#Sonic and the Secret Rings spoilers

[molinaskies]

What We Get Wrong About Dark Sonic

I find Dark Sonic incredibly interesting.

I’ve said this before, but Dark Sonic represents an overflow of Sonic’s negative emotions, the ones he usually suppresses: anger, sadness, and fear.

However, many people believe that Dark Sonic is somehow a betrayal of Sonic as a character (even Ian Flynn, reportedly, but I’ve yet to see an official source). Sonic is meant to be a beacon of optimism. Sonic is meant to be the pillar of hope when all else fails. Sonic is meant to be the last one standing, no matter what.

In this sense, sure, Dark Sonic contradicts the notion that Sonic is “uncorruptable,” but I think that depends on how we define corruption.

I see it two ways:

1) Corruption by way of losing faith, through dishonesty and fraud. 2) Corruption by way of a forceful shift from one state of being to another.

In the first sense, corruption occurs when someone’s paradigm is shifted through lies, cheating, or manipulation. It’s a conscious mental shift. In the second sense, corruption occurs when something (or someone) is co-opted and changed without its will or influence, like data corruption, or a shift in the meaning of a word or image. It’s a literal, physical and/or metaphysical shift.

There’s a saying that floats around the fandom that says, “Shadow is just ‘Sonic, if Sonic had one really bad day’,” and I think that makes sense. Shadow is jaded and cynical because of how the world has hurt him, but he still wants to do right by people—just like Sonic. What separates Sonic from Shadow, however, is Sonic’s tenant optimism and positive paradigm. Without those differences, Sonic has endless reasons to be as cynical as Shadow, or even more so.

So, Sonic doesn’t let himself feel those feelings for very long, and especially not when other people are around. He pours everything into a clean, neat bottle, with a tight screw-on cap, right?

What happens when something tampers with that bottle?

Dark Sonic is a forceful corruption of body but not of mind. Let’s talk about it.

How Dark Sonic Works

What I think people misunderstand most about Dark Sonic is that it’s not an intentional state of being. It never was.

Dark Sonic is the polar opposite to Super Sonic, which is achieved when Sonic harnesses the positive energy of the Chaos Emeralds. If Sonic wanted to harness the power of the emeralds for the wrong reasons and his heart accessed the negative energy rather than the positive, he could possibly bring about Dark Sonic willingly. This, however, would likely never happen because that is the betrayal of Sonic’s character that everyone worries about.

That said, the only reason Dark Sonic ever appears is because of a mix of Sonic’s pure rage over Black Narcissist physically assaulting Chris and Cosmo and the presence of hundreds of the Metarex’s fake Chaos Emeralds, which possess an aura clearly shown to impact Sonic and make him ill.

Sonic’s first interaction with negative Chaos energy from the fake emeralds is filled with discomfort and even disgust. Sonic reacting to the negative Chaos energy poorly is critical, as it showcases that it’s seeking him out, not vice versa.

When Sonic was as triggered as he was, the negative energy from the fakes harnessed his emotions and corrupted him. It was a complete, freak accident.

This situation is very similar to Darkspine Sonic, the in-game equivalent to Dark Sonic from Sonic and the Secret Rings. Darkspine Sonic only surfaces when Sonic is severely triggered after Shahra starts to betray him, Erazor Djinn murders her (she sacrifices herself for Sonic), and he sees Erazor Djinn’s final form about to destroy the storybook world. In his shock and anger, the Secret Rings of Sadness, Rage, and Hate target him, painfully turning him into Darkspine Sonic. Once again, external energies corrupt him at the height of his emotional vulnerability.

Sonic never seeks out the negative energy of the Chaos Emeralds because his heart is good. When the negative energy seeks him out in such overwhelming waves, it corrupts his abilities, alters them, and pulls them out to play.

But—

If it’s simply a matter of fake Chaos Emeralds, then why can Sonic use Tails’ fake Chaos Emerald in Sonic Adventure 2 without any problems? I posit this to the fact that Tails might have a better understanding of the balanced nature of the Chaos Emeralds (in that they are powered by both good and evil), while Eggman and Dark Oak have only ever used (or desired to use) the Chaos Emeralds for evil.

Recall Eggman’s laser at the beginning of Sonic Unleashed and Perfect Chaos in Sonic Adventure. Both uses of the chaos emeralds drained them of their power—their negative power, that is. (Albeit through different means based on the lore of each game), Sonic is still able to restore and harness the emeralds’ power because he relies on the positive energy of the emeralds. As intelligent as he is, I imagine that Eggman (as well as the Metarex) has a hard time replicating the intricate nature and balance of the Chaos Emeralds because their hearts are filled with hatred and turmoil, so unwilling to heed the perspectives of others. The power is there, sure, but not the heart.

