A Journey Through Sonic Clones & Rip-Offs

[@gillythekid]

Check out Displate here or use discount code "GILLY"! displate.com/?art=656629f3a3fc6

[@SlayerForces]

1:01 years

[@rcmero]

Timestamps for your convenience: 2:39 Socket / Time Dominator 7:30 Awesome Possum 12:18 Jazz Jackrabbit series 17:00 Freedom Planet 22:32 Freedom Planet 2 27:30 Spark the Electric Jester 31:38 Spark the Electric Jester 2 36:34 Spark the Electric Jester 3

[@undertaleislife7210]

Thank you :)

[@GermanPeter]

Hey Gilly, good video, just some feedback for the future: when you talk about audio, especially voice acting, you gotta actually show some of it. I'd love to have listened to a few examples of the "over-acting" or the "cheap mics", but I'd have to look at a longplay of the game of that, but I'm here for YOUR video. You did show an example of the annoying alarm in an earlier game, so this stands out a bit.

[@HeadPats4Peter]

20:54 - 21:07 where them Freedom Planet 1 speedrunners at? show this man the speed techniques Milla has!

[@TwilightTheCabbit]

It's a shame the first Spark game didn't really catch your attention all that much. The ending is absolutely bonkers. Like, not even kidding, the ending turns into a full on anime Super Sonic final boss battle with butt rock playing in the background and it is great. Complete with a fully animated intro showing off Spark's transformation into Not-Super Sonic. And after beating the game, you get a second scenario where you play as Fark so Spark 2 isn't even the first time you play as him. Even the boss fight music for Spark 2 is in Spark 1 for special bosses that only Fark fights during his campaign.

[@Blueflag04]

And you also unlock the ability to use any weapons at any moment too

[@paxhumana2015]

Butt rock is better than most music that plays, not just in video games, but also in society...change my mind.

[@TwilightTheCabbit]

@@paxhumana2015 I mean, you're not wrong. No mind needs to be changed here.

[@ThisIsCSDX]

I forget if I heard this from the GalaxyTrail Discord server or wherever, but apparently Freedom Planet 2 has such a massive difference in looks because they wanted to distance the series from the Sonic comparisons.

[@MythicMachina]

I can see that. Honestly, I like it more. The new style really leans into the Asian influence and it makes the world feel so unique

[@KrimsonKattYT]

It's a shame you never talked about the stories in Freedom Planet or Spark. They're some of the most notable things about those games. Freedom Planet less so, especially since I know almost nothing about the second game, but the first game had a solid plot with suprisingly decent voice acting. The story in Freedom Planet really doesn't deserve the hate. Platformers can be story driven too! And Spark's story... hoo boy. While the second game is just your average "darker" Sonic plot like SA2, Shadow, 06, Black Knight, or Frontiers, the third game GOES HARD with its insane plot reveals in the endgame. The story literally goes straight into Evangelion-tier existentialist horror with god-like animation with a shocking final stage that pushes EVERYTHING that you learned in all three games to its absolute limit. That's not even to mention the final level's main gimmick. You know those random seemingly useless "Spark Tokens" you've been collecting for the entire game? And how the game doesn't have a lives system and instead uses a more modern "reset" system for difficulty with infinite lives? Well, the final level DOES have lives, and the lives you are given to clear this one 45+ minute long final stage and an hour long endgame boss and cutscene gauntlet are based on the tokens you've been collecting. And what happens if you run out of lives? YOUR SAVE FILE IS DELETED. Straight up crazy, the second coming of ZeroRanger's final gimmick. I won't spoil the final twist, but please, play the Spark games and especially Spark 3. You will not be disappointed.

[@madengineerkyouma]

The final twist in Spark 3 is truly something special just because how it basically comes out of nowhere but at the same time makes perfect sense, specially after that final level, considering the nature of Clarity. Also the final few scenes are full of that over the top cheesy charm that the Sonic Adventure games had.

[@MythicMachina]

I've beaten Freedom Planet 2 multiple times and the story is way better than the first. The first game was really inconsistent with it's tone, but the second game feels a lot more cohesive. Not to mention the main villain is really compelling, espeically when you get the true ending.

