The GHZ
@theghz.bsky.social
Learnings from the hadalpelagic depths of Sonic history, served with a side of Drano cookies.
Since 1997!
Since 1997!
I just wish his long overdue return hadn't been in the form of a horrible, finicky, interminable boss fight.
But there's always next time (I hope!)
But there's always next time (I hope!)
November 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I just wish his long overdue return hadn't been in the form of a horrible, finicky, interminable boss fight.
But there's always next time (I hope!)
But there's always next time (I hope!)
When Fang was added to Sonic the Fighters, he was originally depicted as a badass, and both Higashi and Ihoroi had to tell the AM2 team that no, this guy’s just a nutjob.
Higashi again pointed to Tensai Bakabon, advising that Fang's gun attack should look like Tensai Bakabon's crazy cop character.
Higashi again pointed to Tensai Bakabon, advising that Fang's gun attack should look like Tensai Bakabon's crazy cop character.
November 19, 2025 at 11:34 AM
When Fang was added to Sonic the Fighters, he was originally depicted as a badass, and both Higashi and Ihoroi had to tell the AM2 team that no, this guy’s just a nutjob.
Higashi again pointed to Tensai Bakabon, advising that Fang's gun attack should look like Tensai Bakabon's crazy cop character.
Higashi again pointed to Tensai Bakabon, advising that Fang's gun attack should look like Tensai Bakabon's crazy cop character.
The “Sniper” part came from the dev team, though of course that hits different in the current sociopolitical climate than it did in 1994, clearly causing some headaches for the lore council.
But bottom line, you can see how people starting perceiving Fang as a cool type character.
Even within Sega
But bottom line, you can see how people starting perceiving Fang as a cool type character.
Even within Sega
November 19, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The “Sniper” part came from the dev team, though of course that hits different in the current sociopolitical climate than it did in 1994, clearly causing some headaches for the lore council.
But bottom line, you can see how people starting perceiving Fang as a cool type character.
Even within Sega
But bottom line, you can see how people starting perceiving Fang as a cool type character.
Even within Sega
So for 30 years, we just had to accept the uncomfortable reality that at some point somewhere in the Sonic universe, a wolf and a jerboa got very close.
Anyway, in the Oct. 14, 1994 issue of Famitsū, two winners were announced in the naming contest, both evidently having submitted the name “Fang.”
Anyway, in the Oct. 14, 1994 issue of Famitsū, two winners were announced in the naming contest, both evidently having submitted the name “Fang.”
November 19, 2025 at 11:33 AM
So for 30 years, we just had to accept the uncomfortable reality that at some point somewhere in the Sonic universe, a wolf and a jerboa got very close.
Anyway, in the Oct. 14, 1994 issue of Famitsū, two winners were announced in the naming contest, both evidently having submitted the name “Fang.”
Anyway, in the Oct. 14, 1994 issue of Famitsū, two winners were announced in the naming contest, both evidently having submitted the name “Fang.”
And here’s where things start getting weird: the ad specifically describes the new character as a “jerboa-wolf hybrid” who “lives in subspace” and has a “cunning personality.” Furthermore, they are specifically asking for “cool” names.
There's no hint of his comicality, and wait—jerboa/wolf HYBRID?
There's no hint of his comicality, and wait—jerboa/wolf HYBRID?
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
And here’s where things start getting weird: the ad specifically describes the new character as a “jerboa-wolf hybrid” who “lives in subspace” and has a “cunning personality.” Furthermore, they are specifically asking for “cool” names.
There's no hint of his comicality, and wait—jerboa/wolf HYBRID?
There's no hint of his comicality, and wait—jerboa/wolf HYBRID?
BUT! While Higashi and the Game Gear team were working on Sonic & Tails 2 in Japan, the Sonic 3 team over in the states came up with their own original character, Knuckles.
Now, there was absolutely no reason for Knuckles to be in S&T2, but the GG team must’ve felt pressured to squeeze him in.
Now, there was absolutely no reason for Knuckles to be in S&T2, but the GG team must’ve felt pressured to squeeze him in.
November 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
BUT! While Higashi and the Game Gear team were working on Sonic & Tails 2 in Japan, the Sonic 3 team over in the states came up with their own original character, Knuckles.
Now, there was absolutely no reason for Knuckles to be in S&T2, but the GG team must’ve felt pressured to squeeze him in.
Now, there was absolutely no reason for Knuckles to be in S&T2, but the GG team must’ve felt pressured to squeeze him in.
