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The games were positively brilliant. The sprites were incredibly well-drawn, the levels were huge and expansive with a few alternate paths, and they incorporated many design features like loops, corkscrews, and crumbling ledges that were never seen before in any game. Many entertainment companies were given the license to produce no less than four cartoon series, seven comic series, countless books, a sunday comic strip, and even an [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie anime movie]], all to capitalize on Sonic's success. For a while, the Sonic series even overshadowed Nintendo's poster boy, [[SuperMarioBros Mario]], due to the technical whizziness of its concept (helped by Sega dropping the meaningless term "[[{{Technobabble}} Blast Processing]]" into its ads) and the [[{{Badbutt}} proto-Badass]] nature of its main character. (This was the predecessor to the eventual [[RatedMForMoney family-friendly versus mature games]] debate, with a hedgehog with an attitude standing in for [[GrandTheftAuto killing beeyotches]].) And the concept was so simple: The aforementioned trio of Sonic (the hedgehog), Tails (the fox), and Knuckles (the echidna) try to thwart Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik's (the floating fat man) attempts at world domination using his army of robots and the Chaos Emeralds (the GreenRocks[[hottip:*:Incidentally, [[NonIndicativeName despite being called "Emeralds," they are seldom green.]]]]). Run fast, collect rings, bash robotic critters, and it's all good.
to:
The games were positively brilliant. The sprites were incredibly well-drawn, the levels were huge and expansive with a few alternate paths, and they incorporated many design features like loops, corkscrews, and crumbling ledges that were never seen before in any game. Many entertainment companies were given the license to produce no less than four cartoon series, seven comic series, countless books, a sunday comic strip, and even an [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie anime movie]], all to capitalize on Sonic's success. For a while, the Sonic series even overshadowed Nintendo's poster boy, [[SuperMarioBros Mario]], due to the technical whizziness of its concept (helped by Sega dropping the meaningless term "[[{{Technobabble}} Blast Processing]]" into its ads) and the [[{{Badbutt}} proto-Badass]] nature of its main character. (This was the predecessor to the eventual [[RatedMForMoney family-friendly versus mature games]] debate, with a hedgehog with an attitude standing in for [[GrandTheftAuto killing beeyotches]].) And the concept was so simple: The aforementioned trio of Sonic (the hedgehog), Tails (the fox), and Knuckles (the echidna) try to thwart Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik's (the floating fat man) attempts at world domination using his army of robots and the Chaos Emeralds (the GreenRocks[[hottip:*:Incidentally, [[NonIndicativeName despite being called "Emeralds," they are seldom green.]]]]).]]). Run fast, collect rings, bash robotic critters, and it's all good.
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** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II'' (In Development)
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** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II'' (In Development)II''
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Recent titles have been notable for suffering mixed to negative critical reception. In line with all the controversy, large varieties of theories exist to explain why the Sonic series is struggling in terms of reviews ranging from [[ExecutiveMeddling hastened]] [[ChristmasRushed development for deadlines]], a lack of talent or caring from the development team, over-reliance on [[UnexpectedGameplayChange new "gimmicky" features,]] [[DarkerAndEdgier taking the series in too dark of a direction,]] or [[NostalgiaFilter unrealistic demands from nostalgic fans.]] Nevertheless, the series still remains massively popular and is among the 10 best selling videogame franchises of all time.
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* KaizoTrap: The Egg Viper in ''Sonic Adventure'' and the Giant Eggmech MKII from ''SonicTheHedgehog4'' will crash through the floor after you beat it, and sent you falling to your doom if you're in the middle of the arena
to:
* KaizoTrap: The Egg Viper in ''Sonic Adventure'' and the Giant Eggmech MKII from ''SonicTheHedgehog4'' ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'' will crash through the floor after you beat it, and sent you falling to your doom if you're in the middle of the arena
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** Taken to the next level in the Movie where Metal Sonic is able to fly in and out of the atmosphere in seconds and both him and Sonic are able to get to distant parts of the world in very short amounts of time. TakenUpToEleven in SonicX where Sonic was able to ''outrun a lightning bolt'' in his base form.
* SuperStrength: While it is usually power characters like Knuckles and Omega that have this emphasized, almost all characters have some level of it. In the movie and Sonic X even Sonic is capable of incredible feats of strength that would give game Knuckles pause.
* SuperStrength: While it is usually power characters like Knuckles and Omega that have this emphasized, almost all characters have some level of it. In the movie and Sonic X even Sonic is capable of incredible feats of strength that would give game Knuckles pause.
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** Knuckles, [[{{Batman}} a loner and and anti-hero]] fights Rouge, [[ClassyCatBurglar an attractive female thief]] [[DatingCatwoman who has a crush on him]] and saves her from falling to her death. [[{{BatmanReturns}} This scenario sure seems familiar.]]
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** Knuckles, [[{{Batman}} a loner and and anti-hero]] fights Rouge, [[ClassyCatBurglar an attractive female thief]] [[DatingCatwoman who has a crush on him]] and saves her from falling to her death. [[{{BatmanReturns}} [[Film/BatmanReturns This scenario sure seems familiar.]]
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[[quoteright:250:~~VideoGame, PlatformGame~~]]
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I hope this is okay.
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That's SonicTheHedgehog in a nutshell--well, except for the pub part ([[{{Dissimile}} and the "hell, no" part]]). Created in 1991 for the then-fledgling {{Sega}} [[SegaGenesis Genesis]] (and not-so-fledgling Sega Master System) by a group of fifteen people tasked with creating a mascot to compete with [[SuperMario the face of video games]] (who were later to be named SonicTeam), Sonic quickly became the gaming company's mascot, immediately replacing Sega's previous mascot, the Mario-[[CaptainErsatz derivative]] AlexKidd. The spunky, ever-lovin' cobalt-blue insectivore grew in strength with each sequel to put its creators into a healthy competitive spot with {{Nintendo}} and other, lesser gaming companies, most notably HudsonSoft and {{SNK}} during the 16-bit ConsoleWars.
to:
That's SonicTheHedgehog in a nutshell--well, except for the pub part ([[{{Dissimile}} and the "hell, no" part]]).part]]…[[ShadowtheHedgehog usually]]). Created in 1991 for the then-fledgling {{Sega}} [[SegaGenesis Genesis]] (and not-so-fledgling Sega Master System) by a group of fifteen people tasked with creating a mascot to compete with [[SuperMario the face of video games]] (who were later to be named SonicTeam), Sonic quickly became the gaming company's mascot, immediately replacing Sega's previous mascot, the Mario-[[CaptainErsatz derivative]] AlexKidd. The spunky, ever-lovin' cobalt-blue insectivore grew in strength with each sequel to put its creators into a healthy competitive spot with {{Nintendo}} and other, lesser gaming companies, most notably HudsonSoft and {{SNK}} during the 16-bit ConsoleWars.
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* CartoonyTail: Tails has [[CaptainObvious two tails]] that enable him to fly like a helicopter when he spins them. There's no indication of how this is biologically possible.
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* CartoonyTail: Tails has [[CaptainObvious two tails]] that enable him to fly like a helicopter when he spins them. There's no indication of how this is biologically anatomically possible.
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** As of Sonic Colours, Sonic can swim upwards by jumping in the water, Mario-style. The yellow Wisp also turns him into a tornado underwater, giving him basically complete maneuverability. Suddenly the great blue terror isn't so terrible.
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Knowing a language isn\'t \"genius\", so it\'s Bilingual Bonus, not Genius Bonus. Listing more languages isn\'t necessary, especially if the meaning\'s basically the same.
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** "Robotnik" is derived from [[GeniusBonus the Czech word for "servitude"]]. Guess what Eggman tries to do in every game.
*** It's also the Polish word for "labourer"; considering he forced his badniks to build the Death Egg and all...
*** It's also the Polish word for "labourer"; considering he forced his badniks to build the Death Egg and all...
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** "Robotnik" is derived from [[GeniusBonus [[BiLingualBonus the Czech word for "servitude"]]. Guess what Eggman tries to do in every game.
*** It's also the Polish word for "labourer"; considering he forced his badniks to build the Death Egg and all...game.
*** It's also the Polish word for "labourer"; considering he forced his badniks to build the Death Egg and all...
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Another meaning of \"Robotnik\".
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*** It's also the Polish word for "labourer"; considering he forced his badniks to build the Death Egg and all...
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->''"I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!"''
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* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''
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* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''
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* ''VideoGame/TailsSkyPatrol'' (Japan-Only)
* ''VideoGame/SonicBlast''[[hottip:*:''G-Sonic'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicBlast''[[hottip:*:''G-Sonic'' in Japan]]
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* ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''
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* ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles: The Dark Brotherhood''
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* ''VideoGame/TailsSkyPatrol'' (Japan-Only)
* ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles: The Dark Brotherhood''
* ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''
* ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles: The Dark Brotherhood''
* ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''
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* ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure''
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[[folder:Spinoff Titles]]
* ''Amy's American Page One''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''
* ''Amy's American Page One''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''
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* ''Amy's American Page One''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''
* ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries''
** ''Sonic and the Secret Rings''
** ''Sonic and the Black Knight''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Spinoff Titles]]
* ''Amy's American Page One''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''
* ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries''
** ''Sonic and the Secret Rings''
** ''Sonic and the Black Knight''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Spinoff Titles]]
* ''Amy's American Page One''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''
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* ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries''
** ''Sonic and the Secret Rings''
** ''Sonic and the Black Knight''
** ''Sonic and the Secret Rings''
** ''Sonic and the Black Knight''
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** Also, in Mexico, Maynardo Zavala, who [[RunningGag also voiced Robotnik]] in the Mexican Spanish dub of ''The Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog'', died in 2011.
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That's SonicTheHedgehog in a nutshell--well, except for the pub part ([[{{Dissimile}} and the "hell, no" part]]). Created in 1991 for the then-fledgling {{Sega}} [[SegaGenesis Genesis]] (and not-so-fledgling Sega Master System) by a group of fifteen people tasked with creating a mascot to compete with [[SuperMario the face of video games]] (who were later to be named "Sonic Team"), Sonic quickly became the gaming company's mascot, immediately replacing Sega's previous mascot, the Mario-[[CaptainErsatz derivative]] AlexKidd. The spunky, ever-lovin' cobalt-blue insectivore grew in strength with each sequel to put its creators into a healthy competitive spot with {{Nintendo}} and other, lesser gaming companies, most notably HudsonSoft and {{SNK}} during the 16-bit ConsoleWars.
to:
That's SonicTheHedgehog in a nutshell--well, except for the pub part ([[{{Dissimile}} and the "hell, no" part]]). Created in 1991 for the then-fledgling {{Sega}} [[SegaGenesis Genesis]] (and not-so-fledgling Sega Master System) by a group of fifteen people tasked with creating a mascot to compete with [[SuperMario the face of video games]] (who were later to be named "Sonic Team"), SonicTeam), Sonic quickly became the gaming company's mascot, immediately replacing Sega's previous mascot, the Mario-[[CaptainErsatz derivative]] AlexKidd. The spunky, ever-lovin' cobalt-blue insectivore grew in strength with each sequel to put its creators into a healthy competitive spot with {{Nintendo}} and other, lesser gaming companies, most notably HudsonSoft and {{SNK}} during the 16-bit ConsoleWars.
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* ConjoinedEyes: Most of the non-humans.
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* ConjoinedEyes: Most of the non-humans.hedgehogs.
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Polygon Ceiling is not about the quality of 3D
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* PolygonCeiling: A notable example [[hottip:*:The trope's [[RenamedTropes original name]] was "Sonic Syndrome"]]: Sega have acknowledged that the 3D Sonic games - ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' [[AvertedTrope aside]] - have a (not entirely unfounded) reputation of being plagued with [[CameraScrew bad camera angles]], poor level design, and shaky controls. It's ultimately down to personal opinion as to which of the 3D games is the prime culprit. At the same time, the 2D ''Advance'' and ''Rush'' series released at the same time were quite highly regarded, which (along with a heavy sense of {{Retraux}}) could explain why ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' includes a lot of 2D platforming.
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''[-If you were looking for the first game in the series, see VideoGame.SonicTheHedgehog. If you were looking for the 2006 game of the same name, see VideoGame.SonicTheHedgehog2006.-]''
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* AscendedFanboy: Tails. He follows Sonic one day and becomes interested in him. He eventually wants to become like him though [[JerkAss Sonic ignores him]]. After Sonic and Tails had gone on an adventure to defeat Eggman, they become friends and he lets him tag along with him. Also, Amy in the Archie Comics.
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* AscendedFanboy: Tails. He follows Sonic one day and becomes interested in him. He eventually wants to become like him though [[JerkAss Sonic ignores him]]. After Sonic and Tails had gone on an adventure to defeat Eggman, they become friends and he lets him tag along with him.him, [[HeterosexualLifePartners eventually developing a bond]]. Also, Amy in the Archie Comics.
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* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Averted in two cases, played ridiculously straight otherwise.
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* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: Averted in two cases, played ridiculously straight otherwise.
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* ArcWords / RunningGag: At least one character has said "Long time no see" in almost every game since Sonic Adventure. However, since ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', they seem to have stopped doing this.
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* ArcWords / RunningGag: ArcWords[=/=]RunningGag: At least one character has said "Long time no see" in almost every game since Sonic Adventure. However, since ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', they seem to have stopped doing this.
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* BadassNormal: Amy starting in VideoGame/SonicHeroes.
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* BadassNormal: Amy Amy, starting in VideoGame/SonicHeroes.
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* BossOnlyLevel: A trademark of the series; first there was [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Final Zone]], and then it ''really'' took off after [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles The Doomsday Zone]], with the final boss of every game gaining its own level, [[EleventhHourSuperpower usually played in]] SuperMode.
** In fact, ''[[ExaggeratedTrope every]]'' boss gained its own level around that time.
** In fact, ''[[ExaggeratedTrope every]]'' boss gained its own level around that time.
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Since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', fans' opinions toward this series have been [[BrokenBase extremely conflicted]]. Multiple camps exist defending one gameplay, character, or plotline decision while condemning multiple, if not all, others. A very strong {{Hatedom}} and counter-movement appears to form with every new release due in no small part to Sonic Team attempting to appeal to both older and newer fans despite limited production time.
to:
Since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', fans' opinions toward this series have been [[BrokenBase extremely conflicted]]. Multiple camps exist defending one gameplay, character, or plotline decision while condemning multiple, if not all, others. A very strong {{Hatedom}} and counter-movement appears to form with every new release due in no small part to Sonic Team attempting to appeal to both older and newer fans despite limited production time.
time. [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Some fans]] [[ComicBook/SonicTheComic took]] [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog refuge]] [[WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground in]] [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM non-video game]] [[Anime/SonicX properties]].
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[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/SonicGenerations http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Classic_and_Contemporary_Posing_Smaller_5538.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Through [[GrowingTheBeard ups]], [[DorkAge downs]], and [[MemeticMutation all]]-[[ThemeParkLandscape arounds]], [[MilestoneCelebration still unstoppable after (over) twenty years!]]]]
[[quoteright:250:~~VideoGame, PlatformGame~~]]
->''"I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!"''
-->--'''Sonic''', [[OnceAnEpisode in various games.]]
A fast hedgehog, a two-tailed fox, and a red echidna who protects a bunch of GreenRocks go down to the local pub. A [[MadScientist floating fat man with a penchant for robots]] bursts in on their Happy Hour martinis to announce his schemes to TakeOverTheWorld with aforementioned GreenRocks. The hedgehog, fox, and echidna put down their drinks, mutter something along the lines of "[[PrecisionFStrike Aw, ]]''[[PrecisionFStrike hell ]]''[[PrecisionFStrike no!]]", and proceed to kick the floating fat man's ass from here to New Brunswick. Rinse and repeat, adding [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters lots and lots more characters]] each time (some of which can be found [[Characters/SonicTheHedgehog here]]).
That's SonicTheHedgehog in a nutshell--well, except for the pub part ([[{{Dissimile}} and the "hell, no" part]]). Created in 1991 for the then-fledgling {{Sega}} [[SegaGenesis Genesis]] (and not-so-fledgling Sega Master System) by a group of fifteen people tasked with creating a mascot to compete with [[SuperMario the face of video games]] (who were later to be named "Sonic Team"), Sonic quickly became the gaming company's mascot, immediately replacing Sega's previous mascot, the Mario-[[CaptainErsatz derivative]] AlexKidd. The spunky, ever-lovin' cobalt-blue insectivore grew in strength with each sequel to put its creators into a healthy competitive spot with {{Nintendo}} and other, lesser gaming companies, most notably HudsonSoft and {{SNK}} during the 16-bit ConsoleWars.
