History of Sonic The Hedgehog (Part 3) - Gaming Historian

Part 3 of Gaming Historian's history on Sonic the Hedgehog examines the "other" Genesis titles, as well as Sonic's miserable journey through the SEGA Saturn era.
Part 1: • History of Sonic The H...
Part 2: • History of Sonic The H...
Part 4: • History of Sonic The H...
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[@EmoRikki17]

"Sonic R the music was atrocious" Clearly SOMEONE didn't feel the sunshine and let it brighten up your day.

[@artemisentreri1103]

I LOVED this soundtrack!

[@SRTBadbrains90]

The Sonic R soundtrack is great

[@Demonskunk]

I don't understand why everyone hates sonic R's sound track, its one of my favorite albums ever.

[@kostalotamoney88]

ill take it u felt the sunshine? same

[@Demonskunk]

kostalotamoney88 it brightens up my day!

[@kostalotamoney88]

***** Don't you feel that sometimes that you need to run away from the haters of this song

[@LEXICON-DEVIL]

I don't know why everyone likes the Sonic CD songs their terribly out of place.

[@camgoodkicks]

This guy likes Gyro controls on star fox, don’t sweat it too bad. He’s a historian, not a critic

[@SkillJim]

Sonic R's music is amazing! The game is actually awesome too, and really iconic to me. I don't think you appreciated it when you first tried it and probably gave up. The tracks are extremely simple to learn after a few tries, and it's a pleasure to play.

[@sonickun95]

I guess that I'm one of the few people who fucking loves the Sonic R soundtrack. It's super catchy.

[@quarkerzakii5816]

What do you mean ''few''?

[@marksamazingchannelbymd9799]

Im part of the "few" people

[@wruzicka78]

WHAT!? The Music in Sonic R is the best part of that game! Blasphemy! (okay, it's very cheesy... but it's a guilty pleasure for me.)

[@digitalcasanova]

it's a guilty pleasure For me as well!

[@dipron-dppt134]

Put Deja Vu and Running In The 90's in Sonic R and it will be even more better. Not better. RADICAL

[@Opinwood]

yeah i was like 'wtf this music is good' lol

[@jaggs9000]

Yaaaasss same "Can u feel the sunshine"

[@maxvalluy9547]

TO-TA-LLY

[@mlb12041998]

Also I love the soundtrack of Sonic R it may not fit for a racing game but, Fuck it.

[@nmnm2007100]

I agree XD

[@LandonBalk]

My college professor Barry Blum worked on the music for Sonic Spinball! XD Awesome to see the story behind it.

[@MrBdalidlebit]

***** Some good music, especially Toxic Caves

[@johnsquarez6806]

Bdalidlebit Thomas but then there was the options screen...which was abysmal.

[@RainbowDash2237]

I liked the Sonic R music

[@oost_javeln]

Me 2 m8

[@RhythmGrizz]

Same. Norm cannot feel the sunshine.

[@Del_1208]

I dont because of creepypasta tails doll

[@grimmfandango832]

Late 90s Britpop, it was alright.

[@ALittleSnowFairySaga]

SUPER SONIC RACING!

[@MegaManNeo]

No love for Sonic R? Come on, I can't possibly be the only human on earth who likes this game :( Also, I loved both versions of the SCD soundtrack, both have their ups and downs.

[@davids2nddomain]

I found someone! I love it too. I got everything on it and did the final race as Super Sonic.

[@MegaManNeo]

Bighead910 High five, man! I even did a save file just with Super Sonic but without the Badniks to use him in races against his friends. The floppy disk with the save actually still lies inside the CD case :D

[@E5KAred]

There is sonic r for pc (Europ) and i got it :C becaus I dont know what it is. Sorry for bad englich, i'm from poland

[@ENunn]

I loved Sonic R!

[@KBird204]

I thought when he said 'it had quite the soundtrack', he was going to praise it! "Atrocious"?!! No way.

