"Meanwhile a truck is trying to finish what G.U.N started" I can't even begin to fathom how smart, hilarious and throwbacky the joke was. Kudos to ya sir!
Sonic truly has one of the most dedicated fangame communities and It's really admirable. We all like to poke fun at the Sonic fanbase here and there, but I really love how passionate some of these projects can be.
@@moosesues8887 Honestly that'd be interesting to see. It would either be glitchier than Cyberpunk 2077 or the room of sonic games and I'm all for that shitshow
I know you said "one of" but Pokemon: Radical Red is probably one of the best fangames / romhacks I've seen in years , second to Mario Multiverse and just ahead of this game. Not just Radical Red , Pokemon fans have made at least thousands of different mods out of love for the game. Its nice to see your favorite games have a community who knows what they want and how to get it , even if it means doing it themselves.
It’s great to see you transitioning to the video essay content style Haze. There’s a TON of potential for growth and I’m glad to see you capitalizing on it. I wish Rotmg could’ve done the same for us back when we were active on it but this is the best direction for your channel especially if you want to make it full time!
I just wanted to say, "the way he brings his hands up before dropdashing" just makes me think of in the sonic cd opening when he jumps off the peak of a mountain to use the entire thing as a ramp, and considering the love and care sonic fans tend to put into references with their work, I'm willing to bet that was on purpose
Bickuri, you seem to not know about "Sonic: After the Sequel" and it's predecessor "Sonic: Before the Sequel". Fallen Star has taken an almost absurd amount of inspiration from those games more so ATS than BTS and it seriously shows. I really recommend you take a look at both of those games as they're both made by LakeFeperd, the guy who also made the entire StEJ series.
I haven't gotten around to playing ATS (I want to figure out how to get the cutscenes working before I play it), but I've played BTS, and I definitely picked up on a lot of the inspiration. Sapphire Sights reminded me a lot of Hilltop Heights, and the SS Act 1 boss is a big-wheeled badnik with googly eyes, just like the HH boss. And of course, both are the first zones of their respective games. Thunder Turbine has those green and red gravity things that are rather similar to Arcane Altitude, and the silver bars Sonic hangs onto are also present in both. And once again, they're both end-of-the-game zones. Bubble Blossom has a quiet-radio-version-of-the-prior-act's-music before you pass a certain point and the current act's beat drops... just like the start of Sunset Star Act 3. If I were to give a funny nickname to this game, it would be "Sonic Long After the Sequel", because it really does feel like a successor to those games in some aspects. And for the most part, that's a compliment. (And by the way, if anyone knows how to get the ATS cutscenes working, please let me know.)
I knew instantly from the Hill top inspired level that whoever made Fallen Star loved Before and After the Sequel. You can also tell from the amount of Kirby elements all three use in their aesthetics.
@@HumanOnEarth128 Omega was canceled and is riddled with bugs as well as a HUGE difficulty spike that I'm REALLY not a fan of when compared to the original ATS
The ring thing you mention at around 8 minutes in (included in the extra life concept) Sonic's always had this issue - sonic 1 you needed to hold onto your rings for special statges - needed to unlock the good ending. This is still true in Sonic CD though they had the alternate "good" ending condition of exploration over ring-preservation and special stage completion. This was still mostly true in sonic 2 but more forgiving as every checkpoint was a potential chaos emerald and clever play could unlock them all by the end of chemical plant. But by 3 rings were only really important for super forms and lives, as you said. I'd really love to see a return to a "rings matter at the end of the level" formula of sonic.
That's why I've always liked Advance 2's direction of "get more rings to enter top speed faster" with its own Boost state, despite my many other problems with the game. It directly ties rings in with the time attack-focused gameplay of Sonic. It means taking a few seconds to explore can still be beneficial to getting a faster time, and perfect gameplay is rewarded with better results -- but it's not too punishing in that not being perfect prevents you from really unlocking anything. It raises the skill ceiling and incorporates rings organically, without sacrificing the amount of content that a newcomer can experience.
You can actually get all 7 Chaos Emeralds before Chemical Plant in Sonic 2. It even is an achievement in the fan-made upgraded version of the game, Sonic 2 Absolute.
Interestingly, that formula *did* return... in specifically the Dreamcast/GameCube era of games. Sonic Advance 1&2 and Sonic Adventure 1&2 each made you worry about your ring count not because of *game* progress, but because of *Chao* progress. You were given incentive to get a lot of rings because that would give you a lot of rings to *spend* in the (Tiny) Chao Garden. You wanted to build up your ring count not for the extra lives (though that helped too), but because you'll then be able to buy whatever items you wanted in the Gardens, and saving up for some of the *really* expensive stuff was a pain.
For me the first stage act 2 and "Amy, it's cold outside" touched my soul the distant voice clips are so well I believe Taylor said there was a Easter egg about that part of the song/soundtrack.
4:03 - I'm pretty sure that's a reference to the opening movie from Sonic CD, and it was also the turning point for me in this video. Little details like that are what really elevate a game from good to great.
i love your analyses, literally all of them! this is the game I'm using as a reference for my own fangame, Sonic Forces RE-Boosted, which honestly won't be done for quite a few months, but the ambition needs the time and this game was a perfect example of that lesson! I'm still watching the video but it is so far incredible!
