Well, 2024 has happened, and while I know that it's said all too frequently but, didn't it go fast? Fast... gotta go fast, as Sonic would say. Indeed, it was the year of Shadow, and thanks to the recent release of Sonic X Shadow Generations on the Switch (and other platforms) plus the recent release of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, it seems that the games and the characters from the series couldn't be any more popular at the moment.

So what better time to remember such great games which graced Nintendo platforms, such as Sonic Adventure DX which was an excellent remake of the landmark Sega Dreamcast title, the launch title Sonic Adventure 2 Battle which happened to be the first appearance of Shadow the Hedgehog, or even the much mocked at the time Shadow the Hedgehog game, which is now experiencing something of a comeback, due to renewed interest.

Personally, I remember playing all of these games, and more, such as the Mega and Gems collections, plus the popular for its time of releae Sonic Heroes; as I've been a long-time Sonic Team fan, still playing the legendary Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II to this day.

I have fond memories of reliving (and learning) from both revamped DC classics, as it was a huge moment to be experiencing Sonic's first two 3D outings on a home Nintendo console, not to mention the enduring popularity of the Chao Garden feature, thanks to the GBA - GC connectivity, plus the Sonic Advance series, which is well worth checking out to this date, and is surely deserving of a compilation re-release. What about a Sonic 00's collection, featuring all the console and handheld classics, in one package for the Switch (and other consoles) with a load of extras added in? *hint* Sonic Pocket Adventure *hint* I know I'd buy it.

All of this recent wave of Sonic nostalgia makes me want to go back and play the GC games in the meantime, and the console in general, and I have a feeling that 2025 might just be a big year for GameCube games, as while you may have been accustomed to seeing the excellent All N64 Games being regularly reviewed by Dean Jones through most of 2024, and into this year, GC games are surely next.

Reviews have taken a bit of a hiatus, but we have at least one or two reviews of late 2024 games still to go up, so look forward to those, and while I can't promise that there will be a lot of games covered this year, there will be the usual weekly eShop news, some select articles whenever something notable happens, and maybe the odd feature from time to time.

But the forum is where a lot of the action happens these days, including threads for our weekly Mario Kart 8 DX Get Together! In addition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate which is played on a Saturday, plus even the odd Nintendo Switch Online session, including N64 games, GBA titles and much more.

So here's to 2025, and to whatever games end up being played by the community in general, be they Sonic titles, or otherwise. My personal pick? Sonic Adventure 2 Battle on the GameCube is definitely calling me at this moment, and I'd advise anyone who hasn't played it to check it out on any available platform.

In the meantime, all the best for the here and now, enjoy the moment, live and learn. (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah...)

Editor-in-Chief
Sam C Gittins

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