10 Video Game Character Redesigns NOBODY Asked For

9. Knuckles The Echidna - Sonic Boom: Rise Of Lyric

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Sega

The Sonic franchise is defined by its rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, fans having to live with the anxiety of never knowing if a new game will be basically decent or commit itself to actively butchering aspects of the franchise.

There was plenty to complain about in 2014's Wii U-exclusive Sonic Boom: Rise Of Lyric, not least the fact that Sonic's pal Knuckles was needlessly turned into a hulking gym rat.

"Boom Knuckles," as the fanbase calls him, ditched the wiry, rail-thin original design which nevertheless screamed "attitude!," and reinvented him with comically broad shoulders and 30-inch pythons which would make Hulk Hogan himself blush.

Director Bob Rafei explained in an interview that Knuckles' buff new look was part of a wider initiative to broaden the characters and make them more accessible to a wider audience, but honestly, was mutating Knuckles into a roid-gobbling jock ever going to be the way to do this?

Clearly not, as Rise of Lyric was critically panned and became the lowest-selling entry in the entire Sonic franchise. Yikes.

On the flip side, playing as Knuckles allowed players to execute a jump glitch which would let them bypass most of the game and beat it within an hour. Silver linings...

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.