~Chaos is power. Power is enriched by the heart~

Tikal's Prayer

I think the difference between Tails’ fake emerald and every other fake emerald we’ve seen in canon is marked by the fact that both Eggman’s and the Metarex’s fakes disintegrate after excessive use (i.e., Chaos Control), but Tails’ fake remains intact.

The Metarex's emerald disintegrates upon excessive use

Eggman's fake emeralds can't hold their form upon excessive use

Tails' fake emerald is intact and ultimately used to stop the Eclipse Canon from firing

In short, Tails’ emerald is simply a better fake, more accurate to the originals.

also, I refuse to talk about how dumb it is that Sonic was able to use a fake Chaos Emerald to do Chaos Control for the first time. However, it is canon, and therefore relevant to my point.

Another key problem cited in Sonic X is just how many fake emeralds there are. One emerald pales in comparison to hundreds. Sonic feels all the latent negative energy consume him because that energy is a corruption, itself.

It’s not that Sonic gets so angry that he just gives in to darkness, it’s that darkness captures him when he’s in extreme emotional distress and his guard is down. Dark Sonic is the result of negative, unstable, potent Chaos energy clinging to him, using his latent Chaos powers as a vessel when he least expects it and, thus, is powerless against it.

I think I can best prove this by contrasting Dark Sonic with Sonic’s other intimate encounter with darkness…

Sonic Unleashed, Dark Gaia, and the Werehog

I’ve spoken at length about this game and this specific scene, already, so kindly forgive my hyper-brief summary this time around!

When Dark Gaia’s “weight issues” cause its essence to disperse around the globe, many people fall influence to Dark Gaia’s despair, losing faith and hope in the world. Nothing like the influences of Chaos energy, but enough of an influence that much of the world feels it. A core aspect of the game’s plot is that Sonic, distinctly, does not. In the cutscene No Reason, Sonic asks Chip why he stays the same despite the darkness inside his heart while so many others change at night. Chip answers simply, saying that Sonic’s too strong to lose himself and that part of his good will is because he never doubts himself, even when he’s on his own.

The difference is that while Sonic undergoes a physical transformation, he never loses faith or gives up hope—made especially clear by the fact that Professor Pickle, once as hopeful as Sonic, eventually does lose hope.

Also key to note that Amy also never loses hope.

Unleashed is just another fun, high-stakes adventure for Sonic; there’s never a moment where he’s aggressively triggered by something or when his personal morals are ever tainted. Irritated, maybe. Flustered, even. Never at a loss. The closest we see Sonic come to this is when he loses the werehog form to Dark Gaia before the final battle. He falls to his knees, worn and exhausted, and tells Chip to run because he doesn’t want him to get caught up in the mess. Yet even then he’s not giving up.

That’s why Sonic’s heightened emotional state is so important to the conversation. When Sonic’s will is intact, he’s much stronger, but when he’s triggered by something and his defences are down, it’s much easier for corrupting forces around him to take hold.

Mind over Matter

Even with the parameters for Dark Sonic’s appearance established, something that stands out to me about Sonic’s encounters with dark energies, and something I see as additional evidence that Dark Sonic is only a literal, physical corruption and not a corruption of his paradigm, is that Sonic is still in control of himself—to an extent.

Even as he seethes in his amplified rage, Dark Sonic never inflicts harm on the innocent. After Gold and Silver are destroyed, it’s not expressly clear if Sonic intends to stop or fight Black Narcissist, but Eggman implies that Sonic was fighting Gold and Silver until there was quite literally nothing left. Sonic was given a target to attack, and he kept his focus there, even when other enemies presented themselves.

This also goes for the Werehog and Darkspine Sonic.

He also has the mind to listen to reason—from Eggman, of all people—and stop when it’s clear that he’s finished what he set out to do. Sonic channels his anger to where it needs to be, and it’s clear that Sonic’s moral code and paradigm on life are thoroughly intact.

The only thing that changes is that he’s no longer imposing his usual limits. Sonic is stupidly powerful, even without any power ups. If he ever wanted to kill Eggman, he would have by now. If he ever wanted to kill anyone, he would have by now (and technically, he has).

Sonic throws Erazor Djinn's lamp into a pit, never to resurface, effectively trapping him and ending his livelihood indefinitely.

However, Sonic holds back because he doesn’t want to be an arbiter of justice—he doesn’t want to deprive someone’s chance to be good unless it’s been clear that they cannot be redeemed.

Why I Care About This

It is no secret that I believe that Sonic is a highly emotional character—far more emotional than many give him credit for. It bears repeating that Sonic’s emotions are very big and can be cataclysmic when left unchecked…

…but that’s just part of growing up—growing up as a hero and, damn it, even just a kid.

Dark Sonic isn’t a case of Sonic giving himself to darkness, nor is it a perversion of Sonic’s character. It’s an energetic, chaotically-charged version of Sonic when he is at his angriest—and even then it’s not enough to change his morals or make him lash out unjustly.

