| 1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sonic_forces_8.png]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Tagline}} Join the uprising.]]]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ->''"The war to take back the planet begins... '''Now.'''"'' |
| 5 | -->-- '''Knuckles the Echidna''' |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ''Sonic Forces'' is a 3D ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' title, released on November 7th, 2017 in the North America and Europe and November 9th, 2017 in Japan for the Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/XboxOne, Platform/NintendoSwitch, and PC via Platform/{{Steam}}. It is the second half of the franchise's [[MilestoneCelebration 25th anniversary celebration]] (the other half being ''VideoGame/SonicMania''). |
| 8 | |
| 9 | After discovering the mysterious [[ArtifactOfDoom Phantom Ruby]], MadScientist [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]] has gotten the closest he's ever been to a complete victory, as he has created a new threat known as "Infinite" and used him to [[BadassInDistress defeat and capture Sonic]] and take over 99.9% of the planet in mere ''months''. Despite Knuckles the Echidna leading the [[LaResistance Resistance]] against Eggman, the scientist is very close to conquering the entire world. To that end, the only hope of saving the world lies in not only rescuing Sonic himself, but the aid of [[VideoGame/SonicMania a second Sonic]]... |
| 10 | |
| 11 | ...and ''you'', a rookie Resistance member. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | While it was initially said to not be a sequel to ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', it does take one concept from the earlier anniversary title — the return of Classic Sonic, joining his modern counterpart to counter a threat larger than anything they've faced before. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | The gameplay of ''Forces'' is divided into 4 distinct styles, split between each of the three playable characters: |
| 16 | * '''Modern Sonic''' features the return of the high-speed ''[[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Unleashed]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicColors Colors]]''-style action stages. |
| 17 | * '''Classic Sonic''' features gameplay largely focused on 2D platforming stages, as was in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''. |
| 18 | * The '''Avatar''', a [[CharacterCustomization custom-created character]], features gameplay that serves as a hybrid of both Modern and Classic stages, featuring a blend of high-velocity action and platforming, as well as a heavy emphasis on combat utilizing Wispons, a gadget that harnesses the power of the Wisps to execute powerful attacks and manuevers. |
| 19 | * '''Tag Team Mode''' combines Modern Sonic and the Avatar's gameplay. The player can use the Avatar's grappling hook and Wispons, as well as Sonic's boost and homing attack. This mode also features a new mechanic called Double Boost, which lasts longer than Sonic's regular boost ability and effortlessly tears through enemies and obstacles. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | In addition to the base game, there's free DownloadableContent in the form of ''Episode Shadow'', in which the player controls Shadow the Hedgehog through three remixed stages in a story mode set before the main plot, as well as having him playable in Modern Sonic's stages from the main game itself. There are also a series of four digital comics that flesh out the game's story. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | The teaser trailer debuted at an event in late July 2016 and can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCh9--2xcKk here.]] The E3 trailer is shown [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dprxYd_16Ck here]]. The Launch Trailer is found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU3FawgeiAk here]] |
| 24 | |
| 25 | A spinoff app called ''VideoGame/SonicForcesSpeedBattle'' was soft-launched for the iOS in September 11th, 2017 and was eventually also released for Android devices some time afterwards in several countries with the world-wide release launched on November 16th, 2017. It's a track runner with a concept similar to ''VideoGame/SonicDash'', where you race against your allies (and villains) around different parts of the world to collect "Phantom Ruby Prototype" fragments. |
| 26 | |
| 27 | ''Forces'' was the last mainline game involving writers Creator/KenPontac and Creator/WarrenGraff, who retired from the series after ''VideoGame/TeamSonicRacing''. They worked in the game as part of the localization script, with the original Japanese script being written by Makoto Goya. ''Episode Shadow'' was instead helmed by longtime Creator/SonicTeam employee Creator/EitaroToyoda, the Sonic series' character supervisor from ''VideoGame/SonicFreeRiders'' onward, and the writer and artist behind the 2015-16 ''Webcomic/SonicComic''. |
| 28 | |
| 29 | ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' takes place directly after the events of the game[[note]]Similar to how ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' did with ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM''[[/note]], and initially serves as a continuation of the story. |
| 30 | ---- |
| 31 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 32 | |
| 33 | [[folder:Main Game]] |
| 34 | !!This game provides examples of: |
| 35 | * AbortedArc: Episode Shadow builds up Infinite as a personal enemy for Shadow, [[spoiler: as he was responsible for fueling Infinite's StartOfDarkness]], but by the time of the main game, Infinite drops any animosity towards Shadow and turns his attention towards Sonic and the Avatar. |
| 36 | * ActionCommands: A Double Boost section is prefaced by Sonic and the Avatar charging up the boost, which is done by mashing the Boost button until the outer ring shrinks in size to reach the button's image. Strangely, ''not'' performing the command has no actual effect besides not playing the lyrics to "Fist Bump" in the BackgroundMusic and causing Sonic and the Avatar to stumble briefly before resuming the Double Boost like nothing happened. |
| 37 | * AdvertisedExtra: The four returning villains, Metal Sonic, Chaos, Shadow, and Zavok, despite being shown prominently in the trailers, don't have much of an impact on the plot, which is more focused on Eggman and Infinite. Only Zavok and Metal get proper boss fights, but aren't acknowledged much outside of them. [[spoiler:This is because all of them aren't the real ones; they're illusory constructs of Infinite's Phantom Ruby. The ''real'' Shadow has a somewhat important role in the plot, but Chaos gets next to nothing.]] |
| 38 | * AllThereInTheManual: |
| 39 | ** Most of the game's backstory is contained in the tie-in comics and the Episode Shadow DLC instead of the main story. |
| 40 | ** How Classic Sonic got into the Modern world is never explained in the story. You have to beat ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' in order to see the circumstances of his arrival into the game. |
| 41 | * AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: The English version had several changes made to its script to make the story seem darker, such as mentions of Sonic being tortured while captured by Eggman and Tails having "lost it" (in the Japanese version, they comment that Tails has simply gone missing.) |
| 42 | * AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:At the end, Infinite and Eggman have been defeated; however, the damage they inflicted upon the world remains, causing [[LaResistance The Resistance]] to focus their efforts on fixing the world. Meanwhile, the Avatar goes off on their own for their own adventure and Classic Sonic returns to his home world, but Modern Sonic believes he'll see the Avatar and Classic Sonic again.]] |
| 43 | * AndYourRewardIsClothes: Upon finishing a level, as well as most missions, you earn Wispons and various accessories for your Avatar character. |
| 44 | * AnotherDimension: This mostly stems from [[DubInducedPlotHole a common mistranslation of the original Japanese script]] that mixed up the word "sekai" (which literally translates into "world" but can refer to different societies and time periods) where opposed to ''Generations'', Tails says that this Classic Sonic hails from "another dimension" in the English dub. In actuality, Classic Sonic is Modern Sonic's past self, as previously established in ''Generations'', and he crossed the dimensions of time to join forces with Modern Sonic and the rookie to save the day, as ''WebAnimation/TailsTube'' later clarifies. |
| 45 | * ApocalypseHow: [[spoiler:Eggman and Infinite attempt to pull off extinction on a planetary scale, by dropping a construct of the sun onto the world. However, since it is a creation of the Phantom Ruby, the effects might only have been felt by the people perceiving the Phantom Ruby's illusion if it had been allowed to fall, leaving the physical planet intact.]] |
| 46 | * ApocalypseWow: Park Avenue and Sunset Heights involves racing through the streets and buildings, beating up Badniks as usual... Except set to the ''very'' conspicuous falling rubble tearing everything apart while Death Egg Robots destroy the city in the background. And it looks ''awesome''. |
| 47 | * TheArtifact: |
| 48 | ** Just like ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', the Wisps' presence isn't commented and there's no explanation why they're still trapped in pods.[[note]]While not explained in any mainline game, during the storyline of the now defunct iOS and Android game ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'' [[https://i.imgur.com/LS9Ok1p.png it is stated that some Wisps stayed behind on Sonic's world]] after ''VideoGame/SonicColors''.[[/note]] |
| 49 | ** There were different plans for Infinite. Some of the dialogue he says in the game, and dialogue about him treat him as a robot created by Eggman rather than some mercenary that allied himself with the doctor. The end of his first boss fight has him saying that Sonic's abilities exceed his previous data, and one level has him saying that's where "Infinite was created". These weren't changed for the final game. |
| 50 | * ArtifactOfDoom: The [[MineralMacGuffin Phantom Ruby]]. |
| 51 | * ArtShift: The game dials back the stylized art-style [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld the previous game]] used, making locations feel more realistic. |
| 52 | * AscendedMeme: Sanic T-Shirts are available for the Avatar as free downloadable content. |
| 53 | * AutobotsRockOut: In the Duo Tag Team missions, Sonic and the Avatar can do a massive boost through a long part of a stage, all to the chorus of "Fist Bump". [[spoiler:In the stage "Null Space", it also plays during Sonic and the Avatar's blazing through Metropolis.]] |
| 54 | * AwardBaitSong: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb-FuxWhX2o The Light of Hope]]." |
| 55 | * BackFromTheBrink: After the first stage, Eggman conquers 99.9% of the world. It's up to the Resistance to take it back. |
| 56 | * BadassInDistress: [[spoiler:Sonic is defeated by the villains and taken aboard to the Death Egg, allowing Eggman to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer the world.]] The Avatar infiltrates the Death Egg to rescue Sonic, and as soon as Sonic is free, he goes right back to kicking butts, starting with Zavok's.]] |
| 57 | * BadassNormal: The Avatar character has no superhuman abilities or special powers, and as such, is one of the few heroic ''Sonic'' characters to use weapons. |
| 58 | * BaitAndSwitch: Classic Sonic's first boss in Green Hill is a variant of the classic [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 wrecking-ball bot]]... until Eggman gets serious and switches to the ''[[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Egg Dragoon]]''. |
| 59 | * BeyondTheImpossible: Late in the game, Eggman and Infinite use the power of the Phantom Ruby to [[spoiler:banish Sonic and the Avatar to Null Space, a dimension of pure nothingness said to be inescapable. Eggman is absolutely astonished when Sonic and the Avatar successfully do so]]. |
