The Unwritten Rules of The Sonic Franchise Explained

Sega has made a rather prominent name for itself over the last 33 years with its own “Mario killer” and, while he’s more the plumber’s ally than a rival these days, Sonic the Hedgehog is still going strong as a series and popular character. Sega may be seeing considerable success with Atlus as a subsidiary company as of late, but it’s quite a feat that Sonic‘s popularity has seen the franchise weather its lowest points while reaching new heights that may be a “renaissance era” of the blue blur. It’s been gradual, arguably beginning with the IDW Sonic comics, but Sonic Frontiers has brought it to the forefront in many ways.

The latest era of Sonic the Hedgehog is a transition of sorts between different parts of the franchise. As a result, some of the unspoken rules of the franchise may not apply anymore, or might even be brought back into the limelight when given the proper chance. Still, some most certainly apply now more than ever through these changes.

Sonic the Hedgehog’s Canon is Expansive But Left Open to Interpretation

As part of the latest shift in the brand’s image, Sonic Team aims to allow specific projects to feel like they’re in the same universe. Currently, this ties the mainline games, Netflix TV show Sonic Prime, and monthly Sonic the Hedgehog comics from IDW in the same universe, leaving the Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe as its own continuity. These connections so far have mostly shown up in the mainline titles through Sonic Frontiers, with Sonic referencing IDW’s Tangle the Lemur in one of his idle comments.

Sonic Prime doesn’t need to be canon to fans if they don’t enjoy it, for example, and is something that was established in the franchise during its early days when every other Sonic project had its own continuity. Even later on, shows like Sonic X gave fun insights into the characters that were personally added to the show by Sonic Team, but are now left as a choice between fans if they wish to still see what the show portrays as part of the cast at large. Through this idea, Sonic Prime may be considered canon to the mainline games, but it’s completely up to fans if it happens exactly like it did in the show or in a way that better suits their view of the main universe.

As the Sonic Franchise Evolves, Fans Should Be Ready to Try New Things

One of the things that plays a part in the many different tastes Sonic fans tend to have is the many different gameplay styles the franchise has played around with since 2006, leading to fans who prefer 2D adventures, boosting games like Unleashed, fans who prefer lighter stories, more intense stories, and the list goes on. While the Sonic franchise seems content with the open-zone style started in Frontiers as Sonic X Shadow Generations is replicating it for the black hedgehog rival, Sonic social media channels have asked what genre should be tackled next to test the waters for what fans want.

It’s likely that the part of the Sonic franchise that likes trying new things isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. This means that fans will continue to have surprises like The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Rumble headed their way, but players should understand that not every part of the series will fit what they like in the series, and walk into these experiences with an open mind. The evolution of the Sonic franchise is what has helped keep it alive for these 33 years, and while Sonic Team has long accepted that they won’t please everyone, it’s important to remember that every part of the series has its own fans. Even the most unexpected experience might turn out to be a new favorite if given a try.

The Newest Era of Sonic Might Redefine Some Unwritten Rules

The Sonic franchise is currently going through changes that are resulting in adjustments of all kinds of lore and even reshaping characters like Shadow and Knuckles to help them recover from writing that disrespected their characters in the past. What’s come out of Sonic Frontiers‘ new foundation for the series has been well-received by fans for the most part, even as it’s only just begun, but it’s hard to tell how many parts of the franchise will change or be restated somehow just yet as a result.

Important, but rarely mentioned character aspects such as Sonic’s personal distaste for guns, Blaze’s cloak and history with her powers, and the state of Infinite the Jackal after Sonic Forces may just need another chance to be voiced in upcoming titles, shorts, media, and so on. The series may be going through some growing pains, but the ride has been enjoyable thus far.