Dark Sonic is cathartic, in a way, and I definitely think it deserves its place in canon.

[sakuraswordly]

From: Tsofph Concept short stories as comic and manga (All season) part 2

As in Tsubasa Reservoir chronicle

Warning: Tsubasa chronicle spoilers, Tsofph spoilers, Sonic and the Secret Rings spoilers, xxxHolic spoilers

Mean in Tsubasa of Phantasia, the world's end already happened once. the prime world that I write meaning the original or beginning(the first time Earth was born) and Tsubasa(the god of nothingness recreated the universe(Like turning back time and creating a new timeline) and started everything over so they call the real world).

Simple visualization; Left is the prime world timeline(Real Sakura) and the right is the real world(Clone Sakura) S= Secondary, P = Primary

So that's mean In Prologue:  https://www.tumblr.com/sakuraswordly(October 2022)

Syaoran & Sonic = Secondary => From the real world

Punch & Peter = Primary ==> From the prime world

Simple visualization; From xxxHolic and Announce5: Link

Syaoran & Sonic are the replacement for Punch & Peter. In the prime world timeline Punch & Peter did create history and Punch did create "Legendary Blue Hedgehog." and Peter create the Legend of King Arthur.

Syaoran and Peter are different from Punch and Sonic. Syaoran and Peter share the same existence and the same hearts, but you still can tell the difference between them. But Punch and Sonic are the same as I wrote in Some things are beautiful because they cannot be obtained 1(Tsofph Concept ).

Let's come back to the topic "Legendary Blue Hedgehog."

"Legendary Blue Hedgehog." didn't suppose to exist but it seems in Sonic and the Secret Rings, Erazor Djinn did find this legend that exists in the legend story of Arabian Nights.

Shahra: "When darkness falls on the Arabian Nights, the legendary blue hedgehog shall arrive from the outside world."

Sonic: What's that? You mean me?

It seems this is the first time for Sonic. He never heard of it(Or He did not interested in it) Whatever the case, "That is what is written in the newest chapter of the Arabian Nights" Someone who still knew "Punch" wrote down this the newest chapter of the Arabian Nights that's mean that Sonic who share the same existence Punch but if not "Punch" in the prime world timeline, Sonic will break the portal between the worlds(Both exist and not exist like myth) and the world will crumble. In other to make the world balance, Sonic must offer his life to balance the world.

When Shahra defied him once again, he shot a flaming arrow at her as "punishment". Sonic jumped in front of the flame and took the hit. Erazor, taking advantage of the situation, told Sonic to gather the Rings for him before the flame went out, or his "life is forfeit". That flaming arrow was destiny for Sonic to get avoid which means Sonic must offer his life. Shahra jumps and blocks Erazor's blade and is struck down in Sonic's place to pay back the favour that Sonic saved her from a flaming arrow. That's the affection when Sonic rubs his ring and commands Shahra to do what she "feels is right". Erazor absorbs the power of the seven World Rings and transforms into Alf Layla wa-Layla and he said "You need a miracle to defeat me". In Sonic Vs Punch and from Shadow in Sonic Adventure 2

These are the reason why Sonic can defeat him without a miracle even only got three of the World Rings (Sadness, Rage, and Hate, which were his feelings at the time) infused with Sonic.

In Tsofph season 9(final judgement), explain enough why both Syaoran and Peter are serious about Sonic and Punch.

Punch had the power to balance the universe. She did on Sonic's World in the prime world timeline but Sonic couldn't. The affection effect Sonic to absorb the rings and create the rings to balance Sonic's world in the real world timeline.

"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world — there is only inevitability" 

The same way for the Legend of King Arthur. Some of the Legend of King Arthur were real and Some weren't real. But why had "Some"?

One in the prime world timeline, one in the real world timeline and one is just fake Arthur in the real world timeline. But why did this happen? In Tsofph Season 11(Chapter 1 Secret Truth of the Past) will explain this in the future.

My explanation in this blog is the meaning of Two of my art From Picture Cover concepts.

From: Prologue(Punch and Peter)

And this "Punch" 's existence explains enough why both Syaoran and Peter are serious about Sonic and Punch.

In Tsofph season 9(final judgement) will explain more why Syaoran can be or connect to King Arthur.

As for Danny and Gilgamesh, their true names were hidden. I reveal that Danny's real name is "Phantom"(Hint Reveal in Announce5: Link and Novel conversation 2 (Tsofph Concept) only Gilgamesh that still not reveals his true name yet in Tsubasa of Phantasia.

Since 2021-2023, Tsubasa of Phantasia parallel so far.

"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world — there is only inevitability" 

This sentence is my meaning to share in Tsubasa of Phantasia's story.

Bonus:

These six pictures mean "I won't let you down"

[futuristichedge]

[latin-dr-robotnik]

This is my favorite boss introduction in a Sonic game, hands down.

