samson

Source: Dreamcast Magazine (JP) 7 (January 1, 1999)
Scan source: Sega Retro

man this has gotta be the single most successful redesign of a character in video game history. this vibe is tangibly different from the sega genesis days and to this day it's permanently imprinted upon the soul of every 3D sonic game, except the ones very loudly calling back to 2D sonic. this style didn't just change the soul of the games, it became a pillar of fandoms and the furry community and a hugely important mode of expression for young people making their first forays into drawing original characters. there's an entire multigenerational lineage of visual artistic influence that has its roots at this funky blue circle boy shooting finger guns through his legs, and i think that's great