Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 3!
While theSonic the Hedgehogmovies are great, they haven’t delivered on one core element from the video games, andSonic the Hedgehog 4really needs to fix this. The firstSonic the Hedgehogwas pretty far removed from its source material, with the presence of Sonic and Robotnik being the only video game elements in the film. As the series has progressed, however, the movies have gotten more faithful to the SEGA video games. However, there is one thing that they are missing, andSonic the Hedgehog 4could deliver on this wish.
After the success ofSonic the Hedgehog 3,Sonic the Hedgehog 4is set to be bigger than ever. The third film’s post-credits scene set upan army of Metal Sonicsand the presence of Amy Rose, adding even more iconic video game characters to the live-action movies. The theorized presence of time travel adds all kinds of potential video game tie-ins, withsome fans hoping that characters like Silver and Blaze pop up in the film. While this would be cool, there is still an incredibly basicSonic the Hedgehogelement that has to appear.
Sonic The Hedgehog’s Video Games Were Side-Scrolling Adventures Early On
Although Modern Games Have Strayed From This
Sonic the Hedgehog 4is gearing up to be inspired by the later games in the franchise,heavily pulling from entries likeSonic CDand the 2006Sonic the Hedgehogreboot game. While many fans now know the series for its 3D action,Sonic the Hedgehogstarted out as side-scrolling platforming adventures focused on speed. This platforming element defines some of the most critically acclaimedSonicvideo games, while many of the later entries have been divisive or even critically panned.
Since theSonic the Hedgehogmovies are films rather than video games, it makes sense that they would pull from the more narrative-heavy entries. While the original games were great,they were light on narrative, juxtaposing with story-heavy entrieslikeSonic Forces,Sonic Unleashed, and others. TheSonic the Hedgehogmovies have always included references and Easter eggs to the earlier entries, but the DNA of modernSonicgames has always been ever-present throughout the trilogy.
Sonic 4 Should Utilize Some Side-Scrolling Action To Honor The Games
Even If It Is Just An Easter Egg
So, in order to properly honor the original games,Sonic the Hedgehog 4really needs to utilize some side-scrolling action. The fourth movie can easily use camera placement and perspective to make an action sequence look like the gameplay of the original video games, throwing a bone to the fans. After all, tons of action movies have hallway fight scenes that make them look like side-scrolling beat ‘em ups, so it would be fun forSonic the Hedgehog 4to pull off a similar trick.
Another Video Game Movie Proved Sonic 4 Can Make Side-Scrolling Action Fun
Creating More Comparisons Between Mario & Sonic
Sonic the Hedgehog 4actually could pull from another video game movie that proved it could do a side-scrolling action scene.The Super Mario Bros. Moviecontains a scene in which Mario and Luigi are platformingthrough Brooklyn, hopping off objects to reach their goal. This sequence is clearly a homage to the side-scrolling nature of the originalSuper Mariovideo games, with it being one of the best Easter eggs in the movie.
It is shocking that theSonic the Hedgehogmovies haven’t done this after three entries, as it seems like an obvious way to pay respect to the source material. The live-action series could do something similar to the scene fromThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, although adding a lot more speed and style to reflect what makesSonicdifferent.Sonic the Hedgehog 4is the franchise’s next opportunity to do this, and I hope to see it in the upcoming sequel.
