Sonic Movie Easter Eggs and References

When I watched the Sonic movie, I managed to pick up on a few of the in-jokes.

So here's a list possible references I picked up on:

Sonic Levels

Green Hill

We see Sonic's old home as the first Sonic level, Green Hill Zone (complete with breaking land-bridges and loop-de-loops). The town on earth is called Green Hills, also named after the level. A bit of remixed music plays near the end of the movie--Green Hill Zone's theme.

Other Classic Stages

Sonic also mentions beaches and other locations, while his old dwelling resembles South (or possibly Angel) Island. The "Mushroom dimension" Sonic dreads has to be based on Mushroom Hill Zone (Sonic and Knuckles). A road sign labeled "Hill Top Rd" is named after the zone from Sonic 2. Sonic also goes to Egypt briefly, where many desert levels have been based (Sandopolis, etc).

Other Modern Stages

It's worth noting modern Sonic levels often mention characters as streets on their city levels, like Blaze RD (perhaps the "Hill Top" idea came from this). Sonic treks to San Francisco, where most of Sonic Adventure 2's locations were based. What is shown resembles many Sonic-city levels like "Empire City." Sonic also visits the Great Wall of China, where the Sonic Unleashed level Dragon Road was based.

Other Game Stuff

Sonic 3

The rings were inspired from the Giant Ring gimmick (the entrance to the special stages from the first game...as well as some of the others such as Sonic 3).

"Hold still you devil!"

"Commander Waters" may be some version of the video game's "Commander." The Commander, who debuted in Shadow the Hedgehog, is the head of the game's good-again/bad-again military, GUN ("Guardian Units of Nation"). Walters, who seems to be in a high spot in the US military, is the one who chooses Robotnik for the job of investigating Sonic (and later, embarrassed, works to cover the situation up).

Sonic's red shoes are similar to his soap shoes from Sonic Adventure 2.

The symbol on Sonic's bandanna is from the start of Sonic 1. Sonic also mentions having "an extra life." Having "lives" is a common Sonic element.

Sonic slowing/stopping time is an ability first used in Sonic and the Secret Rings ("Time Stop"), although slowing time had previously been established as a possibly with Chaos Control. Interestingly, while this is normal for "Movie Sonic," in the games Sonic usually needs a "skill" enabled or outside help before doing the move.

Sonic turning blue could be a version of the boost, while it's electric qualities could be a reference to Super Sonic or even the Lightening Shield.

Sonic also preforms the spindash, his signature move.

Miles Electric in Sonic Colors

Tails has a small device that he uses in his appearance, likely some version of the Miles Electric.

At the end of the movie, Robotnik is left in the Mushroom zone. This mirrored the ending of Sonic Generations where the Doctor was left in "White Space."

Nicknaming Robotnik "Eggman," is something Sonic did nearly two decades earlier in Sonic Adventure.

It's mentioned that Robotnik has a high IQ. Most game descriptions often state his IQ as 300.

One of the labels on Robotnik's break-switches reads "Badniks," which is what his robots are called.

Sonic also mimics parts from the games such as looking at his wrist and tapping his foot, "falling off," and posing like in Smash Bros. The moment when he slides under a truck is also similar to part of the Sonic Unleashed' opening. 

Sonic wanting a friend reflects the theme of friendship and teamwork the games often mention. This Sonic's origins are also similar to Blaze, who was likewise lonely had dangerous powers. However, she chose to isolate herself.

Tom Wachowski

It's likely a coincidence, but "Tom Wachowski" has a name similar to "Tiara Boobowski," the scrapped character from the scrapped game, Sonic X-treme.

Past TV shows, movies, comics   

Sonic with a Chilidog in Sonic and the Black Knight

Sonic eats and seems to enjoy Chilidogs, an occurrence that has been in practically every media since it's debut in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (and in the games' Sonic Unleashed).

Sonic with his guitar in Sonic Underground

Sonic is shown to own a guitar. Sonic playing a guitar has also been a reoccurring gag in many cartoons, playing it's biggest role in Sonic Underground. On similar lines, Sonic was supposed to be a singer in a band in the original Sonic 1, but the idea was scrapped for space.

