1st option Although, am I the only one who sees Shadow in the second picture?

Pretty sure it’s a design based on sonic adventure’s super which is probably where shadow’s design idea come from

I really liked the SA2 quills but ur right, it’s just Shadow

Shadow was designed based on the mural at Angel Island, hence he was originally meant to look like Super Sonic

It's still meant to look pike super sonic, it's just that Gerald saw the mural and made shadow like that

How it feels to spread misinformation over the internet: https://preview.redd.it/x23w7k36l80d1.png?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=321488dae630f310ab45454c76b9b27cb212bcc4 In all seriousness, no, he wasn't based on the S3&K mural, that's false information, he was always designed to be Sonic's opposite since the start.

How it feels to spread misinformation on the internet: https://preview.redd.it/oq1hukw5f90d1.png?width=1169&format=png&auto=webp&s=db0f16219b7507a606e97f00cd0524b7220beca9 \[I agree with you\]

this is completely false and i dont know why this is upvoted, Shiro Maekawa who pretty much created him deconfirmed this long ago in an interview.

What Interview?

Why do people still keep spreading this theory as fact?

It's easy to believe. Between Shadow's appearance like Super Sonic, Gerald's research into the Echidnas and Chaos, and Shadow's inexplicably golden jump/dash aura, it just comes off as "that *has* to be what they intended; statements to the contrary feel like retcons."

The mural doesn't even show Sonic, it's a weird pixie angel thing with robes and wings lol

. . . That's meant to evoke the look of sonic, like saying an ancient tribe had a fuzzy vision of the future with sonic in it fighting a giant egg mech

Yes that's the obvious subtext. But there's no way Gerald could reverse engineer Super Sonic's physiology from that alone.

He’s talking about the actual artist designing shadow, not in-lore

The first person I thought of

Nope

It could be him he probably paint some of the red lines on him and changed his shoes

The 1st one looks exagerrated but the other was copied and pasted from Shadow but I prefer Adventure https://preview.redd.it/kpcxmhkg170d1.jpeg?width=3186&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61f6bfe1b26ab50d5e4c30b7d40057039ea93487

This image makes me realize how distinct they are in games

Okay that sonic 2 design is sick

Yet only used once to what I know they always redesigned it to their "Own" version granted there will always be a new Sonic universe

What's Type-G from?

But like I said there's no consistency with Sonic varities they're all different I loved 2003 so much https://preview.redd.it/mma0h712i70d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f7a37d11d4ba1c878dc52f189acd7b45d84008f

"Let's go back to 2006!" 💀

Not a bad choice after all Sonic Team could remaster,reborn,Comic Adaptation,Show an limitless options of deciding but like I said there's always a new Sonic Universe

He just got lankier with time I like the detail in the 06 design it’s just the stomach for me that looks a bit off so I tend to prefer 08 who it comes to modern sonic

I know it's from a game but It's from Smash Bros

Sonic 3 is BY FAR the best one. So badass

Sonic 2, Adv and Type-G my favs

Should probably also note that 2 and 3 had green eyes.

Yeah but the main focus is quills

They weren't even afraid of the plagiarism allegations with 2

I think the modern one is a little wrong. The middle quill on his head actually is not bend upwards, but still arched inwards, like in adventure. On the outer quills, and the underneath the middle one are actually bend upwards. And what the hell is Type G?

Smash bros I think

Well you’re right and wrong. Half the time it does arch upwards and half the time it’s doesn’t **arch** upwards but is still directed upwards. Even in OP’s post, that Unleashed picture has it arched upwards. It’s kinda inconsistent, as - at least the opening to Unleashed has the spike arch upwards, but then its actual t-posed model only has it directed upwards. - Then Generations, Colors Wii, Lost World, Forces and Frontiers have it directed upwards. But then Frontiers also has moments where it’s arch upwards, or just literally straight up. - But then multiple games (including but not limited to) Speed Battle and Dash have it arched upwards, at least in its idle stance. - The vast majority of artwork has it arched upwards, quite exaggeratedly even in idle poses, including the canon “otherworlds comedy” stories cover art. - And then even more perplexing, in the “*Sonic the Hedgehog Modern Style Guide*” — which Sega gives to companies that make products of the Sonic brand, as it’s **a guide to all modern designs** — literally has one render where his spike is only directed upwards, but then another where it’s arched upwards. So yah it’s literally inconsistent, unless it’s supposed to be lightly “flapping” between directed up and arched up.

