Ladies and gentlemen, Sonic fans far and wide, the day has finally arrived. Sonic Rebound Episode 7 is here, and trust me, it was one for the books. Since I’d just rewatched the earlier episodes, it didn’t feel like a two-year wait…but it was. And now, in this Sonic Rebound Episode 7 review, I can confidently say: it was worth it. Silent Sniper moves the story forward in a big way, as any arc semi-finale should, and it sets the stage for an epic showdown in Episode 8.
In this episode, Sonic heads out to Eggman’s base – Arsenal Pyramid, for the Sonic Forces fans, on a tip from Rouge that he might catch Whisper there. Along the way, he runs into Silver, who knows of Whisper as a legendary figure from his own time. Soon, the three of them are working together to shut the place down and get answers about the recent Badnik attacks, and who’s really pulling the strings.
There’s a lot to love in this one. While it still pulls inspiration from the comics, it’s slowly starting to branch into its own storyline, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for. The visuals? Great across the board. One or two shots had a style I didn’t love, but nothing that actually took away from the experience. The battle scenes were easily a highlight, especially this one moment where Sonic and Silver are taking out flying Badniks around a giant Super Badnik. That sequence alone was incredible.
No complaints on the audio front either. The music fit perfectly and enhanced every scene without overpowering anything. Voice work was top-tier. I actually thought Silver might’ve been voiced by GamerGuyd7Aces, but it turns out it was RobertMartyr, and he nailed it. Hdubs as Whisper also delivered a strong performance. In the comics, Whisper always felt like she was literally whispering—but in a show, you gotta project a little more, and Hdubs found the right balance. And Swordtee did a great job as Mimic—his voice sounded exactly how I imagined it when I first read the comics, which made the scene he was in hit even harder.
The surprise appearance of the Freedom Fighters in Silver’s timeline caught me off guard, but it actually makes sense the more I think about it. Sonic SatAM took place in the year 3234, and we’ve never really gotten a confirmed timeline for the IDW comics. If Sonic’s world is just another dimension with its own timeline, it tracks. But it does raise questions, especially since Eggman Neo, aka Robotnik, is pulling the strings, and he’s usually tied to the Freedom Fighters. If he really is from another dimension like the show implies, then GamerGuyd7Aces is definitely leaning into the creative freedom, and I’m here for it.
All in all, I really enjoyed this episode. The two-year wait wasn’t easy, but this made it feel justified. At the end of the day, this is a fan series, and it’s already miles ahead of the last official Sonic show. Hopefully, Episode 8 doesn’t take quite as long to drop, because I’m ready to see how this arc wraps up.
Silent Sniper
Story
Visuals
Audio
Summary
Episode 7 of Sonic Rebound delivers a high-stakes team-up between Sonic, Whisper, and Silver as they take on Eggman’s base. The visuals, action, and voice acting are some of the strongest in the series so far. With the Freedom Fighters teased and the arc finale approaching, this episode sets the stage for something big.
We’re officially less than a day away from the premiere of Sonic Rebound Episode 7 – Silent Sniper, and the hype is real. It’s been two years since Episode 6 dropped, so revisiting it now for this Sonic Rebound Episode 6 review felt like the perfect lead-up. This was my first time rewatching it since release, and honestly? It hits even harder the second time around. This one was fun to revisit, and it’s easily one of the best in the series so far.
The Fate of Dr. Eggman centers on Shadow, who’s ready to shut Mr. Tinker down for good. After that Eggmanland name-drop in the last episode, Shadow’s convinced he’s still a threat, amnesia or not. Sonic, of course, steps in to defend him, and what we get is an absolutely epic Sonic vs. Shadow showdown. Meanwhile, Team Chaotix gets a little off-the-books help from Rouge, which moves the story closer to what’s coming in Episode 7.
From start to finish, this episode is just solid all around. I’ve said it before, but Shadow is my favorite Sonic character – he’s basically the Vegeta of this world (and yes, Vegeta is also my favorite DBZ character). That dynamic really shines here. Watching Sonic try to reason with Shadow felt just like Goku trying to stop Vegeta from going too far. The tone, the pacing, the character beats – it all just worked. And seeing Shadow get humbled just a bit by Sonic? Always satisfying.
Now let’s talk about the action – it’s top-tier. The Sonic vs. Shadow fight looked fantastic. Backgrounds were detailed, animation flowed smoothly, and everything felt cohesive and professional. For a fan series, this episode might have the cleanest production yet. No noticeable dips in quality, no janky frames – it just moved.
