Biggest Traditions In The Sonic Series

Any Sonic fan will know all too well that this legendary platforming series has gone through quite a few changes throughout the years. This has especially been the case since the move to 3D, where Sonic Team has experimented with all kinds of gameplay formulas and features to create a brand-new experience for players to enjoy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean these games leave everything behind. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

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The Sonic series has quite a few “traditions” that allow all the games to feel connected to one another, despite how unique their gameplay or settings might be. Whether it’s certain pieces of iconography, particular features, or even specific levels, there are a few aspects of the Sonic games that always manage to re-appear, with these being some of the most prominent and recognizable.

1

Rings

The Signature Collectible That Also Determines Sonic’s HP

Rings are small and shiny collectibles Sonic and his pals are encouraged to pick up during their adventures. They appear in every stage and are often found in big bulks at a time, the reason being that they essentially dictate Sonic’s HP, since if he takes a hit, he will lose plenty of rings in the process, and if he has none left, the next hit will be fatal.

Though it’s essentially a given that Rings will appear in each and every game in the series by this point, they have even shown up in the movies too, where Sonic was able to use them to get from A to B. The shimmering noise they make, which has remained untouched since the classic games, easily invokes a sense of nostalgia for any longtime fans upon hearing it too.

2

Casino Stages

Ever Since Sonic 2, Casino Stages Have Re-Appeared In All Kinds Of Different Forms

The very first Casino Zone would appear in the second game in the series, but fans enjoyed this bright and flashy stage so much that it would return in almost every game in the series from then on. Whether it’s Sonic Advance with Casino Paradise, Sonic 4 with Casino Street Zone, or even the Casino stage in Team Sonic Racing, it’s become a sort of unwritten rule that casinos must be included in at least some fashion for each new entry.

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This is a very welcome tradition though, considering such a vibrant setting perfectly suits the high-speed gameplay Sonic games are known for, allowing players to look extra stylish as they breeze their way through a glitzy environment full of color and spectacle.

3

Chao

The Lovable Chao Always Manage To Pop Up For Each New Entry

Ever since the immensely popular Chao Garden appeared in Sonic Adventure, these small and cute creatures have become a mainstay in the series, despite not exactly being all that useful as allies. Regardless, the Chao have become so synonymous with Sonic as a whole that they always manage to make an appearance, sometimes as cuddly critters who can be raised in a garden, or other times as robots who deliver tips and tricks to the player along their journey.

They also finally made their debut in the Sonic movie universe with the third film, where they can be seen dancing around on stage for the audience’s enjoyment. Though they could have easily been forgotten about after their debut, Sonic Team has recognized the popularity of the Chao, and therefore always ensure they get at least some time in the spotlight for each game.

4

Victory Pose

A Stylish Way To End Off A Thrilling Level

Sonic has become renowned for his cool and stylish poses, and nowhere can they be seen more clearly than on the ranking screen at the end of a level. Upon beating a stage, Sonic, Shadow, or any other characters the player controls in that specific level will often strike a pose, though the amount of effort they put in will depend on the grade itself.

In Sonic 06 and Unleashed, for example, Sonic will look a little tired and embarrassed as a humorous tune plays in the background if players get an F. If they manage to impress him with an A or an S though, Sonic will instead be full of energy, jumping up and flipping around on the spot, and sometimes even congratulating the player for their efforts.

5

Super Sonic

Sonic’s Go-To Power Up Is Usually A Form Restricted To Boss Fights In Most Of The Games

Though Super Sonic is inspired by the Super Saiyan power-up seen in the Dragon Ball anime, it has taken on a life of its own within this series, becoming Sonic’s go-to power-up whenever things start looking a little dire. While in many games, Super Sonic will appear as a final form to take down a tough boss, it’s also appeared as a bonus unlockable ability in some of the games, like in Sonic Superstars, for example.

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However, considering how absurdly powerful this form is, Sonic can’t just activate it whenever he wants, which is a good thing for Eggman, at least. Sonic needs to harness the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds to gain enough power to become his Super form, which simply makes it all the more exciting when players manage to acquire them all after a long and arduous journey.

6

Green Hill Zone

This Familiar Level That Kicked Off The Series Has Made A Grand Return On More Than One Occasion

While the Green Hill Zone is undoubtedly the most iconic level in the series, it has become somewhat of a tutorial stage for many of the games. Considering how familiar it is, Sonic Team has made Green Hill the very first stage for multiple games since it first debuted in the original entry, and most of the time, they’ll drop players right in the middle of the bright and beautiful environment before even the first cutscene.

While it always has the same basic layout of a few platforms, loop-de-loops, and small insect-like Egg Bots shuffling around, no Green Hill Zone is ever the same, and that goes for their music too. While some fans have gotten a little tired of Green Hill Zone re-appearing so often, there’s no doubt it’s still the perfect level for welcoming longtime fans into a new game by giving them something familiar to enjoy right from the get-go.

7

High-Quality And Upbeat Soundtrack

It’s Basically Impossible To Have A Sonic Game Without An Incredible OST

Admittedly, many video game franchises have some great music, but when it comes to Sonic, there’s always a specific focus on making the soundtrack as high-quality, upbeat, and memorable as possible. For example, if we take Sonic’s longtime competitor, Mario, that series has a few games with stunning soundtracks, like Mario Galaxy, but this is largely an afterthought. For Sonic games, though, music plays an important role as it psychs players up for the fast-paced gameplay they are about to experience.

As a result, it’s become more or less a tradition that every Sonic game will have a banger of a soundtrack. Whether it’s the iconic lo-fi tracks of Sonic R, the more rock-heavy songs from Sonic Frontiers, or even the outstanding Sonic Adventure 2 OST, good music and Sonic have always gone hand in hand.

8

Fast-Paced Platforming Gameplay

Sonic’s Signature Fast-Paced Gameplay Has Remained Intact Since The Very First Entry

Back when Sonic and Mario were going head-to-head for dominance over the video game market back in the 90s, the major advantage Sonic had over his plucky Italian counterpart was his speed. While Mario games were slow and more methodical, Sonic was all about blasting through a level as fast as possible, encouraging players to rely on their quick reflexes to get them through a stage in one piece.

As a result, no matter how many extra features or mechanics the developers add to a new entry, they will still always ensure the fast, fun, and fluid gameplay that the series had become known for always remains intact. In more modern titles, the Boost mechanic has helped to make picking up speed in a level a lot easier than it was before, allowing the Blue Blur to reach max speed in barely any time at all.

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