I really adore how much effort went into this fangame, and I agree that there should be an limited amount of lives function that players can enable or disable. Other than that, I’ll definitely give this fangame a whirl.
PLEASE make video on the extra life gripe and other retro game design choices and their impact and importance in their games because holy moly, that was such an eye-opening explanation of something I never gave thought to as a kid. Mario always had "easy 1ups" but no one explained why the game around the lives system was what made them easy. It's such an unexplored topic that could help indie developers refine old concepts and mechanics from these retro experiences we're trying to recreate.
This game is exactly what I want from new Sonic game. A fresh, memorable experience with awesome gameplay, amazing music and visuals and great level design. This is my favorite 2D Sonic now. Period.
My most favourite 2D Sonic game of all time (and my most favourite Sonic game in general of all time) is Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Anyway, I'm going to try this fan-game to see what it's like.
Well, not suprising considering you loved BTS, ATS, Spark and so on. I was suprised when I found out this fangame wasn't Lakefeperd's lost gem, so they are kinda similar I guess
Love this guy's commentaries, super insightful and easy to understand, at least to me. After looking at this, I'm definitely giving Fallen Star a try. Even if I'm not that big of a classic fan, the game still looks fun.
completely agree with your take on lives. While the quality of the system will vary from title to title, I always liked them in sonic: yeah I'm never really at risk of getting a game over, but managing to maintain a high ring count and racking up lives was always really satisfying to me, and was a good indicator of how I've improved at the game over the course of my numerous playthroughs (which I think is something most classic sonic fans can agree is the real aim of the game). It is certainly a more discernible measure of your "skill" at the game than the score system, as it requires at least some form of agency.
This game was my first introduction to Classic Sonic, which lead me to the videos on your channel. Seeing you do a video on Sonic and the Fallen Star makes me so happy! You've done an amazing job in all of your videos!
One thing i can really appreciate about your videos is how well you justify your points; I may have a different take on certain attributes on game design and execution but i always feel like youre extremely valid because of how well articulated you can be.
I'm picky when it comes to video essays, but you're just fuckin amazing. Your comedic timing, the sound of your voice, the speed of it, *chef's kiss.* my gosh and even your writing is so sharp witted, I'd play a few lines like 5 times just to let the cleverness sink in, your way of words is like that one good part in a song that makes your whole face squeeze in and say DAAAAYYYM! I'm sorry whAT- Anyway uhh yeah, wow.
Dude I gotta say, you've got the voice to become a top class RUclips gaming narrator. Your vocal chords are literally exploding with confidence and a calm coolness you rarely ever hear people attempt, let alone master. You've got it man keep this shit up! You also make me really want to play sonic again lol
Great fan game. Amazing first playthrough and is maybe more mundane on repeat with an over reliance on Chemical Plant style speedy segments that you mentioned. I noticed that when not looking for emeralds, some stages can feel like they end a bit too suddenly without encountering much of that stage's gimmicks which can make them a little forgettable during some runs. Still an easy recommend for scratching that classic Sonic itch.
I really appreciate how whenever you talk about music in your videos you just let it play for a little while. Sometimes stepping back and letting the music do the talking is the best way to illustrate your points, and it’s fun, too.
You can tell this game takes major inspiration from LakeFepard's own Sonic fangames, specifically Before and After the Sequel, and that makes me love this game even more since I hold them up as some of the best Sonic fangames of all time.
I feel like the best description for the color scheme of this game is something like pastel neon. And that's a really weird combo feeling but it may be the perfect way to encapsulate the '90s nostalgia that Sonic speaks to.
A small detail that I _really_ appreciate, that I don't believe has ever been done in any sonic game where you can transform mid-stage, is the ability to power down if you go under 50 rings. In the past, if you transformed, you were stuck in the super form until you beat the stage or ran out of rings, which could be a potential death sentence if you ran out during a boss fight. With this, you get to make the choice of "do i think i can beat the boss before I run out, or do I risk losing invincibility to be able to keep my rings". a really neat choice, i hope i see it more in other stuff
Surprisingly, this has been done before, but only in Sonic Lost World. in the Wii U version, you could tap the chaos emerald's symbol again to revert back to normal sonic after becoming super sonic, and this was only in this game. The 3ds version didn't even have this, though it would revert you back to normal sonic if you got a wisp, so it balances out there.
Idk about you guys but I was like "man this soundtrack slaps" and I only had gotten go sundown syndrome and I was absolutely vibing, not long after they just hit me with "Amy, It's Cold Outside" I didn't know what to do with myself, I didn't know if I should laugh because of the genius behind that song's name, the fact that it made me imagine Sonic and Amy starring at a Baby, It's Cold Outside music video or the fact that this song SLAPS EVEN HARDER. What a rollercoaster of emotions! Props to everyone involved on this project, you guys rock!