The audio was just as polished. I love me some Sonic Unleashed tracks, but when that Sonic Heroes music kicked in during the battle? I was locked in. That alone leveled up the hype. Voice acting was also on point. Mardiculous as Shadow delivered a performance that felt straight out of early Sonic X – Jason Griffith vibes, for sure. And BulmaBunny absolutely nailed Rouge – she is the voice I want for her in the games, period. Also, Espio finally sounded like a real character again thanks to Swordtee40. Gone is the flat “ninja-bot,” and in his place is someone with actual tone and inflection. Huge improvement.
The balance between story and action is really what sets this episode apart. While Sonic and Shadow are clashing, the plot continues to move with Team Chaotix and Rouge making progress in the background. Knowing what’s coming in Episode 7, this episode perfectly sets the stage. And yeah, this is my favorite episode so far. Makes sense that Sonic’s Vegeta would outshine Sonic’s Piccolo (sorry, not sorry, Knuckles). It’s always been like that, even in the mainline games and shows.
With Episode 7 right around the corner, I’m more than ready. We’re finally getting more Whisper, and the multiverse stuff is about to crack wide open. If the tease at the end of Episode 6 is any indication, we’re in for something special. Full review for Silent Sniper drops tomorrow afternoon. Don’t miss it!
The Fate of Dr. Eggman
Story
Visuals
Audio
Summary
Episode 6 of Sonic Rebound delivers an intense Sonic vs. Shadow battle while pushing the story into new territory. The visuals and audio are top-notch, and the voice performances elevate the entire experience. It’s the strongest entry so far and sets the stage perfectly for Episode 7.
You ever watch an episode of a show that isn’t filler but feels like filler? That’s how I felt watching Episode 5 of Sonic Rebound, Mr. Tinker. Think Dragon Ball Z levels of “this probably matters later, but right now I’m just along for the ride.” It’s not a bad episode by any means—just the most self-contained one so far.
To be fair, that’s not really on GamerGuyd7Aces. He’s pulling straight from the IDW Sonic comics here, and this episode sticks close to the source. The big creative swing already happened in Episode 4 with the reveal that Dr. Robotnik from the Archie Sonic continuity is the real villain in Rebound. That twist still holds weight—and let me just say, Protagonist absolutely owns the role. His Robotnik voice is pitch perfect.
This time around, Sonic heads to a quiet mountain village where Team Chaotix—Vector, Espio, and Charmy—have discovered a familiar face. Only thing is, Eggman doesn’t remember being Eggman. He’s calling himself Mr. Tinker now, living a peaceful life and genuinely helping people. He’s kind, soft-spoken, and totally unaware of his past as the world’s biggest menace. Naturally, this raises a huge question: if the villain has no memory of his crimes, does he still deserve to pay for them?
I liked seeing the Chaotix crew again, and they were handled well. Charmy wasn’t nearly as irritating as usual, which is always a win. Vector was perfectly cast—Trevzed sounds almost exactly like pre-2010 Vector, and I respect the accuracy. Espio’s voice was just okay for me, and honestly, he hasn’t sounded great since the Sonic Rivals era. The uncredited VA here was fine, but something about the newer direction for Espio never fully clicks with me.
Visuals? Mostly strong. There were a few dips, but nothing that killed the vibe. The opening scene with Sonic and Espio running corkscrews through the mountain while fighting Badniks? That was sick. It was fast, colorful, and smooth—just not consistently that way all the way through. But the use of Sonic Unleashed music again? Always a win.
Voice-wise, Paxton Lee continues to impress as Sonic. I actually thought it was still BobbyDubs in Episode 3 and 4, which says a lot. Paxton stepped in quietly and nailed it. Politics aside, I still have a soft spot for Mike Pollock’s Eggman, so Colin’s version didn’t quite do it for me—but again, that’s more personal bias than anything else. The episode also gives us a quick tease of Shadow and Rouge at the end, and Mardiculous’ Shadow sounds so close to Jason Griffith’s take that I couldn’t help but get hyped.
So yeah, even though this one felt a little slower, it’s not filler—it really does move the story forward. It just felt like a side quest until Shadow and Rouge popped up. I still liked it more than Episode 3, but not as much as 2, and definitely not as much as 4. That said, it’s still a good episode. Five episodes in, and not a single one has been bad—and for a fan series, that’s seriously impressive. The second arc has officially begun, and tomorrow we’re diving into Episode 6, where Sonic and Shadow go head-to-head over the fate of Dr. Eggman. You won’t want to miss it.
