<s>
The	O
franchise	O
follows	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
an	O
anthropomorphic	O
blue	O
hedgehog	O
who	O
battles	O
the	O
evil	O
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
,	O
a	O
mad	O
scientist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
platformers	O
mostly	O
developed	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
;	O
other	O
games	O
,	O
developed	O
by	O
various	O
studios	O
,	O
include	O
spin-offs	O
in	O
the	O
racing	O
,	O
fighting	O
,	O
party	O
and	O
sports	O
genres	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Naka	O
,	O
Ohshima	O
,	O
and	O
Yasuhara	O
developed	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
1991	O
for	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
,	O
to	O
provide	O
Sega	O
with	O
a	O
mascot	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Mario	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
success	O
helped	O
Sega	O
become	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
leading	O
video	O
game	O
companies	O
during	O
the	O
fourth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
in	O
the	O
early	O
1990s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
Technical	O
Institute	O
developed	O
the	O
next	O
three	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
plus	O
the	O
spin-off	O
Sonic	B-Application
Spinball	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
were	O
also	O
developed	O
for	O
Sega	O
's	O
8-bit	O
consoles	O
,	O
the	O
Master	O
System	O
and	O
Game	O
Gear	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
hiatus	O
during	O
the	O
unsuccessful	O
Saturn	B-Device
era	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
major	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
1998	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
exited	O
the	O
console	O
market	O
and	O
shifted	O
to	O
third-party	O
development	O
in	O
2001	O
,	O
continuing	O
the	O
series	O
on	O
Nintendo	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
often	O
have	O
unique	O
game	O
mechanics	O
and	O
stories	O
,	O
they	O
feature	O
recurring	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
ring-based	O
health	O
system	O
,	O
level	O
locales	O
,	O
and	O
fast-paced	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Games	O
typically	O
feature	O
Sonic	B-Application
setting	O
out	O
to	O
stop	O
Eggman	O
's	O
schemes	O
for	O
world	O
domination	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
navigates	O
levels	O
that	O
include	O
springs	O
,	O
slopes	O
,	O
bottomless	O
pits	O
,	O
and	O
vertical	O
loops	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
games	O
added	O
a	O
large	O
cast	O
of	O
characters	O
;	O
some	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Miles	O
"	O
Tails	O
"	O
Prower	O
,	O
Knuckles	O
the	O
Echidna	O
,	O
and	O
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
have	O
starred	O
in	O
spin-offs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
has	O
crossed	O
over	O
with	O
other	O
video	O
game	O
franchises	O
in	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Mario	B-Application
&	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Sega	B-Application
All-Stars	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
is	O
Sega	O
's	O
flagship	O
franchise	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
bestselling	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
franchises	I-Application
,	O
selling	O
over	O
units	O
and	O
grossing	O
over	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Series	O
sales	O
and	O
free-to-play	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
downloads	O
totaled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Genesis	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
have	O
been	O
described	O
as	O
representative	O
of	O
the	O
culture	O
of	O
the	O
1990s	O
and	O
listed	O
among	O
the	O
greatest	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
later	O
games	O
,	O
notably	O
the	O
2006	B-Application
series	I-Application
reboot	I-Application
,	O
received	O
poorer	O
reviews	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
is	O
influential	O
in	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
industry	O
and	O
is	O
frequently	O
referenced	O
in	O
popular	O
culture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
is	O
known	O
for	O
its	O
fandom	O
that	O
produces	O
unofficial	B-Application
media	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
fan	O
art	O
and	O
fangames	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
1990	O
,	O
the	O
Japanese	O
video	O
game	O
company	O
Sega	O
wanted	O
a	O
foothold	O
in	O
the	O
video	B-Application
game	I-Application
console	I-Application
market	O
with	O
its	O
16-bit	B-Application
console	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
's	O
efforts	O
had	O
been	O
stymied	O
by	O
the	O
dominance	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
;	O
the	O
Genesis	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
a	O
large	O
install	B-Operating_System
base	I-Operating_System
and	O
Nintendo	O
did	O
not	O
take	O
Sega	O
seriously	O
as	O
a	O
competitor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
CEO	O
Michael	O
Katz	O
attempted	O
to	O
challenge	O
Nintendo	O
with	O
the	O
"	O
Genesis	O
does	O
what	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
n't	I-Operating_System
"	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
and	O
by	O
collaborating	O
with	O
athletes	O
and	O
celebrities	O
to	O
create	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
president	O
Hayao	O
Nakayama	O
decided	O
Sega	O
needed	O
a	O
flagship	O
series	O
and	O
mascot	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Mario	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	O
had	O
recently	O
released	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
the	O
bestselling	O
video	O
game	O
ever	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
1991	O
)	O
originated	O
with	O
a	O
tech	O
demo	O
created	O
by	O
Naka	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
developed	O
an	O
algorithm	O
that	O
allowed	O
a	O
sprite	O
to	O
move	O
smoothly	O
on	O
a	O
curve	O
by	O
determining	O
its	O
position	O
with	O
a	O
dot	B-General_Concept
matrix	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
moved	O
on	O
to	O
animals	O
that	O
could	O
roll	O
into	O
a	O
ball	O
,	O
and	O
eventually	O
settled	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
a	O
teal	O
hedgehog	O
created	O
by	O
Ohshima	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
color	O
was	O
chosen	O
to	O
match	O
Sega	O
's	O
cobalt	O
blue	O
logo	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
red	O
and	O
white	O
shoes	O
were	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
cover	O
of	O
Michael	O
Jackson	O
's	O
1987	O
album	O
Bad	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
took	O
the	O
name	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
first	O
appearance	O
came	O
in	O
Sega	O
AM3	O
's	O
racing	O
game	O
Rad	B-Application
Mobile	I-Application
(	O
1991	O
)	O
five	O
months	O
before	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
as	O
an	O
ornament	O
hanging	O
from	O
the	O
driver	O
's	O
rearview	O
mirror	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
developers	O
let	O
AM3	O
use	O
Sonic	B-Application
because	O
they	O
were	O
interested	O
in	O
making	O
him	O
visible	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Mark	O
Cerny	O
,	O
who	O
worked	O
in	O
Tokyo	O
as	O
an	O
intermediary	O
between	O
the	O
Japanese	O
and	O
American	O
Sega	O
offices	O
,	O
the	O
American	O
staff	O
felt	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
had	O
no	O
appeal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Katz	O
was	O
certain	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
would	O
not	O
be	O
popular	O
with	O
American	O
children	O
,	O
Kalinske	O
arranged	O
to	O
place	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
as	O
the	O
pack-in	O
game	O
with	O
the	O
Genesis	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Featuring	O
speedy	O
gameplay	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
greatly	O
increased	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
the	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
credited	O
with	O
helping	O
Sega	O
gain	O
65%	O
of	O
the	O
market	O
share	O
against	O
Nintendo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
STI	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
1992	O
)	O
in	O
November	O
1991	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Level	O
artist	O
Yasushi	O
Yamaguchi	O
designed	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
new	O
sidekick	B-Application
,	O
Tails	O
,	O
a	O
flying	O
two-tailed	O
fox	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
mythological	O
kitsune	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
a	O
major	O
success	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
development	O
suffered	O
from	O
the	O
language	O
barrier	O
and	O
cultural	O
differences	O
between	O
the	O
Japanese	O
and	O
American	O
developers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
STI	O
developed	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Ohshima	O
led	O
a	O
team	O
in	O
Japan	O
to	O
create	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Genesis	O
's	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
accessory	O
,	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
CD	I-Device
;	O
it	O
was	O
conceived	O
as	O
an	O
enhanced	O
port	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
but	O
evolved	O
into	O
a	O
separate	O
project	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
development	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
concluded	O
,	O
Cerny	O
departed	O
and	O
was	O
replaced	O
by	O
Roger	O
Hector	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Japanese	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
initially	O
developed	O
as	O
an	O
isometric	B-Application
game	O
using	O
the	O
Sega	O
Virtua	O
Processor	O
chip	B-Application
,	O
but	O
was	O
restarted	O
as	O
a	O
more	O
conventional	O
side-scrolling	O
game	O
after	O
the	O
chip	B-Application
was	O
delayed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
introduced	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
rival	O
Knuckles	O
,	O
created	O
by	O
artist	O
Takashi	O
Thomas	O
Yuda	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
an	O
impending	O
promotion	O
with	O
McDonald	O
's	O
and	O
cartridges	O
size	O
constraints	O
,	O
the	O
project	O
was	O
split	O
in	O
two	O
:	O
the	O
first	O
half	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
February	O
1994	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
second	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
a	O
few	O
months	O
later	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
cartridge	O
contains	O
an	O
adapter	O
that	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
connect	O
it	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
creating	O
a	O
combined	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
as	O
with	O
their	O
predecessors	O
,	O
were	O
acclaimed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
release	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
in	O
time	O
for	O
the	O
1993	O
holiday	O
shopping	O
season	O
,	O
Sega	O
commissioned	O
the	O
American	O
team	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
spin-off	O
Sonic	B-Application
Spinball	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
were	O
developed	O
for	O
Sega	O
's	O
8-bit	O
consoles	O
,	O
the	O
Master	O
System	O
and	O
the	O
handheld	O
Game	O
Gear	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
,	O
an	O
8-bit	B-Application
version	I-Application
of	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Ancient	O
to	O
promote	O
the	O
Game	O
Gear	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
December	O
1991	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aspect	O
Co	O
.	O
developed	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
subsequent	O
8-bit	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
beginning	O
with	O
a	O
version	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
released	O
during	O
this	O
period	O
include	O
Dr.	B-Application
Robotnik	I-Application
's	I-Application
Mean	I-Application
Bean	I-Application
Machine	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
Western	O
localization	O
of	O
the	O
Japanese	O
puzzle	O
game	O
Puyo	B-Application
Puyo	I-Application
(	O
1991	O
)	O
,	O
SegaSonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
,	O
an	O
arcade	O
game	O
featuring	O
isometric	B-Application
gameplay	O
,	O
and	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
 '	O
Chaotix	B-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
spin-off	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	O
's	O
32X	B-Device
add-on	O
starring	O
Knuckles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
Yasuhara	O
quit	O
Sega	O
and	O
Naka	O
returned	O
to	O
Japan	O
,	O
having	O
been	O
offered	O
a	O
role	O
as	O
a	O
producer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Naka	O
's	O
return	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
was	O
officially	O
formed	O
as	O
a	O
brand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
began	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
a	O
new	O
intellectual	O
property	O
,	O
