrack that is perhaps known less for the music it features and more for the many mysteries behind its creation. Which are better, the original tracks, or the "original" tracks? Whether you're a dedicated fan or just a stranger in Moscow, listening to the gang's thoughts just might be the happiest days of your life. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic 3 & Knuckles listening party (0:17:45) Title track (0:20:52) Menu themes (0:27:07) Jingles (0:40:25) Bonus/special stages (0:51:26) Knuckles theme (0:56:41) Boss themes (1:02:02) Multiplayer stages (1:08:00) Angel Island (1:12:52) Hydro City (1:16:10) Marble Garden (1:20:17) Carnival Night (1:30:58) Ice Cap (1:41:38) Launch Base (1:53:58) Big Arms (1:56:21) Mushroom Hill (1:59:30) Flying Battery (2:02:35) Sandopolis (2:05:46) Lava Reef (2:09:36) Sky Sanctuary (2:13:41) Death Egg (2:16:34) Doomsday (2:18:55) Credits themes (2:26:17) Other tracks (2:30:00) Final thoughts (2:37:46) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree RecD on YouTube What we know about the Sonic 3 soundtrack

We're back, and we're ready to teach! Special guest Sreddous joins us for another newbie education episode, as we answer her questions about crossovers, pushing boundaries, and which part of the world Crash Bandicoot ACTUALLY hails from. (0:00:00) Intro (0:03:37) Main topic: Sonic Newbie Education 101 (0:05:16) Which games are the closest to the lore you guys accept? (0:23:01) What game do you wish you could reprogram to fix your issues with it? (0:32:27) Quiz game: A.B.C.D. Station (0:57:12) Can you identify any moments where a creative wanted to push things a little further and Sega said no? (1:08:39) Quiz game: Sonic Said (1:29:03) Other than the Olympics, what other framing of a Sonic and Mario crossover do you think could be really fun? (1:32:39) Quiz game: Know More Music (1:46:55) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sreddous's favorite meme

We're locked and loaded, and ready for action. It's time for a look back at Shadow's self-titled spin-off, so the gang is joined by Midnight_Ky, who has played this game more than anyone probably should! Is Shadow a force for good? Evil? Somewhere in between? It's time for us to pick our route and show everyone that this is who we are! (0:00:00) Preamble (0:01:05) Intro (0:04:37) Midnight's Sonic history (0:08:06) How we played/obtained the game (0:15:13) Main topic: Shadow the Hedgehog (the game) (0:23:12) GameBuddy's big rant (0:42:03) Music (0:54:38) Gameplay (0:59:27) Levels (1:32:34) Routes and endings (1:46:09) More thoughts (2:02:24) Final boss (2:27:40) Final thoughts (2:33:37) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Midnight_Ky on Twitch Original Shadow the Hedgehog press release Shadow the Hedgehog | Complete Story (Japanese, Translated) Windii on YouTube Windii's translations on WordPress Shadow the Hedgehog Reloaded shadow the hedgehog op but its nu metal I Am (All of Me) - Disco Version (w/ Vocals) "Broken" by Sins of a Divine Mother Maria Better Eyes mod How to REALLY Play Shadow the Hedgehog

With CyberLink's voice temporarily out of commission, we're joined by voice actor, writer, and fanfiction connoisseur Marin M. Miller as we flex our creative muscles and improvise yet another fanfic! In this world unique & beyond what you know from the Sega games, Vector and Jewel are two hopeless college students just looking to graduate, but when a chance encounter brings them together, they find themselves pegged by a hidden figure to join him on a quest beneath the university in search of untold riches. But can this mysterious benefactor be trusted? Is someone else secretly pulling all the strings? And as this spooky yarn reaches its climax, our heroes had better hope that they ain't afraid of no ghost... (0:00:00) Intro/Marin's history with Sonic (0:06:51) Main topic: Let's write another fanfic! (0:10:34) Character select (0:13:54) Chris - Dramatic speech that is in some way cut off for comedic effect (0:22:13) Jake - Everything gets spooky (0:27:58) Jeremy - Tragic backstory out of nowhere (0:35:00) Marin - Truth or dare (0:42:47) Chris - Characters denigrate other video game franchises (0:47:59) Jake - Inexplicable crossover that doesn't compliment either universe (0:53:28) Jeremy - Another character blocks the way, looking for a fight (1:01:07) Marin - Finale (1:12:10) Final thoughts (1:14:30) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Marin's website