I LOVE how even the title card glitches as The End takes control of Supreme, it's such a small detail but it adds to this "oh shit" type of moment, and the music ramps up just as you are given control back to fight this monstrosity.

The original The End title card wasn't really all that bad, but it was kinda funny to watch a close up to this world-ending entity that felt more like "lol purple moon bad", and the rest of the actual fight didn't help it much tbh.

Here the purple moon is still "lol I'm evil", and it has even less presence than before, but we get to see the nasty things it's doing to poor Supreme, and I have to admit I feel really bad for the titan, it's going through a lot in this fight, and it becomes a hollow husk possessed by the overwhelming power of The End (power that can kick Super Sonic 2 out of his charged Super form and harm him, I have to add).

Poor thing.

[jacob-the-human]

[findmeh-slongson]

Just had the blursed thought that Worth a Chance from Sonic and the secret rings works perfectly with the thorn route.

The lyrics "let me make it up to you, love is worth a chance" specifically

[ask-the-all-consuming-void]

If everyone sees you as their death... what did Sonic see?

I saw his mind, and even I can only guess.

Perhaps he saw your deepest oceans.... and a vengeful creature within, eager to drag him into its depths.

Perhaps your manmade satellite.... a place of imitative creation.... a punishment he briefly lost someone to.

Perhaps an arrow, burning with the force of his own heart.... writhing ever closer to its wick.

Or, perhaps.... he only saw light. A pulsating violet light, blinding his eyes.... before erupting from his core.

Truly, only he can tell you. Although, knowing him.... he would rather take it to his grave.

[shannonallaround]

ok but can we talk about Sonic's characterization in Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog for a minute?

Spoilers ahead

Sonic only appears in about a third of the Murder of Sonic game, but his characterization in there is one of my FAVORITE characterizations that I've seen in him in years. Yes, even slightly beating Frontiers (and I adore Frontiers, just for the record). Sonic here embodies all the things I love most in him. It's amazing. Here's a list of why he's great

He is unassuming.

From the very beginning of this game, Sonic is so humble. Like, actually humble.

When the conductor speaks with him and thanks him genuinely for fighting against Eggman, Sonic doesn't make a snarky face and be like "all in a day's work!" or something humble-braggy like that (which frankly is something I feel he would do in the comics). Instead, Sonic is surprised and genuinely expresses how it's no big deal and that he's just glad the conductor and his family are safe.

Sonic is just a guy who loves adventure. He's not trying to get attention or impress anybody—he's just happy people are safe and well. I love how that is shown here. He doesn't need to tell people how selfless and kind and good he is, he just is. Sonic doesn't need or want to tell people what he stands for. He doesn't care what others think. He doesn't think about his identity constantly; he just is. (In my opinion, people who feel the need to constantly tell you what their character is like rarely actually have the traits they describe. If they actually are those things, it will come out naturally in their speech and actions.) In this game, Sonic simply is. What is this, late 2000s Sonic?? It's amazing.

2. He is encouraging in a private way.

One of the biggest reasons Sonic felt off to me in Forces (even though I have a soft spot for that game) is because there, he constantly spouts off in a very public way stuff about friendship and not letting fear own you and how 'we can do anything if we stick together', etc. Sonic does believe all of those things, and he is definitely optimistic, but it's largely internal. It's instinctive. Sonic loves to encourage people around him, but he does it on an individual, one-on-one basis. He does this with Shahra in Secret Rings, with Merlina in Black Knight, regularly with Tails, and here with the main character when they get concerned about how they weren't assertive enough when they first felt Sonic was in danger.

Sonic doesn't just brush off the main character's concern either. He addresses and recognizes it for what it is, empathizing with them and helping them feel understood. Only after that does he recommend a way forward in his wonderful Sonic way, which encourages the main character and helps them find strength. It's so natural and it's awesome!

3. Sonic is selfless, also in an unassuming way.

When Sonic starts coming to, after briefly confirming Espio hit him with the dart (since Tails asked), Sonic instantly focuses on the safety of his friends.

He hasn't fully recovered yet at all and he IMMEDIATELY focuses on protecting his friends and it's AWESOME. He can't even fully speak at this point and just ajsahdfjadsjlajf. This aspect of Sonic is much more consistently done in the games and was beautifully done in Frontiers, so it's not nearly as big a deal here but I am still so happy about the consistency.

4. Sonic is SO AMAZING AND SWEET WITH HIS DEAR FRIEND AMY.

Need I say more? :)

This game was released as a joke, and yet it was incredible??? EVERYONE was so well characterized in this! I'm gonna be thinking about this game for a very long time.