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
for	O
Sega	O
's	O
32-bit	O
Saturn	B-Device
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1996	O
,	O
towards	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	O
's	O
lifecycle	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
Blast	I-Application
,	O
an	O
isometric	B-Application
game	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
concept	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
system	O
still	O
had	O
a	O
large	O
install	B-Operating_System
base	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
final	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
produced	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
developed	O
as	O
a	O
swan	O
song	O
for	O
the	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
was	O
preoccupied	O
with	O
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
,	O
3D	O
Blast	O
was	O
outsourced	O
to	O
the	O
British	O
studio	O
Traveller	O
's	O
Tales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
in	O
America	O
,	O
STI	O
worked	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-treme	I-Application
,	O
a	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
intended	O
for	O
the	O
1996	O
holiday	O
shopping	O
season	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Journalists	O
and	O
fans	O
have	O
speculated	O
about	O
the	O
impact	O
X-treme	O
might	O
have	O
had	O
if	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
with	O
producer	O
Mike	O
Wallis	O
believing	O
it	O
"	O
definitely	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
competitive	O
"	O
with	O
the	O
first	O
3D	O
Mario	B-Application
game	O
,	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
64	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
X-treme	O
cancellation	O
,	O
Sega	O
ported	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
Blast	I-Application
to	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
with	O
updated	O
graphics	O
and	O
bonus	O
levels	O
developed	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1997	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
"	O
Project	O
Sonic	B-Application
"	O
,	O
a	O
promotional	O
campaign	O
aimed	O
at	O
increasing	O
market	O
awareness	O
of	O
and	O
renewing	O
excitement	O
for	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
brand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Project	O
Sonic	B-Application
release	O
was	O
Sonic	B-Application
Jam	I-Application
,	O
a	O
compilation	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
Genesis	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
which	O
included	O
a	O
3D	O
overworld	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
used	O
to	O
experiment	O
with	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
and	O
Traveller	O
's	O
Tales	O
collaborated	O
again	O
on	O
the	O
second	O
Project	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
R	I-Application
,	O
a	O
3D	O
racing	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
only	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Jam	I-Application
was	O
well	O
received	O
,	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
R	I-Application
reviews	O
were	O
more	O
divided	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
cancellation	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-treme	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
general	O
lack	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
are	O
considered	O
important	O
factors	O
in	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
commercial	O
failure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Nick	O
Thorpe	O
of	O
Retro	O
Gamer	O
,	O
"	O
By	O
mid-1997	O
Sonic	B-Application
had	O
essentially	O
been	O
shuffled	O
into	O
the	O
background	O
...	O
it	O
was	O
astonishing	O
to	O
see	O
that	O
just	O
six	O
years	O
after	O
his	O
debut	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
already	O
retro.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
its	O
Sonic	B-Application
Jam	I-Application
experiments	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
began	O
developing	O
a	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
platformer	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
project	O
stemmed	O
from	O
a	O
proposal	O
by	O
Iizuka	O
to	O
develop	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
(	O
RPG	O
)	O
with	O
an	O
emphasis	O
on	O
storytelling	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
moved	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
new	O
console	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
Naka	O
believed	O
would	O
allow	O
for	O
the	O
ultimate	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
directed	O
by	O
Iizuka	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
1998	O
,	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
sixth-generation	B-Application
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1999	O
,	O
Iizuka	O
and	O
11	O
other	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
members	O
relocated	O
to	O
San	O
Francisco	O
and	O
established	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
USA	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
more	O
action-oriented	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
both	O
Adventure	O
games	O
were	O
well	O
received	O
and	O
the	O
first	O
sold	O
over	O
two	O
million	O
copies	O
,	O
consumer	O
interest	O
in	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
quickly	O
faded	O
,	O
and	O
Sega	O
's	O
attempts	O
to	O
spur	O
sales	O
through	O
lower	O
prices	O
and	O
cash	O
rebates	O
caused	O
escalating	O
financial	O
losses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2001	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
it	O
was	O
discontinuing	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
to	O
become	O
a	O
third-party	O
developer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
following	O
December	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
an	O
expanded	O
port	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
GameCube	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Afterward	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
USA	O
developed	O
the	O
first	O
multi-platform	B-Operating_System
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
Microsoft	O
's	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
and	O
Sony	O
's	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
,	O
again	O
directed	O
by	O
Iizuka	O
,	O
was	O
designed	O
for	O
a	O
broad	O
audience	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
revived	O
elements	O
not	O
seen	O
since	O
the	O
Genesis	O
era	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
special	O
stages	O
and	O
the	O
Chaotix	B-Application
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
were	O
mixed	O
;	O
while	O
its	O
graphics	O
and	O
gameplay	O
were	O
praised	O
,	O
critics	O
felt	O
it	O
failed	O
to	O
address	O
the	O
problems	O
of	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
also	O
ported	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
with	O
additional	O
content	O
to	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
in	O
2003	O
and	O
Windows	O
in	O
2004	O
,	O
to	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
continued	O
to	O
release	O
2D	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1999	O
,	O
it	O
collaborated	O
with	O
SNK	O
to	O
produce	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
Pocket	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
an	O
adaptation	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Neo	B-Application
Geo	I-Application
Pocket	I-Application
Color	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
SNK	O
staff	O
formed	O
Dimps	O
the	O
following	O
year	O
,	O
and	O
developed	O
original	O
2D	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
—	O
Sonic	B-Application
Advance	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Advance	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2002	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Advance	I-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
—	O
for	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
(	O
GBA	B-Device
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Advance	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
released	O
for	O
a	O
Nintendo	O
console	O
after	O
Sega	O
and	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
fierce	O
rivalry	O
in	O
the	O
1990s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
outsourced	O
to	O
Dimps	O
because	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
was	O
understaffed	O
with	O
employees	O
familiar	O
with	O
the	O
GBA	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dimps	O
also	O
developed	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
,	O
which	O
uses	O
a	O
2.5D	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
introduce	O
older	O
games	O
to	O
new	O
fans	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
developed	O
two	O
compilations	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Device
Mega	I-Device
Collection	I-Device
(	O
2002	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Gems	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
spin-offs	O
included	O
the	O
party	O
game	O
Sonic	B-Application
Shuffle	I-Application
(	O
2000	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
pinball	B-Application
game	O
Sonic	B-Application
Pinball	I-Application
Party	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
fighting	O
game	O
Sonic	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
USA	O
was	O
renamed	O
Sega	O
Studios	O
USA	O
after	O
completing	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
leadership	O
became	O
in	O
constant	O
flux	O
while	O
they	O
began	O
experimenting	O
with	O
diverging	O
from	O
the	O
established	O
Sonic	B-Application
formula	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
Studios	O
USA	O
's	O
first	O
post-Heroes	O
project	O
was	O
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
spin-off	O
starring	O
the	O
popular	O
Adventure	O
2	O
character	O
Shadow	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Shadow	B-Application
retains	O
most	O
elements	O
from	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
aimed	O
at	O
a	O
mature	O
audience	O
and	O
introduced	O
third-person	O
shooting	O
and	O
nonlinear	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
panned	O
for	O
its	O
controls	O
,	O
level	O
design	O
,	O
and	O
mature	O
themes	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
selling	O
at	O
least	O
1.59million	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
franchise	O
's	O
15th	O
anniversary	O
in	O
2006	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
developed	O
Sonic	B-Application
Riders	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
GBA	B-Device
port	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Riders	I-Application
,	O
the	O
first	O
Sonic	B-Operating_System
racing	I-Operating_System
game	O
since	O
Sonic	B-Application
R	I-Application
,	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
appeal	O
extreme	O
sports	O
fans	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
regular	O
Sonic	B-Application
fans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
a	O
more	O
realistic	O
setting	O
than	O
previous	O
entries	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
—	O
commonly	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
'	I-Application
06	I-Application
—	O
was	O
intended	O
to	O
reboot	O
the	O
series	O
for	O
seventh-generation	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
such	O
as	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
faced	O
serious	O
problems	O
;	O
Naka	O
,	O
the	O
last	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
development	O
team	O
,	O
resigned	O
as	O
head	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
to	O
form	O
Prope	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
team	O
split	O
so	O
work	O
could	O
begin	O
on	O
a	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Iizuka	O
,	O
these	O
incidents	O
,	O
coupled	O
with	O
stringent	O
Sega	O
deadlines	O
and	O
an	O
unpolished	O
game	O
engine	O
,	O
forced	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
to	O
rush	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
None	O
of	O
the	O
15th-anniversary	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
were	O
successful	O
critically	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
'	I-Application
06	I-Application
became	O
regarded	O
as	O
the	O
worst	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
panned	O
for	O
its	O
bugs	O
,	O
camera	O
,	O
controls	O
,	O
and	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Brian	O
Shea	O
of	O
Game	O
Informer	O
wrote	O
that	O
it	O
"[became]	O
synonymous	O
with	O
the	O
struggles	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
franchise	O
had	O
faced	O
in	O
recent	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
 [ '06 ] 	O
was	O
meant	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
roots	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
ended	O
up	O
damning	O
the	O
franchise	O
in	O
the	O
eyes	O
of	O
many.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Secret	I-Application
Rings	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