| 60 | * BigBad: Dr. Eggman is the one who takes over the world, although Infinite is TheHeavy and drives the plot more actively. |
| 61 | * BigBadDuumvirate: Eggman and Infinite are this in all but name. While Eggman is technically the boss, he likely knows full well that Infinite is far more powerful and could [[DragonInChief take over at any time if he wanted]]. [[spoiler:Except that technically, Eggman is the ''true'' master of the Phantom Ruby and can take back its power whenever he wants, and he does precisely that in the endgame after Infinite has [[YouHaveFailedMe gotten his butt kicked one too many times]].]] |
| 62 | * BigDamnHeroes: |
| 63 | ** [[spoiler:Shadow defeating his clone, who was about to charge down Sonic.]] |
| 64 | ** [[spoiler:Omega]] pulls this off in the final battle. |
| 65 | ** Subverted by [[spoiler:the Avatar at the start of Null Space]]. Played straight in [[spoiler:the second phase of the penultimate boss fight]]. |
| 66 | * BoastfulRap: The rap parts of "Infinite" are this, promising a CurbStompBattle to whoever dares to take him on. |
| 67 | -->''I am the tallest of mountains, and don't you ever forget it''\ |
| 68 | ''If you step in the ring, then you're gonna regret it!'' |
| 69 | * BondVillainStupidity: |
| 70 | ** [[spoiler:The villains finally have Sonic in their clutches, but instead of killing him, they instead choose to imprison him aboard the Death Egg, which allows Sonic to eventually break out and stop them. Rouge mentions that Eggman wanted to show Sonic his completed empire before [[ThrownOutTheAirlock jettisoning him out into space]]. (In other words, they wanted to rub Sonic's failure in his face, ''then'' kill him.)]] |
| 71 | ** [[spoiler:Infinite gets a moment of this after his first boss battle. After defeating Sonic, Infinite arrogantly deems him NotWorthKilling and leaves. Eggman later chews him out for doing so, correctly predicting that Sonic will continue to be a threat to their operations as long as he's still alive.]] |
| 72 | * BonusStage: There are bonus stages that are shorter than the regular stages and usually center around a unique gimmick. They are unlocked by one of two ways — either by clearing every regular stage in a region, or by collecting a certain number of Red Star Rings. |
| 73 | * BossBanter: This time around, Eggman engages in some back-and-forth with Sonic and his friends during boss battles. [[spoiler:Except the final boss battle, oddly enough.]] |
| 74 | * BullyingADragon: Eggman shows no problem with chewing out or talking back to Infinite despite being his ultimate weapon and immensely powerful. [[spoiler:{{Justified|Trope}}, as Eggman proves capable of disposing of the jackal whenever he pleases and using the Phantom Ruby himself, so he never had anything to fear from him.]] |
| 75 | * TheBusCameBack: Blue and Violet Wisps, who haven't had an appearance since their debut in ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', make their return in the form of Wispons. |
| 76 | * ButNowIMustGo: |
| 77 | ** [[spoiler:Both Classic Sonic and the Avatar leave the group at the end — Classic Sonic back to the ''Mania'' universe and the Avatar to help other people.]] |
| 78 | ** [[spoiler:Modern Sonic leaves the group as well at the end, obviously to continue traveling as a nomad, though he will return once he's needed again.]] |
| 79 | * ButterflyOfDoom: Silver's involvement. [[spoiler:Due to his future being brought to ruin by Eggman, he went back to Sonic's time to help the Resistance. Although his role [[SmallRoleBigImpact seems minor]], he ultimately forces Infinite to drop the last synthetic Phantom Ruby prototype, allowing the Avatar to take it and spoil Eggman's plan to eliminate the Reisistance.]] |
| 80 | * CallBack: |
| 81 | ** Dr. Eggman gives the heroes three days to stop his latest plan, much like Team Sonic's story during ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. |
| 82 | ** Shadow and Metal Sonic are working together for Dr. Eggman's sake, just like they did in the ''VideoGame/SonicRivals'' series. |
| 83 | ** Later in the game, Infinite boasts he'll turn Sonic into a blue jelly, just like Eggman promised in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''. |
| 84 | ** Eggman also wants to jettison Sonic into space after showing him his empire, [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed because that worked out so well last time.]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Or the time before that.]] |
| 85 | * CasinoPark: The Mystic Jungle is an [[RuinsForRuinsSake ancient ruin]] that Eggman has started converting into a casino. |
| 86 | * CharacterCustomization: The Avatar feature lets you create an original character to play as. Avatars come in 7 different animal varieties[[note]]Wolves, rabbits, cats, dogs, bears, birds, and hedgehogs[[/note]], each with their own unique abilities and perks, and can be equipped with various accessories and gadgets known as "Wispons." |
| 87 | * CharacterDevelopment: The Avatar is the protagonist of the story. They start off as a scared soldier whose squad was killed off by Infinite, and during the story and thanks to Sonic's influence, they mature into a brave hero. Sonic, by comparison, is his usual self without a character arc, instead being the ideal hero of the Resistance. |
| 88 | * CharacterShilling: ''Forces'' presents Sonic as an idol, he's the only hero the villains takes seriously and a symbol of hope for his [[NoNameGiven unnamed world]]. Apparently, during the six months fighting against Eggman's army and Infinite, nobody could do anything against the empire [[TheMainCharactersDoEverything until Classic Sonic, the Rookie, and Sonic help turn the tide]]. Keep in mind that the Resistance has characters who were a threat to Eggman in the past (Shadow, who [[WhateverHappenedToTheMouse disappeared for six months for no in-story reason]]; Silver, who suffers TheWorfEffect and can't fight Infinite), yet supposedly only Sonic could do anything against Infinite. |
| 89 | -->'''Infinite, while talking to [[UltimateLifeForm Shadow]]''': Haha... Oh, this power before we even turned it! Just as I thought, it is unrivaled! Not even Sonic will be able to stand against me now! [[EvilLaugh Hahahahaha!]] |
| 90 | -->'''Tails during the FinalBoss''': Give it your all, Sonic! You'll always be our shining hope! |
| 91 | * CloneArmy: Using the Phantom Ruby, Infinite can create an endless amount of clones of himself [[spoiler:and anyone he chooses to fight for him. In particular, he uses illusory clones of Shadow, Metal Sonic, Chaos, and Zavok. Infinite himself is added to the roster once Dr. Eggman takes control of the Phantom Ruby]]. |
| 92 | * CoDragons: Eggman's team of villains, which include Shadow, Metal Sonic, Chaos, Zavok, and Infinite, a new villain with mysterious abilities. [[spoiler:Subverted in that Infinite's the only one of them that's actually real and the others are just Phantom Ruby clones under Infinite's control. Even Metal Sonic isn't real, strangely.]] |
| 93 | * ColdBloodedTorture: Dr. Eggman subjected Sonic to this during the six months everyone thought he was dead. This is ''only'' the case in the English version, he was just held prisoner in the Japanese version. |
| 94 | * ColonyDrop: [[spoiler:Eggman's plan that will make the Resistance "[[NeverSayDie disappear]]" is to use the Phantom Ruby to create another Sun and drop it on the Resistance. The plan is thwarted when the Avatar uses a prototype Phantom Ruby to dispel it, since Eggman used up so much power to make it. The heroes don't give him enough time to create another.]] |
| 95 | * ColorCodedCharacters: The playable characters are distinguished on the World Map screen by their colors; Modern Sonic is blue, Classic is light-blue, and the Avatar is orange (in spite of the Avatar's own colors). In the Tag Team stages, Modern Sonic and the Avatar's colors are mixed half-and-half. |
| 96 | * ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The Wispon's main gimmick, as they draw their powers from the Wisps' Color Powers. |
| 97 | ** Red: Burst Wispon (A [[PlayingWithFire flamethrower]]) |
| 98 | ** Ivory: Lightning Wispon (An [[LightningLash electric whip]]) |
| 99 | ** Blue: Cube Wispon (A hammer) |
| 100 | ** Yellow: Drill Wispon (A [[DashAttack giant]] [[ThisIsADrill drill]]) |
| 101 | ** Green: Hover Wispon (A [[ShockwaveClap shockwave gun]]) |
| 102 | ** Indigo: Asteroid Wispon (A [[AlwaysAccurateAttack lock-on weapon]]) |
| 103 | ** Violet: Void Wispon (A [[PowerOfTheVoid black hole launcher]]) |
| 104 | * ConservationOfNinjutsu: [[spoiler:Before the Resistance find out that Shadow and the other villains working for Eggman are just physical illusions, each one is treated as a major threat on par with the original. But once hundreds of copies of Shadow, Zavok, Chaos, and Metal Sonic show up in the final battle, the heroes start beating them down by the dozens. The real Shadow in particular bashes through numerous copies of himself, even though they're stated to be just as powerful as the original. Though justified in Shadow's case, since [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog this isn't the first time he's fought copies of himself.]]]] |
| 105 | * CombinationAttack: |
| 106 | ** The Double Boost, usable in Tag Team stages, has Sonic and the Avatar team up to blaze a trail through the stage. |
| 107 | ** [[spoiler:The Triple Boost used in the final boss, comprised of Sonic, Classic Sonic, and the Avatar performing a turbo aerial dash against the Death Egg Robot.]] |
| 108 | * ComicBookAdaptation: A four-part comic released by Sonic Team and Ian Flynn, serving as a prequel to ''Forces'': |
| 109 | ** ''"[[https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/918514235075805184 Moment of Truth]]"'' features the Chaotix and a custom character, and mostly serves as world-building. |
| 110 | ** ''"[[https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/921045142466736128 Stress Test]]"'' features Knuckles and Silver, and explains some of the lore. |
| 111 | ** ''"[[https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/923586148571660289 Looming Shadow]]"'' features Team Dark, Dr. Eggman, and Infinite, serving as a warm-up for the "Episode Shadow" DLC. |
| 112 | ** Lastly, ''"[[https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/927955925721161728 Rise of Infinite]]"'' features Infinite and Dr. Eggman, revealing [[spoiler:how Eggman got the Phantom Ruby and Infinite joining the doctor's side]]. |
| 113 | * CompetitiveBalance: Each of the Avatar classes has different abilities. |
| 114 | ** Hedgehog: Rings dropped upon getting hit linger longer. |
| 115 | ** Wolf: Automatically attracts nearby rings. |
| 116 | ** Rabbit: Longer MercyInvincibility after getting hit. |
| 117 | ** Cat: [[LastChanceHitPoint Always keeps one ring]] after taking damage. |
| 118 | ** Dog: Starts with five rings after dying. |
| 119 | ** Bear: Stronger Homing Attack that blows enemies away. |
| 120 | ** Bird: Possesses a DoubleJump. |
| 121 | * ContinuityNod: |
| 122 | ** The Sunset Heights level features Sonic finding a character who's waiting at the end of the level, similar to some levels in ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' (such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMXB0Gl9WQI finding Yasmine]]). |
| 123 | ** Classic Sonic is still able to use the Drop Dash from ''VideoGame/SonicMania''. |
| 124 | ** Inside the Death Egg, a bunch of Red Eyes can be seen in the background. (Red Eye is the first mid-boss in Death Egg Zone from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' and the mid-boss of Titanic Monarch Zone from ''VideoGame/SonicMania''.) |
| 125 | ** The design of the ghost T-shirt for the Avatar is identical to the various ghost-related signs seen in Aquatic Mine from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''. |
| 126 | ** [[spoiler:This isn't the first time [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Eggman has hid one mecha]] ''actually'' holding the MacGuffin of the game inside a bigger one.]] |