If any of the creators see this, thank you so so SO much for making this game awesome! :D

[tigirl-and-co]

Propaganda:

-I am the world's only 06 story enjoyer, also I could play it and my brothers could watch

-Frontiers is the new one and ive managed to be decently spoiler free

-I just. I really love Shahra and Sonic's friendship in Secret Rings it makes me warm and fuzzy

-I don't even like fighting games but. Emerl. I like getting my heart broken and also i have beaten the fighterz story thrice so clearly 'i don't like this type of game' is not a good enough reason for me not to buy something

[aromantic-shadow]

Sonic the hedgehog says fuck the system

In Secret Rings and Frontiers Final Horizon, Sonic makes quit abrupt, blunt, and brutally obvious remarks about the state of King Solomon and the ancient Master King’s misfortunes. What is with Sonic and being rude to ancient beings? Especially since they’re basically dead. It’s both hilarious and concerning.

(If anyone has other examples let me know)

I love both moments because they show a bit of Sonic’s immaturity and sassiness. It gives off the impression that he’s either still young or trying to lighten the mood. Maybe both.

At least afterwards Sonic shows some respect and does them a favor.

[krissiefox]

Sonic The Hedgehog (2020) Movie Review!

While I was sick recently, I was holed up in my room trying not to infect the rest of my family. I'd been reading Sonic fanfics in the meantime, and this gave me the idea to finally watch the DVD I got of the the 2020 Sonic movie, and then of course, I wanted to write a review, because it's fun (and my wife seems to like them)! I'll put a divider here, because this review does contain spoilers for most of the plot points, so this is your warning before you read on!

To get the unfortunate bits out of the way, the movie had a rough start, with the strange first design of Sonic becoming a social media trend of snark and negativity that I remember making me pretty depressed. In response to the backlash, Paramount changed up Sonic's design to something cuter. I've heard mixed claims saying that during this time the artists for the movie were abused with crunch, while others claim this didn't occur, so I'm not sure about whether or not it happened, but I hope not.

A worried Sonic ball, hiding from badniks....

With that unpleasantness out of the way, the movie eventually finished and came out, and at-least on tumblr I saw a lot of folks seemed to really enjoy it. My little brother expressed interest in watching it with me, so eventually while out shopping with my wife I picked up copies of the first two movies.

This movie does commit the act of "Hollywood Video Game Adaptations" by largely changing the source material and basically creating another AU for the Sonicverse, and I know that's a turnoff for some, so this wouldn't be every one's cup of tea as many folks would prefer something rooted in one the already established Sonic worlds. I was able to enjoy the film though, and found it quite cute, sweet and funny. It also gave warm fuzzies to see my favorite childhood video game hero in his first big screen movie adaption.

The Story follows Sonic as he is ousted from his home world by his owl mom to live on Earth, after a tribe of echidnas attacks their house. Sonic is ordered to live in hiding, and is given a bag of magic teleportation rings that he is to use only in an emergency to escape to another place.

As ordered, Sonic lives on Earth in secret, in a town called Green Hills. He spies on the humans and enjoys learning about Earth, but is still very lonely as he isn't allowed to interact with them. Some of his favorite humans are a local couple that he has named "Donut Lord" and "Pretzel Lady". One night, while playing at a baseball field at night, Sonic gets so upset about his isolated life that he causes a massive power surge with his speed, drawing attention to his location.

Dr. Robotnik meets Donut Lord!

The government calls in Dr. Robotnik (and his minion/boyfriend Agent Stone), whom in this universe is an earthling rather than a resident of Mobius. He is played by Jim Carrey as a delightfully fun and strange villain throughout the film. He takes over the search for the source of the power surge, and eventually closes in on the cave Sonic has been living in.

In a panic, Sonic decides he'll need to bail on this world, though he hates the thought of having to do so, being so fond oft it. He sneaks into Donut Lords home to use one of his teleport rings, when Donut (aka Tom) finds him and shoots him with a tranquilizer dart gun. One of Sonic's rings opens up and since Donut's shirt made Sonic think of San Francisco, that's where the portal leads to and Sonic's rings end up there.

After getting to know each-other, Sonic and Donut end up fleeing as vigilantes both from the government and Dr. Robotnik. Eventually they make it to San Francisco, Sonic gets his rings back, and he has a big showdown with Robotnik where he ends up sending Robotnik through a portal to the mushroom world he was originally going to go to. Donut Lord and Pretzel Lady end up adopting Sonic, and the movie wraps up as Sonic sees his new bedroom in a really sweet scene. Mid credits, we also get a teaser showing Tails arriving on Earth!

One of the movie's more badass looking scenes.

Outside of the aforementioned issue that creating an entirely new Sonic AU for the film will alienate some folks, my only other criticism is that I would have liked to learn more Sonic's owl mom, as she seemed pretty cool. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the film quite a bit. It was colorful, pretty, Sonic was adorable, Robotnik was very funny, and Sonic's new friends were quite likeable. Definitely a recommended watch for anyone curious about the film. :) I may end up watching the sequel sometime soon, too!

[shrimpsicality]

// secret life spoilers

Tango wakes deep in the stomach of the Dungeon's wiring—really? That's where he last slept?—and screams.

