History Trivia / SonicHeroes

** In 2023, an early [[https://browniehideout.wordpress.com/2023/12/17/sonic-heroes-recording-script-story-summary/ script]] for ''Heroes'' got into the hands of fans, revealing that Robot Carnival and Robot Storm were going to be "Egg Hermit Crab" and an "Egg Sea Anemone", respectively, and that the Egg Emperor was going to be "Egg Mobile Force." It also mentions a Christmas mountain-themed level in place of Lost Jungle.

** In 2023, an early [[https://browniehideout.wordpress.com/2023/12/17/sonic-heroes-recording-script-story-summary/ script]] for ''Heroes'' got into the hands of fans, revealing that Robot Carnival and Robot Storm were going to be "Egg Hermit Crab" and an "Egg Sea Anemone", respectively, and that the Egg Emperor was going to be "Egg Mobile Force." It also oddly mentions a Christmas mountain-themed level in place of Lost Jungle.

** In 2023, a script for ''Heroes'' got into the hands of fans, revealing an "Egg Hermit Crab" and an "Egg Sea Anemone" that would've taken the places of Robot Carnival and Robot Storm, respectively. It also oddly mentions Lost Jungle was a "Christmas"-themed level.

** In 2023, a script for''Heroes'' got into the hands of fans, revealing an "Egg Hermit Crab" and an "Egg Sea Anemone" that would've taken the places of Robot Carnival and Robot Storm, respectively. It also oddly mentions Lost Jungle was a "Christmas"-themed level.

* ActingForTwo: Sonic and [[spoiler:Metal Sonic]] are both voiced by Creator/RyanDrummond and Creator/JunichiKanemaru in English and Japanese, respectively.

* CreatorDrivenSuccessor: To ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix'' in some ways. Not only does ''Heroes'' reintroduce the Chaotix characters themselves, it is also the first major game in the series since ''Chaotix'' to feature a teamwork-style multi-character gameplay dynamic. And of course, it is the first game after ''Chaotix'' to feature [[spoiler:Metal Sonic]] as a primary antagonist and involve a OneWingedAngel form of them as the FinalBoss.

** The game had only [[https://mynintendonews.com/2016/11/06/sonic-heroes-director-reveals-how-the-game-affected-his-general-health/ two level designers,]] one of whom became sick and passed all of his duties to Takashi Iizuka, who was forced to create the last few levels entirely by himself, which made him very sick.

** In 2018, the director of the game, Creator/ShiroMaekawa, [[https://twitter.com/SonicJPNews/status/989898578595405826 tweeted the initial plan and roster.]] Team Sonic and Team Chaotix are identical to the final product, but Rouge was on the same team as Amy and Cream, Big was allied with [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos and a rebuilt E-102 Gamma]], and ''Heroes'' would have marked the first appearance of [[VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble Fang]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bark, Bean]], [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Mighty, and Ray]] in the modern era, the latter two being on the same team as Metal Sonic. Omega was likely a replacement for Gamma, and Shadow's resurrection was not planned at the time.

* CreatorsFavorite: [[https://twitter.com/crush40/status/1219663944245100544 According to Jun Senoue,]] the theme for Seaside Hill was his favorite song to compose for the OST. Additionally, "What I'm Made Of" is one of his favorite Music/Crush40 songs, as well as the Crush 40 song he and lead vocalist Johnny Gioeli enjoy performing the most.

* ActingForTwo: Sonic and [[spoiler:Metal Sonic]] are both voiced by Ryan Drummond and Creator/JunichiKanemaru in English and Japanese, respectively.

* EndOfAnAge: ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' the final console game to use the ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''-era voice cast, as all subsequent games from ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' to ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' used a new Creator/FourKidsEntertainment-based voice cast (which would also end up replaced [[VideoGame/SonicColors a few years later]]). It is also the last console game where [[ChildrenVoicingChildren a child actor voices Tails]].

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: Outside of a re-release on UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork in Europe and Japan, the game hasn't been ported elsewhere on other consoles and its 2004 Windows port is considered abandonware for many years. On the flipside, the game is backwards compatible on UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} and UsefulNotes/Xbox360 (but unfortunately not on UsefulNotes/XboxOne and UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS), and secondhand copies are floating around for a reasonable price.

* NewbieBoom: As with ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', which was the first ''Sonic'' game to be released on a Nintendo console, this game was the first ''Sonic'' game to be released on Sony and Microsoft consoles.
* NoExportForYou: Re-released on the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork in Europe (in 2012) and Japan (in 2014), but not in North America.