Sonic shares a dislike of salt-water. In Sonic Underground, Sonic X, Sonic Boom, and in the Archie comics, Sonic was hydrophobic. Others have mentioned that he doesn't like water, and all of these drew on the fact that in the Sonic games, Sonic can not swim, run fast, or breathe long underwater.

"No time for Relaxation"

Sonic says, "Gotta' go Fast," and the unused theme of the movie shares the same name. This are both from the opening of Sonic X, which repeats "Gotta' go fast, gotta' go fast, gotta' go faster-faster-f-f-f-f-faster."

Sonic and Tom running from Robotnik

Sonic is called an "alien" and hunted from the government. This also happened in Sonic X. The idea of Sonic having a male human friend was also in Sonic X first, although Chris was much younger than Tom.

Sonic and Chris "on the run" in the end of Season 2

Complaining, Sonic mentions he doesn't even have any pants, which was a running gag on the show, Sonic Boom.

Sonic sneaks in a bar.

To avoid suspicion, Sonic dons a disguise. This was a re-occurring element in the cartoons that was most used (and used first) in Adventure of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic as a Western Sheriff

A woman mistakes Sonic as wearing a mask, which would often happen in Sonic X (mistaken as a stuffed animal or costume).

Agent Stone with Robotnik

Robotnik has an underling, Agent Stone. The idea of Robtonik having a sidekick or two to do his dirty work has been used through out many cartoons and comics. The concept is also in the game Sonic Unleashed, with a robot who was later remade (as Orbot along-side a new character, Cubot, in Sonic Colors).

Robotnik with his latest "underling," Dr. Starline. 

A little girl gives Sonic his red shoes when she was concerned about his feet. This is a reference to early Sonic canon that Sonic needs his shoes because of the intense friction he endures while running.

Sonic in socks

This can be seen as early as Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, where Sonic's feet smoked when he ran with out them. Other sources say Uncle Chuck was credited as the creator of Sonic's "power shoes" and that he created them for the same reason (and/or to make him faster).

"At the plate...Sonic! At the pitcher's mound...also Sonic!"

Sonic plays a game of baseball, ping-pong, and other games by himself. This has been a joke in the past, too. In Sonic Underground, for example, he plays tennis with himself on each side and also acts as the referee. 

"I hate it when I'm a sore loser."

Sonic's origin is somewhat resembles his in Sonic Underground:

In Sonic Underground, "Beginings," young Sonic lives with two adoptive parents who tell him to run and not to come back. The two are taken to be robotized, and the house is burned. Sonic runs back too late, but is found by Uncle Chuck.

In the movie, Long Claw--an Owl--acts as in a mother-like manor to a young Sonic. In a bad situation, she likewise tells him to run and not to come back. Sonic does run back, just barely missing his chance to return. Sonic was then on his own.

While I am not sure the real reason an owl was chosen (because owls as "wise?"), it's possible it was a reference to old man Owl from the first "Sonic Movie" (the OVA). There have been a few owls in Sonic before, but I fail to see any other connections.

Several Echidnas are seen as the villainous group that drives Sonic away from his home. While this could be a reference to the game's own ancient echidna clans, even that may have been inspired by the history in the Archie Comics.

Speaking of which, the character of Long Claw may not have been Sonic's actual mother because of one of Sega's mandates: video game characters cannot have family unless mentioned in the games. This rule, along with others, was created after the "Ken Penders lawsuit" (former comic writer making a mess). This isn't really a reference, but a possible explanation.

Sonic zips through many Flash comics, likely a nod to the fact that the hedgehog has appeared in several of his own series. In a short, comedic portion of the Archie Comics, Sonic even appeared similar to the Flash in a joke. 

Archie's "Warp Rings" (also based on the giant rings from the games) were very similar to the rings in this movie. They served as a means of inter-dimensional transport.

Sonic has a red race car bed, which must have been inspired from the comics.

The "blind him" move Sonic decides on is something that has been common in many of Sonic's appearances.

Real World  

The name Ivo Rotonik came from the US, while Eggman came from Japan. Later these names were combined so that his name was Ivo Robotnik and his nickname was "Eggman."

An old man draws a picture of Sonic, but it's really an image of Sanic, an online internet meme.

Sonic pretends he has a livestream...he does in the form of the "Sonic the Hedgehog" Youtube Channel. 

