I think the logic for mainline is simple: - treated as a big release - Has sonic as the mai/prominent character - Developed by sonic team AND familiar gameplay (boost/2D) - Introduces something that is going to be prolific in the series going forward But just because its not mainline doesn't mean its not canon. So for instance, Rush, Story Books, and Battle are canon but they're not mainline in my eyes. Same for Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Riders, and Sonic Dream Team
I think there's a distinction to be made between Canon and Mainline. In my opinion every Canon game is every game referenced in Sonic X Shadow Generations and any games referencing those games. Every Mainline game is every game that has a level in Sonic X Shadow Generations (excluding the 3DS version) + CD, Mania, Lost World and Superstars.
@@gunman8452 I don't mean like music or trophies. I mean stuff like playable content or stuff mentioned by story. But that that does hold true what you said for the most part.
@@Mudkip971 Mania wasn't made by ST & is clearly a smaller tie in to help lead into the bigger release which was forces so it's factually not mainline. Shadow 05 is a mainline sonic game there's no debate on that. It's the next big release after heroes. SR is supposed to replace the Wii version of 06 they couldn't make cus it would be too big. That's the mainline release for the Wii. It also added very big things to the series like the homing reticle & design elements for the 3D boost games later. It's meant to be mainline & Black knight follows that up as the next big mainline release for the Wii.
I honestly _do_ think that 3D Blast is mainline. • It's primarily a platformer. • Sonic is there / is the main protagonist. • Eggman is there / is the main antagonist. • There's an unlockable ending for achieving a milestone (namely, playing special stages to get the Chaos Emeralds). • It's the closest thing the Saturn's got. Bonus points for being released across two consoles at once, and for having two separate soundtracks.
@@julianx2rl Runners is more of an "endless runner" tbh. You might be confusing it with Rivals, which are a couple of (1-on-1) Racing games. Either way neither are platformers, yea.
I personally feel intend is the most important for deciding which is which. Whether or not Sega and Sonic Team want it to be a big event or just something to tie fans over is very important. This actually makes Mania A weird exception though. As it's quite clear that it was meant to be more of a fun little side game to the main event of Sonic Forces (Mania was primarily made by a set of fans whose only previous Sonic work was the mobile ports, while Forces had as much of the main team as possible), but Mania was beloved while Forces was panned. And while Sega cannot backtrack and say "this game with the generation/colors gameplay that we hyped up front to back is it even a main event, lol", they can easily backtrack and say "You know, Sonic Mania was also the main event. I mean, it is the successor to the classic trilogy. (Please ignore the game we explicitly called Sonic 4, that was a mobile title we decided to slap a number onto because of New Super Mario Brothers.)" So it's debatable whether or not Mania should count. I guess it depends on whether or not you think "retroactive intent" (for lack of a better term) counts.
Sonic 4 is the only 1 that's legit kinda iffy but I'm willin to say side rather than main. Mania is no question a side game not only for the reason u stated but also cus it's not a ST game
A mainline Sonic game is a game that has significant impact to the series, games like SA1, and SA2 are mainline, but games like Sonic rush arent as they are clearly just side games
@@hamstersandwich9917 it's not, as it introduced, yes, the BOOST GAUGE, and teo very important characters in the series: Blaze and Eggman Nega. And the Sol Dimension.
@CauaFriendsOficial while it's true that Rush introduced the boost gauge, calling blaze and Nega very important is a stretch tbh. I love Blaze as much as the next person but her impact on the series doesn't go beyond those games as she doesnt come back Beyond references and sponoffs. She's in mostly popular in the fanbase rather than the series as a whole. Nega is also pretty forgettable as a character as he's just a pallette swap eggman.
Ok, it seems people are confusing mainline with canon (except with the people who considers anything mainline), a mainline Sonic game should be the games that are a plataformer and had a big budget for its time, but this would collide with some games, those are: Sonic CD, Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Boom. Idk what to think for Sonic 4 EP 1 and 2, bc they were supposed to be mobile games (at least the first episode). 8:20 i agree with the assumption that this user is making, a mainline sonic game is the game that represents the "Next Big Thing"
I believe the idea of mainline doesn’t matter it mostly depends on what is added to the timeline that sticks. A example would be Silver he first debut in 06 but was then retconned but did appear in Rivals. So I think any new event or characters added to the timeline could be considered as mainline if they are brought back or mentioned again in later games
I will never believe secret rings and black knight arent mainline, theyre both made in house BY sonic team and on a home console, and the story is canon to the sonic universe if im not mistaken, or at least it ties into it in some way shape or form
They can be canon without being "mainline". I chose to call them "side games" in the survey because SEGA themselves gave them a separate label, hence why we call them the "Storybook" games in the first place, but that doesn't make them unimportant.
It doesnt really feel right imo. Theyre def canon but the vibes are literally otherworldy to other mainline sonic games. Maybe if if it was one game instead of a series then itd be mainline but its like the New Super Mario dilemma where the first game was a unique but then branched into a seprate series all together.
I feel like mainline games that have a connection with one another. Sonic Rivals, Rush, Game Gear & Advance Games, 3D Blast, Storybook, 4 Ep 1 & 2, Knuckles Chaotix, Runners, Racing Games, SegaSonic, Dream Team
Here’s my list of mainline sonic games in chronological order - Sonic 1 - Sonic CD - Sonic 2 - Sonic 3 (Sonic Route) - Sonic & Knuckles (Sonic Route - Sonic 3 (Knuckles Route) - Sonic & Knuckles (Knuckles Route) - Sonic Mania - Sonic Mania (Encore Mode) - Sonic 3D Blast - Sonic Superstars - Sonic Adventure - Sonic Advance - Sonic Advance 2 - Sonic Adventure 2 - Sonic Battle - Sonic Advance 3 - Sonic Heroes - Shadow ‘05 - Sonic ‘06 - Sonic Unleashed - Sonic Colours Ultimate - Sonic X Shadow Generations - Sonic Lost World - Sonic Forces - Sonic Frontiers
Interesting video! Honestly what should be considered mainline are the ones that everyone generally agrees on (Classics, Adventures etc) and plus all of the others that have a canon character or expand to the story. Like Battle, Rush with Blaze of course (although it’s weird that it’s even a consideration lol) & etc
I think majority of us can agree that it's set in stone Sonic 1, 2, 3 (& Knuckles) , and Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 are mainline. Probably the 5 most important Sonic games
The boost games are definitely a set in stone as well. I don’t think anyone would argue that Colors or Unleashed aren’t a mainline title, and especially not Generations or Frontiers
@@Grim0XVr also it’s literally part of sonic origins and almost was on mega collection but the sega cd emulator still needed work. It’s very much mainline
I think a good indicator that a game is mainline is that the game is a platformer (obviously) and was released on more than 1 console, because if it didn’t get multiple versions at the start or a port later on, then it‘s probably not that important. Although this alone would leave a bunch of the Game Gear games and Sonic 4 as mainline which I don’t agree with so it‘s not completely comprehensive
11:40 it’s cause of how portable games were treated when those games came out, when the game gear games came out companies that would make them often considered handheld games to just be their own thing, just a way to play the game on the go and not really as a main part of the series, this honestly still was present up until the switch came out but around the time the ds came out companies in general started to treat handheld as being important like game consoles and so portable consoles got mainline games for that reason, it’s why old handheld games are less likely to be mainline then newer handheld games
No he is not. He's definitely quite knowledgeable and very smart, but please don't treat his opinions as gospel. He has some pretty bad takes sometimes
My criteria for mainline are: -Is a Platformer -Developed by Sonic Team -Made for Home Consoles So my list is: Sonic 1, CD, 2, 3&K, SA1, SA2, Heroes, Shadow05, 06, the storybook games, Unleashed, Colors, Sonic Gens, Lost World, Forces, Frontiers, Shadow Gens
The distinction between "Mainline" and "Side Game" for me is a super important thing. Lots of the games people brought up (Game Gear, Advance, Rush, 4, Storybook, Dream Team), definitely deserve to be counted as important to the series, but they weren't neccessarily treated as the "next big step" for the franchise when they were released. Even if I love Rush a lot and feel it would deserve the title, Shadow 2005 released on the exact same day, follows up on major story beats from Adventure 2 and Heroes, and was advertised as a major tonal shift from prior entries. I think being developed by Sonic Team is a very important factor but not the only deciding factor, for example in my survey I put the Dimps games as Side Games, while Mania and Superstars are Mainline.
6:54 also this comment is completely correct they've kinda stated before that a lot of stuff is cannon and even tho a lot of it is remember when sonic x tried to fix some of adventure 1 and 2 issues i feel like that show has lot of cannon stuff like how sonic is drifter he doesn't really have a home but hearing that in one of the tails tube episodes that he sometimes hangs out at tails's homes it makes me think he kinda sleeps there sometimes too but yeah
My logic going into the survey: Mainline - crucial to Sonic lore, canon, and platformer with Sonic as the main playable character (with the exception of Shadow 05) Side game - adds to the lore somewhat, platformer, and canon, and Sonic is playable Spin-off - features a Sonic universe character but either doesn't add to the lore, isn't a platformer, or Sonic isn't a playable character or isn't canon
Actually, gameplay concepts that would be in adventure (such as the homing attack, in the form of a shield) as well as automated loops. In addition, Jun re-used some compositions initally for 3D blast. These two factors point to the idea that Sonic Team likely looked at 3D blast when making Adventure.