,	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Arabian	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
and	O
was	O
released	O
instead	O
of	O
a	O
port	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
'	I-Application
06	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Citing	O
lengthy	O
development	O
times	O
,	O
Sega	O
switched	O
plans	O
and	O
conceived	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
would	O
use	O
the	O
motion	O
detection	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Remote	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
released	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Knight	I-Application
,	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
King	B-Application
Arthur	I-Application
,	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Secret	B-Application
Rings	I-Application
and	O
Black	B-Application
Knight	I-Application
form	O
what	O
is	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Storybook	O
sub-series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Sonic	B-Application
Riders	I-Application
sequel	O
,	O
Zero	B-Application
Gravity	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
was	O
developed	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dimps	O
returned	O
to	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
,	O
in	O
2007	O
,	O
while	O
BioWare	O
developed	O
the	O
first	O
Sonic	B-Device
RPG	I-Device
,	O
Sonic	B-Device
Chronicles	I-Device
:	I-Device
The	I-Device
Dark	I-Device
Brotherhood	I-Device
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
also	O
for	O
the	O
DS	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Backbone	O
Entertainment	O
developed	O
two	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
exclusive	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
Portable	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Device
Rivals	I-Device
(	O
2006	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rivals	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2007	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
Naka	O
's	O
departure	O
,	O
Akinori	O
Nishiyama	O
,	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Advance	I-Application
and	O
Rush	O
games	O
,	O
became	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
's	O
general	O
manager	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
began	O
working	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
in	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
conceived	O
as	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Adventure	O
2	O
,	O
but	O
became	O
a	O
standalone	O
entry	O
after	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
introduced	O
innovations	O
to	O
separate	O
it	O
from	O
the	O
Adventure	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Unleashed	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
sought	O
to	O
combine	O
the	O
best	O
aspects	O
of	O
2D	O
and	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
and	O
address	O
criticisms	O
of	O
previous	O
3D	O
entries	O
,	O
although	O
reviews	O
were	O
mixed	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
a	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
game	I-Application
mode	O
in	O
which	O
Sonic	B-Application
transforms	O
into	O
a	O
werewolf-like	O
beast	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Nishiyama	O
was	O
promoted	O
in	O
2010	O
,	O
Iizuka	O
was	O
installed	O
as	O
the	O
head	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
and	O
became	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
producer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
felt	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
struggling	O
because	O
it	O
lacked	O
unified	O
direction	O
,	O
so	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
refocused	O
on	O
more	O
traditional	O
side-scrolling	O
elements	O
and	O
fast-paced	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
episodic	O
sequel	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
co-developed	O
by	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
and	O
Dimps	O
,	O
began	O
with	O
Episode	B-Application
I	I-Application
in	O
2010	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
Episode	B-Application
II	I-Application
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
in	O
2010	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
and	O
DS	B-Device
,	O
which	O
expanded	O
on	O
the	O
well	O
received	O
aspects	O
of	O
Unleashed	O
and	O
introduced	O
the	O
Wisp	O
power-ups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
20th	O
anniversary	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
;	O
a	O
separate	O
version	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Dimps	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
featured	O
reimagined	O
versions	O
of	O
levels	O
from	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
and	O
reintroduced	O
the	O
"	O
classic	O
"	O
Sonic	B-Application
design	O
from	O
the	O
Genesis	O
era	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
efforts	O
were	O
better	O
received	O
,	O
especially	O
in	O
comparison	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
'	I-Application
06	I-Application
and	O
Unleashed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2013	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
announced	O
it	O
was	O
collaborating	O
with	O
Sega	O
to	O
produce	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
for	O
its	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
and	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
partnership	O
,	O
2013	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
World	I-Application
,	O
was	O
also	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
for	O
eighth-generation	B-Application
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
World	I-Application
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
streamlined	O
and	O
fluid	O
in	O
movement	O
and	O
design	O
,	O
borrowing	O
elements	O
from	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
Galaxy	I-Application
games	O
and	O
the	O
canceled	O
X-treme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
was	O
Mario	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sonic	I-Application
at	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sochi	I-Application
2014	I-Application
Olympic	I-Application
Winter	I-Application
Games	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
,	O
the	O
fourth	O
Mario	B-Application
&	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
and	O
a	O
2014	O
Winter	O
Olympics	O
tie-in	O
(	O
see	O
Crossovers	O
section	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
deal	O
was	O
completed	O
in	O
2014	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rise	I-Application
of	I-Application
Lyric	I-Application
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
:	I-Application
Shattered	I-Application
Crystal	I-Application
for	O
the	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
;	O
these	O
games	O
were	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
television	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
World	I-Application
polarized	O
critics	O
,	O
while	O
critics	O
found	O
Mario	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sonic	I-Application
at	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sochi	I-Application
2014	I-Application
Olympic	I-Application
Winter	I-Application
Games	I-Application
mediocre	O
and	O
panned	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
:	I-Application
Fire	I-Application
&	I-Application
Ice	I-Application
,	O
a	O
Shattered	B-Application
Crystal	I-Application
sequel	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
began	O
to	O
release	O
more	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
for	O
mobile	B-Application
phones	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
devices	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Australian	O
programmer	O
Christian	O
"	O
Taxman	O
"	O
Whitehead	O
developed	O
a	O
version	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
for	O
modern	O
consoles	O
in	O
2011	O
,	O
he	O
collaborated	O
with	O
fellow	O
Sonic	B-Application
fan	O
Simon	B-Application
"	I-Application
Stealth	I-Application
"	I-Application
Thomley	I-Application
to	O
develop	O
remasters	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
which	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
remasters	O
were	O
developed	O
using	O
Whitehead	O
's	O
Retro	B-Application
Engine	I-Application
,	O
an	O
engine	O
tailored	O
for	O
2D	O
projects	O
,	O
and	O
received	O
praise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Dash	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
Temple	O
Run-style	O
endless	B-Application
runner	I-Application
,	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Hardlight	O
and	O
downloaded	O
over	O
350million	O
times	O
by	O
2020	O
and	O
received	O
a	O
Sonic	O
Boom-themed	O
sequel	O
in	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
released	O
Sonic	B-Application
Runners	I-Application
,	O
its	O
first	O
game	O
for	O
mobile	B-Application
devices	O
,	O
in	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Runners	I-Application
was	O
also	O
an	O
endless	B-Application
runner	I-Application
,	O
but	O
was	O
unsuccessful	O
and	O
was	O
discontinued	O
a	O
year	O
after	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Gameloft	O
released	O
a	O
sequel	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Language
Runners	I-Language
Adventure	I-Language
,	O
in	O
2017	O
to	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
2015	O
interview	O
with	O
Polygon	O
,	O
Iizuka	O
acknowledged	O
that	O
contemporary	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
had	O
been	O
disappointing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
hoped	O
,	O
from	O
then	O
on	O
,	O
that	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
logo	O
would	O
stand	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
mark	O
of	O
quality	O
"	O
;	O
he	O
planned	O
to	O
release	O
quality	O
games	O
and	O
expand	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
brand	O
,	O
while	O
retaining	O
the	O
modern	O
Sonic	B-Application
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
and	O
most	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
relocated	O
to	O
Burbank	O
,	O
California	O
to	O
oversee	O
the	O
franchise	O
with	O
a	O
new	O
team	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
San	O
Diego	O
Comic-Con	O
in	O
July	O
2016	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
two	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
25th	O
anniversary	O
:	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
were	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
independent	O
game	O
developers	O
PagodaWest	B-Application
Games	I-Application
and	O
Headcannon	B-Application
with	O
a	O
staff	O
comprising	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
fandom	O
;	O
Whitehead	O
conceived	O
the	O
project	O
and	O
served	O
as	O
director	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
emulates	O
the	O
gameplay	O
and	O
visuals	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	O
entries	O
,	O
received	O
the	O
best	O
reviews	O
for	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
in	O
15	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
developed	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
,	O
which	O
revives	O
the	O
dual	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
along	O
with	O
a	O
third	O
gameplay	O
style	O
featuring	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
custom	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
received	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
criticism	O
for	O
its	O
short	O
length	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2019	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
a	O
kart	O
racing	O
game	O
,	O
Team	B-Operating_System
Sonic	I-Operating_System
Racing	I-Operating_System
(	O
2019	O
)	O
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Sumo	O
Digital	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2021	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
several	O
Sonic	B-Application
projects	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
30th	O
anniversary	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
remaster	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
,	O
the	O
compilation	O
Sonic	B-Device
Origins	I-Device
,	O
and	O
the	O
2022	O
game	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Frontiers	O
was	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
to	O
feature	O
open-world	O
inspired	O
design	O
,	O
and	O
Iizuka	O
expressed	O
hope	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
inform	O
future	O
games	O
in	O
a	O
similar	O
way	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
April	O
Fool	O
's	O
Day	O
2023	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
The	O
Murder	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
a	O
free	O
visual	O
novel	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
is	O
known	O
for	O
its	O
large	O
cast	O
of	O
characters	O
;	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Fighters	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
producer	O
Yu	O
Suzuki	O
joked	O
that	O
anyone	O
who	O
makes	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
has	O
the	O
duty	O