[@7ambris]

Man, I freaking loved the music from Sonic R.

[@marksamazingchannelbymd9799]

Same

[@Cyime]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Knuckles Choatix for the 32x it's very underrated 2D Sonic game which in my opinion should be made to download on modern systems.

[@thereinforcementshavearrive]

It is an amazing game isn’t it

[@Kirbymon8]

Even though I know all this already, the way you narrate just makes my heart thump. And the fact that I know what's coming makes me more eager for you to announce it! Great job!

[@sallytims6894]

Mean Bean Machine was an incredible game. My best memory of it is watching my mum absolutely destroy the 14th and 15th stages with massive combos. We had the game on the Sonic Compilation cart

[@user-td6gb6oc1y]

I thought the game was ok because of the difficulty. I could not pass level 3 AT ALL.

[@GandharKulkarni2000]

Sounds like a very cool mum

[@MonoManaR]

yea those big combos were the best part of the game so satisfying

[@driogon_streams]

I like the Sonic R music...

[@JaydenPixelsTV]

Me too

[@jju00]

Me three.

[@krmiistudios2479]

hey we have the same sur name

[@TheManoDestra]

My only comment would be where is Knuckles Chaotix? Not technically a Sonic game, but, definitely inside of the Sonic Genre.

[@rellarella0305]

Chadwyk Gaming - Playthroughs, How To's and More! Lol why?

[@fexhaitchiii6530]

Sonic cd is average at best. It's the easiest sonic game ever .

[@fexhaitchiii6530]

Plus the color scheme is atrocious

[@fexhaitchiii6530]

Idk why people love sonic cd . It fucking sucks

[@oost_javeln]

@@fexhaitchiii6530 if you probably tried playing you wouldnt h8 it m8

[@Clamper02]

I just don't understand why a lot of people do not like the music in Sonic R. I think the music in that game was some of the best music i have ever heard in a video game. It was like listening to the radio while i was playing.

[@TETSUSakura91]

Sonic Xtreme should've celebrated Sonic's 5th anniversary if it was never canceled.

[@Dragonrider1227]

I liked the Sonic R soundtrack *shrugs* It was the only thing about Sonic R I DID like

[@Azariachan]

I liked it too and it's rather annoying to hear people bitch about it all the time. To this day I still listen to Super Sonic Racing and Can You Feel The Sunshine and they're still awesome.

[@Dragonrider1227]

Azariachan Yeah, maybe it's a little bland compared to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack but hardly bad

[@thequeenofswords7230]

Dragonrider1227 Agree. Certainly not 'Atrocious', although it's probably worth considering the audience. As good as that music might sound to us, it is very J-pop and would probably be a bit difficult for an unfamiliar western audience.

[@Dragonrider1227]

Nicholas Scott probably. I didn't even know what J-pop was when I first heard the songs in this. I just thought it didn't sound bad

[@ccricers]

+Dragonrider1227 This genre is more specifically "Eurobeat" which is ironic for the name since Japan made it more popular.

[@MP-nq9ht]

Why do people do on sonic R's music so much? Its pretty good, and the game is good as well.

[@videosalpaso5323]

Also when you run you dont expect music about sunshines, its a racing game, not Steven Universe.

[@MP-nq9ht]

+Videos al paso You may be right, but just because the music is placed strangely that dosen't mean its bad, its the only original sonic game we got on the saturn, whereas the other ones were just ports of genesis games.

[@zaizen4359]

Just because you're running doesn't mean every song needs to be about speed. The music just needs to make you feel good, and preferably needs to be high energy.....I think Sonic R's soundtrack does both really well.

[@JustinEvitable80]

I love that most of the background music in this video is the music from the North American release of Sonic CD. I never can get enough of hearing the soundtrack.

[@icarus212001]

Sonic R's music is perfect, I don't wanna hear it.

[@The_Gamer_91]

It's a complete mess of trash for me.