[@gangstasonic97573]

The Freedom Planet games have some amazing worldbuilding, characters and ideas in them, but in my opinion, they aren’t used to their full potential.

[@Blueflag04]

So glad someone mention zero ranger too. That game is amazing

[@KrimsonKattYT]

@@Blueflag04 Agreed. Best smump of all time.

[@thedeadpoolwhochuckles.6852]

Millas little floating animation is adorable.

[@MythicMachina]

Millia is adorable!

[@madengineerkyouma]

Yay, Spark the Electric Jester, my favorite Sonic-inspired franchise

[@keeganmcfarland7507]

Me too! Can't wait to play Spark The Electric Jester franchise on the Steamdeck (Oled 1 TB model)!

[@exocolt15]

Literally never even hear of it before this for some reason

[@madengineerkyouma]

@@exocolt15 Sadly it's not as well known as it deserves. And even so, it's not as obscure as other great indie platformers, such as Curse Crackers.

[@philliprosewood7049]

Does anyone know where I can download spark 2 and 3 if anyone knows if I have to pay for it or if it's free I'd appreciate it?.

[@Blueflag04]

​@@philliprosewood7049its on steam, very cheap too

[@crummylion]

This is more of a Wario Land clone, but Pizza Tower honestly scratched my Sonic itch. Looking forward to that Wario Land clone video next, lol

[@rainbowsylvie16]

Are there more than 4 wariolikes though

[@Mewsword]

Thats not a clone, its inspired. Its a completely diffrent thing

[@crummylion]

@Mewsword I loved the game, I'd even go so far as say it was my goty, but it's clearly just as inspired as the other fan games.

[@paxhumana2015]

Freedom Planet 1 and 2 were not Sonic clones, nor were they Sonic rip offs, for, in fact, they were actually, as well as originally, fan made Sonic side story games. Thankfully, they ended up being able to become a successful franchise of their own.

[@HamiltonAppiah]

because they had a franchise even though their games are not original when the mascots of the 90s such as: Rocky Rodent, Pulsenman, Plok, Mr Nutz, Ristar, Wonder Dog, Wild Woody, Cool Spot, Chester Cheetah, Zool, Billy Hatchet, Alex Kidd and Decap Attack aren't back? the thing is that they are then considered clones and rip-offs of sonic just like this rubbish video has shown us, and then sonic fans think so much about sonic that they only know how to create his games for him and not for the others, ugh why Am I the only one who wants to pray for their return?!!

[@Blotling360]

I saw Jazz Jackrabbit on the thumbnail and was immediately hooked. I love Jazz

[@steftendo]

Spark 3 is outstanding! It feels like a true Sonic Adventure game we needed after all these years. I'm hoping they bring it to console someday

[@keeganmcfarland7507]

Me too

[@Leightonlaser1]

Yea.... but the plots all over the place and is hard to follow

[@shu7429]

​@@Leightonlaser1And the sonic adventure plot isn't lmao? I find Spark's stories goofy but charming tbh

[@maxenswlfr1877]

​@@shu7429sonic adventure isn't that confusing Sa2 is more confusing but mostly because you need to explain the past all the time

[@shu7429]

@@maxenswlfr1877 I don't think either are hard to follow but they are definitely all over the place in a similar way the stories in spark are

[@CorbinLeonard-rp4et]

I going to make a game that has a turtle has a main character and you can jump on enemies and kill him and you can punch the enemies and kill them

[@triledink]

I played freedom planet 1 around 2015 for the first time and the main thing that made me want to play it was it had unique combat moves for the characters, the soundtrack and some of the levels are top teir for a sonic style game.

[@yuurou7927]

I loved Jazz 2 as a kid and I never know what Jazz 1 looked like.

[@plasmantix]

This video is so amazing! Also appreciate reviewing Spark the Electric Jester.

[@IMGUMII]

Jazz jackrabbit 2 is my childhood. I loved it so much. Such a shame Epic hadn't brought it back in some form.

[@jaborsey_joseph]

Fun Fact: the guy who voiced Dr. Machino also voices Plankton in Spongebob.

[@WillieManga]

Holy crap, Doug Lawrence?? Hmm, not a bad choice, not gonna lie.