You shouldn't have given me the power of the "Do you want to say anything else?" box... I wrote a novel to explain all of the oddcases in my choices. ;w;
To me there's four factors that determine whether it's mainline or not: -Story: Is it canon? Does it bring anything to the table or it's never mentioned again? (This would discard 3D Blast and Sonic 4) -Gameplay: Are the characters running and jumping or are they doing something completely different? (This would discard Riders and Shuffle) -Characters: Is Sonic a main character? (This would discard Shadow 05 and Knuckles Chaotix) -Console: Was it designed to be a home console/pc game? (This would discard the Advance games, the Rush games and the game gear games that got ported to the Master System) Keep in mind, that makes the games mainline, but it doesn't mean they aren't canon. Also, you could make an argument Shadow Gens is canon because it actually comes bundled in with Sonic Gens, and 06 just erases itself so it would also count.
I think it's funny how this changed over the years. 15-20 years ago 3D Blast was considered a mainline game as it was made as the next big entry and made for the Saturn. Archie and Fleetway has huge marketing for 3D Blast as well as all the gaming magazines. Other games from that time like Triple Trouble, Knuckles Chaotix and Sonic R didn't have that level of marketing, and was considered side games to fill the gap. Sonic X-treme, although canceled was also marketed as the next big entry after 3D Blast. Similarly, Sonic 4 ep 1 and 2 in the early 10s were considered mainline as they were stated to take place between Sonic 3&K and Adventure, 3D Blast already forgotten. Sonic 4 was considered a good game back then, it only sourer a few years later. While Sonic Mania wasn't considered mainline as it was during the time when Classic was considered its own thing. The Riders series was considered a side game not part of the canon, while the story book games were. However, recently Riders has been canonized with IDW and is now considered mainline by SEGA. Story book games are divided, not just in terms of mainline, but even it's canonicity. My personal opinion on the mainline games: Sonic 1 Sonic CD Sonic 2 Sonic 3&K Sonic 3D Blast Sonic Mania Sonic Superstars Sonic Adventure Sonic Adventure 2 Sonic Heroes Shadow 05 Sonic 06 Sonic and Secret Rings Sonic Unleashed Sonic and the Black Knight Sonic Gens Shadow Gens Sonic Lost World Sonic Forces Sonic Frontiers Sonic Dream Team Other games not mainline, but still important to it. Sonic Chaos, Sonic Triple Trouble, Sonic Pocket Adventure, Sonic Advance 1, 2, 3, Sonic Rush, Rush Adventure, Rivals 1, 2 and the Riders series somewhere in the timeline.
My mainline Sonic game list (no hate please) Sonic 1 Sonic CD Sonic 2 Sonic Chaos Sonic 3 & Knuckles Sonic Triple Trouble Sonic 3D Blast Sonic Superstars Sonic Mania Sonic Adventure Sonic Adventure 2 Sonic Heroes Shadow 05 Sonic 06 Sonic Unleashed Secret Rings Black Knight Colors Generations (+Shadow Gens) Lost World Forces Dream Team Frontiers
For my survey inputs, I just put in everything that has been established to have happened/have to have happened as mainline. I figured it meant in terms of importance for the Sonic universe/lore and could be interchanged with canon.
I think that any Sonic game when playing as Sonic, where the gameplay is about traditional platforming (in 2D or 3D) and the goal is to get to the end of each (non-boss) stage is what I'd consider mainline. This definition only bothers me in regard to the Boom games, as that is how those games play, but they're also undeniably like a spinoff alternate reality series. So they might be the exception to my rule.
i still count sonic r as mainline due to the saturn not having a proper sonic game due to sonic xtreme being cancelled, so for the console to have a sonic game, sega had to work with TT to turn a in-development F1 game into a sonic game, which became sonic r, and other than jam and 3d blast, sonic r is still the only fully original sonic game for the console, and since it was co developed by sonic team and is still a platformer, it should count
Games that introduce characters that have become intrinsic to the series should be canon. All the ones you mentioned in the original video plus Triple Trouble (Fang the Sniper), Chaotix (Espio, Vector, and Charmy), Sega Sonic(Mighty and Ray), Rush (Blaze the Cat) , and Advance (Cream the Rabbit and Cheese).
a lot people forgetting that sonic speed simulator is confirmed as canon and orbot references flicky island in shadow gens so i think we gotta fit those in too
i used to be a "3d blast is mainline" truther though overtime i've changed my perspective. it largely came down to market importance for me at the time, 3d blast was the big sonic release in 1996 and the only "traditional" platformer on the saturn. i similarly considered the handheld platformers (s1 & 2 gg, chaos, triple trouble, advance and rush trilogies, and gens and lost world 3ds) to be mainline. nowadays it comes down to me, to "sonic team developed platformers with lasting impact on the canon that were promoted heavily as their big release that year", so my list now is sonic 1, 2, cd, 3k, adventure, adventure 2, heroes, shadow, 06, unleashed, colors, generations, lost world, forces, frontiers, and shadow generations, with special exceptions including mania and superstars as sonic team oversaw those projects and, at least at this point in time, considers them just as important as their own games (especially mania, given it ties directly into forces) secret rings and black knight i go back and forth on a lot, they fit a lot of the criteria and arguably did have a lasting impact in the form of being the games that the b team worked on before getting to do colors and lost world, but i dunno. they're in an awkward place and sonic team doesn't seem to value them much in the grand scheme of canon despite being pretty big deals at the time.
What separates Game Gear games from Advance + Rush series as mainline to me is whether they push the gameplay of the series forward. Advance iterates over the Genesis games with features like the jump dash + homing attack, melee attacks, air tricks, rail grinding and Advance 2's "Boost Mode", whereas the Game Gear games are more like demakes trying to fit Genesis gameplay on inferior hardware with not many new features with staying power.
A mainline would be stories that all connect to each other as one big universe or something. Spin offs are like racing games, sports, storybook games, sonic boom etc. Side games could be like mobile and arcade games, and maybe the tails games, and the collection games. A game that isn’t a sonic game would be like Lego sets, Mean Bean Machine etc.
My criteria for mainline is the game has to introduce new characters, reference, or continute events/story from past games Sonic 1, 2, 3&k, CD, Knuckles Chaotix, only because it introduced team Chaotix. Chaos ig, I haven't played chaos. Triple Trouble, Adventure games, advance games, heroes, rush games, shadow 05 and sonic 06, sonic 4, unleashed, colors, lost world, generations/shadow generations, mania, forces, frontiers, and Superstars.
I find it interesting that most people consider the handheld Mario games like Land, NSMB and 3D Land to be mainline Mario without question, but don’t consider the Game Gear, GBA and DS Sonic games mainline.
My interpretation of Mainline: Sonic 1 Sonic CD Sonic 2 Sonic 3&K Sonic 3D Blast Sonic Mania Sonic Adventure Sonic Adventure 2 Sonic Heroes Shadow the Hedgehog Sonic 06 Sonic Rush Sonic Rivals Sonic Unleashed Sonic 4 Sonic Colors Sonic X Shadow Generations Sonic Lost World Sonic Forces Sonic Frontiers Everything else is just canon (except Sonic Chronicles)
I agree with the majority of those, but I do want to add that in terms of the endings of all the games, the better ending is the canon ending for me. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Frontiers. For most of the games, the best ending IS the canon ending but for Frontiers, people are saying the original, TRASH, ending is canon. NO. I say the better ending is the canon one, and anything that gets in the way of that I will push through. The original ending sucked and the new one added in the Final Horizon is better, therefore that one is canon, NO QUESTIONS.
Ok so here’s what I consider mainline and I’ll also add my timeline for fun and in case you plan or want to make a spin-off with the “canon”. Okay I consider Sonic ‘91 (It’s an inside joke) , Sonic 2, CD, 3&K, Mania, Sonic Adventure duology, Heroes, Shadow ‘05, Sonic ‘06, Rush duology, Unleashed, Colors, Sonic Generations and Sonic + Shadow Generations, Lost World, Forces, and Frontiers. And also I want to point out that canon is very different from mainline so I’ll say those too, Tails Adventure, Sega Sonic Arcade, Classic Sonic Tetralogy (In order of Origins’ Story Mode) + plus Mania (but not mania adventures/plus bc of the forces retcon), Sonic and Tails duology, 3D Blast, Sky Patrol, Sonic 4: Superstars, Sonic Pocket Adventure (Where Eggman gets his modern suit), Sonic Adventure duology, Heroes, Shadow ‘05, (No Sonic ‘06 aside from the remnants of it in white space limbo), Rush Duology, Storybook duology, Unleashed, Colors, Shadic Gens, Lost World, Forces, TMOSTH, and Frontiers.