It's mostly frustration, partly embarrassment.

The scream doesn't even have the decency to echo; it's absorbed by the wool criss-crossing the cavern. The torches shine impassively, flames aglow in the perfectly still air. Tango is sick of dying so meaninglessly, so uselessly. Just once, he'd like to go down fighting.

"Whatever. I knew it was coming," he tells no one. If there's a silver lining, it's that he's alone. There is no Scar lingering too close, the scent of blood on his breath. There are no red names lurking in the walls, or—earlier still—yellow names giggling and speculating. Being able to talk freely, even if it is to himself, is quite relieving. "I knew something like this was gonna happen."

The anger is already fading. The disappointment will stay till the end of time.

Tango grits his teeth; his ankle throbs when he tries to stand. Void, Ultra Hardcore takes a while to wear off. Not even when he was getting mauled daily by ravagers in Season 7 did respawns hurt this much. There are bruises on his arms from endlessly hefting a shield, and his ears ring with the crackling of Wither skulls and the sonic booms of the Warden. Tango thinks he might not be able to face the Deepfrost citadel for a while.

The redstone-spaghetti that he calls a ceiling wobbles as he stands, pulling hard on the cave walls as his legs give out. It takes him a moment to find his rockets, another moment to breathe as he finds them where the Secret scroll was—not that he needed it, really; Win Secret Life? That was the plan, buddy, and it was doomed from the beginning of the session.

His elytra trails dust as he takes off, the overhead swoop as it unfurls unfamiliar after weeks of walking. He lands clumsily on the highest perch, scrapes his arms as he pulls himself to his feet. The blood wells, bright red, and Tango feels a brief jolt of panic—no, his hearts are fine. They're regenerating, albeit slowly since he hasn't eaten in a while.

Hasn't been much time to, has there? Amidst all the chasing and running and hunting, Void, the hunting—

Tango won't forget the feeling of hounds baying at his heels any time soon.

Everything feels different in a world where mistakes are final. Where every tiny hit, every careless blow is set in stone. Stone, like the constant, judging presence of the Secret Keeper, and doesn't that just make Tango want to take to the statue with a stack of TNT and some flint and steel.

He had better go hand in his task, hadn't he? He's failed. Tango laughs to himself, tries to store that joke to tell when the rest come back. It won't be long, if that's any comfort, but they'll have battles and betrayals and blood to spill, unlike him. Tango might look for Mumbo, but even he died in action, early death or otherwise.

The worst thing is that he isn't even mad he lost. He's mad because he's gone.

Just. Like. That.

Burnt from under his feet. Moss and smoke in the air, Scar shouting, a duel in the distance—he envies the loser of that fight, if only because they have a killer to name, a revenge to seek, something apart from his own damned stupidity to blame.

Tango grumbles a bit more, pulls the lever that reopens the Dungeon. There's always next season.

[sakuraswordly]

For someone who said "Sonic" Prime is out of character.

If you remember Sonic and the Secret Rings, Shahra did say this is not Tails but Sonic can't believe it before going to do quest. Sonic couldn't stop staring at the look-like Tails in the distance.

In Sonic and the black knight, even Sonic knew this wasn't Tails but he still tried to reach his hand. You can't tell how much Tails is important to Sonic. Mr Junichi Kanemaru once said Sonic's very positive and sensitive too. Sonic's so very kind, his heart, so he can hurt very easily if his friends hurt or die because of him.

That is why this scene Sonic tries to reach his hand to his buddy...and his friends...

When Sonic says "home" to Green Hill, this is also Shadow's home as well-meaning Sonic's friends also his friends too. When you remember Maria's wish, that's how Shadow started to protect Sonic since Sonic Adventure 2 to not let him die from chaos control.

So Shadow knew how much burden Sonic tried to carry without telling anyone and when only Sonic and Shadow this time, Shadow started to protect Sonic not because he started to care but because he cared about Sonic since Shadow the Hedgehog 2005. "If you want to help them, we need to get out of here" Shadow lost his family once but as long as he exists, his friends will exist even if they are gone. This is what Shadow meant to let go of his past in Shadow the Hedgehog 2005. Protecting the earth means "protecting home" and "protecting friends" he cares about not for Maria's sake anymore but now for his true desire. That's why because Sonic's his friend...Shadow can't let Sonic end up like him.

Shadow: Even you're not Sonic, but you're still Sonic the one I knew. Thank you for always being by my side, Punch.

Punch: I'm glad I will be able to save you again, Shadow. Even though we had met before I felt like I couldn't let you die again. It's just like I knew you for a very long time.

Shadow: (You reached me like when Sonic reached out to save me before I fell to Earth from the ARK. I remember...If I hadn’t waved Sonic away, Sonic would have fallen with me. But his determination in trying… I’ll never forget that even now. The way you tried to save me. You and Sonic really care about me. Thank you again for accepting me for who I am.)

