History Trivia / SonicFrontiers

** [[spoiler:The final two islands, Rhea and Ouranos,]] share the same assets and music as Kronos Island, and internal game files, including a prototype version of Kronos Island, reveal that they were all part of the same overworld. Other evidence includes [[spoiler:large sections of Kronos Island never being visited in the world proper; Rhea Island clearly having the exact same minimap as Kronos Island, as well as parts of Kronos being visible on Rhea (like the Giganto boss arena) and vice-versa; Eggman mentioning in the Egg Memos that the Starfall Islands are made of three islands instead of five; Rhea Island lacking any collectibles or Cyber Space portals; and finally Ouranos Island not having a proper introduction, with Sonic suddenly arriving on the island with no indication of how or where it is in respect to the other islands]]. WordOfGod confirmed that the latter portion of the game was rushed due to time constraints.

* FranchiseKiller: Thankfully averted, but in a February 2024 interview, it was revealed that this game was Sonic Team’s last chance to make a big budget ''Sonic'' title.

* TroubledProduction: According to Takashi Iizuka, Creator/SonicTeam ended up scrapping [[https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-team-had-to-scrap-its-first-pass-at-sonic-frontiers their first build]] of the game due to them being unsatisfied with how it turned out, forcing them to start over from scratch. This is in part why the terminology ‘open zone’ is so heavily enforced, as the original build was indeed more focused on being a more traditional open world release before becoming what it is today. The game infamously had fans requesting that the game be delayed again after the initial trailers were released. However, Sega still went on with the final deadline they had set, though Sonic Team still managed to get the game out in a more polished and stable state.

** During the [[https://youtu.be/RFvgULqejC4?t=1412 February 20, 2023]] episode of the ''Podcast/BumbleKast'', Ian Flynn revealed that he originally proposed bringing back Hyper Sonic from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' for the final fight [[spoiler:against THE END]]. However, this was [[ExecutiveVeto shot down]] by the Creator/SonicTeam due to their desire to avoid the NextTierPowerUp trope (which is the official reason why the Hyper forms have not been acknowledged in the series post-''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''). This idea seems to have been retooled into Super Sonic 2 [[spoiler:and Super Sonic Cyber]] in ''The Final Horizon'' update, which the game makes clear is a temporary enhancement to Super Sonic's power rather than a "higher tier" to Super Sonic.

* TheOriginalDarinn: In a broader sense, Creator/ColleenOShaughnessey returns once more the voice Tails after Alicyn Packard took over her role in Sonic Drone Home.

* CrossGenerationVideoGame: The game was released for every eighth generation console (UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, & UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch) alongside both ninth generation consoles (UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 & UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS). The latter two versions feature a higher framerate than the others (which target 30 FPS). Unlike the ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' ReformulatedGame for the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} and UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, all versions of ''Sonic Frontiers'' have the exact same gameplay, levels, story, etc. The only real difference between versions is the load times, framerate and graphical details.

* WordOfSaintPaul: The game's English writer, Ian Flynn, has made some statements and clarified some things regarding the game's story on the Bumbelkast.

* WordOfGod:
** The Japanese writer of the game, Morio Kishimoto, stated that [[spoiler:[[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm THE END's appearance is based on the observer's idea of death]], with Sonic, Sage, and [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou the player]] all seeing something different. Thus, its appearance as a moon is merely what ''we'' see it as]].

*** Some time ago, Flynn also stated on Twitter that [[spoiler:THE END was soundly destroyed by Sonic and Sage, and thus will not return]]. On the November 13th Podcast/BumbleKast, however, he clarified that said above statement (which lead people to believe THE END was lying) and other such takes on Twitter and the [=BumbleKast=], was explicitly [[GodDoesNotOwnThisWorld his own personal take on the matter and that it was the likes of Iizuka and Kishimoto that determined such things. Not himself]].

** Following The "Sights, Sounds, and Speed" Update to the game, dataminers found both an unused music track in the same directory as the Jukebox songs, as well as new animations and tutorial text for a then-unimplemented Spin Dash. Word of God confirmed that the Spin Dash was meant to be implemented in this update but was pushed back to the next for quality assurance purposes. True to his word, the Spin Dash was eventually added in the "Sonic's Birthday Bash" update, while the music track would be used as the theme for the Action-Chain challenges introduced in that same update.

** During the [[https://youtu.be/RFvgULqejC4?t=1412 February 20, 2023]] episode of the Bumblekast, Ian Flynn revealed that he originally proposed bringing back Hyper Sonic from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' for the final fight [[spoiler:against THE END]]. However, this was [[ExecutiveVeto shot down]] by the Creator/SonicTeam due to their desire to avoid the NextTierPowerUp trope (which is the official reason why the Hyper forms have not been acknowledged in the series post-''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''). This idea seems to have been retooled into Super Sonic 2 [[spoiler:and Super Sonic Cyber]] in ''The Final Horizon'' update, which the game makes clear is a temporary enhancement to Super Sonic's power rather than a "higher tier" to Super Sonic.

*** Some time ago, Flynn also stated on Twitter that [[spoiler:THE END was soundly destroyed by Sonic and Sage, and thus will not return]]. On the November 13th [=BumbleKast=], however, he clarified that said above statement (which lead people to believe THE END was lying) and other such takes on Twitter and the [=BumbleKast=], was explicitly [[GodDoesNotOwnThisWorld his own personal take on the matter and that it was the likes of Iizuka and Kishimoto that determined such things. Not himself]].

* PromotedFanboy: Even more so than before.

