Keen Bean

I used to be a huge fan of the comics. I started right at the Endgame saga and pretty much had every issue, including specials, up until 75. My first comic was actually the Knuckles Dark Legion mini series, and I collected all of those until 29 (almost completed the set, haha). So I have several in decent shape from that era.

I hadn't even paid attention to the comics until just before the Genesis saga came out, and I found myself wondering what has happened since then. I have been able to find summaries and issues online to get caught up, and then decided I would start collecting again, just for fun. I now have a few recent and some of the very early issues thanks to eBay.

So what all issues do you have, and do you still collect?

I'm interested in seeing all of your opinions on the various styles of Sonic gameplay over the past 20 years, especially those who have played all or most of the games. This is mostly considering Sonic for all the games:

Classic - Your original gameplay style that launched Sonic to where he is now. Used on the classic Genesis titles and was almost 100% 2D (minus some special stages). Known for it's great momentum-based physics and SPEED.

Dreamcast - Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 are also praised for their style by taking the 2D elements and did a good job moving in to 3D. As Sonic, you kept the speed but also had an ability to explore with very fluid controls. The "Adventure" style continued with Sonic Heroes and ended on a sour note in Sonic 2006.

Modern - The game is very focused on SPEED, but the ability to explore the environments is reduced. Sonic is no longer made for the precise "slow speed" platforming parts, but for going fast and the player's quick reflexes. This began with Sonic and the Secret Rings that was very linear and felt more like a racing game. Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors added 2D sections to help bring back the original gameplay, doing a pretty nice job overall but still having that "racing game" feel for a lot of the 3D sections. Finally, Sonic Generations added a bit more platforming and freedom to move around a bit while still keeping that GO FAST feel and also adding the pure 2D gameplay in a revamped version of the classic style gameplay.

Other - Sonic 3D Blast does not play like a Sonic game, and pure Sonic fans were disappointed. I still enjoyed it as a regular action/adventure game with very good graphics for its time. Sonic 4 is quite different from the classic gameplay with the added homing attack and a lot of criticism for its poor momentum. and feel. Does keep a focus on platforming much like the classics did, but was different enough for me to put it here. I put the "classic Sonic" from Sonic Generations here as well since it is just different enough from the original classics to get its own style. This also includes games like Sonic Advance and Sonic Rush (Advance is very close to the classic gameplay, and the Rush games add boosting).

MY THOUGHTS:

1st - Classic - I still enjoy playing the original Genesis titles and "Sonic 3 and Knuckles" will probably remain as my favorite game of all time. There is just enough balance of speed with platforming. I felt like I was 100% in control of Sonic no matter what was going on, maybe this was due to how much I played it as a kid. The classic style is my favorite, but just barely over...

2nd - Dreamcast - I loved the control of Sonic in the Adventure gamess. You had tight controls and could take advantage of the speed dash to put together some amazing speed runs through levels (especially in Sonic Adventure). I remember getting such a good feel for the game, I could time mixtures of the spindash with a jump and homing attack to land Sonic EXACTLY where I wanted. I am also a huge fan of the adventure field which really added to the exploration aspect. SA2 kept a lot of that and continued to allow you to explore in levels, but took out the adventure field. Sonic Heroes (just considering Sonic) was very similar, but Sonic 2006 had a "clunky" feel to it. Still, you were allowed to explore and still hit high speeds at times. The first "Modern" gameplay may have appeared here with the "Mach speed" sections. Despite some flaws, the Dreamcast style is almost tied with my love for the Classic style because it still had some great speed sections, good platforming, and allowed you a lot of control to explore.

3rd - Although I enjoyed games like Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors, I am not a big fan of the 3D sections almost "forcing" you to go super fast and never look back. Maybe this is because I was use to the classic/dreamcast feel where if you missed something it was usually no problem to go back, but it just felt... different. Some of them are fantastic, boosting through Chun-nan on the "Great Wall" can give you a thrill for sure, but I just didn't think it was as good as it could be. The 2D sections were done pretty well though. Sonic Generations, to me, has almost fixed the "linear feel" of the 3D sections. You still have the super fast, "boost to win" parts, but I felt like a had a bit more control of Sonic in the 3D parts, a very noticeable difference from the other Modern games. The game was made for you to go fast, but also gave you decent controls when you are having to jump around a lot or something like that. Now, it's not a bad gameplay, I like it in its own way, but its just not my favorite. I am very glad that it appears to be getting better as well.

Other - I really don't have an issue with the controls from Sonic 3D Blast, it's just a different style of game. I like the Sonic 4 controls as well, and once you get use to the somewhat wacky physics at times (several examples on YouTube) it's not bad. I did find Classic Sonic from Sonic Generations at times a bit frustrating, but once again once you get a good feel for that style of gameplay you get use to it. I feel just a small tweak or two would make the Classic Sonic gameplay perfect. Sonic Advance and Rush were also both very enjoyable.

So that's my take on the gameplay styles. I would love to see a combination of the Modern/Dreamcast styles that gives me the freedom and tight control like in Sonic Adventure, but also gives me the speed like in Sonic Unleashed/Generations. Sure that's easier said than done, but from Sonic and the Secret Rings, to Unleashed, and to Generations it looks like that is where it is heading. I have also heard that Sonic Team is looking for the "new Sonic" gameplay in 2012...