Mr. Tinker
Story
Visuals
Audio
Summary
Episode 5 of Sonic Rebound slows things down with the introduction of Mr. Tinker, giving us a thoughtful twist on Eggman’s identity. Team Chaotix gets their time to shine, the visuals hold strong, and the voice acting continues to impress. It’s a slower episode, but it still pushes the story forward in meaningful ways.
We’ve got a double feature tonight, starting with Episode 3 of Sonic Rebound, Entangled Encounter. If you watched all the way through, you might’ve caught that Knuckles didn’t show up like he originally did in the IDW comics. Instead, Tangle takes the spotlight this time. In the comics, Knuckles popped up in issue 3, with Tangle and Blaze showing up in issue 4. Why the swap? Who knows. Doesn’t bother me, though.
This time around, Sonic rolls into yet another village getting stomped out by Egg Pawns. While fending them off, he meets Tangle the Lemur, a newer face with a wild tail she uses like a whip—and she’s quick to jump into the fight. Mid-battle, Blaze shows up too, pulled into Sonic’s world thanks to the Sol Emeralds. The three of them tag team the threat and, like clockwork, Sonic continues on his journey.
Story-wise, this one follows the same formula as the first two: Egg Pawns attack, Sonic shows up, teams up, moves on. Tangle being brand new does help shake things up a little, but it doesn’t really change the rhythm. It’s not bad—it just doesn’t add much weight. The episode ends by teasing the mystery villain again, which would be cool… except I know who it is, and I’m judging a little, because they should absolutely know Sonic isn’t about to take an L to some newcomers like Rough and Tumble.
That said, the audio in this episode was on point. Music was balanced well, nothing drowned out the voice acting, and it all sounded clean. I actually thought Sonic’s voice glitched in the beginning until I realized it was an inner monologue—which, cool touch. BobbyDubs is still killin’ it as Sonic. Tangle and the rest of the cast sounded solid, too. The one weak link for me was PinkoJunko’s Blaze. Not terrible, but something about it just didn’t click for me.
Visually, this episode didn’t land as strong as I’d hoped. The quality was mostly consistent, but it felt like a step down from Episode 2. Some scenes looked more like moving sketches than finished animation. There were moments where the art style jumped up a notch and looked pretty clean, but overall, it wasn’t as polished as last time. I get it—it’s a fan project and not everything can be a glow-up every week.
So yeah, Entangled Encounter isn’t bad, but it’s definitely the weakest episode so far. After how much Episode 2 leveled up, I was hoping to keep riding that momentum. Still, every show hits a dip here and there, and I’m not jumping ship. It’s still a great fan series and I’m hyped for what’s next. Episode 4 review coming up next—let’s go.
Entangled Encounter
Story
Visuals
Audio
Summary
Episode 3 of Sonic Rebound introduces Tangle and Blaze, adding some variety to the familiar formula. The audio and voice work are strong, but the visuals take a noticeable step back. It’s still a solid episode, just the weakest so far in an otherwise impressive fan series.
We’re on day 2 of our mini review series for Sonic Rebound, and today’s post is all about the Sonic Rebound Episode 2: Fallout review. Just five more days until Episode 7 hits the web and we finally see the results of two years of hard work. I’ll be honest—this episode was a real step up from the first, and I had a great time rewatching it.
Length-wise, it’s about the same as the first episode, and the story structure feels familiar too—Sonic lands in a new town, meets a familiar face, and ends up brawling with more Badniks. This time, that familiar face is Amy Rose. If you’ve been around the Sonic franchise long enough, you know Amy made her debut back in Sonic CD—and back then, her whole thing was chasing Sonic around like a lovesick teen. That’s changed a lot over time, and Rebound reflects that growth. She’s still open about her feelings, but now there’s a calm confidence there, and Sonic actually respects it. You can see that in their chemistry.
As for the story, Sonic’s following up on Tails’ hunch that something bigger is behind these random Egg Pawn raids. He rolls into another town, takes down a Super Badnik, and runs into Amy. Naturally, more Badniks show up (because of course they do), and the two team up for the fight. After they clean house, Amy tries to convince Sonic to rejoin the Resistance—but he’s not about that life. Instead, she gives him a tip that points him toward his next stop… and that tip sets the stage for the arrival of our favorite red echidna.
Here’s where things really impressed me: the production took a major leap forward. Episode 1 had moments of brilliance but was super inconsistent. Episode 2? It’s fully animated, minus one flashback that uses stills (which honestly, I’m fine with—flashbacks do that all the time). The fight between Sonic and Amy? Smooth, fast, clean. There’s even a scene lifted straight from the comic that looked amazing. And that POV shot from Amy’s perspective? Chef’s kiss. Subtle, but so effective.