| 127 | * CosmeticAward: You earn clothing parts for your Avatar when finishing a level. |
| 128 | * CoupDeGraceCutscene: This is how the fight with Zavok ends. |
| 129 | * CrazyPrepared: Eggman has learned from his past mistakes and came prepared this time: [[spoiler:he created multiple power sources for the Phantom Ruby just in case its primary one, the Death Egg, was destroyed (because the heroes destroying his power sources for his ultimate weapons ''always'' happens), had some form of contingency to effortlessly dispose of Infinite should the need arise, had a backup superweapon mecha prepared in the event Infinite fell, and a ''second'' superweapon mecha hidden inside his ''first'' superweapon mecha just in case it was destroyed.]] |
| 130 | * CreateYourOwnHero: Infinite slaying the Avatar's friends and letting them leave after his initial attack on them is what allowed the Avatar to become the main thorn in his side later in the game. |
| 131 | * CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler:Shadow [[TheAce effortlessly]] defeating and callously ''insulting'' Infinite and his fire team is what caused him to allow Eggman to experiment on him with the Phantom Ruby and become the threat he is in the game.]] |
| 132 | * CrisisCrossover: The reappearance of Classic Sonic has shades of this, given the circumstances. |
| 133 | --> "When things look their darkest, even heroes need a helping hand." |
| 134 | * CrossOver: The Pre-Order bonus includes [[VideoGame/JetSetRadio Beat's glasses and outfit]], [[VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams NiGHTS' hat and outfit]], [[VideoGame/SuperMonkeyBall AiAi's ears and shirt]], [[VideoGame/Persona5 Joker's mask and costume]], and [[VideoGame/PuyoPuyo Amitie's hat]] as customization options for the Avatar. |
| 135 | * CurbStompBattle: Infinite and the returning villains hand Sonic his ass in the beginning, and the former is shown to do the same to various other characters. |
| 136 | * CutsceneBoss: [[spoiler:Only two of the four Phantom Ruby illusions in the game (Zavok and Metal Sonic) get full-fledged boss battles. Chaos 0 goes down in a quick spin attack from Classic Sonic when it attacks Tails, while the Shadow Illusion is taken out by the original Shadow.]] |
| 137 | * CutsceneIncompetence: The only time that Infinite is remotely capable of standing a chance against Sonic is in his introductory scene in the first cutscene. The non-playable cast get this even worse, pretty much unable to do ''anything'' without Sonic, Sonic, and the Avatar's help. |
| 138 | * CyberCyclops: Dr. Eggman's Death Egg robots, massive Badniks that tower over buildings and can fire [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] from their eyes. |
| 139 | * DarkerAndEdgier: The game takes place in a full scale war. Infinite brings the edge to the storyline. |
| 140 | * DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist: |
| 141 | ** There are no lives in the game; dying simply brings you back to the last checkpoint. However, dying is a detriment to your rank, and the game compensates for your infinite retries by, with the exception of Hedgehog-type Avatars or Normal difficulty turned on, making you unable to collect the rings you drop when hit, which is all of them. |
| 142 | ** Averted with the SOS missions. Die once and you fail. |
| 143 | * DecapitatedArmy: Once Sonic is beaten, Eggman easily rolls over the rest of the planet and takes it over. |
| 144 | * DemotedBoss: The Death Egg Robot (specifically the gigantic version from ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'') has been turned into mass-produced {{Giant Mook}}s for Eggman. However, they seem considerably weaker than the original, and Sonic and the Avatar manage to destroy one in one hit. Justified, as Sonic is ''much'' stronger than he was back then, and unlike the Giant Death Egg Robot, these aren't powered by the Master Emerald. |
| 145 | * DidntThinkThisThrough: Infinite is an AxCrazy {{Sadist}} and megalomaniac. This makes him ''dangerous'', but [[SanityHasAdvantages it also seriously inhibits his rational thinking.]] He makes serious tactical errors both due to being preoccupied sating his sadism and his ego blinding him to actual threats to him, even when Eggman is able to see them. [[spoiler:As a result, he effectively screws over his and Eggman's big plan and sets up his own defeat, at which point Eggman [[YouHaveFailedMe disposes of him on the spot.]]]] |
| 146 | * DifficultButAwesome: The Drill Wispon. If you don't know how to properly use it, chances are it'll end with your death very often. If you ''do'' know how to, you can utterly destroy levels in a fraction of the time it would take with any other weapon. |
| 147 | * DifficultyLevels: An easy mode of the game allows the player to lose only 20 rings per hit instead of all of them and to collect their fallen rings, but caps their ring count to 100, harming their overall score (the player gets points for getting rings, but not the ring bonus at the end). The game will also not record your score for online leaderboards in the mode. ''Forces'' also labels the easy mode as "Normal", with a blurb saying it's for players new to ''Sonic'', and the experienced mode as "Hard", advising players who have played ''Sonic'' to choose that difficulty. |
| 148 | * DishingOutDirt: Quite literally in the boss fight against the Egg Dragoon — as it seems to have lost 10% of its combat capacity, Eggman resorts to throwing blocks of checker-board dirt from Green Hill's soil at the player, sometimes mixed in with mines. |
| 149 | * DontCelebrateJustYet: [[spoiler:The heroes manage to stop Eggman's "sun drop" plan and defeat Infinite. However, Eggman uses what little energy the Phantom Ruby has to create another army of villains and power a miniature Death Egg Robot in a last-ditch effort to defeat the Resistance.]] |
| 150 | * DoubleJump: |
| 151 | ** Returning from ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' is Modern Sonic's double jump. |
| 152 | ** Bird-type Avatars can also double jump. |
| 153 | ** In the Tag Team Stages, '''all''' Avatars can double jump, possibly due to Sonic's influence. |
| 154 | * DownerBeginning: Eggman defeats Sonic and takes over the world less than 10 minutes into the game. |
| 155 | * DownloadableContent: |
| 156 | ** Pre-order DLC in the form of costumes for the Avatar based on various SEGA and Creator/{{Atlus}} properties. |
| 157 | ** ''Episode Shadow'', which focuses on Shadow and adds new levels to the game, as well as the option to play as Shadow in Modern Sonic stages. |
| 158 | * DubInducedPlotHole: Several pieces of exposition were cut from the English release. |
| 159 | ** When the Avatar [[spoiler:accidentally disables Infinite's illusions thanks to the Prototype]], Infinite is confused by this and yet seems to shrug it off out of sheer arrogance to the point of sparing the Avatar. However, in the Japanese dialogue, he actually considers the possibility of this, and his mercy makes more sense with an earlier piece of exposition that got removed in English. [[spoiler:The Phantom Ruby Prototypes are so unstable that they typically only work once.]] Even if the Avatar managed what they did, Infinite had no real reason to suspect it would happen again given the precedent. |
| 160 | ** A minor example, but while Sonic was said to have been tortured for ''months'' while in Eggman's captivity, he shows no signs of psychological trauma and is his usual wise-cracking self when he finds an opening for escape. This is because there is no mention of torture in the Japanese version. |
| 161 | ** Similarly, Tails was said to have "lost it" when Sonic was [[spoiler:presumably killed]], but when the game cuts to him a little later, he seems perfectly fine, unless him calling out for [[spoiler:a presumably dead Sonic]] was supposed to be a sign of his insanity, but even still after Classic Sonic enters the scene, he seems perfectly fine for the rest of the game. In the Japanese version, there was no mention of Tails going insane, he just went missing. |
| 162 | ** Classic Sonic is referred to as the "Sonic from another world", rather than another dimension. This is more similar to how Silver also refers to his time as another world, which ''WebAnimation/TailsTube'' later clarifies as that he was referring to time as "one dimension of reality" and that Classic Sonic is Sonic from the past. |
| 163 | ** During the cutscene leading to Eggman's boss fight, Eggman yells "I don't have time for this!"... before entering the boss fight. In the original Japanese, he says "How dare you? You'll pay!" and then the fight starts. After the fight is over, Tails remarks "Yeah, we did it!", even though he does nothing in the fight. In the original, he says "you did it, Sonic!" |
| 164 | * DubInducedPlotlineChange: The dialogue differences between the Japanese text and English localization indicate the English being indecisive between DarkerAndEdgier or LighterAndSofter. Tails simply went missing and Sonic's fate was left unconfirmed in Japanese, whereas the English version has everyone assume Sonic was KilledOffForReal and Tails "[[HeroicBSOD lost it]]". The English version also has Knuckles mention Eggman ''[[ColdBloodedTorture torturing Sonic for months]]'', whereas the Japanese has no such dialogue. On the other hand, Infinite's [[AGodAmI god complex]] and lines were toned down in English, Sonic had a lot more casual jokes inserted into his dialogue, and two minor expletives (Sonic calling Infinite a masked prick and Infinite mentioning Hell when [[spoiler:attempting to drop a sun on the Resistance]]) were completely omitted. Even minor bits of extra exposition, like for [[spoiler:Null Space]] or Infinite briefly considering the Avatar to be [[spoiler:holding a Phantom Ruby prototype]], and several cases of {{Foreshadowing}}, were omitted in the English text. |
| 165 | * EatenAlive: Luminous Forest has a giant snake appear as a quick-time event. Failing has it eat Sonic and you die. If you succeed, it eats Sonic anyway, and he ''lives'' regardless of whether you succeed or fail the resulting QTE. |
| 166 | * EnemyMine: Shadow, Chaos, and Zavok rejoin Eggman's bid of conquest. [[spoiler:Except they don't, as they are Phantom illusions. The real Shadow is still on the heroes' side.]] |
| 167 | * EnergyWeapon: The most basic arm used by soldiers of The Resistance, which might be the Cyan Laser Wispon. |
| 168 | * EvilerThanThou: Infinite more or less tells Eggman he feels he's this to the Doctor at one point. [[spoiler:After Infinite's defeat, he's warped away and Tails tracks Infinite's Phantom Ruby… directly to Eggman's Phantom Ruby-powered final mecha. Eggman then reveals that he never intended for Infinite to be his end goal, and had a personal mecha set to use the Phantom Ruby himself and is just as good if not better than Infinite at using it.]] |
| 169 | * EvilKnockoff: [[spoiler:The returning villains are all "virtual reality constructs" of Infinite. Zavok fades away after losing to Sonic and Shadow defeats his own copy. Despite being fakes, they have the same personalities and powers as the originals.]] |
| 170 | * EvilOverlooker: In the promo image seen on this page, Dr. Eggman, Infinite, and Metal Sonic are seen at the top, looking down on the heroes, with Eggman spreading his arms out in a dramatic fashion for good measure. |
| 171 | * ExperienceBooster: Completing a daily mission earns you a 30-minute experience multiplier. Completing daily missions on consecutive days increases the multiplier. |
| 172 | * {{Faceship}}: As part of his domination of the world, Eggman rebuilds the Death Egg. However, it doesn't seem to serve as a superweapon this time (likely due to having the Phantom Ruby on his side), but as a prison, [[spoiler:as Sonic is taken there after he's captured by Infinite]]. [[spoiler:It's later said to somehow be a power source for the Phantom Ruby, but Eggman had back-ups [[CrazyPrepared just in case it got destroyed]] because Sonic and company always destroy the power sources of his machines.]] |