to	O
create	O
new	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
game	O
introduced	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
a	O
blue	O
hedgehog	O
who	O
can	O
run	O
at	O
incredible	O
speeds	O
,	O
and	O
Doctor	O
Eggman	O
,	O
a	O
rotund	O
mad	O
scientist	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
the	O
character	O
has	O
been	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
Eggman	O
in	O
all	O
territories	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
Robotnik	O
name	O
is	O
still	O
acknowledged	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
traditionally	O
follow	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
efforts	O
to	O
stop	O
Eggman	O
,	O
who	O
schemes	O
to	O
obtain	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	B-Language
—	O
seven	O
emeralds	B-Language
with	O
mystical	O
powers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Emeralds	B-Language
can	O
turn	O
thoughts	O
into	O
power	O
,	O
warp	O
time	O
and	O
space	O
with	O
a	O
technique	O
called	O
Chaos	O
Control	O
,	O
give	O
energy	O
to	O
living	O
things	O
,	O
and	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
create	O
nuclear	O
or	O
laser-based	O
weaponry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
typically	O
act	O
as	O
MacGuffins	B-Algorithm
in	O
the	O
stories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eggman	O
seeks	O
the	O
Emeralds	B-Language
in	O
his	O
quest	O
to	O
conquer	O
the	O
world	O
,	O
and	O
traps	O
animals	O
in	O
aggressive	O
robots	O
and	O
prison	O
capsules	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
the	O
culture	O
of	O
the	O
1990s	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
features	O
environmental	O
themes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
represents	O
"	O
nature	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
Eggman	O
represents	O
"	O
machinery	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
development	O
"	O
—	O
a	O
play	O
on	O
the	O
then-growing	O
debate	O
between	O
environmentalists	O
and	O
developers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
introduced	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
sidekick	B-Application
Miles	O
"	O
Tails	O
"	O
Prower	O
,	O
a	O
fox	O
who	O
can	O
fly	O
using	O
his	O
two	O
tails	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
introduced	O
Amy	O
Rose	O
,	O
a	O
pink	O
hedgehog	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
self-proclaimed	O
girlfriend	O
,	O
and	O
Metal	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
a	O
robotic	O
doppelgänger	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
created	O
by	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
introduced	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
rival	O
Knuckles	O
,	O
a	O
red	O
echidna	O
and	O
the	O
guardian	O
of	O
the	O
Master	O
Emerald	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Master	O
Emerald	B-Language
,	O
introduced	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
controls	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Knuckles	B-Application
 '	I-Application
Chaotix	I-Application
introduced	O
the	O
Chaotix	B-Application
,	O
a	O
group	O
comprising	O
Espio	O
the	O
Chameleon	O
,	O
Vector	O
the	O
Crocodile	O
,	O
and	O
Charmy	O
Bee	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
characters	O
introduced	O
during	O
this	O
period	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Mighty	O
the	O
Armadillo	O
and	O
Ray	B-Application
the	I-Application
Flying	I-Application
Squirrel	I-Application
from	O
SegaSonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
and	O
Fang	O
the	O
Sniper	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
Triple	I-Application
Trouble	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
,	O
faded	O
into	O
obscurity	O
,	O
although	O
they	O
sometimes	O
reappear	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
development	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
discovered	O
that	O
the	O
relatively	O
simple	O
character	O
designs	O
did	O
not	O
suit	O
a	O
3D	O
environment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
cast	O
has	O
expanded	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Notable	O
characters	O
include	O
Big	O
,	O
a	O
large	O
cat	O
who	O
fishes	O
for	O
his	O
pet	O
frog	O
Froggy	O
;	O
the	O
E-100	O
Series	O
of	O
robots	O
;	O
Shadow	B-Application
,	O
a	O
brooding	O
black	O
hedgehog	O
;	O
Rouge	O
,	O
a	O
treasure-hunting	O
bat	O
;	O
Blaze	O
,	O
a	O
cat	O
from	O
an	O
alternate	O
dimension	O
;	O
and	O
Silver	O
,	O
a	O
telekinetic	O
hedgehog	O
from	O
the	O
future	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Flicky	B-Application
,	O
the	O
blue	O
bird	O
from	O
Sega	O
's	O
1984	B-Application
arcade	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
appears	O
in	O
several	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
most	O
notably	O
3D	O
Blast	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
Sonic	B-Application
characters	O
have	O
featured	O
in	O
spin-off	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eggman	O
is	O
the	O
featured	O
character	O
of	O
Dr.	B-Application
Robotnik	I-Application
's	I-Application
Mean	I-Application
Bean	I-Application
Machine	I-Application
,	O
a	O
Western	O
localization	O
of	O
Puyo	B-Application
Puyo	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
replaced	O
the	O
Puyo	B-Application
Puyo	I-Application
characters	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
characters	O
because	O
it	O
feared	O
Puyo	B-Application
Puyo	I-Application
would	O
not	O
be	O
popular	O
with	O
a	O
Western	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1995	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
the	O
Knuckles	O
spinoff	O
Knuckles	B-Application
 '	I-Application
Chaotix	I-Application
for	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
,	O
and	O
two	O
Tails	O
spin-offs	O
for	O
Game	O
Gear	O
:	O
Tails	B-Application
 '	I-Application
Skypatrol	I-Application
(	O
a	O
scrolling	O
shooter	O
)	O
and	O
Tails	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
(	O
a	O
Metroidvania	O
game	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
was	O
developed	O
in	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
Shadow	B-Application
character	O
's	O
popularity	O
and	O
to	O
introduce	O
"	O
gun	O
action	O
"	O
gameplay	O
to	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Iizuka	O
has	O
said	O
that	O
future	O
spin-offs	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
sequels	O
to	O
Knuckles	B-Application
 '	I-Application
Chaotix	I-Application
and	O
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
or	O
a	O
Big	O
the	O
Cat	O
game	O
,	O
remain	O
possibilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
is	O
characterized	O
by	O
speed-based	O
platforming	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2D	O
entries	O
generally	O
feature	O
simple	O
,	O
pinball-like	O
gameplay	O
—	O
with	O
jumping	O
and	O
attacking	O
controlled	O
by	O
a	O
single	O
button	O
—	O
and	O
branching	O
level	O
paths	O
that	O
require	O
memorization	O
to	O
maintain	O
speed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Games	O
since	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
have	O
blended	O
2D	O
and	O
3D	O
gameplay	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
camera	O
shifting	O
between	O
side-scrolling	O
and	O
third-person	O
perspectives	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
distinctive	O
game	O
mechanic	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
are	O
collectible	O
golden	O
rings	O
spread	O
throughout	O
levels	O
,	O
which	O
act	O
as	O
a	O
form	O
of	O
health	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rings	O
have	O
other	O
uses	O
in	O
certain	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
currency	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
'	I-Application
06	I-Application
,	O
restoring	O
health	O
bars	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
,	O
or	O
improving	O
statistics	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Riders	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Levels	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
feature	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
slopes	O
,	O
bottomless	O
pits	O
,	O
and	O
vertical	O
loops	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
introduces	O
the	O
Wisps	O
,	O
a	O
race	O
of	O
extraterrestrial	O
creatures	O
that	O
act	O
as	O
power-ups	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
most	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
the	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
collect	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	B-Language
;	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
required	O
to	O
collect	O
them	O
all	O
to	O
defeat	O
Eggman	O
and	O
achieve	O
the	O
games	O
 '	O
good	O
endings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
that	O
do	O
not	O
feature	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	B-Language
,	O
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
,	O
feature	O
different	O
collectibles	O
that	O
otherwise	O
function	O
the	O
same	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
find	O
the	O
Emeralds	B-Language
by	O
entering	O
portals	O
,	O
opening	O
portals	O
using	O
50	O
rings	O
,	O
or	O
scouting	O
them	O
within	O
levels	O
themselves	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sometimes	O
,	O
the	O
Emeralds	B-Language
are	O
collected	O
automatically	O
as	O
the	O
story	O
progresses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
collecting	O
the	O
Emeralds	B-Language
,	O
players	O
are	O
rewarded	O
with	O
their	O
characters	O
 '	O
"	O
Super	O
"	O
form	O
and	O
can	O
activate	O
it	O
by	O
collecting	O
50	O
rings	O
in	O
a	O
stage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
games	O
require	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
collect	O
all	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	B-Language
to	O
reach	O
the	O
final	O
boss	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
often	O
share	O
basic	O
gameplay	O
,	O
but	O
some	O
have	O
game	O
mechanics	O
that	O
distinguish	O
them	O
from	O
others	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
instance	O
,	O
Knuckles	B-Application
 '	I-Application
Chaotix	I-Application
is	O
similar	O
to	O
previous	O
entries	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
but	O
introduces	O
a	O
partner	O
system	O
whereby	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
connected	O
to	O
another	O
character	O
via	O
a	O
tether	O
;	O
the	O
tether	O
behaves	O
like	O
a	O
rubber	O
band	O
and	O
must	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
maneuver	O
the	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
introduces	O
the	O
Werehog	B-Application
,	O
a	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
gameplay	O
style	O
in	O
which	O
Sonic	B-Application
transforms	O
into	O
a	O
werewolf-like	O
beast	O
and	O
must	O
fight	O
enemies	O
using	O
brute	O
strength	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Storybook	O
games	O
feature	O
unique	O
concepts	O
:	O
Secret	B-Application
Rings	I-Application
is	O
controlled	O
exclusively	O
using	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Remote	O
's	O
motion	O
detection	O
,	O
which	O
Black	B-Application
Knight	I-Application
incorporates	O
hack	B-Application
and	I-Application
slash	I-Application
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
some	O
games	O
feature	O
Sonic	B-Application
as	O
the	O
only	O
playable	O
character	O
,	O
others	O
feature	O
multiple	O
,	O
who	O
have	O
alternate	O
movesets	O
and	O
storylines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
instance	O
,	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
Knuckles	O
goes	O
through	O
the	O
same	O
levels	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
but	O
his	O
story	O
is	O
different	O
,	O
he	O
explores	O
different	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
levels	O
,	O
and	O
certain	O
areas	O
are	O
more	O
difficult	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
contain	O
multiplayer	O
and	O
cooperative	O
gameplay	O
,	O
beginning	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
some	O
games	O
,	O
if	O
the	O
player	O
chooses	O
to	O
control	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
together	O
,	O
a	O
second	O
player	O
can	O
join	O
at	O
any	O
time	O
and	O
control	O
Tails	O
separately	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
also	O
feature	O
a	O
split-screen	O
competitive	O
mode	O
in	O
which	O
two	O
players	O
race	O
to	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
stage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
Sega	O
commissioned	O
Masato	O
Nakamura	O
,	O
bassist	O
and	O
songwriter	O
of	O
the	O
J-pop	O
band	O
Dreams	O
Come	O
True	O
,	O
to	O
compose	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nakamura	O
returned	O
to	O
compose	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dreams	O
Come	O
True	O
owns	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
Nakamura	O
's	O
score	O
,	O
which	O
created	O
problems	O
when	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Spinball	I-Application
team	O
used	O
his	O
Sonic	B-Application
theme	O
music	O
without	O
permission	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
,	O
two	O