Easily the best shot of the entire episode
Audio’s leveled up too. No rough mic quality or background noise this time. BobbyDubs kills it again as Sonic—no surprise there—and Alyssa Mireles does a great job as Amy. I appreciated that she didn’t try to copy Cindy Robinson. Her performance felt more in line with the Lisa Ortiz days, which fit the tone of the episode perfectly. She brought a nice blend of confidence and heart that worked really well.
I’ll be honest—I don’t remember every beat of IDW Sonic Issue #2, so I can’t tell if this was another exact comic-to-animation recreation. But honestly? Doesn’t even matter. It was a good episode. It flowed naturally, kept my attention, and left me wondering what’s coming next. That’s what good storytelling does. You don’t need constant drama or flashy twists when the pacing and tone are this on point.
Rewatching these episodes has been a blast. The jump in quality from episode 1 to 2 shows just how much the creator cares about this project. Feedback was taken, improvements were made, and it shows. Even though I was kinda meh on this arc in comic form, seeing it animated with great music choices—shoutout to the Sonic Unleashed OST—makes all the difference. There are still a few rough edges with the art, but nothing that gets in the way of enjoying it.
Episode 3 review drops tomorrow night. Don’t miss it.
Fallout
Story
Audio
Visuals
Summary
Episode 2 of Sonic Rebound takes a big step up with fully animated scenes, better audio, and smoother pacing. Amy Rose’s introduction adds depth, showing growth in both her character and her dynamic with Sonic. The improvements in animation and storytelling make this a solid, engaging follow-up that builds real momentum.
Let’s be real—Sonic the Hedgehog has been around forever. The blue blur’s fanbase is massive and very creative. Fan games are the usual go-to for that creativity, but in recent years, fan series have started making waves too. One that really caught my eye is Sonic Rebound, an animated fan series by YouTuber GamerGuyd7Aces. It’s kind of a retelling of the Sonic IDW comics but with some twists that actually raise the stakes instead of just rehashing stuff we already know.
Now, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again—I’m a Sonic fan through and through. So when Sonic Rebound dropped on YouTube back in the summer of 2019, of course I was there. And it’s still going strong. Episode 7 drops Saturday, May 24, and I figured now’s the perfect time to do a little rewind. All week, I’ll be reviewing each episode leading up to that big release. Let’s start at the top—Episode 1: The Aftermath.
If you’ve read the IDW comics, then you know they had a decent run (I tapped out around issue 50). The first issue was… fine. It did just enough to get the ball rolling—Sonic, Tails, some random village—but nothing that made me sit up. It tried to drop hints about the bigger arc, but eh, it didn’t really stick the landing.
Sonic Rebound’s first episode follows that same path, pretty closely. Honestly, it’s almost a panel-for-panel recreation of that first comic—same dialogue, same scenes. It’s basically the comic, but animated. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though. Like with most pilots, it’s all about setting the stage. You meet the characters, see where things are headed. It’s a slow burn, but there’s a spark there.
The setup? Post–Sonic Forces, Sonic’s poking around after a surprise attack on a village by some leftover Egg Pawns. Tails joins him, and together they realize something’s not adding up. Turns out, there’s a bigger force pulling the strings. Dun-dun-dunnn.
Voice acting? Mixed bag. BobbyDubs as Sonic is solid. He’s got a slightly higher pitch than Roger Craig Smith, but the vibe is spot on. I could close my eyes and hear Roger in there somewhere. KennyVoices handles Tails, and he nails it too—sounds similar to other fan vids I’ve seen, but that’s not a knock. He’s got the tone, the delivery, everything. Some of the other voices though? Not bad, just… a little too normal. Like, I shouldn’t be picturing the cashier at Walgreens when a Resistance member speaks.
Now for the rough stuff. The art quality jumps around a lot. Some scenes? Super clean, really impressive. Others? Kinda rough—like a sketchbook that got color dropped in. Same thing with the animation: some parts move fluidly, others feel like a still image slideshow. Audio also bounces between crisp and YouTuber-who-just-got-their-first-mic. The inconsistency doesn’t ruin the experience, but it does remind you this is a fan project.
But hey—when it works, it works. It’s not action-heavy, but it sets the tone for what’s coming. And even with my complaints, it’s not a bad episode. Not even close. It’s a solid foundation, and it only gets better from here.
Episode 2: Fallout review drops tomorrow. See you then.
