Warning: This list contains SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
It’s unlikely for a sequel to a video game-based movie to win over critics, but Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has been received pretty positively. The story brings back the titular protagonist, this time taking on Dr. Robotnik and his new partner Knuckles as they vie for the Master Emerald. Staying true to its origins, the film has quite a few nods to the style found in the video game landscape.
These tropes have been adapted in such a way so that they can make sense in the live-action film format. From Sonic’s battles against Dr. Robotnik and Knuckles to the way certain scenes play out like missions in a game, Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s cliches tie in well with the movie’s entertainment value.
Unwinnable Boss Fight
Just about every movie like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has a sequence that establishes a new threat. Games also have similar boss battles where losing is inevitable, but there’s still the option of putting up a fight. In this film, this classic twist appeared in the form of Knuckles.
Sonic was completely outmatched by his adversary, who even mocked Sonic that he had no need for his powers. Although this can be frustrating for those that want the hero to win, it goes a long way in displaying the power level of the enemy, so its use was justified here.
Protecting NPCs During A Mission
Another relatively frustrating video game standard is when players have to protect non-playable characters during their missions. However, it can be fun if the action keeps ticking along, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 starting out this way when the hero saved an armored truck and prevented it from crashing into bystanders.
It was a means of introducing the theme of Sonic wanting to become a real hero, as he had to understand the responsibility that came with it. The movie turned what’s generally a trope to avoid into something that tied into the plot, with the designated NPC being the truck driver, who had some hilarious banter with Sonic.
Switching Character Point Of View
Platformers and action-adventure games that are like Sonic tend to have multiple protagonists, with the playthroughs switching from one to the other based on where the plot is headed. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 brought this aspect by having the titular character, Tails, and Knuckles take charge.
Viewers saw the points of view of the three characters, ranging from Knuckles’ interactions with Dr. Robotnik, Sonic’s heroics, and the tasks Sonic delegated to Tails. It was like following them during missions within the gameplay, as the movie showed their exploits so that fans understood exactly what they were going through.
A Stealth-Based Mission
Stealth missions rarely show up in Sonic (apart from Sonic Unleashed), but the trope is fairly common in gaming overall. Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s stealth sequence showed up when Maddie and Rachel infiltrated the G.U.N. base, where the sisters took down the guards to rescue Sonic and Tom.
The resemblance to gameplay was through the sisters’ possession of Tails’ gadgets, which they used to avoid detection and incapacitate their enemies. It was a nice way of adapting this feature because stealth-based sequences are perhaps the best way to include human characters in the action.
A Chase Sequence
Chase sequences are among the common tropes in Sonic games since they’re relevant to the protagonist’s powers. The movie had some notable ones, but the Knuckles’ chase of Sonic and Tails might be the most memorable. It was directed to be familiar to fans of the games, with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles using their trademark abilities.
Sonic’s speed was combined with Tails’ ability to fly and his plane, while Knuckles had his powerful fists to parry the protagonists’ attacks. It was the fastest-paced sequence of the movie that stayed true to the action found in the source material.
MacGuffin Drives The Plot
Games are designed to have players search for an object or a place that serves as the basis for the plot. Sonic titles, in particular, have always been about the hero defending the rings or emeralds from Robotnik, which was adapted into Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in that exact manner.
The MacGuffin of the Master Emerald was what everyone was after, with Robotnik manipulating Knuckles so he could get his hands on it. MacGuffins benefit video game-based movies because they make for simple storylines that pull in all the characters to be involved without wasting time on exposition.
Power-Up Weapons
It wouldn’t be a video game if there weren’t weapons that powered the protagonists up, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 having the emeralds fulfill this aspect. Dr. Robotnik is considered the best villain in the Sonic series, and the live-action version emulated the games’ Robotnik’s quest for the emeralds.
Sonic ended up absorbing the Chaos Emeralds’ powers to become Super Sonic, which was the ultimate power-up anyone could acquire. Games also hand out one-hit weapons or abilities by the end so that fans’ playthroughs can be completed on a high note.
Final Boss Fight
Every game has a final battle with the main boss, which requires a certain strategy to overcome. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had Robotnik create a massive robot that Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails had to defeat. It played out like the last mission of a game, as the heroes had to find the robot’s weak spot.
The final boss trope is the most essential one to be found in a video game since it caps off the entire playthrough. The battle against Robotnik had everything from the heroes’ team-up, Sonic’s power-up, and the use of a strategy to defeat the villain. It combined multiple classic game beats into one to complete the film’s main conflict and usher in the protagonists’ victory.