Having Sonic drive (and asking how he knew) may have been a jive at the common question some of the racing games caused: "why would Sonic drive a car?"

[End]

So that was more than I expecting to remember. I'm sure there's more and that people will catch on better when they release it on DVD...

I think it's pretty cool they added so much in and it makes me hopeful for the future. Still, it's hard to image that the same company that snuck "badnik" labels and "Sanic" in their move allowed that first design. I'm hoping they add in something that makes fun of it if they make a sequel. 

Sonic and ALSO Sonic

Sonicomics: "Racing for the Stars" (Sonic All-Star Racing Transformed)

Looks like we're "In another time, another place" again...

The art in this one feels very chunky. While the cars have plenty of small details on them, they don't look eye-catching. It's...I don't know, chunky. Sonic looks awesome, but Tracy Yardley clearly isn't as familiar with these other Sega characters. He does alright, but it's not a consistent style. Tails and the rest of the humans...chunky. The bland background...chunky.

It's not all Yardley, but also who did the coloring: Steve Downer. It's a lot of orange and brown...it's all very bland. The cars don't stand out much, either. The cover for this one is equally boring. This issue is not fun...with the exception of Sonic and Eggman...this issue is lifeless.

So instead of the old "Sonic: Blue Blur," "Tails: twin-tailed hero," etc...instead of those intro/descriptions that became an Archie staple in the Sonic series, there's nothing. Just a jump straight in. Maybe since these are other characters that the "average reader" knows nothing of, they should get a stupid intro-box?!

The story is...a lot of words. The characters are constantly mentioning different things about each other...things the "average" reader knows nothing about. Show, don't tell please. And it is shown a little...but is graffiti-ing Eggman's car really doing much?

It's just really annoying. Rather than making the characters interesting or likeable, they're either boring or irritating.

So many...meaningless words...

And why are they racing? You got me. Plus Sonic throws in a comment about thinking about racing on foot. WHAT? That's not going to confuse people further!

To top it off, the ending is "a cop out." The old, "you play and choose the winner." While defeating Eggman makes for an optimistic conclusion, the rest makes this a petty lead-in.

Final Ranking (Best S-Worst E): D-

A bland cast, a bland setting, a bland plot. Best part is Sonic's smug expressions and Tails sticking his tongue out at Eggman. 

Sonicomics: "Sonic Dash"

Like with Sonic Jump, Sonic Dash is a mobile game with no "real" story.

Luckily in this case, it's written a bit better. The issue does an amazing thing; it shows off everyone's unique personality in five pages.

Why is this such a big deal? Because when IDW started it's new comic series, each of these side-characters (Tails, Knuckles, Amy) got an entire issue devoted to introducing them. With repetitively the same plot but different characters, the trick got old fast.

Little did the critics of this move know, Ian Flynn very well could summarize what's important about all these characters in one issue. Sonic Dash, an old Archie adaption.

Tails is the sidekick; he's ready to help. Knuckles is the friendly rival, and Amy is the crazed fan-girl. Sonic's the hero, but he's also the show-off. All of this is clear in this fun little story.

The main problem, though, is the lack of official details. What purpose do "Red Star Rings" really serve and why do they need them?

...

Yeah. There's not much to that gimmick. And while the different personalities are what make this issue, you can't actually race four at one time. Or, you couldn't when I played it...

The art is very impressive, especially with expressions and reactions. Jenifer Hernandez also uses different unique points of views so the constant running doesn't get old. I also like how the first panel mirrored the game's 3D art.

Final Score (Best S-Worst E): B+

This is defiantly one of the best adaptions, and considering this is based of an app, it's awesome work. However, as a whole it's too short to be of much value.     

Sonicomics: "Sonic Jump"

Do you remember when it was just "Sonic Jump" and not "Sonic Jump Fever?" Me neither.

Adapting a mobile game...that's a little surprising. I mean, there are plenty of other games that haven't gotten attention but, sure. An app. That'll last long.

The Flickies and other animal friends are drawn adorable. Eggman is impressive. But Jennifer Hernadez's Sonic's a little off. His appearance is acceptable but not his best. The background and colors are both done well.

This story's hard to follow. I assume Eggman sees Sonic ("Stupid, Persistent...") and then goes to attack him. Shouldn't Sonic be in the background, then? Then Sonic offers some smart comments while Eggman makes an escape.

