Top Ten Sonic the Hedgehog Games

Today, June 23rd, 2021, is Sonic the Hedgehog's 30th anniversary. 30 years ago today in 1991 a blue hedgehog named Sonic took the gaming world by storm with a spin dash, a too-cool-for-school attitude, and a hankering for chili dogs. SPC celebrates the occasion with a special top ten list, presenting the site's picks for the very best of the Blue Blur's biggest and boldest titles. After you've checked out the picks here, which Sonic games would you select as your personal favorites? 

10) Sonic Unleashed (Multi)

The first but nowhere near the last 3D Sonic on our list of top Sonic the Hedgehog games, Sonic Unleashed brought with it an adventure around the world across themed areas based on real-life locales. Using the boost formula that future modern 3D Sonics would utilize, Unleashed also featured a beat-em-up component with some careful precision platforming thrown in via the Werehog. During nighttime stages, Sonic would transform into the burly beast, using his limbs to slash and strike enemies into submission. Whereas during the daytime hours, Sonic sped through levels, blazing a trail. A great speed-running game for the daytime levels, but pretty clunky and cumbersome during nighttime levels, Sonic Unleashed was essentially half a great game.

9) Sonic Rush (DS)

Sonic's debut on the Nintendo DS was a fantastic one, spanning both of the handheld system's screens. Levels sprawled on the dual screen setup, allowing for great verticality in levels, and offering a wider perspective on the action. The extra hardware power of the Nintendo DS gave players boss battles against Eggman's numerous mechanical monstrosities in 3D arenas, truly showing off the capabilities of the system. The introduction of Blaze the Cat was also welcomed, bringing a second adventure to enjoy with her incredible abilities and powers. And no Sonic Rush description would be complete without mentioning the stellar soundtrack composed by Hideki Naganuma of Jet Grind Radio fame, so let's not fail to mention his groovy songs that further heightened this highly capable Sonic game.

8) Sonic Adventure 2 (Multi)

I'm not going to lie here--a lot of my love for Sonic Adventure 2 is based off of nostalgia. It's also based off of the game still being rather good. I'll admit that Knuckles and Rouge's treasure-hunting segments are less than excellent, but they still show signs and semblances of entertainment. Tails and Eggman's shooter sections offer high amounts of action and platforming, while Sonic and Shadow's levels are indeed the pieces de resistance--the greatest part of this package. Sonic Adventure 2 was my first fully-fledged 3D Sonic--not counting games like Sonic 3D Blast that were quasi-3D--so it was a big deal for me. It's part of my adoration and fondness for Adventure 2, and why I hold it so dear to this day. Nostalgia's hard to shake sometimes!

7) Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN)

We couldn't go through a list of Sonic's greatest hits without visiting the game that started it all, now could we? Well, technically we could, but there's no reason to do so when 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog remains such a significant and stupendous game. It of course laid the foundation for Sonic, how he moves, how he handles, how he controls, and it's really amazing to consider all the masterful programming that went into making Sonic work in those loop de loops, blazing fast speeds ("blast processing" marketing speak notwithstanding), and slopes. What I really like most about the original Sonic is that the game gives plenty of moments for breathing. One zone opens itself up for fast speed-runs while the next requires more careful, cautious approaches. The pattern repeats to the very end of the game. 

6) Sonic Colors (Wii)

While PlayStation and Xbox platforms received the bigger entries in the Sonic franchise, "the little motion-control-centric system that could", the Wii, was pretty much given hand-me-downs and smaller Sonic experiences such as Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight, both part of the Storybook Series of games. It wouldn't be until Sonic Colors that a tried and true major release in the Sonic series would spin dash onto the Wii. The wait for a major game was really worth it, as Sonic Colors remains one of my favorite 3D entries in the Sonic series, delivering a mix of stellar 3D and 2D sections and Wisp-based transformations. With Sonic Colors Ultimate heading to all major platforms this September, I eagerly await and anticipate being able to relive my experiences from the Wii days of blasting through Eggman's theme park as the Blue Blur.

5) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (GEN)

After 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic sped onto the Genesis scene once again for a sequel, and it was everything fans wanted from a follow-up. It was bigger, bolder, and dare I say better than the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Double the length of Sonic 1, and offering more zones and variety, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 also added a second playable character, though one that would only be available via co-op and a second controller. This second character was Miles "Tails" Prower, or Tails for short, and would give beginning players (or little brothers like myself whose big brothers wouldn't let them play as Sonic) a chance to tag along with player one through the rather lengthy adventure. 

4) Sonic Generations (PS3, 360, PC)

Sonic's 20th anniversary ten years ago was punctuated by this game, giving players and longtime fans of Sonic something to celebrate over--a fantastic entry in the series. Sonic Generations brought with it two main styles of play: Classic Sonic (generally comprised of 2D levels) and Modern Sonic (generally comprised of--you guessed it--3D levels). Together, the two trekked and sped through familiar zones from pretty much every major past Sonic game, from Sonic 1 all the way to Sonic Colors, for nine zones with two acts total--one act for each version of Sonic. Save for a rather wet fart of a final boss, Sonic Generations was everything I wanted out of a 3D Sonic game, and it remains one of my favorites within the franchise.

3) Sonic & Knuckles (GEN)

As we approach the end of this 30th anniversary list dedicated to Sonic's best game, we'll be sticking strictly to 2D titles from here on out. We begin with Sonic & Knuckles. This game's cartridge used special lock-on technology to allow players to open its top and stick other Sonic games directly into it, such as Sonic 2 (to play the game entirely as Knuckles, for instance), and of course, Sonic 3 to create one extended adventure. But, we're not focused on the latter at the moment--or anything pertaining to the innovative lock-on technology presented to players. Instead, taken by itself, Sonic & Knuckles finally allowed players to assume control of Knuckles as a playable character, opening up levels considerably. Paths Sonic couldn't reach could be traveled to by Knuckles, and vice versa. The game had a solid collection of memorable zones, and one truly spectacular final confrontation with Dr. Robotnik.

2) Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN)

Right from the get-go and the beginning of Sonic's adventure on Angel Island, you know you're in for something special as the character Knuckles the Echidna is introduced, the marimba synth of the first zone starts playing, and the beauty that is Sonic the Hedgehog 3's graphics and gameplay begin. Sonic 3 is a marked improvement over its predecessors--and those games were hardly pushovers--making for one marvelous platforming package of six zones of two acts apiece, accentuated by a stupendously catchy soundtrack. Sonic 3 may not have the length of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and it may have that annoying, rather unintuitive barrel in the Carnival Night Zone, but as a whole, it's a phenomenal game. However, it's not THE most phenomenal game in Sonic's 30-year history.

1) Sonic Mania (NSW, PS4, XB1, PC)

Perhaps this is blasphemy to say, but my favorite Sonic game is without question Sonic Mania. Now this is mostly because I'm not combining Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles into one game here, so if I did, this ranking could possibly change. However, as it is, Sonic Mania evoked such warm, happy feelings from this particular player. Between the masterful level designs, return to familiar zones made fresh with new level mechanics and concepts, as well as the four brand-new zones that each felt cohesive to the entire package, Sonic Mania delivered in pretty much all aspects all-around. From the music by Tee Lopes, to the art design, to the level design, to the boss encounters, to the myriad secrets and more, Sonic Mania rushed its way to the top of my list of favorite Sonic games when it launched a few years ago, and it remains at the top of the hedgehog game heap.

Top Ten Dreamcast Games

Twenty years ago on one of the best release dates for anything ever--9/9/99--the Sega Dreamcast launched. While Sega exited the hardware market shortly after, in just two brief years, the Dreamcast managed to amass a library that consoles that have been on the market much longer can only dream about. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sega Dreamcast, SuperPhillip Central takes a look at some of the best games to ever grace the system and--since many of these have been ported elsewhere--other systems as well (though that just shows how strong the legacy of the Dreamcast really is!).