It's time to go back. Back before Mega Man crossovers, before echidnas turning green, before even cheap character deaths. No, we're going back to where it all began as we revisit Sonic Firsts, a graphic novel compiling some of the earliest Archie adventures! From the first comic ever printed to Bunnie's big break, from a Super Sonic spotlight to a red rival's reveal, this mega collection of early comics is not to be missed, no matter what the CCA might tell you! (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic Firsts (0:12:54) A brief divergence about the Comics Code (0:21:48) "Don't Cry for Me, Mobius!" (Issue #0) (0:40:40) "Rabbot Deployment" (Issue #3) (0:56:02) "The Lizard of Odd" (Issue #4) (1:13:24) "This Island Hedgehog" (Issue #13) (1:33:30) Final thoughts (1:43:41) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

The sun is out, the water is cool, and it's time to get away from it all and enjoy the summer! The only question is...where? That's what The Hill Is Always Greener plans to settle today, as we try to create a list of the top 10 summer vacation destinations in Sonic's world. Is it better to be near civilization or out roughing it? What kind of activities does each spot offer? And is a beach still a beach if it only touches water during a crisis? So pop your shades, grab one of those those little umbrella drinks, and kick back as you join us for some fast-footed fun in the sun. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Top 10 Sonic summer vacation destinations (0:05:38) Emerald Hill (0:07:19) Green Hills (0:08:27) Angel Island (0:11:38) Carnival Island (0:15:06) Resort Island (0:17:22) Station Square/Emerald Coast (0:20:10) Neo Green Hill (0:21:20) Emerald Town/Emerald Beach (0:23:49) Seaside Hill/Ocean Palace (0:26:44) Sunset Hill (0:29:48) Water Palace (0:31:03) Splash Canyon/Red Canyon (0:33:50) Soleanna/Wave Ocean (0:36:05) Southern Island/Plant Kingdom (0:38:56) Blue Coast (0:40:42) Apotos/Windmill Isle (0:43:06) Adabat/Jungle Joyride (0:46:09) Tropical Coast (0:47:26) Dolphin Resort (0:50:22) Seaside Island (0:53:21) Northstar Islands/Bridge Island (0:55:32) Scrambled Shores (0:57:39) Trimming the list (1:01:39) Re-ordering the list (1:33:33) The final list/Our personal picks (1:40:40) Final thoughts (1:42:00) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

Knock knock! It's time for the gang to take a long, hard look at Knuckles, the TV spin-off of the Sonic Cinematic Universe! Since its release, the show has proved INCREDIBLY controversial with Sonic fans, largely eschewing a traditional Sonic adventure in favor of a lighthearted sendup to classic sports comedies. Are the escapades of Wade Whipple and his furry red sidekick truly the harbinger of doom for all things Sonic, or does this miniseries carry just enough heart, humor, and unnecessary product placement to stand proud with the rest of the SCU? (0:00:00) Intro (0:04:40) Sonic Symphony report (0:10:23) Main topic: The Knuckles show (0:27:27) The Warrior (1:09:35) Don't Ever Say I Wasn't There for You (1:15:14) The Shabbat Dinner (1:33:30) The Flames of Disaster (1:47:51) Reno, Baby! (2:05:31) What Happens in Reno Stays in Reno (2:19:46) Final thoughts Amie Waters on Linktree (2:33:40) Outro

