Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode: II

[Crappy Blue Luigi]

... who collects rings; breaks monitors to get rings, shields, etc.; can jump straight through enemies to kill them; has a bigger focus on momentum...

oh hey wait, it's not really mario at all! sonic without speed is sonic 1 minus green hill zone and star light zone.

Uhh... Actually, SEGA tried to make Sonic 1 quick paced, they just didn't EMPHISIZE on the speed. They emphisized on the platforming instead. I don't get it, it's like when I put the word "speed" and "sonic" in the same sentence, it instantly means going in excess of 400 mph. What I'm trying to say is, what's a sonic game without MOMENTUM BASED PLATFORMING.

uh, basically that's what i said, though you said it more thoroughly. sonic 1, minus green hill and star light, is heavily focused on platforming, with some really unfortunate slow platforming sections to bog everything down (marble, labyrinth). i never said speed made sonic what he is. in fact, i listed other important qualities that make up sonic, excluding speed entirely.

as for why people think of GOTTA GO FAST when you mention "sonic" and "speed" in the same phrase, it's because of games like sonic rush and sonic unleashed (daytime), where the focus--thanks to the boost--is on going as fast as possible. it's also because that's just how sonic has always been marketed.

people expect speed from sonic. his character is that he's fast. where else do you go with that.

fff, long tangents.