History TearJerker / SonicForces

* The backstory of Infinite is rather tragic. He used to be the leader of the Jackal Defense Squad, hired by Eggman to protect his facility. After being defeated at the hands of Shadow, he [[SanitySlippage loses his sanity]] and vowed himself to become stronger, thus he donned a mask and became Eggman's [[TheDragon right-hand man]].

* After the announcement that Creator/RogerCraigSmith would no longer be voicing Sonic, his final line before the credits role ends up hitting a little bit harder now that we know it's his last line in a mainline title, feeling more like the EndOfAnEra:

* Infinite's [[AmbiguousSituation possibly final]] words, what with his [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex personality and backstory.]]
--> '''Infinite:''' ''I can still fight!''

* After the announcement that Creator/RogerCraigSmith was no longer voicing Sonic, his final line before the credits role ends up hitting a little bit harder now that we know it's his last line in a mainline title:

* The short [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RiQ236Bh0M radio transmission]] from Knuckles really hammers home how dire the situation is for the Resistance. They've lost some of their strongest fighters already, one of which is working for the enemy, [[PutOnABus another is absent]]. They're losing ground fast, quickly becoming more of a gurellia movement than an actual opponent to Eggman. They're barely able to keep themselves afloat, and they'll take anyone they can get.

** It gets even worse when you realize that the main characters are full-fledged {{Child Soldier}}s now. Knuckles has assumed the role of leader at only sixteen years of age, and even the only adult member -- Vector -- is only 20 years old. [[NotAllowedToGrowUp Assuming they haven't aged since their original appearances]], anyway.
* In the Story Trailer, we see the conclusion of Sonic's fight with Infinite. Sonic -- clearly having taken a beating -- tries to push himself to his feet... only for him to collapse, completely spent. The way Tails [[SayMyName screams his name]] as the scene cuts to black is absolutely heartwrenching. Doubles as [[NightmareFuel/SonicForces Nightmare Fuel]].

* Think about it from the perspective of Rouge and Omega for a second. Despite the problems with ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', one of the few things people can agree on that was good about the game was how it fully fleshed out just how much Rouge, Shadow, and Omega had grown to be true companions starting from ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. They were a ''team''. Nearing the end of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', Rouge outright stated that, even if the ''entire world, including Omega himself,'' turned against Shadow, [[TrueCompanions she'd always be by Shadow's side.]] They helped each other all open up a bit, and have been positive influences on each other. ''And now Shadow is helping Eggman to crush them.'' Thankfully, it's not really Shadow, but the fact remains they have no reason to think it isn't their best friend trying to kill them.
* In the fourth issue of the digital comic, when Eggman first touches the Phantom Ruby, it shows him a vision of [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Eggmanland]]. Upon letting go of the ruby, Eggmanland vanishes, leaving him crestfallen. It's a little saddening to realize Eggman may have taken the loss of the original Eggmanland (his big dream for the Dreamcast era and the early Modern era) especially poorly.

--> '''Infinite''': ''I can still fight!''

* Infinite's [[AmbiguousSituation possibly final]]]] words, what with his [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex personality and backstory.]]

* Think about it from the perspective of Rouge and Omega for a second. Despite the problems with ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', one of the few things people can agree on that was good about the game was how it fully fleshed out just how much Rouge, Shadow, and Omega had grown to be true companions starting from ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. They were a ''team''. Nearing the end of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', Rouge outright stated that, even if the ''entire world, including Omega himself,'' turned against Shadow, [[TrueCompanions she'd always be by Shadow's side.]] They helped each other all open up a bit, and have been positive influences on each other. ''And now Shadow is helping Eggman to crush them.'' [[spoiler: Thankfully, it's not really Shadow, but the fact remains they have no reason to think it isn't their best friend trying to kill them.]]

* "Nowhere to Run" (Prison Hall)'s lyrics, if one believes they reflect the avatar's feelings during the stage. [[spoiler:While they're pushing on regardless by holding on to what hope they see, they feel their anxiety threatening to take over between the crushing responsibility of the mission, the knowledge that [[HeroWorship Sonic]] and/or [[ArchEnemy Infinite]] are around somewhere, and the fear that Sonic will die if they break down.]] Gives some context to their apparent CutsceneIncompetence the next time we see them.

* The Avatar's whole reason for joining the resistance. [[spoiler:Their comrades were all slaughtered by Infinite in a CurbstompBattle and they only survived because Infinite felt that sparing their life [[CruelMercy would be more entertaining than killing them as well.]]]] It's no wonder the Avatar is such a nervous wreck at the start of the game. [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Them being accepted into Sonic's inner circle and becoming close buddies with Sonic himself feels so much sweeter knowing what they went through beforehand.]]
* Infinite's [[spoiler: [[AmbiguousSituation possibly final]]]] words, what with his [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex personality and backstory.]]
--> '''Infinite''': [[spoiler:''I can still fight!'']]
* The [[BittersweetEnding ending]]. [[spoiler:After defeating Eggman and his Phantom Ruby-powered Death Egg Robot, Classic Sonic begins to fade away, about to go back home to his own dimension. He offers one last fist bump to Tails before he disappears; as Sonic states that he'll see his alternate self sooner or later.]]

* The backstory of Infinite is rather tragic. [[spoiler:He used to be the leader of the Jackal Defense Squad, hired by Eggman to protect his facility. After being defeated at the hands of Shadow, he [[SanitySlippage loses his sanity]] and vowed himself to become stronger, thus he donned a mask and became Eggman's [[TheDragon right-hand man]].]]

* The Avatar's whole reason for joining the resistance. [[spoiler:Their comrades were all slaughtered by Infinite in a CurbstompBattle and they only survived because Infinite felt that sparing their life [[CruelMercy would be more entertaining than killing them as well.]]]] It's no wonder the Avatar is such a nervous wreck at the start of the game. [[HeartwarmingMoments Them being accepted into Sonic's inner circle and becoming close buddies with Sonic himself feels so much sweeter knowing what they went through beforehand.]]