Sonic Movie: It's Cool! Special guest KaiserNeko joins us to take a look back at Sonic's live action theatrical debut. We reminisce about the long road to its 2020 release, talk about everything we thought did and didn't work, and discuss whether live action as a medium can ever truly hope to capture the essence of Sonic the Hedgehog. Plus, a brief look back at some of the bizarre movie treatments that (thankfully) DIDN'T get off the ground! (0:00:00) Intro (0:02:59) Kaiser's history with Sonic (0:11:49) Hollywood's other attempts at a Sonic movie (0:23:32) History of the 2020 movie (0:35:05) Kinda plot summary (1:23:16) Final thoughts (1:25:55) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree TeamFourStar FourStarBento

Giga gigloo! Special guest Jolene joins us as we do a deep dive on Sonic Adventures: Dans Les Griffes de Robotnik, a one-off French comic from the early 90s! It's a very different take on Sonic and Tails' escapades on Angel Island, full of charming art, nonsensical phrases, incredibly dated stereotypes, and so much more. By the name of a sailed egg, you won't want to miss this! (0:00:00) Intro (0:02:18) Jolene's history with Sonic (0:04:09) Main topic: Sonic Adventures: Dans les Griffes de Robotnik (0:09:23) The fan translation (0:13:48) The art (0:17:06) Comic recap (1:02:31) The "sequel" (1:05:27) Final thoughts (1:09:12) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sonic Adventures In The Claws Of Robotnik [English Fanslation]

They say big things come in small packages, and nowhere is that more true than today's subject, as the gang takes a look back at Sonic Pocket Adventure! Developed by SNK, this pseudo-remix of Sonic 2 has been left to the wayside, with Sega not even acknowledging it exists, but does it really deserve to be forgotten? Join us as we rediscover this hidden NeoGeo gem and the surprising influence it had on the early years of modern Sonic games. The future is now! (0:00:00) Intro (0:04:29) What's a NeoGeo Pocket Color? (0:16:59) Main topic: Sonic Pocket Adventure (0:28:50) Neo South Island Zone (0:34:28) Special Stages (0:40:48) Secret Plant Zone (0:45:18) Cosmic Casino Zone (0:49:44) Aquatic Relix Zone (0:56:42) Sky Chase Zone/Aerobase Zone (1:04:17) Gigantic Angel Zone (1:13:05) Last Utopia Zone (1:17:22) Chaotic Space Zone (1:21:44) Final thoughts (1:28:59) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree King of Fighters Retrospective - Fighting Game Retrospectives

Have no fear! Amy Rose is here! Prismaeya returns to the podcast for a discussion about the female face of our favorite franchise. Amy's a character that's changed a lot over the years, running the gamut from starry-eyed fangirl to confident girlboss, and people are VERY vocal about their own preferences. Follow me and listen as we look back at this pink hedgehog's storied career, and try to hammer home whether there's a true balance to be found for a character that is so many people's sweet passion. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Who is Amy Rose? (0:08:03) Classic Amy (0:14:40) Modern Amy (0:39:00) "Postmodern" Amy and Boom Amy (0:53:46) Archie Amy and STC Amy (0:59:45) Amy's theme songs (1:09:23) Amy's weapon(s) and abilities (1:19:56) Mika's Amy origins (1:31:01) Prime Amy(s) (1:36:15) Amy voices (1:52:45) FangGuu chimes in! (1:54:59) Ship talk (1:57:46) Final thoughts (2:13:35) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

