East Vs West: Character Battles #5

Sonic the Hedgehog, when you hear that many thoughts come to your head. It could be fond memories of the Genesis days battling Robotnik in Sonic 3 and Knuckles. It could be moments where you go “I can’t believe Sega did that! Are they TRYING to kill the Sonic Games?!?” But it’s safe to assume that Sonic comes from the West.

Though Sonic took off so well with the American audience, they spawned three different cartoon series about the Blue Hedgehog. Of the three, the Saturday Morning Version that ran on ABC was the superior among the fans, giving the Sonic series a darker story and a soon inspired the Archie Comics which still runs today.

Years later, a 4th Cartoon series arrived from the very country Sonic originated from and it was called Sonic X. Unlike the SatAM (Saturday Morning) Cartoon, it remained true to the original source. Then again, when the SatAM series was around, the only thing that was know was “Robotnik bad, Sonic good” so you really can’t blame them.

So for what I plan to do for every 5th Battle, I’ll compare the American Version to the Japanese Version of pretty much the same thing. And to start off the Tradition, my favorite fandom…

Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) Vs Sonic X

SatAM is a story about a group of Freedom Fighters (with one of them being Sonic the Hedgehog) trying to take back the planet from the Evil Dr. Robotnik. With the strategies of Sally Acorn, the strength of Bunny Rabbot, and the rest of them, they use each mission to loosen Robotnik’s grip of control and free Mobius one mission at a time.

The series last for two seasons, ending with the seeming defeat of Robotnik and the rise of Snively, Robotnik’s Lackey, and a glowing red pair of eyes. Sadly, SatAM’s timeslot was put against Power Rangers so the series was never given a third series. Though Archie and many fans put their best work to try and continue its memory.

Sonic X is a story in two parts. The first of which sees Sonic and his many friends (and Dr. Eggman) Chaos Controlled to the Human World and meet the Biggest Mary Sue of them all in Chris Thorndyke. In there, they retell the story of Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 as well as other stories trying to find their way back to their own world.

Part two of this story sees Chris coming to Sonic’s world and soon the gang meets Cosmo. Soon they go to space to defeat the Metarex from taking various Planet Eggs and use the Chaos Emeralds for their own uses. It ends with Cosmo sacrificing herself to stop the leader and Chris tearfully returning to his home world.

So of the two series, which of these would win? This will compare character to character as the final round will have the good aspects to the bad instead of a story. To ensure fairness, neither the Archie Comics nor the games will be used in the comparisons, only the cartoons themselves.

Round One: Miles “Tails” Prower Vs Cream the Rabbit

You expected Tails to take on Tails, didn’t you? But this is a battle of the youngest members of the group, which Tails is in the SatAM series. In SatAM, Tails is still learning the ropes from his fellow Freedom Fighters in basic fighting and survival skills. He helps out when he can and was integral to outing the fake Sally. But he has also been also a hindrance to their cause.

Cream, on the other hand, does not like violence. Even though she was captured at times, she always tries to get out of their way to ensure she doesn’t bring down the team. But if danger is not present, she does her best to help the others on their mission. Despite her dislike to violence, she has shown tremendous ability in fighting. She literally dropped kicked Emerl to the curb and with the help of Cheese, Cosmo and Amy, defeated a Metarex without the aid of Sonic.

This combined with Tails probably raised to not hit girls give Cream the win for Sonic X.

WINNER: Sonic X

Round Two: Antoine Depardieu Vs Chris Thorndyke

If anyone is useless to the team, it’s these two. Antoine, as the wikipedia puts it, would pretend to be brave to win Princess Sally, but this always failed, and he was revealed as a self-important, cowardly, idiotic klutz. Archie did a lot for this guy (including changing his last name), but none of that comes into play here.

Chris Thorndyke seemed to be solely created to put a good human character in the story and give Amy’s part to someone else. In the first part, he proves to be a useless character, adding nothing to the story or to the team except a house to live in. In the second part of the Sonic X story, however, he proves to be useful by giving Sonic shoe upgrades that allows him to move in water and on various terrains.