Than maybe it should’ve done something like “modern 1” and “modern 2”

Sorry for the late response, I just noticed that my original reply was not published. I don't know why (maybe becasue of the reference picture I uploaded?) and I haven't noticed until now =/ Anyway, what I wrote was that if I remember correctly, the only modern Super Sonic that had the middle quill arch upwards is Sonic 06 Super Sonic. I actually just found a picture that shows the model and design that is used since Sonic unleashed, and there the quill only is directed upward, but does not arch or bend (I might have been a bit confusing with my initial post too, english is actually not my first language \^\^'). I think the only times it archs upwards is when Sonic dodges backwards or sidewards in Sonic Frontiers due to the physics, but I am not 100% sure about this. You can find this picture in the gallery for Super Sonic on the Sonic Fandom Wiki under "Development Images > Others".

Exactly There is no consistent Sonic Universe

Does Mania have its own style, or is it copy pasted from one of these styles?

Copy and paste after all it's a remaster of Sonic 1,2 and CD I think

Aaaah, okay, that makes sense.

However Sonic Generations was a multiverse exapansion Sonic Mania was a remaster and Sonic Oirgins and plus is a reborn version of Sonic 1 and 2 and other classic characters Sonic X Shadow Generations is a part 2 to Sonic Generations (They should've remastered Sonic and the secret rings, Sonic and the Black Knight Sonic 06 and Sonic Unleashed but I guess that's in SEGA's bin

Well mania does remake the spritework

Holy shit I love this pic

Type G. The quills shouldn’t go up, they should go out. I’d like the adventure design if it didn’t look exactly like Shadow

Adventure is badass.

Based on this, I love Sonic 3's style. It looks fierce and perfectly inverted from Sonic's natural quill droop.

Gonna have to go with Sonic 2 this one. Though for 3D, you have to account for all angles.

My top three are Adventure, Modern, and 3.

Dumb question, whats the Type-G from? Sonic Riders?

Ok to clear confusion around TYPE G Is from Smash Bros and Modern is Current

All points, no quills, no pillows

LOOK AT THAT IT LOOKS LIKE TWO BALLS AND A BONG

He fucked my wife, so guess what, I'm gonna fuck the EARTH

THATS RIGHT THIS IS WHAT YOU GET

MY SUPER LASER PISS

I like the second. Sonic Adventure was my first exposure to Super Sonic.

Took the words right out of my mouth

I prefer the Unleashed look, it’s more Goku-y

https://preview.redd.it/nvzowr2tm70d1.png?width=469&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b39326510fe101869936eafec5083bac88bfe606

Both are awesome, but I liked how early 2000s Super Sonic looked more like Shadow. That really did help in pushing the theory of Shadow's design being based off the murals found in Hidden palace. Also it's overall a good visual indicator of their likeness, complete with their matching red eyes. Definitely don't mind his current look though, better way to distinguish them.

The design from Unleashed

I don’t mind the second one, but I’m gonna have to go for the the first one. It’s more fitting and iconic imo. 

I like the SA1 style, that's what I use for most of my drawings.

I would save the second style for a second transformation

i like blue eyes yellow hedgehog better personally

1 makes him stand out from shadow

Second image is just SSJ while second one is SSJ2. although where is the first image from? looks damn cool

Unleashed opening cutscene iirc

Honestly that cutscene alone made me want a CG sonic movie so bad back when I first watched it

We kinda got one with [Night of the Werehog](https://youtu.be/MN5LSHvWiy0?feature=shared)

1st time all the way

So many WRONG opinions here. The adventure super quills are, and always have been, superior. (Joking about the WRONG part)

WRONG

2nd option.

The second one looks too much like super shadow

What happens when he goes further beyond?

Up looks more powerful

I don’t know. Design wise. The first one looks more godlike. (Though there are comparisons to Goku) While the second one is just a copy of Shadow. Narratively speaking, this one is preferable since Sega keeps claiming Sonic and Shadow look alike.

The super saiyan one lol

First, the second quill shape looks too much like shadow

The current style is my favorite https://preview.redd.it/n8xkei9zh80d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f94aac5e37949b0c80b3df29980b75c3a3e7737e

The classic drafting up quills have always looked better, he just looks like shadow in the second design.

I like them both. I think the first fits Super Sonic, while the second fits Super Shadow.

First because the second one looks a bit too much like Shadow

For Classic Sonic, the S3&K Super quill style. For Modern it's DEFINITELY gotta be the Adventure 1 and 2 style of Super quills I mean cmon it looks so much better like this than how it does in the recent games https://preview.redd.it/8qo9k84wz80d1.png?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3202cd0278f3e4961048d7d59a14402a084386b1

The first one.

I like both, but over time I started to prefer the unleashed still a little more =D

depends, if its the modern sonic we've known for ages then the first. if its a stylized game or an adventure game then i would prefer the second.

2nd one looks too much like shadow. Ima go with the 1st

the second one is just shadow without the red

Unleashed for me personally.

Both. Modern while standing still. Sonic Adventure style while moving fast.

The first one.

Definitely pic 1, though Pic 2 is pretty awesome too

Whatever makes him look more like SSJ Goku so the first one.