I’m loving the new direction for the channel! You have the perfect voice for video essay stuff, and you already have a ton of practice from the RoTMG dungeon videos so you already got this style in the bag. Been subbed for years because of RoTMG and imma be here watching everything you put out!
This was a fun and valuable watch as a fan game dev too. I remember playing this at last year's SAGE and it was very nice, I remember one of my critiques being that the colours made platforms hard to see too. All sorts of creative ideas on display. Especially giving the boss with 24HP a visual health bar in it's design!
there is truly no perfect sonic games. some are near perfect and others may suck. but we never give up on the blue guy. he can always make a comeback, even if it's not even official.
0:38 -0:46 From menus to cutscenes to in-game sprites and animation TO GOD KNOWS WHAT- *Gets cut off by next speech Dude you're jokes are AMAZING, the cuts make them...100 times better
Thanks for a perspective that was honest, has passion and is clearly coming from a long time fan. This game looks fun! Wouldn't have known about it without you. Cheers.
8:50 triggered some long lost memory in me and a strong emotional response. As a child I definitely got crushed by that thing, _as Super Sonic_ , and learned that you're not fully invincible in that state, lol
Honestly for the rings in the special zone, it should be something like Sonic Rush, where you need to collect a certain amount of rings before you reach a certain part of the stage. As you complete each goal, the amount of rings increase. Overall this fan game is amazing and I love the OST!
Rooting for you to keep growing the channel, I've been a viewer since the ROTMG days. Love the new content even though I have never been a sonic fan, the commentaries still make for an entertaining video every time!
The first stage is a a homenage to Horizon Height from Sonic After the sequel (Made by the guy that also made Spark the electric jester wich you mentioned)
This is the second video of yours I've watched and I instantly love your vocal delivery. Your voice is so clear, punctual and impactful right where it needs to be. Made me sub immediately I could listen to you talk for hours!
Love that you're still doing the video essay/review style for your channel. They're well done with some nice jokes, concise, and feel very professional while still expressing that everything is your opinion. Love it, keep up the good work. Honestly, this is the type of fan game I enjoy finding. One that you've never seen before until one day you find a video for it randomly in our feed, curious you click on it, and find a cool trailer for a cool looking fan game, and then by the end you discover it's already out, and is chock full of quality. Love it when I find a fan game like this. And it makes me appreciate what Mania helped do for the future of Classic Sonic Styled fan games. A lot of Classic Styled fan games can feel the same, with very few things that set them apart, so now a lot of them put more focus on the visual style of the game while also introducing new things to shake up the gameplay. I said this on the last Sonic video, but if we're still on the sonic train, I personally would like to see a review of Sonic Robo Blast 2. The sonic fangame that took the community by storm and would love to see an analysis on from you. Of course if you want a break from Sonic, that is fine by me and would love to see other games covered on this channel. Another great video, look forward to the next one.
I know, its such a great classic sonic fan game. I don’t know how these creators make these amazing masterpieces, like Sonic Triple Trouble 16Bit. I know sonic and the fallen stars has its minor issues, but it’s still amazing and I cherish it for what it is.
Games like these make me wanna create my own sonic fangame sometime in the future. This game looks amazing, music is great, and over looks like a fun experience
Honestly, what really kills this game for me is the level design. I love almost everything else about it, but playing through each level felt incredibly repetitive, and I wish they had taken a few more cues from Sonic 2. The latter manages to be fast, while also incorporating well-paced platforming to break up the speed and more intuitive level design, which doesn't just involve spindashing at the start of the level to reach a higher path (which this game does). Fallen Star manages to be more visually busy while also being more shallow in design. This also homogenizes the feel of each level, and coupled with a pitiful amount of gimmicks per zone, all of this left me incredibly bored halfway through my playthrough For the Sonic fan in me, this game was a real treat. But as someone who really needed something to scratch that Mania 2 itch? It was really disappointing. Great vid as always, its great to see you uploading more regularly.
Never played the game but the section where you showed the game's soundtrack reminded me of sonic adventure's ost, just the variety of genres really brought me back.
I personally think the Fallen Star is pretty cool, I do have my complaints, like the bosses, it's really janky sometimes, and the level design. But it's really amazing, love it, and I know there was love put into this also.
Eh, this game sadly didn't do it for me. The art, music, animations, cutscenes, all of it is stunning. It really looked like something new and refreshing But then I actually started playing and quickly realized this is just Before The Sequel 5. This isn't just well-trodden ground, this is ground that has been so trodden upon that a sinkhole has opened in it. The level design is so dull and uninteractive that it might be worse than BTS and Chrono Adventure. I don't even know how to respond to that. This game left me tired, drained, and feeling dead. No other game has put me in the absolute depths of boredom like this before, I'd rather have something actively offensive like Heroes or Advance 2. At least I can still listen to the OST in Winamp and look at the pretty lights in RUclips videos. Those DO put a smile in my face.
Wait, this is amazing. Really well-communicated and articulate, attention-grabbing and funny, and it's SUPER clear to me that you actually know a thing or two about what makes Sonic as a gameplay pattern tick. Good stuff.
imo it doesn't surpass mania. Most of the levels i've played feel exactly the same with the tiniest difference being a certain gimmick. It's fun but i think mania has better level design.