Okay, let me put my hat in the ring. 1. Different versions of the same game are cannon if they are different enough. 2. If the Game has no storyline and different gameplay it’s not cannon. 3. Most Crossovers to me aren’t canon, but spinoffs. 4. Sega still acknowledges it from time to time. 5. If the game is based of off a TV Show. So this is my conclusion… Sonic 1, 2, CD, 3&K, Mania, 3DB, R, All GG Games (Other Than Spinball and Mean Bean.), Superstars, SA1, Shuffle, Pocket Adventure, SA2, All Advanced Games, Heroes, Shadow 05’, All Riders Games, 06, All Rush Games (Including Colors DS), Unleashed, Storybook Games, Rivals 1 and 2, 4 Ep1 and 2, Colors, Generations, Lost World, Runners, Boom Games (Technically), Forces, Team Sonic Racing, Frontiers, TMOSTH, Dream Team, Rumble and Shadow Generations!
A mainline game really is : - no racing,fighting,party -made by sonic team -must be on a home console -sonic games that have other protagonist that aren't seen as important (not shadow tho) -games mustn't be on hand helds (ds, 3ds, gba, neo geo) -mustn't be 8 bit
Personal definition of "mainline sonic game " 1: a side scrolling or 3d platformer 2: Playing as sonic the hedgehog is mandatory to complete the game 3: The game was released on a mass market game console aimed at general audiences (so no arcade games, no educational games for babies) Once you fulfill those 3 criteria congratulations! You're a mainline sonic game! You don't have to be canon or good or even made by sonic team! So basically games like sonic 3d blast are mainline while knuckles chaotix isn't because the latter doesn't fulfil criteria 2. Ditto for shadow 05.
For me, mainline games would be The Classics (Including Mania and Superstars) The Adventure Games The Advance Games Heroes, Shadow 05 and 06 The Rush Series Boost Games (Including Shadow Gens) Lost World and Frontiers Possibly the game gear games and Sonic 4 as well as they either don't contradict anything, or have lore important elements.
i consider robotniks mean bean machine and spin ball and 3d blast main line 1 because sonic origins 2 how robotniks mean bean machine (puyo puyo) was in mania
You know that feature that let's one video have a few different thumbnails? What if this video has a bunch of different thumbnails that are the exact same except the comment calls a different game mainline
I consider Sonic R mainline because its the only big release on the Sega Saturn. Its also the first real 3D Sonic platformer (not counting Sonic the fighters)
Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic CD, Sonic 3&K, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Sonic 06, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, Sonic Forces, Sonic Frontiers
I agree there's some ambiguity over what's as Mainline or not, but SO too many of the comments in the video are being way too loose with the term or think it means something else. A game can be canon or contribute to the series's characters or lore without being mainline, "mainline" its what the next main entry was. It can get weird with Sonic 4 (where it's not really the next main title but is ostensibly a sequel to one that was), Lost World, or the 2d titles since generations which is sort of a parallel line of titles to the boost games; but stuff like Advance, Rush, etc just clearly do not count, they're not even made by Sonic Team and have titled subseries! MO, the unambiguous mainline titles are 1, 2, 3&K, SA1, SA1, Heroes, 06, Unleashed, Generations, Forces, and Frontiers. CD, Shadow, Sonic 4, Colors, Mania, and Superstars probably SHOULD count, but I can see arguments against them: CD, Sonic 4, and Mania were all not really intended to be mainline releases at the time I don't believe, but retroactively sort of have become so due to how the series has evolved and framed itself since: CD is now basically an alternate Sonic 2, 4 is a sequel to 3&K as is arguably Mania and either/both can be credited to kickstarting a parrelel line of main titles which Superstars has codified as being major releases alongside the 3d titles, and Colors was made by Sonic team and seems to have been their main project after Unleashed, same with Shadow after Heroes, even if the former was invisioned as a Wii exclusive and the latter doesn't feature Sonic. Both also fit within the gameplay formula the series was establishing at the time. Lost World and the Storybook games I can KINDA see arguements for, in that they aren't that different from colors as a Nintendo exclusive title(s), but their gameplay styles are different and the latter are outright titled as a subseries. I really don't see any other title in the series even debatable counting other then ShadowGens but I think that's too recent to really comment on. As an aside, next survey, I would allow people to select multiple options at once (EX: a game is both a spinoff and a side game, not that I see a real distinction between the terms), and also a "probably is mainline" "is probably not mainline" in addition to "I don't know", which I would call instead "maybe mainline"
My list would be: Sonic 1 Sonic CD Sonic 2 Sonic 3&K Sonic Mania Sonic Superstars Sonic Adventure Sonic Adventure 2 Sonic Heroes Sonic 06 Sonic Unleashed Sonic Colors Sonic X Shadow Generations Sonic Lost World Sonic Forces Sonic Frontiers. One game I could see putting into mainline is Sonic Rush due to adding Blaze who became part of the main cast unlike a lot of characters introduced in hand held game and it being the first game to add the boost mechanic. I think the reason I didn't put it on there is because Sega put way more emphasis on Shadow's game than Rush. It's clear that Shadow was the big game of that year and even now Sonic Team puts more emphasis on that game than Rush with Shadow Generations. Also it's kind of weird but Rush feels more mainline than Rush Adventure despite it being a direct sequel to Rush. I think the reason why is because there's even less stuff that was introduced into Rush Adventure that are really relevant to the series nowadays. I think one of reason Chaotix doesn't feel mainline despite introducing the Chaotix despite also being mainline characters like Blaze is because Heroes both Reintroduced then and reinvented them into kind of characters. The goofy trio of detectives seem a bit different from the characters in Knuckles Chaotix.
the advance games or just advance 3 can be canon or mainline because its referenced later in the idw sonic comics and the comics are considered to take place after forces
Oh wow, I didn't expect to get featured in the vid, haha. I would amend my statement a little bit though. I think if it's a platformer and is not directly referred to as a different branch by SEGA themselves, then it is essentially mainline. Because if it's not a platformer, then it's a spinoff by default, no matter how much their contributions matter (see Rivals and Riders). And if SEGA refers to these games separately, then that also means these games aren't directly mainline, such as the Storybook games having their own unique label (hence why they're called like that in the first place; it's the name SEGA gave them) or Boom failing so badly it fell back into being a separate branch despite being SEGA's vision once upon a time. I insist that all versions of any given mainline game is mainline even if it is not canon, though. The 8-bit versions of Sonic 1 & 2 are still meant to be those games but on handheld, likewise for some of the modern games having DS/3DS "ports". Plus this allows us the leniency to count their direct sequels as some level of mainline as well, as the 8-bit ports are sort of package with the "Sonic & Tails" games, and Colors DS is basically packaged with the Rush duology which itself is arguably also part of a greater whole featuring the Advance trilogy (although I would say Battle is canon but not mainline due to its genre shift; another case of "plot-relevant spinoff" in the franchise really). ... Knuckles's Chaotix and Sonic 3D Blast are weird for me tho, as they're technically platformers and don't have any other labels but are just incredibly bizarre to put side by side with other games I give the label to. Sonic Blast for Game Gear is not in any package deal with the other Game Gear titles so I can at least confidently call that one a side game. Same with Sonic Jam on the gamecom, which I wouldn't want to subject *anyone* to anyways. '^^
What honestly bothers me so much is the Tails games... Sure, Shadow 05 can be debated, but you'd generally get enough evidence that it is indeed a Canon/Mainline Sonic game. And by that logic I also include the 32x title Chaotix (K-Chaotix in the west). But Tails' games are such a departure that even Tails' Adventure is hardly even canon, let alone Mainline... But if you include it, does that mean 90% (if not all) of 8-bit games mainline? If not, that means that Tails is the only character from the main characters that hasn't received a mainline Sonic game. Which is such a crime man... He is straight up the OG deuteragonist and you wouldn't give him a mainline game? Yeah, just a thought/pet peeve that crossed my mind that I wanted to share, Thanks for your videos man, don't ever stop creating
To me mainline is the main adventures sonic went on with friends or by himself and continues a flow even if time travel is included. Side games are sonic and/or friends side adventures that don't really fit in the time line like the story book games, Rivals, battle and Riders. Spin-off are non-canon to the story, if there are no references to it in the mainline games it has no reason to be there.
To my opinion most of the console games minus spinoffs/collabs/ports and mobile. The only exceptions are boom, and dream team being non mainline and mainline as well. All rush games are mainline and advance and battle are too. Also death of sonic, mostly because of the impact of the lore in battle. Emeryl is Very important to project shadow a big part of sonic lore
for me Shadow the Hedgehog is a spinoff the same way the Puss in Boots films are a spinoff to Shrek, sure Puss may be one of the most liked characters, and it was made by Dreamworks themselves, they're not the protagonists of their franchises, so any game where sonic is not one of the main protagonists for me shouldn't be counted as mainline to the games themselves, but the story could be "mainline" to the lore
For me the mainline sonic is all the classic game , early 3d sonic game , rush game , advence game , story book , colors, génération, lost world, force,mania,super star , frontieres , shadow 05 and shadow génération, 06
I don't like considering a game mainline just because it introduced a character that would later become important. If Riders being mentioned in Frontiers makes it mainline, then the IDW comics and Boom should also be mainline because Tangle and Sticks were name dropped as well. Also you really made me do my research with that survey.
I insist that if a game was developed by Sonic Team or not should have no relation to that game being mainline or not, specially because by technicality Sonic 2 (and 3&K too but that's even more convoluted) wasn't developed by Sonic Team at all since the developers had moved to Sega Technical Institute for a few years. SEGA reorganized their internal teams way too many times over the years to use that as a prerequisite.