The games were positively brilliant. The sprites were incredibly well-drawn, the levels were huge and expansive with a few alternate paths, and they incorporated many design features like loops, corkscrews, and crumbling ledges that were never seen before in any game. Many entertainment companies were given the license to produce no less than four cartoon series, seven comic series, countless books, a sunday comic strip, and even an [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie anime movie]], all to capitalize on Sonic's success. For a while, the Sonic series even overshadowed Nintendo's poster boy, [[SuperMarioBros Mario]], due to the technical whizziness of its concept (helped by Sega dropping the meaningless term "[[{{Technobabble}} Blast Processing]]" into its ads) and the [[{{Badbutt}} proto-Badass]] nature of its main character. (This was the predecessor to the eventual [[RatedMForMoney family-friendly versus mature games]] debate, with a hedgehog with an attitude standing in for [[GrandTheftAuto killing beeyotches]].) And the concept was so simple: The aforementioned trio of Sonic (the hedgehog), Tails (the fox), and Knuckles (the echidna) try to thwart Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik's (the floating fat man) attempts at world domination using his army of robots and the Chaos Emeralds (the GreenRocks[[hottip:*:Incidentally, [[NonIndicativeName despite being called "Emeralds," they are seldom green.]]]]). Run fast, collect rings, bash robotic critters, and it's all good.
Sonic hit a bit of a DorkAge during the run of SEGA's Saturn console, which was a good deal less successful than its predecessor. The spinoff game, ''Sonic R'' was the only noteworthy Sonic game on the console, with a much better one, ''Sonic [[XtremeKoolLetterz X-Treme]]'', being announced but canceled, and filled in at the 11th hour by a upgraded port of the less-than-stellar ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]''. The series got revived in a truly 3-Dimensional incarnation on SEGA's next console, the Dreamcast. The two ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' games are noted for their production values and ambitious plotlines, but also criticized for questionable gameplay choices and other teething problems usually found in [[PolygonCeiling platformers that tried to make their first jump to 3D]]. Sonic Team attempted to address these concerns with ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', yet the gameplay was arguably worsened, to say nothing of its cheesy dialogue and most of its replay value being a result of [[FakeLongevity artificially prolonging the amount of times levels need to be played.]]
Since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', fans' opinions toward this series have been [[BrokenBase extremely conflicted]]. Multiple camps exist defending one gameplay, character, or plotline decision while condemning multiple, if not all, others. A very strong {{Hatedom}} and counter-movement appears to form with every new release due in no small part to Sonic Team attempting to appeal to both older and newer fans despite limited production time.
Recent titles have been notable for suffering mixed to negative critical reception. In line with all the controversy, large varieties of theories exist to explain why the Sonic series is struggling in terms of reviews ranging from [[ExecutiveMeddling hastened]] [[ChristmasRushed development for deadlines]], a lack of talent or caring from the development team, over-reliance on [[UnexpectedGameplayChange new "gimmicky" features,]] [[DarkerAndEdgier taking the series in too dark of a direction,]] or [[NostalgiaFilter unrealistic demands from nostalgic fans.]] Nevertheless, the series still remains massively popular and is among the 10 best selling videogame franchises of all time.
Whilst 2008's ''Videogame/SonicUnleashed'' was widely criticized for its notoriously jarring [[ScrappyMechanic Werehog gameplay]], the "Day" Sonic levels were mostly praised for their refreshing hybrid of breakneck-speed 3D segments and traditional 2D platforming, replacing the ''Adventure'' gameplay, albeit with some awkward controlling at times. This style of gameplay was carried over to ''Videogame/SonicColors'' and subsequently ''Videogame/SonicGenerations'', both of which were met with widespread critical acclaim, no doubt helped by the long-awaited return of Classic Sonic (in both appearance and gameplay) in the latter.
[[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=12985657500A57372900 Here's where you can discuss all matters pertaining to this series.]]
----
!!
[[foldercontrol]]
[[index]]
[[folder:List of Video Games In The Main Series]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD''
* ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles''
** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 3''
** ''Sonic & Knuckles''
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''
* ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed''[[hottip:*:''Sonic World Adventure'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4''
** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode I''
** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II'' (In Development)
* ''VideoGame/SonicColors''
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Handheld Series]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog (8-Bit)''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 (8-Bit)''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogChaos''[[hottip:*:''Sonic & Tails'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble''[[hottip:*:''Sonic & Tails 2'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/TailsSkyPatrol'' (Japan-Only)
* ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicBlast''[[hottip:*:''G-Sonic'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicLabyrinth''
* ''VideoGame/SonicJam'' ([[InNameOnly Absolutely no relation]] to the SegaSaturn game of the same name)
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogPocketAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy''
** ''Sonic Advance''
** ''Sonic Advance 2''
** ''Sonic Advance 3''
* ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''
* ''VideoGame/SonicRushSeries''
** ''Sonic Rush''
** ''Sonic Rush Adventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicRivals''
** ''Sonic Rivals''
** ''Sonic Rivals 2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles: The Dark Brotherhood''
* ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' (DS)
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Racing[=/=]Sports Games]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicDrift'' (Japan-Only)
** ''VideoGame/Sonic Drift 2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicR''
* ''VideoGame/SonicRiders''
** ''Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity''
** ''Sonic Free Riders''
* ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames''
** ''Mario and Sonic at The Olympic Winter Games''
** ''Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games''
* ''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Spinoff Titles]]
* ''Amy's American Page One''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''
* ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''
* ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''
* ''Shadow Shoot''
* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''
* ''VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland''[[hottip:*:Also known as ''Sonic 3D Blast'']]
* ''Sonic Coin Rolling Game''
* ''Sonic Hearts''
* ''Sonic Jump''
* ''Sonic Kart 3D''
* ''Sonic Reversi''
* ''VideoGame/SonicSatAM'', Cancelled
* ''VideoGame/SonicsSchoolhouse''
* ''VideoGame/SonicShuffle''
* ''Sonic Spinner''
* ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries''
** ''Sonic and the Secret Rings''
** ''Sonic and the Black Knight''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters''[[hottip:*:Also known as ''SonicChampionship'']]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogSpinball''
* ''Sonic X'' (unrelated to the Anime of the same name)
* ''Sonic X-Treme'', Cancelled
* ''Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car'' (Japan-only)
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Compilations]]
* ''Sonic & Knuckles Collection''
* ''Sonic Action 4 Pack''
* ''Sonic Classic Collection''
* ''Sonic Classics''
* ''Sonic Gems Collection''
* ''VideoGame/SonicJam''
* ''Sonic Mega Collection''
** ''Sonic Mega Collection Plus''
* ''Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection''[[hottip:*:Known as Sega Mega Drive Collection outside of America]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Television Shows]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog''
* ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM''
* ''WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground''
* ''Anime/SonicX''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Original Video Animation]]
* ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie''
* ''Sonic's Christmas Blast''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogPromoComic''
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog''
** ''Sonic Universe''
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' (Fleetway)
* ''ComicBook/SonicX''
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog Manga'' (Mega Drive Fan, Shogakukan, Corocoro)
** ''Dash & Spin: Hyper Speed Sonic'' (Corocoro Comics Special)
* ''Sonic: Les Dans Griffes De Robotnik''
* ''Sonic: Le Guide Ultime''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/StaySonic''
* ''Literature/TheSonicTheHedgehogJokeBook''
* ''Sonic's Shoes Blues''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Short Films]]
* ''Man of the Year''
* ''Sonic: Night of the Werehog''
[[/folder]]
[[/index]]
----
!!This series is the TropeNamer for:
* CasinoPark
* ChaosEmeralds
* EternalEngine
* GreenHillZone
* PalmtreePanic
* SuperMode
* UltimateLifeForm
----
!!Tropes throughout the games:
%% And that means throughout the entire series, maybe about three games or more, not just one or two games, please. Put character-related tropes on the character sheet.
* AbusivePrecursors: The ancient Echidnas. [[spoiler: They attacked the adorable and innocent Chao, and, although unknowingly, AwakeningTheSleepingGiant, Chaos, an innocent god, just to steal his Chaos Emeralds. They created countless unstoppable robots in order to conquer the world. Both of which had to be sealed thus handing down the problem to us. In ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', one clan of Echidnas return and try to conquer our world again.]] Which pushes them past just being NeglectfulPrecursors.
* AdaptationOverdosed: An [[Anime/SonicX anime]], [[ComicBook/SonicX an adaptation of that anime]], an [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie OVA]], a [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog US comic]], a [[SonicTheComic UK comic]], three western cartoon series, several {{Manga}}, a short-lived French comic, and numerous book adaptations.
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Some games, such as [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog SegaSonic]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD CD]], [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix Chaotix]] and [[VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland 3D Blast]] use alliterative names for all levels.
* AirborneAircraftCarrier: Robotnik's favorite type of weapon, starting with Sky Base in the Sega GameGear ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' and continuing with the Egg Carrier and its variations in the modern games.
* AllThereInTheManual: Among Sonic's various, obscure, [[MultipleChoicePast contradicting origin stories]] is that he was born on [[{{UsefulNotes/Australia}} Christmas Island]], and that he gained his speed from an experiment with [[SdrawkcabName Dr. Kintobor]].
* AlwaysNight: The haunted house levels in some games, as well as some of the casino levels.
* AmazingTechnicolorWildlife: Be honest; have ''you'' ever seen a blue (or pink) hedgehog in the wild?
* AmbiguouslyHuman: Dr. Robotnik / Eggman in the original non-Japanese continuities.
* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Old American artwork of Robotnik depicted him as constantly scowling (and with black eyes), as opposed to the oddly-always-smiling Eggman of the Japanese artwork. In ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', Robotnik had his 'evil' design, but was a bumbling boob prone to {{Angrish}}.
* ArcWords / RunningGag: At least one character has said "Long time no see" in almost every game since Sonic Adventure. However, since ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', they seem to have stopped doing this.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', Sonic/Tails says this to Knuckles, and Amy says it to Sonic.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Knuckles says it when first meeting up with Sonic and Tails, Rouge says this to Knuckles just before their boss-battle against each-other.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', Sonic says that to Tails and Knuckles in the opening cutscene for Team Sonic's story. And Rouge says this to Team Sonic before the Team Sonic vs. Team Dark battle.
*** [[spoiler: Metal Sonic]] also says this to Sonic at the start of his boss battle; one of the few cases where it ''has'' been a long time.
** In ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', Sonic ([[RunningGag see a pattern here?]]) says this to Shadow when you run into Sonic at the beginning of the very first stage.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', Sonic and Rouge both say this at multiple points each in the game.
** In ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Sonic Rush Adventure]]'', [[spoiler:Eggman]] says this the first time he encounters Sonic in the game.
** ''[[VideoGame/SonicRiders Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity]]''. Wave greets Tails with, "Long time no see, shorty!"
* ArtEvolution: See the page image? [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/Sonic_1991.png Sonic, as depicted on the left, is what he used to look like.]] In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', he was remade to be taller, have green eyes, and have longer limbs and quills. It was modified further in that direction in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''. ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' onwards, his looks are now a hybrid of the "Classic-Era" and "Adventure-Era" designs. This is {{Lampshaded}} in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', where the current-style Sonic teams up with his very different-looking Genesis-era self. [[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/8/85/Sos09_artbook_p09.jpg Over the years we have this.]]
* ArtisticAge
* AscendedExtra: Amy, who started as a DamselInDistress in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'', appeared among the cast of later spin-offs, and returned for ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' [[CharacterDevelopment completely overhauled]] and finally seeing a piece of the action.
* AscendedFanboy: Tails. He follows Sonic one day and becomes interested in him. He eventually wants to become like him though [[JerkAss Sonic ignores him]]. After Sonic and Tails had gone on an adventure to defeat Eggman, they become friends and he lets him tag along with him. Also, Amy in the Archie Comics.
* AscendedMeme: All though not really a meme, Wiz Khalifa used the Green Hill Zone theme as the background effect in his song "Ms. Rightfernow".
* AshFace: Dr. Robotnik is prone to have it in some of the 2D games after his creations are defeated.
* [[AuthorExistenceFailure Actor Existence Failure]]: Deem Bristow, the original video game VA for Dr. Robotnik ([[IHaveManyNames Or Eggman]]), passed away in January 2005.
** Long John Baldry, another Robotnik VA, on Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog, passed away just 6 months after Bristow.
* BadassNormal: Amy starting in VideoGame/SonicHeroes.
* BashBrothers: Sonic and Tails, in many incarnations. Can also apply to any character alongside Sonic, including his [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations younger self]].
* BelligerentSexualTension: Knuckles and Rouge have displayed this at times.
* BenevolentArchitecture
* BlindIdiotTranslation: Before the developers had settled on a name for Sonic, he was referred to as "Mr. Needlemouse". The Japanese word for "hedgehog" is "harinezumi". Guess what a literal translation of that would yield.
* BossDissonance: Generally, the bosses in the series are easier than the levels, save for a few {{Wake Up Call Boss}}es.
* BottomlessPit: Relatively rare in the early ''Sonic'' games, but increasingly common as the series has gone on. Taken UpToEleven in ''Heroes'', where every zone after Power Plant is basically a giant pit with platforms and grind rails suspended over it.
* CallingYourAttacks: "Chaos Control!" "Sonic Wind!" "Black Wave!"
** [[VideoGame/SonicColors "Laser!" "Drill!" "Frrrrrrenzy!"]]
* CanonDiscontinuity: [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic 2006]] put this on ''itself'', due to [[spoiler:a CosmicRetcon ResetButtonEnding.]]
%%(sammmax:) CanonDiscontinuity example changed because of a lack of citation for where he found the information. Heck, I tried finding it without much luck. Please cite where you found that information if you ever decide to put it back up. Sonic 2006 was put up because it was the only one with evidence supporting it.
* CanonImmigrant:
** The Swatbots of [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAM]] fame have been introduced into Chronicles, although with a notable armor overhaul.
** Amy and Charmy first appeared in the Sonic manga produced by Shogakukan in 1992, albeit looking rather different. Amy was lifted from there and redesigned for Sonic CD. A 1993 manga redesigned to fit more with the Sonic look, with the same characters, was released...and Charmy was subsequently lifted and used two years later in [[KnucklesChaotix Knuckles Chaotix]]. Arguably one of the most successful stories of a canon immigrant, as shown above with the 'Ascended Extra' point.
** In a case of WhatCouldHaveBeen, ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM'' characters Sally Acorn and Bunnie Rabbot were planned to appear in multiple early projects (including early concepts for ''Sonic Xtreme''), though ultimately have only a brief cameo in ''[[SonicTheHedgehogSpinball Sonic Spinball]]'' to show for it.
** Sonic's love for chili dogs in the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' has been more tightly integrated into the official canon in the past few years; there's a chili dog salesman in ''Unleashed'', Sonic is summoned with two in-hand in the opening of ''Black Knight'', and he's given one as his ''birthday present'' from Tails in ''Generations''.
* CartoonyTail: Tails has [[CaptainObvious two tails]] that enable him to fly like a helicopter when he spins them. There's no indication of how this is biologically possible.
* CashCowFranchise: Still quite profitable after 20 years. Even the less-than-stellar games have made a surprising profit. In particular, the [[{{ComicBook}} Archie Comic series]] is also going strong, it being the longest-lasting comic series based on a video game character.
* CasinoPark: The TropeNamer, from VideoGame/SonicHeroes, but most games feature a casino level anyway.
* CerebusRollercoaster: While the early games were lighthearted, cartoony games, the series started shifting into a [[CerebusSyndrome more serious, shonen-anime like tone]] with the VideoGame/SonicAdventure duology. ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' briefly went back to a more cartoony tone ([[MoodWhiplash sans the Last Story]]), only for the series to reach the epitome of its CerebusSyndrome with VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog and VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006. Due to complaints about this, Sega has been [[ReverseCerebusSyndrome consciously going back to the series more lighthearted, cartoony roots,]] with hints of it in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' (despite still taking itself seriously), and officially starting with VideoGame/SonicColors. With that being said, ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' may have some darker, serious moments at points--although it still has much of the series lightheartedness still on board to balance it out. After all, it ''is'' a milestone game for the whole series.
* ChainReactionDestruction: What bosses in 2D Sonic games do when they run out of hitpoints.
