It wasn't even that the mechanic was bad(it really wasn't at all. The stages were generally better designed too), it's a combination of; what's the point of having another character if it's still Sonic(after earlier games had unique playable characters quite often), why is Sonic so slow, and the QTE for boss battles is not for everyone either(it's nowhere near as bad as the Tails Stages, mind you. And that's only for the HD version. Some didn't have to play those).
Shadow?I do find it sad that many people just focus on the negative side of the Sonic fanbase rather than the positive side of the fanbase. I met a lot of genuinely nice people who are also fans of Sonic the Hedgehog and yet, they get lumped in the negative fan crowd just because they like Sonic the Hedgehog.
I love animation, TV, movies, YOU NAME IT!The reason the Werehog (and a lot of new things in Sonic) was hated is a more nuanced as someone who grew up in that era. Its a combination of;
1) After every game prior having some alternate character with a deviative gameplay from traditional Sonic gameplay, most of the older fanbase and general public just wanted a simpler game.
2) Related to the above, but 06 had essentially destoryed all goodwill towards that particular direction of Sonic. The last thing anyone wanted was that, so Sega adding another alternative style just two years removed from 06 was seen as a tone deaf move.
3) The Werehog itself just being so polarizing to the daytime stages, and taking up far more of the player's time.
It was a different time basically. Sure, now Unleashed is looked at more fondly, but that's 15 years removed from the context surrounding it in 2008.
A lazy millennial who's good at what he does.The internet can't love something without destroying it.
This franchise in particular does have a real problem with Accentuate the Negative, but we don't need to revel in it.
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What year is it right now, exactly? If you listened to gaming journalists, it's 2023 everywhere except the Sonic franchise, where Sonic 06 is somehow still relevant.
But seriously though. Last year alone Sonic had a second well received movie, another well received show, and a well received 3D game. I wish we could remember that.

I never heard about that, but I wouldn't be shocked. But rather than talk about the awfulness of the fanbase.
Kishimoto is playing a dangerous game right now imo. Not that communication with the fanbase isn't a bad thing, but uh...some thing he probably can't deliver on.
A lazy millennial who's good at what he does.