10 Best Easter Eggs in Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2

by

As a lifelong Sonic fan who’s been racing through Green Hill Zones since the early ’90s, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of nostalgia as I delve into these fun facts about the speedy blue hedgehog and his world. It’s fascinating to learn about Tails’ real name, Miles Prower, and how the release date of Sonic 2 is cleverly hidden in one of his gadgets. The attention to detail in these games never ceases to amaze me!

It was inevitable that Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega’s equivalent to Super Mario, would eventually have his own movie series. Following necessary adjustments to his character, the first “Sonic the Hedgehog” film debuted in 2020. The sequel, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” followed in 2022, and another installment, tentatively titled “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” is scheduled for release in December 2024.

A genuine Sonic movie adaptation wouldn’t miss out on hidden gems and fun Easter eggs scattered across its movies. Some of these nod to the classic video game series while others reference broader pop culture. So, let’s take a whirlwind tour through the initial two Sonic films. Instead of gathering rings, we’ll be on the lookout for interesting Easter eggs instead.

10 Robotnik’s Nickname, Eggman

Most fans know that Sonic’s arch-nemesis is Dr. Robotnik. But only the most die-hard fans will know that the character was originally named Doctor Eggman in Japan for his egg-like shape. It was Sega’s American counterparts who changed his name to Dr. Robotnik. Sonic’s creators didn’t love the villain having two separate names — Robotnik in the West and Eggman in the East — so they incorporated both into future games. The character’s name was turned into Robotnik, while his nickname was Eggman.

Despite Jim Carrey’s distinct physical differences from the character, he was still given the role. However, Sonic refers to him as Eggman once he identifies the resemblance between eggs and Dr. Robotnik’s drones, a clever nod to the character’s past.

9 “I feel just like Vin Diesel.”

As a film enthusiast who can’t get enough of high-speed action, I find it completely fitting that Sonic would be a huge fan of the “Fast & Furious” series, with Vin Diesel portraying the tough-as-nails street racer, Dominic Toretto. In the first installment, Sonic takes a spin at an unusual kind of speed racing. He hops into the driver’s seat and tells his pal Tom (James Marsden), “I feel just like Vin Diesel here, it’s all about family, Tom.” This line is bound to have “Fast & Furious” fans grinning from ear to ear because, as these movies never tire of reminding us, there’s nothing more important than family.

8 Sonic Reads The Flash Comics

As a film enthusiast with a soft spot for speedy characters, I can’t help but notice the clever pop-culture winks surrounding Sonic’s incredible pace. At one instance, Sonic is depicted as speed-reading comic books, and if you squint just right at the blur, it’s clear he’s diving into the world of another legendary swift hero – DC Comics’ The Flash. It’s only fitting for a sprightly hedgehog like him! Here’s hoping that in James Gunn’s reboot of the Flash, Sonic will find a fellow speedster to race with in the new DC Universe.

7 Speed Movie References

In the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie, there’s another quick nod to a classic ’90s film – Speed, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. This action-packed film is centered around a bus rigged with explosives that must maintain a speed of 50 miles per hour or more. It’s likely that Sonic has a soft spot for this thrilling movie!

6 What Those Gold Rings Actually Do

As a devoted Sonic fan, I’ve spent countless hours chasing those iconic golden rings in the games, thinking they were just digital currency like coins in Super Mario. However, the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie surprised me by adding an exciting twist to these seemingly ordinary items. Instead of being mere video game currency, these golden rings can create portals between different worlds! This means Sonic can leap from his own world into our very own Earth. What a fascinating revelation!

5 Death Egg Robot

In the upcoming movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the character Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns with a vengeance! This time around, he’s sporting a bald look (which is good news) and has grown significantly larger than before. In this film, Eggman builds an enormous, heavily-armed robot – resembling Iron Man’s Hulkbuster armor from Avengers: Age of Ultron but even bigger! The design isn’t borrowed from the Marvel Cinematic Universe; instead, it’s a clever wink to the Sonic video game series. This robot, known as the Death Egg Robot, is actually the final boss from Sonic 2 – making it an apt climactic battle for the second Sonic movie!

4 Sonic’s Race Car Bed

In the initial film, Tom ascends Sonic to his amazingly cool loft in the attic. It’s filled with speed-themed elements, such as a 135 MPH graffiti sign, a “Slow Down” warning, and towering piles of The Flash comic books. However, what truly stands out about Sonic’s room is his race car bed, which is particularly noteworthy because it echoes the race car bed that Sonic slept on during his Archie Comics era. To put it simply, Sonic is ecstatic with his new living quarters in the movie.

3 Green Hills, Montana

In essence, Green Hill stands out as one of the most recognizable zones within the Sonic video game series. Newcomers might not have ventured far past the starting level, but they still recognize Green Hill due to its status as the initial level. Picture a hilly, earth-toned landscape filled with winding paths – that’s it! As the debut zone in the game, it feels fitting for Sonic to find himself in Green Hills, Montana when he arrives on Earth. However, let me clarify that this isn’t an actual location; rather, it resides deep within our collective gaming memories.

2 Sonic 2 Video Game Release Date

Tails, a small, orange flying fox, is Sonic’s best bud and sidekick, the Luigi to Sonic’s Mario. He’s appeared in many Sonic video games over the years, always ready to help his hedgehog pal take down Dr. Robotnik. What many fans don’t realize, though, is that Tails is just a nickname. His real name is Miles Prower, a speedy pun on “miles per hour.”

Apart from being tech-savvy and a master of mechanics, Tails is renowned for it. In the upcoming storyline, Tails employs the Miles Electric, a customizable, versatile handheld gadget. Sharp-eyed viewers might spot that at one instance, the screen displays “M.D. 11.21.1992”. However, only the most dedicated Sonic followers would be able to decipher this apparently random series of numbers. In truth, it symbolically represents the launch date of Sonic 2 on the Sega Genesis – November 21, 1992.

1 Shadow in the Mid-credits scene

The Marvel Cinematic Universe significantly influenced film franchises by making mid- and post-credit scenes almost essential. Often, these scenes were meant for amusement and chuckles, but primarily, they served to tantalize audiences and lay the groundwork for upcoming films. Emulating the MCU’s strategy, Sonic 2 took fans by surprise (pun intended) with a mid-credits scene designed to whet viewers’ appetites and generate excitement for the sequel. When Sonic fans saw Shadow the Hedgehog appear on screen, they were startled as he gave off an ominous vibe.

In the context of Sonic and Mario characters, if Tails is Luigi, then Shadow could be likened as Sonic’s Wario. He’s a complex character with a grudge, frequently clashing with Sonic. In the upcoming “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” in December, you’ll find Shadow making an appearance, and even more excitingly, he’ll be voiced by Keanu Reeves. The question remains: Will Shadow take on the role of a villain and team up with Jim Carrey’s Eggman, who’s also set to return in “Sonic 3”? We’ll have to wait until December to discover the answer.

Read More

2024-10-13 00:34