* ChaosEmeralds: The TropeNamer, and examples in the first two games. The third game introduced unlimited attempts at the emeralds, moving them away from this trope, and since then most games have had them collected automatically during cutscenes, making them normal [[MacGuffin MacGuffins]].
* CompilationRerelease: Practically all of the original games from the Genesis and Master System up to the Dreamcast were rereleased on later (non-Sega) consoles in some form or another.
* ConjoinedEyes: Most of the non-humans.
* ComebackMechanic: The games that support multiplayer races will usually have a feature that swaps two players' locations in the stage. Sometimes, it's a hidden item, and sometimes, it's a character's ability. Naturally, this is only useful to a player who's fallen behind.
* ContinuingIsPainful: [[VideoGame/SonicColors Almost]] every ''Sonic'' game since ''Adventure'' resets your score to zero every time you die, almost assuring a bad rank if you're far enough into a stage.
** ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' doesn't reset your score but unfortunately, it doesn't reset the time back to 0:00 either. It continues from what it was when you died. So it's still painful.
* ContinuityCreep
* ContinuityNod: As of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', the ''Sonic'' series now makes frequent nods to previous games. ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' in particular is full-on ContinuityPorn.
* CoolPlane: The Tornado and the Egg Carrier.
* CoolShip: The Egg Carrier from ''Sonic Adventure'', as well as Robotnik's "Egg-O-Matic" hovership that he uses at every possible opportunity.
* CrosshairAware
* {{Crossover}}: With the {{Mario}} franchise.
** [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], the best-selling games with Sonic in them are ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros. Brawl'' and ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames''.
** Sonic characters also crossover with other characters in the ''Tennis'' and ''All-Stars Racing'' installments of the ''SegaSuperstars'' series.
* CulturalTranslation: Subtle but still there. Some of the classic designs were changed a bit outside of Japan, in the official art. For example, Sonic was given a [[http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7990/designsonicvz2.png mohawk]], his eyebrows became more expressive (which was carried onto Adventure everywhere), and he became slightly more built while Tails became [[http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1379/designtailsqc2.png more stereotypically cute]] (chubbier, rounder, shorter snout, shorter fur, belly fur combed flat, etc) .
* DarkerAndEdgier: Shadow the Hedgehog and his [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog self-titled game]], ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', and ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', even, what with its themes of revenge, government conspiracies, military weapons projects, and apocalyptic scenarios.
** Preceded by ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'', which possessed numerous {{Bad Future}}s, and had a much more downbeat tone than any of the Genesis titles.
** In the shows, [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAM]]. Successfully darker than everything, [[{{RetCon}} until it was retconned]].
* DeathByOriginStory: Maria and Gerald Robotnik.
* DeathCourse: Even in the middle of nowhere, out in the ocean or in the middle of a forest, Sonic and the gang will inevitably cross paths with crates, spikes, drills, and other nasty hazards.
* DetectiveAnimal: Team Chaotix.
* DetonationMoon: In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.
* DidNotDoTheResearch: The climax and overall conclusion of ''Sonic Battle'' makes no sense without taking place sometime after ''{{Shadow the Hedgehog}},'' but Shadow, in its Last Story, learned that he was not a weapon of mass destruction and was created to protect the Earth, while in Sonic Battle, he persists he's a heartless weapon. The real problem is, ''Battle'' precedes ''Shadow'' by two years in release dates, and since Sonic Team doesn't seem too big on {{Prequel}}s, Tomoyuki Hayashi, ''Battle's'' director, most likely just fell into the trope. It also doesn't help that the game contains throwbacks to ''Sonic Heroes,'' a game that isn't going to exist until three weeks ''later'' in Japan.
* DirectionallySolidPlatforms: Common in the 2D games.
* DuelBoss: Shadow, General Raxis and [[spoiler:Super Ix]] in ''SonicChronicles''.
** Also Sonic/Blaze in ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Rush]]'', Tails/Eggman, Rouge/Knuckles and the aformetioned Sonic/Shadow in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Sonic and Shadow vs Silver in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06]]'', and Knuckles in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' but more importantly Hidden Palace Zone from ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles]]''.
* DummiedOut: Can be considered a TropeCodifier. ''Every'' game in the series has something major in it missing, and sometimes new games are born from those scrapped elements.
* EagleLand: Arguably, this is the idea behind Sonic's character design. He is a mishmash of different western {{Funny Animal}}s (in fact, in one of his earliest character concepts, he was a [[BugsBunny grey rabbit with a bowtie]], and his body and head shape were reminiscent of FelixTheCat), he is the same color as the American flag (but recent information points that his trainers were made red and white to match ''SantaClaus'' colour scheme), and his 90s snarky, aloof attitude and penchant for XTREME hobbies were distinctly non-Japanese. (He also speaks in Engrish in the Japanese version.) He also has a tendency to [[WalkingTheEarth roam the lands]] randomly helping people, not unlike wild western heroes like {{Shane}}. All of this was intentional on Sega's part, since the Japanese branch knew that the Genesis (and to a lesser extent, the Master System) sold more in America than in their own country, and with Nintendo's Super Famicom looming on the horizon, they knew they would need some kind of hook to keep from being trounced internationally.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The original Sonic games were much more cartoony than the later entries, and the original game only had six emeralds, no Super Sonic, and no spin-dash.
* ElementalPowers - Not crucial to the characters but they show up from time to time
** Sonic - BlowYouAway
** Tails - ShockAndAwe
** Knuckles - PlayingWithFire / DishingOutDirt
** Amy - HeartBeatDown
** Shadow - TimeMaster
** Rogue - CastingAShadow
** Blaze - PlayingWithFire
** Silver - PsychicPowers
* EleventhHourSuperpower: The Super/Hyper/Darkspine/Whatever versions of the core Sonic Trio (and Shadow/Silver/Blaze).
* EnemyMine: ''Sonic Adventure 2's'' memorable Cannon's Core level.
** Sonic and Eggman have teamed up on multiple occasions when they've had a common enemy: ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' against The Biolizard, ''SonicAdvance3'' against Gemerl. Generally it's because Eggman wants to take over the world, not destroy it, and he can't take over the world if there's no world to take over, so generally if someone (or something) wants to destroy the world Eggman will usually fight against them, either with Sonic or without. The fat scientist makes this point almost verbatim in ''ShadowTheHedgehog'' as he watches the Black Arms wreck up Westopolis.
** Shadow has teamed up with characters he's considered enemies several times, most often in his own game. The final cutscene features Knuckles and Eggman actually having a fun moment together
* EveryTenThousandPoints: Some Sonic games award player extra life when getting certain amount of rings or points.
** Generally, every 100 rings in a level and 50,000 points overall, though that has varied.
* EverythingsBetterWithSparkles: Most notable ones will cause temporary invincibility in several games.
* EvilLaugh: Robotnik's weird "[[NoblewomansLaugh Ohohohohoho!]]" along with Shadow's maniacal laughter in [[ShadowTheHedgehog his own game]] as well as Mephiles in Sonic 06.
* ExecutiveMeddling: The unfortunate cause of ''Sonic X-Treme's'' {{Vaporware}} status, as well as the replacement of all the game voice actors with their ''SonicX'' counterparts.
** Executives often meddled to get games out for a Christmas release. It happened, but not too consequently, in some of the classic games. The original Japanese VideoGame/SonicAdventure was buggy, and that's why they made a rerelease there with all the fixes made in the English version.
** Shame that the English version was still buggy and that the later DX edition wound up creating ''even more glitches''.
** Very likely the reasoning behind the unfortunate state of ''Sonic 2006'' also; it was rushed out to release in time for both the Christmas period and Sonic's 15th Anniversary, and as a result is wrought with bugs and is quite obviously unfinished.
* ExpositionFairy: Started out as the FloatingAdviceReminder, then turned to the actual characters themselves noting your abilities, usually the NPC secondary characters.
* {{Expy}}: The Nocturnus are very similar to the group of Echidnas, the Dark Legion, from the Archie Comics, and Shade is similar to Julie-Su, and their home dimension "The Twilight Cage" has a similar name to the Dark Legion's dimension "The Twilight Zone". Ix also looks similar to the SonicTheComic character Dr. Zachary, and Archie's version Dr. Finitevus.
** The Ifrit in ''Sonic Rivals 2'' is very clearly an expy of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Iblis]]. Like Iblis, the Ifrit is an immortal fire monster named after a djinn in Middle Eastern mythology, and who is responsible for destroying the world in Silver's future. Even their designs are similar, with the Ifrit resembling a winged version of one of Iblis' forms.
* {{Faceship}}: Dr. Eggman builds a lot of these with his face on them, most notably the Death Egg.
* FamilyThemeNaming: There's a small family all named after dairy products: Cream the Rabbit; her mother, Vanilla, and her Chao, Cheese. Other Chao associated with Cream were named Chocola and Milk.
* FastballSpecial: Sonic seems to make a natural projectile. Very common in ''Sonic Chronicles'' and ''Sonic Heroes''.
* {{Fireballs}}: From the Marble Zone of the first game to the latest Sonic games.
** Knuckles can also shoot these in VideoGame/SonicHeroes.
* FlashOfPain: Bosses in the 2D Sonic games tend to do that.
* FloatingAdviceReminder: Started in the ''Sonic Adventure'' games with Tikal and Omochao, then exploded from there.
* FlyAtTheCameraEnding: The ending sequences to many 2D ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games feature Sonic (or Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream, etc.) jumping towards the player and posing while suspended in air. ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''s ending is the most notable: both Tails's plane and (Super) Sonic fly away from the player only to come back head first.
* FollowTheLeader: Sonic's popularity in the early 90's spawned many knockoff MascotWithAttitude characters, including {{Bubsy}}, AwesomePossum, [[RocketKnightAdventures Sparkster the Opossum]], Zool, and AeroTheAcrobat.
* FollowTheMoney: Often, rings lead you somewhere. In the 3D games, it's often even possible to perform light dash which makes Sonic follow the path made out of rings.
** The rings have been put into arrow formation in most games right up to Colors as a way of making this trope even more obvious.
* FountainOfExpies: Sonic, as mentioned in FollowTheLeader.
* FrickinLaserBeams: Used by numerous bosses throughout the series.
* FullSetBonus: The Chaos Emeralds in most games. Whether they allow the player to become Super Sonic, view the true ending, or both.
* FunnyAnimal
* {{Gainaxing}}: This becomes more prevalent in later games, but especially with Rouge the Bat and her ample "assets".
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: In 3D games, all the loops and rings and other items are strangely absent during cutscenes.
* GameplayRoulette: The main console games starting with ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' have been infamous for this. They have steadily gotten better with this, since ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' only feature two styles of gameplay, and ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' averts it completely.
* GogglesDoNothing: Robotnik gained a pair of them in ''Sonic Adventure'' and, aside from a brief moment in ''Sonic Adventure 2'' and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', never used them, maybe because he has the aforementioned ScaryShinyGlasses.
** You can buy a replica pair in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', and their description points out that [[LampshadeHanging "wearing them has no effect."]]
* GratuitousEnglish: Once Sonic got a voice, though in all fairness, his [[hottip:'tude:and the fact that [[JunichiKanemaru his voice actor]] is also an English teacher]] pretty much [[JustifiedTrope justified it]].
* GravityBarrier
* GreenAesop: This is what the series used to revolve around, with Sonic functioning as a nomadic NatureHero of sorts. Unlike most examples of the latter trope, he is quick to utilize technology to fulfill any tasks he needs to do, but he still seems to carry disdain for Eggman's wanton environmental destruction. Unlike most examples of the former trope, the Aesop was actually ''subtle''.
** This is taken to its apex in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'', where Sonic has the ability to prevent Robotnik from turning the future into a post-apocalyptic, mechanized hell by defeating certain robots in the present. One of the cartoons, [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM Sonic SatAM]] would take the green overtones of the games and expand on them.
*** ''CD'' also showed that, utilized properly, technology could benefit the environment via the Good Futures, which showed nature and technology working in harmony.
** Every continent you visit in VideoGame/SonicUnleashed is [[SceneryPorn beautiful]]...then you get to [[ThatOneLevel Egg]][[NightmareFuel man]][[{{Cyberpunk}} Land]].
* GreenHillZone: TropeNamer, and sometimes used as a NostalgiaLevel.
* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: Most of the male characters wear nothing but shoes and gloves.
* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits: Tails constantly reminding you to save your game in ''Sonic Chronicles''. You can tell him to stop doing that, though. It won't stop him, but you can.
* HelpfulMook: Many airborne enemies throughout the series like to position themselves so that Sonic could homing attack through them to the place he needs to go.
* HijackedByGanon: [[spoiler: Eggman and Eggman Nega in Sonic Rush Adventure]].
** [[spoiler: Modern Eggman and Classic Eggman in VideoGame/SonicGenerations.]]
* {{Homage}}: Super Sonic is a throwback to DragonBall. The Death Egg is, of course, a StarWars reference.
** The Eclipse Cannon definitely brought the [[StarWars Death Star]] to mind.
* HoverBoard: The Extreme Gear in the Sonic Riders series.
* HubLevel: ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', ''SonicAdvance3'', ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', and ''Videogame/SonicGenerations''.
* HugeHolographicHead
* ImageSong: Since ''Adventure'', every main 3D installment gives at least each player character one of these.
* InconvenientlyPlacedConveyorBelt: They are seen throughout various levels in the series.
* IHaveManyNames: Apparently, whether it's "Eggman" or "Robotnik". As of the Sonic Adventure games, it's now ''both''. Robotnik is his true name, while Eggman is an alias. In territories where the Robotnik name was used, this was established in the first game (See InsultBackfire below), whilst territories that used Eggman established it in the sequel.
* InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn
* InformedAbility: Sonic's speed is sometimes this relative to the other main characters, especially in the older games before the characters' abilities had [[DivergentCharacterEvolution speciated]] as much. For instance, some of the earlier games contain situations where Knuckles, Tails, and even ''[[{{Acrofatic}} Robotnik]]'' can run as fast as Sonic. Tails can still fly as fast as Sonic runs, but they make sure it looks like he's flying. Not running.
* InformedFlaw: Eggman is no doubt fat, but it's often said to be from overeating, and we have only seen him actually eat once. Then again, he took down a twelve inch sandwich in two bites during that one instance, so this has some merit.
* InsistentTerminology: The early games' manuals were insistent that getting hit with no rings would cause you to lose a [[NeverSayDie "try."]]
* InsultBackfire: Outside of Japan, Robotnik's "Eggman" name was first used by Sonic as an insult in the original ''Sonic Adventure'', and Robotnik promptly corrected him that his name was Robotnik, not Eggman. By ''Sonic Adventure 2'', he's embraced the nickname, presumably because he wanted to use the name "[[AddedAlliterativeAppeal Eggman Empire]]". [[spoiler:Or maybe he embraced it earlier than that, considering he uses it as password on board the Egg Carrier in the first ''Adventure'' game]].
** In Japan, it's implied that this had happened long before the games added voice actors as the Robotnik name was made canon in ''Adventure 2'' via Eggman's relatives, Gerald & Maria Robotnik.
* InvincibilityPowerUp: Present in many Sonic games.
* ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime: Knuckles has some really odd, if not outright boneheaded, ways of protecting the Master Emerald from thieves.
* KaizoTrap: The Egg Viper in ''Sonic Adventure'' and the Giant Eggmech MKII from ''SonicTheHedgehog4'' will crash through the floor after you beat it, and sent you falling to your doom if you're in the middle of the arena
* KillerApp: The original Sonic games for the SegaGenesis, and arguably the ''Sonic Adventure'' games for the Dreamcast (at the time).
* KillSat: The ARK. Of course, when the "Kill Sat" part fails (And due to the machinations of Professor Gerald Robotnik), it's ColonyDrop time.
* LampshadeHanging: Omega once commented on the size of Eggman's ridiculously huge bases with:
--> "ERROR! Unable to compute why a base this size has gone undetected. ERROR!"
* LastOfHisKind: Knuckles [[spoiler: until ''Sonic Chronicles'']].
* LawOfOneHundred
* LawyerFriendlyCameo: The Death Egg for the [[StarWars Death Star]].
* LetsYouAndHimFight: First came Sonic vs. Knuckles, then came Sonic vs. Shadow, then came Sonic vs. whoever Sega decided to pit him against, that game. Spilled over into the comics, as well, with some very painful results.
* LimitedWardrobe: For those characters who wear clothes.
* LiveItem: The small animals.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: To an extent; many of the later titles feature an excessive amount of key characters, albeit usually from the same pile of a dozen or so. It's more a case of Loads and Loads of Main Characters.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading: ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' is infamous for this.