[@tyleroni6209]

I thought it was pretty enjoyable, never understood why people hate lyrics in video games.

[@wyne_haus]

We don't wanna hear it either r

[@theluigifan1]

I think it’s great too but it’s out of place for a racing title

[@wyne_haus]

@Dom LS1 Cry about it lol Sonic has had one good game in a decade and it was a fucking Mega Drive rom hack slapped onto a disc.

[@17R3W]

Really worth watching in HD, Good job all around. So glad your back, can't wait for part 4!

[@NoelComiX]

Sonic R's soundtrack was awesome. Saturn was a success in Japan, and the syndicated Adventures of Sonic the Hedghog was much more entertaining than the Saturday Morning version.

[@LanIost]

ITS ABOUT TIME. I've been waiting for a new episode for what seems like forever =( Really though, I appreciate all the work (and any of the work) you put into these videos for us. My comment is to be taken lightly but if anything should be just another example of how much we love you.

[@CancunMimosa]

Sega's failure was always hardware that had no great catalog of 3rd party software, but it really shows with those Saturn 1st party Sonic games. Yuck. Need some pixel bleach now.

[@raedrahman6188]

bro, the genesis had great 3rd party titles.

[@zalmute423]

I have to respectfully disagree. I feel sonic 3 was vastly superior to sonic CD.

[@pferreira1983]

+Justin Jackson Sonic CD has one too many flaws to be considered a classic.

[@pferreira1983]

***** I always liked Sonic 2 the best.

[@zalmute423]

Sonic 2 was better than CD as well.

[@zalmute423]

I'll give it a try. I just recall my memories of Sonic CD being very trying at best. The past future didnt bug me but some of the level design and enemy placement got to me.

[@pferreira1983]

***** That I feel is one of it's flaws. The game is too slow and building up speed to travel in time is a nightmare.

[@vh9network]

The American music of Sonic CD is the best, those reviewers back in the 90s didn't know what the heck they were talking about. That's why today you hear mostly the American soundtrack played, even in this outro you played the Sonic CD theme, instead of the original BGM theme.

[@somethingsomething9008]

this review wasnet made in the 90s

[@kenm.a.d.7196]

I’ll overlook the Sonic R music slander LITERALLY just this once since this is such an old video

[@copyer9088]

He stands by it

[@kevincruz7958]

retroware tv: having a new intro every minute.

[@ZloolS]

I was literal playing Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine as I watched this video. Such a great game.

[@Lenciar]

Dreamcast imo is an amazing system!, I'm happy knowing I got to experience it, sonic adventure 1 & 2, words cannot describe how awesome those two games are!

[@bonnibelmara]

Great video as always. The Miami Dolphins helmet on Donkey Kong is sweet! haha

[@sanicyouth6540]

When it comes to Sonic 3D Blast all I can say is stick to playing Flicky, Marble Madness, or any of the Sonic games that are considered classics instead.

[@Lotus-Son]

Forever the original GAMING HISTORIAN. Forever the BEST. Derek, you're awesome, man (wherever you are), but Norman's the OG who created and lived by this name. Norm's king.

[@HereCumsTracer]

I know this is an unpopular opinion here, but the Sonic R soundtrack makes me want to stab my ears. I feel people like it solely based on nostalgia.

[@HereCumsTracer]

***** Point taken. I apologize if I came off too strong. Completely respect your opinion. :)

[@HighPriestFuneral]

MacMcMac Having never played the game, and with no nostalgia to speak of for it, I find the music to be a great and upbeat time. I enjoy that sort of music (it would have fit perfectly in DDR after all.)

[@infinitygames9317]

HighPriestFuneral MacMcMac I only like super sonic racing

[@msvhazard]

See you guys in a year! No but seriously. Glad to have you back Norman.

[@TheModernPainter]

Sega could've made a different Sonic game for the Sega Saturn

[@TheDeadman14]

Agreed. But they were way too focused on getting it out they just messed up instead of waiting.