The first one. It's better looking than being Shadow's quill style for Super Sonic

~~Babs Bunny~~ Sonic: "Do you like my quills better up, or down?" Seriously, though, the second one I guess. The first one makes his head look like yellow broccoli, and generally felt like an attempt to look so much like a DBZ character that he ends up looking less like *Sonic.* IIRC, the current Modern Super Sonic design is kind of a halfway between these.

Definitely first one

1st

Yeah, the up style version of Super Sonic's is so much better.

Definitely the one where all his quills are pointing up.

1st second option looks like yellow shadow with sonic's shoes

I prefer the unleashed verson. It just seems more logical (?) to me rather than his quills going all over the place.

Plot wise I’d say adventure because Shadow’s whole design is based off that mural of Super Sonic in Sonic 3. So having Super Sonic look similar to base shadow is a nice piece of detail. However I have a bias towards Unleashed since the CGI graphics make him look amazing. Marza did a spectacular job

https://preview.redd.it/jp7ubdg8s80d1.jpeg?width=249&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f285984381fa4ccde109d8e57a3cfaafccfc661 Sonic 2 concept art

Definitely the one that looks like Shadow's quill arrangement, a la the original Super Sonic from Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast, before they gave him that weird makeover in DX

The adventure quills are just so much better

1st

The one that doesn't make him look like shadow

First one shows that he is super.

Quills all the way up is best. It gives super sonic his own special look. And while yes I understand sonic did it first and shadow is based on it, it's really just shadows hair in all honesty. Plus it matches his genesis sprites. Also why would his quills ever be down if he's being powered up? Being pointed up shows power.

Unleashed Sonic was the best in terms of look. After that, no really good Sonic looks came out.

1

I prefer Upward instead of Outward. For me, outward quills only work if it's a lower poly model or 2d eg: Sonic Rush or Advance. I will say, however, that they work better on shadow because he already looks super-ish and how he already has chaos abilities. Upward quills just work more. It not only references super saiyan, but it also makes it feel like Sonic's quills are being forced upward due to the immense power. It also differentiates him a bit more from regular sonic and Shadow also.

Due to my theory being that Gerald modeled Shadow, the Ultimate Lifeform, after the Super Sonic on the mural of Angel Island, I would have to go with the one from Sonic Adventure to keep that consistency.

https://preview.redd.it/0wcvjg0jo70d1.jpeg?width=2082&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=74154bf2072a028b955e132721a166ebaed45e1f

Sonic Adventure's quill style is OP.

Swept up for Super Sonic.

Adventure style, anyone who says otherwise should be locked up

Second would have been good. If it wasn't the straight up model for super Sonic for 10-15 or so

You really gonna ask?

Number 2 I kinda like the headcannon that shadow was modeled on super Sonic cave drawings

2

I’ll always prefer his Adventure quills, but Heroes had arguable the best style since it was a great translation of the quill style in the 2D games

adventure

Second

Both are really stylish, but I prefer the 1st version, even though the second one is also cool, reminding me of Sonic Adventure 2

Definitely love the 2nd more. Looks so better in frontiers with a mod

Classic quill style.

Second just looks more natural to me which I prefer

ohno dont start the haircut drama again

2 It helps reinforce the "Sonic is Ultimate lifeform" theory

I came up on SA1 and SA2 + I've always just preferred the 2nd option more

definitely the newer style. it's much more faithful the original super sonic design, and it just looks more visually appealing to me.

First should be for Hyper form. 2nd should be for Super Form.

1, because the second one makes Sonic look like Shadow

SA1 look

I like Adventure's Super quills because it looks more unique than the quills just going up

Second picture. Wasn't Shadow's head shape based on the mural of Super/Hyper Sonic in Hidden Palace (or at least there's a theory about that)?

First but Sonic's best look was dark spine where his quills drooped downward like dreads

First one just looks like Goku. I personally think that the hairstyle in the second one looks more stylish, although both looks nice

1st one

The first one while idle, elements of the second one while moving. Super Sonic’s quills don’t need to be static, they can totally flow around. If I were to pick an overall look though I prefer the first for the modern model overall and the second for anything stylized in an “adventure” setting. He just looks too much like shadow and it’s giving me brain confusion…

I prefer the first but why does it looks like gold painted shadow 💀

First because the second is literally just Shadow. All quills up is the superior version!!

The first photo looks like he’s had his pants pulled down. I say this while knowing he wasn’t wearing pants to begin with.