The Aftermath
Story
Animation
Audio
Summary
The Aftermath is a solid start that plays it a little too safe by sticking so close to the comic, but it still manages to lay some decent groundwork. The voice acting’s mostly strong, the story shows promise, and when the visuals hit, they hit hard—but the quality dips and rough edges hold it back from being great. Still, it’s clear there’s passion behind this, and knowing what’s coming next, I’m glad I stuck around.
Sonic is about to live and learn a very valuable lesson
Some might disagree, but now is a great time to be a Sonic the Hedgehog fan. In 5 years, we’ve gotten three live-action movies, a spinoff show, and confirmation of Sonic Movie 4 coming in another 2 years. I’ve enjoyed almost all of it thus far. I wasn’t a fan of the Knuckles show like most Sonic fans I know, but thankfully, that was limited to 6 episodes of garbage. The Sonic movies, on the other hand, have gotten better and better with each entry, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 doesn’t slow the momentum down for a moment.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is an adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2. Just as the movies have had different takes on things in the series, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 did some things differently. Some things worked, and some didn’t for me, but it all came together quite nicely. This third entry involves Sonic against his most powerful adversary yet, Shadow the Hedgehog. After being in stasis for 50 years, Shadow awakes to complete his mission for revenge against the military after a raid took away his best friend.
The Ultimate Life Form, Shadow the Hedgehog
Honestly, the story for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was phenomenal. Sure, there are some pretty significant changes, but it didn’t take away from the story for me one bit. If I’m being 100% honest, this story works so well because it actually feels like a Sonic story. The past two movies were good, but they had a large focus on the humans. The first movie was understandable because it’s an origin story, and world-building needs to be established. Sonic 2 was a slight improvement – the horrible wedding subplot in the middle of the movie works against it, but still an improvement. Knuckles just went all the way back to go and focused on the humans for almost the entirety of the show. However, in Sonic 3, the humans were only there when necessary. It was all about Team Sonic and the villains.
Regarding the villains, this being a Sonic Adventure 2 adaptation, you’d expect to see Rouge the Bat as she was a core member of the villain team alongside Shadow and Dr. Eggman in the Dark storyline of Sonic Adventure 2. That’s not the case this time around, however. As previously mentioned, Shadow is the primary antagonist, and of course, Dr. Ivo Robotnik is back after somehow surviving falling into an abyss alongside a giant exploding robot. Where Robotnik is, Agent Stone is sure to be close behind, but he soon becomes a third wheel when Ivo’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, shows up and becomes an idol figure to Ivo.
Gerald being alive after all this time was one of the biggest changes to the original story. Again, it works exactly how they intended it to. I hated him as a character, though. He wasn’t funny to me. I knew he was up to something. And I’m sorry, but if I were Ivo, he would’ve been on the ground as soon as he told me I’m no Maria. I say that to give an example of his character working as intended because he turned out to be a complete piece of garbage in the end. To be willing to sacrifice the entire planet to take revenge against a small group of your country’s military is pathetic. I understand grief can make you do crazy things, but I feel like there are much better ways to enact revenge in that situation.
Double the Eggmen
Jim Carrey plays Gerald in Sonic 3, so the audience gets a double dose of Carrey this time. I have to say that Jim Carrey did a stellar job. That isn’t surprising by any means, but you can see how much he enjoys playing the roles throughout the movie. The remaining cast that we’re familiar with was also great, as always. Idris Elba destroys as Knuckles every single time, and there can literally be no complaints against Colleen O’Shaughnessy’s Tails. If you have an issue with her Tails voice, you have to have a legitimate problem with it in the games as well, and she’s the most loved Tails voice I’ve seen in all my years as a Sonic fan. Ben Schwartz’s Sonic voice isn’t bad at all. My only issue is that it’s the same as almost all the other characters he’s voiced.
Paramount decided to go the route of a big-time celebrity again for Movie Shadow’s debut. Keanu Reeves is on the scene, and while he’s an outstanding actor on his own, he was easily the weakest out of the main squad. That’s not to say he did poorly, but it wasn’t consistent. He had some high highs but some extremely low lows. They want to have a celebrity voice for their prominent characters, but I wish Shadow could’ve gotten the same treatment Tails got. Tears would’ve welled up if I could’ve heard Jason Griffith in theaters.
This isn’t the Chao Garden I remember
Another front they improved on was the music. They finally incorporated some video game music into the movie, which was great to hear. It did get a bit repetitive because every time it switched to Sonic and Shadow in the climax, it would just be ‘Live and Learn’ playing, but I’ll take it. Apparently, it’s difficult to get video game music in the movies due to licensing, but they’ve had a Sonic Symphony tour for the better part of two years now, so how hard is it?