[@TheModernPainter]

+Chris Shriver Yep. if they hadn't been...arguing, or better yet, if Yuji Naka didn't refuse to help make Sonic X-treme, everything would've been great and the Saturn wouldn't have been a failure.

[@TheDeadman14]

Well I think it's more than that. I believe more the issues of setting it up in America and taking more time in it and not rushing it or even think bout releasing that God for bid me 32X

[@TheModernPainter]

+Chris Shriver Yep. As Shigeru Miyameto once said, "A delayed game is eventually good, a bad game is bad forever".

[@TheNyanCompany]

+L.S.A *A rushed game not a bad game :3

[@JakeAndKyra]

3:49. When I heard that music I cried softly in the corner.

[@amymryan316]

On The SEGA Genesis Nowadays Sonic 3D Blast Is Fine!

[@ChaosAngelZero]

Well, Mean Bean Machine is just a re-skin of a Puyo Puyo game (I think it was 2), and there's another re-skin of the exact same game on SNES, I think it featured Kirby characters, so I wouldn't say it's "Sega's answer to Dr. Mario". The closest thing to a Dr. Mario rival, a Sega-exclusive puzzle game, would be Columns I guess.

[@vmanghise]

Didn't Sonic CD come out before Sonic and Knuckles?

[@deathjoker666]

Yeah.

[@jacksonpetryka2676]

and before Sonic 3

[@luckyblockwinner78akaroblo81]

Correct,sonic cd came after sonic 2

[@MasterFallenHero]

I think Sonic CD is the definitive sequel to Sonic. Speed was a built in reward to give players a new experience because they memorized levels. It wasn't a simple matter of "press right and win"

[@BiohazardEXTREME]

Shame you skipped over Knuckles Chaotix.

[@elusivelight3766]

Raising my hand for seeing this a decade later. 🙋‍♂️

[@DarkHypernova]

WHAT THE FUCK IS A SONIC!?

[@mariajimenafigueroa8311]

Nop Is Sanic

[@RelaxAlexX]

Sonic R Music is a masterpiece

[@frederickarndt2967]

Sonic R is the definition of a physical meme.

[@VinceMiniscalco]

Now you have the song "Sonic Boom" stuck in my head. I'll be humming it for the next two years :-| lol great video

[@Feelin_DanDy]

Sonic CD is overrated imo, I still like it a little but don't love it. I prefer the original classic series on Genesis.

[@user-td6gb6oc1y]

Sonic CD and Sonic 3 & Knuckles were pretty much equal to me.

[@SeraidenAF]

The Sonic Boom song is amazing.

[@judithlanzas9857]

IKR!!!

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

I like Sonic Cd, but the level design is too unfocused. The game had potential to be one of the best Sonic games, but I think it ended up becoming one of the most overrated games. Sonic 1, 2, 3 and Sonic and Knuckles are far superior.

[@HighPriestFuneral]

Micah Buzan The issue I have with Sonic CD is how barren everything is. It just feels like an obstacle course with the occasional enemy, regardless of the time period it is in.

[@moustapha442]

Micah Buzan If I were me, which I am, I would imagine making sketches for Sonic Jam, if it's a future independent game instead of an game compilation.

[@M3rtyville]

i totally agree. It even aged significantly worse than Sonic 1 and the time travel gimmick is almost pointless since traveling to the future does jack shit and instead of traveling to the past, you can just get 50 rings and try getting the time stones which usually is faster.

[@stargamer8878]

Micah Buzan play the Christian whitehead remake. It improves the level design and all of the problem the original had.

[@stowrag]

I don't know what the original game played like, but playing the Whitehead remake, I was disappointed by all the optional stuff you could do that didn't really change your play experience. Destroying projectors, making good futures and getting time stones didn't really change the ending you got. That was my biggest fault. Also, the aesthetics of many of the zones all kind of blended together.

