Sonic the Hedgehog is in a very different situation today than it was a decade ago.This series, which was once ridiculed for a long time, has now returned to its peak of popularity comparable to the 1990s.After the main creators such as Nakayuji, Naoto Oshima, Hirokazuka Yasuhara left Sega one after another, Takashi Iizuka became the de facto spokesperson of the series.He is looking back on the difficult years that led the series out of its trough.

In an interview, Takashi Iizuka admitted: "When I moved from Tokyo to Burbank ten years ago, the Sonic brand was not in an optimistic situation. Many people are slamming this series and are very dissatisfied with the works we have launched."

He added: "We have to save the brand or it may not last long."

Looking back at 2015, Sonic had just experienced a decade of reputation plummeting: works such as "Schart the Hedgehog", "Sonic 06", "Sonic Free Racing", and "Sonic Sound Boom" frequently made headlines due to their poor performance.Although there were also masterpieces such as "Sonic Sprint" series, "Release" and "Generations" (and "Sonic and All-Star Racing: Transformation" which is one of the best kart games in history), the discussion around Sonic is undoubtedly mainly negative.

Since then, the series has begun to counterattack: the beloved "Sonic Carnival", the "Sonic: Border", which some players support, and three box office hit movies - the second of which became the second game adaptation film in history to receive "fresh certification" for Rotten Tomatoes.

Iizuka sighed, looking back at the scene ten years ago: "Some changes are incredible. We once fought for survival, but now the situation is completely different."