Welcome to a world unique and beyond what you know from the Sega games! A world where black is white, up is down, and everyone's favorite blue hedgehog is...EVIL?! That's right, the gang is getting creative again today as they craft their own take on a mirror Sonic universe that we're calling "Scattered Rings"! What catastrophe could have left the world in such a state? What threat do our former heroes pose now that they've turned to the dark side? And just who is going to be left to stop them? You'll have to listen to find out as we take a peek through the looking glass at what could be... (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Let's create a mirror universe! (0:03:26) previous mirror universe fiction (0:19:37) "Scattered Rings" (0:22:40) Sonic/the status quo (0:42:53) Eggman (0:49:30) Knuckles (0:58:32) Tails (1:08:16) Amy (1:16:50) Metal Sonic (1:23:18) Shadow (1:45:26) Rouge (1:50:49) Team Chaotix (1:54:19) Cream (2:00:34) Team Hooligan (2:03:35) Blaze (2:06:50) Silver (2:09:50) Babylon Rogues (2:10:43) Deadly Six (2:11:20) Infinite (2:12:53) Big (2:14:20) Omochao, Orbot and Cubot (2:17:20) Final thoughts (2:19:16) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Transformers: The Basics on Shattered Glass

It's our second anniversary, and we're ready for another year of talking about everyone's favorite hedgehog! So why don't we kick off year three by talking about...well, Sonic himself? That's right, all of...er, MOST of the gang are diving deep today into what really drives Sonic as a character. What are his the core aspects of his personality? How about his greatest flaws? Why do so many people believe Black Knight is "peak" as the kids call it? And at the heart of it all, they try to answer the big question: is there really one TRUE Sonic characterization...or does there even need to be? (0:00:00) Intro (0:03:00) Main topic: Who is Sonic the Hedgehog? (0:10:49) Real quick recent Sonic-y stuff (0:13:30) Who is Sonic "objectively"? (0:27:36) Sonic's pre-Adventure "essence" (0:39:50) Older Sonic media that "gets it wrong" (0:44:30) Perfect examples of what makes Sonic "Sonic" (1:07:06) Black Knight and Unleashed (1:44:15) Sonic's flaws (2:10:17) What should Sonic NEVER do? (2:21:34) Our Sonic headcanons (2:37:46) Who is Sonic to us specifically? (2:51:40) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree The Animation of Sonic Frontiers Hot Coffee by Adam Bryce Thomas

Hoo boy, folks. Our journey through Sonic Prime has finally come to an end, as heroes and villains from across the Shatterverse come together for one final showdown against an emotionally compromised child and his robot army. Is it the grand finale we were all hoping for? Or would this ending have been better left banished to the darkest corners of the void? Tune in to find out! (0:00:00) Intro (0:05:10) Year of Shadow, baby! (0:11:19) Main Topic: Sonic Prime "Season" 3 (0:14:00) Grim Tidings (0:30:20) Dome Sweet Dome (0:35:30) No Escape-The Devil is in the Tails (1:05:40) From the Top (1:28:57) Final thoughts (1:50:40) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Police Story reference

Get ready... GO! It's time for a new episode of The Wood Village is Always Greener, as we hop in our cars, hovercrafts, and planes, traveling back to the late '90s so we can reminisce on a beloved classic kart racer, Diddy Kong Racing. We take a DEEP dive looking back at everything this game has to offer, from its colorful cast, to its many scenic circuits, to all the attempted follow-ups that never quite left the starting line.  (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Diddy Kong Racing (0:07:25) Development history  (0:11:09) The characters (0:40:18) Gameplay (0:47:27) Battle mode  (0:49:16) Adventure mode (0:59:07) Dino Domain (1:01:48) Snowflake Mountain  (1:05:20) Sherbet Island (1:09:29) Dragon Forest (1:15:39) Wizpig's First Strike (1:21:14) Future Fun Land (1:24:31) Wizpig Strikes Back and other features (1:29:10) Diddy Kong Racing DS (1:44:48) The almost-sequels (1:56:23) Other media and merch (2:04:20) N64 vs. DS listening party (2:20:59) Final thoughts (2:22:41) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Diddy Kong Racing's Krunch -- Designing For Frustration Donkey Kong Racing trailer Diddy Kong Pilot prototypes Diddy Kong Racing Adventure The Fast and the Furriest Mickey's Speedway USA beta maps Rare Racers pins at Fangamer DKR64.com