[@FoxMan_FF]

Socket is very much a middle-of-the-road game, something that's par for the course for Vic Tokai as a whole. I'll tell you what, though- its soundtrack is phenomenal. Some underrated gems in there, for sure. Also I will never think of Awesome Possum without thinking of the legendary Fat Mann review of the game. That video is well over a decade old now and I can still quote chunks of it to this day.

[@Lpoeser]

"I'm awesome!" "And I'm an Abercrombie and Fitch model!"

[@FoxMan_FF]

"AMAZING how all the animals seem to have _perfect white teeth,_ don't you think? The wolf looks like he just took a piss, the leopard's got a hard-on for Possum, and the monkey's doing the right thing by laughing at you for playing this piece of shit!" God, I miss the Fat Mann.

[@OmarAlikaj]

Man, I wish Epic didn't drop the ball with Jazz Jackrabbit. I liked the second game, and the cancelled 3D game looked like it'd do well with auto aiming. Heck, even now on modern systems. Maybe one day, they'll bring him back. (Less said about the Gameboy Advance reboot though, the better.)

[@CrowTRobot]

The OST for Jazz 3 slaps.

[@charlesman8722]

Hey! We respect Jazz jackrabbit in this house!

[@DanielLopes-dh2hv]

3:06 So sonic copied dragon ball and then dragon ball copied Socket

[@CrispyLilGuy]

Oh boy Gilly talking about Sonic related things is certainly a treat! 😁

[@exocolt15]

Same feeling as Antdude talking Kirby imo

[@Blueflag04]

Same as Caddy talking about Crash series

[@TheTaleofJimmyguy]

​@@Blueflag04cash banooca?

[@hayleywaalen2612]

Looks like Sonic has a bunch of people to race in a marathon.

[@gothnerd887]

To people who say "I don't like Freedom Planet" I say "may I offer you Spark The Electric Jester as an alternative?"

[@madengineerkyouma]

Interestingly, I love Freedom Planet but I don't like Freedom Planet 2, and I love all Spark games.

[@MythicMachina]

​@@madengineerkyoumaI'm on the opposite. I don't care for Freedom Planet 1 very much, but I ADORE the sequel!

[@maccamachine]

Wow perfect timing for a video I’ve been replaying a lot of sonic games recently so this is great

[@HurricaneSparky]

For FP2's character playstyles: I'd say Lilac is the only one that really played the same. Carol got a MASSIVE (and very much needed overhaul) to her motorcycle, as well as her ground gameplay. I ended up playing most of the game off the bike, and I couldn't even finish half of her playthrough in FP1. Milla's kit is more versatile now, and she can actually beat Lilac's times in some levels due to her how mechanics work. Currently working on Milla as my last playthrough, and all of the characters have noticeable advantages and disadvantages against various bosses and levels. I didn't really teach myself to get good at the Guard mechanic until Carol's story, so Lilac ended up being the hardest playthrough by a mile. (I also cleared the game pre-nerf, including Weapons Core with her via an accidental glitch lol.) One thing I'd like to mention is that FP2 has a huge internal supporting for challenge and speedrunning gameplay via the Brave Stones, ranks, and achievements. It's pretty wild how fast people can get some of the levels.

[@scottnotpilgrim]

Oh God, I remember Awesome Possum, thanks for dragging that memory out of me

[@tcwtfln_yt]

Came for Sonic, Stayed for the Smurfs Ad

[@brianplaysgarbage]

A video with ripoff in the title and its not a crossover with the completionist? Massive L Gil

[@dragonwing1982]

Awesome was one of my favs

[@HamiltonAppiah]

Already! need to improve his game or have a series of comics, the game wasn't great just for the frames but I say the mascot brings a lot of beauty and charm in our eyes🐭♻️🚮🐝🦏🐟

[@OverratedGames]

ive been meaning to pick up spark 3, it looks amazing!

[@Skipatronic]

I'm gonna check out the Freedom Planet games. I've been looking for a retro inspired indie game to scratch the old school Sonic itch and that one resonated with me for some reason

[@hgarr]

Always good to see another youtuber with a good amount of subs spread the word about Freedom Planet 2! That game is Criminally overlooked for how amazing it is!

[@HamiltonAppiah]

dude but that is literally a perfect clone of sonic how can he not be criminally underrated and obscure?💀💀💀

[@luigifan2438]

Yo!! Freedom Planet and Freedom Planet 2 rock!!