One thing that sticks out to me about this game's style is its affinity for CMYK colors (cyan, magenta, and yellow) which create a vibrant candy-like appearance. It compliments the cuter edge the style's going for.
Amazing review! One thing I should mention is that Electric Equinox is actually composed by my good friend Misty, not Hollie, he was originally meant to do more for the game but got swamped with other stuff.
Honestly this is now one of my favorite sonic the hedgehog channels, I love the humor, I love how everything is explained, and I love how despite how much he loves something, be still looks at the negatives and touches on them, it’s great. The channel might not be just sonic content, but I will gladly still enjoy it.
I'll always be amazed at people making games like this. They could have easily made a full on new game like Spark the Electric Jester and then they'd even be able to make a profit on it. Really respectable.
I love your style of content. Your opinions are honest, fair, self-aware, and well-formed. The excellent reviews are interspersed with fantastically clever jokes that don't overstay their welcome and the editing is simple but in a way that conveys info without detracting from your monologue. Welp, off to go play this game! Keep up the good work my friend.
I played sonic and the fallen star when someone posted it in discord. I played it and had a blast, the art style was beautiful, the music was awesome, and I absolutely LOVE the cutscenes. 10/10 fan game.
![[DRAGON BALL LEGENDS REVEALS ＆ STUFF] LEGENDS FESTIVAL 2024 Special Edition Part 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mV5bGIswTtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
"Meanwhile a truck is trying to finish what G.U.N started" I can't even begin to fathom how smart, hilarious and throwbacky the joke was. Kudos to ya sir!
I always wondered how they made a truck like that go at the speed of sound.
@@RandomVids0987 I guess one would assume anyone or thing caught in Sonic's slipstream would go almost as fast as he does lol
3:34 it's here btw
I read it at the same time he said it
Were?
Sonic truly has one of the most dedicated fangame communities and It's really admirable. We all like to poke fun at the Sonic fanbase here and there, but I really love how passionate some of these projects can be.
What if Chris Chan made a fan game??
@@moosesues8887 it would definitely involve Sonichu lmao
@@moosesues8887 Honestly that'd be interesting to see.
It would either be glitchier than Cyberpunk 2077 or the room of sonic games and I'm all for that shitshow
@@moosesues8887 it would be a shitty 2d side scroller with mspaint graphics and shoddy physics lol
I know you said "one of" but Pokemon: Radical Red is probably one of the best fangames / romhacks I've seen in years , second to Mario Multiverse and just ahead of this game.
Not just Radical Red , Pokemon fans have made at least thousands of different mods out of love for the game. Its nice to see your favorite games have a community who knows what they want and how to get it , even if it means doing it themselves.
I've always gravitated twords the more surreal dream-like levels in Sonic games, so this one is right up my alley.
This feels like an evolution of CD's style bent towards Mania. Very, very visually rich hybrid.
I always wonder what Sonic would say in worlds like that. Like why not get some dialogue between levels of him and Tails riffing about the worlds.
It’s great to see you transitioning to the video essay content style Haze. There’s a TON of potential for growth and I’m glad to see you capitalizing on it. I wish Rotmg could’ve done the same for us back when we were active on it but this is the best direction for your channel especially if you want to make it full time!
Vars? Woah didn't expect to see you here!
Vars?????
Yeah the direction this channel goes in is great. Lots of quality content
Vars? A suprise to be sure, a welcome one that is
I LOL'd at "meanwhile a truck is trying finish what GUN started"! LoL
18:04 "If you're not wearing a smile by the end of it... I'm sorry." Idk why, but I love the way you said that lol
Said with the attitude of “there’s nothing we can do.” Lol
"Sonic and the fallen star has given me something I desperately needed .... JOY."
I just wanted to say, "the way he brings his hands up before dropdashing" just makes me think of in the sonic cd opening when he jumps off the peak of a mountain to use the entire thing as a ramp, and considering the love and care sonic fans tend to put into references with their work, I'm willing to bet that was on purpose
oh sick he makes the cd rainbows when running on water too, god I love the cd intro and that's such a cool thing
i also thought that
Bickuri, you seem to not know about "Sonic: After the Sequel" and it's predecessor "Sonic: Before the Sequel". Fallen Star has taken an almost absurd amount of inspiration from those games more so ATS than BTS and it seriously shows. I really recommend you take a look at both of those games as they're both made by LakeFeperd, the guy who also made the entire StEJ series.
I haven't gotten around to playing ATS (I want to figure out how to get the cutscenes working before I play it), but I've played BTS, and I definitely picked up on a lot of the inspiration.
Sapphire Sights reminded me a lot of Hilltop Heights, and the SS Act 1 boss is a big-wheeled badnik with googly eyes, just like the HH boss. And of course, both are the first zones of their respective games.
Thunder Turbine has those green and red gravity things that are rather similar to Arcane Altitude, and the silver bars Sonic hangs onto are also present in both. And once again, they're both end-of-the-game zones.
