World's coldest take: this is quite plainly irredeemable garbage - yes. Forever one of the most effortlessly embarrassing cases of fumbling what should have been a positive moment in gaming through rushed deadlines and general terrible game design. Sort of lukewarm take(?): that is precisely what makes it half-entertaining. Would this have been better if it was an actual good game? Yes. But come on, just have a LOOK at this cracked-out mess lmao. We rightly joke a lot about the busted state of many Triple A releases of today, but there are always new ways to fuck up in this one - you will never cease to be surprised when you think you surely must have seen every humorous glitch or straightup non-functioning mechanic until you have the rug pulled right out from under you once again with a brand new atrocity. Cutscenes look legit incredible and have a similar freakish, awkward vibe as something like Tommy Wiseau's The Room; it's Sonic so of course the OST still SLAPS; and I still remain a Silver defender to this day. I definitely won't make excuses for this actually being some unfairly hated gem, it fucking isn't - and I confess that the memes of this have long gotten exhausting. But there's always an authentic giggle to be had every so often when you think "Heh, remember Sonic 06??"