[@AConnorDN38416]

Oh man I want a retrospective on Nights into Dreams! That’s one of my all time favorite games. It really takes my favorite aspect of the sonic games (the flow state feeling of seamlessly zooming through levels) and to the next level.

[@nintrendodude]

He mentions the "in between titles" and the 32X but manages to forget about "Knuckles Chaotix" He mentions that "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine" features characters from "Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog", but forgets to mention that "Sonic Spinball" features characters from both "Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog" and "Sonic The Hedgehog (Sonic SatAM)" Just felt like mentioning that

[@JustSomeGuy009]

As someone who had the Sega CD really early and Sonic CD on release, I played the heck out of that game. I'd turn it on just to listen to the intro music. IMO it was amazing.

[@kregadeth5562]

GH the best thing that ever happened on KZbin was KZbin suggesting the gaming historian in my feed

[@silverthenascarfan9378]

On Sonic R,the music is named 'Can You Feel The Sunshine', and you can unlock the character that's related to that song,Tails Doll. If you play as him in Tag Mode,and you tag all 4 characters,you win. But! Tails Doll pops up on the screen on top of a red and black bloody tiled floor,and he comes to kill you.

[@xXOpenYourHeart759Xx]

it's true. Tails Doll murdered me in my sleep and ive been dead on the inside ever since

[@BluesfireTV]

Sonic CD is my personal favorite Sonic game. It just did everything right.

[@ZigTheHunter]

its great that you finally made a new part, and I'm very excited for the next one, because sonic adventure was my first sonic game.

[@PrinceDavid]

I LOVED Sonic Spinball! And I am dying to play Sonic CD still. Wow, the music on the Europe and Japanese version sounds great. Sonic R's music sounds awesome to me too, it just makes me feel good. I am looking forward to seeing your next part!

[@jointhemasters]

It's 2AM I was about to go to bed. Then I saw this in my subscription box.

[@KamisamanoOtaku]

I applaud the concept for Sonic & Knuckles. The thing to keep in mind is that I actually prefer a lot of Sonic's non-2D adventures, and as such haven't played the 2D games extensively. I may have even inadvertently skipped Sonic 2 when I did own it, as it was part of a compilation (I technically skipped the original, but owned it at one time). Sonic Adventure was what reminded me I liked the Sonic setting.

[@in16293]

oh and i forgot great vid norman! pls dont make us wait a very long time for part 4!!!

[@ThatOneSeong]

same here, I at one point had half of the ost on my 3DS, until I for whatever reason deleted some tracks and just forgot about them. Still a great soundtrack.

[@misterbennnn]

"Atrocious?" Sonic R has the second best OST

[@kpoz12]

Made my night...hopefully Part 4 doesn't take ANOTHER 3 years!

[@Diablokiller999]

Finally a new episode and a good summary of Sonic so far!

[@Brandneil]

I love the Sonic R soundtrack.

[@greubermeister2]

Oh Sonic, how the mighty hath fallen. Glad to see the historian back though!!

[@hajalak1]

i thought i was gonna sleep well tonight but oh well, time to worry about part four!

[@Michirin9801]

"Don't you feel that sometimes you just should stop making games?" I'll never forget this quote xD

[@thetruegoldenknight]

Looking forward to Part 4. I liked the music of Sonic R; even if most people didn't (the vocals weren't half-bad, either), and Sonic 3D Blast; back in its time when I had the PC version, that wasn't as bad as it sounds either.

[@RichardCraig]

7:19 - I always thought this version of Sonic X would've been amazing if fully fleshed out... I don't think I've ever seen another game with that kind of perspective, not then or now, and it just seems to fit the whole quirky Sonic vibe so well. Damn you Sega... such wasted potential!

[@Endrance88]

great to see the 3rd part! i'll see you next year for the 4th part norman!

[@BreMue]

Can you feel the sunshine is ICONIC

[@marauderNOR]

Great video. I cannot wait for part four! Looking forward to it.