Bubble Blossom has a quiet-radio-version-of-the-prior-act's-music before you pass a certain point and the current act's beat drops... just like the start of Sunset Star Act 3.
If I were to give a funny nickname to this game, it would be "Sonic Long After the Sequel", because it really does feel like a successor to those games in some aspects. And for the most part, that's a compliment.
(And by the way, if anyone knows how to get the ATS cutscenes working, please let me know.)
I knew instantly from the Hill top inspired level that whoever made Fallen Star loved Before and After the Sequel. You can also tell from the amount of Kirby elements all three use in their aesthetics.
play the omega remake with new widescreen cutscenes
@@HumanOnEarth128 Omega was canceled and is riddled with bugs as well as a HUGE difficulty spike that I'm REALLY not a fan of when compared to the original ATS
I really like the toei sonic vibe the sprites have.
The ring thing you mention at around 8 minutes in (included in the extra life concept)
Sonic's always had this issue - sonic 1 you needed to hold onto your rings for special statges - needed to unlock the good ending. This is still true in Sonic CD though they had the alternate "good" ending condition of exploration over ring-preservation and special stage completion.
This was still mostly true in sonic 2 but more forgiving as every checkpoint was a potential chaos emerald and clever play could unlock them all by the end of chemical plant.
But by 3 rings were only really important for super forms and lives, as you said.
I'd really love to see a return to a "rings matter at the end of the level" formula of sonic.
That's why I've always liked Advance 2's direction of "get more rings to enter top speed faster" with its own Boost state, despite my many other problems with the game. It directly ties rings in with the time attack-focused gameplay of Sonic. It means taking a few seconds to explore can still be beneficial to getting a faster time, and perfect gameplay is rewarded with better results -- but it's not too punishing in that not being perfect prevents you from really unlocking anything. It raises the skill ceiling and incorporates rings organically, without sacrificing the amount of content that a newcomer can experience.
You can actually get all 7 Chaos Emeralds before Chemical Plant in Sonic 2. It even is an achievement in the fan-made upgraded version of the game, Sonic 2 Absolute.
Interestingly, that formula *did* return... in specifically the Dreamcast/GameCube era of games. Sonic Advance 1&2 and Sonic Adventure 1&2 each made you worry about your ring count not because of *game* progress, but because of *Chao* progress. You were given incentive to get a lot of rings because that would give you a lot of rings to *spend* in the (Tiny) Chao Garden. You wanted to build up your ring count not for the extra lives (though that helped too), but because you'll then be able to buy whatever items you wanted in the Gardens, and saving up for some of the *really* expensive stuff was a pain.
@@DarkkirbyKRPG you can enter the ehz act 2 boss in a chad super form if you wanted
@@DarkkirbyKRPG and in the whitehead remake
SONIC AND THE MOON FACILITY (Sonic and the Fallen Star 2) IS CONFIRMED AND COMING OUT SOON!!!!!!!!
I know right
It isnt anymore
@@felipepardinimenezes4356 Nani?
@@marmur2909it got cancelled by devs 😢
@@KingCrinkadinkk whyyyyyyy? 😭
For me the first stage act 2 and "Amy, it's cold outside" touched my soul the distant voice clips are so well I believe Taylor said there was a Easter egg about that part of the song/soundtrack.
4:03 - I'm pretty sure that's a reference to the opening movie from Sonic CD, and it was also the turning point for me in this video. Little details like that are what really elevate a game from good to great.
Oh my god you’re right
Fourth time watching this and I never made that connection
I would describe the art direction as Sonic animated by Cartoon Network, everything kinda has this bounciness to it and I love it
I’d say it’s more like SMBW’s art style
i love your analyses, literally all of them! this is the game I'm using as a reference for my own fangame, Sonic Forces RE-Boosted, which honestly won't be done for quite a few months, but the ambition needs the time and this game was a perfect example of that lesson! I'm still watching the video but it is so far incredible!
Is that Sonia or an OC as your PFP?
@@crimsonraiderxv3422 that is my color way of Sonia! I wanted a version that fit my idea of her, so I made my own color set for her!
Awesome
@@SoniaSpectrum looks good
I’m like #100
I really adore how much effort went into this fangame, and I agree that there should be an limited amount of lives function that players can enable or disable. Other than that, I’ll definitely give this fangame a whirl.
PLEASE make video on the extra life gripe and other retro game design choices and their impact and importance in their games because holy moly, that was such an eye-opening explanation of something I never gave thought to as a kid.
Mario always had "easy 1ups" but no one explained why the game around the lives system was what made them easy. It's such an unexplored topic that could help indie developers refine old concepts and mechanics from these retro experiences we're trying to recreate.
This game is exactly what I want from new Sonic game. A fresh, memorable experience with awesome gameplay, amazing music and visuals and great level design. This is my favorite 2D Sonic now. Period.
-am curious if this would’ve been your opinion if this was an official game-
It was kingdom hearts 4
My most favourite 2D Sonic game of all time (and my most favourite Sonic game in general of all time) is Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Anyway, I'm going to try this fan-game to see what it's like.