Somebody just got a hold of issue 231 and has uploaded it to YouTube for us.

Here it is:

[EDIT - Just go to YouTube and search "Sonic 231, by date" and you'll probably find it very easily.]

[Temporarily Removed]

I ran across this today and thought I'd go ahead and share it here. Somebody at BumbleKing posted a complete summary of what happens in 230, along with a few pictures from the issue.

WARNING, THIS WILL COMPLETELY SPOIL ISSUE 230.



1.The issue begins with Sonic floating in a white void as the world begins to regain its true form. As he recaps the events of Genesis, he remembers that the reason he chaos controlled the world back was to have more time to save Sally.
2.The world truly regains its true form as Sonic finds himself in the Death Egg fighting Silver Sonic again.
3.He spins into Silver Sonic, throwing him for a loop, and speeds after Sally just as she is about to enter her fatal corridor.
4.He grabs her and speeds down the corridor, taking her by surprise. Silver Sonic pursues him.
5."Sonic! We're out of time! We've got toooo-OOP!"
6."Way ahead of you, Sal!"
7.They come to the very turret that once doomed Sally.
8."Sonic! There's a--!"
9."Just like I said..."
10.He speeds around the turret, leaving it to fire on Silver Sonic instead of Sally.
11."...way ahead of you, Sal."
12.Sally is a bit frazzled.
13."What's the matter? Too much awesome condensed into one moment?"
14."...no, it's...it's not that..."
15.She looks at the computer display on one of the corridor's walls to find the words "Hi Sal" written instead of numbers or data.
16."...it's nothing. Keep moving."
17.Elsewhere, Eggman has just pressed the reset button only for nothing to happen.
18."WHY ISN'T IT WORKING? SNIVELY! Why isn't the cosmic reset button resetting the cosmos?"
19."I-I-I don't know, sir! I'm not reading any problems! It's just...not working?"
20.Eggman is enraged.
21."RRRAGRAGARGRGRGARGGH! How am I supposed to robotize a completely helpless and rebooted world if it's not helplessly rebooted?!"
22."D-Don't you mean "Roboticized," sir?"
23."SHUT IT! I was so close! And then that stupid Hedgehog...!"
24.He realizes something.
25."...Hedgehog..."
26.He regains his calm demeanor.
27."Of course. The chaos is the constant. I remember now. Stupid golden rodent."
28.He heads to his Egg Mobile.
29."The day is not lost! Snively! What's the status of stage 2?"
30."Primed and...and ready to fire, sir. But Sonic and the Princess are on their way down to the..."
31."Not to worry, Snively. There's no way they can stop me this time."
32.Eggman leaves.
33.Elsewhere, Sonic and Sally are in a room with a large computer console.
34.Sally finds that most of the Death Egg's power is being redirected to the deck below. She asks Nicole if she had any idea what it is, but Nicole says that she couldn't get much information with Eggman's security systems in place.
35.Nicole says that she'll need more time to find out what's below the deck, but Sally says that that's the one thing they don't have and that they'll just have to go down and see for themselves.
36.She opens an elevator down to the deck below, but Sonic stops her.
37."Hold it! Hidden cannon inspection!"
38.He searches the elevator for traps and comes out when he can't find any.
39.Sally thinks to herself.
40."...Hidden cannon..."
41."Yeah. Like the one in the hall...why?"
42.Sally straightens her vest and heads into the elevator.
43."Just pre-mission jitters. I'm fine."
44."If you say so..."
45.The two enter the elevator and exit to the deck below to find a huge machine in the middle of a room.
46."Yowza!"
47."That looks like a giant roboticizer!"
48.Eggman lowers from the top of the room in his Egg Mobile, slowly clapping.
49."A WORLD roboticizer, to be precise."
50.Sonic begins laughing at Eggman.
51."PSSSSSSSSSSSSHT! HA HA HA HA HA! And here I thought we had something to worry about! You remember those aliens that snagged us a while back? When they deroboticized everyone, they made sure it was for keeps!"
52."Yes, yes. Those troublesome Bem. They re-wrote the rules of the game. But I changed them BACK. Surely you noticed the flash of light? The momentary disorientation? That was just phase one!"
53."You're bluffing."
54."Everything DID reset...right...?"
55."I heard that. Regardless, do you recall, dear Princess, what happens when you try to roboticize something that's ALREADY mechanical?"
56.Sonic is confused.
57."What's he talking about?"
58."When I tricked him into roboticizing my auto automaton double. Oh, no..."
59.Sally gets a grim look on her face.
60."THAT'S RIGHT! It explodes! All of G.U.N.'s forces! All of the united federation blown back to the stone age. HA HA HA HA HA!"
61.Eggman motions to a video screen showing New Mobotropolis.
62."And let's not forget New Mobotropolis! There goes your precious nanite-made city!"
63.Sonic and Sally ponder the grim outcomes.
64."...Dad..."
65."Bunnie...and Nicole...!"
66."Okay, I take back the laughing."
