I get that the whole meme is "Sonic had a rough transition into 3D", but I genuinely think Mario had the harder time getting his feet off the ground, and people are too nostalgia blind, or just reeeeally hate Sonic, to see that.
Long rant ahead lol
First off, let's talk about what everyone refers to as their first 3D outings: Super Mario 64, and Sonic 3D Blast. First off, 3D Blast was made by an outside dev team, Traveler's Tales. It wasn't made in-house, and I'd argue that makes it less reasonable to prop up as a standard.
Second, 3D Blast wasn't fully 3D, it was more like 2.5D. Both the SNES and Genesis were good at doing 2.5D like that though, so it's more fair to compare 3D Blast to something like A Link to the Past, given it's also a top-down game that relies pretty regularly on the illusion of depth.
Now, as far as fully 3D Games go? Sonic's first one was Sonic the Fighters, a fighting game, and an Arcade game at that. Can we really count that? Mario's first 3D Game was Mario 64, and while it's no doubt good and a classic, I still believe it shows its age, especially with its rather simple level design. Regardless, it was more indicative of Mario's overall gameplay style as established in Mario 1-3 and World than Fighters is to Sonic.
Sonic's first 3D game in a similar era was... well, if you're realistic, it's Sonic Adventure, and that game has its problems too, but is still often touted as a shining example of Sonic's style in 3D. If you're cynical or really hate Sonic, you'd look at Sonic Jam's "Sonic World", which was literally just made as a little bonus feature, and cobbled together from early demos and concepts for Sonic Adventure. It's not comparable; that'd be like saying Mario Teaches Typing is a mainline Mario game because there are some sidescrolling segments like in Super Mario Bros., it doesn't make sense.
Look, Mario 64 is great, it's fun, it's a classic. But I think it is definitely more of a dated game than Adventure, and I am convinced that people are too quick to put it above Adventure by virtue of Sonic's reputation in the 2010s over the actual quality of the game itself.
[she&her / Cis-Female] {Lila Sawyer}, who is a {canon character} from {Hey, Arnold!™} has just arrived to Canterlot Island. Her age is {twenty-five}-years-old, and she is working as a {cashier, and a merchandise stocker} at {The Orange Mart}. She is {polite, and helpful}, but she is also {sad, and naïve}. Her memories are {partially forgotten}, and I keep mistaking her for {Jessica Sula}. Unfortunately, she will not be able to leave Canterlot Island, so I hope that she will adjust to living here. [Izzy/22/she&her/P.S.T.]
Accepted !! Thank you so very much for bringing us Lila Sawyer from Hey, Arnold!™, Izzy !! I can’t believe that Lila Sawyer from Hey, Arnold!™ is not Jessica Sula !! Jessica Sula is now taken x1 !! Welcome to Canterlot Island, Lila Sawyer from Hey, Arnold!™ !! You have arrived to Canterlot Island with all of your memories partially forgotten !! Izzy, you will now have twenty-four hours to send in your blog via THIS link, and to let us know if you will be also using RPnow.net with the other members of this RPG for Lila Sawyer from Hey, Arnold!™, or we will have to re-open this character. Please also take a look at our Checklist, and please review our new Rules here for this RPG !! Thank you so very much for applying to our RPG, Izzy !!
[she&her / Cis-Female] {Candy Chiu}, who is a {canon character} from {Gravity Falls} has just arrived to Canterlot Island. Her age is {twenty-eight}-years-old, and she is working as a {waitress} at {Franzelli’s}. She is {quick-thinking, and cheerful}, but she is also {jealous, and selfish}. Her memories are {partially forgotten}, and I keep mistaking her for {Seulgi Kang}. Unfortunately, she will not be able to leave Canterlot Island, so I hope that she will adjust to living here. [Izzy/22/she&her/P.S.T.]
Accepted !! Thank you so very much for bringing us Candy Chiu from Gravity Falls, Izzy !! I can’t believe that Candy Chiu from Gravity Falls is not Seulgi Kang !! Seulgi Kang is now taken x1 !! Welcome to Canterlot Island, Candy Chiu from Gravity Falls !! You have arrived to Canterlot Island with all of your memories partially forgotten !! Izzy, you will now have twenty-four hours to send in your blog via THIS link, and to let us know if you will be also using RPnow.net with the other members of this RPG for Candy Chiu from Gravity Falls, or we will have to re-open this character. Please also take a look at our Checklist, and please review our new Rules here for this RPG !! Thank you so very much for applying to our RPG, Izzy !!
[she&her / Cis-Female] {Samantha 'Sam' Sharp}, who is a {canon character} from {The Loud House™ / A Loud House™ Christmas / The Really Loud House™} has just arrived to Canterlot Island. Her age is {thirty}-years-old, and she is enrolled at {Canterlot College}. She is {kind, and sweet}, but she is also {indecisive, and impulsive}. Her memories are {partially forgotten}, and I keep mistaking her for {Aisha Dee}. Unfortunately, she will not be able to leave Canterlot Island, so I hope that she will adjust to living here. [Izzy/21/she&her/P.S.T.]
Accepted !! Thank you so very much for bringing us Samantha 'Sam' Sharp from The Loud House™ / A Loud House™ Christmas / The Really Loud House™, Izzy !! I can’t believe that Samantha 'Sam' Sharp from The Loud House™ / A Loud House™ Christmas / The Really Loud House™ is not Aisha Dee !! Aisha Dee is now taken x2 !! Welcome to Canterlot Island, Samantha 'Sam' Sharp from The Loud House™ / A Loud House™ Christmas / The Really Loud House™ !! You have arrived to Canterlot Island with all of your memories partially forgotten !! Izzy, you will now have twenty-four hours to send in your blog via THIS link, and to let us know if you will be also using RPnow.net with the other members of this RPG for Samantha 'Sam' Sharp from The Loud House™ / A Loud House™ Christmas / The Really Loud House™, or we will have to re-open this character. Please also take a look at our Checklist, and please review our new Rules here for this RPG !! Thank you so very much for applying to our RPG, Izzy !!