Gotta Go Fast: the Obligatory Sonic the Hedgehog Thread!

[gogglebob]

TECHNICALLY if you assume Knuckles to be a common, modern name, it should be "Knuckleses". However, that is not the case with "classical" names, which is basically any name from the old days that ends in "S" (like the previously mentioned Socrates), or last names. Given Sega distinctly went with Knuckles' (simply pronounced Knuckles) Chaotix as the title, they are declaring that Knuckles is clearly named after a classical echidna that likely existed a long time ago in Angel Island history.

Also, as I have now typed this, Ken Penders has an erection, and he doesn't know why.

 

[madhair60]

I am stating that I also would rather play Knuckles' Chaotix before Sonic Spinball. This is speaking as someone that has played both games recently (and Spinball twice, somehow).

However, I must agree with Stu that subjecting your mate to its 2-player mode would qualify as spousal abuse.

I didn't say anything about spousal abuse. And ew to the rest of this.

 

[Kazin]

I could see "Knuckles" being a name for whoever guards the Chaos Emeralds, passed down generation to generation. That's just dumb enough to be canon lol.

Also I have never read a Sonic comic in my life, so for all I know they've already done the above. I had to google who "Ken Penders" was lol

 

[Kazin]

Just replaced the capacitor on my lunch break, did not break the cart or lose my saves, so I'll report back if I get any more freezes or not when I get the good ending after work tonight.

 

[muteKi]

I'd like to see what 2 player co-op feels like, but Stu would likely call the cops on me if I made my wife try it with me.

I'm going to come out with the bold opinion that it's far worse than it should be, because they turned off the hold button. I think they should have kept it, but let it be used to freeze yourself in place in 2P mode. It's too crucial for building up momentum to get rid of entirely.

 

[Kazin]

Oof, yeah, and holding the opposite direction wouldn't allow you to properly build momentum, either. Well, you've just saved me from even trying to get my wife to play Knuckles'''''''''''''''' Chaotix with me lol

 

[RT-55J]

[dark souls font] MARRIAGE SAVED

 

[Kazin]

Yeah, I'm a fan. Just played through the rest of the levels of the game with no freezes whatsoever, so it must have been that capacitor that was causing issues, because it was seven levels and the final boss. Ran all the way through the credits, not a hiccup, thankfully. Spoiling the good ending because no one here is ever going to play through Knuckles Chaotix lol (and also because, even through my cell phone camera, that s-video picture looks so good to me, really makes this game pop imo):

I think my least favorite part of the game is the Metal Sonic fight. It's not hard, it's just boring and largely random (I wouldn't mind it so much if the selection was just a tad slower). The final boss, however, is pretty much a pushover haha

I'd like a followup, as impossible as that is.

 

[madhair60]

How can you be a fan of that fucking game. The levels, ffs. This is pure contrarianism. I'm sorry but I'm not having it. Ban me if you must.

Edit: Sorry, sorry, each to their own. Each to their own.

 

[Kazin]

I dunno, I started to learn the levels on that second playthrough. I got into a flow (helps, admittedly, not having to worry about collecting 200 rings to have plenty of time on the bonus stages to get the Chaos Rings), and had fun zooming through the levels as quickly as I could. Not having the stupid Heavy or Bomb characters weighing you down is good, too - they should be removed from the game. And Amazing Arena still sucks, I can't defend that mess (although I like the music). Once I stopped picking Knuckles as my main and stuck with Vector, the game got a lot more fun.

 

[FelixSH]

Spoiling the good ending because no one here is ever going to play through Knuckles Chaotix lol

I mean, after all your posts I'm very curious to at least give it a try. If I'm in the right mood, I can enjoy weird games.
I don't care about spoilers, though. It's a Sonic game, what is there even to spoil?
Wait, Sonic is in this game? I assumed it was Knuckles, and the collection of weirdos around him. Oh my god, I love Vector.

 

[Kazin]

@FelixSH That screen is literally the only screen in the entire game where Sonic or Tails appear. And there's no story to speak of (in the game itself), but that final screen is what you get for getting all the Chaos Rings (this game's version of the Chaos Emeralds) and beating the final boss.

I dunno, mess around with it for a bit and see if you can get enjoyment out of it. It took me a while, but I got there eventually. No shame in dropping it if it isn't clicking.

 

[muteKi]

The closest you get to Sonic in the game is being able to play as Mighty, who is, admittedly, actually a pretty speedy character considering. His throw is a bit crummy (ironic, huh) but he excels in basically every other sort of movement category.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Iirc, Mighty was drawn from the arcade SegaSonic the Hedgehog game to replace Sonic here, after they decided on the Knuckles and Chaotix direction after its prototype days as Sonic Crackers.

 

[muteKi]

Yeah -- outside of his wall-jumping (which can be incredibly fast if you know how to do it -- it seems genuinely broken) he's just Sonic, as he probably would have been per the Sonic Crackers / Stadium prototype from 1994. His sprites are all modified from Sonic CD's as a base.

 

[FelixSH]

Sonic Crackers

That's what I played, decades ago! So I guess it might be just too broken for me.

On pictures at least, it looks like Sonic and Talis are connected with some ring chain, and the name rings a bell.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

 

[ASandoval]

I don't feel like I can be too harsh on Kazin because I am a rabid Sonic Spinball apologist, to the point I don't understand why that game has such a bad reputation. It's jank for sure, but its a sincere, oddly polished* jank that I think is still very playable, much more so than a lot of other Sonic games.