This works well as a lead in--and since it's for an app--the shorter length was okay. But it doesn't feel like anything new. The "jump" element is shown in a very basic way. There's just not much to it.

Final Ranking (Best S-Worst E): D

Too much bland banter. Nothing much here.

Sonicomics: "Time for a Comeback" (Sonic 4 Ep 2)

"Time for a Comeback" has nice art. The colors are light and action is portrayed in a fast and neat way.

"How To Over-Use Quotes," by Ian Flynn

Since Sonic 4 doesn't have a set-in-stone plot, Flynn actually had to get creative with this one. The flashbacks are enjoyable, but it makes this feel more like a Sonic CD adaption than Sonic 4.

Ultimately, though, there's not a lot here. It's basically Tails saying he wants to go on an adventure with Sonic. I think there could have been a bit more between the two than that.

Final Ranking (Best S-Worst E): C+

Tails and Metal Sonic in particular look very accurate. Visuals are good, flashbacks are good, intro was good. Main story? Blek.

Sonic Runs to The Big Screen (Sonic Movie Review)

Sonic's new movie just came out, but did it help or hurt the blue hero?

Summary

I came in with low expectations, but left pleased. The Sonic movie may not dive into the established lore or introduce "less known" characters to a bigger audience. But it keeps the same positive spirit, snazzy attitude, and themes of friendship the series has ran on (pun intended) since the series' birth.

Story/Dialogue

• Beginning
• The beginning establishes an origin for the Sonic, and why he ended up on earth. It also expanded on the ring concept. 
• While it was sort of "slow" starting out, I thought it was good to build-up sympathy and appreciation for the character. 
• It was also interesting to see this "lonely" side of Sonic, since we're so used to seeing him surrounded by friends. 
• Middle
• Middle takes some time to focus on Sonic bonding with Tom. I'm glad the whole movie wasn't just a "road trip!" That was kinda' the vibe I got from the trailer, and while the scenes were cute, it would have been hard to take serious had that been the whole movie. 
• The pace increases as the journey continues. The tension with their situation along side the argument between Sonic and Tom keeps the balance of action and interaction well. 
• As more people become aware of Sonic, though, it gets kind of hard to accept their reactions as genuine.
• End
• As expected, the end epic showdown filled with speed and action debuts. It's pretty cool visually, but doesn't do much for the characters until Sonic shows up back in Green Hills. 
• Now the main theme becomes clear as the characters stand up for each other. It's a sweet moment.  
• I find the ending a little convenient. Sure, Sonic just happened to hang out in a small town. Sure, in the age of cell phones and all that, no one in the town or city exposed the fight. And the government would rather cover it all up than investigate further...right. 
• But theme of friends and family--showing what Sonic as well as Tom has gained from this adventure--it makes for a good ending.   
• Dialogue
• The words are all mostly humorous.
• Sonic has good, quick comments and lines. 
• It was also intresing to hear Sonic mention real-world elements (as before that was avoided since he wasn't on the same planet/dimension and any would therefore break the forth wall).