* MagicPants: Sonic's gloves in Sonic Unleashed, the opening even shows them being ripped off.
* MalevolentMugshot: Robotnik/Eggman's face has showed up on everything from MechaMooks to spacecraft.
* MascotWithAttitude: Sonic the Hedgehog. TropeCodifier or TropeMaker.
* MeaningfulName: Practically everyone has one. Sonic is faster than sound, Knuckles has spikes on his fists, etc.
** "Robotnik" is derived from [[GeniusBonus the Czech word for "servitude"]]. Guess what Eggman tries to do in every game.
** "Eggman" with his [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090925135428/sonic/images/a/aa/Robotnik_43.png Classic Era Jumpsuit]], designed to make him [[TheBeatles to look like a Walrus]], it doubles as a ShoutOut. (The yellow triangles from his cape represent the teeth in case you are wondering, the rest is plain obvious).
** Tails has ''two''. His nickname, Tails (for obvious reasons), and his PunnyName, Miles Prower.
* MadeOfIron: ''Everyone'' is, it seems to be a part of the way creatures function in-universe,[[StrongFleshWeakSteel few machines can compete with their durability]].
* MeanwhileInTheFuture: ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' was horrible about this. Characters will shout "WE'VE GOT TO HURRY!" and run as fast as they can... [[SanDimasTime to save somebody 200 years in the past.]]
* MechaMooks: Eggman loves them.
* MegaNeko: Big the Cat is, well... a big cat.
* MercyInvincibility: As long as you had at least one ring or shield to your name, this'll kick in when you're hit... unless you're bouncing on spikes in the first version of the original game.
* {{Metroidvania}}: Spin-off Game Gear game, ''Tails' Adventure''.
* MoodWhiplash: Pretty much a staple of the series itself. Things can go from humorously comedic to dark and apocolyptic in a manner of moments.
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Robotnik, with his grandfather Gerald providing a FaceHeelTurn variant.
* MotionBlur: He's even [[FanNickname nicknamed]] "The Blue Blur". In some of the 3D games, Sonic can create a blur by Spin Dashing. In fact, everyone who can use the Homing Attack has their own motion blur.
* MultipleChoicePast: Eggman Nega. In ''Sonic Rush'' and ''Sonic Rush Adventure'', he's Eggman from a parallel universe. In ''Sonic Rivals'', he's Eggman's descendant from 200 years in the future. Blaze is also from either the future in ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' '06 or another dimension in ''Sonic Rush'' and ''Sonic Rush Adventure''.
* MultipleDemographicAppeal: The games, animated series and merchandising have all long been popular across many ages and both genders. This is probably at least in part due to the fact that many of the people who played the original games in the early nineties are now in their twenties and it's nostalgia setting in. It helps that all ''Sonic'' games have a good mix of SceneryPorn, AwesomeMusic, and lots of AwesomeMoments with a little [[DarkerAndEdgier darkness]] and {{Fanservice}} thrown in. Unfortunately, this means you get FanDumb from all directions.
* MultipleEndings: Dates all the way back to the first game, though it wasn't until ''Sonic & Knuckles'' that the difference was of any significance. ''{{Shadow the Hedgehog}}'' has 10 different endings, plus the final ending, and 326 total ways to complete the game.
* MythologyGag: Sonic's favorite food is chilidogs. This was created by [=DiC=] for the cartoons. ''Sonic Chronicles'' and ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' are full of them. He's also seen eating two in the beginning of "Sonic and The Black Knight".
** Also in Sonic Riders, "''You're'' supposed to be the [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM fastest thing alive?]]"
** "Who ordered the chilidog?" from TheStinger of some of the commercials for the new VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames in {{London}}.
* NoConservationOfEnergy
* NoEnding: Combined with SequelHook. ''Sonic Chronicles'' ends with [[spoiler:Sonic and friends learning that Eggman has taken over the world.]] [[AnimatedActors And then they thank Bioware for being awesome.]]
* NoodlePeople: Everyone after the ArtShift in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''. The characters were pot-bellied in design prior to this.
* NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom: Some of the more recent entries are sometimes criticized for having too much running and not enough platforming.
* NoblewomansLaugh: Robotnik's Santa-esque chuckle.
* NostalgiaLevel: The extra 3D version of the original ''Sonic the Hedgehog's'' Green Hill Zone in ''Sonic Adventure 2''.
** There are also Nostalgia Bosses in Sonic Advance, in the form of Sonic 1 and 2's first bosses in the X-Zone.
** Sunset Hill Zone from ''Sonic Advance 3'' certainly qualifies. It even has the music!
** The final level in ''Sonic Chronicles'' can apply sorta. It has a remixed version of the Final Boss fight from Sonic 3.
** Sonic Battle has Green Hill Zone as an unlockable stage.
** [[FloatingContinent Sky Sanctuary Zone]] in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic (3) & Knuckles]]'' features two Nostalgia Bosses. Mecha Sonic shows up piloting the boss vehicles from the first zone of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' and the eighth zone of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' before you fight him quill-to-quill.
*** And said hog-to-mecha-hog fight shares some patterns with Silver Sonic from ''2''.
** Wave Ocean from 06 is very much like Emerald Coast in Adventure 1, intentionally of course. In both levels Sonic gets chased across a bridge by an orca.
*** Abadat's levels in VideoGame/SonicUnleashed are very similar to Emerald Coast and Wave Ocean, though without any chase scene.
** ''Sonic the Hedgehog 4'' is pretty much a Nostalgia ''Game''.
** Taken to BeyondTheImpossible levels in ''Sonic Generations'', you have 2.5D and 3D re-imaginings of levels from almost ''every game'' since Sonic 1 to Colors. You Also have Sonic, Tails and [[spoiler: Eggman]] in their classic looks with Sonic being voiceless and Metal Sonic returns as an optional boss.
* ObviousBeta: ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006.'' To [[UpToEleven ridiculous levels]].
* OffModel: This [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxV7495Oabw Pakistan Mcdonald's commercial]] has gained some infamy for it.
* OffscreenVillainDarkMatter: No matter how much havoc Sonic wreaks on Robotnik's bases, he's always got enough badniks, {{eternal engine}}s and {{wave motion gun}}s for another world domination bid come next game. It reached a peak in ''Sonic Adventure'', where after Sonic and co. spend the entire game taking down the Egg Carrier, he shows up with ''another Egg Carrier'' to try and subdue Chaos.
** Further still, in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he produces a giant fleet of space battleships solely as ''bait'' for Super Sonic.
* OldShame: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znt9k40nLN4 This]] trailer showing clips of the various Sonic console games throughout the years, with Sonic himself looking pretty exasperated once they get to ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' (around the time the critical backlash of the games began). Also, much more polished beta footage of ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 '06]]'' is used, as well as only the daytime stages of ''[[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Unleashed]]''. However, ''[[SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' is completely omitted from the video, whilst it's predecessor, ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'' notably ''wasn't''.
* OneHitPointWonder: Assuming they have no rings, every character would count as this, but this is not the case. Final Zone and Death Egg Zone in Sonic 1 and 2, respectively, have no rings whatsoever, effectively rendering Sonic a One Hit Point Wonder for the final confrontations. The Game Gear versions of Sonic 1 and 2 took this even further by offering no rings for ''any'' of the boss encounters.
* OneUp: Either in form of a monitor or capsule with a character's head on it or a Sonic icon, depending on game.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Many people don't remember that Tails' real name is [[PunnyName Miles Prower]].
* TheOtherDarrin: The series have gone through a veritable revolving door of voice actors throughout the years, some more controversial than others. Tails, in particular, has gone through more voice actors switches than any other character. In both the English AND Japanese versions.
* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent: Sonic the Werehog.
* OxygenatedUnderwaterBubbles: Present throughout all of the 2D games where a DownTheDrain, UnderwaterRuins, or UnderTheSea level is present. Also exists in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''.
* PantslessMalesFullyDressedFemales
* PeopleJars: Possible variation. In the original games, Dr. Robotnik trapped animals within robots which Sonic had to destroy to set free.
* PhysicalGod: Chaos the God of Destruction, Illumina the Goddess of Dreams, the Master Emerald, [[spoiler:Chip a.k.a Light Gaia]], and possibly Solaris and Emerl who are also refered to as Gods, [[NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus even though they are both artificial.]]
* PinballSpinoff: Sonic Spinball and Sonic Pinball Party.
* PinballZone: Almost every game in the series has at least one pinball-themed level, whether a regular level or a BonusStage. Despite the "zone", the TropeNamer is not from this series.
** Act 2 of Casino Street Zone in the IPhone version of Sonic 4 is nothing but a pinball machine where you need to get a certain amount of points in order to complete it.
* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Amy and Sonic, obviously.
* PlanetOfCopyhats: Apparently speediness is an anthro trait.
* PlatformGame
* PlotCoupon: The ubiquitous Chaos Emeralds and their daddy, the Master Emerald.
* PopStarComposer: Masoto Nakamura (from the J-pop band Dreams Come True) composed the music for ''Sonic 1'' and ''Sonic 2''. Famously, MichaelJackson was supposed to compose for ''Sonic 3.'' What happened then? [[UrbanLegendOfZelda Nobody quite knows, but everybody has an opinion.]] Jun Senoue and his band Crush 40 wrote music for several of the 3-D games. This goes all the way to ''Sonic Colors'', where Cash Cash performs the main theme.
* PowerDyesYourHair: Sonic's Super Form.
* PowerTrio: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. In ''Sonic Heroes'', three other power trio teams are created with this template (speed, flight, and power).
* PowerUpMagnet: The electric shield that debuted in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic 3]]''
* PowerUpMotif: Invincibility powerup has a theme in games where it exists.
* PrepareToDie: One of Eggman's phrases in ''Sonic Battle."
* ThePsychoRangers: The robots in Sonic R, Team Dark in Sonic Adventure 2, The Babylon Rogues in Sonic Riders.
* PunnyName: Miles "Tails" Prower, and Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik (and his legion of egg-themed machines). Also, Super Sonic.
* PuzzleBoss
* PuzzlePan
* {{Reconstruction}}: Since the flop of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06]], the games seem to be trying to go back to the original Platforming and Speed outlook of the Genesis series.
* RecurringRiff: In many Sonic games, the main theme of a particular game can be heard throughout the game.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Super Sonic (VideoGame/SonicAdventure onwards) and Shadow.
* RetCanon:
** The clear use of [[MechaMooks SWAT]][[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM Bots]] and roboticized animals in ''SonicChronicles''.
** The confirmation of Sonic's [[TrademarkFavoriteFood favorite food]] being [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog chi]][[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM lid]][[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog ogs]] in the Japanese version of ''[[SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 3]]'', ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', and ''{{Sonic and the Black Knight}}''.
** The true purpose of Shadow's Inhibitor Rings, shown in the ending of his story in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', originated in ''SonicX''.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter - First there were the flickies and animal friends. Then there were [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chao]]. And now there are [[VideoGame/SonicColors Wisps]].
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Shadow's reaction to Maria's death. Attempt on humanity prevented by Amy. Results in the genocide of the entire Black Arms race as Black Doom can be considered indirectly responsible for her death.
* RollingAttack: Sonic can do that. Often others do rolling attacks too.
* RousseauWasRight: Amy of all people stops Shadow's RoaringRampageOfRevenge with a speech about this.
* RuleThirtyFour: Hit this series like an atomic bomb.
* RunningGag: There's very few that last more than a single game, but Knuckles getting tricked by Eggman, for one, eventually turned into this.
** If it's an entirely 2D Sonic game, expect there to be a pit with two springs facing each other in at least one level.
* SanDimasTime: The level timers in Sonic CD, where you regularly travel hundreds of years through time mid-level on a regular basis.
* SceneryPorn: ''Sonic'' games are designed to push the graphical power of any console they're on, whether it be the Genesis[=/=]Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Wii, PS3, ''any console''. Special mentions in this regard include the original Genesis games, ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''. Sonic CD had some SceneryGorn in its Bad Future stages, though the Good Futures could potentially outdo the past and present with the area showing technology maintaining the environment instead of destroying it.
** Recent home console titles like ''Unleashed'' and ''Generations'' use Sonic Team's aptly-named graphics rendering tool, the Hedgehog Engine, which is capable of rendering close-to-CG quality imagery. Whilst graphical output is undoubtedly impressive, the results are definitely best viewed in 60fps and 1080p in the PC version of ''Generations''.
** Supposedly, on the day that Nintendo unveiled the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Which was also the same day SEGA unveiled the original Sonic game), a reporter went to a SEGA Rep & touted the increased graphical capabilities of the SNES over the Mega Drive; specifically citing the vast increase in the number of colors the system was capable of. The SEGA Rep's response was to take him to a curtained off area, and show him screenshots of Sonic & the latest Mario game, before asking "[[BadassBoast Who has more colors?]]"
* SealedEvilInACan: It started with Chaos in ''Sonic Adventure'' and has become increasingly more evil, more sealed, and more canny from there.
* ShoutOut: ''SonicX'' is chock full of these, not only to the previous Sonic cartoons, but Eggman's various mecha manage to include Thunderbird 2, Great Mazinger, and the USS Enterprise.
** Also see the examples of LawyerFriendlyCameo, which have been present since ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''.
** ''Sonic Chronicles'' includes Swat Bots, based on the {{Mooks}} from the [=SatAM=] show. Sonic also mentions chili dogs, a reference to his TrademarkFavouriteFood in the US shows. It also has the resident KillerRobot [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic refer to the organic characters as "Meatbags".]] (Not surprising given [[{{Bioware}} the developer.]])
*** It also includes a [[OfficeSpace red stapler.]]
** No mention of [[DragonballZ Super]] [[strike:[[DragonballZ Saiyan]]]] Sonic? In earlier games, his ''eye'' color actually changes to facilitate this.
*** Also, was there anyone who got Rouge's Treasure Scope in Sonic Adventure 2 without immediately thinking of a scouter [[OverNineThousand and eventually a famous phrase?]]
** G.U.N is thought by some to be a reference to [[MarvelUniverse S.H.I.E.L.D.]]
** Knuckles, [[{{Batman}} a loner and and anti-hero]] fights Rouge, [[ClassyCatBurglar an attractive female thief]] [[DatingCatwoman who has a crush on him]] and saves her from falling to her death. [[{{BatmanReturns}} This scenario sure seems familiar.]]
** [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Man, Rouge sure looks familiar....]]
* ShipTease: Oh dear god...
* ShutUpHannibal: Shadow has done this twice, once to Black Doom in the final story of ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' and later to Mephiles at the end of his story in ''Sonic 2006''.
* SigilSpam: Some post-VideoGame/SonicAdventure games (including the SonicAdvanceTrilogy) show Eggman's property having a stylized depiction of his face on them (its design is inconsistent from game to game). The same goes for G.U.N.
* SlaveMooks: The little robots with animals in them.
* SmallAnnoyingCreature: Chip from Sonic Unleashed.
** Also Omachao.
* SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom: Levels in classic Sonic series have a lot of them. Some of them are in 3D games too.
* [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sonic Can Breathe In Space]]: [[SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay He can also run at top speed without a problem in space.]]
** Every character who visits the ARK gets hit by this trope. Shadow, Rouge, Eggman, Tails, Knuckles and several others have no trouble with stages on the outside of the ARK.
*** Knuckles even gets hit by meteors!
* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay: This pretty much describes most of Sonic's space exploration levels, with his sequence of hanging on to Robotnik's rocket escaping into the upper atmosphere and managing to reach the Death Egg in space being one of the most accurate examples.
* SpikeBallsOfDoom: Very commonly used. A lot of them can be found within stages, one of the notable enemies called Orbinaut has spiked balls surrounding it and many bosses fire spiked balls, too.
* SpikesOfDoom: One of the common elements throughout the series. There is also the infamous [[GoodBadBugs Spike Bug]]. Its name is something of an ArtifactTitle, as there is substantial evidence now that it's not a bug and was intentionally programmed in (though it was "fixed" in later revisions of Sonic 1).
* SpinAttack: Sonic's trademark maneuver. Comes in normal and [[ChargedAttack Spin-Dash]] flavors (in certain games).
** RollingAttack
* TheSpiny: A fair number of badniks qualify, although since the standard attack method is to hit an enemy while curled into a ball rather than necessarily to hit it from above, some of these are covered in spikes or other harmful stuff on all sides, rather than just the top, and must be defeated by waiting for them to revert to a vulnerable state or using invincibility. Others, though, look more like the Spinies of other games and can be dispatched by rolling into them. Oddly enough, an enemy with this exact name is not an example of this.
