{ "title": "Episode 756: Sonic Fangames, Pt. II", "link": "https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-756-pt-153168308", "pubDate": "Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:45:45 GMT", "enclosure": { "url": "https://www.patreon.com/api/rss/u/qT6yj_KvyTyRfhY844EYuLQC6g56zang/e/153168308.mp3?sig=js_RhumCgN2vp4uIbzeD318gl1W0ih5rpskblRJQ1QI%3D", "length": "77878295", "type": "audio/mpeg" }, "content": "

Stuart: Hey, remember last time I told you that we called an audible and made this subject into a two-parter? Well, Ryan Langley/Rlan (Sonic Fangames HQ) and Lewis Clark (SEGADriven) make their return here to continue our discussion of the tremendous passion projects that make up the Sonic fangame scene, this time crossing into the world of fangames and fangame creators who \u201clevel up\u201d and end up making their own originals or \u2013 as in the case of Sonic Mania \u2013 their own official titles in the host series.

The just-mentioned Sonic Mania is, sensibly, one of the most acclaimed games in the entire Sonic series. So acclaimed, in fact, that it\u2019s weird that Sega never demanded a second one. But such is Sega, such is gaming, such is the ever-changing world in which we\u2019re living. Makes you give in and cry. But never mind, aye? It is definitely interesting to me, discussing the positives and negatives of what happens when huge fans of a thing get a crack at it, because it can clearly go so wrong in so many instances. Sonic Mania is obviously an impressive game, but the lack of distance between the game and its fans forms the source of my litany of issues with it, which is a rare problem for me to have with a video game and therefore makes it all the more fascinating to me. Should fans stay in their lane? What do you think?

And, for that matter, what do you think of the whole fangames thing as subjects go, divine readers? Do you think there\u2019s scope for more exploration of these things outside of the Sonic series? I personally think there\u2019s a lot of culture out there which doesn\u2019t really get attention outside of very specialise spaces and would interest you lovely lot, but you tell me. Nintendo\u2019s litigiousness doesn\u2019t stop plenty of Mario fangames being out there\u2026 and the fact is that my notebook has the word \u201cHololive\u201d written in red crayon and circled fifty million times. I\u2019ll do it, Nauties. I swear to you that I will.

Edits by Greg Leahy; art by Tracy Yardley

", "contentSnippet": "Stuart: Hey, remember last time I told you that we called an audible and made this subject into a two-parter? Well, Ryan Langley/Rlan (Sonic Fangames HQ) and Lewis Clark (SEGADriven) make their return here to continue our discussion of the tremendous passion projects that make up the Sonic fangame scene, this time crossing into the world of fangames and fangame creators who \u201clevel up\u201d and end up making their own originals or \u2013 as in the case of Sonic Mania \u2013 their own official titles in the host series.\nThe just-mentioned Sonic Mania is, sensibly, one of the most acclaimed games in the entire Sonic series. So acclaimed, in fact, that it\u2019s weird that Sega never demanded a second one. But such is Sega, such is gaming, such is the ever-changing world in which we\u2019re living. Makes you give in and cry. But never mind, aye? It is definitely interesting to me, discussing the positives and negatives of what happens when huge fans of a thing get a crack at it, because it can clearly go so wrong in so many instances. Sonic Mania is obviously an impressive game, but the lack of distance between the game and its fans forms the source of my litany of issues with it, which is a rare problem for me to have with a video game and therefore makes it all the more fascinating to me. Should fans stay in their lane? What do you think?\nAnd, for that matter, what do you think of the whole fangames thing as subjects go, divine readers? Do you think there\u2019s scope for more exploration of these things outside of the Sonic series? I personally think there\u2019s a lot of culture out there which doesn\u2019t really get attention outside of very specialise spaces and would interest you lovely lot, but you tell me. Nintendo\u2019s litigiousness doesn\u2019t stop plenty of Mario fangames being out there\u2026 and the fact is that my notebook has the word \u201cHololive\u201d written in red crayon and circled fifty million times. I\u2019ll do it, Nauties. I swear to you that I will.\nEdits by Greg Leahy; art by Tracy Yardley\n\n11:08 -\u00a0Sonic Advance 2: Leaf Forest, Act 1\n\n19:09 -\u00a0Sonic CD\u00a0(US): Stardust Speedway Zone (G ver.) |\u00a0Sonic Mania: Studiopolis Zone, Act 1\n\n28:34 - Anamanaguchi: \"Mess\" (Sonic VR\u00a0File 4)\n\n39:45 - Theme from\u00a0Sonic Underground\u00a0(TV)\n\n48:56 -\u00a0Sonic 3D Blast\u00a0(MD): Invincibility |\u00a0Sonic Classic Heroes: Hyper Sonic\n\n1:00:23 -\u00a0Sonic Triple Trouble 16-Bit: Atomic Destroyer Zone, Act 2\n\n1:09:52 -\u00a0Sonic Utopia: Green Hill Zone |\u00a0Sonic and the Fallen Star: Special Stage\n\n1:20:46 -\u00a0Sonic GT: Miners in the Sky for... Hilltop\n\n1:28:28 -\u00a0Sonic the Hedgehog Classic: Boss\n\n1:39:22 -\u00a0Sonic and the Secret Rings: Seven Rings in Hand\n\nClosing -\u00a0Sonic Triple Trouble 16-Bit: Staff Credits", "guid": "153168308", "isoDate": "2026-03-16T11:45:45.000Z", "itunes": { "duration": "6333", "image": "https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/153168308/d9bb4b8468bb412b85db1775f2bb6772/eyJkIjo3MiwiaCI6MzAwMCwic3RyaXBfYWxwaGEiOjEsInciOjMwMDAsIndlYnAiOjB9/1.png?token-hash=9oiSIpnxB_4x3cPSU_GlTtBqeQM2ms2Q8q_1E6wZ6MA%3D", "episode": "756" }, "itunes_duration": "1:45:32" }