Well, not suprising considering you loved BTS, ATS, Spark and so on. I was suprised when I found out this fangame wasn't Lakefeperd's lost gem, so they are kinda similar I guess
omg gnidel
Love this guy's commentaries, super insightful and easy to understand, at least to me. After looking at this, I'm definitely giving Fallen Star a try. Even if I'm not that big of a classic fan, the game still looks fun.
completely agree with your take on lives. While the quality of the system will vary from title to title, I always liked them in sonic: yeah I'm never really at risk of getting a game over, but managing to maintain a high ring count and racking up lives was always really satisfying to me, and was a good indicator of how I've improved at the game over the course of my numerous playthroughs (which I think is something most classic sonic fans can agree is the real aim of the game). It is certainly a more discernible measure of your "skill" at the game than the score system, as it requires at least some form of agency.
This game was my first introduction to Classic Sonic, which lead me to the videos on your channel. Seeing you do a video on Sonic and the Fallen Star makes me so happy! You've done an amazing job in all of your videos!
Thank you so much!
One thing i can really appreciate about your videos is how well you justify your points; I may have a different take on certain attributes on game design and execution but i always feel like youre extremely valid because of how well articulated you can be.
I'm picky when it comes to video essays, but you're just fuckin amazing. Your comedic timing, the sound of your voice, the speed of it, *chef's kiss.* my gosh and even your writing is so sharp witted, I'd play a few lines like 5 times just to let the cleverness sink in, your way of words is like that one good part in a song that makes your whole face squeeze in and say DAAAAYYYM! I'm sorry whAT-
Anyway uhh yeah, wow.
This and super mario flashback make me grin of happiness so hard. Both the artstyles are outstanding
2:30 Excellent point. After just coming off of the first game of Spark the Electric Jester, this game gave me an uncanny feeling to that game.
Dude I gotta say, you've got the voice to become a top class RUclips gaming narrator. Your vocal chords are literally exploding with confidence and a calm coolness you rarely ever hear people attempt, let alone master. You've got it man keep this shit up! You also make me really want to play sonic again lol
Great fan game. Amazing first playthrough and is maybe more mundane on repeat with an over reliance on Chemical Plant style speedy segments that you mentioned. I noticed that when not looking for emeralds, some stages can feel like they end a bit too suddenly without encountering much of that stage's gimmicks which can make them a little forgettable during some runs. Still an easy recommend for scratching that classic Sonic itch.
Too bad this is a fan game of a stupid dumb franchise lmao
I really appreciate how whenever you talk about music in your videos you just let it play for a little while. Sometimes stepping back and letting the music do the talking is the best way to illustrate your points, and it’s fun, too.
You can tell this game takes major inspiration from LakeFepard's own Sonic fangames, specifically Before and After the Sequel, and that makes me love this game even more since I hold them up as some of the best Sonic fangames of all time.
Too bad ALL of this are fan games of a stupid dumb franchise lmao
LakeFepard is Brazilian lmao
Brazilian people are weird
That explain why he likes Sonic lol
WTF is wrong with you?
Let me guess. Your gonna say somthing like “Mario is better than sonic lol”
I feel like the best description for the color scheme of this game is something like pastel neon. And that's a really weird combo feeling but it may be the perfect way to encapsulate the '90s nostalgia that Sonic speaks to.
0:43 That's Thing on a Spring, An '80s Commodore 64 game.
A small detail that I _really_ appreciate, that I don't believe has ever been done in any sonic game where you can transform mid-stage, is the ability to power down if you go under 50 rings. In the past, if you transformed, you were stuck in the super form until you beat the stage or ran out of rings, which could be a potential death sentence if you ran out during a boss fight. With this, you get to make the choice of "do i think i can beat the boss before I run out, or do I risk losing invincibility to be able to keep my rings".
a really neat choice, i hope i see it more in other stuff
Surprisingly, this has been done before, but only in Sonic Lost World. in the Wii U version, you could tap the chaos emerald's symbol again to revert back to normal sonic after becoming super sonic, and this was only in this game. The 3ds version didn't even have this, though it would revert you back to normal sonic if you got a wisp, so it balances out there.
2:12 So beautiful I can defy gravi-
Super sonic:launches
Bickuri: **OH MY GOD**
This is an awesome critique to an awesome game. Well done, noting the pros and cons, always being fair.
Good criticism is very healthy
Idk about you guys but I was like "man this soundtrack slaps" and I only had gotten go sundown syndrome and I was absolutely vibing, not long after they just hit me with "Amy, It's Cold Outside" I didn't know what to do with myself, I didn't know if I should laugh because of the genius behind that song's name, the fact that it made me imagine Sonic and Amy starring at a Baby, It's Cold Outside music video or the fact that this song SLAPS EVEN HARDER.
What a rollercoaster of emotions! Props to everyone involved on this project, you guys rock!
i did all the music :] glad u liked it!
Between Triple Trouble 16-Bit and now this game, this is looking to be a great year for Sonic fan games.