[@gamet2004]

Yeah TimeDominator 1st (I refuse to call it "Socket") isn't as great as Sonic, but I like it a lot more than the blue hedgehog. The music in TD 1ST is so damn great!

[@NoahNCopeland]

26:38 why is out of place to have voice acting?

[@gillythekid]

Just in my opinion I personally think it looks kinda awkward having sprites talk, that’s all.

[@arkjag2991]

Hey man, just want to say I'm always happy to see you upload. Your videos are great. Interesting, well written, and well produced. Keep it up. ✌️

[@lowercaseandall4651]

Finnaly someone talks about freedom planet and freedom planet two!

[@MythicMachina]

I'm so glad Gilly liked Freedom Planet 2. I was kinda mixed on the first game, but I ADORE the secord game. I actually like it more than any of the Classic Sonic games. Also, it's a shame that it just flew under everyone's radar. But I guess years of silent development would do that. Besides gameplay, the story is also so much better. It's a lot more tonally consistent then the first game was, while still being really charming and compelling. The main villain, Merga, is also really good. When I got the true ending, I genuinely felt really bad for her. The only thing that isn't as good is the soundtrack. There's a couple stand out tracks, but overall not as good as I had hoped. I've been trying to get my freinds to buy this game for like almost a year now. So if you're reading this and are interested, but haven't picked it up, PLEASE do. The devs deserve so much better for this game.

[@LuxyX]

Freedom Planet is Sonic but good

[@SuperMetalyrics]

So glad you covered these, I kinda suspected there were clones, but never actually knew any except awesome possum and freedom planet

[@gonzalot.605]

Awesome video! Next time you should cover Banjo-Kazooie clones, like Yooka-Laylee or Ty the Tasmanian Tiger.

[@thomasverslycken2563]

27:42 true, spark the electric jester 1 is labeled as just playable on the deck, spark 1 is the first game i played on the deck & i for me it only lagged a little near the end of stage 3 right before the boss, as well as most of stage 8, but considering how much i played spark 1, it wasn't to bad for me & i could play fine with it I'd say that in desktop mode if you're having the game cover the whole screen but are not in full screen mode, it's even less of an issue

[@BasVoet]

I played an aweful lot of Jazz Jackrabbit 2. Loved the level editor, spent hours and hours on it!

[@TheJadeFist]

Freedom Planet had something that could honestly be incorporated into 2D sonic, and that is having combat, and enemies don't automatically damage you for touching them, they have attacks. It adds a fair amount of depth to the gameplay and the bosses that you just don't get in 2d Sonic games.

[@KittyKatty999]

You're not a TRUE Sonic clone, unless you had a *ROCKY TRANSITION to 3D*

[@JoseDorda]

Freedom Planet voice acting has interesting story because even though it rough (it was the first work of many of them), many of their voice actor grew to be well know in the gaming and anime voice acting industry, Dawn M. Bennet for example is had roles in My Hero Academia and her lates work was as Aegis in P3 Reloaded, then there is Alejandro Saab (Major Zhao's voice) that now has voices many characters in Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail, besides alves having a role in Persona 3 reload. Oh and the guy that voice the panda brothers also had roles in Zelda and other Nintendo games.

[@patyos2]

Freedom Planet and Freedom Planet 2 is Goat !!!

[@THECHRISAL3X]

Don’t forget about the Tiny Toon Adventures Genesis game!!!

[@andreanastacio9548]

Don`t know if this was intentional or not, but as a fellow metalhead who loves the classics, I really gotta take a second to appreciate the bit showcasing the collections for Iron Maiden, Ghost, Moorhead, and Judas Priest, during the displate ad. Never thought I`d be complimenting an ad read, but here we are.... Good stuff...

[@Blueflag04]

29:42 Thank you for saying Hydro City 38:46 also, the driving stages are taken from his other cancelled racing game

[@CrowTRobot]

I'm here for the Jazz love!!

[@CriticalCinemaOfficial]

Another great video! Love to see it

[@Snsy]

Freedom Planet is one of my favourite games ever and I've been really wanting to play the sequel ever since it came out, but they just keep delaying the console ports.