| 173 | * FakeLongevity: Collecting all of the red rings is back. In addition, each level now has special numbered and silver rings to collect in subsequent runs, meaning all of the non-boss levels have to be cleared a minimum of three times (plus more for Time Attack challenges) as part of OneHundredPercentCompletion. |
| 174 | * {{Fauxshadow}}: [[spoiler:Promotional material and the game itself set Infinite up as the baddest thing ever and by all means TheStarscream, and many of the characters consider him a greater threat than Eggman, but ultimately he never stops being his pawn.]] |
| 175 | * FollowTheMoney: The Lightning Wispon enables you to zip along a trail of Rings in a similar fashion to the Light Dash when you use its Color Power. |
| 176 | * ForcedTransformation: The Blue Wisp's Wispon attack is a GroundPound that transforms nearby enemies into Blue Cubes, which can then be transformed into Rings. |
| 177 | * {{Foreshadowing}}: The game starts with Eggman talking wonders about his new invention that will allow him to take control of the world. The camera then frames the Phantom Ruby on Infinite's chest, and later in the game Eggman and Infinite go out looking for Phantom Ruby prototypes [[spoiler: hinting the Phantom Ruby that Infinite has is not the real thing, but a prototype. The FinalBoss is Eggman with the real Phantom Ruby.]] |
| 178 | ** A throwaway line from Tails before the final battle mentions that the real Phantom Ruby is invulnerable even after the reactor is destroyed and doesn't need a power supply. [[spoiler: ''VideoGame/SonicMania'''s Encore Mode shows the Ruby itself A-okay even after Eggman's defeat]]. |
| 179 | * ForgotAboutHisPowers: There is an internal-logic problem in ''Forces'' regarding its use of characters. While the game suffers from [[ShowDontTell not showing much of its story]], meaning we don't know how the supporting cast handles the fight against Eggman's army besides the final cutscene, but even then, the characters show a severe lack of action regarding their powers. |
| 180 | ** From the Resistance, the game never shows Tails' abilities as a great engineer and mechanical genius. This is especially baffling as he [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 fought Eggman himself with a walker version of his Tornado]], [[VideoGame/SonicBattle fought with weapons like a mega buster]], and [[VideoGame/SonicChronicles had robots that could heal people]]. You could HandWave saying these were destroyed off-screen or Tails lost all means to create these machines, but the game never implies such a thing. |
| 181 | ** From the side of Eggman's army, none of Infinite's clones show the abilities of the original. [[InformedAttribute The game tells you they have the same powers]], but this isn't [[ShowDontTell shown]]. The false Shadow doesn't use any of the original Chaos powers like [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Chaos Control or Chaos Blast]]; Metal Sonic doesn't show any [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes power copying]]; Zavok doesn't use his power [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld to turn into a giant]]. In the case of Chaos, he is adapted fairly accurately due to being Chaos 0, the weakest version of the character. Since Chaos turns more powerful the more Chaos Emeralds he consume, and due to being a clone he is controllable, it makes you wonder why Eggman didn't look for the emeralds to give it to the fascimile and have Perfect Chaos as his living weapon. |
| 182 | * FreudianSlip: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GiVOo5eCvY Eggman offers]] three meals a day, nap time, and an underground prison ce- Erm, I mean a warm dormitory for any and all Resistance members that decide to capitulate! |
| 183 | * FromBadToWorse: The story starts off with [[DownerBeginning Eggman already conquering 99% of the world]]. The rest of the story is about trying to stop him from destroying every last bit of resistance against him. |
| 184 | * FromNobodyToNightmare: |
| 185 | ** A heroic example. The Avatar[=/=]Custom Hero character is [[https://www.gamecrate.com/interview-takashi-iizuka-and-shun-nakamura-state-sonic-2017/16493 stated to be this]] below. |
| 186 | --> '''Shun Nakamura:''' "...Your avatar character starts off as a regular person and then goes on this amazing adventure with the two Sonics, and takes the world back from Doctor Eggman." |
| 187 | ** [[spoiler:Played straight with Infinite. According to ''Episode Shadow'' and the tie-in comic, he was the leader of a band of jackal outlaws until he was hired by Eggman. Afterwards, he becomes Infinite after Eggman augments him with the Phantom Ruby.]] |
| 188 | * GameplayGrading: Continuing the trend started by ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', you're graded on your score at the end of the stage, up to a possible S Rank. |
| 189 | * GenreRoulette: |
| 190 | ** Modern Sonic's music is {{Rock}} with ElectronicMusic influence. |
| 191 | ** Classic Sonic's music is {{Chiptune}} in the style of a Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. |
| 192 | ** The Avatar's music is DrumAndBass-influenced ElectronicDanceMusic. |
| 193 | ** Infinite's theme is NuMetal. |
| 194 | ** [[spoiler:the FinalBoss' theme is an [[OrchestralBombing orchestral score]],]] |
| 195 | ** "The Light of Hope" is a PowerBallad. |
| 196 | * GetBackHereBoss: It wouldn't be a Sonic game without at least one. And here, it's the battles against Metal Sonic and Infinite for the first and third time, with Sonic as well as the Avatar in one and a half of them chasing the boss down a hallway. |
| 197 | * GiantEnemyCrab: The Death Crab is no ordinary crab bot, oh no. This bad boy is the size of a building, and maybe even more. |
| 198 | * GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: The giant snake at the end of Luminous Forest comes out of nowhere. It is dealt with extremely quickly, and only serves as a platform for the Infinite battle afterwards. |
| 199 | * GrapplingHookPistol: The Avatar has a wrist-mounted grappling hook which they use to traverse the environment, as well as a weapon in the same vein as Modern Sonic's homing attack. |
| 200 | * TheGreatSerpent: In the Luminous Jungle is home to enormous snake, that gets all riled up from the fireworks, and attacks Sonic; Sonic wins of course. |
| 201 | * GreenAesop: [[spoiler:At the end of the game, Sonic tells the other Resistance members [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall and the viewer]] that they can't [[RealitySubtext live in an illusion world forever, and they have to fix the issues within the real world]].]] |
| 202 | * GreenHillZone: The original level reappears once again, this time being [[HailfirePeaks mixed]] into a [[ShiftingSandLand rocky desert level]]. Aspects of the zone also appear in another level which is mostly a ruined city. |
| 203 | * GrowingWithTheAudience: After continuously adopting a more kid-friendly image around the time of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', ''Forces'' marks the series' second attempt at this after the first attempt starting with ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''. The game involves an all-out war against Eggman and Infinite, and the destruction and pain it brings are presented in as much detail as it can get away with. |
| 204 | * GuideDangIt: A number of people have reported trouble with the boss fight against Zavok, as they instinctually jump when Zavok slams his giant Buzz Bomber against the floor. What you're supposed to do is ''not'' jump, as it will bounce Sonic high enough to reach Zavok. |
| 205 | * HailfirePeaks: This seems to be a design theme this time around: |
| 206 | ** GreenHillZone mixed with ShiftingSandLand. |
| 207 | ** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin City]], a city level mixed with a PalmtreePanic-esque seaside. |
| 208 | ** Mystic Jungle, which is JungleJapes (or RuinsForRuinsSake) mixed with CasinoPark. |
| 209 | ** [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Chemical Plant Zone]] has turned into a SlippySlideyIceWorld port shipping Eggman's supplies, minus the slipping part. |
| 210 | * HateSink: [[TheHeavy Infinite]] is one of the franchise's biggest (and most deplorable) examples. He is a PsychopathicManchild with a nasty [[{{Sadist}} sadistic]] streak, and while he may appear to be a competent warlord at first, he's gradually revealed to be nothing but a superpowered [[TheBully bully]] whose [[StupidEvil lack of foresight]] and [[AxCrazy penchant for senseless violence]] [[spoiler:cause Eggman's plans to fall apart]]. |
| 211 | * HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:Tails loses it when he sees Sonic defeated, believing him along with the other members of [[LaResistance The Resistance]] [[OurHeroIsDead to be dead]].]] However, this is only exclusive to the English translation, as the real script is that his friends just don't know where he is (which checks out better because he's not seen acting strangely when he's seen again). |
| 212 | * HeroOfAnotherStory: No matter who you're playing as, you're part of a sizable army and in most missions other characters are also fighting at the same time, just in different parts of the battlefield, [[ShowDontTell the characters totally swear]]. |
| 213 | * HeroicMime: |
| 214 | ** The Avatar never utters a word, only grunts and groans. |
| 215 | ** Likewise, Classic Sonic is never heard saying a word or two. |
| 216 | * HiddenDepths: Knuckles is shown to be quite the inspirational leader. |
| 217 | * HoldingHands: The team-up mechanics in the Duo Tag Team Stages involves Sonic and the Avatar holding on to each other, mostly during sections where the Avatar uses their grappling hook. |
| 218 | * HopeBringer: Sonic is stated to be as such in this game; early on, with Sonic [[spoiler:missing in action and presumed dead after Infinite's attack, people all over are losing hope and falling into despair]]. During the FinalBattle, Tails outright calls him this: |
| 219 | -->'''Tails:''' Give it your all, Sonic! You'll always be our shining hope! |
| 220 | * HumongousMecha: Three giant [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations Death Egg Robots]] are seen destroying Park Avenue. Unlike the model from ''Sonic Generations'', these robots [[CyberCyclops have a single eye]] [[EyeBeams that shoots lasers]] and [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever tower over the city]]. |
| 221 | * {{Hypocrite}}: Eggman chastises Infinite when told that he let Sonic live after defeating him, stating that the hedgehog is a HUGE concern, even with Infinite's massive advantage over him. Not only did Eggman leave Sonic alive for ''six months'' after beating him in the opening of the game, less than a minute after his lecture with Infinite, Classic Sonic confronts him, and Eggman declares that he doesn't have time to deal with this and leaves him be. |
| 222 | * IdleAnimation: ''Averted'' for Modern Sonic, who, unlike the two other playable characters, doesn't have a single one for some odd reason. |
| 223 | * IAmSong: [[https://youtu.be/XKjOJuPjiu4 Infinite's theme]] is all about how awesome he is and how everyone who faces him will fall. |
| 224 | * ImmediateSequel: [[spoiler:To ''VideoGame/SonicMania'', from Classic Sonic's perspective.]] |
| 225 | * {{Infinite}}: Plays into the theme of the game, as it features an antagonist named "Infinite" as well as featuring Music/{{Hoobastank}} (often stylized as h∞bastank) who sing the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI97jY3FZ9Q main theme]] of the game. |
| 226 | * InformedAbility: [[spoiler:Shadow explains that the copies created by the Phantom Ruby are just as powerful as the originals... shortly after taking out his own copy in one hit. The final battle has the copies taken out in droves.]] |
| 227 | * InformedAttribute: |
| 228 | ** Tails is stated to have "lost it" after Sonic's supposed demise (actually capture). Next time we see him, he's no worse for wear except for maybe calling out for an already supposedly deceased Sonic to save him from Chaos. The line in the Japanese script was simply that he'd gone missing. |
| 229 | ** Sonic was allegedly tortured during his six months of captivity, but shows neither physical nor emotional repercussions from the experience. |