After you've checked out, SPC's picks, which Sega Dreamcast games are your favorites?

10) Power Stone 

Capcom showed a competent amount of support for Sega and its Dreamcast, and one of its most beloved titles on Sega's final home console was Power Stone. This arena brawler was less of a traditional fighter and more of a game where you beat your opponents senseless with character attacks, objects strewn about the 3D arena environments, and items that occasionally dropped in to the playing field. Collecting the fabled "Power Stones" in battle meant your character charged up immensely, ready and able to deliver some devastating damage to your opponent's or opponents' life bars. A sequel would release, bringing more of the same to the series and Sega's system, but I have a soft spot for the original Power Stone.

9) Hydro Thunder

A launch title for the Dreamcast--and later ported to the original PlayStation and Nintendo 64 down the road, though the Dreamcast original remained the best way to play it on a home console back then--Hydro Thunder was a high-speed, high-octane aquatic racer where you piloted futuristic speedboats across rocky waters in a bevy of exhilarating locations. Carving a path through the waters with your speedboat felt so fantastic, and the speeds at which you did so was nothing short of jaw-dropping. Hydro Thunder packed a lot of entertainment within its courses, its boosting-based gameplay, and phenomenal tracks.

8) Crazy Taxi

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, YEAH!" Any fan of Crazy Taxi has those initial lyrics and notes engrained deep in their virtual taxi-driving brains. Having roots in arcades, Sega created and ported a lot of its arcade hits to its home consoles, and that tradition continued with the Dreamcast. Such a defining example of a proven arcade hit and putting it on the system was Crazy Taxi, a game where you drove your yellow, checkered limousine and chauffeured passengers to their desired destinations around a closed-in city setting. Performing--ahem--crazy stunts and tricks while getting your passengers to their destinations in quick fashion awarded more in tips during your timed sessions racing around town.

7) Jet Grind Radio

Paint the town up with graffiti as you skate, jump, and grind your way through colorful, cel-shaded, open environments in Jet Grind Radio (future releases would establish the brand of the game and series as Jet Set Radio, in line with the international releases). As a fierce fighter to anyone who would degrade the cel-shaded art style, due to his heavy love for it, Jet Grind Radio brought with it the goal of tagging specific spots on maps before the game's timer ran out. Of course, the MAN (aka the authorities) would just have to make this mission of your inline-skating, graffiti-tagging gang member more challenging. The controls, favoring simple button presses as opposed to something slightly more complex like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, allowed for a level of accessibility for beginners while also granting a great deal of depth for masters of the game to unleash some killer moves and nail insane shortcuts in the game.

6) Sonic Adventure 2

It was a bit of a struggle to pick between Sonic Adventure or Sonic Adventure 2 to be the representative of Sonic the Hedgehog's Dreamcast debuts, but in the end, I had to go with the game that trimmed a lot of the fat that the original Sonic Adventure possess--that being the hub worlds and plodding extraneous gameplay types like Amy Rose, Gamma, and of course, Big the Cat. While there are some lesser parts to Sonic Adventure 2, the more streamlined approach, excellent Sonic and Shadow levels, okay to good Tails and Dr. Eggman vehicle levels, and passable Knuckles and Rouge emerald fetch quests made for one of Sonic's most memorable adventures to this day.

5) Shenmue

After almost two decades of waiting, the next chapter and the third installment in Ryo Hazuki's adventure, Shenmue III, will finally be available later this year to fans who have been with Ryo since the very beginning. And that beginning was on none other than the Dreamcast and from the mind of Yu Suzuki. Combining small open world areas, fighting segments, quick-time events, and an insanely obsessive amount of detail in the actual game world, Shenmue is a fantastic quest that showed just how ambitious Sega was during its final generation as a console manufacturer.