[@Vitz_atelier]

Is that "Compile" who developed Robotinik's Mean Bean Machine the same one that would became Compile Heart that developed Hyper Dimension Neptunia with Idea Factory in the future? If that is true that explains why we have Neptune as a main character and other stuff! And I should say I also like the Sonic R soundtrack. A LOT. I really like that style of music and I really like the vocals.

[@germanname1990]

Chaosscouter137 isn't the only one who feels that way. I love Sonic R. The music was probably the best part of the game, and yes, I also have the music on my iPod. Although the game could've used a few more courses, the number of characters were fantastic for the time. I had thoughts about having a sequel offer more characters, more courses, and even an in-game storyline, and no, not at all like the Sonic Riders series which I'm bad at.

[@greetedlight]

3:35 That's why in Sonic CD for iOS/Apple TV you can change the music to the Japanese version.

[@DragONheart27X]

How could I missed this, it was uploaded on my 19th birthday

[@BlueElement]

I died a little when you said the music was atrocious

[@jonnykhatru]

Omg I knew the music seemed not right in my Steam version of Sonic CD! I'm from the UK and the music on my original PC copy was amaaazing. I want that music back! I wonder if there's a patch.

[@RocketLawnchair]

The Gaming Historian's videos have been found to cure irritable bowel syndrome and give your hair a sheen and bounce that would make even the angels jealous. Though he's totally wrong about Sonic CD. Sonic 2 is by far the superior game. Regardless, I still do heart you my good sir.

[@ACluelessKid]

Sonic R is my fav Sonic game by far. Awesome music, awesome gameplay.

[@EskmoFabio]

Awesome video man, personally I think you put out the best video's of any of the video game reviewers.

[@mytradingjournal123]

8:21 caption said “funny damn” instead of Sonic Jam, lol

[@Kanzuki]

12 years ago Norman had a terrible opinion regarding Sonic R's music. Wonder if he still feels the same way now

[@copyer9088]

He does

[@marksamazingchannelbymd9799]

I watched this series shorty after becoming a fan and this was when i first heard of Sonic Xtreme

[@Synnystershy]

Even though i dont really like Sonic 3D Blast/Flickies Island, it has a brilliant sound track, the music is just awsome.

[@nail1255]

I actually really like Sonic R music. Great vid 👍

[@Darkmarine40]

Holy hell. there's a lot more history to this blue hedgehog than I thought!

[@nujevad28]

I liked Sonic R. It wasn't the racing game around, but it had a charm all it's own.

[@quarkerzakii5816]

I love the song 'can you feel the sunshine'!Also,you really should make an episode about sonic X-treme!

[@ThatFanBoyGuy]

Sonic R: I have to be the worst Sonic game of all time" Sonic 06: Hold my beer :P

[@mariajimenafigueroa8311]

And then Sonic Boom came out.

[@TorutheRedFox]

Sega.Dont let Travellers Tales or Big Red Button near Sonic.

[@MacenW]

Sonic Rs soundtrack is actually really good

[@DorimiPrism]

@arrowboy999 Heroes is Adventure 3... supposedly, but I also agree on that with you. One thing is that there could be no Shadow, because he's dead. Shadow on Heroes and following games is a clone from the original.

[@SaintCyrX]

its kind of crazy because that 3d world in sonic jam is basically what they should have developed into a full game.

[@artemisentreri1103]

Reading these comments makes it look like we all love sonic r's soundtrack

[@RhythmGrizz]

I certainly do

[@weirdboi3512]

I dont mind it

[@darkrillen]

Really like ur stuff it has good content and insight...and it avoids a lot gimmicks...I get really tired of gimmicks and lame jokes from other channels

[@taffysaur]

Sonic 3D (we nixed the 'Blast' in European territories) was based on the old Sega arcade game Flicky. The controls and the camera angle were awkward, yes, but I always liked the game. I guess it's mainly for the visuals and the music, but as a rabid Sonic fan, I can't say I was disappointed with it (I had the Saturn version).