>>538118071
>the series as it is simply would not exist
Yeah, exactly. Modern Sonic is fucking dogshit. SA2 is the alpha and omega of modern Sonic; it radically redefined everything to the point where everything after it was either trying to recreate its success or was a direct response to the failures thereof. Sonic Heroes is the only mainline game which truly breaks that pattern.

>imagining a Sonic series without Iizuka
I don't have to imagine, actually. Like I said, Adventure, Advance, and Rush did a fine job continuing from 3K. Yes I know Iizuka worked on Adventure, but his first solo outing was SA2.