* SpiritualSuccessor: The Chao Gardens which debuted in the Adventure games are this to the Nightopians from NightsIntoDreams. The Chao are even based on an upgraded version of the A-Life system from NiGHTS.
* SpringsSpringsEverywhere: Springboards are common objects in Sonic series. Often other things like bumpers and sometimes even clouds do the same thing too.
* SprintShoes: Most games in the series have these, generally called High Speed Shoes[=/=]Super Sneakers[=/=]Power Sneakers depending on the game.
* StarfishRobots: Dr. Eggman has created a ton of these. See the trope page for details.
* StealthPun: Dr. ''Ivo'' "Eggman" Robotnik. "Ivo" is an anagram of "Ovi", the latin term for an egg.
** And for a Bonus, according to WordOfGod, the "I" in "Ivo" is pronounced with a soft "e" like in many European languages instead of the usual English "ae", to make "Ivo" (Eevo) sound like "Evil".
* SuperDrowningSkills / WalkDontSwim: Since his first appearance in 1991, Sonic has never been able to swim. His allies, Tails and Knuckles, can. Sonic sinks like a rock in water and relies on air bubbles to survive underwater. This is taken to its logical extreme in some of the recent games, where even contact with water causes instant death.
** In the Mario & Sonic games, Sonic wears a life jacket during the swimming events.
* SuperMode: For Sonic, Shadow, and Silver when they get all seven Chaos Emeralds, their [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything fur stands up]] [[DragonBall and becomes golden]]. Admittedly, Yuji Naka actually is a fan of DragonBall, and it had a big influence on Sonic.
* SuperSpeed: Sonic is the foremost example, but nearly every character in the series has some level of this, even ''Eggman''.
* TeamRocketWins: In ''Sonic Adventure 2'' this happens a couple of times. The destruction of Prison Island, the firing of the Eclipse Cannon and the scene where [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8t0WJTx5XM Sonic nearly dies]].
* TemporaryPlatform: All over the place in numerous games.
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: When Sonic goes SuperMode, usually by the end of the game. Or when picking up invincibility powerup.
* ThereAreNoAdults: Only Cream is shown to have a parent, and only one adult, Dr. Robotnik, is a main cast member.
* ThisIsADrill: Classic Sonic games had at least one type of badnik with a drill. Sonic 2 and 3 also had bosses with drills. Sonic Colors introduces enemies with drills to 3D.
** One of the bosses in ''Sonic Unleashed'' had a drill.
** Sonic Colors also has the yellow wisps which turn Sonic into a drill.
* ThreePointLanding: Sonic and friends like to do that in newer games sometimes.
** [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Chip]] subverts this multiple times at first, but finally manages a perfect landing just before the final level.
* TookALevelInBadass: Tails has a noticeable one between ''Sonic Adventure'' and ''[=SA2=]'', he builds himself a mech and is actually useful, and is somewhat able to think for himself.
** Eggman also takes a massive level in badass between the same two games. He goes from letting his [[SealedEvilInACan Cha]][[ExactlyWhatItSaysontheTin os]] do most of his fighting for him, and trying to conquer only Station Square to trying to take over the world with a [[KillSat Kill Sat]]. He actually gets his hands dirty in ''[=SA2=]'' (on screen at least) and almost manages to successfully kill Sonic.
** Lampshaded by Sonic, "You've turned into a big time villain, doctor!"
*** Only taken further in later games, where he ceases to be a patsy for {{Bigger Bad}}s and [[NotSoHarmless hides an even more dangerous intelect in that clownish exterior]]. In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' he tricks and depowers Super Sonic, while in ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' his plan for world domination expands to ''planetary systems''.
** Don't forget about Amy. See BadassNormal.
** Big the Cat in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', similar to Amy he gains speed and powers to keep up with the others ([[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome his rod acts a firey ball and chain!]]). For the first time ever we also see him [[BigBrotherInstinct kinda pissed off]].
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Chili dogs, for Sonic himself.
* TreasureIsBiggerInFiction: Most notably, the Rings, Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald.
* UnderwaterRuins: One level in almost every game is set amidst underwater ruins.
* UnwillingRoboticisation: Eggman's modus operandi in some games, specially the early ones.
* UnwittingPawn: Knuckles the Echidna, Silver, and possibly Shadow.
* {{Vaporware}}: ''Sonic X-Treme''
* VideoGameFlight: Tails' tails come in handy. Err, tail-y.
* VideoGameLives
* VideoGameLongRunners: We are talking about a franchise that has run for two decades, has dozens of games under it's belt (not counting how many ports and re-releases there are) has made possibly dozens, maybe hundreds of cameos in other games, has starred in an absolutely monstrous amount of tie-in comics and merchandise, ''four'' different cartoon series and an anime movie, and has sold over 50 million games worldwide. And from the looks of things, he ain't going nowhere anytime soon.
* VideoGameSettings: The series has always shamelessly used every standard platform level style.
** A few settings are notably common in this series, even when compared to other such settings and other such shameless users of them: TempleOfDoom, PinballZone, and EternalEngine. Most games in the series will have all three of these, and it's hard to find any that don't have at least one of them. These are so common in this series that one game often has multiple variations of one of the types, e.g. [[LethalLavaLand Marble]] [[TempleOfDoom Zone]] and [[UnderTheSea Labyrinth]] [[TempleOfDoom Zone]] in ''SonicTheHedgehog (16-bit)'' or [[EternalEngine Gene Gadget Zone and Panic Puppet Zone]] in ''Sonic 3D Blast''. However, outside of ''Sonic Spinball'' there's still usually only one non-BonusStage instance of PinballZone.
* WaveMotionGun: The ARK's Eclipse Cannon in ''Sonic Adventure 2'' and ''ShadowTheHedgehog'', the Chaos Energy Cannon in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', the Death Egg in ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles.''
* WheelOFeet: The series staple of pretty much all characters who could actually run, though Shadow is a subversion with his "air skates", and Tails with his... tails. While the 2D games showed this whenever Sonic or Knuckles reached top speed, The 3D games brought about a 'motion blur' when they reached top speed (indicated by their hands flowing freely behind their backs). Since the 3D games primarily place the camera behind the character, however, it's hard to notice the effects of top speed.
* WhenAllElseFailsGoRight: In his first three games, Sonic is ''always'' travelling from left to right across the various zones; it's understood that, even in the more maze-like sections, the intention is to go to the right.
** The ''only'' exception in the original three (and a half) games is the final Death Egg zone, where the intention is still ''mostly'' to go to the right, but much more important than that is going up.
** There are many examples in Sonic 2 where you go up or left. Particular examples are Chemical Plant Zone and Mystic Cave Zone, which involve you having to go up, down, left and right several times to reach the end..
** There are several times when he is travelling left in Sonic 3 And Knuckles.
** The SegaMasterSystem / GameGear games were not very different. Only two levels in that ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic 1]]'' involve climbing and ''SonicChaos'' features one special stage where the [[PlotCoupon Chaos Emerald]] is above you.
* WhiteGloves: Again, pretty much all the characters, even some of the humans.
* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: A good majority of the characters' names.
* XtremeKoolLetterz: Some of the album titles use the word 'Trax' or 'Soundtrax.'
----
[[caption-width-right:350:Through [[GrowingTheBeard ups]], [[DorkAge downs]], and [[MemeticMutation all]]-[[ThemeParkLandscape arounds]], [[MilestoneCelebration still unstoppable after (over) twenty years!]]]]
[[quoteright:250:~~VideoGame, PlatformGame~~]]
->''"I'm Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog!"''
-->--'''Sonic''', [[OnceAnEpisode in various games.]]
A fast hedgehog, a two-tailed fox, and a red echidna who protects a bunch of GreenRocks go down to the local pub. A [[MadScientist floating fat man with a penchant for robots]] bursts in on their Happy Hour martinis to announce his schemes to TakeOverTheWorld with aforementioned GreenRocks. The hedgehog, fox, and echidna put down their drinks, mutter something along the lines of "[[PrecisionFStrike Aw, ]]''[[PrecisionFStrike hell ]]''[[PrecisionFStrike no!]]", and proceed to kick the floating fat man's ass from here to New Brunswick. Rinse and repeat, adding [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters lots and lots more characters]] each time (some of which can be found [[Characters/SonicTheHedgehog here]]).
That's SonicTheHedgehog in a nutshell--well, except for the pub part ([[{{Dissimile}} and the "hell, no" part]]). Created in 1991 for the then-fledgling {{Sega}} [[SegaGenesis Genesis]] (and not-so-fledgling Sega Master System) by a group of fifteen people tasked with creating a mascot to compete with [[SuperMario the face of video games]] (who were later to be named "Sonic Team"), Sonic quickly became the gaming company's mascot, immediately replacing Sega's previous mascot, the Mario-[[CaptainErsatz derivative]] AlexKidd. The spunky, ever-lovin' cobalt-blue insectivore grew in strength with each sequel to put its creators into a healthy competitive spot with {{Nintendo}} and other, lesser gaming companies, most notably HudsonSoft and {{SNK}} during the 16-bit ConsoleWars.
The games were positively brilliant. The sprites were incredibly well-drawn, the levels were huge and expansive with a few alternate paths, and they incorporated many design features like loops, corkscrews, and crumbling ledges that were never seen before in any game. Many entertainment companies were given the license to produce no less than four cartoon series, seven comic series, countless books, a sunday comic strip, and even an [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie anime movie]], all to capitalize on Sonic's success. For a while, the Sonic series even overshadowed Nintendo's poster boy, [[SuperMarioBros Mario]], due to the technical whizziness of its concept (helped by Sega dropping the meaningless term "[[{{Technobabble}} Blast Processing]]" into its ads) and the [[{{Badbutt}} proto-Badass]] nature of its main character. (This was the predecessor to the eventual [[RatedMForMoney family-friendly versus mature games]] debate, with a hedgehog with an attitude standing in for [[GrandTheftAuto killing beeyotches]].) And the concept was so simple: The aforementioned trio of Sonic (the hedgehog), Tails (the fox), and Knuckles (the echidna) try to thwart Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik's (the floating fat man) attempts at world domination using his army of robots and the Chaos Emeralds (the GreenRocks[[hottip:*:Incidentally, [[NonIndicativeName despite being called "Emeralds," they are seldom green.]]]]). Run fast, collect rings, bash robotic critters, and it's all good.
Sonic hit a bit of a DorkAge during the run of SEGA's Saturn console, which was a good deal less successful than its predecessor. The spinoff game, ''Sonic R'' was the only noteworthy Sonic game on the console, with a much better one, ''Sonic [[XtremeKoolLetterz X-Treme]]'', being announced but canceled, and filled in at the 11th hour by a upgraded port of the less-than-stellar ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]''. The series got revived in a truly 3-Dimensional incarnation on SEGA's next console, the Dreamcast. The two ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' games are noted for their production values and ambitious plotlines, but also criticized for questionable gameplay choices and other teething problems usually found in [[PolygonCeiling platformers that tried to make their first jump to 3D]]. Sonic Team attempted to address these concerns with ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', yet the gameplay was arguably worsened, to say nothing of its cheesy dialogue and most of its replay value being a result of [[FakeLongevity artificially prolonging the amount of times levels need to be played.]]
Since ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', fans' opinions toward this series have been [[BrokenBase extremely conflicted]]. Multiple camps exist defending one gameplay, character, or plotline decision while condemning multiple, if not all, others. A very strong {{Hatedom}} and counter-movement appears to form with every new release due in no small part to Sonic Team attempting to appeal to both older and newer fans despite limited production time.
Recent titles have been notable for suffering mixed to negative critical reception. In line with all the controversy, large varieties of theories exist to explain why the Sonic series is struggling in terms of reviews ranging from [[ExecutiveMeddling hastened]] [[ChristmasRushed development for deadlines]], a lack of talent or caring from the development team, over-reliance on [[UnexpectedGameplayChange new "gimmicky" features,]] [[DarkerAndEdgier taking the series in too dark of a direction,]] or [[NostalgiaFilter unrealistic demands from nostalgic fans.]] Nevertheless, the series still remains massively popular and is among the 10 best selling videogame franchises of all time.
Whilst 2008's ''Videogame/SonicUnleashed'' was widely criticized for its notoriously jarring [[ScrappyMechanic Werehog gameplay]], the "Day" Sonic levels were mostly praised for their refreshing hybrid of breakneck-speed 3D segments and traditional 2D platforming, replacing the ''Adventure'' gameplay, albeit with some awkward controlling at times. This style of gameplay was carried over to ''Videogame/SonicColors'' and subsequently ''Videogame/SonicGenerations'', both of which were met with widespread critical acclaim, no doubt helped by the long-awaited return of Classic Sonic (in both appearance and gameplay) in the latter.
[[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=12985657500A57372900 Here's where you can discuss all matters pertaining to this series.]]
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!!
[[foldercontrol]]
[[index]]
[[folder:List of Video Games In The Main Series]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD''
* ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles''
** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 3''
** ''Sonic & Knuckles''
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''
* ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed''[[hottip:*:''Sonic World Adventure'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4''
** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode I''
** ''Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II'' (In Development)
* ''VideoGame/SonicColors''
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Handheld Series]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog (8-Bit)''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 (8-Bit)''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogChaos''[[hottip:*:''Sonic & Tails'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble''[[hottip:*:''Sonic & Tails 2'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/TailsSkyPatrol'' (Japan-Only)
* ''VideoGame/TailsAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicBlast''[[hottip:*:''G-Sonic'' in Japan]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicLabyrinth''
* ''VideoGame/SonicJam'' ([[InNameOnly Absolutely no relation]] to the SegaSaturn game of the same name)
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogPocketAdventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy''
** ''Sonic Advance''
** ''Sonic Advance 2''
** ''Sonic Advance 3''
* ''VideoGame/SonicBattle''
* ''VideoGame/SonicRushSeries''
** ''Sonic Rush''
** ''Sonic Rush Adventure''
* ''VideoGame/SonicRivals''
** ''Sonic Rivals''
** ''Sonic Rivals 2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles: The Dark Brotherhood''
* ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' (DS)
* ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Racing[=/=]Sports Games]]
* ''VideoGame/SonicDrift'' (Japan-Only)
** ''VideoGame/Sonic Drift 2''
* ''VideoGame/SonicR''
* ''VideoGame/SonicRiders''
** ''Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity''
** ''Sonic Free Riders''
* ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames''
** ''Mario and Sonic at The Olympic Winter Games''
** ''Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games''
* ''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Spinoff Titles]]
* ''Amy's American Page One''
* ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''
* ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''
* ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''
* ''Shadow Shoot''
* ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''
* ''VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland''[[hottip:*:Also known as ''Sonic 3D Blast'']]
* ''Sonic Coin Rolling Game''
* ''Sonic Hearts''
* ''Sonic Jump''
* ''Sonic Kart 3D''
* ''Sonic Reversi''
* ''VideoGame/SonicSatAM'', Cancelled
* ''VideoGame/SonicsSchoolhouse''
* ''VideoGame/SonicShuffle''
* ''Sonic Spinner''
* ''VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries''
** ''Sonic and the Secret Rings''
** ''Sonic and the Black Knight''
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheFighters''[[hottip:*:Also known as ''SonicChampionship'']]
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogSpinball''
* ''Sonic X'' (unrelated to the Anime of the same name)
* ''Sonic X-Treme'', Cancelled
* ''Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car'' (Japan-only)
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Compilations]]
* ''Sonic & Knuckles Collection''
* ''Sonic Action 4 Pack''
* ''Sonic Classic Collection''
* ''Sonic Classics''
* ''Sonic Gems Collection''
* ''VideoGame/SonicJam''
* ''Sonic Mega Collection''
** ''Sonic Mega Collection Plus''
* ''Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection''[[hottip:*:Known as Sega Mega Drive Collection outside of America]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Television Shows]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog''
* ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM''
* ''WesternAnimation/SonicUnderground''
* ''Anime/SonicX''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Original Video Animation]]
* ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie''
* ''Sonic's Christmas Blast''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogPromoComic''
* ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog''
** ''Sonic Universe''
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' (Fleetway)
* ''ComicBook/SonicX''
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog Manga'' (Mega Drive Fan, Shogakukan, Corocoro)
** ''Dash & Spin: Hyper Speed Sonic'' (Corocoro Comics Special)
* ''Sonic: Les Dans Griffes De Robotnik''
* ''Sonic: Le Guide Ultime''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/StaySonic''
* ''Literature/TheSonicTheHedgehogJokeBook''
* ''Sonic's Shoes Blues''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Short Films]]
* ''Man of the Year''
* ''Sonic: Night of the Werehog''
[[/folder]]
[[/index]]
----
!!This series is the TropeNamer for:
* CasinoPark
* ChaosEmeralds
* EternalEngine
* GreenHillZone
* PalmtreePanic
* SuperMode
* UltimateLifeForm
----
!!Tropes throughout the games:
%% And that means throughout the entire series, maybe about three games or more, not just one or two games, please. Put character-related tropes on the character sheet.