4) Marvel vs. Capcom 2

Capcom took players for a ride not just with the Power Stone series, but also with Marvel vs. Capcom 2, which the Dreamcast version is deemed one of, if not the best of the versions of the game. This second ultimate crossover between the superheroes and supervillains of Marvel Comics and the video game star power of Capcom brought accessible 2D fighting game action to the Dreamcast with its simple to pick up and play combat, flashy visuals, gorgeous colors, and supersized cast of characters. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 remains a fantastic fighting game that fans of one or both companies come back to on a regular basis, even if it's not the most balanced fighter out there.

3) Phantasy Star Online

During its time as a console manufacturer, Sega brought so many important innovations into the gaming sphere, and one of the most notable of these was bringing about and helping to popularize online play on home consoles, a sector of gaming that the PC had a hard monopoly on. With the release of Phantasy Star Online, Dreamcast owners had the ability to step foot on the planet of Ragol, explore its wondrous world, and do battle with its dangerous creatures with a party of up to four players online. It's something we of course take for granted nowadays, but even still, the Phantasy Star Online series remains popular, with part of the big news from Xbox's E3 2019 showing being that Phantasy Star Online 2 was coming to Xbox One. We can thank the original Phantasy Star Online for its mark on gaming, and just for remaining a solid and addicting game today.

2) Skies of Arcadia 

Dreamcast owners had no shortage of excellent RPGs to play on their system, and my pick for the absolute greatest of the bunch comes from Sega's now defunct Overworks team. It's none other than Skies of Arcadia. So many RPGs coming out of Japan have similar medieval settings or futuristic locations, but none are as original as Skies of Arcadia's literal skies... of Arcadia! From taking your starting small fry airship and exploring floating islands, featuring cities and dungeons to explore, to eventually earning a massive vessel to face off against other ships in aerial battles, Skies of Arcadia made a mark on this JRPG fan when it originally released. While the GameCube re-release brought with it many sizable and notable improvements, the original Skies of Arcadia still remains an impressive feather in the Dreamcast's cap.

1) Soul Calibur

We take the Soul Calibur franchise for granted nowadays (after all, the sixth numbered installment seems to have come and gone already without too much fanfare), but it can't be understated just how awesome and amazing an arena fighter Soul Calibur was. No doubt Soul Calibur fans know of the series's arcade roots with Soul Edge, but the arrival of Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast brought with it an immense following from fighting game fans and just lovers of weapon-based battles. Whether beating your opponent to the pulp with the blade your character wielded or knocking your foe out of bounds for a ring out, the soul burned strong for this excellent and exquisite Dreamcast launch title.

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - "Sonic Unleashed" Edition

Sonic's newest 3D adventure, Sonic Forces, releases officially today (despite many stores breaking the game's street date). Judging on impressions, however, I think it's a better opportunity to look back on -- let's say -- brighter entries in the Sonic the Hedgehog series with this special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs.

We blaze onto the scene with both Adventure games, just in the opposite order, beginning with Sonic Adventure 2 and then Sonic Adventure. Then, we go retro with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic 3D Blast, both Sega Genesis titles. Finally, a more interesting and polished 3D Sonic than apparently Sonic Forces is, Sonic Generations is where our final VGM volume of this edition comes from.

Finally, check out the VGM Database for every past VGM volume posted on this weekly series of articles. Now, let's get on to the music!

v1506. Sonic Adventure 2 (Multi) - Escape from the City

We're rolling around at the speed of sound with this first song on this Sonic spearheaded edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, diving in to listen to the vocal theme that greeted players in the very first stage of Sonic Adventure 2, City Escape. It's a level so nice that when the 20th anniversary game for the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Sonic Generations, included it within its nine chosen zones.

v1507. Sonic Adventure (Multi) - Windy Hill... for Windy Valley

This chippy and uptempo tune plays in the first section of the Windy Valley stage in Sonic Adventure. It takes places high above the scenery in a mountainous valley with a blowing wind. Once Sonic gets through enough of the level, a giant tornado scoops them up and sends them blasting into the second half of Windy Valley. While the second half of the level features a more peppy theme (a remix of a tune from Sonic 3D Blast), I can't help but prefer the chillness of Windy Hill as heard in Windy Valley.