For anyone who says this next part is a spoiler, you’ll be alright. After adapting a game that’s 23 years old, you better believe I’m going to talk about Super Sonic vs Super Shadow in live-action. That was absolutely the most epic part of the movie, without a doubt. The Sonic movie crew got live-action Dragon Ball Z right before the actual Dragon Ball crew did. It’s crazy. But it was amazing to see – truly. The hype was there and didn’t stop until it was over. It was a privilege to see it come to life, especially how they both transformed. I can’t wait to get the Hedgehog Trio – they better bring all the sauce.
Sonic vs Shadow is epic the entire way through
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a solid film through and through. My only real complaint was knowing that Tom’s speech to Sonic at the beginning of the movie would impact him at the end. And I was right. During the climax, Sonic uses Tom’s words to give him strength and overcome Shadow. I’m never a fan of predictability, but that’s the only part. I was slightly annoyed that Sonic didn’t face any real consequences with Tom getting hurt, but understandably, this is a children’s movie, first and foremost. Secondly, Sonic has already lost a parent – Longclaw. At this point, there’s no actual need for the loss of Tom or Maddy in the Sonic movie series.
Now, you might be wondering what exactly I meant by ‘Movie Sonic finds his footing’ in the title of my review. Most people don’t realize that Sonic the Hedgehog has an expansive multiverse of characters, just like Marvel and DC – SEGA just doesn’t know how to utilize it. But just like Earth-616 is the O.G. Spider-Man, Game Sonic is the definitive Sonic. The Sonic movies are good, and they keep getting better. But it wasn’t until the climax of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 that Movie Sonic began acting like Game Sonic instead of some happy-go-lucky wannabe version of him. It’s something many fans have wanted for a long time, and it makes me ready for Movie 4.
Sonic wasn’t letting Shadow get the last hit
FULL SPOILERS AHEAD
Stay in your seats until the very end because there’s not just a mid-credits scene but a post-credits scene as well. The mid-credits scene is the most hype of the two and has me wondering how they’ll tackle the villain in Sonic the Hedgehog 4. An army of Metal Sonics hasn’t been seen before from what I can remember, and I was hoping they’d go the route of Neo Metal Sonic and Metal Overlord, but they could surprise me. Of course, Metal Sonic being revealed was fantastic – his design is a nearly 1:1 copy of his game appearance, and it’s perfect. However, the second character revealed is what got fans screaming. Just as Sonic is about to be taken out by a multitude of Metal Sonics, a hammer comes crashing through the gang of robots to save him. A hooded figure catches the hammer, revealed to be fan favorite Amy Rose. It’s about time, and we can all agree that Sonic isn’t even close to being ready for the ultimate challenge – girls.
END SPOILERS
The post-credits scene was great but not unexpected. I won’t flat-out spoil this one, but anyone familiar with Sonic the Hedgehog could’ve guessed this was coming. Another character is confirmed for the future of the series. That’s all I’ll say.
The filmmakers would’ve had to drastically change the story for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to be bad. Sure, it’s not a 1:1 adaptation like people hoped, but the story was as strong as ever. Movie Maria is a great character in her own right, though I didn’t feel anything for her like I do in the games. Her illness is gone completely in the movie and with that being removed, Shadow’s purpose for being is never explained. His origin changed as well, though I feel like that will be explored in another Shadow spinoff project. If you’re a sentimental one, be prepared to shed some tears. Some of the scenes can be a real tearjerker. It’s a wonderful story that does its best to teach you not to lose yourself to grief. Take the time to mourn the one you lost, but honor them with your life moving forward, don’t taint their memory.
Sayonara, Maria
I’ve echoed these sentiments throughout my entire review, and I’ll do it again – Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is an exceptional movie. It truly improved in every aspect of the series. It was focused more on Sonic and his crew. The story was cohesive and flowed instead of feeling like multiple stories going on at the same time, and the movie used music from the games – even just for little riffs and motifs. It feels good to say that it’s times like this when it feels great to be a Sonic fan. Three movies that have been some of the best video game adaptations compared to adaptations from the past aren’t anything to sneeze at. And with each movie improving with each release, I’m confident that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will be another great experience. But for now, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is here and made its presence known, knocking a certain Lion King off his throne atop Pride Rock at the American box office. There’s no stopping the momentum.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Story
Music
Action
Summary
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a phenomenal film from start to finish. With a story that tugs at the heartstrings, watching Sonic go up against Shadow on the big screen is just as fun as playing through the story over 20 years ago.