* AbusivePrecursors: The ancient Echidnas. [[spoiler: They attacked the adorable and innocent Chao, and, although unknowingly, AwakeningTheSleepingGiant, Chaos, an innocent god, just to steal his Chaos Emeralds. They created countless unstoppable robots in order to conquer the world. Both of which had to be sealed thus handing down the problem to us. In ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', one clan of Echidnas return and try to conquer our world again.]] Which pushes them past just being NeglectfulPrecursors.
* AdaptationOverdosed: An [[Anime/SonicX anime]], [[ComicBook/SonicX an adaptation of that anime]], an [[Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie OVA]], a [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog US comic]], a [[SonicTheComic UK comic]], three western cartoon series, several {{Manga}}, a short-lived French comic, and numerous book adaptations.
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Some games, such as [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog SegaSonic]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD CD]], [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix Chaotix]] and [[VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland 3D Blast]] use alliterative names for all levels.
* AirborneAircraftCarrier: Robotnik's favorite type of weapon, starting with Sky Base in the Sega GameGear ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' and continuing with the Egg Carrier and its variations in the modern games.
* AllThereInTheManual: Among Sonic's various, obscure, [[MultipleChoicePast contradicting origin stories]] is that he was born on [[{{UsefulNotes/Australia}} Christmas Island]], and that he gained his speed from an experiment with [[SdrawkcabName Dr. Kintobor]].
* AlwaysNight: The haunted house levels in some games, as well as some of the casino levels.
* AmazingTechnicolorWildlife: Be honest; have ''you'' ever seen a blue (or pink) hedgehog in the wild?
* AmbiguouslyHuman: Dr. Robotnik / Eggman in the original non-Japanese continuities.
* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Old American artwork of Robotnik depicted him as constantly scowling (and with black eyes), as opposed to the oddly-always-smiling Eggman of the Japanese artwork. In ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'', Robotnik had his 'evil' design, but was a bumbling boob prone to {{Angrish}}.
* ArcWords / RunningGag: At least one character has said "Long time no see" in almost every game since Sonic Adventure. However, since ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', they seem to have stopped doing this.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', Sonic/Tails says this to Knuckles, and Amy says it to Sonic.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Knuckles says it when first meeting up with Sonic and Tails, Rouge says this to Knuckles just before their boss-battle against each-other.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', Sonic says that to Tails and Knuckles in the opening cutscene for Team Sonic's story. And Rouge says this to Team Sonic before the Team Sonic vs. Team Dark battle.
*** [[spoiler: Metal Sonic]] also says this to Sonic at the start of his boss battle; one of the few cases where it ''has'' been a long time.
** In ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'', Sonic ([[RunningGag see a pattern here?]]) says this to Shadow when you run into Sonic at the beginning of the very first stage.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', Sonic and Rouge both say this at multiple points each in the game.
** In ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Sonic Rush Adventure]]'', [[spoiler:Eggman]] says this the first time he encounters Sonic in the game.
** ''[[VideoGame/SonicRiders Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity]]''. Wave greets Tails with, "Long time no see, shorty!"
* ArtEvolution: See the page image? [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/Sonic_1991.png Sonic, as depicted on the left, is what he used to look like.]] In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', he was remade to be taller, have green eyes, and have longer limbs and quills. It was modified further in that direction in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''. ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' onwards, his looks are now a hybrid of the "Classic-Era" and "Adventure-Era" designs. This is {{Lampshaded}} in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', where the current-style Sonic teams up with his very different-looking Genesis-era self. [[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/8/85/Sos09_artbook_p09.jpg Over the years we have this.]]
* ArtisticAge
* AscendedExtra: Amy, who started as a DamselInDistress in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'', appeared among the cast of later spin-offs, and returned for ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' [[CharacterDevelopment completely overhauled]] and finally seeing a piece of the action.
* AscendedFanboy: Tails. He follows Sonic one day and becomes interested in him. He eventually wants to become like him though [[JerkAss Sonic ignores him]]. After Sonic and Tails had gone on an adventure to defeat Eggman, they become friends and he lets him tag along with him. Also, Amy in the Archie Comics.
* AscendedMeme: All though not really a meme, Wiz Khalifa used the Green Hill Zone theme as the background effect in his song "Ms. Rightfernow".
* AshFace: Dr. Robotnik is prone to have it in some of the 2D games after his creations are defeated.
* [[AuthorExistenceFailure Actor Existence Failure]]: Deem Bristow, the original video game VA for Dr. Robotnik ([[IHaveManyNames Or Eggman]]), passed away in January 2005.
** Long John Baldry, another Robotnik VA, on Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog, passed away just 6 months after Bristow.
* BadassNormal: Amy starting in VideoGame/SonicHeroes.
* BashBrothers: Sonic and Tails, in many incarnations. Can also apply to any character alongside Sonic, including his [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations younger self]].
* BelligerentSexualTension: Knuckles and Rouge have displayed this at times.
* BenevolentArchitecture
* BlindIdiotTranslation: Before the developers had settled on a name for Sonic, he was referred to as "Mr. Needlemouse". The Japanese word for "hedgehog" is "harinezumi". Guess what a literal translation of that would yield.
* BossDissonance: Generally, the bosses in the series are easier than the levels, save for a few {{Wake Up Call Boss}}es.
* BottomlessPit: Relatively rare in the early ''Sonic'' games, but increasingly common as the series has gone on. Taken UpToEleven in ''Heroes'', where every zone after Power Plant is basically a giant pit with platforms and grind rails suspended over it.
* CallingYourAttacks: "Chaos Control!" "Sonic Wind!" "Black Wave!"
** [[VideoGame/SonicColors "Laser!" "Drill!" "Frrrrrrenzy!"]]
* CanonDiscontinuity: [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic 2006]] put this on ''itself'', due to [[spoiler:a CosmicRetcon ResetButtonEnding.]]
%%(sammmax:) CanonDiscontinuity example changed because of a lack of citation for where he found the information. Heck, I tried finding it without much luck. Please cite where you found that information if you ever decide to put it back up. Sonic 2006 was put up because it was the only one with evidence supporting it.
* CanonImmigrant:
** The Swatbots of [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAM]] fame have been introduced into Chronicles, although with a notable armor overhaul.
** Amy and Charmy first appeared in the Sonic manga produced by Shogakukan in 1992, albeit looking rather different. Amy was lifted from there and redesigned for Sonic CD. A 1993 manga redesigned to fit more with the Sonic look, with the same characters, was released...and Charmy was subsequently lifted and used two years later in [[KnucklesChaotix Knuckles Chaotix]]. Arguably one of the most successful stories of a canon immigrant, as shown above with the 'Ascended Extra' point.
** In a case of WhatCouldHaveBeen, ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM'' characters Sally Acorn and Bunnie Rabbot were planned to appear in multiple early projects (including early concepts for ''Sonic Xtreme''), though ultimately have only a brief cameo in ''[[SonicTheHedgehogSpinball Sonic Spinball]]'' to show for it.
** Sonic's love for chili dogs in the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' has been more tightly integrated into the official canon in the past few years; there's a chili dog salesman in ''Unleashed'', Sonic is summoned with two in-hand in the opening of ''Black Knight'', and he's given one as his ''birthday present'' from Tails in ''Generations''.
* CartoonyTail: Tails has [[CaptainObvious two tails]] that enable him to fly like a helicopter when he spins them. There's no indication of how this is biologically possible.
* CashCowFranchise: Still quite profitable after 20 years. Even the less-than-stellar games have made a surprising profit. In particular, the [[{{ComicBook}} Archie Comic series]] is also going strong, it being the longest-lasting comic series based on a video game character.
* CasinoPark: The TropeNamer, from VideoGame/SonicHeroes, but most games feature a casino level anyway.
* CerebusRollercoaster: While the early games were lighthearted, cartoony games, the series started shifting into a [[CerebusSyndrome more serious, shonen-anime like tone]] with the VideoGame/SonicAdventure duology. ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' briefly went back to a more cartoony tone ([[MoodWhiplash sans the Last Story]]), only for the series to reach the epitome of its CerebusSyndrome with VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog and VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006. Due to complaints about this, Sega has been [[ReverseCerebusSyndrome consciously going back to the series more lighthearted, cartoony roots,]] with hints of it in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' (despite still taking itself seriously), and officially starting with VideoGame/SonicColors. With that being said, ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' may have some darker, serious moments at points--although it still has much of the series lightheartedness still on board to balance it out. After all, it ''is'' a milestone game for the whole series.
* ChainReactionDestruction: What bosses in 2D Sonic games do when they run out of hitpoints.
* ChaosEmeralds: The TropeNamer, and examples in the first two games. The third game introduced unlimited attempts at the emeralds, moving them away from this trope, and since then most games have had them collected automatically during cutscenes, making them normal [[MacGuffin MacGuffins]].
* CompilationRerelease: Practically all of the original games from the Genesis and Master System up to the Dreamcast were rereleased on later (non-Sega) consoles in some form or another.
* ConjoinedEyes: Most of the non-humans.
* ComebackMechanic: The games that support multiplayer races will usually have a feature that swaps two players' locations in the stage. Sometimes, it's a hidden item, and sometimes, it's a character's ability. Naturally, this is only useful to a player who's fallen behind.
* ContinuingIsPainful: [[VideoGame/SonicColors Almost]] every ''Sonic'' game since ''Adventure'' resets your score to zero every time you die, almost assuring a bad rank if you're far enough into a stage.
** ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' doesn't reset your score but unfortunately, it doesn't reset the time back to 0:00 either. It continues from what it was when you died. So it's still painful.
* ContinuityCreep
* ContinuityNod: As of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', the ''Sonic'' series now makes frequent nods to previous games. ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'' in particular is full-on ContinuityPorn.
* CoolPlane: The Tornado and the Egg Carrier.
* CoolShip: The Egg Carrier from ''Sonic Adventure'', as well as Robotnik's "Egg-O-Matic" hovership that he uses at every possible opportunity.
* CrosshairAware
* {{Crossover}}: With the {{Mario}} franchise.
** [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], the best-selling games with Sonic in them are ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros. Brawl'' and ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames''.
** Sonic characters also crossover with other characters in the ''Tennis'' and ''All-Stars Racing'' installments of the ''SegaSuperstars'' series.
* CulturalTranslation: Subtle but still there. Some of the classic designs were changed a bit outside of Japan, in the official art. For example, Sonic was given a [[http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7990/designsonicvz2.png mohawk]], his eyebrows became more expressive (which was carried onto Adventure everywhere), and he became slightly more built while Tails became [[http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1379/designtailsqc2.png more stereotypically cute]] (chubbier, rounder, shorter snout, shorter fur, belly fur combed flat, etc) .
* DarkerAndEdgier: Shadow the Hedgehog and his [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog self-titled game]], ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', and ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', even, what with its themes of revenge, government conspiracies, military weapons projects, and apocalyptic scenarios.
** Preceded by ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'', which possessed numerous {{Bad Future}}s, and had a much more downbeat tone than any of the Genesis titles.
** In the shows, [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAM]]. Successfully darker than everything, [[{{RetCon}} until it was retconned]].
* DeathByOriginStory: Maria and Gerald Robotnik.
* DeathCourse: Even in the middle of nowhere, out in the ocean or in the middle of a forest, Sonic and the gang will inevitably cross paths with crates, spikes, drills, and other nasty hazards.
* DetectiveAnimal: Team Chaotix.
* DetonationMoon: In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''.
* DidNotDoTheResearch: The climax and overall conclusion of ''Sonic Battle'' makes no sense without taking place sometime after ''{{Shadow the Hedgehog}},'' but Shadow, in its Last Story, learned that he was not a weapon of mass destruction and was created to protect the Earth, while in Sonic Battle, he persists he's a heartless weapon. The real problem is, ''Battle'' precedes ''Shadow'' by two years in release dates, and since Sonic Team doesn't seem too big on {{Prequel}}s, Tomoyuki Hayashi, ''Battle's'' director, most likely just fell into the trope. It also doesn't help that the game contains throwbacks to ''Sonic Heroes,'' a game that isn't going to exist until three weeks ''later'' in Japan.
* DirectionallySolidPlatforms: Common in the 2D games.
* DuelBoss: Shadow, General Raxis and [[spoiler:Super Ix]] in ''SonicChronicles''.
** Also Sonic/Blaze in ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Rush]]'', Tails/Eggman, Rouge/Knuckles and the aformetioned Sonic/Shadow in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Sonic and Shadow vs Silver in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06]]'', and Knuckles in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' but more importantly Hidden Palace Zone from ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles]]''.
* DummiedOut: Can be considered a TropeCodifier. ''Every'' game in the series has something major in it missing, and sometimes new games are born from those scrapped elements.
* EagleLand: Arguably, this is the idea behind Sonic's character design. He is a mishmash of different western {{Funny Animal}}s (in fact, in one of his earliest character concepts, he was a [[BugsBunny grey rabbit with a bowtie]], and his body and head shape were reminiscent of FelixTheCat), he is the same color as the American flag (but recent information points that his trainers were made red and white to match ''SantaClaus'' colour scheme), and his 90s snarky, aloof attitude and penchant for XTREME hobbies were distinctly non-Japanese. (He also speaks in Engrish in the Japanese version.) He also has a tendency to [[WalkingTheEarth roam the lands]] randomly helping people, not unlike wild western heroes like {{Shane}}. All of this was intentional on Sega's part, since the Japanese branch knew that the Genesis (and to a lesser extent, the Master System) sold more in America than in their own country, and with Nintendo's Super Famicom looming on the horizon, they knew they would need some kind of hook to keep from being trounced internationally.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The original Sonic games were much more cartoony than the later entries, and the original game only had six emeralds, no Super Sonic, and no spin-dash.
* ElementalPowers - Not crucial to the characters but they show up from time to time
** Sonic - BlowYouAway
** Tails - ShockAndAwe
** Knuckles - PlayingWithFire / DishingOutDirt
** Amy - HeartBeatDown
** Shadow - TimeMaster
** Rogue - CastingAShadow
** Blaze - PlayingWithFire
** Silver - PsychicPowers
* EleventhHourSuperpower: The Super/Hyper/Darkspine/Whatever versions of the core Sonic Trio (and Shadow/Silver/Blaze).
* EnemyMine: ''Sonic Adventure 2's'' memorable Cannon's Core level.
** Sonic and Eggman have teamed up on multiple occasions when they've had a common enemy: ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' against The Biolizard, ''SonicAdvance3'' against Gemerl. Generally it's because Eggman wants to take over the world, not destroy it, and he can't take over the world if there's no world to take over, so generally if someone (or something) wants to destroy the world Eggman will usually fight against them, either with Sonic or without. The fat scientist makes this point almost verbatim in ''ShadowTheHedgehog'' as he watches the Black Arms wreck up Westopolis.
** Shadow has teamed up with characters he's considered enemies several times, most often in his own game. The final cutscene features Knuckles and Eggman actually having a fun moment together
* EveryTenThousandPoints: Some Sonic games award player extra life when getting certain amount of rings or points.
** Generally, every 100 rings in a level and 50,000 points overall, though that has varied.
* EverythingsBetterWithSparkles: Most notable ones will cause temporary invincibility in several games.
* EvilLaugh: Robotnik's weird "[[NoblewomansLaugh Ohohohohoho!]]" along with Shadow's maniacal laughter in [[ShadowTheHedgehog his own game]] as well as Mephiles in Sonic 06.
* ExecutiveMeddling: The unfortunate cause of ''Sonic X-Treme's'' {{Vaporware}} status, as well as the replacement of all the game voice actors with their ''SonicX'' counterparts.
** Executives often meddled to get games out for a Christmas release. It happened, but not too consequently, in some of the classic games. The original Japanese VideoGame/SonicAdventure was buggy, and that's why they made a rerelease there with all the fixes made in the English version.
** Shame that the English version was still buggy and that the later DX edition wound up creating ''even more glitches''.