For me there is a difference between "spin-off" and "canon". Even though "all games are Canon", There are games that can be considered spin-offs Sonic CD and Knuckles Chaotix are classic spin offs that may or may not be canon, being little relevant to the rest of the canon and spin offs. The Adventure saga is a spin-off, which aims to be a soft reboot of the classic games, in turn a kind of sequel. Sonic Heroes is a spin-off of the Adventure saga, trying to combine 3 different gameplays, but without the Chao Garden. Shadow the Hedgehog is a spin-off of Heroes, taking into account the plot of this one and Adventure 2 exclusively Sonic 06 is a soft reboot and a spin-off of the main saga, a soft reboot that takes into account the story of Shadow 05 and Sonic Adventure 2. If you notice, it completely ignores classic games and heroes. Sonic Advance games takes Adventure 2 to form their story. Sonic Rush Take certain events from advance for the story The storybooks do not affect the main story at all. Sonic Colors is a soft reboot, apart from the rest of the games Sonic Generations is an anniversary game, it doesn't affect the rest of the games at all (that includes Shadow Generations, which applied a subtle retcon to build its story) I could go on, but it's exhausting.
imo, any “core” Sonic game is mainline. For example, Sonic Unleashed, Colors, Generations, and even lost world I’d consider mainline. I wouldn’t consider non core sonic games like Sonic and the Secret Rings or Team Sonic racing mainline, though they may be canon.
Here are my picks that I think are Mainline: 1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Sonic CD 3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 4. Sonic 3 & Knuckles 5. Sonic Adventure 6. Sonic Adventure 2 7. Sonic Heroes 8. Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 9. Sonic Unleashed 10. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I 11. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II 12. Sonic Colors 13. Sonic Generations 14. Shadow Generations 15. Sonic Lost World 16. Sonic Mania 17. Sonic Forces 18. Sonic Frontiers 19. Sonic Superstars
The survey doesn't include Sonic Unleashed Wii/PS2 nor Sonic Lost World 3DS Edit: Sonic Unleashed Wii is a different game content-wise and so is the mobile version The level designs and controls and some mechanics like the boost are severely different so it warrants being counted as a separate game
Im not completely sure if triple trouble should be considered mainline. Sure you could argue that the events of s3&k continue into TT, but if that's the case, then why was knuckles tricked by eggman again? You could also argue TT is canon since it introduced Fang The Sniper who hasn't returned until Superstars.
So I’m taking the survey now & when you say Side Games on the survey do you mean self contained story’s that have no bearing on the overall lore like The StoryBook games? Also Sonic N is a port of Sonic Advanced to a Nokia Phone so why is it considered its own game?
to me, I look at it through two different lenses. the first lense is "canonicity;" is the game canon? if it isn't (aka "spinoff"), I disregard it, ignore it, don't give it any attention (even if it is a fun game). things like robotnik's mbm, spinball because of the Archie references, popcorn shop, waku waku, schoolhouse, things that really wouldn't make sense to be canon. after that is where I separate it into mainline or side game. if it doesn't exactly fall into most of certain categories, it's a side game. categories include controls, abilities, level design, etc. I'll reply to this after watching the rest of the video with all games I consider canon, split into mainline and side game categories.
THESE DO NOT REPRESENT MY PERSONAL TIMELINE. THEY ARE LISTED BY RELEASE DATE. The canonicity for some of these are a tad shaky due to a bunch of inconsistencies, but they’re much more canon than the non-canon games, if that makes sense? Criteria for mainline includes: story, gameplay such as abilities and physics, and level design. NOTE: Sonic Boom introduced Sticks the Badger to us, who is now mainline, but those games themselves are not canon. MAINLINE GAMES Sonic the Hedgehog (16- and 8-bit), 2 (16- and 8-bit), CD, Chaos, 3K, Triple Trouble, Chaotix, Sonic Blast, Sonic R (has the same level structure as the 2D games, only in 3D. Each course is like a small zone.), Sonic Adventure, Pocket Adventure, SA2, Advance 1 & 2, Sonic Heroes, Advance 3, Rush, Shad05, Sonic 06, Rivals, SRA, Rivals 2, Sonic Unleashed (SD + HD), Sonic 4 Ep. 1, Sonic Colors (DS + Wii), Sonic Gens 3DS, Sonic Generations (3DS + HD), Sonic 4 Ep. 2, Sonic Lost World (regrettably), Sonic Mania, Sonic Frontiers, Superstars, Dream Team, Shadow Generations. These games hit most, if not all, criteria. SIDE GAMES SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Tails’ Skypatrol, Tails Adventure, Labyrinth, Championship/the Fighters, 3D Blast, Blast, R, Battle, Riders, Secret Rings, Riders: ZG, Chronicles, Black Knight, Free Riders, TSR, Murder of. Chronicles is a side game, but it’s shaky at best. I almost didn’t put it here, but in… Canon spinoffs: Shuffle, Murder of. The only reason these are canon is because they only hit the story. Sonic Origin’s new cutscenes are also canon. Some information gathered from Sonic Runners is canon, but the game itself is not. Non-canon games for various reasons Sonic Eraser, Waku Waku, Cosmo Fighter, Popcorn Shop, Mean Bean, Spinball (16- and 8-bit) Drift, StH’s Gameworld, Tails and the Music Maker, Wacky Worlds Creativity Studio (which shouldn’t even be CLASSIFIED as a Sonic game, but I digress), Drift 2, Schoolhouse, Pinball Party, all Mario & Sonic Olympic games, all Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and sports games, all mobile games, all Sonic Boom games, Runners Adventure, Forces: Speed Battle, Rumble.
Sonic Team did not say the storybook games are outside of canon. Sonic straight up brings them up in Generations. "Straight up only Classic Sonic I respect it" I sure don't. Sonic version of a genwunner.
For me mainline is “it’s not a spin off” and from the title with 3D blast, I don’t think it can be considered a spin off, like I can’t think of how you can reasonably say it’s a spin off
Literally it was the game that was between Sonic and knuckles and sonic adventure, meant to be the bridge between 2d and 3D, as much as it failed at that and isn’t that good, its mainline
Well for me most obviously is: Sonic 1 2 3&K, adventure 1 2, heroes, 06, unleashed, colours, generations, lost world, forces, frontiers My maybes are: Cd, mania, superstars My probably nots are: Sonic 4 and 3d blast
This is what i consider mainline The classic games Adventure 1 and 2 Heroes Shadow Advance 1-3 Rush Rush adventure Sonic battle Unleashed Colours Generations+shadow generations Lost worlds Forces Frontiers Mania + mania plus Superstars Dream team I don't consider '06 mainline because rven irs a very big game, it never really happened because the timeline was erased, im basing it on the lore not game or viewer significance
I think the logic for mainline is simple:
- treated as a big release
- Has sonic as the mai/prominent character
- Developed by sonic team AND familiar gameplay (boost/2D)
- Introduces something that is going to be prolific in the series going forward
But just because its not mainline doesn't mean its not canon. So for instance, Rush, Story Books, and Battle are canon but they're not mainline in my eyes. Same for Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Riders, and Sonic Dream Team
I think there's a distinction to be made between Canon and Mainline.
In my opinion every Canon game is every game referenced in Sonic X Shadow Generations and any games referencing those games.
Every Mainline game is every game that has a level in Sonic X Shadow Generations (excluding the 3DS version) + CD, Mania, Lost World and Superstars.
Pretty much every game was referenced in Sonic Gens though aside the game gear stuff
I wouldn't count mania & u'd be missin 05 & the storybook games
@@nightlydata2181 Those aren't mainline games, but they are canon . Mania is 100% mainline.
@@gunman8452 I don't mean like music or trophies. I mean stuff like playable content or stuff mentioned by story. But that that does hold true what you said for the most part.
@@Mudkip971 Mania wasn't made by ST & is clearly a smaller tie in to help lead into the bigger release which was forces so it's factually not mainline. Shadow 05 is a mainline sonic game there's no debate on that. It's the next big release after heroes. SR is supposed to replace the Wii version of 06 they couldn't make cus it would be too big. That's the mainline release for the Wii. It also added very big things to the series like the homing reticle & design elements for the 3D boost games later. It's meant to be mainline & Black knight follows that up as the next big mainline release for the Wii.
I honestly _do_ think that 3D Blast is mainline.
• It's primarily a platformer.
• Sonic is there / is the main protagonist.
• Eggman is there / is the main antagonist.
• There's an unlockable ending for achieving a milestone (namely, playing special stages to get the Chaos Emeralds).
• It's the closest thing the Saturn's got.
Bonus points for being released across two consoles at once, and for having two separate soundtracks.
That thumbnail is... *wow*
?
What about it?
It looks SUPER good
I think it is every Sonic Platformer that's made by Sonic Team.
I believe that's a fair assertion.
So Sonic runners is Canon?
"But under those terms, are the games that introduced Blaze and Cream spin-offs?"
Uhm... Juh, maybe I should throw in Dimps as well.
@@P._diddy_disciple - It's probably cannon, but I said Platformers, Sonic Runners has platforming, but is not a platformer, it's a racing game.
