Late to the Party: Sonic Orgins

orgive the clichéd sentiment, but even after 31 years of blazing across all manner of screens, SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog does show any sign of slowing down. Riding the hype train of the recent film’s success at the Box-Office in the same year the little guy turns 31, the folks at SEGA and Sonic Team in collaboration with the talented folks at HeadCannon took to the task of releasing yet another Classic Sonic Collection, Sonic Origins. The collection features Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and the first re-release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles in over a decade; each one optimized with the same Retro Engine Sonic Mania ran on, enhancing these cult-favorite titles with a sizable HD upgrade for the current generation of gaming.

Despite the number of times some of these titles have been re-released, Sonic Team and company have boasted that this new arrangement will come loaded with more passion and fandom than we’ve seen from the likes of Sonic Jam or Sonic Mega Collection. While some of those claims are founded, I can’t quite help but feel like Sonic Origins struggles to live up to the potential it had, let alone the hype going into the whole thing.

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PPR Presents Limelight: Knuckles' Chaotix-26th Anniversary

wenty-six years ago this week in Japan, the Edgy Echidna in red who won the hearts of SEGA fans across the world decided to push his luck with the crowd even further with a brand new solo outing, Knuckles’ Chaotix, the flagship title for the new SEGA Genesis add-on console, the SEGA 32X.

As ambitious as it was, the 32-bit spinoff was a commercial flop, a flop that hasn’t seen a re-release since the ill-fated GameTap subscription service. Anyone who’s listened to the show the last twelve years knows just how much I love this damn game. For as obscure as it is, it’s legacy has carried on through the years with its colorful cast, and influences across a number of games, including the recent masterpiece that is Sonic Mania Plus. While the odds of getting an HD Re-release are as likely as SEGA announcing the Dreamcast 2,  I thought it would be nice to show this quirky little game some High-Definition love with an impromptu stream later tonight! Join me Saturday night, 04/24/2021, 5:45 PM Pacific Standard Time on our Twitch as I try to play through ith the best ending, and open that faithful door into Summer.

PPR Presents Play Play: Rocket Knight Adventures

ey all! We’re finally returning to consistent Play Play videos again, and we cannot wait to highlight one of the most slept-on, overlooked franchises in all of gaming, the Rocket Knight Adventures franchise. Arguably, people who are familiar with the series claim that the property ultimately peaked where it began with the original, but we disagree, as we take the time to explore the series as a whole starting with this first entry. In this video, we’ll be asking ourselves the important questions like is it a Run ‘n Gun, or a Platformer, and does Bacon taste crispier when it’s on SEGA.

Join George and Ser on this fiery, yet furry romp into Konami’s first full-fledged Mascot title for the Sega Genesis—without any “Only 90’s kids will remember’ memes for your viewing pleasure!

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

PPR Presents Extra Life 2017: Sonic Mania & more!

t’s that time of year again, and as we gradually approach the holidays, it’s important to remember that this season isn’t easy for everyone, especially children with health issues. So, with that said, Press Pause Radio is proud to be part of the annual Extra Life charity event for 2017.

We’re on a mission to lend our voices and minds to help the children in this year’s Extra Life Charity, and we need you. By tuning in, and watching us stream a hhuge selection of Sonic games. Sonic The Hedgehog 1-3, Sonic & Knuckles plugged into every other add-on you can think of, Sonic Classic Heroes, and finally, Sonic Mania. 

George will be playing all og these games and few other classic Hedgehog titles, for 24 hours straight. We humbly ask for your donation towards the Children's Hospital of Central California.The goal this year is at least $500.00 by the end of the stream, help him get there!

On November 4th, 2017, Press Pause Radio will be participating in this huge worldwide celebration of the social impact of gamers of all kinds from video games to board games and tabletop RPG's!

So here’s how you can help. Watch the stream here or on our Twitch page, and then visit us here on Extra Life and donate anything you can for the kids—your donation is tax-deductible and ALL PROCEEDS go to help kids, so help us get there folks. The more you donate, the more leverage you get for any stupid, dumb, (but reasonable) you might have for George to do, say, or play, in any of the games he's playing, for 24 hours. Again, any help that you’re willing to donate is greatly appreciated, and will all go to a great cause! Thank you, get started on donating and catch us here on Nov. 4th!

Watch live video from PressPauseRadio on www.twitch.tv

QCF: Sonic Mania

he power of fandom is a fickle force to be reckoned with; the passionate devotion of a dedicated following can either propel the object of said affection to perpetual stardom, or alienate any sort of appeal it may have had with an obsessive toxicity that could stigmatize it beyond repair, for years upon years.

This sort of phenomenon has struck a number of video game franchises, but none have been more affected by it quite like the Sonic the Hedgehog property. The speedy SEGA mascot has been an industry icon for over 25 years, and yet has fallen from the place of universal acclaim, into a spot of irreverent polarization. These two camps are broken down into the somewhat ambivalent spectators who barely bother to care about him, and those who still swear their loyalty to the spikey-haired hero, in spite of the checkered past that he’s led in recent in years.

It’s been clear for near a decade now that most of the folks still on Sonic Team have forgotten what made the character so appealing in the first place, but it’s only now that SEGA has finally arrived at that same conclusion. The big wigs have tried a myriad of ideas to reinvent their icon, and most have them have fallen flat; why not give the reigns to the only force that could give their star mascot the justice that he deserves—the fans themselves.

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PPR Presents Play Play: Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

onic Mania is fast approaching, and while we don’t have our review ready just yet, we do have a few special looks at some choice cuts from the Blue Blur’s past that we think have influenced the direction seen in the new 2D throwback.

This particular title within the hero’s 16-bit catalog redefined what Sonic could do, and set the tone for the series for years to come in terms of an ensemble cast, and an adventure of epic proportions. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles may be better known as a meme than a classic these days, but it was the biggest game that featured the hog, and is considered to be the peak of the Sonic’s Genesis library.

Join Ser and George as they get down to some sweet tunes that may, or may not have had some compositional work done by all-time legend in pop music in this latest Play Play.

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

PPR Presents Quick Hints: Sonic Mania Easy Secret Ring Guide

onic Mania is out, and everyone is racing through to collect all the goods that they can in this new adventure, but the most important treasure to be found in this speedy throwback are the elusive Chaos Emeralds!

We know that the hunt for the special secret rings that transport you to the special stages where you can find them might be a bit daunting, and that’s why we whipped this handy quick guide to steer you into seven back to back Secret Rings at the very start of your adventure!

If done right, you can transform into the all mighty Super Sonic by the time you hit the second stage of the game in no time flat. Click play to check out how you find these easy Secret Rings right now!

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

PPR Presents Play Play: Sonic CD

 

onic Mania is fast approaching, and while we don’t have our review ready just yet, we do have a few special looks at some choice cuts from the Blue Blur’s past that we think have influenced the direction seen in the new 2D throwback.

The next game up is one that gets a lot of praise despite being another obscure entry from the Hedgehog’s prime, as we sit down and play Sonic CD on the SEGA CD. Unlike Chaotix, this title has recently seen re-releases across a bevy of modern platforms, and it was in that re-release that Christian White got his start with the franchise under SEGA’s payroll as well.

Join Ser and George as they discuss whether or not this game deserves the distinction of being the best 16-bit Sonic title ever done in another new Play Play!

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!