But no matter how much Shadow tried to stay away from Sonic to not get bonded or be hurt like what was bonding between Maria. Or tried to be an unlimited life form whatever. In the end, Shadow except "Sonic" to help him even though he doesn't like it. So this is connected to Tsubasa of Phantasia, in this scene why Shadow's feeling both glad and sad when Punch comes to rescue him.

Silver's much different from both Sonic and Shadow. Silver is the hero of justice but doesn't know how the truth behind it, unlike Shadow. Shadow knew Silver tried to hurt Sonic so he jumped to protect him from Silver and take Silver to the real truth behind the past. Shadow is more careful and quick than Silver. Shadow taught Silver to discover the truth and thanks to Shadow. Silver decides to do the right thing not to change the past but to change the future.

"Leave the past behind and keep moving to the future". And this is what this scene means. Shadow lets Sonic see the past mistake again and change the present now before everything is too late just like Shadow did to Silver once(Even Shadow didn't remember).

Thanks from Tailstube, this is the hint how the relationship between Tails and Shadow. In Sonic Prime, Shadow knew Sonic couldn't accept what happened because of his fault so Shadow knew that he could help Sonic.

"Shadow" is a hero that helps people in their Shadow. That's what his name mean.

[pico-digital-studios]

Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers Story Mode Ideas

Today, I've been thinking a bit about how a Story Mode to Ring Racers would go if there was one implemented. So here's some ideas I've come up with. Please click "Keep reading" below to give them a look!

WARNING: Spoilers below for some secrets hidden in Ring Racers. If you haven't discovered everything (like bonus levels and a secret character), please hold off here.

So the idea of a plot I had was to be centred around Emerl as the primary playable character for the game (thanks to him being in the middle of the chart with Knux and Heavy Magician), having been constructed as a joint effort between Robotnik and Tails that could learn from experience, in this case, through races and battles. The plot also shows off how other characters (like Sonic, Knuckles and Amy) reacted to the two forming a partnership in the aftermath of the ARK incident.

To connect the story together, I thought about having a unique Hub level situated within Sunbeam Paradise, known as the Pit Stop Zone. It functions similarly to the hubs in Diddy Kong Racing, with the player able to drive around and access any major levels or mini-cups via teleporters dotted around the base.

Medals of different varieties can be unlocked by completing different criteria in the races and battles, with Bronze awarded simply for beating the level, up to Platinum for making it without taking any damage. These medals are used for progression to different areas of the Pit Stop, with a boss encounter on each floor with a linear track used to build up to it.

Said boss encounters would play out the same way as the Adventure Example level did, with you given two bumpers to tank hits with and items to attack the boss's weak points with (like Orbinauts and Gachaboms). Beating the boss will allow you to advance to the next floor and to tougher challenges, but losing will require you to start the fight from the beginning.

Now, let's talk the currency idea for the Story Mode; the very same rings you find within all the levels. Naturally, you can only hold 20 at a time, which are all counted at the end of a race if you hold onto them, and considering it'd be a lengthy grind if you only had that, I thought of a bonus also being added depending on your Lap Bonus, the number of Prison Eggs smashed or points scored in the Battle challenges, alongside your overall ranking.

These rings can be spent on things such as bonus levels for unlocking in Lost & Found, Racer Cards that allow Emerl to match the stats of another character in the roster, and other tidbits like a helper Hyudoro that can carry a purchased item in your stocks for you to use whenever you need it.

Getting enough medals on a floor also allows you to challenge two Sealed Star levels per floor and gather the Chaos/Super Emeralds there, which can then be challenged again later in the Special menu as you see fit. They're likely to remain as tough as normal, but at least here you won't have to redo a whole cup to try them again if you fail entirely.

Collecting all the medals on specific tracks will allow you to take on a new challenge; Rival Races. Think the one-on-one races from Sonic R, only with karts and items. In addition, this is the main spot that the Rival mechanic comes into play (which isn't in use for other areas of Story Mode), meaning your opponent will be putting up quite a fight to overpower you.

Beating the rival to the end of the track plain and simple will unlock them or another racer as a playable character (some of which can only be unlocked if you win as a specific character in the lineup). For instance, you can unlock Tails Doll if you beat him in a Rival Race in Northern District Zone, though to get Metal Amy, you'd have to beat Metal Sonic in Collision Chaos AS Amy.

I also had thoughts of Kart-Sports Passes being available to find in the tracks that allow you to access separate hub spaces with single-player minigames inside. These can range from Prison Break challenges to mini Time Attack courses, and doing well in them can award you with more medals for back at Sunbeam Paradise. Fortunately, accessing these places for the first time will always allow you to go back to any you've been to before without a Pass.

Some levels will have you playing as a character separate from Emerl, but the points earned will go towards his progression. For example, in the story's prologue, you'd be playing as Sonic in Mega Emerald Beach taking on Robotnik in an easy battle challenge, mainly for the blue blur to ensure the doc isn't up to any new evil tricks again.

