Sonic et le speedrun : les jeux les plus "glitchables" de la saga

Sonic and Speedrunning: The Most Glitchy Games in the Saga

1501 words | Reading time: 8 minutes

GuideSpeedrunGames Done Quick

Thirty years of the blue hedgehog have turned the saga into a laboratory where technical flaws become tools. The whole ludography is put through the sieve: Level Wrap, Zip Glitch and Debug Mode in the 1991 title, Super Sonic Early and Spin Dash Glitch in Sonic 2, Tails Carry and Barrel Glitch in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Spin Dash Storage with the arrival of 3D, Hover Jump and Grind Glitch in Sonic Adventure 2 rated extreme in difficulty, or the Time Travel Glitch in Sonic CD. The overview also covers the Any%, Glitchless, 100% and Low% categories, the Games Done Quick marathons and TAS runs.

Speedrunning and Sonic form a legendary duo in the world of competitive gaming. For over 30 years, games in the blue hedgehog saga have captivated players with their natural speed, but also with their numerous exploitable glitches. These technical flaws, far from being mere defects, have become valuable tools for speedrunners — the Sonic Mania engine is a perfect example.

Summary

Why Sonic is ideal for speedrunning

The Sonic series has several characteristics that make it an ideal playground for speedrunning. The very philosophy of these games, based on speed and fluidity, naturally encourages players to seek the fastest paths. Complex physics mechanics create many exploitation opportunities.

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Sonic at full speed

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Sonic the Hedgehog (1991): The pioneer of glitches

The very first Sonic remains one of the most speedrun games. Techniques like Level Wrap, Zip Glitch, and the famous Debug Mode allow players to bypass the normal rules of the game. And if you want to show your colors, check out our Sonic T-shirts.

Sonic 2: The golden age of classic speedrunning

Sonic 2 is full of accessible glitches like Super Sonic Early or the Spin Dash Glitch. It is often recommended for Sonic speedrunning beginners.

🪑 Sonic 2 and its Super Sonic Early are what everyone recommends to speedrunning beginners: wedge one of our Sonic cushions behind your back before you take on your first hours on the controller.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Mastered complexity

With its combined mechanics and multiple characters, this game offers a vast field of experimentation for glitches like the Tails Carry Glitch or the Barrel Glitch.

Sonic Adventure: The 3D revolution

The transition to 3D opened the way for complex exploits such as Spin Dash Storage and Clip Glitches. To dive into the expanded universe, read my analysis of Sonic Adventure lore.

Sonic Adventure 2: The pinnacle of modern glitches

The Hover Jump and Grind Glitches make SA2 one of the favorite playgrounds for experienced runners.

City Escape, a speedrunning playground
City Escape concentrates everything speedrunning looks for: shortcuts, rails and a scripted descent.

Sonic CD: The temporal paradox

Thanks to its time travel, Sonic CD introduces specific bugs related to temporal transitions, such as the Time Travel Glitch. A complete analysis of Sonic CD shows why these flaws remain fascinating.

Modern games: Between correction and innovation

Recent titles like Sonic Generations or Sonic Frontiers, although optimized, still leave room for glitches such as Boost Glitches or Wall Clipping. For your PC sessions, consider our Sonic mouse pads.

🧱 Wall Clipping still finds walls to slip through in recent games like Sonic Frontiers; the one in your bedroom is holding firm, and it would look far better with one of our Sonic decorations on it.

The cultural impact of Sonic speedrunning

Marathons like Games Done Quick have popularized Sonic speedrunning, with increasingly optimized and impressive runs. Fans often immortalize their heroes with supersonic Sonic figurines!

Speedrunning categories and their specificities

The main categories are:

  • Any%: finish the game by any means, including glitches
  • Glitchless: no cheating, only intended gameplay
  • 100%: all objectives achieved
  • Low%: with the minimum required
A rail sequence in City Escape
The categories differ above all in what they allow when it comes to shortcuts.

The future of Sonic speedrunning

The Sonic speedrunning scene remains dynamic, fueled by new games, remasters, and glitch detection tools. We can even dream of the return of a forgotten prototype like Sonic X-treme.

Tips for starting Sonic speedrunning

Start with Sonic 2, watch tutorials, join the community on Discord or Speedrun.com, and train regularly.

đź’§ Between the tutorials, Discord and the back-and-forth on Speedrun.com, training regularly keeps your hands on the controller: set one of our Sonic water bottles down beside you instead of running off to the kitchen.

Summary table of the most glitchable Sonic games

Game Main glitches Execution difficulty
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) Level Wrap, Zip Glitch, Debug Mode Medium
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Super Sonic Early, Spin Dash Glitch, Wall Clips Moderate
Sonic 3 & Knuckles Tails Carry Glitch, Barrel Glitch, Hyper Form Clips High
Sonic Adventure Spin Dash Storage, Clip Glitches, Camera Manipulation Very High
Sonic Adventure 2 Hover Jump, Grind Glitch, Somersault Glitch Extreme
Sonic CD Time Travel Glitch, Metal Sonic Exploits High
Sonic Generations Boost Glitch, Wall Clipping, Physics Exploits Moderate

Conclusion

Sonic games offer a unique field of expression for speedrunners. Over 30 years of history, each installment has brought its share of technical possibilities, paying tribute to the speed, ingenuity, and passion of the community. To conclude your reading, hang a Sonic poster on the wall and try your hand at glitching... down to the pixel.

FAQ

  • What is the best Sonic game to start speedrunning?
    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is often recommended for its gradual learning curve.
  • Are all glitches allowed?
    No, it depends on the category (Any %, Glitchless, etc.).
  • Where can I find tutorials or communities?
    Speedrun.com, Discord, and YouTube are excellent starting points.
  • What is a TAS?
    A Tool-Assisted Speedrun, performed with an emulator to optimize each frame.
  • Can modern games be speedrun?
    Yes, even Sonic Frontiers already has recorded runs with glitches.

🔎 To go further: Blaze the Cat and Sonic Frontiers and its open world.

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