Games like Chaotix, which I've never geled with beyond a fifteen minute curiosity. Maybe it was because of the disappointment of hyping and mythologizing that game based on tiny, gorgeous screenshots I saw in magazines before realizing it's just a typical Sonic game with cumbersome mechanics stapled on top of it that make it excruciating for me to play. It's also possible I'm being unfairly resentful because my copy of the game just doesn't work on my hardware set up.

Regardless, I'm with Stu on this one.


*in terms of presentation and spectacle, not so much controls, physics, camera or optimization.

 

[MetManMas]

Knuckles Chaotix is very much a game that looks pretty for the magazines but just can't deliver when it comes to gameplay.

The level designs were the big thing that disappointed me. Less thought-out stages and more big nigh empty obstacle courses to run a few laps around. Just feels very samey.

 

[Kazin]

I don't feel like I can be too harsh on Kazin because I am a rabid Sonic Spinball apologist, to the point I don't understand why that game has such a bad reputation. It's jank for sure, but its a sincere, oddly polished* jank that I think is still very playable, much more so than a lot of other Sonic games.

There's a lot to like about Spinball - primarily the graphics, music, and premise - but it's so punishing if you miss a shot or die. Game Overs feel too bad. It also feels weirdly "slow" for a pinball game. And I'll always throw out just how godawful the last level is.

Games like Chaotix, which I've never geled with beyond a fifteen minute curiosity. Maybe it was because of the disappointment of hyping and mythologizing that game based on tiny, gorgeous screenshots I saw in magazines before realizing it's just a typical Sonic game with cumbersome mechanics stapled on top of it that make it excruciating for me to play.

Knuckles Chaotix makes a really bad impression when you first boot it up. It's very easy in that trial stage to get hung up on rubberband physics and bounce back and forth and get frustrated really easily. Doesn't help that I bet most players select Knuckles as their first character, when his abilities don't gel well with the mechanics imo. Once you get used to the physics - and it admittedly takes far too long for most people, I think - you can wring some fun out of it. A big ask, I know, since I actually think that intro level goes on far too long and doesn't do a great job introducing the mechanics (and those switches with faces on them, which are there to teach you to use the "hold" button, are literally no where else in the game, so I don't know why they're in that level at all).

It's also possible I'm being unfairly resentful because my copy of the game just doesn't work on my hardware set up.

What the hell?! That's so weird. I have a model 1 Genesis and was getting freezes, but after replacing the capacitor on the cartridge, the game stopped freezing for me. I wonder if that capacitor is causing issues for others as well considering how old the carts are these days. Can you solder? Maybe try replacing it and see if it works, since this issue does not seem well documented to me at all, despite that video (why was it freezing for me, a model 1 user?).

 

[Ludendorkk]

I'd like to see what 2 player co-op feels like, but Stu would likely call the cops on me if I made my wife try it with me.

Your wife would probably call first

 

[MetManMas]

There's a lot to like about Spinball - primarily the graphics, music, and premise - but it's so punishing if you miss a shot or die. Game Overs feel too bad. It also feels weirdly "slow" for a pinball game. And I'll always throw out just how godawful the last level is.

Apparently the slowness has a lot to do with STI changing over to a different programming language, which sped up development time but resulted in framerate and optimization issues.

Sega really wanted a Sonic game for the 1993 holiday season.

 

[Kazin]

Apparently the slowness has a lot to do with STI changing over to a different programming language, which sped up development time but resulted in framerate and optimization issues.

Sega really wanted a Sonic game for the 1993 holiday season.

Was probably the right call, because I think I got Spinball that year for Christmas lol

 

[ASandoval]

What the hell?! That's so weird. I have a model 1 Genesis and was getting freezes, but after replacing the capacitor on the cartridge, the game stopped freezing for me. I wonder if that capacitor is causing issues for others as well considering how old the carts are these days. Can you solder? Maybe try replacing it and see if it works, since this issue does not seem well documented to me at all, despite that video (why was it freezing for me, a model 1 user?).

I'll have to give this a shot at some point. I'm fairly new at soldering and haven't had a lot of time to practice, but replacing a capacitor should be fairly simple. Would be curious if it makes a difference, regardless.

 

[Kazin]

Yeah, it's not a difficult part to get to, either, and it's far enough away from the other components that it's unlikely you'll screw it up. Just don't get solder on the cartridge pins haha

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1752828891821924655

https://twitter.com/x/status/1752833348643270793

https://twitter.com/x/status/1752871377818800538

 

[Kazin]

...what the heck, DLC for Sonic Generations?

 

[Violentvixen]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1752871377818800538

I laughed so hard at this one

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

I laughed so hard at this one

Then my job here is done.

 

[madhair60]

I'm still quite cross at this "Chaotix is better than Spinball" nonsense. I had hoped not to live long enough to see any attempt at a Chaotix reappraisal, but if there had to be one I'd prefer it wasn't at the expense of a game that's at least 3/4 good.

On the subject of Sonic x Shadow Generations, I guess I'd say something about not being enough of a sucker to buy Generations again, but I am. Obviously I will buy it to play the no doubt very weak new content. And I will dislike it. And I will do it again in ten more years.