** Frog Forest/Lost Jungle was originally planned to be a [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/e/e0/Heroes_Concept_artwork_2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150407201558 prehistoric-themed jungle]] with [[AnachronismStew dinosaurs]].
** Final Fortress was originally [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/c/c5/Heroes_Concept_artwork_4.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150407201613 conceptualized]] as a massive UnderwaterBase before being changed to a CoolAirship in the final game. The Final Fortress and the surrounding ships being aquatic-themed is a likely [[DevelopmentGag nod to this idea]].
** One zone that seemingly never made it past the concept art stage was a [[http://info.sonicretro.org/File:SonicHeroes_ConceptArt_Unknown.jpg pirate-themed zone]]. The idea would be revisited and realized for ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings'' as Pirate Storm. The lack of Knuckles and Tails in the concept art also heavily implies that ''Heroes'' was originally planned to have one character playable in a zone as per-previous titles as opposed to three at once.
** In 2018, the director of the game, Shiro Maekawa, [[https://twitter.com/SonicJPNews/status/989898578595405826 tweeted the initial plan and roster.]] Team Sonic and Team Chaotix are identical to the final product, but Rouge was on the same team as Amy and Cream, Big was allied with [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos and a rebuilt E-102 Gamma]], and ''Heroes'' would have marked the first appearance of [[VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble Fang]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bark, Bean]], [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Mighty, and Ray]] in the modern era, the latter two being on the same team as Metal Sonic. Omega was likely a replacement for Gamma, and Shadow's resurrection was not planned at the time.

* FirstAppearance: Of Omega and the Egg Pawns.

* EndOfAnAge: This is the final console game to use the ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''-era voice cast, as all subsequent games from ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' to ''[[VideoGame/SonicStorybookSeries Sonic and the Black Knight]]'' used a new Creator/FourKidsEntertainment-based voice cast (which would also end up replaced [[VideoGame/SonicColors a few years later]]). It is also the last console game where [[ChildrenVoicingChildren a child actor voices Tails]].

* TalkingToHimself: Sonic and [[spoiler:Metal Sonic]] are both voiced by Ryan Drummond and Creator/JunichiKanemaru in English and Japanese, respectively.

** [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/0/06/Sonicheroes_grouping_teamsonic1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150827202901 Early promotional art for the game]] indicate Sonic was originally planned to retain the Soap shoes from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''. Likely due to licensing issues at the time, Sega would revert back to his classic shoes instead. Sonic would not wear the soap shoes again until ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'' in 2022.

** Final Fortress was originally [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/c/c5/Heroes_Concept_artwork_4.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150407201613 conceptualized]] as a massive UnderwaterBase before being changed to a CoolAirship in the final game. The Final Fortress and the surrounding ships being aquatic-themed is a likely DevelopmentGag to this idea.

** One zone that seemingly never made it past the concept art stage was a [[http://info.sonicretro.org/File:SonicHeroes_ConceptArt_Unknown.jpg pirate-themed zone]]. The idea would be revisited and realized for ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings'' as Pirate Storm. The lack of Knuckles and Tails in the concept art also indicates that Heroes was originally planned to have one character as per-previous titles as opposed to three at once.

** Final Fortress was originally [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/c/c5/Heroes_Concept_artwork_4.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150407201613 conceptualized as a massive UnderwaterBase before being changed to a CoolAirship in the final game. The Final Fortress and the surrounding ships being aquatic-themed is a likely DevelopmentGag to this idea.

** There were originally plans for a [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/c/c5/Heroes_Concept_artwork_4.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150407201613 zone]] set in a massive UnderwaterBase, which seemingly never left the concept stage. Why it was scrapped remains unknown.

** One zone that was planned for the game early on, but ultimately scrapped was a [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/c/c5/Heroes_Concept_artwork_4.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150407201613 zone]] set in a massive UnderwaterBase. Why it was scrapped remains unknown.

** In 2018, the director of the game, Shiro Maekawa, [[https://twitter.com/SonicJPNews/status/989898578595405826 tweeted the initial plan and roster.]] Team Sonic and Team Chaotix are identical to the final product, but Rouge was on the same team as Amy and Cream, Big was allied with [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos and a rebuilt E-102 Gamma]], and ''Heroes'' would have marked the first appearance of [[VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble Fang]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bark, Bean]], [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Mighty, and Ray]] in the modern era, the latter two being on the same team as Metal Sonic. Omega was likely a replacement for Gamma, and Shadow's resurrection was not planned at the time.