@@julianx2rl i believe you're confusing runners and rivals
@@julianx2rl Runners is more of an "endless runner" tbh. You might be confusing it with Rivals, which are a couple of (1-on-1) Racing games. Either way neither are platformers, yea.
Glad to be part of the survey! I usually end up missing out on these in other RUclipsr's research, so looking forward to part 3
I personally feel intend is the most important for deciding which is which. Whether or not Sega and Sonic Team want it to be a big event or just something to tie fans over is very important.
This actually makes Mania A weird exception though. As it's quite clear that it was meant to be more of a fun little side game to the main event of Sonic Forces (Mania was primarily made by a set of fans whose only previous Sonic work was the mobile ports, while Forces had as much of the main team as possible), but Mania was beloved while Forces was panned. And while Sega cannot backtrack and say "this game with the generation/colors gameplay that we hyped up front to back is it even a main event, lol", they can easily backtrack and say "You know, Sonic Mania was also the main event. I mean, it is the successor to the classic trilogy. (Please ignore the game we explicitly called Sonic 4, that was a mobile title we decided to slap a number onto because of New Super Mario Brothers.)"
So it's debatable whether or not Mania should count. I guess it depends on whether or not you think "retroactive intent" (for lack of a better term) counts.
Sonic 4 is the only 1 that's legit kinda iffy but I'm willin to say side rather than main. Mania is no question a side game not only for the reason u stated but also cus it's not a ST game
@@nightlydata2181-.-Didn't stop them from floating the heck out of it.
@@michaelkindt3288 ??? I'm lost as to wut u mean
Did the whole survey, really good and made me think about what I think of this messed up continuity
2:54 If we're going off the lost in the description survey, that means one of his hobbies is turning into legos.
A mainline Sonic game is a game that has significant impact to the series, games like SA1, and SA2 are mainline, but games like Sonic rush arent as they are clearly just side games
Sonic Rush is NOT a side game
@@CauaFriendsOficialwhats wrong with Rush being a side game?
@@hamstersandwich9917 it's not, as it introduced, yes, the BOOST GAUGE, and teo very important characters in the series: Blaze and Eggman Nega. And the Sol Dimension.
@CauaFriendsOficial while it's true that Rush introduced the boost gauge, calling blaze and Nega very important is a stretch tbh. I love Blaze as much as the next person but her impact on the series doesn't go beyond those games as she doesnt come back Beyond references and sponoffs. She's in mostly popular in the fanbase rather than the series as a whole. Nega is also pretty forgettable as a character as he's just a pallette swap eggman.
@@hamstersandwich9917 eggman nega i can understand, but Blaze is important (at least on the lore, check the idw metal virus saga for example)
Ok, it seems people are confusing mainline with canon (except with the people who considers anything mainline), a mainline Sonic game should be the games that are a plataformer and had a big budget for its time, but this would collide with some games, those are: Sonic CD, Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Boom. Idk what to think for Sonic 4 EP 1 and 2, bc they were supposed to be mobile games (at least the first episode).
8:20 i agree with the assumption that this user is making, a mainline sonic game is the game that represents the "Next Big Thing"
I believe the idea of mainline doesn’t matter it mostly depends on what is added to the timeline that sticks. A example would be Silver he first debut in 06 but was then retconned but did appear in Rivals. So I think any new event or characters added to the timeline could be considered as mainline if they are brought back or mentioned again in later games
I agree. Wish i could change my answers for the Advanced Trilogy and Sonic Rush series
canon doesn't dictate wut's mainline
@@nightlydata2181 the term mainline is so loose with Sonic it’s hard to tell where the line is
I will never believe secret rings and black knight arent mainline, theyre both made in house BY sonic team and on a home console, and the story is canon to the sonic universe if im not mistaken, or at least it ties into it in some way shape or form
I consider them canon solely based on when sonic says like half a line about evil genies in generations after restoring green hill
canon doesn't equal to mainline tho
They can be canon without being "mainline". I chose to call them "side games" in the survey because SEGA themselves gave them a separate label, hence why we call them the "Storybook" games in the first place, but that doesn't make them unimportant.
It doesnt really feel right imo. Theyre def canon but the vibes are literally otherworldy to other mainline sonic games. Maybe if if it was one game instead of a series then itd be mainline but its like the New Super Mario dilemma where the first game was a unique but then branched into a seprate series all together.
@@hamstersandwich9917 new super mario bros is still mainline tho
I feel like mainline games that have a connection with one another. Sonic Rivals, Rush, Game Gear & Advance Games, 3D Blast, Storybook, 4 Ep 1 & 2, Knuckles Chaotix, Runners, Racing Games, SegaSonic, Dream Team
Good on you for shouting out the people you got the idea of the video from
Here’s my list of mainline sonic games in chronological order
- Sonic 1
- Sonic CD
- Sonic 2
- Sonic 3 (Sonic Route)
- Sonic & Knuckles (Sonic Route
- Sonic 3 (Knuckles Route)
- Sonic & Knuckles (Knuckles Route)
- Sonic Mania
- Sonic Mania (Encore Mode)
- Sonic 3D Blast
- Sonic Superstars
- Sonic Adventure
- Sonic Advance
- Sonic Advance 2
- Sonic Adventure 2
- Sonic Battle
- Sonic Advance 3
- Sonic Heroes
- Shadow ‘05
- Sonic ‘06
- Sonic Unleashed
- Sonic Colours Ultimate
- Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Sonic Lost World
- Sonic Forces
- Sonic Frontiers
Im sure the knuckles story in sonic 3 & knuckles is after mania but before 3d blast
Me on my way to put sonic labyrinth as mainline
Interesting video! Honestly what should be considered mainline are the ones that everyone generally agrees on (Classics, Adventures etc) and plus all of the others that have a canon character or expand to the story. Like Battle, Rush with Blaze of course (although it’s weird that it’s even a consideration lol) & etc
I think majority of us can agree that it's set in stone Sonic 1, 2, 3 (& Knuckles) , and Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 are mainline. Probably the 5 most important Sonic games
The boost games are definitely a set in stone as well. I don’t think anyone would argue that Colors or Unleashed aren’t a mainline title, and especially not Generations or Frontiers
What about CD? Thats Amy’s first debut🫲🤨🫱
@@Grim0XVr also it’s literally part of sonic origins and almost was on mega collection but the sega cd emulator still needed work. It’s very much mainline
I doubt you're going to get a definitive answer with any Sonic fan when it comes to Mainline games
0:29 yo is that me😄😄
No way bro
I think a good indicator that a game is mainline is that the game is a platformer (obviously) and was released on more than 1 console, because if it didn’t get multiple versions at the start or a port later on, then it‘s probably not that important.
Although this alone would leave a bunch of the Game Gear games and Sonic 4 as mainline which I don’t agree with so it‘s not completely comprehensive
6:40 that's me :) thank you for the acknowledgement and compliment
Good job man
11:40 it’s cause of how portable games were treated when those games came out, when the game gear games came out companies that would make them often considered handheld games to just be their own thing, just a way to play the game on the go and not really as a main part of the series, this honestly still was present up until the switch came out but around the time the ds came out companies in general started to treat handheld as being important like game consoles and so portable consoles got mainline games for that reason, it’s why old handheld games are less likely to be mainline then newer handheld games
My list is tied very closely to Pariah695’s mainline list because he is THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON on the subject of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Cybershell exists
No he is not. He's definitely quite knowledgeable and very smart, but please don't treat his opinions as gospel. He has some pretty bad takes sometimes
Doing tricks on it
no he isnt lmao.
@@BBK113 sonic rush trick sfx
I think a side game is like a remake (ex:the 8-bit classic games)
I'm gonna fill the survey
My criteria for mainline are:
-Is a Platformer
-Developed by Sonic Team
-Made for Home Consoles
So my list is:
Sonic 1, CD, 2, 3&K, SA1, SA2, Heroes, Shadow05, 06, the storybook games, Unleashed, Colors, Sonic Gens, Lost World, Forces, Frontiers, Shadow Gens
The distinction between "Mainline" and "Side Game" for me is a super important thing.
Lots of the games people brought up (Game Gear, Advance, Rush, 4, Storybook, Dream Team), definitely deserve to be counted as important to the series, but they weren't neccessarily treated as the "next big step" for the franchise when they were released. Even if I love Rush a lot and feel it would deserve the title, Shadow 2005 released on the exact same day, follows up on major story beats from Adventure 2 and Heroes, and was advertised as a major tonal shift from prior entries.
I think being developed by Sonic Team is a very important factor but not the only deciding factor, for example in my survey I put the Dimps games as Side Games, while Mania and Superstars are Mainline.
6:54 also this comment is completely correct they've kinda stated before that a lot of stuff is cannon and even tho a lot of it is remember when sonic x tried to fix some of adventure 1 and 2 issues i feel like that show has lot of cannon stuff like how sonic is drifter he doesn't really have a home but hearing that in one of the tails tube episodes that he sometimes hangs out at tails's homes it makes me think he kinda sleeps there sometimes too but yeah
My logic going into the survey:
Mainline - crucial to Sonic lore, canon, and platformer with Sonic as the main playable character (with the exception of Shadow 05)
Side game - adds to the lore somewhat, platformer, and canon, and Sonic is playable
Spin-off - features a Sonic universe character but either doesn't add to the lore, isn't a platformer, or Sonic isn't a playable character or isn't canon
Actually, gameplay concepts that would be in adventure (such as the homing attack, in the form of a shield) as well as automated loops. In addition, Jun re-used some compositions initally for 3D blast. These two factors point to the idea that Sonic Team likely looked at 3D blast when making Adventure.