** Very likely the reasoning behind the unfortunate state of ''Sonic 2006'' also; it was rushed out to release in time for both the Christmas period and Sonic's 15th Anniversary, and as a result is wrought with bugs and is quite obviously unfinished.
* ExpositionFairy: Started out as the FloatingAdviceReminder, then turned to the actual characters themselves noting your abilities, usually the NPC secondary characters.
* {{Expy}}: The Nocturnus are very similar to the group of Echidnas, the Dark Legion, from the Archie Comics, and Shade is similar to Julie-Su, and their home dimension "The Twilight Cage" has a similar name to the Dark Legion's dimension "The Twilight Zone". Ix also looks similar to the SonicTheComic character Dr. Zachary, and Archie's version Dr. Finitevus.
** The Ifrit in ''Sonic Rivals 2'' is very clearly an expy of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Iblis]]. Like Iblis, the Ifrit is an immortal fire monster named after a djinn in Middle Eastern mythology, and who is responsible for destroying the world in Silver's future. Even their designs are similar, with the Ifrit resembling a winged version of one of Iblis' forms.
* {{Faceship}}: Dr. Eggman builds a lot of these with his face on them, most notably the Death Egg.
* FamilyThemeNaming: There's a small family all named after dairy products: Cream the Rabbit; her mother, Vanilla, and her Chao, Cheese. Other Chao associated with Cream were named Chocola and Milk.
* FastballSpecial: Sonic seems to make a natural projectile. Very common in ''Sonic Chronicles'' and ''Sonic Heroes''.
* {{Fireballs}}: From the Marble Zone of the first game to the latest Sonic games.
** Knuckles can also shoot these in VideoGame/SonicHeroes.
* FlashOfPain: Bosses in the 2D Sonic games tend to do that.
* FloatingAdviceReminder: Started in the ''Sonic Adventure'' games with Tikal and Omochao, then exploded from there.
* FlyAtTheCameraEnding: The ending sequences to many 2D ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games feature Sonic (or Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Cream, etc.) jumping towards the player and posing while suspended in air. ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''s ending is the most notable: both Tails's plane and (Super) Sonic fly away from the player only to come back head first.
* FollowTheLeader: Sonic's popularity in the early 90's spawned many knockoff MascotWithAttitude characters, including {{Bubsy}}, AwesomePossum, [[RocketKnightAdventures Sparkster the Opossum]], Zool, and AeroTheAcrobat.
* FollowTheMoney: Often, rings lead you somewhere. In the 3D games, it's often even possible to perform light dash which makes Sonic follow the path made out of rings.
** The rings have been put into arrow formation in most games right up to Colors as a way of making this trope even more obvious.
* FountainOfExpies: Sonic, as mentioned in FollowTheLeader.
* FrickinLaserBeams: Used by numerous bosses throughout the series.
* FullSetBonus: The Chaos Emeralds in most games. Whether they allow the player to become Super Sonic, view the true ending, or both.
* FunnyAnimal
* {{Gainaxing}}: This becomes more prevalent in later games, but especially with Rouge the Bat and her ample "assets".
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: In 3D games, all the loops and rings and other items are strangely absent during cutscenes.
* GameplayRoulette: The main console games starting with ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' have been infamous for this. They have steadily gotten better with this, since ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' only feature two styles of gameplay, and ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' averts it completely.
* GogglesDoNothing: Robotnik gained a pair of them in ''Sonic Adventure'' and, aside from a brief moment in ''Sonic Adventure 2'' and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', never used them, maybe because he has the aforementioned ScaryShinyGlasses.
** You can buy a replica pair in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', and their description points out that [[LampshadeHanging "wearing them has no effect."]]
* GratuitousEnglish: Once Sonic got a voice, though in all fairness, his [[hottip:'tude:and the fact that [[JunichiKanemaru his voice actor]] is also an English teacher]] pretty much [[JustifiedTrope justified it]].
* GravityBarrier
* GreenAesop: This is what the series used to revolve around, with Sonic functioning as a nomadic NatureHero of sorts. Unlike most examples of the latter trope, he is quick to utilize technology to fulfill any tasks he needs to do, but he still seems to carry disdain for Eggman's wanton environmental destruction. Unlike most examples of the former trope, the Aesop was actually ''subtle''.
** This is taken to its apex in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'', where Sonic has the ability to prevent Robotnik from turning the future into a post-apocalyptic, mechanized hell by defeating certain robots in the present. One of the cartoons, [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM Sonic SatAM]] would take the green overtones of the games and expand on them.
*** ''CD'' also showed that, utilized properly, technology could benefit the environment via the Good Futures, which showed nature and technology working in harmony.
** Every continent you visit in VideoGame/SonicUnleashed is [[SceneryPorn beautiful]]...then you get to [[ThatOneLevel Egg]][[NightmareFuel man]][[{{Cyberpunk}} Land]].
* GreenHillZone: TropeNamer, and sometimes used as a NostalgiaLevel.
* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: Most of the male characters wear nothing but shoes and gloves.
* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits: Tails constantly reminding you to save your game in ''Sonic Chronicles''. You can tell him to stop doing that, though. It won't stop him, but you can.
* HelpfulMook: Many airborne enemies throughout the series like to position themselves so that Sonic could homing attack through them to the place he needs to go.
* HijackedByGanon: [[spoiler: Eggman and Eggman Nega in Sonic Rush Adventure]].
** [[spoiler: Modern Eggman and Classic Eggman in VideoGame/SonicGenerations.]]
* {{Homage}}: Super Sonic is a throwback to DragonBall. The Death Egg is, of course, a StarWars reference.
** The Eclipse Cannon definitely brought the [[StarWars Death Star]] to mind.
* HoverBoard: The Extreme Gear in the Sonic Riders series.
* HubLevel: ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', ''SonicAdvance3'', ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', and ''Videogame/SonicGenerations''.
* HugeHolographicHead
* ImageSong: Since ''Adventure'', every main 3D installment gives at least each player character one of these.
* InconvenientlyPlacedConveyorBelt: They are seen throughout various levels in the series.
* IHaveManyNames: Apparently, whether it's "Eggman" or "Robotnik". As of the Sonic Adventure games, it's now ''both''. Robotnik is his true name, while Eggman is an alias. In territories where the Robotnik name was used, this was established in the first game (See InsultBackfire below), whilst territories that used Eggman established it in the sequel.
* InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn
* InformedAbility: Sonic's speed is sometimes this relative to the other main characters, especially in the older games before the characters' abilities had [[DivergentCharacterEvolution speciated]] as much. For instance, some of the earlier games contain situations where Knuckles, Tails, and even ''[[{{Acrofatic}} Robotnik]]'' can run as fast as Sonic. Tails can still fly as fast as Sonic runs, but they make sure it looks like he's flying. Not running.
* InformedFlaw: Eggman is no doubt fat, but it's often said to be from overeating, and we have only seen him actually eat once. Then again, he took down a twelve inch sandwich in two bites during that one instance, so this has some merit.
* InsistentTerminology: The early games' manuals were insistent that getting hit with no rings would cause you to lose a [[NeverSayDie "try."]]
* InsultBackfire: Outside of Japan, Robotnik's "Eggman" name was first used by Sonic as an insult in the original ''Sonic Adventure'', and Robotnik promptly corrected him that his name was Robotnik, not Eggman. By ''Sonic Adventure 2'', he's embraced the nickname, presumably because he wanted to use the name "[[AddedAlliterativeAppeal Eggman Empire]]". [[spoiler:Or maybe he embraced it earlier than that, considering he uses it as password on board the Egg Carrier in the first ''Adventure'' game]].
** In Japan, it's implied that this had happened long before the games added voice actors as the Robotnik name was made canon in ''Adventure 2'' via Eggman's relatives, Gerald & Maria Robotnik.
* InvincibilityPowerUp: Present in many Sonic games.
* ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime: Knuckles has some really odd, if not outright boneheaded, ways of protecting the Master Emerald from thieves.
* KaizoTrap: The Egg Viper in ''Sonic Adventure'' and the Giant Eggmech MKII from ''SonicTheHedgehog4'' will crash through the floor after you beat it, and sent you falling to your doom if you're in the middle of the arena
* KillerApp: The original Sonic games for the SegaGenesis, and arguably the ''Sonic Adventure'' games for the Dreamcast (at the time).
* KillSat: The ARK. Of course, when the "Kill Sat" part fails (And due to the machinations of Professor Gerald Robotnik), it's ColonyDrop time.
* LampshadeHanging: Omega once commented on the size of Eggman's ridiculously huge bases with:
--> "ERROR! Unable to compute why a base this size has gone undetected. ERROR!"
* LastOfHisKind: Knuckles [[spoiler: until ''Sonic Chronicles'']].
* LawOfOneHundred
* LawyerFriendlyCameo: The Death Egg for the [[StarWars Death Star]].
* LetsYouAndHimFight: First came Sonic vs. Knuckles, then came Sonic vs. Shadow, then came Sonic vs. whoever Sega decided to pit him against, that game. Spilled over into the comics, as well, with some very painful results.
* LimitedWardrobe: For those characters who wear clothes.
* LiveItem: The small animals.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: To an extent; many of the later titles feature an excessive amount of key characters, albeit usually from the same pile of a dozen or so. It's more a case of Loads and Loads of Main Characters.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading: ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' is infamous for this.
* MagicPants: Sonic's gloves in Sonic Unleashed, the opening even shows them being ripped off.
* MalevolentMugshot: Robotnik/Eggman's face has showed up on everything from MechaMooks to spacecraft.
* MascotWithAttitude: Sonic the Hedgehog. TropeCodifier or TropeMaker.
* MeaningfulName: Practically everyone has one. Sonic is faster than sound, Knuckles has spikes on his fists, etc.
** "Robotnik" is derived from [[GeniusBonus the Czech word for "servitude"]]. Guess what Eggman tries to do in every game.
** "Eggman" with his [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090925135428/sonic/images/a/aa/Robotnik_43.png Classic Era Jumpsuit]], designed to make him [[TheBeatles to look like a Walrus]], it doubles as a ShoutOut. (The yellow triangles from his cape represent the teeth in case you are wondering, the rest is plain obvious).
** Tails has ''two''. His nickname, Tails (for obvious reasons), and his PunnyName, Miles Prower.
* MadeOfIron: ''Everyone'' is, it seems to be a part of the way creatures function in-universe,[[StrongFleshWeakSteel few machines can compete with their durability]].
* MeanwhileInTheFuture: ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' was horrible about this. Characters will shout "WE'VE GOT TO HURRY!" and run as fast as they can... [[SanDimasTime to save somebody 200 years in the past.]]
* MechaMooks: Eggman loves them.
* MegaNeko: Big the Cat is, well... a big cat.
* MercyInvincibility: As long as you had at least one ring or shield to your name, this'll kick in when you're hit... unless you're bouncing on spikes in the first version of the original game.
* {{Metroidvania}}: Spin-off Game Gear game, ''Tails' Adventure''.
* MoodWhiplash: Pretty much a staple of the series itself. Things can go from humorously comedic to dark and apocolyptic in a manner of moments.
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Robotnik, with his grandfather Gerald providing a FaceHeelTurn variant.
* MotionBlur: He's even [[FanNickname nicknamed]] "The Blue Blur". In some of the 3D games, Sonic can create a blur by Spin Dashing. In fact, everyone who can use the Homing Attack has their own motion blur.
* MultipleChoicePast: Eggman Nega. In ''Sonic Rush'' and ''Sonic Rush Adventure'', he's Eggman from a parallel universe. In ''Sonic Rivals'', he's Eggman's descendant from 200 years in the future. Blaze is also from either the future in ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' '06 or another dimension in ''Sonic Rush'' and ''Sonic Rush Adventure''.
* MultipleDemographicAppeal: The games, animated series and merchandising have all long been popular across many ages and both genders. This is probably at least in part due to the fact that many of the people who played the original games in the early nineties are now in their twenties and it's nostalgia setting in. It helps that all ''Sonic'' games have a good mix of SceneryPorn, AwesomeMusic, and lots of AwesomeMoments with a little [[DarkerAndEdgier darkness]] and {{Fanservice}} thrown in. Unfortunately, this means you get FanDumb from all directions.
* MultipleEndings: Dates all the way back to the first game, though it wasn't until ''Sonic & Knuckles'' that the difference was of any significance. ''{{Shadow the Hedgehog}}'' has 10 different endings, plus the final ending, and 326 total ways to complete the game.
* MythologyGag: Sonic's favorite food is chilidogs. This was created by [=DiC=] for the cartoons. ''Sonic Chronicles'' and ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' are full of them. He's also seen eating two in the beginning of "Sonic and The Black Knight".
** Also in Sonic Riders, "''You're'' supposed to be the [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM fastest thing alive?]]"
** "Who ordered the chilidog?" from TheStinger of some of the commercials for the new VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames in {{London}}.
* NoConservationOfEnergy
* NoEnding: Combined with SequelHook. ''Sonic Chronicles'' ends with [[spoiler:Sonic and friends learning that Eggman has taken over the world.]] [[AnimatedActors And then they thank Bioware for being awesome.]]
* NoodlePeople: Everyone after the ArtShift in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''. The characters were pot-bellied in design prior to this.
* NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom: Some of the more recent entries are sometimes criticized for having too much running and not enough platforming.
* NoblewomansLaugh: Robotnik's Santa-esque chuckle.
* NostalgiaLevel: The extra 3D version of the original ''Sonic the Hedgehog's'' Green Hill Zone in ''Sonic Adventure 2''.
** There are also Nostalgia Bosses in Sonic Advance, in the form of Sonic 1 and 2's first bosses in the X-Zone.
** Sunset Hill Zone from ''Sonic Advance 3'' certainly qualifies. It even has the music!
** The final level in ''Sonic Chronicles'' can apply sorta. It has a remixed version of the Final Boss fight from Sonic 3.
** Sonic Battle has Green Hill Zone as an unlockable stage.
** [[FloatingContinent Sky Sanctuary Zone]] in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic (3) & Knuckles]]'' features two Nostalgia Bosses. Mecha Sonic shows up piloting the boss vehicles from the first zone of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' and the eighth zone of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' before you fight him quill-to-quill.
*** And said hog-to-mecha-hog fight shares some patterns with Silver Sonic from ''2''.
** Wave Ocean from 06 is very much like Emerald Coast in Adventure 1, intentionally of course. In both levels Sonic gets chased across a bridge by an orca.
*** Abadat's levels in VideoGame/SonicUnleashed are very similar to Emerald Coast and Wave Ocean, though without any chase scene.
** ''Sonic the Hedgehog 4'' is pretty much a Nostalgia ''Game''.
** Taken to BeyondTheImpossible levels in ''Sonic Generations'', you have 2.5D and 3D re-imaginings of levels from almost ''every game'' since Sonic 1 to Colors. You Also have Sonic, Tails and [[spoiler: Eggman]] in their classic looks with Sonic being voiceless and Metal Sonic returns as an optional boss.
* ObviousBeta: ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006.'' To [[UpToEleven ridiculous levels]].
* OffModel: This [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxV7495Oabw Pakistan Mcdonald's commercial]] has gained some infamy for it.
* OffscreenVillainDarkMatter: No matter how much havoc Sonic wreaks on Robotnik's bases, he's always got enough badniks, {{eternal engine}}s and {{wave motion gun}}s for another world domination bid come next game. It reached a peak in ''Sonic Adventure'', where after Sonic and co. spend the entire game taking down the Egg Carrier, he shows up with ''another Egg Carrier'' to try and subdue Chaos.
** Further still, in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', he produces a giant fleet of space battleships solely as ''bait'' for Super Sonic.
* OldShame: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znt9k40nLN4 This]] trailer showing clips of the various Sonic console games throughout the years, with Sonic himself looking pretty exasperated once they get to ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' (around the time the critical backlash of the games began). Also, much more polished beta footage of ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 '06]]'' is used, as well as only the daytime stages of ''[[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Unleashed]]''. However, ''[[SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' is completely omitted from the video, whilst it's predecessor, ''Sonic and the Secret Rings'' notably ''wasn't''.
* OneHitPointWonder: Assuming they have no rings, every character would count as this, but this is not the case. Final Zone and Death Egg Zone in Sonic 1 and 2, respectively, have no rings whatsoever, effectively rendering Sonic a One Hit Point Wonder for the final confrontations. The Game Gear versions of Sonic 1 and 2 took this even further by offering no rings for ''any'' of the boss encounters.