That pretty much beats Comic Relief Characters hands down.

WINNER: Sonic X

Round Three: Bunny Rabbot Vs Rouge the Bat

The two kick butt females of the two different series.  Bunny Rabbot was robotized partially at a certain point in her past which gives her advance strength and mobility. She is also the premier expert in fighting for her group, teaching Tails and (at one point) Antoine in fighting basics 101.

Rouge the Bat is part Secret Agent, part Jewel Thief, sometimes siding with the good guys and sometimes siding with the bad guys. But she pretty much teams up only when it benefits her. She has proven to be a pretty top notched fighter, making it to the semifinals of Sonic X’s tournament.

Both of these girls use their legs primarily in their fighting styles. They both also have abilities that can counter the others. Rouge superior speed is match by Bunny’s superior strength. The Bat’s flying ability is matched by the extensions of the Rabbit’s legs. The two are pretty evenly matched.

So this is considered a draw.

WINNER: Draw

Round Four: Dulcy the Dragon Vs Vector the Crocodile

Pretty much the only connection these two have is scales, and the fact they have the half a brain the other is missing. Dulcy is the last of the dragons and has the abilities of flight, flaming breath and various other breaths. Though she is very inexperience in these and is also disoriented quite easily.

Vector, on the other hand, launches hairbrained schemes and doesn’t think through it all, despite being called an experienced detective. He also daydreams about having a relationship with Cream’s Mother, Vanilla. They’re both pretty much one half of the same coin.

Vector is strong, but in sheer ammounts of power, size, and ability, Dulcy does win this round. Mostly because I think Vector would use a plan that would defeat him before Dulcy does anything.

WINNER: SatAM

Round Five: Sir Charles "Chuck" Hedgehog Vs Dr. Chuck Thorndyke

Ignoring the fact that they’re both named Chuck, they’re also related to the main character of the series (Sonic’s Uncle and Chris’s Grandfather respectively). They’re also inventors and helps the group when they need it.

Uncle Chuck was roboticied when Robotnik took over and was a slave for him for years. When Sonic set him free from Robotnik’s control, he remained in Robotropolis as a spy and sent the Freedom Fighters information they needed to defeat Robotnik. He was valuable in the final episode of the series.

Grandpa Chuck was is a scientist and inventor that helped Tails with his inventions. Though various inventions they created on their own proves Tails is the smarter of the two. Other then that, this Chuck really doesn’t add anything to the team.

A win for SatAM since not only is Uncle Chuck an inventor, but he is also a spy as well.

WINNER: SatAM

Round Six: Rotor Vs Miles “Tails” Prower

The two brains of the team, they’re both responsible for the technology their team use. Rotor’s work doesn’t always seem to work as times it falls to pieces or runs amuck. This isn’t entirely his fault since he has to recycle all of his parts to make stuff.

This Tails proves to be a superior inventor by building various inventions which includes Electronic Disrupting Paper Airplanes and a Spaceship that can travel through deep space. Rotor may use recycled parts but some inventions don’t seem to work for programming reasons. So this is a win for Sonic X.

WINNER: Sonic X

Round Seven: Princess Sally Acorn Vs Amy Rose

The two love interest to Sonic. These two have been in heated debates about who Sonic should be with by all the shippers on the internet. While Amy is the logical choice being the same species as Sonic, Sally actually got kisses from him. But this is about whose better overall, not for Sonic.

Sally is the Leader of the Freedom Fighter, responsible for the many strategies they need to defeat Robotnik. She also has NICOLE which proves useful for hacking and stealing information. While her combating skills are limited, she a big help in the final episode thanks to the power stones.

Amy mostly chases after Sonic, but she is quite powerful with her hammer. Properly motivated, she can hit a target from a distance quite easily and seem to be able to produce a bunch of them. Though once removed of the Hammer, Amy doesn’t have much fighting skills.