After much teasing, the gang is finally beginning their journey through the UK Sonic novels written by Martin Adams, who is totally a real person that exists, we swear. First up is Sonic in Robotnik's Laboratory, as Sonic and Tails race to rescue their friends from Robotnik's FAROUT machine, a device that is anything but. It's a tale filled romance, betrayal, fast food, rats, toasters, obscure localizations, bad-taste jokes about public figures, incomprehensible cockney rhyming, and a bunch of other stuff someone saw in a video once...what more could anyone ask for? (0:00:00) Intro/our recent Sonic-y stuff (0:06:01) Main Topic: Sonic the Hedgehog in Robotnik's Laboratory (0:20:21) Story recap (2:09:56) Final thoughts (2:16:16) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sonic the Comic the Podcast STCTP interview with "Martin Adams" Sonic the Hedgehog in Robotnik's Laboratory

People don't always say what they mean, and things are not always what they seem. For example, we could say "the Sonic Underground episode 'Friend or Foe', Knuckles' first appearance in a western Sonic cartoon, is terrible and nobody should watch it." But what we actually mean is "we and special guest Green Bones Dommy watched this terrible episode, and had a blast laughing at its ridiculous animation, its often nonsensical plotting, and the Sonic franchise's all-time wolf-face power couple." So grab a plate of Krupnik and join us for our first ever look back at Sonic Underground...for better and for worse. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic Underground - "Friend or Foe?" (0:12:15) The history (and OUR history) of Sonic Underground (0:30:50) The cast and thoughts on some other episodes (0:48:43) Theme song (0:53:13) "Friend or Foe?" episode discussion (1:37:56) Final thoughts (1:42:57) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sonic Underground - Friend or Foe Ben Hurst interviews - Saturday Morning Sonic Sonic Underground: The Greatest Hits Sonic Underground commercial "The Best of Anime II" commercial

We've locked on and locked in for the second half of our Sonic 3 & Knuckles retrospective! And this week, it's all about the "& Knuckles" part, as Sonic continues to clash with Robotic and his new red-dreaded rival across mushrooms, deserts, lava, and even space, in the conclusion to this epic Mega Drive duology. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic & Knuckles (0:03:07) Mushroom Hill Zone (0:17:08) Flying Battery Zone (0:26:12) Sandopolis Zone (0:37:15) Lava Reef Zone/Hidden Palace Zone (0:56:00) Sky Sanctuary Zone (1:10:26) Death Egg Zone (1:27:49) The Doomsday Zone/Ending (1:38:40) Other bits and bobs (1:48:09) Final thoughts (1:57:09) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

Happy anniversary to us! To celebrate 50 episodes of The Hill Is Always Greener, we're taking a look back at a game currently celebrating its own milestone anniversary, Sonic the Hedgehog 3! The capstone to the original trilogy provides for endless discussion, including how a whole separate game was made because of McDonald's, the *multiple* renditions of many music tracks, and the ongoing debate as to just what color Knuckles actually is. In fact, this episode ended up being so huge that, much like Sonic 3 itself, we had to split it in two! Tune in next week for our second half, all about Sonic & Knuckles! (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (& Knuckles) (0:08:45) The box art (0:11:38) The split/"lock-on technology" (0:21:58) Competition mode (0:24:55) Knock knock, it's Knuckles (0:28:20) Other changes and new features (0:36:32) The story (0:40:19) Our various versions (0:46:47) Angel Island (and Blue Spheres) (1:04:25) Hydro City (1:11:36) Marble Garden (1:17:32) Carnival Night (1:23:30) Ice Cap (1:30:03) Launch Base Amie Waters on Linktree The Sonic 3 and Laputa Connection Retronauts Episode 524: Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Part 1 Retronauts Episode 542: Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Part 2