I’m loving the new direction for the channel! You have the perfect voice for video essay stuff, and you already have a ton of practice from the RoTMG dungeon videos so you already got this style in the bag.
Been subbed for years because of RoTMG and imma be here watching everything you put out!
Thanks for being a trooper 👍
This was a fun and valuable watch as a fan game dev too. I remember playing this at last year's SAGE and it was very nice, I remember one of my critiques being that the colours made platforms hard to see too. All sorts of creative ideas on display. Especially giving the boss with 24HP a visual health bar in it's design!
2:14 so beautiful I feel like I can define gra- oh my GOD!!!
Gets me every time. 😂
i was here for your old content, and i'm here for your new content too. your videos are incredible
Thank you!
The name "Music To Infiltrate By" gives me "Song That Might Play When You Fight Sans" vibes
This fan game has a lot of potential. I want to see where this goes.
there is truly no perfect sonic games. some are near perfect and others may suck. but we never give up on the blue guy. he can always make a comeback, even if it's not even official.
Always appreciate your perfect radio voice and thoughtful writing
0:38 -0:46
From menus to cutscenes to in-game sprites and animation
TO GOD KNOWS WHAT-
*Gets cut off by next speech
Dude you're jokes are AMAZING, the cuts make them...100 times better
I like how you can tell from just from the main menu music that the game has the energy of both classic and modern Sonic games.
Tails with blue shoes was not something I knew I needed but I am incredibly grateful to receive it.
Thanks for a perspective that was honest, has passion and is clearly coming from a long time fan. This game looks fun! Wouldn't have known about it without you.
Cheers.
5:26 for a second I thought that that coconut was a diglett.
The electric shield is really fun to play with in this game. You can go as fast as you want, if given the right level layout. It's insane.
I love this art style. The rainbows, the squash and stretch, the bounce, the sharp edges that seem like bouncing, flowing shapes… it’s amazing.
Immediately got After the Sequel vibes from the artstyle and I love it
8:50 triggered some long lost memory in me and a strong emotional response.
As a child I definitely got crushed by that thing, _as Super Sonic_ , and learned that you're not fully invincible in that state, lol
Gives me strong Sonic After The Sequel. The pacing, cutscenes, levels, everything is similar to that fan game, which is not a bad thing.
I started calling the thunder shield *Tri Thunder* just because of the shape plus it sounded cool lol.
Honestly for the rings in the special zone, it should be something like Sonic Rush, where you need to collect a certain amount of rings before you reach a certain part of the stage. As you complete each goal, the amount of rings increase. Overall this fan game is amazing and I love the OST!
It's very funny to me how Sonic blinks with his pupil on the title screen instead of using his eyelids
Rooting for you to keep growing the channel, I've been a viewer since the ROTMG days. Love the new content even though I have never been a sonic fan, the commentaries still make for an entertaining video every time!
The first stage is a a homenage to Horizon Height from Sonic After the sequel (Made by the guy that also made Spark the electric jester wich you mentioned)
This is the second video of yours I've watched and I instantly love your vocal delivery. Your voice is so clear, punctual and impactful right where it needs to be. Made me sub immediately I could listen to you talk for hours!
"physics are on point" sonic running on the ceiling in the background
Love that you're still doing the video essay/review style for your channel. They're well done with some nice jokes, concise, and feel very professional while still expressing that everything is your opinion. Love it, keep up the good work. Honestly, this is the type of fan game I enjoy finding. One that you've never seen before until one day you find a video for it randomly in our feed, curious you click on it, and find a cool trailer for a cool looking fan game, and then by the end you discover it's already out, and is chock full of quality. Love it when I find a fan game like this. And it makes me appreciate what Mania helped do for the future of Classic Sonic Styled fan games. A lot of Classic Styled fan games can feel the same, with very few things that set them apart, so now a lot of them put more focus on the visual style of the game while also introducing new things to shake up the gameplay.
I said this on the last Sonic video, but if we're still on the sonic train, I personally would like to see a review of Sonic Robo Blast 2. The sonic fangame that took the community by storm and would love to see an analysis on from you. Of course if you want a break from Sonic, that is fine by me and would love to see other games covered on this channel.
Another great video, look forward to the next one.
You're telling me this is a year old, and I was never told about this game.
also mania is 6 YEARS OLD. what
"Spark The Electric Jester Elements" I'm sold
This game rules, probably my favorite fan game now.
how can't you love It? Sonic has even his chilodog shoes from Sonic Adventure!
It is a good game even if this story makes me think a little too much to Sonic CD despite the different scenario, but I prefer Modern Sonic.
It's insane how many views these videos get, I'm glad you're getting the deserved attention even if it's at the cost of ROTMG content
6:04 ah yes the only 2 things to smack the super out of Sonic, Knuckles... and these ice guns, yes that is quite impressive.
"Physics are on point"
Sonic: *(running up the ceiling)*
"...Generally."
Since you mentioned it, PLEASE TALK ABOUT SPARK 1,2, AND 3. THE SERIES NEEDS MORE ATTENTION
As someone who isn’t really a sonic fan, your style of video really helps keep me watching. thanks!
cool game! so proud they finished it.