For a strategic mind like Sally, this match is in the bag. She just needs to trick Amy to relinquish the hammer and use her small knowledge of fighting to overcome Amy’s no knowledge of fighting without weapons. So Sally wins one for her team.

WINNER: SatAM

Round Eight: Dr. Robotnik Vs Dr. Eggman

They’re both the same guy, the evil genius who wants to take over the world. Pretty much the only difference is that Robotnik did it when Sonic was young and Eggman did it when Sonic was a teenager.

Robotnik has a big advantage since Robotropolis is his creation. Though it becomes question since the Robotiziser and a few SWATbot designs were made by Sonic’s Uncle, he has created various devices to target Sonic’s speed. Though they aren’t as massive as Eggman’s

Like the game, this Eggman creates large robots that he personally controls within. Sonic alone or with help, Eggman has been defeated over and over again. And with the invention of Decoe and Bocoe, his version of Scratch and Grounder of the AoStH series, and E-77 Lucky, a robot built to utilize luck, I think this guy has a few French fries short of a happy meal.

Robotnik is too big of a threat to lose to Eggman.

WINNER: SatAM

Round Nine: Sonic the Hedgehog Vs Sonic the Hedgehog

The Fastest Thing Alive. The Blue Blur. This guy has as many nicknames as he does games. They’re both fast and they both use the rings differently then they do in the game. But other then that, these are two completely different people…

The SatAM Sonic is cocky, brash, trying to constantly hit on Sally, and impatient. This Sonic likes to stay in Knothole incase a mission shows up, and to help out when his super speed can be used. He uses the power ring to go faster then he normally could.

Sonic X’s Sonic is carefree, wonder lustful, impulsive, and adventurous. He doesn’t stay in one place too often unless there’s something to do (which usually is Eggman). Without any aid, he can run so fast that a Sonic Boom happens (which SatAM Sonic needs a ring to do similar). With a ring his Super Spin attack does more damage and can go through machines easily. And finally, with the seven chaos emeralds, this one can become Super Sonic, something SatAM never used.

Pretty much Sonic X has the better Sonic then SatAM.

WINNER: Sonic X

OVERAL: SatAM: 4 – Sonic X: 4

It’s a draw when it comes to the characters involved. Knuckles couldn’t be above because he is unique to Sonic X and no character can match him in SatAM. But this final round will decide the winner.

Round Ten: The Good and the Bad

Every show has some things you really like about it and some things that make you want to never watch it again. For this round, we will look at the positive and negatives of each series. The one with the most points wins.

SatAM was the best of the three American Cartoons (1). It gave us a darker look into the world of Sonic (2). Robotnik looked like a fearsome threat then an overzealous villain (3). Introduced new characters (3, Adding Antoine negates this point). Sonic was voiced by Steve Urkle (2). They had Tim Curry as a voice actor (3). They ended the series on a cliff hanger (2). Archie’s Sonic Comic still runs strong (3). Besides the comics, these characters won’t see the light of day ever again (2). It doesn’t keep true to the games (1).

Sonic X takes place in a separate world for the first part of the story (-1). It introduced us to Chris Thorndyke (-2). In America, it was dubbed by 4Kids (-3). They have done and used storylines based off the videogames (-2). Many of the characters are from the game (-1). The non-dub uses music from Sonic Adventure 2. (0). The final two episodes (uncut), while leaving some thing unresolved, was satisfying as a series ender (1). The voice actors are the same as in the game (1, since many of you don’t like the 4Kids actors for some reason). Rumors still exist of another season (2). Archie continues the first part of the story in their Sonic X comics (2, since it means more of Chris but also an alternative to the other Archie Sonic comic).

WINNER: Sonic X (2 to 1)

Sonic X pulls a victory thanks to the Season Rumor. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying either show. They each have their own style and storyline that would interest anyone who’s a fan of the Blue Hedgehog. For no matter who wins here, it’s Sonic that comes out on top.

Like the outcome? Want to give your opinion of the events? Want to make suggestions? Then give a reply. The next match will be a battle of giant robots. Megas Vs Big O, the first to be suggested.