Characters/Cast

• Sonic
• Ben Schwartz does a good Sonic voice. He's pretty energetic, and can switch back from the smug side of Sonic to the lonely version in a flash. I don't think he's the best, but he's pretty good. 
• Sonic is animated to be expressive and gives his game counter-part a run for his money. 
• They changed some thinks about the character, mainly...well his personality is the same, which is key in keeping the character a success. But his Owl-raised background was a little weird.  
• Tom Wachowski
• James Marsden deserves a lot of credit, since his co-star was a CGI creature. He's good at reacting and does well in the situation. 
• Considering the already-large cast of Sonic characters, I thought introducing a new one would be a mistake (especially in this case, because of the similarities to Sonic X). However, the character did well as a "buddy" while also filling in the unique/supportive role (like the games' Tails, Tikal, Chip, Sharah, etc). 
• Dr. Ivo Robonik/"Eggman"
• Jim Carrey brings a lot of energy to the role, but he's still very thin compared to the round villain I'm used to. He had done well with Count Olaf and even the Riddler, but visually, he's just not the Robotnik from the games. Carrey could make a pretty good Robbie Rotten, though. 
• They did manage to write the character as both a threat and comedic--something others have had trouble doing. 
• The character felt more like Tom's enemy than Sonic's, and he could have used some more catchphrases (something on the lines of "Stubborn little pincushion")? 
• I liked that they threw in the nickname in a different way (since, you know, Jim Carry isn't exactly egg-shaped). Also, the "coffee" part was hilarious. 
• Dr. Maddie Wachoski (Tika Sumpter)
• To be honest, I didn't feel like her character did much. She was kind of unnessicary until the end. She added to the family concept. 
• Agent Stone (Lee Majoub)
• Likewise, this characters doesn't do much, either, but is a nice reference to Robotnik's past minions/underlings. 
• Other characters
• The owl character was kind of weird. I'm guessing the writers had to work around the "Sonic game characters cannot have new family members that aren't already established within the games (like Cream/Vanilla)" mandate the comics have. But the choice still seems weird (this ain't the Guardians of Ga Hoole). 
• I also find it interesting they had the same voice actor from the games (Colleen O'Shaunessey; Tails since Sonic Boom) voicing her character. I wonder if she would be replaced if they made a sequel or not. 
• Most other characters did their jobs as support or side-conflict. Not a lot to them, but they were alright. The old man who drew Sanic was funny.

Visuals/Effects

• This movie is a cute movie, and it wouldn't have been possible with the old designs. The movie's story is not bad, but it would have been impossible to see why with the disgustingly scary version. 
• The CGI was textured realistic but created more cartoonish, and that's fine. It's a talking blue hedgehog, why should it be?
•  Lots of action and CG. It looks fine, but I doubt it will age well. Better than Garfield, Scooby Doo, TMNT, and most other weird CGI/live-action hybrids so far. 
• There are a few scenes that make it obvious the character wasn't actually there. I'm not sure if this was a background problem, or because the old design was different.  

Music

• I'm glad they threw in Green Hill's music in there, because it was nice to have something from the games somewhere. I wish there had been a Crush 40 song someplace in the background as an easteregg, but for now I'll settle with Green Hill I guess. 
• The theme, "Speed Me Up," is alright. It matches the modern tone the series has shifted to, but some 2000's rock may have represented Sonic as a whole more than rap. I like the chorus--it's very catchy, and I suppose the rap is in-line with the "Speed" idea (and I don't think it mentioned being tougher than leather, sorry Knuckles). 
• It's pretty good, I guess, but I'd prefer "the pressures of this world, they can take their toll/and it's tough to get away when they take their hold/the only way to break free is to break the mold" (portion of rap from "His World") over "these dudes actin' like we ain't who they wanna be/got me tickled, tryna' act so selfishly/pocket full of green stacked up like a pot of peas/big boy dawg, walkin' 'round with a lot of fleas" (portion of rap from "Speed Me Up"...and there's more where that came from). 

Final Thoughts

• When I first heard there were plans for a live-action/CGI Sonic movie (back when Sony was supposed to make it) I was TERRIFIED. 
• I knew if they messed it up, it would hurt Sonic's rep far more than a game ever could have. And I was sure they were going to. And they did with that first trailer. But they corrected their error--spent time and money to correct it--and I'm glad they did.
• Also, I did not find it overly juvenile, as I feared, either.  
• At the end of the day, the Sonic movie doesn't change much. I'm not sure what tie-in plans Sega has, but I can now say the Sonic the Hedgehog movie didn't hurt the character; it helped.  
• Not everyone will agree. I caught some of the references, but the movie is targeted for a much broader audience. Many of the games major characters, locations, themes, and items are absent. 
• At it's bare bones, it's an origin movie, and for those who grew up with any version of Sonic, it won't be the origin their familiar with. 
• However, despite it's differences, the spirit and attitude behind the series is alive and vibrant. 
• In short, it takes some of Sonic's best qualities and exposes it to a new crowd.   

Final Ranking (S is the best, E is the lowest): B (high average)

It's not my new favorite movie, but it's far from "awful." It's a good family movie, and would probably do best, ironically, with people who are less familiar with the character. 

Quote of the Month

"Love changes everything."
--Amy Rose, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

Romantic History

I find the history of "love" and "relationships" in the Sonic series an oddity.