Other levels not linked to Emerl will focus on other characters getting into the thrill of using the Ring Racers, as a lead-in to the Ring Racer League, a set of challenges set out for the best-of-the-best racers out there. But considering Metal Sonic tried to attack his creator before Tails intervened before, trouble may start brewing that might impact the outlook of Emerl's future...

For now, we'll just have to wait and keep an eye on the FUTUR3.

Hope you enjoyed my ideas! See you later, folks!

[biolizardboils]

i just spent all day playing The Final Horizon 😎😎 initial thoughts under the cut!! (minor spoilers of course)

So the cool thing is: Amy, Knux and Tails are playable in 3D for the first time in 17 years! The not-as-cool thing is... well, they're playable in 3D for the first time in 17 years. They sat out for the whole 2010s, and for me they feel the part.it's taking me conscious effort to adjust to their new movesets, but all the super-precise platforming mini-gauntlets floating about are helping

I remember seeing Shadow Boost in Generations and wondering how his and the other characters' full movesets might differ from Sonic's. I remember thinking, maybe in the next game we'll find out--the little-story, Sonic-only thing will blow over by then, right? I was in middle school. So seeing his friends Boost now is like... man.

I ignored the game's "hey go over here" prompts for hours to fill out the map and unlock/practice everyone's moves. Then i jumped off high places to find More Stuff way before i was probably meant to lol. Every time i considered furthering the plot, i saw an even higher place tempting me to keep Classic Spyro-ing that shit, it was great

So, a question I posit to the void with no expectation of a reply: Did the Another Story Warp Ring take Sonic to an alternate timeline? Is this new ending the canon one now, or will he jump out of the Ring right after and continue with the base game? Wondering about this in advance since it'll affect how I run my Secret Sideblog. Which reminds me: Surprise, I have a Secret Sideblog involving Frontiers! I'm planning on a mod reveal when I'm done playing, feel free to guess which one it is until then

Speaking of Classic Spyro-ing that shit, i was already thinking "wow, i can skip a lot of platforming with these three's air moves." And then i unlocked the Cyclone. Holy SHIT that thing is BROKEN (affectionate). Is this how SA1 enthusiasts feel about the Spin Dash? God damn i get the appeal of Just Skipping Everything now

I stopped right after Dragon's Trial (is that Giganto's pilot's name btw?? awesome if so). Anyway i love how they were like "you ruined everything my people fought for, fucking die" and sent six insanely beefed-up Soldiers to beat Sonic's ass fjdjhf. Honestly?? Understandable

i have to wait four days before i can play again and there's leaks springing in my Spoiler Tag Dam, please pray for me 😭😭

[caffeine-clouds]

Some Sonic Headcanons and Facts No One Asked For In My Fic

Hi, so I write fanfiction. Yes I am a disappointment to my parents, you don't need to ask. I'm currently working on a rather big project right now called The Butterfly Effect, and I'll be posting a lot about it here on this ol' Tumblr of mine. I felt like delving into some of those headcanons today that I have included in my fic: Sonic

Ah, I love this blue man. Funny thing is I did a bit of canon divergence with him. I made Sonic dislike reading in the fic, when in canon it does seem to be implied that he likes reading by the Black Knight and Secret Rings games. So why did I make Sonic have a dislike of reading? Not so show that he's dumb or hyperactive - rather a way to further characterise him as someone who sees little point in fantasizing about better worlds and reading the journeys of heroes - where he would much rather be having his own adventures and being the hero that steps up in the real world. He is a man of action - he ain't gonna sit around waiting for dreams to come true, he's gonna make shit happen. He's got no problem with books, he's just got better things to do - like touching grass. Can't relate. Knuckles

Honestly I think any of my headcanons about him could be delving into spoiler territory for the story soooooo I'm keeping my mouth shut on that front ;) Rouge

Rouge is very secretive when it comes to her past, more-so than even the more private characters. This isn't because it's some awful tragic thing (although she certainly has some things to angst over), it's out of her desire to live in the present and only present - she hates looking back on things. She's looking at her life, as a fully fledged criminal - and just wants to smile, she doesn't care how the fuck she got to this point - and you've just gotta deal with it. That doesn't mean I won't be sprinkling in stuff about her life though, just don't expect her to pour her heart about it to someboday. Another point where I canon diverge - it involves a character that she shouldn't have met when she was younger according to canon - but in this backstory I said fuck it. Shadow

Shadow is neurodivergent and on the autism spectrum, he's very blunt and doesn't read the room and social norms very well, struggles to express his feelings, and has a tendency to take things very literally. These are of course not the universal symptoms of autism as it is a spectrum, but these are some of his symptoms specifically - I could delve into this a whole lot but I won't for today because I should be working pfft.