Higashi first named his new character “ナック”—usually romanized as Nack, but of course that’s not actually a word, so I’ve always wondered if it should actually be “Knack” with a K? Whatev, it’s moot
In this preview from the July 1, 1994 issue of Famitsū, he’s introduced as “Nack the treasure hunter”
In this preview from the July 1, 1994 issue of Famitsū, he’s introduced as “Nack the treasure hunter”
November 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Higashi first named his new character “ナック”—usually romanized as Nack, but of course that’s not actually a word, so I’ve always wondered if it should actually be “Knack” with a K? Whatev, it’s moot
In this preview from the July 1, 1994 issue of Famitsū, he’s introduced as “Nack the treasure hunter”
In this preview from the July 1, 1994 issue of Famitsū, he’s introduced as “Nack the treasure hunter”
In this concept sketch, you can see a very squat early version of Fang with a small doodle of Tensai Bakabon character Rerere no Ojisan doing the series’ trademark scramble walk. The word next to the character reads “movement,” so it's probably how Higashi imagined Fang's walking animation.
November 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
In this concept sketch, you can see a very squat early version of Fang with a small doodle of Tensai Bakabon character Rerere no Ojisan doing the series’ trademark scramble walk. The word next to the character reads “movement,” so it's probably how Higashi imagined Fang's walking animation.
Fang was conceived by S&T2 planner Tadashi Ihoroi and designed—with Naoto Ōshima’s blessing—by artist Shin’ichi Higashi, both of whom had joined Sega about a year earlier in 1993.
Higashi was inspired by the compact design of Opa-Opa and the wackiness of long-running gag manga Tensai Bakabon.
Higashi was inspired by the compact design of Opa-Opa and the wackiness of long-running gag manga Tensai Bakabon.
November 19, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Fang was conceived by S&T2 planner Tadashi Ihoroi and designed—with Naoto Ōshima’s blessing—by artist Shin’ichi Higashi, both of whom had joined Sega about a year earlier in 1993.
Higashi was inspired by the compact design of Opa-Opa and the wackiness of long-running gag manga Tensai Bakabon.
Higashi was inspired by the compact design of Opa-Opa and the wackiness of long-running gag manga Tensai Bakabon.
I don't blame Takashi Iizuka for shunning the 8-bit games all these years—they're very much a “you hadda be there” thing
But I was, and I love them still
And I love Fang, even though I don't think there's any other character in the series that's drifted as far from his designers' original intent 🧵
But I was, and I love them still
And I love Fang, even though I don't think there's any other character in the series that's drifted as far from his designers' original intent 🧵
November 19, 2025 at 11:28 AM
I don't blame Takashi Iizuka for shunning the 8-bit games all these years—they're very much a “you hadda be there” thing
But I was, and I love them still
And I love Fang, even though I don't think there's any other character in the series that's drifted as far from his designers' original intent 🧵
But I was, and I love them still
And I love Fang, even though I don't think there's any other character in the series that's drifted as far from his designers' original intent 🧵
While we're on the subject of Tails Adventure.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
September 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM
While we're on the subject of Tails Adventure.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
This.
The Carnival Night barrel? Baby stuff. I figured that out after a day. But Pori-Pori Mountain 2?
Literal years.
Shin'ichi Higashi explains, after 30 years, why Battle Kukku XVI aka Speedy is wearing a diaper: it's, um, actually meant to be armor. So is his pointy green helmet. His feathers are yellow.
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
September 23, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Shin'ichi Higashi explains, after 30 years, why Battle Kukku XVI aka Speedy is wearing a diaper: it's, um, actually meant to be armor. So is his pointy green helmet. His feathers are yellow.
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
I feel like there's a certain subset of a certain subset of fans who will be disappointed by this revelation
Update: here’s a color photo of the Poko model from an ad that was running in 1992 issues of Amusement Sangyō. The photo isn’t dated, but it was taken at the Oga Shopping Center in Akita.
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
July 28, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Update: here’s a color photo of the Poko model from an ad that was running in 1992 issues of Amusement Sangyō. The photo isn’t dated, but it was taken at the Oga Shopping Center in Akita.
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
Maybe Act did make a few of these? Or was this just Poko’s last stand before being converted?
Sonic no Magical Train is a repainted version of an earlier ride, Poko no Magical Train (1989). You can see in the pictures it has the exact same shape and dimensions.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
July 28, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Sonic no Magical Train is a repainted version of an earlier ride, Poko no Magical Train (1989). You can see in the pictures it has the exact same shape and dimensions.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
As far as I know, these kinds of attractions were made to order (not mass produced), so it is very likely the selfsame machine.