You shouldn't have given me the power of the "Do you want to say anything else?" box... I wrote a novel to explain all of the oddcases in my choices. ;w;
To me there's four factors that determine whether it's mainline or not:
-Story: Is it canon? Does it bring anything to the table or it's never mentioned again? (This would discard 3D Blast and Sonic 4)
-Gameplay: Are the characters running and jumping or are they doing something completely different? (This would discard Riders and Shuffle)
-Characters: Is Sonic a main character? (This would discard Shadow 05 and Knuckles Chaotix)
-Console: Was it designed to be a home console/pc game? (This would discard the Advance games, the Rush games and the game gear games that got ported to the Master System)
Keep in mind, that makes the games mainline, but it doesn't mean they aren't canon. Also, you could make an argument Shadow Gens is canon because it actually comes bundled in with Sonic Gens, and 06 just erases itself so it would also count.
After Sonic X Shadow gens, it feels weird calling Shadow 05 a spin off or side series as its the closest of those games to being mainline
@hamstersandwich9917 fair point, it's the only exception I'd make (Chaotix and the Tails game gear games aren't as important lore wise)
Sonic 3D was just mentioned by Shadow Generations.
I think it's funny how this changed over the years. 15-20 years ago 3D Blast was considered a mainline game as it was made as the next big entry and
made for the Saturn. Archie and Fleetway has huge marketing for 3D Blast as well as all the gaming magazines. Other games from that time like Triple Trouble, Knuckles Chaotix and Sonic R didn't have that level of marketing, and was considered side games to fill the gap. Sonic X-treme, although canceled was also marketed as the next big entry after 3D Blast.
Similarly, Sonic 4 ep 1 and 2 in the early 10s were considered mainline as they were stated to take place between Sonic 3&K and Adventure, 3D Blast already forgotten. Sonic 4 was considered a good game back then, it only sourer a few years later. While Sonic Mania wasn't considered mainline as it was during the time when Classic was considered its own thing.
The Riders series was considered a side game not part of the canon, while the story book games were. However, recently Riders has been canonized with IDW and is now considered mainline by SEGA. Story book games are divided, not just in terms of mainline, but even it's canonicity.
My personal opinion on the mainline games:
Sonic 1
Sonic CD
Sonic 2
Sonic 3&K
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic Mania
Sonic Superstars
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Heroes
Shadow 05
Sonic 06
Sonic and Secret Rings
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic and the Black Knight
Sonic Gens
Shadow Gens
Sonic Lost World
Sonic Forces
Sonic Frontiers
Sonic Dream Team
Other games not mainline, but still important to it.
Sonic Chaos, Sonic Triple Trouble, Sonic Pocket Adventure, Sonic Advance 1, 2, 3, Sonic Rush, Rush Adventure, Rivals 1, 2 and the Riders series somewhere in the timeline.
My mainline Sonic game list (no hate please)
Sonic 1
Sonic CD
Sonic 2
Sonic Chaos
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Sonic Triple Trouble
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic Superstars
Sonic Mania
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Heroes
Shadow 05
Sonic 06
Sonic Unleashed
Secret Rings
Black Knight
Colors
Generations (+Shadow Gens)
Lost World
Forces
Dream Team
Frontiers
Canon and Maineline is NOT the same thing.
Battle is canon but not a mainline game.
For my survey inputs, I just put in everything that has been established to have happened/have to have happened as mainline.
I figured it meant in terms of importance for the Sonic universe/lore and could be interchanged with canon.
4:06 bro really said “shadow 06”
He said. “Heros, Shadow, 06.”
hold up i think 3D blast should be mainline
now you should ask sonic fans which ships are the best/cannon. Watch the fanbase implode
I think that any Sonic game when playing as Sonic, where the gameplay is about traditional platforming (in 2D or 3D) and the goal is to get to the end of each (non-boss) stage is what I'd consider mainline. This definition only bothers me in regard to the Boom games, as that is how those games play, but they're also undeniably like a spinoff alternate reality series. So they might be the exception to my rule.
i still count sonic r as mainline due to the saturn not having a proper sonic game due to sonic xtreme being cancelled, so for the console to have a sonic game, sega had to work with TT to turn a in-development F1 game into a sonic game, which became sonic r, and other than jam and 3d blast, sonic r is still the only fully original sonic game for the console, and since it was co developed by sonic team and is still a platformer, it should count
Games that introduce characters that have become intrinsic to the series should be canon. All the ones you mentioned in the original video plus Triple Trouble (Fang the Sniper), Chaotix (Espio, Vector, and Charmy), Sega Sonic(Mighty and Ray), Rush (Blaze the Cat) , and Advance (Cream the Rabbit and Cheese).
a lot people forgetting that sonic speed simulator is confirmed as canon and orbot references flicky island in shadow gens so i think we gotta fit those in too
i used to be a "3d blast is mainline" truther though overtime i've changed my perspective. it largely came down to market importance for me at the time, 3d blast was the big sonic release in 1996 and the only "traditional" platformer on the saturn. i similarly considered the handheld platformers (s1 & 2 gg, chaos, triple trouble, advance and rush trilogies, and gens and lost world 3ds) to be mainline. nowadays it comes down to me, to "sonic team developed platformers with lasting impact on the canon that were promoted heavily as their big release that year", so my list now is sonic 1, 2, cd, 3k, adventure, adventure 2, heroes, shadow, 06, unleashed, colors, generations, lost world, forces, frontiers, and shadow generations, with special exceptions including mania and superstars as sonic team oversaw those projects and, at least at this point in time, considers them just as important as their own games (especially mania, given it ties directly into forces)
secret rings and black knight i go back and forth on a lot, they fit a lot of the criteria and arguably did have a lasting impact in the form of being the games that the b team worked on before getting to do colors and lost world, but i dunno. they're in an awkward place and sonic team doesn't seem to value them much in the grand scheme of canon despite being pretty big deals at the time.
What separates Game Gear games from Advance + Rush series as mainline to me is whether they push the gameplay of the series forward. Advance iterates over the Genesis games with features like the jump dash + homing attack, melee attacks, air tricks, rail grinding and Advance 2's "Boost Mode", whereas the Game Gear games are more like demakes trying to fit Genesis gameplay on inferior hardware with not many new features with staying power.
My main metric is how much budget went into it compared to other games around that time
A mainline would be stories that all connect to each other as one big universe or something. Spin offs are like racing games, sports, storybook games, sonic boom etc. Side games could be like mobile and arcade games, and maybe the tails games, and the collection games. A game that isn’t a sonic game would be like Lego sets, Mean Bean Machine etc.
Glad you took my idea of doing a survey! But man, doing it I realized there's a LOT of Sonic games.
My criteria for mainline is the game has to introduce new characters, reference, or continute events/story from past games
Sonic 1, 2, 3&k, CD, Knuckles Chaotix, only because it introduced team Chaotix. Chaos ig, I haven't played chaos. Triple Trouble, Adventure games, advance games, heroes, rush games, shadow 05 and sonic 06, sonic 4, unleashed, colors, lost world, generations/shadow generations, mania, forces, frontiers, and Superstars.
I find it interesting that most people consider the handheld Mario games like Land, NSMB and 3D Land to be mainline Mario without question, but don’t consider the Game Gear, GBA and DS Sonic games mainline.
Sonic Labyrinth is the first 3D Mainline game in my opinion :)
I don't think It is
@@goguitos nope, totally the first one bud
My interpretation of Mainline:
Sonic 1
Sonic CD
Sonic 2
Sonic 3&K
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic Mania
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Heroes
Shadow the Hedgehog
Sonic 06
Sonic Rush
Sonic Rivals
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic 4
Sonic Colors
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Sonic Lost World
Sonic Forces
Sonic Frontiers
Everything else is just canon (except Sonic Chronicles)
Where’s superstars in this list?
That would be a spin-off game. Like Advance 2 or Black Knight.
I feel like anything Classic Sonic from Generations-onward is non canon to the Modern Sonic we know now, as if Generations had split their paths.
I agree with the majority of those, but I do want to add that in terms of the endings of all the games, the better ending is the canon ending for me. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Frontiers. For most of the games, the best ending IS the canon ending but for Frontiers, people are saying the original, TRASH, ending is canon. NO. I say the better ending is the canon one, and anything that gets in the way of that I will push through. The original ending sucked and the new one added in the Final Horizon is better, therefore that one is canon, NO QUESTIONS.