History

1990s

So in the beginning of the Sonic series Sonic had plenty of love interests, or plans for ones.

In Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, the first cartoon, Sonic met girls frequently.

"'Your always saying how you like babes.'
'I MEANT babes as in 'girls' not babes as in 'babies'" 
--Sonic and Tails when on a babysitting job.

There were many including: Miss Possum; the Merhog girl; and most interesting, Breezie, who Sonic completely fell for until he learned her true nature.

None of these characters had a major role in the series as a whole. Conversely, the "Saturday Morning" Sonic the Hedgehog show introduced Sally, who appeared alongside Sonic in the show more than Tails. The character had been planned since the beginning of the first game, based on one of Sonic's animal friends (the animals that pop out of the robots in Sonic 1). In the 90s, Sally would be Sonic's "officially unofficial" girlfriend due to her lasting impression from the show and her lasting appearance in the Archie Comics.

In the original Sonic the Hedgehog video game, there were plans for a blonde human girl named Madonna who would have been Sonic's girlfriend. Sometime later Amy Rose appeared in Sonic CD. The character had already made an appearance in comics in Japan. In America, to stick to "Western canon" and support the Sat Am cartoon, they called the character Sally instead of introducing her as a new character (although she would appear as herself in the comics).

She would later appear in the US as Amy (or Rosy?) in lesser-known Sonic Drift 2 and Sonic the Fighters.

At one point, the concept of Sat Am was supposed to make it into a game, and likewise establish Sally as Sonic's girlfriend, but this idea was scrapped. In it's place the nearly-made Sonic X-treme would have made Sonic's girlfriend a manx cat, Tiara Boobowski.

Early material referred to her as a princess, but the more recent plans instead made her the daughter of a professor. Her involvement varied, too. In one case, the plot would have had to do with a date between Sonic and Tiara, while another had them work together when infected with a deadly virus. Tiara was supposed to be "Sonic's Match," but she, like the game, was cancelled.

The 90s also saw the introduction of Sara, a cat-girl who liked Sonic in a way similar to Amy. In Sonic Underground, it was Sonic's sister, Sonia, who had relationships (including an ex-fiance). Meanwhile a some romance had brewed in the comics, like with Knuckles and Julie-Su, although Sonic and Sally were arguably still the focus. Over in the UK, Sonic the Comic's main possibility was Sonic and Amy (with a completely different personality) until the series' end.    

2000s

Although Sonic and other characters had relationships in "other media," the only real love interest for Sonic in the games was Amy. So when Sonic Adventure revived the series, Amy made a new appearance. Redesigned and older, Amy was now the primary love interest. She was still younger than Sonic, though, and immature, so Sonic did not act interested.

As more characters appeared, the games started to take on an implying role, rather than officially confirming whether characters like each other.

Although the next cartoon, Sonic X, would generally continue this trend, the couples were more obvious. Tails nearly told Cosmo he thought she was beautiful, Sonic gave Amy a rose and began calling her "Ames" (it's thought that the two were dating after season 2), and even Chris was slated with his old friend, Helen.

Meanwhile Sonic's love-life in the comics was crazy. In the real world, creative differences caused confusion in the comics. He was dating Sally, then they broke up (SLAP). He was supposed to date Amy, but instead ended up with character called Fiona. Somewhere in there he kissed Bunnie, confusing readers, and he also knew a girl named Mina. Other characters had their own break-ups and heart-aches, too. Tails liked Fiona Fox, who Sonic was dating! And she ditches him for anther guy (sort of).

The first game to put ideas of "love" into Sonic's plot was Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), where Sonic rescued a princess. A human girl named Elise, she began to grow feelings for the hedgehog. There was even a point where Sonic had to choose if he liked Amy or Elise. Unfortunately, this had no impact on the rest of the game and their relationship was rather shallow. The game was very poorly received, and the Last Story where Elise kisses Sonic heavily criticized.

Most games would stick to the original implying plan, usually relying on "ship-tease." Certain "couples" would often be paired together in game plots. Sometimes other characters would call them out on this or else one of the two would "tease" the other.