115 days until Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is released in theaters!
The wait is over! This morning, we were treated to the official release of the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which satisfied the craving of many Sonic fans. People have been begging for the trailer to be released for months, with some even speculating that the movie would be delayed. But I never lost hope. I pointed out to a good friend that Spider-Man: No Way Home’s trailer didn’t release until 119 days before it came out, and that movie was phenomenal. So here we are, 115 days before release, and I’ve no doubt that I’m going to truly enjoy this movie.
If you haven’t already seen it, I’ve linked the trailer at the top of this post. There’s a lot to unpack, but don’t take this post as a breakdown. I’m just going to give my thoughts, point out what popped out at me, and what I’m hoping we’ll see because this first trailer is just the tip of the iceberg.
This Isn’t Sonic Adventure 2: The Movie
First things first, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will not be a shot-for-shot remake of Sonic Adventure 2. Watching Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 should be enough to grasp this concept, as neither of those films were direct adaptations of the source material. Sonic 1 was an origin story that borrows a minimal amount of things from the games. Sonic 2 improves on this and is closer to the games than the first movie, but still, that one took creative liberties and added things from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles.
If you want Sonic Adventure 2: The Movie, check this YouTube video out.
Some fans want Sonic 3 to be an exact remake of Sonic Adventure 2 in live-action, and I’m sorry to say, but if you were expecting that, you let yourself down. Paramount has been playing it safe for years with these movies, and I don’t see them stopping just because it’s the third movie, and they’ve been successful with the past two movies. Sonic 3 will definitely be darker, and Movie Sonic will be more serious, but it’s still a Paramount Sonic movie at the end of the day.
Going in a Different Direction Isn’t the End of the World
With this being an adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2, there are a lot of things that will be different. Until we’ve seen the movie, we won’t know these things for sure, but it looks as if Robotnik isn’t the reason Shadow is released. Robotnik will work with Team Sonic to stop Shadow as he goes on a worldwide rampage.
But that’s not the most significant change. From what’s shown in the trailer, Gerald and Maria Robotnik, Ivo Robotnik’s grandfather and cousin, are still alive in the movie. However, I’m a little skeptical. I’m wondering if Maria is only shown alive in flashbacks, or perhaps time travel will be thrown into the mix. Maria will die in the movie, but she won’t be getting shot as she does in the game – much to the dismay of Sonic Twitter. Instead, it seems like she’ll be caught in an explosion that will be her ultimate demise.
Jim Carrey will be playing both Ivo and Gerald Robotnik in Sonic 3
Gerald Robotnik is shown approaching Ivo Robotnik, whom we’ve come to know in the past two movies. Again, I’m skeptical about this as well. In the Knuckles show, Chief Pachacamac, one of Knuckles’s ancestors, shows up as a hallucination to help “guide” the characters. They could go that route as well, but who knows? If it works for the story, then I’ve no real issue with either character being alive during the events of Sonic 3.
Some Characters Seem to Be Missing
Again, this isn’t a direct adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2, but even so, some important characters should be introduced in this movie. Amy Rose and Rouge the Bat played significant roles in the video game. After missing the chance to introduce Rouge in the Knuckles show, Paramount can do so in Sonic 3. With Team Sonic working with G.U.N. in this movie, this leaves the door wide open to Rouge showing up in some capacity.
But more than anything, Amy Rose must make her way to the Sonic the Hedgehog Cinematic Universe. SEGA has tried its hardest to show that Amy is just as much a member of Team Sonic as Tails and Knuckles over the years, arguably since Sonic Boom in 2014 – 10 years ago. Like many other fans, I’d like to see Paramount’s take on Amy. I genuinely hope Paramount is holding onto her and that we’ll be surprised by her appearance in Sonic 3.
Is This the End for Donut Lord?
Things look dire for Donut Lord
A scene in the trailer shows Tom, Sonic’s adopted father, on his face, yelling Sonic’s name in distress. Many fans speculate that someone close to Sonic will die in this film, either Tom or Maddie. I feel like Tom is the one to go. I’m not saying I want him to, but he’s had the most considerable influence on Sonic in the movies, and this is supposed to be a movie about loss and grief and dealing with it.
Unlike the other two movies, I don’t see this ending where Shadow is adopted into Tom and Maddie’s family. Something serious will go down, and if they continue with the franchise, I feel like this film will be a turning point for the StHCU. Also, Tom dying would get a bigger reaction from Sonic than Maddie, as Sonic is closer to Tom in both movies.
