don't click here

When did Sonic's speed become a *unique* trait compared to the rest of the cast?

Discussion in 'General Sonic Discussion' started by Frostav, Jan 28, 2021.

  1. Wildcat

    Wildcat

    Member
    325
    95
    28
    I must be the only one but I always thought these bumpers were chili dogs. I viewed the top and bottoms as the bun and the middle the weenie. Plus the colors they cycle through implied ketchup, mustard and pickles to me. Haha.

    [​IMG]

    As for his speed he was always meant to be the fastest. Like others have said his friends being equally fast has nothing to do with anything. It was just for the sake of gameplay which had to match since they all play the exact same stages. Of course once it turned 3D they could have variations.
     
  2. Yash

    Yash

    CHOCOLATE! Member
    752
    342
    63
    The US instruction manual (or some source like that) does actually call these chili dogs, haha.
     
  3. muteKi

    muteKi

    Fuck it Member
    7,850
    131
    43
    Did Sonic 3's competition mode affect the top speed of characters, or only the acceleration? That's the first time their base stats (besides Knuckles' jump height and Tails's smaller hitbox) were differentiated.
     
  4. qwertysonic

    qwertysonic

    Member
    921
    312
    63
    creating the biggest sonic collection
    My friends and I thought they were hamburgers that cycle through ketchup, mustard and pickles. lol
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  5. Wildcat

    Wildcat

    Member
    325
    95
    28
    Ya I vaguely remember reading it somewhere. I checked the manual but it does not mention them.
    That works too. The dotted pixels could be like the melted cheese spots.

    They look even more like burgers in the 3DS Generations.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. I thought Sonic's gameplay was intended to be fast over his personality in the games. Tails and Knux can keep up with him, yet the cartoons he's the only "fastest thing alive".
     
  7. Yash

    Yash

    CHOCOLATE! Member
    752
    342
    63
    Well now this is bugging the crap out of me. Maybe it was this strategy guide?

    [​IMG]

    I had this as a kid and I swear I remember reading the bumpers in CNZ are supposed to be chili dogs in some official source. This is the only other thing I can think of.
     
  8. Wildcat

    Wildcat

    Member
    325
    95
    28
    I don’t think I had that book but ya now I want to know too.

    They mention it here but not an official source.

    http://www.soniczone0.com/games/sonic2/casinonight/
     
  9. Nova

    Nova

    Member
    3,755
    178
    43
    No, he was always intended to be an extremely fast hedgehog? Hence the name 'Sonic'...?
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • List
  10. OMG, wow... I'm an idiot. :flunked: lol Your totally right.

    Dunno what I was thinking. Maybe I found the trait more personable for a character in a cartoon and saw the trait as more of a mechanic to test the hardware in the video game. I dunno, I just failed with flawed logic. lol
     
  11. ChaddyFantome

    ChaddyFantome

    Member
    239
    82
    28
    Knuckles actually IS slower than Sonic and Tails in Sonic3&K. Its just the context of the gameplay doesn't allow it to meaningfully be perceived by the player.
    Knuckles is still running through loops and rolling fast down hills regardless, so the speed difference easily ends up feeling superfluous.

    By contrast, Knuckles is actually FASTER than Sonic in SA2, but because of the shift in gameplay style, its quite common for people to think he is slower than Sonic in that game.

    A lot of the speed in Sonic games doesn't necessarily come from the actual speed the characters are moving at, but the visual queues and spectacle that affect our perception of speed or imply it, and this is true as early as Sonic 1.
    A common thing people bring up about Sonic games in the Classics is how the screen is "Zoomed in" and doesn't pan, but this was intentional as far as i can tell, as it enhances the sensation of speed. Similarly, a good deal of the early 3D games will angle the camera closer to the ground for the same reason. It creates the same effect one would observe watching the road wizz by near the wheels of a bus or car vs watching the sidewalk in the distance.

    Its very obvious if you ask me that one of the main concerns the devs had with Adventure was protecting the integrity of Sonic's trademark speed.
    He notably is the only character to leave colored trails when he dashes, and also is the only character who CAN dash, as even Tails and Knuckles no longer have the spindash and the homing attack was made exclusive to our blue friend.
    They also made other new characters slower than Sonic, arguably to the detriment of their gameplay.

    Its something I feel we don't talk about enough in the fandom personally.

    Its also one of the reasons I really respect the Drop Dash.

    I'm actually rather refreshed to hear this because its something I've seen said a lot and it quite honestly baffles me that it gets taken seriously at all.
    Yes Sonic isn't JUST about speed, but to go as far as to claim it was just a meme by advertisers I feel highlights a consistent issue with the Sonic fanbase of overcorrecting with criticism that leads to tons of confusion within the fandom and arguably at SEGA.

    As you said, everything about the games is clearly geared towards going fast, and this would only become more refined as the games went forward.
    We don't have to go as far as to claim he wasn't about speed at all to criticize games lacking depth in accordance with it.
    Thanks for saying what I was quite frankly too scared to.
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2021
    • Like Like x 3
    • Informative Informative x 1
    • List
  12. Nova

    Nova

    Member
    3,755
    178
    43
    Thank you for wording this better than I've ever been able to.
     
  13. DigitalDuck

    DigitalDuck

    Arriving four years late. Member
    5,338
    412
    63
    Lincs, UK
    TurBoa, S1RL
    This is false.

    Knuckles' top speed in S3K is identical to Sonic's and Tails', at 6 px/frame. He also has identical acceleration, braking, air acceleration, air deceleration, and rolling physics. The only differences are in jump height and special abilities.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
    • List
  14. ChaddyFantome

    ChaddyFantome

    Member
    239
    82
    28
    Have I been mistaken all this time then? I distinctly remember testing this myself in the past. I'll take your word for it i suppose.
     
  15. SuperSnoopy

    SuperSnoopy

    I like Sonic Advance Member
    1,778
    740
    93
    Lyon, France
    Slice of life visual novel, coming soon...?
    Yeah, a lot of people seem to think Knuckles is slower in 3&K when he's just as fast as the other characters.
    I've even seen people say that Tails is slower than both Sonic AND Knuckles, which is pretty clearly not the case.
    Knuckles' lower jump is the only gameplay difference between the 3 afaik (special abilities notwithstanding)
     
  16. Jason

    Jason

    *Results not lab tested. Member
    I'm fairly certain Super Knuckles and Super Tails are slower than Super Sonic, but their base speeds are equal.
     
  17. Xiao Hayes

    Xiao Hayes

    Classic Eggman art Member
    Knuckles FEELS slower than Sonic because gliding and climbing have lower speed than actual running, and also because the smaller jump cuts the speed advantage one can get from it; I mean, if your jump ascends less, you hit the floor sooner, and the tricks you can do with jumping are less spectacular. Just think what you can do with a lighning shield or a drop dash, Sonic will always feel lighter.
     
  18. Frostav

    Frostav

    Member
    639
    202
    43
    Knux and Tails have special abilities that make you stop or slow down heavily. It's one of my gripes with their design--I don't want Sonic to be hyperspeed all the time, but there really should have been ways to flow into their abilities. Like knux being able to grab onto a wall and spindash up it or somehow carry his speed. I prefer playing as Sonic because he's got such a beautiful flow to his movement. Something Mania perfected with the drop dash.
     
  19. ChaddyFantome

    ChaddyFantome

    Member
    239
    82
    28
    I think the crux of my overall point still holds up, that much I'll say. A lot of the speed in the games comes less from the actual speed the player is going at and more how its perceived. Its why things like Sonic's spinning feet animation exists for example. :P
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2021