[@miahthorpatrick1013]

Wow, Gilly, you’re almost at 100 thousand subs!

[@Spacething7474]

41:21 what game was that?

[@minakoarisato1506]

Freedom planet

[@NSegaStuff]

it's Gilliam!

[@Snufflegrunt]

Came here for Jazz Jackrabbit, which is possibly the first game I ever played. In the context of what PC gaming was in the early-mid 90s, it was just about the fastest-moving game on the platform. Sure it hasn't aged well, but I think all it needs to be enjoyable now is a larger field of view - that'd allow you to see what's coming when you're moving fast.

[@ChrisHack150380]

How the hell did they get away with Socket? I’m amazed Segas lawyers didn’t come knocking.

[@HamiltonAppiah]

Freedom planet was supposed to be the victim of this matter, even if socket was too much like sonic the hedgehog due to the linear levels and the character's speed at least had many things that distinguished him from it such as: collecting lightning, giving electric kicks, having a coffin of electricity! it doesn't roll, it doesn't transform, it doesn't collect emeralds, and it doesn't have a 2-tailed assistant, instead freedom planet and literally sonic when you change the characters the levels and the plot of it: it rolls, it runs fast just like sonic! how come socket gets insulted and panned and spat on just because it looks like sonic even though that game doesn't steal so many elements of sonic and Freedom Planet gets praised like that by others getting 2 more fucking sequels even though that game is actually a real clone of sonic and socket 1 game?! THERE IS NO JUSTICE HERE!!!!😡😡😡

[@antoniomerette8393]

Spark the Electric Jester gives me Rayman vibes with how the first game was a 2d platformer, but then the sequel is 3D and is darker in tone

[@The_16_Bit_Dude]

I need mor rocket knight adventures in my life :(

[@DarkHeartTheEmo]

Just want to make a correction here, that driving stage in Spark 3 have nothing to do with Sonic, because the guy that make Spark was also making a racing game, he give up on that idea at the time I only get a demo that I play, but he pick the project again is doing that game right now, also saying that Spark isn't like Sonic is the best compliment you can give to him, he already make 3 Sonic games, he doesn't want to make fourth one with a different skin.

[@strain42]

When I think of Sonic "clones and rip offs" I definitely think of High Seas Havoc. You get to play as a Pirate Seal and the game has a lot of visual charm and good music. Honestly, for alot of people the biggest criticism for it was that people just thought it was too much like a Sonic game.

[@marinacosta8835]

YES! Jazz Jackrabbit! I loved that game but it seems no one else remembers it!

[@undertaleislife7210]

Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out that PETA was involved with that Awesome Possum game, I can smell their footprint on that game.

[@dynastylobster8957]

7:58 20 years after 1993 is 2013, not this year.

[@Stimmtso4]

I like how the text in the thumbnail is similar to Sonic & Knuckles

[@VideojugadorIrritado]

Keep making awesome videos like this and no defending a guy with a fraudulent charity next time.

[@Blankult]

Yeah that's kinda sad, but he's just defending his friend, Jirard is to blame for abusing the trust of his friends.

[@thomasverslycken2563]

Tbh, spark the electric jester 1 is for me personally not only my most favorite sonic inspired game, but my most favorite in general & i think it's not on consoles because of it's engine which is not so simple sonic worlds, a 0retty common engine for sonic & sonic.exe fangames

[@NSegaStuff]

take a shot every time he says "Sonic Adventure", or if you're even more reckless than that, every time he says "Sonic"

[@SonicPAJ]

Oh snap. Channel Pup actually got someone to pay for his editing services!

[@ApocalypticJoker]

aw man i had a jazz jackrabbit shareware floppy disk; i played those 2 or 3 levels so many times that i still have the layouts memorized lol

[@organicketchup5171]

I loved JJ2. I played the shareware demo over and over again as a kid.

[@seekertosecrets7618]

2:58 He's a time traveling Android duck. 27:29 I heard of this series, but never played it.

[@wadeyhyena1657]

I'll add a couple extra titles that weren't covered. Kamikaze Squirrel Aero the Acro-Bat Punky Skunk Bubsy the Bobcat Rocket Knight Blaze Wiz N' Liz Zool I don't count Wild Woody, Buck Bumble, Kao the Kangaroo, Croc or Gex in this category though.