67.Sally realizes something.
68."Wait! You'll destroy every chapter of your Dark Egg Legion!"
69."What's your point? I'll have millions of robot slaves to rebuild my robot army. Besides...you can't man an omelet without breaking a few Dark Egg Legionnaires."
70.Sonic jumps into action.
71."I never should've shown you a shred of mercy, you sick--!"
72.Metal Sonic appears and slams into Sonic, stopping him from harming Eggman.
73."Ah-ah-ah! Language, rodent!"
74."Hrk! Okay! I'm officially getting tired of Metal Sonics!"
75.He kicks Metal Sonic away.
76."I don't really have time to mess with--"
77.A damaged Silver Sonic appears behind him.
78."--you."
79.Sonic battles the two while Eggman looks on.
80."HA HA HA! Having trouble, rodent? No words of encouragement, Prin--? Blast it! Where did she go?!"
81.Eggman unleashes several weapons from within his Egg Mobile as he searches for Sally.
82."I'll tolerate the Hedgehog causing problems. That's just a fact of life. But YOU aren't allowed to interfere with--"
83.Suddenly, Sonic spins into the Egg Mobile, causing Eggman to fly out of it.
84."I know you've got a plan, Sal! I'll try to keep these guys busy while you save the day!"
85.Elsewhere, Sally is under one of the floor tiles in the room just out of Eggman's sight.
86.Sally asks Nicole if she's patched into the network and Nicole says that she is, but Eggman's security is still to strong to break without time.
87."We have minutes. Can we block the command signal? Confuse start-up processes?"
88."No. I am locked out, and it is ready to fire. I could potentially INVERT the beam, to this EXACT POINT, but..."
89."Do it."
90."But you will not be immune..."
91."Make sure your core programs are safe at home. Just give me a manual executable."
92."But you will be..."
93."Nicole, I've been given a second chance. I can save everyone with that. Please...I can't do this without you."
94.Elsewhere, Sonic is covered by the artificial Sonics.
95."Sal...! If you're gonna do something, do it now!"
96."No more set-backs! Snively! Fire the world roboticizer!"
97.Nicole downloads her core program to the New Mobotropolis server and leaves the execute program for Sally to manually activate. She also leaves the message "Good-bye, my friend."
98.Sally draws a tear, remembers her and Sonic's kiss from StH #50, and presses the button.
99."Good-Bye..."
100.Sonic, Silver Sonic, and Metal Sonic look on in awe as the world roboticizer begins to glow and summons a harsh, blinding wave of light.
101.The World Roboticizer begins to take effect on Metal Sonic, Silver Sonic, and the roboticizer itself, as they begin to explode.
102."NO! NO!!!!"
103.Elsewhere, Tails sees the Death Egg's explosion and flies towards it.
104."Sweet! Sonic and Sally must've done something!"
105.Back at the rubble that was once the room they were in, Snively contacts Eggman.
106."*KZZZT!* You read me, sir?! *KZZT!* There *KZZT!* massive energy leaks in all systems! The roboticizer isn't just off-line--It's gone! *KZZT!* All other systems are still online. No loss in altitude *KZZT!* and the power ring matrix is holding. Barely."
107.Eggman climbs out from under the rubble.
108."I guess the old immunity wasn't reset after all. Oh, please...please tell me that finished him off."
109.Sonic falls into the rubble beside him.
110."No. Of course not."
111.Sonic gets to his feet and presents Eggman with Metal's severed head.
112."Hey, look. We win again."
113.Eggman has completely lost his patience. He grabs a sharp pipe and points it at Sonic.
114."Not...yet! You're still...you're still on my turf, rodent...and...and..."
115.Sonic spins into him, leaving him barely conscious on the floor.
116."Dude, come on. We win. I'm gonna find Sally. Then we're destroying your dumb egg. Then I'm stomping on Naugus. And then the two of you can rot in a cell. And then I'm gonna eat a million chili dogs. And then..."
117.Suddenly, an imposing metal fist rises from the rubble behind Sonic.
118.Sonic looks on in horror while Eggman looks pleased as punch.
119."...oh, no, oh, no, oh, no, NO!"
120."Ah...ah-ha! Ha-Ha-Ha! HAHAHAHA!"
121.The story ends with the metal fist being revealed to belong to the newborn Mecha Sally.
122."Hedgehog. Priority one."
123.The Generations story is basically the intro with a part added to the end. Friends surprise Sonic with a Birthday party, Time Eater sucks everyone up, Sonic wakes up in a white space, finds a portal to Green Hill, rushes into it, and the story ends with Classic Sonic looking at him as he jumps into the portal. There's no interaction between the two.
124.Also, there's a hilarious off-panel strip where Metal Sonic proposes to Mecha Sally and Eggman marries them off, warranting Sonic to want the universe reset again.


Plus, here are some spoiler-tastic images:

http://i113.photobuc.../HNI_0012-1.jpg
http://i113.photobuc.../HNI_0013-1.jpg
http://i113.photobuc.../HNI_0014-1.jpg
http://i113.photobuc.../HNI_0015-1.jpg
http://i113.photobuc...45/HNI_0017.jpg