Sonic Rivals

What I liked about the character was that he worked alongside Eggman as a colleague of sorts. Giving him a "oh I'm actually this" origin and motive that totally goes against how he was portrayed in the other games just sort of cheapens the character in my eyes.

It also doesn't really help that this just adds to the whole "Eggman ends up getting screwed over by the real threat" trend.

 

I'm pretty sure you have Iizuka to thank for the Rivals plots. That about says it all.

 

Maybe it was a compromise. "Robotnik has to be betrayed... let's make his goatee do it!"