soundtracks	O
were	O
composed	O
;	O
the	O
original	O
,	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
Japanese	O
and	O
European	O
releases	O
,	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Naofumi	O
Hataya	O
and	O
Masafumi	O
Ogata	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
North	O
American	O
score	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Spencer	O
Nilsen	O
,	O
David	O
Young	O
,	O
and	O
Mark	O
Crew	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
number	O
of	O
composers	O
contributed	O
to	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
score	O
,	O
including	O
Sega	O
sound	O
staff	O
and	O
independent	O
contractors	O
recruited	O
to	O
finish	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
schedule	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
conflicting	O
sources	O
,	O
American	O
pop	O
musician	O
Michael	O
Jackson	O
,	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
fan	O
,	O
composed	O
music	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	B-Application
Sonic	I-Application
game	I-Application
composer	O
Jun	O
Senoue	O
worked	O
on	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Senoue	O
has	O
composed	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
many	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
since	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
Blast	I-Application
,	O
often	O
with	O
his	O
band	O
Crush	O
40	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
formed	O
with	O
Hardline	O
vocalist	O
Johnny	O
Gioeli	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
Genesis	O
Sonic	B-Application
soundtracks	O
were	O
characterized	O
by	O
electropop	O
,	O
Senoue	O
's	O
scores	O
typically	O
feature	O
funk	O
and	O
rock	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tomoya	O
Ohtani	O
has	O
been	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
sound	O
director	O
since	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
in	O
2006	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
the	O
lead	O
composer	O
for	O
that	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
World	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Runners	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ohtani	O
said	O
he	O
attempts	O
to	O
"	O
express	O
through	O
music	O
the	O
greatest	O
features	O
each	O
game	O
has	O
"	O
,	O
citing	O
the	O
diverse	O
and	O
energetic	O
score	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
and	O
the	O
more	O
science	O
fiction-style	O
score	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
as	O
examples	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
composers	O
who	O
have	O
contributed	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
include	O
Richard	O
Jacques	O
and	O
Hideki	O
Naganuma	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tee	B-Application
Lopes	I-Application
—	O
known	O
for	O
releasing	O
unofficial	O
remixes	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
tracks	O
on	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
—	O
was	O
the	O
lead	O
composer	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
and	O
a	O
contributor	O
to	O
Team	B-Operating_System
Sonic	I-Operating_System
Racing	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
theme	O
of	O
the	O
2006	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
performed	O
by	O
Ali	O
Tabatabaee	O
and	O
Matty	O
Lewis	O
of	O
the	O
band	O
Zebrahead	O
,	O
while	O
Akon	O
remixed	O
"	O
Sweet	O
Sweet	O
Sweet	O
"	O
for	O
its	O
soundtrack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Doug	O
Robb	O
,	O
the	O
lead	O
singer	O
of	O
Hoobastank	O
,	O
performed	O
the	O
main	O
theme	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
ending	O
themes	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Frontiers	I-Application
,	O
"	O
Vandalize	O
"	O
,	O
was	O
performed	O
by	O
the	O
Japanese	O
rock	O
band	O
One	O
Ok	O
Rock	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Outside	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
appears	O
in	O
other	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
games	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
in	O
Christmas	B-Application
Nights	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
power-up	O
in	O
Billy	B-Application
Hatcher	I-Application
and	I-Application
the	I-Application
Giant	I-Application
Egg	I-Application
(	O
2003	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
a	O
cameo	O
in	O
the	O
2008	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Samba	B-Application
de	I-Application
Amigo	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
characters	O
also	O
feature	O
in	O
the	O
Sega	B-Application
All-Stars	I-Application
series	O
,	O
which	O
includes	O
Sega	B-Device
Superstars	I-Device
(	O
2004	O
)	O
,	O
Sega	B-Application
Superstars	I-Application
Tennis	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Sumo	O
Digital	O
's	O
kart	O
racing	O
games	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sega	I-Application
All-Stars	I-Application
Racing	I-Application
(	O
2010	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
All-Stars	I-Application
Racing	I-Application
Transformed	I-Application
(	O
2012	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
2007	O
,	O
Sega	O
has	O
collaborated	O
with	O
former	O
rival	O
Nintendo	O
to	O
produce	O
Mario	B-Application
&	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
an	O
Olympic	O
Games-themed	O
crossover	O
with	O
the	O
Mario	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Mario	B-Application
&	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2007	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
and	O
in	O
2008	O
for	O
the	O
DS	B-Device
to	O
tie	O
in	O
with	O
the	O
2008	O
Summer	O
Olympics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mario	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sonic	I-Application
at	I-Application
the	I-Application
Olympic	I-Application
Winter	I-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
2010	O
Winter	O
Olympics	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2010	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
and	O
DS	B-Device
,	O
and	O
Mario	B-Device
&	I-Device
Sonic	I-Device
at	I-Device
the	I-Device
London	I-Device
2012	I-Device
Olympic	I-Device
Games	I-Device
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
2012	O
Summer	O
Olympics	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
in	O
2011	O
and	O
the	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fourth	O
game	O
,	O
2013	O
's	O
Mario	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sonic	I-Application
at	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sochi	I-Application
2014	I-Application
Olympic	I-Application
Winter	I-Application
Games	I-Application
,	O
was	O
exclusive	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
following	O
game	O
,	O
Mario	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sonic	I-Application
at	I-Application
the	I-Application
Rio	I-Application
2016	I-Application
Olympic	I-Application
Games	I-Application
(	O
2016	O
)	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
both	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
and	O
3DS	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
brief	O
hiatus	O
,	O
the	O
series	O
made	O
a	O
return	O
in	O
2019	O
with	O
Mario	B-Application
&	I-Application
Sonic	I-Application
at	I-Application
the	I-Application
Olympic	I-Application
Games	I-Application
Tokyo	I-Application
2020	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Switch	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
2020	O
Summer	O
Olympics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
appears	O
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
in	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
crossover	O
fighting	O
games	O
,	O
beginning	O
with	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
Brawl	I-Application
in	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alongside	O
Solid	O
Snake	O
from	O
Konami	O
's	O
Metal	B-Application
Gear	I-Application
franchise	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
non-Nintendo	O
character	O
to	O
appear	O
in	O
Smash	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
was	O
considered	O
for	O
inclusion	O
in	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
Melee	I-Application
(	O
2001	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
too	O
close	O
to	O
completion	O
so	O
his	O
introduction	O
was	O
delayed	O
until	O
Brawl	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
returned	O
in	O
the	O
sequels	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
for	I-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
3DS	I-Application
and	I-Application
Wii	I-Application
U	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
and	O
Super	B-Application
Smash	I-Application
Bros	I-Application
.	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Shadow	B-Application
and	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
appear	O
in	O
Smash	O
as	O
non-playable	O
characters	O
,	O
while	O
Tails	O
and	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
costumes	O
are	O
available	O
for	O
players	O
 '	O
Mii	O
avatars	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Sonic	B-Application
amiibo	B-Device
figurine	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Smash	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
also	O
compatible	O
with	O
Mario	B-Application
Kart	I-Application
8	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
,	O
Super	B-Device
Mario	I-Device
Maker	I-Device
(	O
2015	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Yoshi	B-Application
's	I-Application
Woolly	I-Application
World	I-Application
(	O
2015	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2015	O
,	O
characters	O
from	O
the	O
Angry	B-Application
Birds	I-Application
RPG	O
Angry	B-Application
Birds	I-Application
Epic	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
appeared	O
as	O
playable	O
characters	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Dash	I-Application
during	O
a	O
three-week	O
promotion	O
,	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
added	O
to	O
Angry	B-Application
Birds	I-Application
Epic	I-Application
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
the	O
following	O
September	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
crossovers	O
with	O
the	O
Sanrio	O
characters	O
Hello	O
Kitty	O
,	O
Badtz-Maru	O
,	O
My	O
Melody	O
,	O
and	O
Chococat	O
and	O
the	O
Namco	O
game	O
Pac-Man	B-Application
took	O
place	O
in	O
December	O
2016	O
and	O
February	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2016	O
,	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
expansion	O
pack	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
toys-to-life	O
game	O
Lego	B-Application
Dimensions	I-Application
(	O
2015	O
)	O
;	O
the	O
pack	O
includes	O
Sonic	B-Application
as	O
a	O
playable	O
character	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
levels	O
and	O
vehicles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2021	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
became	O
playable	O
characters	O
in	O
Cookie	O
Run	O
:	O
Kingdom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1992	O
,	O
Sega	O
approached	O
the	O
American	O
Broadcasting	O
Company	O
(	O
ABC	O
)	O
about	O
producing	O
two	O
television	O
series	O
—	O
"	O
a	O
syndicated	O
show	O
for	O
the	O
after-school	O
audience	O
"	O
and	O
a	O
Saturday-morning	O
cartoon	O
—	O
based	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kalinske	O
"	O
had	O
seen	O
how	O
instrumental	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
He-Man	O
and	O
the	O
Masters	O
of	O
the	O
Universe	O
cartoon	O
series	O
was	O
to	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
the	O
toyline	O
"	O
during	O
his	O
time	O
at	O
Mattel	O
and	O
believed	O
that	O
success	O
could	O
be	O
recreated	O
using	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
cartoons	O
,	O
the	O
syndicated	O
Adventures	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
and	O
ABC	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
–	O
1994	O
)	O
,	O
were	O
produced	O
by	O
DIC	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
DIC	O
also	O
produced	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
Christmas	O
special	O
in	O
1996	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Underground	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
to	O
promote	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
DIC	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
adaptations	O
are	O
generally	O
not	O
held	O
in	O
high	O
regard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Adventures	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
comprises	O
65	O
episodes	O
overseen	O
by	O
Ren	O
&	O
Stimpy	O
director	O
Kent	O
Butterworth	O
and	O
features	O
slapstick	O
humor	O
in	O
the	O
vein	O
of	O
Looney	B-Application
Tunes	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
26-episode	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
(	O
commonly	O
called	O
Sonic	B-Application
SatAM	O
)	O
features	O
a	O
bleak	O
setting	O
in	O
which	O
Eggman	O
has	O
conquered	O
the	O
world	O
,	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
is	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
a	O
resistance	O
force	O
that	O