As the illustrator, Kudō himself was originally going to do the design but couldn’t crack it, so he asked Miyake to do it.
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
July 13, 2025 at 2:00 AM
As the illustrator, Kudō himself was originally going to do the design but couldn’t crack it, so he asked Miyake to do it.
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
He doesn’t know what the character’s official name is, but he and the programmers called it “Devil Sonic” after Devil Gundam from G Gundam.
I see the resemblance
Ryō Kudō just twooted some info about the big red Metal Sonic boss from Chaotix: x.com/rin_kotou/st...
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
July 13, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Ryō Kudō just twooted some info about the big red Metal Sonic boss from Chaotix: x.com/rin_kotou/st...
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
It was designed by lead artist Takumi Miyake and rendered in Strata 3D before being converted to the Mega Drive palette and fine-tuned by hand. 1/4
…with Williams’ drivers Prost and Hill finishing the season in first and third, respectively (Senna and McLaren came in 2nd)
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
July 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
…with Williams’ drivers Prost and Hill finishing the season in first and third, respectively (Senna and McLaren came in 2nd)
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
So who can blame McLaren for trying to get in on some of that sweet, sweet hog love.
I guess Sega's brand management team will nix any more derpy-face Sonics on the car, tho
He was awarded a dummy Sonic trophy for a photo op—it was swapped out for a real, Sonic-less trophy after the cameras went down and can now be found on display at the McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England.
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
July 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
He was awarded a dummy Sonic trophy for a photo op—it was swapped out for a real, Sonic-less trophy after the cameras went down and can now be found on display at the McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England.
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
So all in all the whole stunt was a big win for Sega's marketing team…
It was sponsored by Sega and had Sonic all over, but F1 fans remember it for a different reason.
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
July 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
It was sponsored by Sega and had Sonic all over, but F1 fans remember it for a different reason.
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
I only just learned this, but the GP winner Ayrton Senna (racing for McLaren) had the single most legendary run of his legendary career—his first lap in particular is known as his “lap of the gods.”
The whole thing was very Sonicy. He was on the car and helmets, and the racing suits worn by drivers Alain Prost and Damon Hill were Sonic-inspired right down to the red boots.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
July 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The whole thing was very Sonicy. He was on the car and helmets, and the racing suits worn by drivers Alain Prost and Damon Hill were Sonic-inspired right down to the red boots.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
The highlight was the third GP of the season, held on a rainy April 11 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England.
…and when it was announced, a certain subset of game journalists in JP lost their shit. Them Shōwa boys love their cars.
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
July 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
…and when it was announced, a certain subset of game journalists in JP lost their shit. Them Shōwa boys love their cars.
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
There was even a whole story about it in the Shōgakukan manga that was running at the time, complete with a guest appearance by driver Alain Prost and his very gaikokujin schnozz
Sonic’s all chummy with F1 team McLaren now, and I guess neither one wants to talk about that hot fling he had with rival Williams 32 years ago
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
July 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Sonic’s all chummy with F1 team McLaren now, and I guess neither one wants to talk about that hot fling he had with rival Williams 32 years ago
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
But I got the dirts. I got ALL the dirts.
Sega was one of the sponsors of the Williams team for the 1993 F1 season, and apparently it was a big-ass deal 🧵
Picked up this new Sonic manga nobody is talking about just to see. It’s mainly about this kid who gets a magic sword. Sonic is pretty ancillary to the whole thing, could easily have been Pikachu or anyone else BUT
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
June 15, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Picked up this new Sonic manga nobody is talking about just to see. It’s mainly about this kid who gets a magic sword. Sonic is pretty ancillary to the whole thing, could easily have been Pikachu or anyone else BUT
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
I'm happy they're letting him interact with humans again. That's kind of a big deal
When you’re worried about how to spell Casinopolis and you put way too much faith in your electronic Japanese-English dictionary.
June 6, 2025 at 10:34 AM
When you’re worried about how to spell Casinopolis and you put way too much faith in your electronic Japanese-English dictionary.
These test games were made by small groups of only a few new staffers—just like Eraser. It was made by Takao Miyoshi, Shirō Kinemura, Masaru Setsumaru, and an unknown programmer credited as Op#1.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.
May 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
These test games were made by small groups of only a few new staffers—just like Eraser. It was made by Takao Miyoshi, Shirō Kinemura, Masaru Setsumaru, and an unknown programmer credited as Op#1.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.
It was the debut game of the former three at least, who all seem to have joined Sega in 1991.