Ok so here’s what I consider mainline and I’ll also add my timeline for fun and in case you plan or want to make a spin-off with the “canon”. Okay I consider Sonic ‘91 (It’s an inside joke) , Sonic 2, CD, 3&K, Mania, Sonic Adventure duology, Heroes, Shadow ‘05, Sonic ‘06, Rush duology, Unleashed, Colors, Sonic Generations and Sonic + Shadow Generations, Lost World, Forces, and Frontiers. And also I want to point out that canon is very different from mainline so I’ll say those too, Tails Adventure, Sega Sonic Arcade, Classic Sonic Tetralogy (In order of Origins’ Story Mode) + plus Mania (but not mania adventures/plus bc of the forces retcon), Sonic and Tails duology, 3D Blast, Sky Patrol, Sonic 4: Superstars, Sonic Pocket Adventure (Where Eggman gets his modern suit), Sonic Adventure duology, Heroes, Shadow ‘05, (No Sonic ‘06 aside from the remnants of it in white space limbo), Rush Duology, Storybook duology, Unleashed, Colors, Shadic Gens, Lost World, Forces, TMOSTH, and Frontiers.
Okay, let me put my hat in the ring.
1. Different versions of the same game are cannon if they are different enough.
2. If the Game has no storyline and different gameplay it’s not cannon.
3. Most Crossovers to me aren’t canon, but spinoffs.
4. Sega still acknowledges it from time to time.
5. If the game is based of off a TV Show.
So this is my conclusion…
Sonic 1, 2, CD, 3&K, Mania, 3DB, R, All GG Games (Other Than Spinball and Mean Bean.), Superstars, SA1, Shuffle, Pocket Adventure, SA2, All Advanced Games, Heroes, Shadow 05’, All Riders Games, 06, All Rush Games (Including Colors DS), Unleashed, Storybook Games, Rivals 1 and 2, 4 Ep1 and 2, Colors, Generations, Lost World, Runners, Boom Games (Technically), Forces, Team Sonic Racing, Frontiers, TMOSTH, Dream Team, Rumble and Shadow Generations!
The handheld ones should should be their own thing along with the Wii/U one. Boom is its own thing in its entirety
Every game with a banger soundtrack is mainline
A mainline game really is :
- no racing,fighting,party
-made by sonic team
-must be on a home console
-sonic games that have other protagonist that aren't seen as important (not shadow tho)
-games mustn't be on hand helds (ds, 3ds, gba, neo geo)
-mustn't be 8 bit
I consider the mainline games to be the platformers and everything else to be spin-offs/side games
Personal definition of "mainline sonic game "
1: a side scrolling or 3d platformer
2: Playing as sonic the hedgehog is mandatory to complete the game
3: The game was released on a mass market game console aimed at general audiences (so no arcade games, no educational games for babies)
Once you fulfill those 3 criteria congratulations! You're a mainline sonic game! You don't have to be canon or good or even made by sonic team!
So basically games like sonic 3d blast are mainline while knuckles chaotix isn't because the latter doesn't fulfil criteria 2. Ditto for shadow 05.
For me, mainline games would be
The Classics
(Including Mania and Superstars)
The Adventure Games
The Advance Games
Heroes, Shadow 05 and 06
The Rush Series
Boost Games
(Including Shadow Gens)
Lost World
and Frontiers
Possibly the game gear games and Sonic 4 as well as they either don't contradict anything, or have lore important elements.
i consider robotniks mean bean machine and spin ball and 3d blast main line 1 because sonic origins 2 how robotniks mean bean machine (puyo puyo) was in mania
You know that feature that let's one video have a few different thumbnails? What if this video has a bunch of different thumbnails that are the exact same except the comment calls a different game mainline
I consider Sonic R mainline because its the only big release on the Sega Saturn. Its also the first real 3D Sonic platformer (not counting Sonic the fighters)
Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic CD, Sonic 3&K, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Sonic 06, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, Sonic Forces, Sonic Frontiers
missin 05 & storybook
I agree there's some ambiguity over what's as Mainline or not, but SO too many of the comments in the video are being way too loose with the term or think it means something else. A game can be canon or contribute to the series's characters or lore without being mainline, "mainline" its what the next main entry was. It can get weird with Sonic 4 (where it's not really the next main title but is ostensibly a sequel to one that was), Lost World, or the 2d titles since generations which is sort of a parallel line of titles to the boost games; but stuff like Advance, Rush, etc just clearly do not count, they're not even made by Sonic Team and have titled subseries! MO, the unambiguous mainline titles are 1, 2, 3&K, SA1, SA1, Heroes, 06, Unleashed, Generations, Forces, and Frontiers.
CD, Shadow, Sonic 4, Colors, Mania, and Superstars probably SHOULD count, but I can see arguments against them: CD, Sonic 4, and Mania were all not really intended to be mainline releases at the time I don't believe, but retroactively sort of have become so due to how the series has evolved and framed itself since: CD is now basically an alternate Sonic 2, 4 is a sequel to 3&K as is arguably Mania and either/both can be credited to kickstarting a parrelel line of main titles which Superstars has codified as being major releases alongside the 3d titles, and Colors was made by Sonic team and seems to have been their main project after Unleashed, same with Shadow after Heroes, even if the former was invisioned as a Wii exclusive and the latter doesn't feature Sonic. Both also fit within the gameplay formula the series was establishing at the time.
Lost World and the Storybook games I can KINDA see arguements for, in that they aren't that different from colors as a Nintendo exclusive title(s), but their gameplay styles are different and the latter are outright titled as a subseries. I really don't see any other title in the series even debatable counting other then ShadowGens but I think that's too recent to really comment on.
As an aside, next survey, I would allow people to select multiple options at once (EX: a game is both a spinoff and a side game, not that I see a real distinction between the terms), and also a "probably is mainline" "is probably not mainline" in addition to "I don't know", which I would call instead "maybe mainline"
I also think some people forget that canon doesn’t mean mainline
My list would be:
Sonic 1
Sonic CD
Sonic 2
Sonic 3&K
Sonic Mania
Sonic Superstars
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Heroes
Sonic 06
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic Colors
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Sonic Lost World
Sonic Forces
Sonic Frontiers.
One game I could see putting into mainline is Sonic Rush due to adding Blaze who became part of the main cast unlike a lot of characters introduced in hand held game and it being the first game to add the boost mechanic. I think the reason I didn't put it on there is because Sega put way more emphasis on Shadow's game than Rush. It's clear that Shadow was the big game of that year and even now Sonic Team puts more emphasis on that game than Rush with Shadow Generations.
Also it's kind of weird but Rush feels more mainline than Rush Adventure despite it being a direct sequel to Rush. I think the reason why is because there's even less stuff that was introduced into Rush Adventure that are really relevant to the series nowadays.
I think one of reason Chaotix doesn't feel mainline despite introducing the Chaotix despite also being mainline characters like Blaze is because Heroes both Reintroduced then and reinvented them into kind of characters. The goofy trio of detectives seem a bit different from the characters in Knuckles Chaotix.
the advance games or just advance 3 can be canon or mainline because its referenced later in the idw sonic comics and the comics are considered to take place after forces
Oh wow, I didn't expect to get featured in the vid, haha.
I would amend my statement a little bit though. I think if it's a platformer and is not directly referred to as a different branch by SEGA themselves, then it is essentially mainline.
Because if it's not a platformer, then it's a spinoff by default, no matter how much their contributions matter (see Rivals and Riders). And if SEGA refers to these games separately, then that also means these games aren't directly mainline, such as the Storybook games having their own unique label (hence why they're called like that in the first place; it's the name SEGA gave them) or Boom failing so badly it fell back into being a separate branch despite being SEGA's vision once upon a time.
I insist that all versions of any given mainline game is mainline even if it is not canon, though. The 8-bit versions of Sonic 1 & 2 are still meant to be those games but on handheld, likewise for some of the modern games having DS/3DS "ports". Plus this allows us the leniency to count their direct sequels as some level of mainline as well, as the 8-bit ports are sort of package with the "Sonic & Tails" games, and Colors DS is basically packaged with the Rush duology which itself is arguably also part of a greater whole featuring the Advance trilogy (although I would say Battle is canon but not mainline due to its genre shift; another case of "plot-relevant spinoff" in the franchise really).
... Knuckles's Chaotix and Sonic 3D Blast are weird for me tho, as they're technically platformers and don't have any other labels but are just incredibly bizarre to put side by side with other games I give the label to.
Sonic Blast for Game Gear is not in any package deal with the other Game Gear titles so I can at least confidently call that one a side game. Same with Sonic Jam on the gamecom, which I wouldn't want to subject *anyone* to anyways. '^^
What honestly bothers me so much is the Tails games... Sure, Shadow 05 can be debated, but you'd generally get enough evidence that it is indeed a Canon/Mainline Sonic game. And by that logic I also include the 32x title Chaotix (K-Chaotix in the west). But Tails' games are such a departure that even Tails' Adventure is hardly even canon, let alone Mainline... But if you include it, does that mean 90% (if not all) of 8-bit games mainline? If not, that means that Tails is the only character from the main characters that hasn't received a mainline Sonic game. Which is such a crime man... He is straight up the OG deuteragonist and you wouldn't give him a mainline game?
Yeah, just a thought/pet peeve that crossed my mind that I wanted to share, Thanks for your videos man, don't ever stop creating
How to start a war in 5 minutes shirt guide!
To me mainline is the main adventures sonic went on with friends or by himself and continues a flow even if time travel is included.
Side games are sonic and/or friends side adventures that don't really fit in the time line like the story book games, Rivals, battle and Riders.