opposes	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Underground	O
was	O
planned	O
to	O
last	O
65	O
episodes	O
,	O
but	O
only	O
40	O
were	O
produced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
follows	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
his	O
siblings	O
Manic	O
and	O
Sonia	O
,	O
who	O
use	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
music	O
to	O
fight	O
Eggman	O
and	O
reunite	O
with	O
their	O
mother	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
all	O
three	O
DiC	O
series	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
is	O
voiced	O
by	O
Family	O
Matters	O
star	O
Jaleel	O
White	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
Sega	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
collaborated	O
with	O
Studio	O
Pierrot	O
to	O
produce	O
a	O
two-part	O
original	O
video	O
animation	O
(	O
OVA	O
)	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
released	O
direct-to-video	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
coincide	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
Western	O
release	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
ADV	O
Films	O
released	O
the	O
OVA	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
as	O
a	O
55-minute	O
film	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Movie	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Produced	O
with	O
input	O
from	O
Naka	O
and	O
Ohshima	O
,	O
the	O
OVA	O
is	O
loosely	O
based	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
,	O
with	O
elements	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
3	O
,	O
and	O
recounts	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
efforts	O
to	O
stop	O
a	O
generator	O
taken	O
over	O
by	O
Eggman	O
from	O
exploding	O
and	O
destroying	O
their	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Club	O
said	O
the	O
OVA	O
was	O
"	O
the	O
only	O
cartoon	O
to	O
adapt	O
the	O
look	O
,	O
sound	O
,	O
and	O
feel	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
"	O
,	O
with	O
familiar	O
scenes	O
and	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
X	O
,	O
an	O
anime	O
series	O
produced	O
by	O
TMS	O
Entertainment	O
and	O
overseen	O
by	O
Naka	O
,	O
ran	O
for	O
three	O
seasons	O
(	O
78	O
episodes	O
)	O
from	O
2003	O
to	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
previous	O
series	O
 '	O
episodes	O
feature	O
self-contained	O
plots	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
X	O
tells	O
a	O
single	O
serialized	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
cast	O
teleports	O
from	O
their	O
home	O
planet	O
to	O
Earth	O
during	O
a	O
scuffle	O
with	O
Eggman	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
meet	O
a	O
human	O
boy	O
,	O
Chris	O
Thorndyke	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
course	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
his	O
friends	O
attempt	O
to	O
return	O
to	O
their	O
world	O
while	O
fighting	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
second	O
season	O
adapts	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
games	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Battle	I-Application
,	O
while	O
the	O
third	O
season	O
sees	O
the	O
friends	O
return	O
with	O
Chris	O
to	O
their	O
world	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
enter	O
outer	O
space	O
and	O
fight	O
an	O
army	O
of	O
aliens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
critics	O
enjoyed	O
Sonic	B-Application
X	O
,	O
while	O
others	O
disliked	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
it	O
suffered	O
from	O
poor	O
ratings	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
X	O
consistently	O
topped	O
ratings	O
for	O
its	O
timeslot	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
and	O
France	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
,	O
a	O
computer-animated	O
series	O
produced	O
by	O
Sega	O
and	O
Genao	O
Productions	O
,	O
premiered	O
on	O
Cartoon	O
Network	O
in	O
November	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
features	O
a	O
satirical	O
take	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
mythos	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
franchise	O
's	O
cast	O
was	O
redesigned	O
for	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Iizuka	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
came	O
about	O
as	O
a	O
desire	O
to	O
appeal	O
more	O
to	O
Western	O
audiences	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
ran	O
parallel	O
with	O
the	O
main	O
Sonic	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
lasted	O
for	O
two	O
seasons	O
and	O
the	O
last	O
episode	O
aired	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2020	O
,	O
Sega	O
brand	O
officer	O
Ivo	O
Gerscovich	O
stated	O
that	O
no	O
further	O
episodes	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
would	O
be	O
produced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
promote	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Plus	O
(	O
2018	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
five-part	O
series	O
of	O
animated	O
shorts	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
Adventures	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
YouTube	B-General_Concept
channel	I-General_Concept
between	O
March	O
30	O
and	O
July	O
17	O
,	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
series	O
depicts	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
return	O
to	O
his	O
world	O
following	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
,	O
teaming	O
up	O
with	O
his	O
friends	O
to	O
prevent	O
Eggman	O
and	O
Metal	O
Sonic	B-Application
from	O
collecting	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	B-Language
and	O
Master	O
Emerald	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
shorts	O
were	O
written	O
and	O
directed	O
by	O
Tyson	O
Hesse	O
,	O
who	O
created	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
opening	O
cutscene	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
Hesse	O
produced	O
a	O
two-part	O
animated	O
series	O
to	O
tie	O
in	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Team	B-Operating_System
Sonic	I-Operating_System
Racing	I-Operating_System
in	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
also	O
appeared	O
as	O
guest	O
stars	O
in	O
OK	B-Application
K.O.	I-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Prime	O
,	O
a	O
computer-animated	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
is	O
available	O
on	O
Netflix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shogakukan	O
published	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
manga	O
series	O
in	O
its	O
Shogaku	O
Yonensei	O
magazine	O
,	O
beginning	O
in	O
1992	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Written	O
by	O
Kenji	O
Terada	O
and	O
illustrated	O
by	O
Sango	O
Norimoto	O
,	O
it	O
follows	O
a	O
sweet	O
but	O
cowardly	O
young	O
hedgehog	O
named	O
Nicky	O
whose	O
alter	B-Application
ego	I-Application
is	O
the	O
cocky	O
,	O
heroic	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
design	O
team	O
worked	O
with	O
Shogakukan	O
to	O
create	O
new	O
characters	O
;	O
Amy	O
Rose	O
and	O
Charmy	O
Bee	O
originated	O
in	O
the	O
manga	O
before	O
appearing	O
in	O
the	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
longest-running	O
Sonic-based	O
publication	O
is	O
the	O
290-issue	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
an	O
American	O
comic	O
book	O
published	O
by	O
Archie	O
Comics	O
from	O
1993	O
until	O
its	O
cancellation	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Archie	O
also	O
published	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
spin-offs	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Knuckles	O
the	O
Echidna	O
(	O
1997	O
–	O
2000	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Universe	O
(	O
2009	O
–	O
2017	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Archie	O
's	O
comic	O
drew	O
its	O
premise	O
from	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
television	O
series	O
,	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
a	O
resistance	O
force	O
fighting	O
the	O
dictator	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
written	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
straightforward	O
lighthearted	O
action-comedy	O
"	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
became	O
more	O
dramatic	O
after	O
Ken	O
Penders	O
began	O
writing	O
it	O
with	O
issue	O
#11	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2008	O
,	O
Guinness	O
World	O
Records	O
recognized	O
Archie	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
as	O
the	O
longest-running	O
comic	O
based	O
on	O
a	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
by	O
2016	O
it	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
longest-running	O
American	O
comics	O
in	O
the	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IDW	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
comic	O
began	O
in	O
April	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Flynn	O
said	O
the	O
IDW	O
series	O
differs	O
from	O
the	O
Archie	O
comic	O
in	O
that	O
it	O
draws	O
from	O
the	O
games	O
for	O
stories	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
first	O
story	O
arc	O
set	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	O
Comic	O
,	O
a	O
British	O
comic	O
published	O
by	O
Fleetway	O
Publications	O
,	O
ran	O
for	O
223	O
issues	O
from	O
1993	O
to	O
2002	O
;	O
contributors	O
included	O
Richard	O
Elson	O
,	O
Nigel	O
Kitching	O
,	O
Andy	O
Diggle	O
,	O
and	O
Nigel	O
Dobbyn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
story	O
arc	O
was	O
a	O
loose	O
adaptation	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
in	O
2000	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
39	O
issues	O
reprinting	O
old	O
stories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
cancellation	O
,	O
fans	O
started	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	O
Comic	O
Online	O
,	O
an	O
unofficial	O
webcomic	O
that	O
continues	O
the	O
stories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
1994	O
,	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
signed	O
a	O
deal	O
with	O
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer	O
Pictures	O
and	O
Trilogy	O
Entertainment	O
to	O
produce	O
a	O
live-action	O
animated	O
film	O
to	O
tie	O
in	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-treme	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
1995	O
,	O
screenwriter	O
Richard	O
Jefferies	O
pitched	O
a	O
treatment	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
:	O
Wonders	O
of	O
the	O
World	O
,	O
to	O
Sega	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
saw	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Eggman	O
escape	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-treme	I-Application
into	O
the	O
real	O
world	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
collaborate	O
with	O
a	O
boy	O
to	O
stop	O
Eggman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Sony	O
Pictures	O
Entertainment	O
acquired	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
film	O
rights	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
June	O
2014	O
announced	O
it	O
would	O
produce	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
film	O
as	O
a	O
joint	O
venture	O
with	O
Sega	O
's	O
Marza	O
Animation	O
Planet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
film	O
,	O
written	O
by	O
Patrick	O
Casey	O
and	O
Josh	O
Miller	O
,	O
follows	O
Sonic	B-Application
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Ben	O
Schwartz	O
)	O
as	O
he	O
journeys	O
to	O
San	O
Francisco	O
with	O
a	O
small-town	O
cop	O
(	O
James	O
Marsden	O
)	O
so	O
he	O
can	O
escape	O
Eggman	O
(	O
Jim	O
Carrey	O
)	O
and	O
collect	O
his	O
missing	O
rings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
initially	O
redesigned	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
realistic	O
,	O
with	O
fur	O
,	O
new	O
running	O
shoes	O
,	O
separate	O
eyes	O
and	O
a	O
more	O
humanlike	O
physique	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
such	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
revised	O
to	O
better	O
resemble	O
the	O
original	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paramount	O
originally	O
scheduled	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
for	O
a	O
November	O
8	O
,	O
2019	O
release	O
,	O
but	O
delayed	O
it	O
to	O
February	O
14	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
to	O
accommodate	O
the	O
redesign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Criticism	O
was	O
directed	O
at	O
a	O
perceived	O
lack	O
of	O
originality	O
or	O
ambition	O
,	O
and	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
second	O
redesign	O
was	O
praised	O
,	O
some	O
felt	O
it	O
set	O
a	O
negative	O
precedent	O
for	O
the	O
film	O
industry	O
by	O
giving	O
fans	O
the	O
power	O
to	O
influence	O
the	O
filmmakers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
in	O
May	O
2020	O
,	O
and	O
principal	O
photography	O
began	O
in	O
March	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
features	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
attempting	O
to	O
stop	O
Eggman	O
,	O
with	O
Knuckles	O
 '	O
help	O
,	O
from	O
finding	O
the	O
Master	O
Emerald	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
incorporates	O
more	O
aspects	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
than	O
the	O
first	O
