
Interesting detail about Sonic X: It appears that Super Sonic is not needed for Dark Sonic to be triggered.
https://youtu.be/tiAFyEbdjF8?si=JdCELcT0AAwKqc_h
I've been thinking about this for quite some time.
When we see Sonic turning into Dark Sonic in Sonic X, his transformation doesn't follow the pattern of sillhouette changed followed by color change that Super Sonic goes through. First, he turns dark with Sonic's sillhouette, then he gains the Super Sonic sillhouette. It's as if he wasn't a Dark version of Super Sonic (a Dark Super Sonic), but rather Super version of Dark Sonic (a Super Dark Sonic). Sonic is first affected by Dark form, then Super form. Perhaps it could have an implication on where the Dark form came from, since it isn't tied directly to Super Sonic.