[@matthewrease2376]

Were you using the correct OS for your Steam Deck or did you force Windows on it? That may be part of the recording/performance issues.

[@megspitzer9406]

You forgot Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure, which is a game for the Sega Genesis. It's also a Sonic clone, too.

[@SpaceManSpliffz]

damn spark 2 and 3 look swanky!!

[@z.s.7992]

The original sonic games were incredible too. Music too

[@genericfriend2568]

Freedom Planet 2's highs are incredibly high, but Freedom Planet 2's lows are Neera. She is the clunkiest mistake of a first playthrough somebody could pick. Her trap based combat soured my entire outlook on the game and turned it from "hey, this game's really pretty!" to "oh holy shit how am I even supposed to hit you?"

[@ineptznonz]

do you have a video or tweets explaining what you mean when you say you can't retain story information? I'm unsure what that means and want to know more

[@gillythekid]

I have ADHD lmao

[@ineptznonz]

@@gillythekid ?

[@Carna-200]

​@gillythekid i have it too, and i don't know what you mean, either tbh.

[@gillythekid]

@@Carna-200 I mean I have a hard time paying attention unless I’m hyper focused on something and I also have a bad short term memory, so retaining story details are difficult. Both of these are pretty common for ADHD.

[@ineptznonz]

@@gillythekid I didn't know everyone with ADHD had trouble with stories huh. I know a few friends with it that enjoy RPGs so it was a bit confusing to hear

[@liamthomas2032]

my mind was blown that Jazz Jackrabbit didn't pedate sonic. Maybe I'm just getting it confused with Commander Keen.

[@tristrapp]

Gil, pleeeeeeease play Jazz Jackrabbit 2. It plays so much better, and the music is god-tier.

[@TheMrSonicFan99]

Does anybody know the game that he was gonna put on the list but he said that he couldn't get it running in time for the video?

[@MrMegaManFan]

Thanks Gilly. Happy holidays!

[@Xx1SailorScoutxX]

Vic Tokai did Socket? Wow. The only games I've played from them were both of the Golgo 13 NES games

[@otaking3582]

Awesome Possum's framerate makes it look like an MS-DOS game, which is something that you seriously don't want with a Sonic clone.

[@HamiltonAppiah]

Like oscar

[@ArkVogel]

Jazz Jackrabbit was pretty much Sonic meets Duke Nukem. The OG Duke, not the 3D one.

[@lauraikoko]

i think we can all agree that ANY fast-paced platformer plays like sonic.

[@GuardianNewtonTurner]

A little sad you didn't mention Advent NEON. Though, it is just a demo.

[@ReficulDrakul]

Gilly, I've been loving your content since I found your band Vigils. You could be sponsorted by a toliet brush and I'd buy it XD

[@pink-a-palouza7888]

12:45 I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought back the rabbit for a skin for Fortnite😂😂😂 especially after this video gets super popular

[@TBoneTony]

There are some notable examples missing from this Sonic Clones video. Bubsy the Bobcat on the SNES was decent and took some parts of Sonic Platforming, but also had a few flaws that prevented Bubsy from being great. And the transition to 3D hit many of these games hard, Bubsy 3D was a fatal casualty of this.

[@HeinerGunnar]

Gilly did a whole separate video chronicling all Bubsy games

[@TBoneTony]

@@HeinerGunnar Thanks, I will need to check that out because I have seen a few here and there about Bubsy so I might have forgotten he already did that video.

[@MrPhantaze]

Freedom Planet is not sonic clone. Sure, it took a lot inspiration from Sonic, but ever noticed how much effort it has been put to sequel to look less Sonic rip-off?

[@BBHood217]

Dr. Machino's butt is a butt not worth kicking.

[@HamiltonAppiah]

it's worth it instead of being kicked!

[@andrewwright36]

Jazz the Jackrabbit was inspired by Bucky O' Hare

[@CaloBrown]

"Long time, no see."

[@thevirginmarty9738]

I've never heard of Socket and I've played every game available on Sega Channel. I actually liked Awesome Possum, but the jittery frame rate bothered me. If they remade this game with a better frame rate and added zooming, it could be a lot of fun.