* OneUp: Either in form of a monitor or capsule with a character's head on it or a Sonic icon, depending on game.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Many people don't remember that Tails' real name is [[PunnyName Miles Prower]].
* TheOtherDarrin: The series have gone through a veritable revolving door of voice actors throughout the years, some more controversial than others. Tails, in particular, has gone through more voice actors switches than any other character. In both the English AND Japanese versions.
* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent: Sonic the Werehog.
* OxygenatedUnderwaterBubbles: Present throughout all of the 2D games where a DownTheDrain, UnderwaterRuins, or UnderTheSea level is present. Also exists in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''.
* PantslessMalesFullyDressedFemales
* PeopleJars: Possible variation. In the original games, Dr. Robotnik trapped animals within robots which Sonic had to destroy to set free.
* PhysicalGod: Chaos the God of Destruction, Illumina the Goddess of Dreams, the Master Emerald, [[spoiler:Chip a.k.a Light Gaia]], and possibly Solaris and Emerl who are also refered to as Gods, [[NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus even though they are both artificial.]]
* PinballSpinoff: Sonic Spinball and Sonic Pinball Party.
* PinballZone: Almost every game in the series has at least one pinball-themed level, whether a regular level or a BonusStage. Despite the "zone", the TropeNamer is not from this series.
** Act 2 of Casino Street Zone in the IPhone version of Sonic 4 is nothing but a pinball machine where you need to get a certain amount of points in order to complete it.
* PinkGirlBlueBoy: Amy and Sonic, obviously.
* PlanetOfCopyhats: Apparently speediness is an anthro trait.
* PlatformGame
* PlotCoupon: The ubiquitous Chaos Emeralds and their daddy, the Master Emerald.
* PopStarComposer: Masoto Nakamura (from the J-pop band Dreams Come True) composed the music for ''Sonic 1'' and ''Sonic 2''. Famously, MichaelJackson was supposed to compose for ''Sonic 3.'' What happened then? [[UrbanLegendOfZelda Nobody quite knows, but everybody has an opinion.]] Jun Senoue and his band Crush 40 wrote music for several of the 3-D games. This goes all the way to ''Sonic Colors'', where Cash Cash performs the main theme.
* PowerDyesYourHair: Sonic's Super Form.
* PowerTrio: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. In ''Sonic Heroes'', three other power trio teams are created with this template (speed, flight, and power).
* PowerUpMagnet: The electric shield that debuted in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic 3]]''
* PowerUpMotif: Invincibility powerup has a theme in games where it exists.
* PrepareToDie: One of Eggman's phrases in ''Sonic Battle."
* ThePsychoRangers: The robots in Sonic R, Team Dark in Sonic Adventure 2, The Babylon Rogues in Sonic Riders.
* PunnyName: Miles "Tails" Prower, and Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik (and his legion of egg-themed machines). Also, Super Sonic.
* PuzzleBoss
* PuzzlePan
* {{Reconstruction}}: Since the flop of [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06]], the games seem to be trying to go back to the original Platforming and Speed outlook of the Genesis series.
* RecurringRiff: In many Sonic games, the main theme of a particular game can be heard throughout the game.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Super Sonic (VideoGame/SonicAdventure onwards) and Shadow.
* RetCanon:
** The clear use of [[MechaMooks SWAT]][[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM Bots]] and roboticized animals in ''SonicChronicles''.
** The confirmation of Sonic's [[TrademarkFavoriteFood favorite food]] being [[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog chi]][[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM lid]][[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog ogs]] in the Japanese version of ''[[SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 3]]'', ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', and ''{{Sonic and the Black Knight}}''.
** The true purpose of Shadow's Inhibitor Rings, shown in the ending of his story in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', originated in ''SonicX''.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter - First there were the flickies and animal friends. Then there were [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chao]]. And now there are [[VideoGame/SonicColors Wisps]].
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Shadow's reaction to Maria's death. Attempt on humanity prevented by Amy. Results in the genocide of the entire Black Arms race as Black Doom can be considered indirectly responsible for her death.
* RollingAttack: Sonic can do that. Often others do rolling attacks too.
* RousseauWasRight: Amy of all people stops Shadow's RoaringRampageOfRevenge with a speech about this.
* RuleThirtyFour: Hit this series like an atomic bomb.
* RunningGag: There's very few that last more than a single game, but Knuckles getting tricked by Eggman, for one, eventually turned into this.
** If it's an entirely 2D Sonic game, expect there to be a pit with two springs facing each other in at least one level.
* SanDimasTime: The level timers in Sonic CD, where you regularly travel hundreds of years through time mid-level on a regular basis.
* SceneryPorn: ''Sonic'' games are designed to push the graphical power of any console they're on, whether it be the Genesis[=/=]Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Wii, PS3, ''any console''. Special mentions in this regard include the original Genesis games, ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors''. Sonic CD had some SceneryGorn in its Bad Future stages, though the Good Futures could potentially outdo the past and present with the area showing technology maintaining the environment instead of destroying it.
** Recent home console titles like ''Unleashed'' and ''Generations'' use Sonic Team's aptly-named graphics rendering tool, the Hedgehog Engine, which is capable of rendering close-to-CG quality imagery. Whilst graphical output is undoubtedly impressive, the results are definitely best viewed in 60fps and 1080p in the PC version of ''Generations''.
** Supposedly, on the day that Nintendo unveiled the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Which was also the same day SEGA unveiled the original Sonic game), a reporter went to a SEGA Rep & touted the increased graphical capabilities of the SNES over the Mega Drive; specifically citing the vast increase in the number of colors the system was capable of. The SEGA Rep's response was to take him to a curtained off area, and show him screenshots of Sonic & the latest Mario game, before asking "[[BadassBoast Who has more colors?]]"
* SealedEvilInACan: It started with Chaos in ''Sonic Adventure'' and has become increasingly more evil, more sealed, and more canny from there.
* ShoutOut: ''SonicX'' is chock full of these, not only to the previous Sonic cartoons, but Eggman's various mecha manage to include Thunderbird 2, Great Mazinger, and the USS Enterprise.
** Also see the examples of LawyerFriendlyCameo, which have been present since ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''.
** ''Sonic Chronicles'' includes Swat Bots, based on the {{Mooks}} from the [=SatAM=] show. Sonic also mentions chili dogs, a reference to his TrademarkFavouriteFood in the US shows. It also has the resident KillerRobot [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic refer to the organic characters as "Meatbags".]] (Not surprising given [[{{Bioware}} the developer.]])
*** It also includes a [[OfficeSpace red stapler.]]
** No mention of [[DragonballZ Super]] [[strike:[[DragonballZ Saiyan]]]] Sonic? In earlier games, his ''eye'' color actually changes to facilitate this.
*** Also, was there anyone who got Rouge's Treasure Scope in Sonic Adventure 2 without immediately thinking of a scouter [[OverNineThousand and eventually a famous phrase?]]
** G.U.N is thought by some to be a reference to [[MarvelUniverse S.H.I.E.L.D.]]
** Knuckles, [[{{Batman}} a loner and and anti-hero]] fights Rouge, [[ClassyCatBurglar an attractive female thief]] [[DatingCatwoman who has a crush on him]] and saves her from falling to her death. [[{{BatmanReturns}} This scenario sure seems familiar.]]
** [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Man, Rouge sure looks familiar....]]
* ShipTease: Oh dear god...
* ShutUpHannibal: Shadow has done this twice, once to Black Doom in the final story of ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' and later to Mephiles at the end of his story in ''Sonic 2006''.
* SigilSpam: Some post-VideoGame/SonicAdventure games (including the SonicAdvanceTrilogy) show Eggman's property having a stylized depiction of his face on them (its design is inconsistent from game to game). The same goes for G.U.N.
* SlaveMooks: The little robots with animals in them.
* SmallAnnoyingCreature: Chip from Sonic Unleashed.
** Also Omachao.
* SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom: Levels in classic Sonic series have a lot of them. Some of them are in 3D games too.
* [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Sonic Can Breathe In Space]]: [[SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay He can also run at top speed without a problem in space.]]
** Every character who visits the ARK gets hit by this trope. Shadow, Rouge, Eggman, Tails, Knuckles and several others have no trouble with stages on the outside of the ARK.
*** Knuckles even gets hit by meteors!
* SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay: This pretty much describes most of Sonic's space exploration levels, with his sequence of hanging on to Robotnik's rocket escaping into the upper atmosphere and managing to reach the Death Egg in space being one of the most accurate examples.
* SpikeBallsOfDoom: Very commonly used. A lot of them can be found within stages, one of the notable enemies called Orbinaut has spiked balls surrounding it and many bosses fire spiked balls, too.
* SpikesOfDoom: One of the common elements throughout the series. There is also the infamous [[GoodBadBugs Spike Bug]]. Its name is something of an ArtifactTitle, as there is substantial evidence now that it's not a bug and was intentionally programmed in (though it was "fixed" in later revisions of Sonic 1).
* SpinAttack: Sonic's trademark maneuver. Comes in normal and [[ChargedAttack Spin-Dash]] flavors (in certain games).
** RollingAttack
* TheSpiny: A fair number of badniks qualify, although since the standard attack method is to hit an enemy while curled into a ball rather than necessarily to hit it from above, some of these are covered in spikes or other harmful stuff on all sides, rather than just the top, and must be defeated by waiting for them to revert to a vulnerable state or using invincibility. Others, though, look more like the Spinies of other games and can be dispatched by rolling into them. Oddly enough, an enemy with this exact name is not an example of this.
* SpiritualSuccessor: The Chao Gardens which debuted in the Adventure games are this to the Nightopians from NightsIntoDreams. The Chao are even based on an upgraded version of the A-Life system from NiGHTS.
* SpringsSpringsEverywhere: Springboards are common objects in Sonic series. Often other things like bumpers and sometimes even clouds do the same thing too.
* SprintShoes: Most games in the series have these, generally called High Speed Shoes[=/=]Super Sneakers[=/=]Power Sneakers depending on the game.
* StarfishRobots: Dr. Eggman has created a ton of these. See the trope page for details.
* StealthPun: Dr. ''Ivo'' "Eggman" Robotnik. "Ivo" is an anagram of "Ovi", the latin term for an egg.
** And for a Bonus, according to WordOfGod, the "I" in "Ivo" is pronounced with a soft "e" like in many European languages instead of the usual English "ae", to make "Ivo" (Eevo) sound like "Evil".
* SuperDrowningSkills / WalkDontSwim: Since his first appearance in 1991, Sonic has never been able to swim. His allies, Tails and Knuckles, can. Sonic sinks like a rock in water and relies on air bubbles to survive underwater. This is taken to its logical extreme in some of the recent games, where even contact with water causes instant death.
** In the Mario & Sonic games, Sonic wears a life jacket during the swimming events.
* SuperMode: For Sonic, Shadow, and Silver when they get all seven Chaos Emeralds, their [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything fur stands up]] [[DragonBall and becomes golden]]. Admittedly, Yuji Naka actually is a fan of DragonBall, and it had a big influence on Sonic.
* SuperSpeed: Sonic is the foremost example, but nearly every character in the series has some level of this, even ''Eggman''.
* TeamRocketWins: In ''Sonic Adventure 2'' this happens a couple of times. The destruction of Prison Island, the firing of the Eclipse Cannon and the scene where [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8t0WJTx5XM Sonic nearly dies]].
* TemporaryPlatform: All over the place in numerous games.
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: When Sonic goes SuperMode, usually by the end of the game. Or when picking up invincibility powerup.
* ThereAreNoAdults: Only Cream is shown to have a parent, and only one adult, Dr. Robotnik, is a main cast member.
* ThisIsADrill: Classic Sonic games had at least one type of badnik with a drill. Sonic 2 and 3 also had bosses with drills. Sonic Colors introduces enemies with drills to 3D.
** One of the bosses in ''Sonic Unleashed'' had a drill.
** Sonic Colors also has the yellow wisps which turn Sonic into a drill.
* ThreePointLanding: Sonic and friends like to do that in newer games sometimes.
** [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Chip]] subverts this multiple times at first, but finally manages a perfect landing just before the final level.
* TookALevelInBadass: Tails has a noticeable one between ''Sonic Adventure'' and ''[=SA2=]'', he builds himself a mech and is actually useful, and is somewhat able to think for himself.
** Eggman also takes a massive level in badass between the same two games. He goes from letting his [[SealedEvilInACan Cha]][[ExactlyWhatItSaysontheTin os]] do most of his fighting for him, and trying to conquer only Station Square to trying to take over the world with a [[KillSat Kill Sat]]. He actually gets his hands dirty in ''[=SA2=]'' (on screen at least) and almost manages to successfully kill Sonic.
** Lampshaded by Sonic, "You've turned into a big time villain, doctor!"
*** Only taken further in later games, where he ceases to be a patsy for {{Bigger Bad}}s and [[NotSoHarmless hides an even more dangerous intelect in that clownish exterior]]. In ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' he tricks and depowers Super Sonic, while in ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' his plan for world domination expands to ''planetary systems''.
** Don't forget about Amy. See BadassNormal.
** Big the Cat in ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', similar to Amy he gains speed and powers to keep up with the others ([[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome his rod acts a firey ball and chain!]]). For the first time ever we also see him [[BigBrotherInstinct kinda pissed off]].
* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Chili dogs, for Sonic himself.
* TreasureIsBiggerInFiction: Most notably, the Rings, Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald.
* UnderwaterRuins: One level in almost every game is set amidst underwater ruins.
* UnwillingRoboticisation: Eggman's modus operandi in some games, specially the early ones.
* UnwittingPawn: Knuckles the Echidna, Silver, and possibly Shadow.
* {{Vaporware}}: ''Sonic X-Treme''
* VideoGameFlight: Tails' tails come in handy. Err, tail-y.
* VideoGameLives
* VideoGameLongRunners: We are talking about a franchise that has run for two decades, has dozens of games under it's belt (not counting how many ports and re-releases there are) has made possibly dozens, maybe hundreds of cameos in other games, has starred in an absolutely monstrous amount of tie-in comics and merchandise, ''four'' different cartoon series and an anime movie, and has sold over 50 million games worldwide. And from the looks of things, he ain't going nowhere anytime soon.
* VideoGameSettings: The series has always shamelessly used every standard platform level style.
** A few settings are notably common in this series, even when compared to other such settings and other such shameless users of them: TempleOfDoom, PinballZone, and EternalEngine. Most games in the series will have all three of these, and it's hard to find any that don't have at least one of them. These are so common in this series that one game often has multiple variations of one of the types, e.g. [[LethalLavaLand Marble]] [[TempleOfDoom Zone]] and [[UnderTheSea Labyrinth]] [[TempleOfDoom Zone]] in ''SonicTheHedgehog (16-bit)'' or [[EternalEngine Gene Gadget Zone and Panic Puppet Zone]] in ''Sonic 3D Blast''. However, outside of ''Sonic Spinball'' there's still usually only one non-BonusStage instance of PinballZone.
* WaveMotionGun: The ARK's Eclipse Cannon in ''Sonic Adventure 2'' and ''ShadowTheHedgehog'', the Chaos Energy Cannon in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', the Death Egg in ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles.''
* WheelOFeet: The series staple of pretty much all characters who could actually run, though Shadow is a subversion with his "air skates", and Tails with his... tails. While the 2D games showed this whenever Sonic or Knuckles reached top speed, The 3D games brought about a 'motion blur' when they reached top speed (indicated by their hands flowing freely behind their backs). Since the 3D games primarily place the camera behind the character, however, it's hard to notice the effects of top speed.
* WhenAllElseFailsGoRight: In his first three games, Sonic is ''always'' travelling from left to right across the various zones; it's understood that, even in the more maze-like sections, the intention is to go to the right.
** The ''only'' exception in the original three (and a half) games is the final Death Egg zone, where the intention is still ''mostly'' to go to the right, but much more important than that is going up.
** There are many examples in Sonic 2 where you go up or left. Particular examples are Chemical Plant Zone and Mystic Cave Zone, which involve you having to go up, down, left and right several times to reach the end..
** There are several times when he is travelling left in Sonic 3 And Knuckles.
** The SegaMasterSystem / GameGear games were not very different. Only two levels in that ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic 1]]'' involve climbing and ''SonicChaos'' features one special stage where the [[PlotCoupon Chaos Emerald]] is above you.
* WhiteGloves: Again, pretty much all the characters, even some of the humans.
* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: A good majority of the characters' names.
* XtremeKoolLetterz: Some of the album titles use the word 'Trax' or 'Soundtrax.'
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