| 230 | ** [[spoiler:When Eggman's Death Egg Robot takes control of the Phantom Ruby, Rogue claims that he has created several copies of Infinite alongside Metal Sonic, Chaos, Shadow and Zavok. Not a single Infinite copy is seen as the copies disappear after Eggman's defeat.]] |
| 231 | * JustBetweenYouAndMe: Subverted. Tails asks what Eggman is planning in three days after Classic Sonic beats the Egg Dragoon, but Eggman merely says that he doesn't want to ruin the surprise and [[VillainExitStageLeft flees the scene]] without divulging anything critical. |
| 232 | * KillItWithFire: The standard attack for the Red Wisp's Wispon enables the Avatar to spew a long-ranged flamethrower in front of it that immediately demolishes bots and baddies. |
| 233 | * LaResistance: Sonic's friends, including Amy, Knuckles, Tails, the Chaotix, Silver, Rouge, and the Avatar, are the main resistance battling against Eggman in their world. |
| 234 | * LargeHamAnnouncer: The announcer for Wisps from ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' is back, and shouts the name of the Color Power that corresponds to your Wispon when you collect the correct Wisp. |
| 235 | * LampshadeHanging: After Amy informs Sonic that his doppelganger, Metal Sonic, has been spotted near the city, Shadow will question if he is a Phantom Ruby replica, only for Sonic to question why would Eggman create a copy of something that already isn't real. This is not enough to answer the PlotHole of [[WhateverHappenedToTheMouse where the real Metal Sonic is during the events of the game]], but is something. |
| 236 | --> '''Sonic:''' Why would they bother making a fake out of something that already isn't real? Couldn't they just build more? |
| 237 | * TheLeader: With Sonic presumed deceased and Tails traumatized over losing his best friend, Knuckles steps up as the commander of the Resistance. His headstrong personality and knack for daring plans kept the Resistance from falling apart before Sonic's return. |
| 238 | * LeaningOnTheFourthWall: |
| 239 | ** At one point in the story, Infinite mentions that Sonic has beaten Eggman "for decades". This game marks the second half of Sonic's 25th anniversary. It is hyperbole in-universe, of course. |
| 240 | ** When both Sonics meet up, Modern Sonic says it's been generations since they've seen each other. Only counting main series titles, Classic Sonic's last interaction with Modern Sonic was ''Sonic Generations''. |
| 241 | * LeeroyJenkins: Knuckles falls into this due to his "Operation Big Wave" plan, which he freely admits to having thought up in a minute and a half. With Metropolis undermanned, Knuckles' plan to take the city amounts to nothing more than [[AttackAttackAttack going in hard and fast, and just destroying Eggman's army]]. This bites him in the ass when Eggman sends Infinite in, who uses the Phantom Ruby's power to utterly ''decimate'' the Resistance. |
| 242 | * LegacyBossBattle: Double time in Classic Sonic's Green Hill Zone, which starts off with the classic "wrecking ball"-style boss from the very first game. However, when sufficiently damaged, Eggman suddenly summons the [[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Egg Dragoon]] for the latter half of the fight. |
| 243 | * LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: If you fail an SOS mission, a tune reminiscent of the victory theme plays, before it quickly tapers out. |
| 244 | * LightningLash: The Ivory Wispon allows the Avatar to attack multiple enemies with a massive electric whip. |
| 245 | * LittleHeroBigWar: Subverted. There's a resistance of all the ''Sonic'' mainstays and a RedshirtArmy fighting against Eggman controlling the world established in promotional material, but they can barely accomplish anything at all beyond providing opportunities for Sonic and the Avatar to do anything important. |
| 246 | * LongSongShortScene: |
| 247 | ** Arsenal Pyramid has both an exterior theme and an interior theme. The exterior areas consist of a straight line with enemies to boost through, then a gentle right turn. Then, Sonic and the Avatar do a Double Boost, and "Fist Bump" plays the rest of the way into the pyramid. |
| 248 | ** Null Space has a full-length song for the region, of which only 22 seconds can be heard as Sonic talks to the Avatar and then, again, does a Double Boost to get out of the place, with "Fist Bump" playing for the rest of the stage. |
| 249 | ** Red Gate Bridge also has a full length song, although it can only be heard for about 5 seconds before a Death Egg sentinel attacks, changing the song to an atmospheric orchestra track, before being taken straight to the Metal Sonic boss where his own theme plays. |
| 250 | * LostInTranslation: Oddly subverted. The English translation ''adds'' a line not present in any other translation about [[spoiler:Sonic being tortured while aboard the Death Egg]]. |
| 251 | * TheMainCharactersDoEverything: We're occasionally [[ShowDontTell told]] that the rest of the Resistance is up to things, but bar a very small amount of the cutscenes, all they seem to do that's relevant to the plot is stand around and talk. The two Sonics, the Avatar, and to a lesser extent [[DownloadableContent Shadow]], meanwhile, do just about everything worth mentioning, and in fact, before the total-rookie Avatar joined, there was no sign of Sonic, the Resistance was fighting a desperately losing battle, and people were rapidly losing hope. He gets busted off of the Death Egg prison early on, Classic Sonic appears to save Tails in the nick of time, and from there it's not a very long game for something centered around retaking ''99.9% of the planet.'' |
| 252 | * MaskedVillainsUnmaskedHeroes: The game pits the heroic, unmasked faction consisting of Sonic and his friends against Infinite, a villain who wears a silver mask. |
| 253 | * MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: [[spoiler:Plot details render it initially unclear just what the Phantom Ruby is, and what Tails discovers leads it to seemingly be that it was just a synthetic gem that had been created by Modern Eggman all along, and that the Phantom Ruby in ''Mania'' was a Prototype that got lost. Episode Shadow and the prequel comics eventually clear this up, and the original Phantom Ruby is indeed real -- Eggman found it in the desert where his base was located and studied it to incorporate into his plans, creating various Prototypes. One of them warped into the past, setting into motion the events of ''Mania''.]] |
| 254 | * MeetYourEarlyInstallmentWeirdness: [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations Once again]], Classic Sonic from the past joins up with his modern counterpart in the present. |
| 255 | * MerryInMinorKey: Downplayed. "Fist Bump," the game's theme song, is an epic, motivational song about ThePowerOfFriendship. The verses are in C Minor, and the chorus is in E Minor; however, the pre-chorus jumps around between various major and minor chords. |
| 256 | * MissionControl: Sonic's friends serve this role again, as they did in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''. |
| 257 | * MusicalNod: |
| 258 | ** At times, the last bit of the Faded Hills music sounds like [[VideoGame/SonictheHedgehog4 Splash Hill Act 1]]. |
| 259 | ** In the cutscene where Classic Sonic appears, an orchestral version of the title theme from ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' plays. |
| 260 | * MythologyGag: |
| 261 | ** When Classic Sonic appears in the trailer, he strikes a pose that matches [[http://i.imgur.com/LSE5BYP.jpg artwork found in the]] ''History of Sonic the Hedgehog'' book and the pose Sonic strikes at the end of ''VideoGame/SonicMania''. |
| 262 | ** The trailer for the Switch release shows that Classic Sonic has changed his action style to be more ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''-based, as he spins as he hits springs, and when he hits full speed, his feet move in [[WheelOFeet the Super Peel-Out style]]. |
| 263 | ** The Avatar has a grapple mechanic akin to the Enerbeams from ''[[VideoGame/SonicBoom Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric]]''. |
| 264 | *** ''Boom'' Sonic's scarf, gloves, and shoes are also customization options for the Avatar. |
| 265 | ** ''Sonic Forces'' is taking the interpretation of a dystopian future (or a BadPresent in this case), filled with robots and hellfire just like the [[MultipleEndings bad ending]] of ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''. |
| 266 | ** Infinite kicking Sonic's back hearkens back to [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Shadow kicking Silver in the back]], [[spoiler:as well as Shadow himself pulling this off to his illusion, albeit in the face]]. |
| 267 | ** Similarly, Shadow's attack chain [[spoiler:when he beats up Infinite]] in Episode Shadow is taken directly from the title sequence video [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog of his own game]]. |
| 268 | ** When Sonic meets his Classic self again, he notes that it's been "[[VideoGame/SonicGenerations generations]]" since he's seen him. |
| 269 | ** The achievements are absolutely ''brimming'' with references. |
| 270 | *** "A Sonic Hero"[[note]]the Platinum trophy / achievement[[/note]] references ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. |
| 271 | *** "Fashion Unleashed"[[note]]collect 500 accessory parts[[/note]] and "Infinite Possibilities"[[note]]drive Infinite off the first time[[/note]] references ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and its theme "Endless Possibilities". |
| 272 | *** "Mean Egg Machine"[[note]]drive Eggman off the first time[[/note]] references ''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''. |
| 273 | *** "Sonic and the Secret Stages"[[note]]clear all secret stages[[/note]] references ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings''. |
| 274 | *** "Sonic [=EXtreme=]"[[note]]clear all EX-stages[[/note]] references the cancelled Sonic game ''Sonic Xtreme''. |
| 275 | *** "Reach for the Red Stars"[[note]]gather all red star rings[[/note]] references "Reach for the Stars", the theme song of ''VideoGame/SonicColors''. |
| 276 | *** "Way Past Cool"[[note]]have all of the accessory slots on your custom character filled[[/note]] references Sonic's old [[CharacterCatchphrase catchphrase]] from ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'' and ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog''. |
| 277 | *** "Super Sonic Rescue"[[note]]complete your first SOS mission[[/note]] is a reference to the song "Super Sonic Racing" from ''VideoGame/SonicR''. |
| 278 | *** "Freedom Fighter"[[note]]complete 5 SOS missions[[/note]] is a reference to [[LaResistance the Freedom Fighters]], the rebel group battling Robotnik/Eggman in ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM'', ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'', and ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic''. |
| 279 | *** "Sonic Teaches Numbers"[[note]]collect Number Rings three times[[/note]] doubles as a reference to ''Sonic Schoolhouse'' and a ShoutOut to the similarly-named ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario Teaches Typing]]''. |
| 280 | *** "Sonic Blaster", "Sonic Jammer", and "Sonic Battler"[[note]]for collecting 10, 30, and every Wispon, respectively[[/note]] reference the Game Gear ''Sonic Blast'' as well as the American title for ''VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland'', the Saturn UpdatedRerelease ''VideoGame/SonicJam'', and ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'' respectively. |
| 281 | *** "Silver Moon Mania"[[note]]collect every silver moon ring[[/note]] references ''VideoGame/SonicMania''. |
| 282 | *** "Sextuple Trouble" [[note]]defeat Zavok[[/note]] references ''VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble'' as well as the Deadly Six from ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''. |
| 283 | * NeverSayDie: Zig-zagged; especially with Infinite. However, he manages to be no less intimidating whenever he plays it straight or subverts it. |
