Comparing the Sonic Series to the Beatles

I've kicked this idea around for quite some time now, and I've decided to gamble a bit and share it with you. I'm a bit hesitant, as I hope it merits discussion, but if I never take a chance on posting, I'll never contribute, so...

In short, I see a big time parallel between the Sonic series and the Beatles. The Genesis Sonic games serve as the Beatles time together as a band, while the next-gen games act as the subsequent solo albums put out by the Beatles. I'm going strictly on perceived quality and content of the works, not any secondary personal issues (a la, the John/Paul feud, for example). I'll compare some games, though the Beatles catalog outnumbers Sonic's Genesis titles, so not all albums will got proper inclusion (but this isn't a Beatles board, so not too much of a biggie, I guess). Without further ado:

Sonic 1 = (Please Please Me)

An early introduction to a cultural phenomenon. Both parties would evolve, but just as many Beatles fanatics prefer the early, pre-sophisticated days of the Fab Four, so too do many Sonic fans consider the original to represent the best of the series. Though not as complex as later entries, both still remain classic.

Sonic 2 = Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

In my opinion, the best singular Sonic game. Also, the general consensus seems to regard this as the pinnacle of the series. And as Sgt. Pepper offered unprecedented innovation, Sonic 2 introduced Tails and the spin dash (okay, so these two additions don't really compare to the innovation of Sgt. Pepper, but the main point is that Sonic 2 and Sgt. Pepper represent respective benchmarks).

Sonic CD = The White Album

The oddball masterpieces. Though based on the double-sized nature of the White Album, a more apt comparison might be Sonic 3 & Knuckles. But taking the content of Sonic CD and the White Album into account, these two are a match made in Heaven. Both took each party into a completely different direction than prior entries into their respective catalogues…and did so in such unique ways. Just a sampling: Sonic CD, time travel dynamic; the White Album, “Revolution 9.”

Sonic 3 & Knuckles = Abbey Road

As these two Sonic entries combine to represent the last proper entry into the series’ Genesis canon, Abbey Road serves as a similarly epic swan song. Though both stand in the shadow of more acclaimed predecessors (Sonic 2, Sgt. Pepper), each have strong advocates in their corner as well. You might even note the similarities between the tight segue provided by the lock-on technology and the seamlessly flowing “Abbey Road Medley” that closes the album. Each also represents the last consensus classic in either party's catalogue.

Sonic 3D Blast = Let It Be

Okay, so Sonic 3D Blast differs from Let It Be in that it wasn't created prior to S3&K (as LIB had been recorded prior to Abbey Road, but released after). But chronologically speaking, both were the last releases of each (well, the Genesis Sonic series and the Beatles as a band). And both were solid, but couldn't quite measure up to the standards of previous entries. The gargantuan shadow cast by previous entries obscured the fact that, independent of the lofty standards of prior Sonic titles and the Beatles catalogue, both are great in their own right.

And depending on which Beatle's solo career that you prefer, you can interchange some of the solo albums in the following comparisons (and I'll even put some other options in parenthesis).

Sonic Adventure = John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (or All Things Must Pass, or Band on the Run)

The first next-gen Sonic outing was well-received by critics, just as Plastic Ono Band. Though many 3D Sonics have seemingly diminished the series' legacy, Sonic Adventure remains as a high-quality 3D Sonic game. I've chosen Lennon as my primary comparison as his first two albums most closely resemble the first two Sonic Adventures. All Things Must Pass was followed by Living in the Material World...the quality discrepancy is vast between these two. Band on the Run and its successor Venus and Mars arguably fit just as well as Lennon's pair of albums, but they are not the first in McCartney's solo catalogue, so it's not as tight a fit chronologically speaking as Plastic Ono Band and Lennon's next album, Imagine.

Sonic Adventure 2 = Imagine (Living in the Material World, Venus and Mars)

Both SA2 and Imagine are not as critically acclaimed as their first entries, but many fans argue that each surpass the quality of SA1 and Plastic Ono Band, respectively.

Sonic Heroes = Sometime in New York City (Lennon) (or Dark Horse, or Back to the Egg)

Both Sometime in NYC and Sonic Heroes were eagerly anticipated. Both disappointed fans and critics alike. Both introduced 'team' dynamics—Heroes with, of course, the team dynamic, and Sometime with the first John Lennon album where he splits track space with Yoko Ono. Dark Horse, by George Harrison, might be included, but only based on the disappointment factor (and the comparisons aren't apt, as Sonic Heroes was an attempted back-to-basics game, Dark Horse intentionally went in another direction from the expected sound of a Beatles album). Back to the Egg, by McCartney, was a straightforward rock album with the occasional experimental track (definitely Beatles-esque in format) and featured the superband Rockestra within the album (the team dynamic). But once again, Lennon's album seems a better fit.

Sonic 2006 = Gone Troppo (George Harrison)

Both have their moments, but are generally lazy and uninspired. Of course, Sonic 2006 had more to do with a misguided rehash while Gone Troppo was an audio account of George Harrison's disillusionment with the music industry. This was probably the toughest one for me to pick; I pretty much like all of the Beatles solo outings, so I picked a poorly received album with redeeming qualities, as I feel that Sonic 2006 had some redeeming aspects as well. But yeah, neither sniff masterpiece status.

Sonic Unleashed = Double Fantasy (Lennon)

With Sonic Unleashed, the series needed to rebound after 2006. With Double Fantasy, Lennon needed to rebound after a five-year hiatus as 'house-husband.' Both are great entries, but fall short in overall quality of either their original glory days (Genesis Sonic, the Beatles) and their initial post-glory days offerings. You definitely could make comparisons with George Harrison's rebound album Cloud Nine and McCartney's post-Wings critical smash Tug of War.

The Hypothetical WiiWare Sonic 4 = The Anthology Singles

I guess I'm just thinking wishfully here, but let's have this idea come full circle. The remaining Beatles met in the mid 1990s to make two new Beatles songs based on old Lennon recordings, attempting to recapture the magic of the glory days. How about Sega somehow creating a new Sonic game based on older, Genesis technology to recapture the magic of their glory days?

I apologize in advance for the length, but I'm dying to get some feedback on this idea. Thoughts?

 

I will say that it killed me to even put Gone Troppo in the same conversation with Sonic 2006, but I sort of made up my mind just to use John, Paul, and George's music in the comparison simply because Ringo's best songs needed 'a little help from his friends' to write (well, in my opinion). But hats off to you, when you take the number of entries into account from the Sonic series, the Ringo comparison makes sense. I guess I was just too lazy to even consider games like Sonic R and Jam .

But as for that last part, you didn't like Liverpool 8?