Spin-off are non-canon to the story, if there are no references to it in the mainline games it has no reason to be there.
I see no problem with 3D blast being mainline.
forgot to put in my poll response but add one vote to wii unleashed and one vote to ps2 unleashed(separate games) if youre reading this
mainline and canon are two different things. i consider mainline being the BIG releases, not the side projects.
To my opinion most of the console games minus spinoffs/collabs/ports and mobile. The only exceptions are boom, and dream team being non mainline and mainline as well. All rush games are mainline and advance and battle are too. Also death of sonic, mostly because of the impact of the lore in battle. Emeryl is Very important to project shadow a big part of sonic lore
Sonic
1
2
3
CD
SA1
SA2
Heroes
06
Unleashed
Colors
Gens
Lost world
Forces
Mania
Frontiers
Superstars
Sxsg
for me Shadow the Hedgehog is a spinoff the same way the Puss in Boots films are a spinoff to Shrek, sure Puss may be one of the most liked characters, and it was made by Dreamworks themselves, they're not the protagonists of their franchises, so any game where sonic is not one of the main protagonists for me shouldn't be counted as mainline to the games themselves, but the story could be "mainline" to the lore
The only mainline sonic games are 1, 2, 3, and 4. If it was mainline, it would be called Sonic 5.
LOL
For me the mainline sonic is all the classic game , early 3d sonic game , rush game , advence game , story book , colors, génération, lost world, force,mania,super star , frontieres , shadow 05 and shadow génération, 06
I don't like considering a game mainline just because it introduced a character that would later become important. If Riders being mentioned in Frontiers makes it mainline, then the IDW comics and Boom should also be mainline because Tangle and Sticks were name dropped as well.
Also you really made me do my research with that survey.
I insist that if a game was developed by Sonic Team or not should have no relation to that game being mainline or not, specially because by technicality Sonic 2 (and 3&K too but that's even more convoluted) wasn't developed by Sonic Team at all since the developers had moved to Sega Technical Institute for a few years. SEGA reorganized their internal teams way too many times over the years to use that as a prerequisite.
For me there is a difference between "spin-off" and "canon".
Even though "all games are Canon", There are games that can be considered spin-offs
Sonic CD and Knuckles Chaotix are classic spin offs that may or may not be canon, being little relevant to the rest of the canon and spin offs.
The Adventure saga is a spin-off, which aims to be a soft reboot of the classic games, in turn a kind of sequel.
Sonic Heroes is a spin-off of the Adventure saga, trying to combine 3 different gameplays, but without the Chao Garden.
Shadow the Hedgehog is a spin-off of Heroes, taking into account the plot of this one and Adventure 2 exclusively
Sonic 06 is a soft reboot and a spin-off of the main saga, a soft reboot that takes into account the story of Shadow 05 and Sonic Adventure 2. If you notice, it completely ignores classic games and heroes.
Sonic Advance games takes Adventure 2 to form their story. Sonic Rush Take certain events from advance for the story
The storybooks do not affect the main story at all.
Sonic Colors is a soft reboot, apart from the rest of the games
Sonic Generations is an anniversary game, it doesn't affect the rest of the games at all (that includes Shadow Generations, which applied a subtle retcon to build its story)
I could go on, but it's exhausting.
imo, any “core” Sonic game is mainline. For example, Sonic Unleashed, Colors, Generations, and even lost world I’d consider mainline. I wouldn’t consider non core sonic games like Sonic and the Secret Rings or Team Sonic racing mainline, though they may be canon.
Here are my picks that I think are Mainline:
1. Sonic the Hedgehog
2. Sonic CD
3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
4. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
5. Sonic Adventure
6. Sonic Adventure 2
7. Sonic Heroes
8. Sonic the Hedgehog 2006
9. Sonic Unleashed
10. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I
11. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II
12. Sonic Colors
13. Sonic Generations
14. Shadow Generations
15. Sonic Lost World
16. Sonic Mania
17. Sonic Forces
18. Sonic Frontiers
19. Sonic Superstars
Im moreso surprised that Sonic Pocket Adventure wasnt mentioned
The survey doesn't include Sonic Unleashed Wii/PS2 nor Sonic Lost World 3DS
Edit: Sonic Unleashed Wii is a different game content-wise and so is the mobile version
The level designs and controls and some mechanics like the boost are severely different so it warrants being counted as a separate game
Im not completely sure if triple trouble should be considered mainline. Sure you could argue that the events of s3&k continue into TT, but if that's the case, then why was knuckles tricked by eggman again? You could also argue TT is canon since it introduced Fang The Sniper who hasn't returned until Superstars.
So I’m taking the survey now & when you say Side Games on the survey do you mean self contained story’s that have no bearing on the overall lore like The StoryBook games? Also Sonic N is a port of Sonic Advanced to a Nokia Phone so why is it considered its own game?
to me, I look at it through two different lenses. the first lense is "canonicity;" is the game canon? if it isn't (aka "spinoff"), I disregard it, ignore it, don't give it any attention (even if it is a fun game). things like robotnik's mbm, spinball because of the Archie references, popcorn shop, waku waku, schoolhouse, things that really wouldn't make sense to be canon. after that is where I separate it into mainline or side game. if it doesn't exactly fall into most of certain categories, it's a side game. categories include controls, abilities, level design, etc. I'll reply to this after watching the rest of the video with all games I consider canon, split into mainline and side game categories.
THESE DO NOT REPRESENT MY PERSONAL TIMELINE. THEY ARE LISTED BY RELEASE DATE. The canonicity for some of these are a tad shaky due to a bunch of inconsistencies, but they’re much more canon than the non-canon games, if that makes sense? Criteria for mainline includes: story, gameplay such as abilities and physics, and level design. NOTE: Sonic Boom introduced Sticks the Badger to us, who is now mainline, but those games themselves are not canon.
MAINLINE GAMES
Sonic the Hedgehog (16- and 8-bit), 2 (16- and 8-bit), CD, Chaos, 3K, Triple Trouble, Chaotix, Sonic Blast, Sonic R (has the same level structure as the 2D games, only in 3D. Each course is like a small zone.), Sonic Adventure, Pocket Adventure, SA2, Advance 1 & 2, Sonic Heroes, Advance 3, Rush, Shad05, Sonic 06, Rivals, SRA, Rivals 2, Sonic Unleashed (SD + HD), Sonic 4 Ep. 1, Sonic Colors (DS + Wii), Sonic Gens 3DS, Sonic Generations (3DS + HD), Sonic 4 Ep. 2, Sonic Lost World (regrettably), Sonic Mania, Sonic Frontiers, Superstars, Dream Team, Shadow Generations. These games hit most, if not all, criteria.
SIDE GAMES
SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Tails’ Skypatrol, Tails Adventure, Labyrinth, Championship/the Fighters, 3D Blast, Blast, R, Battle, Riders, Secret Rings, Riders: ZG, Chronicles, Black Knight, Free Riders, TSR, Murder of. Chronicles is a side game, but it’s shaky at best. I almost didn’t put it here, but in…
Canon spinoffs: Shuffle, Murder of. The only reason these are canon is because they only hit the story. Sonic Origin’s new cutscenes are also canon. Some information gathered from Sonic Runners is canon, but the game itself is not.
Non-canon games for various reasons
Sonic Eraser, Waku Waku, Cosmo Fighter, Popcorn Shop, Mean Bean, Spinball (16- and 8-bit) Drift, StH’s Gameworld, Tails and the Music Maker, Wacky Worlds Creativity Studio (which shouldn’t even be CLASSIFIED as a Sonic game, but I digress), Drift 2, Schoolhouse, Pinball Party, all Mario & Sonic Olympic games, all Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and sports games, all mobile games, all Sonic Boom games, Runners Adventure, Forces: Speed Battle, Rumble.
the Sonic RPG flash games are mainline (just kidding)
Sonic Team did not say the storybook games are outside of canon. Sonic straight up brings them up in Generations.
"Straight up only Classic Sonic I respect it"
I sure don't. Sonic version of a genwunner.
For me mainline is “it’s not a spin off” and from the title with 3D blast, I don’t think it can be considered a spin off, like I can’t think of how you can reasonably say it’s a spin off
Literally it was the game that was between Sonic and knuckles and sonic adventure, meant to be the bridge between 2d and 3D, as much as it failed at that and isn’t that good, its mainline
I can't believe my insightful comment wasn't included smdh
Well for me most obviously is:
Sonic 1 2 3&K, adventure 1 2, heroes, 06, unleashed, colours, generations, lost world, forces, frontiers
My maybes are:
Cd, mania, superstars
My probably nots are:
Sonic 4 and 3d blast
is Sonic 2 with a line mainline???
This is what i consider mainline
The classic games
Adventure 1 and 2
Heroes
Shadow
Advance 1-3
Rush
Rush adventure
Sonic battle
Unleashed
Colours
Generations+shadow generations
Lost worlds
Forces
Frontiers
Mania + mania plus
Superstars
Dream team
I don't consider '06 mainline because rven irs a very big game, it never really happened because the timeline was erased, im basing it on the lore not game or viewer significance
I do t know any anyone at my door but I said that waku waku sonic patrol is mainline you can’t change my mind