| 284 | -->'''Infinite:''' Are you willing to fight and die here?\ |
| 285 | '''Infinite:''' I will teach you fear, then pain, and then...well, at least the fear and pain will end. |
| 286 | * NiceJobFixingItVillain: [[spoiler:Infinite dropping one of the Phantom Ruby prototypes in his fight with Silver, which blows up in their face monumentally. As Eggman had Infinite destroy the only other prototypes, Infinite's carelessness effectively ruined their entire plan.]] |
| 287 | * NitroBoost: |
| 288 | ** As with the string of mainline ''Sonic'' games, boosting returns for Modern Sonic. However, ''Forces'' uses the ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' iteration of the Boost mechanic, in which Sonic collects White Wisps to fill the Boost Gauge. Classic Sonic is also seen using the Boost in the teaser. |
| 289 | ** There is also the exclusive "Double Boost" move, utilized by both Modern Sonic and the Avatar character. |
| 290 | * NonIndicativeName: [[spoiler:The final boss is called a Death Egg Robot... despite it looking ''nothing'' like a Death Egg Robot, especially not during the final phase (which is more akin to the Nega-Wisp Armor). The fight doesn't even take place on the Death Egg, which was in the game earlier! Unless it was constructed aboard the Death Egg, about the only accurate part of the name is "Robot".]] |
| 291 | * NotQuiteFlight: |
| 292 | ** The Burst Wispon's Color Power enables the Avatar to create explosions underneath their feet to propel them through the air by using a Red Wisp. |
| 293 | ** Shadow's boost animation consists of him hovering about a foot above the ground as he propels himself forward with his rocket skates. |
| 294 | * NotWorthKilling: Infinite says this to Sonic after their first encounter following Modern Sonic's return from captivity. This displeases Eggman, however, who questions [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim why he did that]]. |
| 295 | * NotSoHarmlessVillain: Eggman's army might be fodder for Sonic and company, but it's still a highly advanced army led by a group of supervillains [[spoiler:(or rather one with the ability to spawn them)]]. With their failure to stop him, the world falls in ''months''. |
| 296 | * OminousCube: Infinite's HardLight illusions often take the shape of a swirling mass of black and orange cubes, always accompanied by a distinctive DroneOfDread. |
| 297 | * OminousVisualGlitch: Infinite has a glitchy particle effect around him, and the music video for his theme is also glitching all over the place. Metal and Chaos are glitching too, but less so. [[spoiler:This is explained as they are a combination of HardLight constructs and the YourMindMakesItReal powers of the Phantom Ruby.]] |
| 298 | * OmnicidalManiac: Infinite and Eggman's plan is to destroy the world and rebuild it from the ashes in their image. [[spoiler:They intend to use the Phantom Ruby to create a phantom sun and drop it on the world.]] |
| 299 | -->'''Infinite:''' "We move forward with the plan?"\ |
| 300 | '''Eggman:''' "Of course! When it's complete, the Resistance will be erased. The world will be nothing but ashes, from which a glorious Eggman Empire will rise!" |
| 301 | * OrangeBlueContrast: Seen on the game's cover. The red wolf from the trailer's color scheme is changed to green to better match Sonic, and a mysterious blue light is seen behind the bottommost three characters. |
| 302 | * OurHeroIsDead: [[spoiler:Sonic is presumed dead by Tails and the Resistance after losing to Infinite and the villains.]] |
| 303 | * PantslessMalesFullyDressedFemales: Though played straight as usual, the Avatar actually zigzags this trope. The default male Avatar only wears gloves and shoes, while the female Avatar wears a bodysuit. However, the wide variety of clothing and cosmetics makes it entirely possible to fully dress a male avatar, and the unlockable body tattoos have the strange quirk of replacing the female Avatar's bodysuit completely, allowing you to fully '''un'''dress her with the help of a fur pattern tattoo. [[labelnote:*]]Somewhere in Knothole, there is a very happy chipmunk princess[[/labelnote]] |
| 304 | * PinballScoring: Scores in this game approach the massive quantities as that of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', with most S-Ranks requiring around 1 million points. Though the scale is lower, ''Sonic Forces'' plays this trope straighter than ''Sonic Colors'', as whereas ''Colors'' has ludicrously high scores because of a lot of small bonuses for even minor actions building up, ''Sonic Forces'' scores are actually inflated. |
| 305 | * PlayEveryDay: Each day you can complete a mission to receive an experience multiplier. Completing missions on consecutive days increases the multiplier. |
| 306 | * PoorCommunicationKills: This actually bites ''Eggman'' in the ass. Once Sonic's escaped from the Death Egg, he wants Sonic dead with no questions asked so the blue blur doesn't inevitably muck up his plans yet again. Infinite on the other hand, in all of his smug superiority, spares not only Sonic but the Avatar as well despite having their number on the wall in their encounters by deeming them NotWorthKilling despite Eggman's orders. Not only does Eggman call Infinite out on this, but [[spoiler: this costs them the war, as Sonic recoups enough to hand Infinite his butt on a platter and the Avatar's [[SpannerInTheWorks Phantom Ruby prototype]] destroys Eggman's plans gloriously.]] |
| 307 | * PreCharacterCustomizationGameplay: After clearing the introductory Sonic stage, you get a series of cutscenes before you get to create your own PlayerCharacter. |
| 308 | * PressXToNotDie: Certain Avatar stages and the Tag Team stages feature this. A few are mandatory for certain bosses. |
| 309 | * ReadingsAreOffTheScale: Tails can't make sense of Infinite's power due to his analyzer getting messed up by his readings. |
| 310 | * RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: In contrast to many of his earlier robots, which tended towards red, yellow, and light gray, here Eggman's mechs veer towards black, deep red, and dark grey. Infinite himself also uses these colors. |
| 311 | * ReplacementGoldfish: Tails treats Classic Sonic like a surrogate Sonic [[spoiler:after [[OurHeroIsDead believing Modern Sonic is dead]]]]. |
| 312 | * {{Retraux}}: The music used in Classic Sonic's stages use synthesizers that are very similar to those of the Platform/SegaGenesis, in contrast to ''Generations'' (which had music that was remixed with electronic and techno beats) and ''Mania'' (which had NewJackSwing and Dance music in the style of ''Sonic CD''). |
| 313 | * RightManInTheWrongPlace: The Avatar is this. According to WordOfGod, they're just a normal person who ended up dragged into all this by Eggman's takeover. They end up playing an integral part in saving the world. |
| 314 | * RollingAttack: The Drop Dash from ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' is available for Classic Sonic. |
| 315 | * SandIsWater: Literally in this game's version of Green Hill Zone, which replaces the iconic waterfalls with quicksand thanks to [[http://imgur.com/MjW3Eg3 Eggman's rule]] and his [[ScienceIsBad industries]]. |
| 316 | * SandWorm: The giant worm creatures from the deserts of [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Lost Hex]] have found a new home in desertified Green Hill. One of them appears in the background of Lost Valley, burrowing and resurfacing in the sand while following Sonic around. |
| 317 | * SceneryGorn: Eggman's rule leads to things like streets filled with robots and Green Hill Zone's waterfalls being replaced with sand. |
| 318 | * SecondaryFire: Aside from their main attack, Wispons also allow the limited use of abilities that help to traverse stages in different ways, but only in designated spots, as the Avatar needs to find a Wisp Capsule that contains the breed of wisp needed to fill the gauge of the Wispon. |
| 319 | ** Burst: ExplosionPropulsion |
| 320 | ** Lightning: FollowTheMoney |
| 321 | ** Cube: TemporaryPlatform |
| 322 | ** Drill: WallCrawl |
| 323 | ** Hover: VideoGameFlight |
| 324 | ** Asteroid: InvincibilityPowerUp |
| 325 | ** Void: MultistageTeleport |
| 326 | * SendInTheClones: [[spoiler:The final battle consists of Eggman using the Phantom Ruby to create armies consisting of Zavok, Chaos, Metal Sonic, and Shadow[[note]]it is mentioned that there's an army of Infinite as well, but he is conspicuously absent[[/note]] to attack the Resistance while Eggman fights Modern Sonic, Classic Sonic, and the Avatar.]] |
| 327 | * SequelHook: Possibly implied, as [[spoiler:Silver states that [[LaResistance The Resistance]] is still needed to repair the damage Infinite and Eggman inflicted upon the world and Modern Sonic believes he'll see the Avatar and Classic Sonic again, who went separate ways. Also, the whereabouts of Infinite, Eggman, and the Phantom Ruby are unrevealed. Most of these plot points would be followed up in both the [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW IDW comics]] (which later became [[LooseCanon loosely canon]] to the mainline games) and the Isekai Ogiri stories, which featured Infinite]]. |
| 328 | * SeriesContinuityError: Green Hill is one of Sonic's favorite places to hang out, but he doesn't remember it in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''. |
| 329 | * SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: |
| 330 | ** [[spoiler:Averted. Eggman takes over the world, thanks to the Phantom Ruby and the absence of Sonic himself. But despite one member of the Resistance being a bona fide time traveler, the heroes don't manage to stop Eggman's world conquest from ever happening. Instead, they have to restore the world the hard way, [[GreenAesop by rebuilding what was destroyed one step at a time]].]] |
| 331 | ** [[spoiler:Played subtly. In this game, Silver (as shown in the prequel comic) came back to stop the world from being brought to ruin. He actually ''succeeds'' without even realizing it by knocking the Phantom Ruby Prototype off of Infinite during their fight, which is ultimately what allows the heroes to stop Eggman's virtual sun plan. So without even him realizing it, Silver managed to do what he came back to do.]] |
| 332 | * ShoutOut: |
| 333 | ** Some of the customization options for the Avatar are references to other franchises. For example, the eyewear pieces include a [[Franchise/DragonBall Scouter]] and [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Kamina's shades]]. Of all things, even [[Franchise/{{Doom}} Doomguy's]] [[http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1255481-sonic-the-hedgehog helmet]] is available to wear. |
| 334 | ** In the trailer for the Custom Hero, the grappling hook and the way they use it against the robots is very reminiscent of ComicBook/SpiderMan's web shooters. They even activate it in a similar manner to how Spidey does. |
| 335 | * ShooOutTheClowns: Orbot and Cubot return, but get very little lines and screen time, with one joke between the two. They pop up in only ''four'' cutscenes and aren't present during the final battle. |
| 336 | * SkewedPriorities: Infinite decides to, with Eggman's help, use the [[ArtifactOfDoom Phantom Ruby's]] power to become a borderline [[OmnicidalManiac Omnicidal]] RealityWarper pretty much entirely because [[spoiler:Shadow had the '''audacity''' to call him "weak" after defeating him]]... |
| 337 | * SoleSurvivor: The Avatar, because Infinite [[CruelMercy wanted them to suffer, so he spared them.]] |
| 338 | * SoundtrackDissonance: For a game about a war between Dr. Eggman and [[LaResistance The Resistance]], the soundtrack is very lighthearted and pop sounding. This doubles as LyricalDissonance as much of the lyrics fit the game's mood. |
| 339 | * StoryBreakerPower: The Phantom Ruby's power is regularly used by Eggman and Infinite to trounce the heroes, whether it be the core cast or the unnamed Resistance armies. [[spoiler:Only by using a synthetic Phantom Ruby prototype are the heroes able to turn the tide.]] |