v1508. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN) - Hydrocity Zone, Act 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 3's Hydrocity Zone is a popular one from that game, and fans had been waiting for years for Sonic Team to revisit it. It was disappointing to not see this aquatic zone in Sonic Generations, but this year, Hydrocity returned in all its bubbly, strong current glory in Sonic Mania. Who could foresee that folks behind 2D fan games of Sonic the Hedgehog would outdo this year's effort by Sonic Team in Sonic Forces? Okay, well, probably a lot of people, sadly.

v1509. Sonic 3D Blast (GEN) - Bonus Stage

I prefer the Sega Saturn and PC versions of the Sonic 3D Blast soundtrack over the Genesis one, as not only is the sound richer on Saturn and PC, but the melodies are different as well. However, I do like a good deal of the songs on the Genesis soundtrack as well. As I've already shared the bonus stage theme for the Saturn/PC version of Sonic 3D Blast, here is the theme for the Genesis game. Certainly not as jazzy and uptempo as the Saturn/PC build, but this version offers something unique and special as well.

v1510. Sonic Generations (Multi) - Collection Room (Door into Summer)

Door into Summer is a song that plays in one of the earliest zones in the 32X-exclusive Knuckles Chaotix. While the original version uses all synth, this remade version takes my favorite song from Chaotix and makes it even more pleasing to my ears with a sensational violin providing the main melody. Sonic Generations ties with Sonic Colors as my favorite all-time 3D Sonic games, so if 3D Sonic had to fall in quality (again), at least it did so before those two games came out.

Happy Halloween: Spooky Levels in Non-Horror Video Games

Happy Halloween to all readers regular and passersby here at SuperPhillip Central! May your day be full of terror-ific fun! Man, I'm using puns as bad as the Cryptkeeper here! Nonetheless, it wouldn't be Halloween on SuperPhillip Central without some special article, and what better way to bring this haunted holiday than with a collection of some of my favorite spooky levels from video games. However, it'd be way too easy to mention those twisted locales from horror games, so we're going to take a look at some scary sights from non-horror video games. This list is hardly all of my favorites, so for some others, I guess we'll just have to wait until next Halloween!

Ghost Houses - Super Mario World

Super Mario World introduced a lot of new concepts to the world of Mario. From Yoshi to secret exits in levels to a new level type: ghost houses. The various ghost houses in Super Mario World are usually the most fiendish levels in the game. The enemies are usually impossible to keep down or even defeat for that matter, and if the enemies don't do you in, the multitude of fake doors leading to areas you've already been will play with your mind. The exits to these ghost houses are usually found through some type of puzzle, not quite like the normal levels where you can just run from one end of the level to the other. Some ghost houses are even home to the behemoth Big Boo, which makes for a rather exciting boss fight against someone other than Bowser or his Koopalings.

Twisted Mansion - Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

I was mulling over which spooky race in Mario Kart I would have represent the series on this list. It was between this pick and Luigi's Mansion from Mario Kart DS and again in Mario Kart 7 as a retro race. However, Luigi's Mansion will be represented next, albeit in a different game series. Regardless, Twisted Mansion takes place under cloudy skies in a mysterious mansion where the track starts by driving through the entrance. After a split consisting of two parallel undulating pathways, a left U-turn curve is made. A shortcut that cuts off this curve is available to those with a Mushroom, jetting them through a tunnel full of bookshelves. Either way, you end up going underwater in a submerged basement filled with ultimately harmless but gruesome all the same fish made of nothing but bone. After escaping this damp dungeon, you glide over an outdoor fountain, ride up some steps on a slight curve and head towards the finish line, attempting to avoid a trio of statues that wish to pound you into pudding. Twisted Mansion has the look of a scary course, and it's just an overall fun haunt to race around on.