However, Sonic Unleashed brought "Sonamy" back as a possibility. Unlike before, Sonic did not seem annoyed by Amy and there was a point where Sonic could refute or accept a going on a date with her. Maybe following up to this, Amy claims Sonic was late for their date at the end of Sonic and the Black Knight. In Sonic Chronicles, the player has a choice to have Sonic bond with Amy or ignore and mock her.

2010s

By the time of Free Riders and Generations, though, the "Sonamy relationship" returned to it's previous status of Amy liking Sonic and Sonic avoiding her.

The newest TV show, Sonic Boom, takes place in an alternate world. Like the games it would often suggest couples, mainly Sonic and Amy and occasionally other characters like Knuckles or Sticks. In this series, Amy took on a more mature attitude and kept her crush on Sonic a secret. It's also fairly obvious Sonic may have a crush on her too, but neither of them take action beyond a few words and (even in an alternate series) the characters go nowhere.         

The characters of the Archie comics had straightened their relationships out...until several dark turns pulled them apart. Due to outside forces, the comic was rebooted and those "dark turns" (and other stories) were lost.

After the reboot, Sega added more rules to the comic, among them was a rule that Sonic and other game characters could not be in a relationship with each other or with comic characters. As a result, those characters were limited to suggested relationships similar to the games. Comic characters, however, were free to date each other, and the series would introduce a few new couples, as well as keeping together long-time Bunnie and Antoine.

Pre-Reboot Bunnie and Ant

Sonic Forces saw the return of many characters, but the script didn't make room for flirting. Since Blaze was back in her dimension and Rouge was more likely to be around Shadow or Knuckles, Amy was the only girl who could have filled the role as Sonic's love interest (unless you make the avatar a girl and ship them?). Sonic Mania didn't even include Amy as a possible player, although she had a cameo and a part in an animated short.   

The tail end of the decade also introduced the IDW comics in place of Archie, but it with the rate it's gone as far as relationships, you could probably ship any of the characters with any of the other characters.

Reasons Sega's Been Restricting Relationships and Other Theories 

• One obvious reason is Sonic 06. The game did bad, so they don't want to do something wrong and repeat their mistakes.
• They don't want to upset a portion of fans. Having Silver ask out Blaze, for example, would infuriate Sonaze (Sonic-Blaze) fans (ME). 
• The comics became too confusing. They added characters beyond the games and complicated the histories between them, making it hard for new readers to understand. 
• Pender's Lawsuit. Although the conflict was over characters, they put more strict rules on the comics to prevent similar occurrences. While this may have seemed exclusive to the comics, it's possible Sega puts these same rules on Sonic Boom and the games.
• People take things too seriously/find ways to make things worse than they are. Being a video game aimed for younger audiences, Sega probably doesn't want phrases to be taken out of context (PINGAS) or taken the wrong way (like Sonic and Elise).   
• A change in cartoons over time (plenty of "modern" shows avoid "real" couples, like Spongebob). 
• It's a series targeted for boys. And they typically don't like romance. 
• Change in Voice Actors--this is a stretch, but going from the 4kids actors (fans at least agree on "Best Amy") to the current group (with the joked "Minnie Mouse" Amy) probably didn't help. 

It seems like over the years, less and less is allowed. For the most part, any "ship" remains undeveloped beyond it's origins, and it's kind of disappointing. I understand that that's not the main focus of the games. But with a series so dependent on characters, it would make sense to connect the games in a way that an old fashioned "Eggman's taking over" story could not. One of Sonic's many advantages over Mario is his ability to change over time, but in this case Sega's failed to take action. If it means the story will be better, wouldn't it be worth the risk?

Happy Valentine's Day

Soniccomics: "Sonic Generations"

"Did you know? This is the only Sonic game to feature both Classic and Modern designs--" Wrong. Now it is, at least. Sonic Forces now makes this "trivia" worthless.

First off, the art is colorful, expressive, and shaded well. There are a few changes like the addition of a lake that are kinda' nice. I like how the entire sky goes dark when the Time-Eater appears.

Likewise, there are some changes in words spoken, but like other adaptaions there are plently of word-for-word quotes. Unfortunatly, there's not much changed or added. It's more or less the same thing as the first cutscene but with classic Sonic standing around at the end. It's very short, too.

Ranking (S=good, F=bad): C-

Nothing important. If the art wasn't as clean and shiny as it is, I would have ranked this lower.