Brace yourselves, folks: you're in for a weird one. In the spirit of creativity, The Hill Is Always Greener have decided to stretch their writing muscles and craft their very own Sonic the Hedgehog fanfiction...by gamifying the process in the most absurd, ridiculous way possible. Filled with violent gamer rage, age-related injuries, taxes, body horror, and even the unexpected return of a much beloved abridged series, this is one episode that needs to be heard to be believed. (0:00:00)...

What happens when you take a team of talented creators with ties to the Sonic fanbase, and give them Sonic Team's blessing and guidance? You get one of the greatest Sonic games of all time, that's what! Special guest Ginger Hail joins the team to talk about the one and only Sonic Mania, a game with the most unlikely of origins that remains one of the blue blur's most lauded adventures. We dissect this game from top to bottom, from its snappy gameplay, to its many surprising additions and...

It's time to dip back into Sonic Adventure once again, but perhaps not in the way you expect. Special guest FangGuu joins the gang as they take a look at two VERY different and very controversial comic adaptations of Sonic's first real foray into 3D. First, Archie Comics desperately attempts to make the game's story work within its universe at the eleventh hour, with questionable results. Then, Sonic the Comic almost wholly abandons the source material in the name of attempting to give the...

Special guest Prismaeya joins the gang to look back at Sonic Advance, one of the blue blur's first appearances on a Nintendo system! What was it like seeing Sonic show up on "the competition" for the first time? How well does Amy adapt to the gameplay of a traditional Sonic sidescroller? And does Dimps' freshman outing with the Sonic series still hold up to this day? All this and more await, so grab your link cables and get ready to experience Life Advanced! (0:00:00) Intro(0:03:12) Main...

Happy birthday Sonic! To celebrate the blue blur's 32nd anniversary, friend of the show JezMM joins us for a discussion all about the game that started it all, 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Listen in as we reminisce over the catchy soundtrack, the (sometimes) high speeds, and our collective terror every time the Labyrinth looms before us. (0:00:00) Intro(0:03:16) Main topic: Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)(0:11:29) Starting the game(0:16:31) Green Hill Zone(0:22:50) Special...

Can ya smell what the Doc is cookin'?! Because the podcast has officially entered the squared circle to talk about one of the greatest wrestlers of our era, the inimitable El Gran Gordo! No one knows the true face beneath his crimson mask, but rest assured: He's here to lay a muy grande smackdown on anyone who stands in his way, be it Sonic the Hedgehog, Andes the Ginormous, or the sinister forces of that handsome devil Dr. Eggman! So join us as we look back at this legendary career of the...

There are people who say that any hero is only as good as their villain... So it's a good thing that sonic fans have one of the most recognizable and memorable villains in all video gaming. That's right, our first ever character deep dive is all about the one and only Dr. Eggman, as the gang takes a look back at his MANY incarnations. From his humble origins, to his wildly divergent takes in western media, to his more nuanced, characterization of the modern day, we dissect just what makes...

It's time for another all-out brawl as Sonic and Knuckles go head to head in two specials from the early years of Archie! First, a clash between the blue blur and his friendly nemesis scales up considerably when Chaos Emeralds get involved in Super Sonic vs. Hyper Knuckles! Then Sonic is roboticized and forced under Robotnik's control, and the only one who can stop him is a newly roboticized echidna who's ready to throw down in Mecha Madness! Which one of the two will come out on top? And do...

That's no moon...that's the subject of our new episode! In celebration of Revenge of the 5th, the gang takes a look at one of the most memorable recurring locations in the Sonic franchise, the Death Egg! While rooted in popular culture, this fully operational battle station has been a focus of many of the most iconic Sonic stories in games and comics. And we're going to take a long look back at its legacy, including its many imitations, the robots Eggman has used to defend it, and our...

Well, that's just prime! Sonic is back on TV at long last, so it's only fitting that we take a deep dive into the first eight episodes of his latest small-screen adventure, Sonic Prime. Left lost and alone due to his own careless actions, Sonic will need the help of a few familiar but different faces if he ever hopes to return home. But does his dimensional journey shatter our expectations, or is it better left adrift in the void? It's the first act of a multiversal epic, and we're ready to...

It's our anniversary! That's right, The Hill Is Always Greener has been podcasting for a year straight! And to celebrate, we're taking another look at our very first episode subject, Sonic Adventure! After talking about it pretty briefly in our first episode, we decided to give it a much deeper dive this time around. So pull up a chair, cuddle up with your chao, and watch out for orcas as we dive in! (Warning: first few rows WILL get wet.) (0:00:00) Intro/Our first anniversary!(0:05:30) Main...

Yes, folks. After a solid year of doing a Mario podcast, we're finally tackling what is easily his most controversial game, Super Mario 64. Mario's first true 3D outing was a rough one that made a lot of questionable choices, but it's hard to look back on it without being clouded by our own nostalgia. Is this "classic" truly deserving of its reputation, for good or for ill? Join us and find out! (0:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Super Mario 64(0:15:17) ???(0:19:48) Okay, back to it(0:27:42) The...