*** Some time ago Flynn also stated on Twitter that [[spoiler:THE END was soundly destroyed by Sonic and Sage, and thus will not return]]. On the November 13th [=BumbleKast=], however, he clarified that said above statement (which lead people to believe THE END was lying) and other such takes on Twitter and the [=BumbleKast=], was explicitly his own personal take on the matter and that it was the likes of Izuka and Kishimoto that determined such things. Not himself.

*** Some time ago Flynn also stated on Twitter that [[spoiler:THE END was soundly destroyed by Sonic and Sage, and thus will not return]]. On the November 13th BumbleKast, however, he clarified that said above statement (which lead people to believe THE END was lying) and other such takes on Twitter and the BumbleKast, was explicitly his own personal take on the matter and that it was the likes of Izuka and Kishimoto that determined such things. Not himself.

*** Flynn also confirmed on Twitter that [[spoiler:THE END was soundly destroyed by Sonic and Sage, and thus will not return]].

** The Japanese writer of the game, Morio Kishimoto, stated that [[spoiler:[[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm The End's appearance is based on the observer's idea of death]], with Sonic, Sage, and [[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou the player]] all seeing something different. Thus, its appearance as a moon is merely what ''we'' see it as]].

*** Flynn also confirmed on Twitter that [[spoiler:The End was soundly destroyed by Sonic and Sage, and thus will not return]].

* CreatorBacklash: Director and Japanese scriptwriter Morio Kishimoto [[https://twitter.com/moq_46/status/1619160547118972929?s=20 has admitted]] that he's to some degree unsatisfied with how the game's story and script turned out, citing that the team should put more effort into the narratives for future games.

** The Digital Art Book shows golden variants of the Soldier, Tower, and other enemies that only have purple, red, and white variants corresponding to each island in the final game. This again suggests a fifth island full of golden enemies that didn't make the cut.

* TeasingCreator: Writer Ian Flynn was prone to replying to fan theories and questions about ''Sonic Frontiers'' on Twitter with the hashtag "#knowingsmile". This came to a head with the mysterious pink-haired woman whom fans picked out of a shot in a WebAnimation/TailsTube video, when Flynn gave her a "#knowingsmile" as well. In the final game, this woman never appears at all. %%this could easily be prone to change in the future%%

** Another Bumblekast episode revealed that Ian Flynn had wanted to have Sonic either [[WaxingLyrical hum or say some of the lyrics to previous songs from older games]] in his idle dialogue. This got shot down as a result of legal issues.

** Ian Flynn had also stated that [[spoiler:when Sage was resurrected by Eggman, only a portion of her was resurrected]]. What exactly this entails is currently unknown.

* DuelingGames: With ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'', which released the week after ''Frontiers'', since both involve an Open World gameplay that neither franchise has experienced before. Both games also feature, among other things, the main character defeating "Titans", [[spoiler:an artificial intelligence character butting heads with the protagonist, and the character who tasks the protagonist with finding and defeating enemies one by one turning out to be a manipulative antagonist late in the story]]. Coincidentally, the term "Starfall" also factors into both games as well, and both games have DLC that adds additional story content set to be released in 2023.

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** During the [[https://youtu.be/RFvgULqejC4?t=1412 February 20, 2023]] episode of the Bumblekast, Ian Flynn revealed that he originally proposed bringing back Hyper Sonic from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' for the final fight [[spoiler:against THE END]]. However, this was [[ExecutiveVeto shot down]] by the Creator/SonicTeam due to their desire to avoid the NextTierPowerUp trope (which is the official reason why the Hyper forms have not been acknowledged in the series post-''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''). This idea seems to have been retooled into Super Sonic 2 [[spoiler:and Cyber Super Sonic]] in ''The Final Horizon'' update, which the game makes clear is a temporary enhancement to Super Sonic's power rather than a "higher tier" to Super Sonic.

** During the [[https://youtu.be/RFvgULqejC4?t=1412 February 20, 2023]] episode of the Bumblekast, Ian Flynn revealed that he originally proposed bringing back Hyper Sonic from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' for the final fight [[spoiler:against THE END]]. However, this was [[ExecutiveVeto shot down]] by the Creator/SonicTeam due to their desire to avoid the NextTierPowerUp trope (which is the official reason why the Hyper forms have not been acknowledged in the series post-''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''). This idea seems to have been retooled into Super Sonic 2 [[spoiler:and Cyber Super Sonic]] in ''The Final Frontier'' update, which the game makes clear is a temporary enhancement to Super Sonic's power rather than a "higher tier" to Super Sonic.

** During the [[https://youtu.be/RFvgULqejC4?t=1412 February 20, 2023]] episode of the Bumblekast, Ian Flynn revealed that he originally proposed bringing back Hyper Sonic from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' for the final fight [[spoiler:against THE END]]. However, this was [[ExecutiveVeto shot down]] by the Creator/SonicTeam due to their desire to avoid the NextTierPowerUp trope (which is the official reason why the Hyper forms have not been acknowledged in the series post-''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''). Ironically enough, however, the new Super Sonic 2 form introduced in ''The Final Horizon'' update... is yet another tier above Super Sonic; whether this is [[HilariousInHindsight Hilarious]] or HarsherInHindsight depends on your point of view.

** During the [[https://youtu.be/RFvgULqejC4?t=1412 February 20, 2023]] episode of the Bumblekast, Ian Flynn revealed that he originally proposed bringing back Hyper Sonic from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' for the final fight [[spoiler:against THE END]]. However, this was [[ExecutiveVeto shot down]] by the Creator/SonicTeam due to their desire to avoid the NextTierPowerUp trope (which is the official reason why the Hyper forms have not been acknowledged in the series post-''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''). Ironically enough, however, the new Super Sonic 2 form introduced in ''The Final Horizon'' update is exactly that; whether this is [[HilariousInHindsight Hilarious]] or HarsherInHindsight depends on your point of view.