film	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	B-Language
and	O
Super	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
adapts	O
plot	O
elements	O
from	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
and	O
introduces	O
Shadow	B-Application
in	O
the	O
mid-credits	O
scene	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
April	O
8	O
,	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2022	O
,	O
Paramount	O
and	O
Sega	O
announced	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
working	O
on	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
cinematic	O
universe	O
,	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
a	O
Knuckles	O
streaming	O
television	O
series	O
for	O
Paramount+	B-Application
in	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Licensed	O
Sonic	B-Application
merchandise	O
includes	O
books	O
,	O
clothing	O
,	O
soundtracks	O
,	O
board	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
toys	O
such	O
as	O
figures	O
and	O
plushes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2004	O
,	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
franchise	O
had	O
generated	O
more	O
than	O
in	O
licensed	O
merchandise	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
and	O
McDonald	O
's	O
collaborated	O
for	O
Sonic-themed	O
Happy	O
Meal	O
promotions	O
in	O
1994	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
in	O
2004	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
video	O
game	O
franchise	O
promoted	O
in	O
McDonald	O
's	O
,	O
and	O
over	O
Sonic	B-Application
Happy	O
Meal	O
toys	O
were	O
sold	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
million	O
pairs	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
trousers	O
were	O
sold	O
by	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
First4Figures	O
has	O
produced	O
a	O
large	O
number	O
of	O
vinyl	O
and	O
resin	O
Sonic	B-Application
figures	O
since	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2012	O
,	O
Sega	O
and	O
RHM	O
Solutions	O
opened	O
an	O
online	O
Sonic	B-Application
store	O
,	O
while	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Gear	I-Operating_System
began	O
selling	O
Sonic	B-Application
items	O
in	O
December	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
and	O
The	O
Lego	B-Language
Group	O
collaborated	O
to	O
produce	O
a	O
Green	O
Hill	O
Zone	O
Lego	B-Language
set	O
in	O
2021	O
,	O
after	O
it	O
was	O
suggested	O
on	O
Lego	B-Language
Ideas	O
in	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
platformers	O
released	O
during	O
the	O
1990s	O
were	O
acclaimed	O
and	O
have	O
been	O
listed	O
among	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
touted	O
as	O
a	O
faster	O
,	O
cooler	O
alternative	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
World	I-Application
(	O
1990	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Kotaku	O
Zolani	O
Stewart	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
rebellious	O
character	O
was	O
representative	O
of	O
the	O
culture	O
of	O
the	O
1990s	O
,	O
"	O
when	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
individual	O
rebellion	O
seemed	O
inextricably	O
linked	O
to	O
consumer	O
culture	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
in	O
The	O
Guardian	O
,	O
Keith	O
Stuart	O
observed	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehogs	I-Application
emphasis	O
on	O
speed	O
departed	O
from	O
accepted	O
precepts	O
of	O
game	O
design	O
,	O
requiring	O
that	O
players	O
"	O
learn	O
through	O
repetition	O
rather	O
than	O
observation	O
"	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
levels	O
are	O
n't	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
seen	O
or	O
even	O
understood	O
in	O
one	O
playthrough	O
...	O
Sonic	B-Application
is	O
incorrect	O
game	O
design	O
and	O
yet	O
...	O
it	O
's	O
a	O
masterpiece.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
were	O
praised	O
for	O
building	O
on	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
's	O
formula	O
;	O
in	O
1996	O
,	O
Next	O
Generation	O
described	O
them	O
as	O
"	O
the	O
zeitgeist	B-Language
of	O
the	O
16-bit	B-Application
era	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
uneventful	O
Saturn	B-Device
era	O
,	O
the	O
series	O
found	O
renewed	O
popularity	O
during	O
the	O
sixth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
though	O
criticized	O
for	O
its	O
glitches	O
and	O
camera	O
system	O
,	O
was	O
acclaimed	O
for	O
its	O
visuals	O
,	O
spectacle	O
,	O
and	O
varied	O
gameplay	O
;	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
met	O
with	O
similar	O
praise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
journalists	O
began	O
to	O
feel	O
the	O
series	O
was	O
straying	O
from	O
its	O
roots	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
commenting	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
failed	O
to	O
reinvent	O
Sonic	B-Application
for	O
the	O
3D	O
era	O
as	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
64	I-Application
had	O
for	O
Mario	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Stewart	O
argued	O
that	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
voice	O
acting	O
and	O
greater	O
focus	O
on	O
plot	O
changed	O
Sonic	B-Application
into	O
"	O
a	O
flat	O
,	O
lifeless	O
husk	O
of	O
a	O
character	O
,	O
who	O
spits	O
out	O
slogans	O
and	O
generally	O
has	O
only	O
one	O
personality	O
mode	O
,	O
the	O
radical	O
attitude	O
dude	O
,	O
the	O
sad	O
recycled	O
image	O
of	O
vague	O
'	O
90s	O
cultural	O
concept	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Edwin	O
Evans-Thirlwell	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
agreed	O
,	O
writing	O
that	O
Mario	B-Application
's	O
"	O
plucky	O
earnestness	O
and	O
whimsy	O
will	O
always	O
enjoy	O
a	O
longer	O
shelf-life	O
than	O
 [ Sonic's ] 	O
over-compensatory	O
edginess	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
critical	O
standing	O
declined	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evans-Thirlwell	O
summarized	O
further	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
as	O
"	O
20-odd	O
years	O
of	O
slowly	O
accumulating	O
bullshit	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
reviews	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
were	O
mostly	O
favorable	O
,	O
Stewart	O
said	O
this	O
was	O
when	O
the	O
focus	O
on	O
story	O
and	O
cutscenes	O
became	O
unbearable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shadow	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
widely	O
criticized	O
as	O
a	O
misguided	O
attempt	O
to	O
bring	O
a	O
sense	O
of	O
maturity	O
to	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
'	I-Application
06	I-Application
was	O
critically	O
panned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
developer	O
Christian	O
Whitehead	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
changes	O
to	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
formula	O
"	O
stemmed	O
from	O
a	O
–	O
perhaps	O
misplaced	O
–	O
desire	O
to	O
continue	O
to	O
push	O
Sonic	B-Application
as	O
a	O
AAA	O
brand	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Evans-Thirlwell	O
argued	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
had	O
never	O
successfully	O
translated	O
the	O
momentum-based	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	O
games	O
to	O
3D	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
unlike	O
Mario	B-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
never	O
had	O
a	O
3D	O
"	O
transcendental	O
hit	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Simon	O
Parkin	O
of	O
The	O
Guardian	O
noted	O
that	O
whereas	O
the	O
Mario	B-Application
creator	O
Shigeru	O
Miyamoto	O
reviews	O
every	O
Mario	B-Application
game	O
prior	O
to	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
individuals	O
who	O
had	O
shaped	O
Sonic	B-Application
(	O
Naka	O
,	O
Ohshima	O
,	O
and	O
Cerny	O
)	O
left	O
Sega	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
critical	O
decline	O
,	O
Dimps	O
 '	O
side-scrolling	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
for	O
the	O
GBA	B-Device
and	O
DS	B-Device
were	O
consistently	O
praised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
for	O
Destructoid	O
,	O
Jim	O
Sterling	O
said	O
:	O
"	O
Hyperbole	O
states	O
that	O
we	O
have	O
n't	O
had	O
a	O
good	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
since	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
which	O
really	O
betrays	O
how	O
much	O
we	O
gamers	O
ignore	O
the	O
handheld	O
market	O
...	O
Sonic	B-Application
Advance	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
games	O
have	O
often	O
ranged	O
from	O
decent	O
to	O
superb	O
,	O
which	O
makes	O
one	O
wonder	O
why	O
Dimps	O
is	O
the	O
'	O
B	O
 '	O
team	O
and	O
the	O
inferior	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
is	O
the	O
'	O
A	O
 '	O
team.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
wake	O
of	O
the	O
2006	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
Brett	O
Elston	O
of	O
GamesRadar+	O
said	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
Adventure	I-Application
"	O
managed	O
to	O
keep	O
the	O
 [ series' ] 	O
spirit	O
alive	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Sonic	B-Application
Unleashed	I-Application
was	O
criticized	O
for	O
its	O
addition	O
of	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
gameplay	O
,	O
which	O
IGN	O
Hilary	O
Goldstein	O
bemoaned	O
had	O
"	O
nothing	O
to	O
do	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
whatsoever	O
"	O
,	O
its	O
speed-based	O
platforming	O
levels	O
were	O
widely	O
praised	O
;	O
critics	O
suggested	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
better	O
received	O
if	O
it	O
had	O
focused	O
on	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2010	O
,	O
Sega	O
de-listed	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
with	O
average	O
or	O
below-average	O
scores	O
on	O
the	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
website	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
to	O
increase	O
the	O
value	O
of	O
the	O
brand	O
and	O
avoid	O
confusing	O
customers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
That	O
month	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
4	I-Application
:	I-Application
Episode	I-Application
I	I-Application
was	O
released	O
to	O
general	O
praise	O
,	O
with	O
Goldstein	O
summarizing	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
short	O
but	O
sweet	O
and	O
well	O
worth	O
downloading	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Colors	I-Application
,	O
released	O
shortly	O
afterward	O
,	O
was	O
hailed	O
as	O
a	O
return	O
to	O
form	O
,	O
as	O
was	O
2011	O
's	O
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Evans-Thirlwell	O
considered	O
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
the	O
best	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
he	O
called	O
it	O
"	O
an	O
admission	O
of	O
defeat	O
"	O
for	O
depicting	O
the	O
2D	O
and	O
3D	O
incarnations	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
"	O
together	O
only	O
to	O
remind	O
us	O
of	O
their	O
profound	O
differences	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
World	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
2013	O
to	O
more	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
critics	O
considering	O
it	O
a	O
fresh	O
take	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
formula	O
and	O
others	O
a	O
poorly	O
designed	O
mess	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
games	O
received	O
widespread	O
negative	O
reviews	O
and	O
sold	O
only	O
490,000	O
copies	O
combined	O
by	O
February	O
2015	O
,	O
making	O
them	O
the	O
worst-selling	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
That	O
year	O
,	O
Iizuka	O
admitted	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
had	O
prioritized	O
shipping	O
games	O
over	O
quality	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
enough	O
involvement	O
in	O
third-party	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
Boom	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2015	O
,	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
public	O
relations	O
manager	O
Aaron	O
Webber	O
took	O
charge	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
Twitter	B-Application
account	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Under	O
Webber	O
,	O
the	O
account	O
,	O
@sonic_hedgehog	O
,	O
became	O
renowned	O
for	O
posting	O
internet	O
memes	O
and	O
making	O
self-deprecating	O
comments	O
about	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
's	O
critical	O
decline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
announcement	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
in	O
2016	O
brought	O
further	O
hope	O
for	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
franchise	I-Application
's	O
future	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Journalists	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
true	O
continuation	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	O
games	O
,	O
succeeding	O
where	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
—	O
such	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
Rush	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
4	I-Application
—	O
had	O
failed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
became	O
the	O
best-reviewed	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
in	O
15	O
years	O
upon	O