Well, we're here, reaching far across those new frontiers. It's time for us to take a long, VERY long look at Sonic's latest mainline outing and one of the most dramatic reinventions of the series to date, Sonic Frontiers. Was it worth the five year wait since Forces? Is this truly the foundation we hope to see future games built upon? And will we ever stop talking about how good the writing is? (Let's be honest, that last one's easily a no.) So walk forward through the cold dark, and join us...

Once upon a time, there were four podcasters who desperately sought to recapture their youth. To do this, they gathered around to read the Sonic Golden Books, a trilogy of children’s storybooks from the early ‘90s. Their discussions of Sonic and his Freedom Fighter friends landed on many strange topics, from Tails eating literal garbage, to the perfect chili dog recipe, to Bunnie Rabbit’s art commissions. They even made a brief divergence into the Sonic Joke Book! Charmed by their pleasant...

On this belated Valentine's Day episode, love is in the air, and no Sega mandate is going to stop us from talking about it with special guest Akaru. Over the years, there have been multiple attempts to pair Sonic off with someone (let's be real, mostly in the pages of Archie). Some have come up time and time again, others were little more than a quick fling, and a few are probably best left forgotten. So we're taking a look back at each one to see if we think they're a good match for...

The gang is joined by game developer and former fan game creator Sam Beddoes of FreakZone Games to talk about the long and storied history of Sonic fan games, and the profound effect they've had on the franchise over the years. From their humble beginnings using whatever assets and tools were available, to their massive expansion in scope and scale, to many creators going on to develop their own original games, we cover some of the most interesting and memorable examples that have stuck with...

It's time for another listening party as the gang pick things up where they left off last episode with a look back at the dual soundtracks of Sonic 3D! On one side, a 16-bit sound team at the peak of their ability. On the other, rich CD-quality sound that feels right at home on the Saturn. Hear cartoon sound effects, robots raving, and even some surprising connections to future Sonic games, as we take a look back at some of the unsung great tracks of the classic Sonic era. (0:00:00)...

Back in 1996, the Sonic series marked the end of one console generation and the start of another with Sonic 3D Blast/Flickies' Island, a radical and controversial departure from previous series entries. Now, some two and a half decades later, the gang decides to give this oddball adventure another fair shake and see if it's stood the test of time. Join us as we discuss its ties to an early Sega arcade game, the wild variation between its versions, and a definitive way to play the game born...

It's the last episode of the year, but we're not about to leave you out in the cold. Instead, the gang is pitting 12 ice-themed stages from across the Sonic series against one another to figure out how they rank. Which ones best use their winter theming? How much does their music leave an impact? And can any stage hope to dethrone the one everybody expects to take first place? (0:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(0:11:48) Main topic: The Twelve Zones of Christmas(0:13:34) Icy...

The holiday season is upon us, so the gang is curling up by the fire with mugs full of cocoa to revisit some festive Sonic content spanning 25 years. First up is "Sonic's Christmas Blast", where the coming of a new Santa Claus also marks the end of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Next, they'll jump forward a few decades to watch the ball drop in the Sonic Boom episode "New Year's Retribution". Finally, it's a double dose of short, 2D animated goodness, with the Sonic Mania Adventures,...

We're traveling through time yet again as the gang finally look at their first SatAM episode with the "Blast to the Past" two-parter! Our hosts join Sonic and Sally in going back in time to witness Robotnik's takeover of Mobius, with some surprising reveals along the way. Expect discussions of forgotten lore, Robotnik's lineage, the oh so dulcet tones of Tim Curry, and so much more! (00:00:00) Intro/Main topic: "Blast to the Past"(00:20:07) Part 1(01:23:57) Part 2(01:49:59) Final...

It’s a mega-sized episode this week as we look back at a collection of collections! Over the years, Sega has released quite a few compilations of classic Sonic titles to make sure the blue blur and his origins stay relevant to the current audience. These collections have played a big role in bringing in new Sonic fans over the years, so join us as we take a look at all the ways they (Sonic) Jam-packed these gems into one tiny package. (00:00:00) Intro/Our recent Sonic-y stuff(00:08:11) Main...

It's time for another new episode to drop, and this time we're mixing things up by taking a look at an entirely different Sega franchise, Puyo Puyo! This classic puzzle game series was first and most closely tied to Sonic through Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine in 1993, but the blue hedgehog and those multicolored blobs have proved to be a match-4 made in heaven, and continued to create combos right up to this very day. So listen in find out just how deep the connection between the spiny...

The spooky season is upon us, and even though CyberLink's mic is haunted by evil spirits (sorry about that!), the gang unites for a special Halloween mini-sode to talk about Sonic: Night of the Werehog! So grab your cameras and step into the moonlight as we look back at a delightful little short that deserves to be considered as timeless and eternal as its ghostly antagonists! (00:00:00) Intro/Main topic: Sonic: Night of the Werehog(00:02:25) Behind the scenes(00:12:03) Full recap(00:32:14)...

OK class, settle down. Welcome to Sonic Educational Games 101. As it states in your syllabus, we will be covering the surprisingly wide variety of Sonic games intended to teach younger players. Individual lessons include the histories of the Sega Pico and various Leapster handhelds, the identification of several common music tracks, and a mathematics lecture by visiting professor Christopher Thorndyke. Make sure you take notes, as this will all be on the exam... (00:00:00) Intro/Our recent...