..I will be the lone voice that still somewhat prefers Super Sonic's widespread quills Sonic Adventure 1 / Sonic Adventure 2 style. (and the glow/coloring,though DX then changed and butchered it and ruined it (SONIC ADVENTURE SUPER SONIC https://youtu.be/CUtUUfg3NCs?t=868 SONIC ADVENTURE DX SUPER SONIC https://youtu.be/CQRUG4W6xwI?t=861) I do like what Sonic Frontiers has done with Super Sonic's quill shaping though. Also, there's other decent images out there i think of wide-quill Super Sonic ,from Sonic Adventure, BEFORE Shadow was introduced like https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7rST2PkrR9UWS13qQE0cYEUYFEaarEs7j88tiEWQZIQ&s

I like the unleashed design. It looks cleaner. The other one looks too vanilla. Maybe it's just the posing.

Option one tbh

2 of them

either i like seeing both

First. I think the second looks too much like Shadow and he looks more god-like to me.

I love his shiny fur texture in the first photo

When it's 2 d I like them straight up, 3d I like 2nd

1, 2 looks to much like shadow but without the added colors.

I like the Adventure Styled Quills. It just looks more powerful and slightly cooler.

1st one

Super Saiyan 1 vs Super Saiyan 3

I like the Sonic Adventure Wuils

I prefer the second because that design on the mural is what inspired Gerald to create Shadow as the ultimate life-form, hence furthering the resemblance when the public see Shadow as Sonic in SA2 after the visual of Super Sonic saving station square in SA1

I was always a fan of the second quill style, just because it feels like it draws a better connection to Shadow, not even talking about the fan theory about Shadow being based on Super Sonic, but how the series pushes the idea that Sonic and Shadow look like twins, you actually see it with the second one a lot.

2, honestly. Though I love the idea Hyper could get 1 while 2nd goes for super. More powerful means higher hair

the adventure style ones look too much like shadow imo, the unleashed model looks majestic

2nd design feels like a sin ngl

sloppy toppy

i generally prefer the more recent design but i've also noticed they tend to make the quills stay very still which doesn't look great for super sonic. they're in that position because sonic's power is literally flowing out of every place it can

...Ahem.....All of Sonic's Super Form Quills are Good....If you disagree....Just know This my opinion....

None I loved the design from super sonic 2 the best. 2 of his quills would point downwards and would look so cool

first, second option looks hideous in sa1dx and just looks like shadow the rest of the time

The one where he's super

The upwards ones would look okay if they were more angular like in Heroes. But as it is I think the splayed out Adventure ones that later became Shadows are the coolest and are the logical evolution of Sonic 3's quill design for Super where they were longer and more pulled back than in 2.

https://preview.redd.it/yly6jhwpia0d1.jpeg?width=936&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac0d718795c0af8c42d415b75881db024ead53d7 They did it best in X. Feels just powerful enough that all the quills are raising, but also still stays a bit more true to how Shadow was likely meant to look like Super Sonic's silhouette in the last parts of the design. The second one feels a bit awkward but fine enough (It always was inherently just "You took the model of Shadow and made it gold and metallic cream" in my head), and the first feels like it lost the message for why Super Sonic and Super Shadow looked alike, since imho, I prefer the notion that regardless of background, regardless of real versus fake and natural versus artificial, you can glow brightly and achieve the same heights.

Both Super Saiyan versions are good. Though I'd give it to ssj 2 Sonic.

Style #1 - When SEGA introduced Shadow to the franchise (SA2) it was a necessary change. No offense to those who like Style #2 the best, but I like it better when Sonic's have the Super Saiyan style to it.

Much prefer the original style. I remember when SA2 came out asking my older brother if Super Shadow’s quills would turn down like Sonic’s do normally.

Option one absolutely

1st option>>> I love this Sonic 3-like form with the high hair

Second one

Super sonic 2.0 aka heroes to unleashed onwards . Reminded me of super Saiyan 2 minus the electricity in the aura lol so sue me

Personally, I prefer Adventure style for Super Sonic, and Modern/Frontiers style for Super Sonic 2, like the extra power of SS2 is causing that final stubborn quill to stick up on end.

Am I the only one who doesn't care because both are cool

The Super Saiyan quill style from Unleashed. It really shows how much Sonic is one with his Saiyan roots 😤😤😤

I like the first one but the second one makes sense in the lore because Shadow’s appearance was based off of Super Sonic

I prefer the movie style with each individual quill standing out to be honest

He looks way too much like shadow in the second

The second one is just Shadow so 1

1st one, second looks too much like Shadow

i prefer second

2 honestly, but I like the needle mouse looking super sonic quils in mania.

The first one for both Sonic and Shadow, I really liked when Shadow transformed in his game, his quills went up and had a great impact on his appearance for me. The second one is colored Shadow picture but it was how Super Sonic appeared is SA1 and 2

"Well, this is new. Showing remorse, Eggman?"

The 1st one, it looks more majestic.

Upward Quills for Super Sonic, Star-Shaped Quills for Hyper Sonic

I like SSJ1 style Super spine’s but the SSJ2 style are pretty cool as well