** The role of Tails went from Connor Bringas, who voiced the character in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', to William Corkery. [[note]]As with Bringas taking over for his older brother Corey (who voiced Tails in ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Adventure]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicShuffle Shuffle]]''), this is presumably due to Bringas' voice being too deep to perform the role; he was already 13 when ''[=SA2=]'' was released for the Dreamcast and would've been in his mid-teens when ''Heroes'' went into production.[[/note]] In the Japanese version, his ''Anime/SonicX'' {{seiyuu}} Creator/RyoHirohashi takes over from Atsuki Murata and has voiced him ever since.

** The role of Tails went from Connor Bringas, who voiced the character in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', to William Corkery. [[note]]As with Bringas taking over for his older brother Corey (who voiced Tails in ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Adventure]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicShuffle Shuffle]]''), this is presumably due to Bringas' voice being too deep to perform the role; he was already 13 when ''[=SA2=]'' was released for the Dreamcast and would've been in his mid-teens when ''Heroes'' went into production.[[/note]]

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaQVR_wmYqE#t=16m47s A former bug tester contacted the]] WebVideo/GameGrumps during their playthrough and revealed the game was so riddled with bugs that Sega insisted that only [[GameBreakingBug game-breakers]] be brought to their attention, meaning if you could brute force your way through a level, it was still considered playable. Despite being dead set on meeting their ship date, the game was still held up regardless thanks to a GameBreakingBug where Sonic would infinitely run if he clipped through locked doors.

* EndOfAnAge: This is the final console game to use the ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''-era voice cast, as all subsequent games from ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' to ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' used a new Creator/FourKidsEntertainment-based voice cast (which would also end up replaced a few years later). It is also the last console game where a child actor voices Tails.

* NoExportForYou: Re-released on the UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork in Europe and Japan, but not in North America.
* TheOtherDarrin: After Creator/ShunYashiro's death the same year ''Heroes'' was being produced, Creator/TakashiNagasako took over as Big the Cat from this game on.

* StillbornFranchise: ''Sonic Heroes'' was actually created to be a new independent SpinOff franchise for the Sonic series much like the ''Sonic Adventure'' games ... but a weak UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 port and a lack of support put a quick end to any ideas of following up with a sequel.
* TalkingToHimself: Sonic and [[spoiler:Metal Sonic]] are both voiced by Ryan Drummond and Creator/JunichiKanemaru for English and Japanese, respectively.

** This was Sega's first attempt to make a multi-platform release and they were working with a new game engine to boot, so textures and lighting were cut back to the bare minimum so the graphics would render properly across Xbox, Gamecube, and Playstation 2.
** [[https://youtu.be/uaQVR_wmYqE?t=1007 A former bug tester contacted the]] WebVideo/GameGrumps during their playthrough and revealed the game was so riddled with bugs that Sega insisted that only game-breakers be brought to their attention, meaning if you could brute force your way through a level, it was still considered playable. Despite being dead set on meeting their ship date, the game was still held up regardless thanks to a game-breaking bug where Sonic would infinitely run if he clipped through locked doors.
** The game had only [[https://mynintendonews.com/2016/11/06/sonic-heroes-director-reveals-how-the-game-affected-his-general-health/ two level designers]], one of whom became sick and passed all of his duties to Takashi Iizuka, who was forced to create the last few levels entirely by himself, which made him very sick.

** In 2018, the director of the game, Shiro Maekawa, [[https://twitter.com/SonicJPNews/status/989898578595405826?s=19 tweeted the initial plan and roster.]] Team Sonic and Team Chaotix are identical, but Rouge was on the same team as Amy and Cream, Big was allied with [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Chaos and a rebuilt E-102 Gamma]], and ''Heroes'' would have marked the first appearance of [[VideoGame/SonicTripleTrouble Fang]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bark, Bean]], [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Mighty, and Ray]] in the modern era, the latter two being on the same team as Metal Sonic. Omega was likely a replacement for Gamma, and Shadow's resurrection was not planned at the time.

* EndOfAnAge: This is the final console game to use the ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''-era voice cast, as all subsequent games from ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' to ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight'' used a new Creator/FourKidsEntertainment-based voice cast (which would also end up replaced a few years later). It is also the last console game where child actor voices Tails.