‘Sonic the Hedgehog 4’ Is Happening, and It Needs to Adapt This Game

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  • Previous Sonic Games Adapted to the Movies
  • Hints and Clues Teased in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’

As a long-time fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, I’ve been following this franchise since the days of the Sega Genesis. I remember spending countless hours playing Sonic CD and Sonic Heroes, immersed in their unique gameplay and captivating storylines. So, when I saw Sonic the Hedgehog 3, I was eager to see how they would blend elements from different games into one cinematic narrative.

By early January 2025, it became public knowledge that Paramount Pictures intends to extend the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie series with a fourth installment slated for release in 2027. This move was made even before the premiere of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” as the studio found it quite obvious, following the international box office success of the initial two Sonic films which cumulatively earned over $725 million (data from The Numbers).

With “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” dominating the box-office by earning $60 million in its debut weekend, it’s exciting to speculate about story ideas for “Sonic 4”. Luckily, there are still numerous Sonic games yet to be adapted into movies, and fans have identified several potential hints from the earlier series installments. It appears that most agree that “Sonic 4” will incorporate elements from multiple video games, but “Sonic CD” and “Sonic Heroes” seem to be the main sources of inspiration.

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Previous Sonic Games Adapted to the Movies

Instead of merely imitating fan-made stories, the three Sonic the Hedgehog films produced by Paramount have consistently drawn plot ideas from various Sonic video games. For example, the 2020 film, Sonic the Hedgehog, takes its inspiration from the original game released in 1991. The sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, delves deeper into adapting the beloved Sega games. The movie’s island setting bears a resemblance to South Island from the first game.

In the second film, elements like Green Hill town and Green Hill Zone racing area, initially seen in the classic Sonic the Hedgehog video game, are directly incorporated. As the story progresses, the characters travel to a chilly location reminiscent of the Ice Cap Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), serving as an exciting nod or ‘Easter egg’ in the movie.

In the second movie, Sonic and his team embark on a quest for emeralds and navigate an underwater labyrinth. Reminiscences of the opening level in Sonic Adventure (1998) are evident throughout this scene. However, it’s important to note that none of the films directly follow the storylines or characters from a single game in the Sonic franchise. Instead, the creators blend aspects from multiple games to construct Sonic’s cinematic universe.

In the world of a movie buff like myself, I’d put it this way: Just like how Tails and Knuckles were introduced progressively in the original Sonic games – Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994), and Sonic and Knuckles (1994) – these characters are now featured in the sequel to the live-action Sonic movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The writers have cleverly woven key plot points from the games without rehashing one specific game, ensuring a coherent timeline. Consequently, hints about the next installment can be found nestled within Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Hints and Clues Teased in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles team up to take down Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and his new partner, Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves). The storyline borrows elements from Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), featuring nods to the main antagonist, Eggman Land, Chao Garden Cafe, and other significant gaming landmarks.

The mention of Team Sonic might be a strong indication of what’s coming up next, as it echoes the popular 2003 game, Sonic Heroes. Team Sonic is a team that competes in races and fights, consisting of characters such as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, and Sticks the Badger.

In the final scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Team Sonic finds themselves caught off guard by a swarm of robotic Metal Sonics. Just in time, Amy Rose swoops in to save them. The climax then unveils that Shadow has somehow managed to survive. This ending suggests that the storyline for Sonic 4 will likely continue where Sonic Heroes and Sonic CD left off, a prospect eagerly anticipated by most fans.

What Fans Want and Expect to See in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 4’

Many Sonic enthusiasts are hoping and anticipating that the fourth movie will incorporate elements and significant characters from both the 1993 game, “Sonic CD,” and the 2003 game, “Sonic Heroes.” Unlike other Sonic games, the storyline of “Sonic CD” is unique because it features non-linear time travel, enabling players to explore different variations of each level.

As a passionate movie reviewer, I must say that Sonic Heroes veers away from the usual action-packed adventures and exploration, instead opting for high-speed racing and a linear narrative. The story revolves around Team Sonic on a quest to gather the seven elusive Chaos Emeralds, all while thwarting Doctor Eggman’s global conquest ambitions.

In the game “Sonic CD,” Amy Rose and Metal Sonic first made their appearance. Consequently, when attentive fans identified them in the post-credit sequence of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” they understood that the series was likely to progress in that direction next. Known as one of Sonic’s most formidable adversaries, Metal Sonic is a creation of Dr. Robotnik.

Based on Team Sonic transitioning from Sonic Heroes and the connection between Metal Sonic and Amy Rose to Sonic CD, it’s expected that the upcoming film will maintain the pattern of blending elements from various games into a single cinematic storyline. On Reddit, when asked about which Sonic game they expect to be adapted next, the majority opinion was Sonic Heroes.

As the top Redditor notes, “Heroes, all that Metal Sonic setup would pay off here.”

Responding in kind, another Redditor adds:

I believe the Sonic movie series should be grand, with elements reminiscent of games like Sonic Heroes that feature Metal Overlord and team-building aspects. This concept could work well since Sonic CD shares many similarities with Sonic & Knuckles, almost like a crossover experience. Therefore, I propose a more interconnected storyline across the series, similar to what you’d find in these games.

Sonic heroes/Sonic4 (storyline) would be better option.”

In the final stages of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” the origin of the Metal Robots remains unexplained, setting up an intriguing plot point for “Sonic 4.” However, it’s important to note that characters like Team Sonic and Amy Rose were also present in “Sonically CD,” which should be taken into account. As Redditor 28secondslater points out, this suggests a potential connection between the three games.

For the fourth movie, I’d like to draw inspiration primarily from “Sonic Heroes,” “Sonic CD,” and “Sonic 06.” New characters such as Silver, Blaze, and Amy will be introduced, while Metal Sonic will serve as the principal antagonist. The storyline will involve time travel, with references to the Terminator series, featuring Classic Metal in the past and Neo Metal from the future. In essence, this movie seems like it could write itself due to its intriguing premise.

These modifications will also incorporate Sticks the Badger into the Sonic film franchise, furthering Team Sonic’s pursuit of thwarting the Metal Sonic troop. Meanwhile, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is now screening in cinemas nationwide.

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2024-12-28 04:03