| 340 | * {{Superdickery}}: Promotional material and the start of the game make it look like Shadow is not only a villain again, but is part of Eggman's LegionOfDoom alongside Metal Sonic, Zavok and Chaos. [[spoiler: All of them are fakes created by the Phantom Ruby, and upon meeting the fake Shadow, the ''real'' one quickly shows up, trounces him, and is clearly on the heroes' side]]. |
| 341 | * TacticalSuicideBoss: In addition to some of Classic Sonic's bosses [[TennisBoss throwing rocks at him that he can bounce right back]], Zavok fights Modern Sonic atop a large Buzz Bomber and sits too high for Sonic to reach. He'd remain untouchable if Zavok could resist the urge to directly sting Sonic with the Buzz Bomber, tipping the platform Sonic is standing on and providing Sonic the vertical momentum he needs to reach Zavok. |
| 342 | * TagTeam: |
| 343 | ** During Avatar stages, you can have a rental Avatar accompany you, and you can switch between them and your Avatar with the press of a button. |
| 344 | ** Some stages have Sonic and the Avatar team up, using their respective strengths to get to the goal. |
| 345 | * TakeOverTheWorld: Eggman managed to conquer most of it after [[spoiler:Sonic is defeated by the villains and taken aboard to the Death Egg]], leaving no opposition strong enough that is present or interested enough to stop Eggman. For six months. |
| 346 | * TeamSpirit: The Tag Team Stages features the Avatar working with Sonic on the field, allowing them to combine their abilities and perform new moves such as [[CombinationAttack Double Boost]]. |
| 347 | * {{Techno}}: In comparison to previous games, which focused largely on lighthearted and ambient music, ''Forces'' takes a hard U-turn stylistically and prominently features techno music in its levels, with added vocals for the Avatar's stages. |
| 348 | * TentacledTerror: Both forms of the [[spoiler:Death Egg Robot]] prominently feature robotic tentacles, giving them a very creepy look. Its final form has many more tentacles than the first for maximum cephalopod-esque creepiness. |
| 349 | * TennisBoss: Some of Classic Sonic's bosses will toss rocks at him, which he'll have to attack to bounce back to its attacker. [[spoiler:The Death Egg Robot plays this straighter than the Egg Dragoon, as Sonic can repeatedly bounce the same rock back and forth.]] |
| 350 | * ThemeMusicPowerUp: The game's main theme, "Fist Bump", plays whenever Sonic and the Avatar perform a [[NitroBoost Double Boost]] in a Tag Team Stage. |
| 351 | * ThisCannotBe: Eggman is shocked to see Sonic and the Avatar [[spoiler:getting out of the Null Space]]. |
| 352 | -->'''Eggman:''' What!? It can't be! It's impossible to [[spoiler:get out of the Phantom Ruby's null space]]!\ |
| 353 | '''Sonic:''' Maybe by myself, but [[ThePowerOfFriendship I had a little help from my friend]]. [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Something you wouldn't understand]], since you don't have any friends! |
| 354 | * ThisIsADrill: The Drill Wispon allows you to pierce through the enemies horizontally. |
| 355 | * ThreePointLanding: Modern Sonic does one at the beginning of the announcement trailer. |
| 356 | * TimeLimitBoss: If you take too long while battling Metal Sonic [[spoiler:or Infinite for the final time]], then he will escape and the player will be overtaken by a wave of red cubes. |
| 357 | * TimeSkip: The main plot takes place six months after Eggman's conquest of the planet. |
| 358 | * TonightSomeoneDies: An interview has the developers saying such. All we know is that this "someone" is not going to be Tails. [[spoiler:The two closest instances we see are Classic Sonic, who disappears upon returning to his world, and Infinite, who meets his UncertainDoom.]] |
| 359 | * TookALevelInBadass: |
| 360 | ** Classic Sonic's shown to have mastered the Sonic Boost in this game. [[spoiler:It's never used in gameplay, but he breaks it out to contribute to the Triple Boost to finish Eggman's final mech.]] |
| 361 | ** On the other hand, Eggman's taken one as well, seeing as he's finally ''conquered the world'' and all. Also, having a way to [[spoiler:instantly neutralize Infinite in case he decides to rebel]] is certainly an improvement, considering [[spoiler:the many times Eggman has been betrayed by his [[MonsterOfTheWeek powerful ally of the time]] in the past.]] |
| 362 | * TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The launch trailer shows [[spoiler:Shadow on the good side in the later events]]. |
| 363 | * UncertainDoom: |
| 364 | ** [[spoiler:Infinite is last seen being teleported away after his third boss fight. Tails tracks his Phantom Ruby underground, leading directly to Eggman's final mecha powered by it, with Infinite nowhere to be seen. Exactly what Eggman did to him isn't clear.]] |
| 365 | ** [[spoiler:Eggman's last appearance in the story is in the cutscene right before the final boss fight, where he's shown piloting his Death Egg Robot, taunting the heroes. Unusually, he is ''completely silent'' during the actual boss fight, and inside the Death Egg Robot [[MatryoshkaObject is another robot]] which is fought during the last phase of the fight, which later explodes upon defeat. It's unclear which robot Eggman was even piloting, or even where he went after the fight, as he makes no appearance. He appears in the [[VideoGame/SonicFrontiers next game]] no worse for the wear, but his lack of fanfare or presence during the final boss fight is quite abnormal for the normally bombastic Eggman]]. |
| 366 | * UnderestimatingBadassery: Infinite does this constantly through the game, thinking himself so powerful that he can just easily brush aside anyone who goes against him. [[spoiler:It costs him dearly, as he ends up letting the Avatar live during a previous attack, who would be instrumental in bringing him down. A prototype ruby he was holding ends up in the heroes' possession that foils Eggman's inital endgame, and he doesn't kill Sonic when he has the chance after their 2nd encounter, allowing him to get around his power and defeat him.]] Subverted with Eggman, however, despite Infinite mocking him for his previous defeats, as Eggman has long since learned from them. To wit, [[spoiler:he has a backup generator for the Ruby when the Death Egg is destroyed, and even when the heroes destroy that, he has ''another'' emergency power source for a last-ditch attack on the Resistance, even through he has to overtax the Ruby's power to keep the edge. He also takes Infinite out of the picture when he's beaten, and could have effortlessly done so whenever he wanted to, largely to make sure he doesn't turn against him, as previous attempts to control a powerful source have never ended well.]] |
| 367 | * UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:E-123 Omega lies in an unconscious state with Tails lamenting that he's unable to fix Omega, then Omega wasn't seen until the final battle, where he is fine.]] |
| 368 | * UnfinishedBusiness: Classic Sonic's returned to the Modern world [[spoiler:hot in pursuit of the Phantom Ruby, to finish what was started with it back in ''Mania''. ...Trouble is, [[YearOutsideHourInside the Phantom Ruby emerged on the other side of the dimensional rift a good half-year before him]], so [[YouAreTooLate it's already done its damage by the time he arrives]]]]. |
| 369 | * VillainsNeverLie: Eggman warns Tails and Classic Sonic that he will crush the Resistance in three days, and Tails relays this information to the rest of his group. Everyone takes this at face value and plans based on that timeframe, and indeed, Eggman makes his big move exactly three days from his warning, even though he had no reason to wait that long. |
| 370 | * VillainSong: The new villain Infinite has his own, intimidating [[https://youtu.be/XKjOJuPjiu4 song]], with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7X5WrLUgZI the lyrics]] largely gloating about how powerful he is, and how he will destroy anyone who stands in his way. |
| 371 | * VillainTeamUp: [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Shadow]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Metal Sonic]], [[VideoGame/SonicLostWorld Zavok]], and [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos]] have allied to do battle with the Sonics along with new villainous face Infinite. [[spoiler:Actually subverted; they're illusory copies created by the Phantom Ruby.]] |
| 372 | * VillainWorld: Seems to be the gist, given Eggman's massive reach in this reality and how there is a resistance trying to unseat his iron grip. |
| 373 | * ViolationOfCommonSense: How can the Avatar even run at high-speed with scuba flippers when they're obviously one of the worst choices for moving on land? |
| 374 | * VirtualPaperDoll: You can dress your Avatar in a variety of headgear, footwear, clothes, bodysuits, and gloves. |
| 375 | * VisualPun: The Egg Pawns are now sleeker, silver metal, and somewhat of a vertical oval shape, making their names ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. |
| 376 | * VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: Sonic's supporting cast keeps in touch with him and his classic counterpart via radio, with many of the characters providing running commentary on the events happening in the stage or during a boss fight. |
| 377 | * VoodooShark: [[spoiler:The Phantom Ruby's alleged [[RealityWarper reality-warping]] properties in ''Mania'' turn out to be [[YourMindMakesItReal "realistic"]] illusions. This calls into question how it was able to transform the five [=EggRobos=] into the Hard-Boiled Heavies and how it was able to teleport the cast around the various Zones, assuming those instances were real to begin with. However, the stone also was able to transport Classic Sonic between dimensions and send Modern Sonic and the Avatar into the null void, so presumably it also has genuine dimension-warping capabilities. Eggman may have simply chosen to focus on the "virtual reality" aspect for his plan while neglecting its other capabilities.]] |
| 378 | * WeaponBasedCharacterization: Players can choose a Wispon for their Avatar before starting a level, including: |
| 379 | ** Burst: Shoots a jet of flames forward and can be used to perform aerial jumps. |
| 380 | ** Lightning: Creates an electric whip and lets the user fly along a string of rings. |
| 381 | ** Cube: Turns enemies into cubes for easy destruction and creates footholds. |
| 382 | ** Asteroid: Locks onto multiple enemies for projectile attacks and grants temporary invincibility while attracting items. |
| 383 | ** Drill: Lunges forward and burrows through solid surfaces. |
| 384 | ** Hover: Blows enemies away with shockwaves and creates a balloon to float upwards. |
| 385 | ** Void: Destroys enemies with a black hole and teleports the user across vast distances. |
| 386 | * WhatHappenedToTheMouse: |
| 387 | ** Oddly enough there's no humans in this game save for Eggman. What characters we do see are all anthropomorphic animals. This is rather weird considering the story focuses on Eggman taking over the world and Team Dark still working together when they're suppose to be under the employ of G.U.N., a very ''human'' run organization, who likewise never get a mention. ''[=TailsTube=]'' would later clarify that G.U.N. was driven out by Eggman's forces, but the consequences of Eggman's hostile takeover of the world and how it affected the human characters goes unaddressed. |
| 388 | ** [[spoiler:The Metal Sonic seen during the events of ''Forces'' is a Phantom Ruby replica, and while Sonic does openly wonder in the pre-mission banter before Metal Sonic's boss fight ''why'' would Eggman bother to have a copy made when the original is loyal to him still, it never gets brought up again after the fake's defeat. ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'' would explain exactly what the real Metal was doing during the events of ''Forces'', what Eggman's intentions for him were, [[DragonAscendant and what he's doing now that Eggman's missing]].]] |
| 389 | ** [[spoiler:What became of Infinite and Eggman after their final defeats is unknown, as well as the fate of the ''original'' Phantom Ruby. Eggman's fate at least would be answered in ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'', which is considered canon to the games.]] |
