10 Video Game Reboots That Buried Franchises ENTIRELY
2. Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) is a game whose shadow has loomed over the series for years. Its reputation sullied the once-beloved series and turned the Blue Blur into a laughingstock of the video game industry. But what is it that makes Sonic 06 so bad?
The reboot was released in an unfinished state. Pushing for a 2006 release date, Sega forced Sonic Team to release the game for Sonic's 15th Anniversary, whether they were done or not. The result is a buggy mess with numerous glitches and some of the longest loading screens out there. Characters can end up clipping through environments and the physics system is downright broken.
But beyond the technical issues, Sonic 06 has a story that takes itself too seriously with a bloated cast. Who could forget, even if they wanted to, the infamous kiss between Sonic the Hedgehog and Princess Elise?
And so years onward, Sonic 06 would haunt the franchise with Sonic Team abandoning the Adventure formula established in 1998. And while fan modes like Sonic P-06 prove that the game could have been much better, the damage done by this reboot is irreversible.