I've heard of killing a franchise, but this is ridiculous! Sonic has been found dead, and everyone is under suspicion! To figure out just whodunit, it's going to take our crack team of podcast detectives, joined by special guest and visual novel creator Gospel, to find all the clues, interrogate all the suspects, and discover the truth behind what makes this free game from the Sega social media team such a delightful labor of love. And make sure you keep an eye out in the coming weeks for a full playthrough of the game by the cast of Sonic F! (0:00:00) Intro (0:05:23) Main topic: The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (0:18:45) Tutorial (0:30:57) Think! (0:42:09) Saloon car (0:51:00) Library car (0:55:40) Casino car (1:05:50) Lounge car (1:09:27) Conductor car (1:19:26) The finale (1:28:19) Final thoughts (1:45:00) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog The Making Of The Sonic Murder Game That Took The Internet By Storm - Kotaku How Sega Murdered Sonic The Hedgehog - Game Informer SHINRAI - Broken Beyond Despair

We've once again reached that strange point where we have to talk about a new game released post-podcast, and this time, Sega is playing the classics once again with Sonic Superstars. Multiple playable characters, giant levels, Emerald powers... It's a whole lot, but the real question is: is it good? Well, that's what we're hopefully going to find out in today's exciting episode. (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic Superstars (0:03:10) Development history (0:26:09) The game itself (0:41:43) Level layouts (0:53:32) Special stages and Emerald powers (1:09:42) Easter eggs! (1:13:00) Bosses (1:22:15) The second story mode (1:36:11) Trip's characterization (1:41:50) The true final boss (1:56:03) Multiplayer (2:03:27) The music (2:16:25) Final thoughts (2:27:57) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree "Stupid liberal lizard" How to beat THAT boss Windii's translations

We're heading back to South Island and Westside Island to take in the local sounds! Special guest CyberneticPinkeye joins us to look back at the soundtracks for the first two Sonic the Hedgehog games, along with the original demos for each track by composer Masato Nakamura. Listen in as we try to get more insight on two collections of music that really made our dreams come true. (0:00:00) Intro (0:04:28) Main topic: Sonic 1 and 2 soundtracks (0:07:32) Shared jingles and incidentals (0:27:30) Sonic 1 incidentals (0:35:05) Green Hill Zone (0:40:36) Marble Zone (0:45:52) Spring Yard Zone (0:49:38) Labyrinth Zone (0:52:57) Star Light Zone (0:56:14) Scrap Brain Zone (1:00:44) Final Zone and ending (1:06:28) Sonic 2 incidentals (1:15:39) Multiplayer stages (1:24:54) Emerald Hill Zone (1:28:27) Chemical Plant Zone (1:32:46) Aquatic Ruin Zone (1:36:40) Casino Night Zone (1:42:37) Hill Top Zone (1:46:20) Mystic Cave Zone (1:49:19) Oil Ocean Zone (1:52:40) Metropolis Zone (1:57:16) Sky Chase Zone (2:01:18) Wing Fortress Zone (2:04:14) Death Egg Zone (2:08:13) Final boss (2:11:05) Ending (Sweet Sweet Sweet/Sweet Dreams) (2:22:42) Unused song ("Hidden Palace") (2:25:06) Final Thoughts (2:29:23) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Nightmare City MegaDriver - Chemical Plant (MetalHog) Video Game History Foundation - Sonic 2 Lost Stages Revealed

This is the unabridged How Metal Sonic Stole Christmas radio play, written and produced by GameBuddy in 2008. It is fully unaltered from its original presentation, save for the removal of one piece of copyrighted music. If you want to hear our commentary, please listen to episode 46 of The Hill Is Always Greener. Thank you so much, and happy holidays. (00:00) How Metal Sonic Stole Christmas (18:18) Credits (20:43) Blooper reel

'Tis the season for nostalgia, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la la la! As a special holiday treat, we're getting a little more personal and going back 15 years to look at "How Metal Sonic Stole Christmas", a fan radio play written by GameBuddy that most of us participated in. This was the first project that we and much of the Sonic F cast worked on together, so in the spirit of the season, we'd like to share something that meant quite a bit to us with all of you. Happy holidays, everyone, and thank you for continuing to support the show. (Note: if you want to hear the original radio play without any of our dumb commentary, it'll also be available in the podcast feed the same day this goes up, so make sure you download that as well.) (0:00:00) Intro (0:03:28) Main topic: How Metal Sonic Stole Christmas (0:18:00) The cast (0:42:38) Commentary begins (1:01:42) Post-commentary discussion (1:16:52) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree

We've equipped all our best skill cards and are ready for a new episode all about one of Sonic's more unique spinoffs, Sonic Battle! This GBA fighting game starring an adorable robot OC had a surprisingly extensive single-player campaign that gave a lot of characters some much-needed time in the spotlight...though for one character, that's not really a good thing. Does the story still hold up? Is there more depth to the combat than at first glance? And why haven't we seen a new Sonic fighting game since? Well, it's time to head back into the blocky 3D arena and find out! (0:00:00) Intro (0:02:25) Main topic: Sonic Battle (0:21:43) Emerl (0:27:35) Sonic's story (1:00:54) Tails' story (1:05:09) Rouge's story (1:12:19) Amy's story (1:25:05) Knuckles' story (1:31:22) Cream's story (1:35:52) Shadow's story (1:43:06) Emerl's story (2:00:27) Minigames and adaptations (2:03:48) Final thoughts (2:14:09) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Sonic Battle - Game Script Prof. Gerald's Journal

It's still thinking, and 25 years later, we still wanna talk about it! To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Japanese Dreamcast launch, we're joined by former game journalist Ryan MacDonald to talk about our memories of Sega's final home console, including Ryan's time covering it on the press side for GameSpot. Join us as we revisit the highs of its launch, the lows of its discontinuation, and all the weird, wonderful games that made Sega's last hurrah so special for so many people. (0:00:00) Intro (0:19:57) Main topic: Sega Dreamcast (0:37:55) Retro consoles and collecting (0:53:33) The games (1:28:07) What went wrong? (1:44:02) Aftermarket and legacy (2:00:21) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Ryan's YouTube channel Sega CD CES demo General Chaos The Getaway: High Speed 2 Hidekazu Yukawa Commercial Compilation "It's Thinking" Commercial Compilation Mario 64 grading scandal Sega Heat.net E3 1995 - "$299" VM2 on IndieGogo

How do you follow up a game that changed gaming and created an entertainment icon? ...I dunno, but they did it. The gang is joined by VTuber Boomba to reminisce on the 1992 classic, Sonic the Hedgehog 2! Sonic Team's sophomore outing changed things up significantly from the original, not least of which through its introduction of a little two-tailed pal for our fast-footed hero! Does this speedy sequel stand up to the test of time? And just how much of the game got left in the dust in its mad dash to make the holiday season? Well, toss your younger sibling the second controller and listen in to find out! (0:00:00) Intro (0:09:26) Main topic: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (0:18:10) The spin dash (0:23:51) Tails! (0:36:23) 2P versus (0:37:40) Super Sonic (0:40:33) Title screen (0:41:33) Emerald Hill Zone (0:45:54) Special stages (0:57:52) Chemical Plant Zone (1:03:59) Aquatic Ruin Zone (1:09:35) Casino Night Zone (1:18:04) Hill Top Zone (1:26:31) Mystic Cave Zone (1:34:07) Oil Ocean Zone (1:43:04) Metropolis Zone (1:50:01) Sky Chase Zone/Wing Fortress Zone (1:59:27) Death Egg Zone (2:05:58) Ending (2:09:00) Hidden Palace Zone (2:15:55) Other cut zones (2:22:15) Other versions (2:31:55) Final thoughts (2:37:04) Outro Amie Waters on Linktree Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog 116 - Tails' New Home A Day to Remember - You Be Tails, I'll Be Sonic TailsTube #1 (feat. Sonic) Tee Lopes - Hill Top Zone Real Life Smash Bros Brawl Trailer! + Real Life Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trailer (Less-Potato Quality) Sonic 2 Special Edition - Let's Play!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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