| 390 | * WhiteAndRedAndEerieAllOver: |
| 391 | ** The iconic [[MechaMooks Egg Pawns]] are redesigned to be much more menacing this time around, featuring simple white bodies with glowing red eyes or visors. While their previous incarnations were more akin to AdorableEvilMinions, here they are portrayed as unfeeling, militaristic automatons with no comedic traits whatsoever. |
| 392 | ** While Infinite himself does not count for this trope (he has ''some'' white fur, but his color scheme is predominantly black, red, and gray), the second boss battle against him qualifies. It takes place in a pristine white steel area, which contrasts with his red energy attacks. |
| 393 | ** The [[spoiler:Death Egg Robot]]'s final form is white with red claws and joints. It's very unnerving partially because it has [[TentacledTerror robotic tentacles]], and also because [[spoiler:Eggman uses the mystical Phantom Ruby to its full extent while piloting the robot, creating an eerie, dark battlefield for the robot to stand out against.]] |
| 394 | * TheWorfEffect: The start of the game promptly demonstrates how Infinite is going to be the game's biggest threat by having him wipe the floor with the normally invincible Sonic, thanks to the help of Shadow, Metal Sonic, Zavok and Chaos 0. Infinite gets another moment of this when he manages to put Silver on the backfoot, and Sonic is required to come and save him from being defeated. |
| 395 | * WorldOfFunnyAnimals: ''Forces'' is the first main series game (that is, not counting the ''VideoGame/SonicBoom'' subseries) to show nameless anthropomorphic animals outside of the core cast. While previous games such as ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Adventure]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicUnleashed Unleashed]]'' had shown a general populace of humans with the core cast of FunnyAnimals inexplicably living among them, ''Forces'' establishes a general populace of them, with Eggman trying to take over their society. As ''[=TailsTube=]'' later explains, the human society and anthromorphic animal societies are separated on the same planet, with the humans living on larger continents while the animals live on islands. |
| 396 | * YouFightLikeACow: Given that Sonic is allowed to speak in boss battles this time around, it's inevitable that he'll throw the BossBanter back at them in every fight he's involved in. |
| 397 | * YouHaveFailedMe: [[spoiler:While not said, after being defeated by Sonic and the Avatar, Infinite is teleported away against his will. Tails tracks his Phantom Ruby underground... leading directly to Eggman's final mecha powered by the Phantom Ruby, with Infinite nowhere to be seen, implying that Eggman disposed of him for his failures.]] |
| 398 | * YourMindMakesItReal: [[spoiler:Revealed to be the actual power of the Phantom Ruby: it creates illusions that feel real to the victim's brain, causing injuries taken in the illusion to occur to the victim in reality.]] |
| 399 | [[/folder]] |
| 400 | |
| 401 | [[folder:Comic]] |
| 402 | !!The comic tie-in contains the following tropes: |
| 403 | * ContinuityCameo: [[http://web.archive.org/web/20200315043932/https://2.bp.blogspot.com/gwC9Zxp8e7kAXPoe_Qeshs8IGSHc-p2-41fpU81GNpYbUZRzQu2VmPavq_2qCrmCc7-KbEgL0UsYnlu1KzRu_LsSGlObtTyhB4LGGrRdLLgwsTbDMaiMM-y0HkbZvOBktq7ssvUgsg=s1600 Sally and Bunnie]] appear in a picture next to Knuckles in Rouge's office in ''Issue Three: Looming Shadow''. |
| 404 | * DealWithTheDevil: ''Issue Four: Rise of Infinite'' reveals exactly who Infinite once was: [[spoiler:he was the leader of a band of thieves before Eggman offered him and his band the chance to work for him]]. |
| 405 | * DoomedByCanon: Given Omega's state in the main game, Shadow fails to help Omega and [[FaceHeelTurn changes sides]][[note]]until it was revealed that the Shadow that aided Eggman is [[spoiler:a fake]][[/note]]. This moment is depicted as a part of the Episode Shadow DLC. |
| 406 | * FaceHeelTurn: ''Issue Two: Stress Test'' details how Chaos initially got roped into all this [[spoiler:— no thanks to Eggman using the [[VideoGame/SonicMania Phantom Ruby]] to provoke him into a fit of rage]]. But before anything else can be revealed, he's instantly teleported away.[[note]]Then it turns out that the Chaos who aided Eggman was [[spoiler:''also'' a fake]].[[/note]] |
| 407 | * IJustWantToBeSpecial: The rookie in ''Issue One: Moment of Truth'' laments this, but keeps flubbing up helping the Chaotix when Eggman's forces come to invade the town. He is able to gain their praise after shooting down the lead ship when they're too preoccupied to do so, causing Eggman to retreat. |
| 408 | * LeeroyJenkins: In ''Issue Three: Looming Shadow'', Team Dark was supposed to use stealth to infiltrate Eggman’s base, but Omega decides to abandon that strategy and goes in head-first and guns-blazing, much to Rouge's annoyance. |
| 409 | * MythologyGag: In ''Issue Four: Rise of Infinite'', among the names that Cubot suggests for [[spoiler:the Phantom Ruby]] are the "Anarchy Beryl", which Orbot says is "[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics too derivative]]", and the "Precious Stone", which Orbot says is "[=[=][[BreakingTheFourthWall from the]][=]=] [[VideoGame/SonicShuffle wrong game]]". |
| 410 | ** Though the "Anarchy Beryl" reference was unintentional, since Ian Flynn, the writer of this comic and the Archie comic, had stated in his Twitter account [[http://www.twitter.com/IanFlynnBKC/status/928004632848338944 that he kind of forgot that he used the reference before]]. Not that fans of that comic didn't appreciate the shout out. |
| 411 | * {{Prequel}}: All four issues are set before the events of the main game. |
| 412 | * SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: Silver arrives to warn Knuckles that something has changed in the past during ''Issue Two: Stress Test'', something that "brings the world to ruin." |
| 413 | * WhamEpisode: In ''Issue Two: Stress Test'', Silver arrives back in time to warn Knuckles that something is going wrong in the past, just as Angel Island suddenly shifts around them into [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Pachacamac Village]] from the past (complete with the echidna tribe). What's more, Chaos suddenly emerges and attacks Knuckles and Silver, but they manage to fight him off. Chaos suddenly vanishes along with the village, much to Knuckles' confusion, and the two set out to find out what's going on. [[spoiler:Neither of them are aware that Eggman has been watching everything from above and is holding the [[VideoGame/SonicMania Phantom Ruby]], having just tested out its power and gloating that he won't even need the Master Emerald anymore now that he has control over it.]] |
| 414 | * TheWorfEffect: ''Issue Three: Looming Shadow'' contains a scene of Infinite wiping the floor with the normally most powerful member of Team Dark, E-123 Omega, to establish how much more powerful he is and how he'll be a threat in the main game. |
| 415 | [[/folder]] |
| 416 | |
| 417 | [[folder:''Episode Shadow'']] |
| 418 | !!The DLC prequel contains the following examples: |
| 419 | * AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: This episode focuses on Shadow, in which the player controls him through three stages in a story mode set before the main plot, as well as having him playable in Modern Sonic's stages. |
| 420 | * ArcWords: [[spoiler:'''I am not weak.''']] |
| 421 | * BigBad: Infinite, who plays a much more direct role than Eggman [[spoiler:and has much more personal beef with Shadow]]. |
| 422 | * ButForMeItWasTuesday: [[spoiler:For Infinite, Shadow's beatdown of him and BreakingSpeech shaped much of his life and turned him into what he is now. For Shadow, it was just another mission and another raid on an Eggman facility. Predictably, when Infinite confronts him to take revenge, Shadow doesn't even remember him.]] |
| 423 | * ContinuitySnarl: The first level tells the events of Omega's capture and defeat by Infinite during a recon mission, which is told in the third issue of ''Moment of Truth''. However, Shadow is seen through the city stage as Omega is being defeated, while in the comic he is already in the desert heading to the base. |
| 424 | * CreateYourOwnVillain: Way to go, Shadow. [[spoiler:By beating the crud out of Infinite and ''not'' finishing him off, you drove him to serve as a guinea pig in Eggman's experiments with the Phantom Ruby, becoming a MasterOfIllusion capable of wiping the floor with Sonic the Hedgehog himself (and entire armies to boot!)]] |
| 425 | * ADayInTheLimelight: Shadow is playable through free DLC, marking this the first time he's been made playable in a main series game since ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006''[[note]]spinoff titles such as ''VideoGame/SonicRivals'', ''VideoGame/SonicRunners'', or ''VideoGame/SonicDash'' notwithstanding[[/note]]. |
| 426 | * DownloadableContent: This DLC focuses on Shadow and adds new levels to the game, as well as the option to play as Shadow in Modern Sonic stages in the main game. |
| 427 | * HateSink: Despite his origins being given a little more context, Infinite is portrayed here as just as much of a vile, petty sadist as he is in the main game, [[spoiler:with his psychological torture of Shadow standing out as one of his cruelest actions overall]]. |
| 428 | * KickTheDog: [[spoiler:Infinite uses the Phantom Ruby to screw with Shadow's mind and make him believe that his closest friends are dead, all out of petty spite.]] |
| 429 | * MadnessMantra: One phrase that Infinite repeats over and over [[spoiler:after being defeated by Shadow and seemingly hijacking Omega]]. |
| 430 | -->'''Infinite''' ([[spoiler:as Omega]])''':''' [[spoiler:I am not weak. I am not weak. I AM NOT WEAK… I AM NOT WEAK… I AM NOT WEAK…]] |
| 431 | * MindScrew: [[spoiler:Almost ''everything'' that happens in Level 3, a Shadow travels through an augmented reality version of Green Hill Zone constructed by Infinite.]] |
| 432 | * MusicalNod: The music for all of Shadow's stages and the level select screen are remixes of music from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' and ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''. |
| 433 | * MythologyGag: |
| 434 | ** Rouge tells Shadow to "Do it to it" at the beginning of the DLC, one of Sonic's catchphrases in ''WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM''. |
| 435 | ** The combo Shadow uses to [[spoiler:easily defeat Infinite]] is lifted directly from the opening of ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''. |
| 436 | * NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Shadow taking out Infinite's entire squad and calling him "worthless" made Infinite vow to become stronger, setting up the entire game.]] |
| 437 | * OriginsEpisode: This episode not only focuses on Shadow, but Infinite as well. |
| 438 | * {{Prequel}}: This is set before the events of the main game, as well as the comics. |
| 439 | * PromotedToPlayable: Shadow the Hedgehog, the first time in a main series game since ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' where he's a playable character. |
| 440 | * SlideLevel: The Jungle Level is a series of water flumes you have to use to infiltrate Eggman's fortress. Mines share the waterways with you and need to be avoided, plus choosing the wrong routes can cause Shadow to miss collectibles, and you are quite capable of jumping the sides which can either shorten your route or kill you, depending on your aim. |
| 441 | * WhosLaughingNow: [[spoiler:As it turns out Infinite's drive to serve as the vessel for the Phantom Ruby was to get back at Shadow for physically and verbally demolishing him and his squad. This whole mission is essentially Shadow ([[ButForMeItWasTuesday who doesn't even remember that day]]) trying to fight off one MindScrew of a revenge ambush.]] |
| 442 | [[/folder]] |
| 443 | ---- |
| 444 | ->''All alone, we will never be\ |
| 445 | The two of us, are holding the key\ |
| 446 | We see today, a world we couldn't see\ |
| 447 | Before I say goodbye to you\ |
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