Keanu Reeves Joins the Sonic the Hedgehog Cinematic Universe
Long ago, a rumor was spread that Keanu Reeves would be voicing Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic 3. However, it was never officially confirmed until about 2 or 3 days ago. With this first trailer, we get to hear Keanu’s Shadow, and I have to say, it did nothing for me. I need to hear more to form a valid opinion. He doesn’t sound bad right now, but it’s not blowing me away. Idris destroyed when he voiced Knuckles and it was revealed, but that wasn’t the case this time around with Keanu.
I might have some bias contributing to my feeling this way as well. My favorite voice actor for Shadow is Jason Griffith. He’s the absolute GOAT, and he always will be. Since 2010, we’ve had Kirk Thornton as the voice of Shadow. He’s a phenomenal voice actor, but he’s a horrible Shadow the Hedgehog, and in 14 years, I’ve tolerated one performance. So I’m hoping Keanu grows on me and I get some relief on the movie side.
Shadow the Hedgehog May Not Be the Actual Villain
As stated before, the trailer shows Team Sonic teaming up with Robotnik to take down Shadow. And that’s slightly akin to Sonic Adventure 2, where Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Eggman, Rouge, and Shadow teamed up to stop the Biolizard from crashing the Space Colony ARK into Earth and destroying the planet. However, this is the movie adaptation, and I believe Robotnik will betray Team Sonic because that’s what he does.
A horrible decision on Sonic’s part
In exchange for Robotnik’s assistance, Sonic gives him one of his quills. Metal Sonic has long been rumored for this movie, and I believe he’ll be the final villain they all have to fight against to stop. I think Robotnik will build Metal Sonic using the power from Sonic’s quill, and he’ll be too much for Sonic and Shadow to handle. I may be reaching, and Metal Sonic may show up in a post-credits scene, but here’s hoping I’m right about him showing up in the actual movie. Just look at the trailer for Sonic 2; they all made Knuckles out to be the movie’s villain when Robotnik and the Death Egg Robot were.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 releases on December 20, 2024. That’s the same day that Mufasa: The Lion King releases. Sonic Twitter believes that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will demolish Mufasa at the box office. I’m here to let you all know that that’s not the case, and there’s not even a 10% chance of that happening. Mufasa: The Lion King is, first and foremost, a Disney movie. Second, it’s a sequel/prequel to the second-highest-grossing animated film of all time. The Lion King (2019) may have been hot garbage, and its sequel will likely be just as bad, but Disney always dominates at the box office, and this will be no different. I’ll see Sonic 3 before I see Mufasa, but I’ll still see Mufasa in theaters. I’ve got to know if it’ll get a worse score than its predecessor.
Sonic the Hedgehog movies are used to going up against abysmal comic book movies like Birds of Prey or Morbius. Sonic swept those movies quite easily as DC and Sony both were on a downward spiral. Sony still is, honestly. If Paramount were wise, they’d release the film on December 13, a week earlier. Kraven the Hunter releases on that day, and regardless of how more people know about Kraven due to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 video game, I’m sure Sonic would still destroy Kraven at the box office. I’m not the only one who thinks that, either.
Sonic X Shadow Generations Might Help the Sonic 3 Box Office
SEGA has dubbed this the Year of Shadow due to Sonic Movie 3. To assist with garnering interest for Sonic 3, SEGA is remastering Sonic Generations, one of the best Sonic the Hedgehog games ever. But this time, Shadow is getting his own campaign that goes through his history. Sonic X Shadow Generations releases on October 25, just under two months before Sonic 3 comes out.
SEGA is doing great marketing this game, and if more casuals get interested in it, this could drive ticket sales. They’ll be getting my money, as I plan on getting the collector’s edition of the game. As soon as the movie tickets are on sale, I’ll be buying mine for the opening night. And I can almost guarantee I’ll see the film more than once.
Ultimately, this has brought the hype back for Sonic 3 for me and a slew of Sonic fans, both on Twitter and in the real world. I’m incredibly excited to learn more about the movie. We’ve got 115 days to go, and it’ll fly by. My review for Sonic 3 will be up within a day of me watching the movie, and you better believe a review for Sonic Movie 1 and 2 will be up before Movie 3’s release. But enough about my thoughts. Let me know in the comments what you think of the trailer. Are you excited for Sonic 3? Is there anything you want to see in the third movie? Let’s get ready for the biggest video game movie of the year. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 releases officially on December 20, 2024.