its	O
August	O
2017	O
release	O
;	O
Matt	O
Espineli	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
summarized	O
it	O
"exceed[ing]	O
expectations	O
of	O
what	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
can	O
look	O
and	O
play	O
like	O
,	O
managing	O
to	O
simultaneously	O
be	O
a	O
charming	O
celebration	O
of	O
the	O
past	O
and	O
a	O
natural	O
progression	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
classic	O
2D	O
formula	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
called	O
it	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
and	O
expressed	O
excitement	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
future	O
,	O
although	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
,	O
released	O
a	O
few	O
months	O
later	O
,	O
received	O
mixed	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
bestselling	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
franchises	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Mario	B-Application
&	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
alone	O
sold	O
over	O
19million	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
video	I-Application
games	I-Application
grossed	O
over	O
in	O
sales	O
by	O
2014	O
,	O
Series	O
sales	O
and	O
free-to-play	O
mobile	B-Application
game	I-Application
downloads	O
totaled	O
units	O
by	O
2019	O
,	O
and	O
over	O
units	O
by	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1993	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
tied	O
with	O
Mario	B-Application
as	O
the	O
highest-earning	O
entertainment	O
personalities	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
each	O
generating	O
(	O
adjusted	O
for	O
inflation	O
)	O
in	O
digital	O
game	O
sales	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
the	O
sixth-bestselling	O
game	O
franchise	O
between	O
1996	O
and	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Individual	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	I-Application
have	O
been	O
bestsellers	O
as	O
well	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
game	O
is	O
the	O
bestselling	B-Application
Genesis	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
the	O
bestselling	O
Game	O
Gear	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	I-Application
is	O
the	O
bestselling	O
Sega	B-Device
CD	I-Device
game	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
is	O
the	O
bestselling	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
the	O
eighth-bestselling	O
GameCube	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
US	O
and	O
the	O
bestselling	B-Device
GameCube	I-Device
game	I-Device
that	O
was	O
not	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
release	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
set	O
records	O
for	O
being	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
game	O
,	O
selling	O
out	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
within	O
two	O
weeks	O
in	O
1992	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
sales	O
revenue	O
,	O
the	O
original	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
earned	O
over	O
by	O
1997	O
(	O
adjusted	O
for	O
inflation	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
grossed	O
in	O
1992	O
(	O
adjusted	O
for	O
inflation	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
latter	O
being	O
the	O
highest-grossing	O
home	O
entertainment	O
product	O
of	O
1992	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Primarily	O
because	O
of	O
its	O
Genesis	O
bundling	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
contributed	O
greatly	O
to	O
the	O
console	O
's	O
popularity	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Between	O
October	O
and	O
December	O
1991	O
,	O
the	O
Genesis	O
outsold	O
its	O
chief	O
competitor	O
,	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Nintendo	I-Application
Entertainment	I-Application
System	I-Application
,	O
by	O
a	O
two-to-one	O
ratio	O
;	O
at	O
its	O
January	O
1992	O
peak	O
Sega	O
held	O
65	O
percent	O
of	O
the	O
market	O
for	O
16-bit	B-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
1UP.com	O
credited	O
Sonic	B-Application
for	O
"	O
turning	O
the	O
course	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
16-bit	B-Application
console	I-Application
wars	O
,	O
helping	O
make	O
Sega	O
a	O
dominant	O
player	O
and	O
industry	O
giant	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
16-bit	B-Application
era	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
inspired	O
similar	O
platformers	O
starring	O
animal	O
mascots	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
Bubsy	O
series	O
,	O
Aero	B-Application
the	I-Application
Acro-Bat	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
,	O
James	B-Application
Pond	I-Application
3	I-Application
(	O
1993	O
)	O
,	O
Earthworm	B-Application
Jim	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Zero	B-Application
the	I-Application
Kamikaze	I-Application
Squirrel	I-Application
(	O
1994	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Animal	O
with	O
attitude	O
"	O
games	O
carried	O
over	O
to	O
the	O
3D	O
era	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
developers	O
of	O
Gex	B-Application
(	O
1995	O
)	O
and	O
Crash	B-Application
Bandicoot	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
citing	O
Sonic	B-Application
as	O
a	O
major	O
inspiration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Levi	O
Buchanan	O
of	O
IGN	O
,	O
"	O
Sonic	B-Application
inspired	O
so	O
many	O
of	O
these	O
copycats	O
that	O
they	O
practically	O
became	O
an	O
entire	O
subgenre	O
for	O
the	O
platformer.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Thorpe	O
commented	O
that	O
"	O
it	O
's	O
hard	O
to	O
keep	O
track	O
of	O
how	O
many	O
programmers	O
have	O
cited	O
[	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	O
Hedgehog ]	O
as	O
a	O
bar	O
against	O
which	O
they	O
have	O
measured	O
their	O
own	O
work	O
"	O
,	O
while	O
Phil	O
Hornshaw	O
of	O
Complex	O
noted	O
that	O
few	O
animal	O
mascot	O
characters	O
achieved	O
the	O
same	O
success	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
(	O
CVG	O
)	O
magazine	O
also	O
credited	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
with	O
helping	O
to	O
popularize	O
console	O
video	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
where	O
home	O
computers	O
previously	O
dominated	O
the	O
home	O
video	O
game	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
said	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
was	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
reasons	O
for	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
"	O
console	O
video	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
most	O
popular	O
video	O
game	O
characters	O
,	O
by	O
1992	O
Sonic	B-Application
was	O
more	O
recognizable	O
to	O
children	O
ages	O
6	O
to	O
11	O
than	O
Disney	O
's	O
Mickey	B-Application
Mouse	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1993	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
became	O
the	O
first	O
video	O
game	O
character	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
balloon	O
in	O
the	O
Macy	O
's	O
Thanksgiving	O
Day	O
Parade	O
,	O
and	O
he	O
was	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
four	O
characters	O
inducted	O
on	O
the	O
Walk	O
of	O
Game	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
alongside	O
Mario	B-Application
,	O
Link	O
,	O
and	O
Master	O
Chief	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
a	O
Japanese	O
team	O
developing	O
the	O
Radio	O
&	O
Plasma	O
Wave	O
Investigation	O
(	O
RPWI	O
)	O
instrumentation	O
for	O
the	O
Jupiter	O
Icy	O
Moons	O
Explorer	O
spacecraft	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
launched	O
by	O
ESA	O
and	O
Airbus	O
in	O
2023	O
,	O
received	O
approval	O
to	O
use	O
Sonic	B-Application
as	O
the	O
mascot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Eggman	O
appear	O
as	O
minor	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
Walt	O
Disney	O
Animation	O
Studios	O
films	O
Wreck-It	O
Ralph	O
(	O
2012	O
)	O
and	O
Ralph	O
Breaks	O
the	O
Internet	O
(	O
2018	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
Sonic	B-Application
makes	O
cameos	O
in	O
Steven	O
Spielberg	O
's	O
Ready	O
Player	O
One	O
(	O
2018	O
)	O
and	O
Chip	B-Application
'	O
n	O
Dale	O
:	O
Rescue	O
Rangers	O
(	O
2022	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
franchise	O
is	O
known	O
for	O
its	O
eccentric	O
and	O
passionate	O
fandom	O
,	O
which	O
produces	O
unofficial	B-Application
media	I-Application
,	O
including	O
fangames	B-Application
,	O
fan	O
fiction	O
,	O
modifications	O
and	O
ROM	O
hacks	O
of	O
existing	O
games	O
,	O
fan	O
films	O
,	O
and	O
fan	O
art	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Caty	O
McCarthy	O
of	O
USGamer	O
noted	O
that	O
many	O
fans	O
have	O
continued	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
series	O
in	O
spite	O
of	O
poorly	O
received	O
games	O
like	O
the	O
2006	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
,	O
and	O
she	O
credited	O
the	O
fandom	O
with	O
helping	O
maintain	O
public	O
interest	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Notable	O
Sonic	B-Application
fangames	B-Application
include	O
Sonic	B-Application
After	I-Application
the	I-Application
Sequel	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
,	O
set	O
between	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
3	O
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
Dreams	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
(	O
2015	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
satirizes	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
fandom	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
development	O
team	O
included	O
individuals	O
who	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
ROM	O
hacks	O
and	O
fangames	B-Application
,	O
while	O
Iizuka	O
said	O
the	O
character	O
customization	O
system	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
was	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
community	O
's	O
tendency	O
to	O
create	O
original	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Summer	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
an	O
annual	O
fan	O
convention	O
dedicated	O
to	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
and	O
hosted	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
was	O
founded	O
by	O
Svend	O
Joscelyne	O
and	O
Adam	O
Tuff	O
and	O
first	O
held	O
in	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
has	O
inspired	O
various	O
internet	O
memes	O
,	O
which	O
have	O
been	O
acknowledged	O
by	O
Sega	O
and	O
referenced	O
in	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Sanic	O
hegehog	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
crude	O
Sonic	B-Application
drawn	O
in	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Paint	I-Application
,	O
originated	O
in	O
2010	O
;	O
typically	O
,	O
the	O
meme	O
uses	O
one	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
catchphrases	O
but	O
with	O
poor	O
grammar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
Twitter	B-Application
account	I-Application
has	O
made	O
numerous	O
references	O
to	O
it	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
appeared	O
in	O
official	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
Forces	I-Application
on	O
in-game	O
shirts	O
and	O
as	O
a	O
visual	O
gag	O
in	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
film	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sanic	O
also	O
inspired	O
similar	O
memes	O
and	O
parodies	O
and	O
was	O
described	O
by	O
William	O
Moo	O
of	O
Syfy	O
Wire	O
as	O
"	O
perfect	O
proof	O
of	O
the	O
twisted	O
love	O
and	O
appreciation	O
many	O
have	O
"	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2018	O
,	O
players	O
flooded	O
the	O
virtual	O
reality	O
game	O
VRChat	B-Protocol
with	O
avatars	O
depicting	O
"	O
Ugandan	O
Knuckles	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
deformed	O
version	O
of	O
Knuckles	O
the	O
Echidna	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
character	O
stemmed	O
from	O
a	O
2017	O
review	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
World	I-Application
by	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
user	O
Gregzilla	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
fans	O
of	O
PlayerUnknown	B-Application
's	I-Application
Battlegrounds	I-Application
streamer	O
Forsen	O
,	O
who	O
often	O
reference	O
the	O
African	O
country	O
Uganda	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
,	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
Twitter	B-Application
account	I-Application
encouraged	O
players	O
to	O
respect	O
others	O
and	O
donate	O
to	O
a	O
Ugandan	O
charity	O
through	O
GlobalGiving	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sonic	B-Application
hedgehog	O
gene	O
,	O
first	O
identified	O
for	O
its	O
role	O
in	O
fruit	O
fly	O
embryonic	O
development	O
,	O
was	O
named	O
after	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Robert	O
Riddle	O
,	O
then	O
a	O
postdoctoral	O
fellow	O
at	O
the	O
Tabin	O
Lab	O
,	O
came	O
up	O
with	O
the	O
name	O
after	O
his	O
wife	O
bought	O
a	O
magazine	O
containing	O
an	O
advert	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
mutation	O
in	O
the	O
gene	O
causes	O
fly	O
larvae	O
to	O
bear	O
spiky	O
denticles	O
,	O
reminiscent	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