I know, its such a great classic sonic fan game. I don’t know how these creators make these amazing masterpieces, like Sonic Triple Trouble 16Bit.
I know sonic and the fallen stars has its minor issues, but it’s still amazing and I cherish it for what it is.
I'm already waiting for the Triple Trouble 16-Bit video.
Man, I really wish Nintendo would let their fanbase make cool games like this. Well, you know what they say...
"Sega does what Nintendon't"
Games like these make me wanna create my own sonic fangame sometime in the future. This game looks amazing, music is great, and over looks like a fun experience
Honestly, what really kills this game for me is the level design. I love almost everything else about it, but playing through each level felt incredibly repetitive, and I wish they had taken a few more cues from Sonic 2. The latter manages to be fast, while also incorporating well-paced platforming to break up the speed and more intuitive level design, which doesn't just involve spindashing at the start of the level to reach a higher path (which this game does). Fallen Star manages to be more visually busy while also being more shallow in design. This also homogenizes the feel of each level, and coupled with a pitiful amount of gimmicks per zone, all of this left me incredibly bored halfway through my playthrough
For the Sonic fan in me, this game was a real treat. But as someone who really needed something to scratch that Mania 2 itch? It was really disappointing.
Great vid as always, its great to see you uploading more regularly.
Never played the game but the section where you showed the game's soundtrack reminded me of sonic adventure's ost, just the variety of genres really brought me back.
I personally think the Fallen Star is pretty cool, I do have my complaints, like the bosses, it's really janky sometimes, and the level design. But it's really amazing, love it, and I know there was love put into this also.
"Amy, it's cold outside"
Genius name.
Eh, this game sadly didn't do it for me. The art, music, animations, cutscenes, all of it is stunning. It really looked like something new and refreshing
But then I actually started playing and quickly realized this is just Before The Sequel 5. This isn't just well-trodden ground, this is ground that has been so trodden upon that a sinkhole has opened in it. The level design is so dull and uninteractive that it might be worse than BTS and Chrono Adventure. I don't even know how to respond to that. This game left me tired, drained, and feeling dead. No other game has put me in the absolute depths of boredom like this before, I'd rather have something actively offensive like Heroes or Advance 2.
At least I can still listen to the OST in Winamp and look at the pretty lights in RUclips videos. Those DO put a smile in my face.
I 100% agree, the game has a lot of problems that make it more of a annoyance then a fun experience.
Wait, this is amazing. Really well-communicated and articulate, attention-grabbing and funny, and it's SUPER clear to me that you actually know a thing or two about what makes Sonic as a gameplay pattern tick. Good stuff.
imo it doesn't surpass mania. Most of the levels i've played feel exactly the same with the tiniest difference being a certain gimmick. It's fun but i think mania has better level design.
One thing that sticks out to me about this game's style is its affinity for CMYK colors (cyan, magenta, and yellow) which create a vibrant candy-like appearance. It compliments the cuter edge the style's going for.
The waffle house has found it's new host.
The waffle house has found its new host
Amazing review! One thing I should mention is that Electric Equinox is actually composed by my good friend Misty, not Hollie, he was originally meant to do more for the game but got swamped with other stuff.
Honestly this is now one of my favorite sonic the hedgehog channels, I love the humor, I love how everything is explained, and I love how despite how much he loves something, be still looks at the negatives and touches on them, it’s great. The channel might not be just sonic content, but I will gladly still enjoy it.
I'll always be amazed at people making games like this. They could have easily made a full on new game like Spark the Electric Jester and then they'd even be able to make a profit on it. Really respectable.
Goosebumps upon looking at that title.
And OH MY the "Mess em Up" intro to the final true boss was kinda epic ngl
The fallen star sounds like a Kirby title and i love it
I’ve watched this review multiple times over the past couple years, great watch every time
"Amy, It's cold outside" is such a genius song name and I love it so much. Music to Infiltrate is aswell
Also something just as savage as p06 you pointed out is spark 3 trailers which showed more than frontiers the same day
Thanks for the channel. I wouldn't have had any idea where to start with all these titles, even the official releases
I love your style of content. Your opinions are honest, fair, self-aware, and well-formed. The excellent reviews are interspersed with fantastically clever jokes that don't overstay their welcome and the editing is simple but in a way that conveys info without detracting from your monologue. Welp, off to go play this game! Keep up the good work my friend.
When i first saw this game, i legitemetly thought it was a 2.5d game, THAT'S how good the artstyle is.
3:52 -3:58
😂😂😂😂😂😂
"I will DESTROY every last one of you- (meinwhile: Sonic's dying)"
a new bickuribox12 video makes me smile
I played sonic and the fallen star when someone posted it in discord. I played it and had a blast, the art style was beautiful, the music was awesome, and I absolutely LOVE the cutscenes. 10/10 fan game.
One of the best Sonic games I've played, also Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit is kickers too.
This actually made me get the game and it is EXTREMELY fun!
"Amy, It's Cold Outside" is the best snow level song name in any sonic game, official or otherwise, PERIOD