Luigi's Mansion - Luigi's Mansion (GCN)

Not only is Luigi's Mansion the star of the game of the same name (besides Luigi, of course), but it's also its own character really as well. The entire game takes place in and around the grounds of the mansion. The mansion only allows Luigi to explore a small amount of rooms at first, investigating them with his trusty Poltergust. Through gaining keys from solving simple to complex puzzles and taking on bosses, Luigi gains access to larger parts of the mansion. The environments of Luigi's Mansion are teeming with personality and ambiance, providing the character of the mansion that I talked about earlier. While the game is hardly scary at all, this ambiance gives the entire mansion an endearingly haunted charm.

Mad Monster Mansion - Banjo-Kazooie (N64, XBLA)

From one mansion to another, a late level in Banjo-Kazooie, which just so happens to remain my favorite 3D collect-a-thon-style platformer around, Mad Monster Mansion is a sprawling but dense level set under a midnight sky. Full of skeleton enemies, ghosts, and tricky bats, Mad Monster Mansion also contains lots of unique landmarks. The mansion itself rests in the center of the level, as the main point of interest. Banjo and Kazooie can even explore many of its rooms through smashing through windows. To the mansion's west is a shrub maze where ghoulish ghosts make their home, while to the north of that is an old cathedral where a ghostly hand tickles the ivories of a massive church organ. It's a haunted level full of tricks and treats, Mad Monster Mansion is a favorite spooky level of mine.

Haukke Manor - Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Multi)

There's nothing like a good story and background on a spooky setting to send chills down one's spine. The story behind Haukke Manor is one of a vain woman who desired to keep her beauty no matter what. It started with simple creams and tinctures, but when that wasn't enough, the woman started using the blood of her servants. Eventually she signed away her soul for eternal beauty, and her damned spirit still roams the halls of Haukke Manor. The manor itself is dripping with creepy atmosphere, and the battle encounters players find themselves participating in whether intentionally or not takes them fighting a myriad of macabre foes, including the vain woman of legend herself.

Pumpkin Hill - Sonic Adventure 2 (Multi)

The first level that players assume control of Knuckles during the Hero side of Sonic Adventure 2's dual-story setup, Pumpkin Hill is littered with the titular produce whether it's small pumpkins or massive-sized pumpkin structures strewn about in the horizon. Alongside the pumpkins are other spooky sights, such as villainous ghost enemies, gravestones, and skeletons. The goal of Knuckles' levels is to find three emerald shards hidden in different locations. Each time you play, the locations are switched up. But Knuckles ain't gonna let it get to him, as he's just gonna creep. Why let me say it, when you can hear it and see a jaunty little dance simultaneously?

Hang Castle - Sonic Heroes (PS2, GCN, XBX)

A less notorious pick from the Sonic the Hedgehog series than Sonic Adventure 2's Pumpkin Hill, due to a massive lack of memes and Knuckles raps, Hang Castle is a level in the second half of Sonic Heroes. It features Gothic-style architecture, crazy loops, and a foreboding sky. However, that isn't the main draw of this level. You see, Hang Castle has a rather clever mechanic to it. At different points in the level, Hang Castle becomes inverted, so the sky is now below Sonic and friends' feet and platforms that couldn't be accessed before can now be walked on. It's a wonderfully ingenious idea for a Sonic level, pending you can stomach Sonic Heroes long enough to reach it.

Shade Man's Stage - Mega Man 7 (SNES)

Let's go retro for this final example of a spooky level from a non-horror genre video game with Shade Man's stage from Mega Man 7, an often underrated entry in the series. Shade Man's stage feels very much like it escaped from Capcom's own Ghost 'n Goblins series, which is pretty coincidental that you can actually input a code before entering the level to hear the famous Ghost 'n Goblins theme instead of the stage's normal song. Regardless, you get robotic zombies rising from the ground and out of standing coffins, bats that awaken and fly downward in the Blue Bomber's path, and dangerous obstacles like platforms that smash downward, not inflicting instant death, but lots of pain instead. The midboss, a robotic pumpkin, holds the secret to two different alternate paths in the level, depending on where you inflict the final shot on it. From exploring the outside cemetery to entering the manic mansion, Shade Man's stage is highly memorable, probably the most memorable stage in Mega Man 7's decidedly impressive collection of levels.