Sonic The Hedgehog – Video Game News, Reviews, Walkthroughs And Guides | GamingBolt https://gamingbolt.com Get a Bolt of Gaming Now! Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:47:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 185493399 Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog Films Have Grossed Over $1 Billion at the Global Box Office https://gamingbolt.com/paramounts-sonic-the-hedgehog-films-have-grossed-over-1-billion-at-the-global-box-office Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:47:18 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=607935 Paramount Pictures’ Sonic the Hedgehog film series has crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The first film debuted in February 2020 and grossed $725.2 million worldwide together with the 2022 sequel. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was released on December 20th, 2024, and has earned a worldwide gross of $312 million.

Domestic earnings crossed $187 million, while the international box office gross crossed $100 million (becoming the fastest movie in the series to reach that total). Shortly after the third movie’s release, Paramount confirmed that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is in the works and will arrive sometime in 2027. Though casting has yet to be announced, Jim Carrey (who plays Dr. Robotnik) said he’s open to returning.

On the gaming side, Sonic x Shadow Generations has been a big hit for Sega, selling over 1.5 million units in less than a month. Sega also recently announced Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds with Shadow joining the roster, though further details have yet to be revealed.

]]> 607935 Jim Carrey Says He’s “Open” to Returning as Robotnik in Future Sonic Films https://gamingbolt.com/jim-carrey-says-hes-open-to-returning-as-robotnik-in-future-sonic-films Sat, 04 Jan 2025 00:31:58 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=607812 Many were surprised by Jim Carrey returning from soft retirement for his double role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as the villainous Dr. Robotnik and his even more villainous grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. And though some may have assumed that that would have been his final hurrah, as it turns out, the actor still may not be fully done with the Sonic franchise quite yet.

Speaking in an interview with Cinema Today (spotted by @sonicstadium on Twitter), Carrey said that he remains “open to the idea” of returning to once again play Dr. Ivo Robotnik in future Sonic the Hedgehog movies- depending, of course, on whether he’s interested in the ideas presented to him.

“I’m definitely open. I’m open to the idea,” he said. “Generally, they come to me with the next idea, and if I go, ‘that sounds fun’, then I’ll do it. I don’t feel locked to anything in life unless it’s something that interests me.”

“I certainly love this crew,” Carrey added. “I love this gang that makes these movies, and I love the fans. I think there’s a lot of really great energy around it.”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 launched in theaters worldwide last month and has enjoyed critical and commercial success since then. Shortly before its release, Sega and Paramount Pictures announced that a fourth Sonic movie had also been officially greenlit, and is due out in 2027.

]]> 607812 Sonic Central Announced, Offers Sneak Peek at “Upcoming Projects” on September 24th https://gamingbolt.com/sonic-central-announced-offers-sneak-peek-at-upcoming-projects-on-september-24th Mon, 23 Sep 2024 18:15:00 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=599549 Sony’s State of Play returns tomorrow, but if that’s not your thing, Sega has announced a new Sonic Central. Airing on September 24th at 9 AM PST, the showcase will offer a sneak peek at upcoming “projects” alongside partnerships and events in 2025.

While it’s unknown what events or tie-ups the Sonic franchise could have next year, Sonic Team could announce its rumored remake of Sonic Heroes. It’s likely launching in 2025 and arriving for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo’s successor for the Switch. Of course, time will tell, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, Sega has Sonic X Shadow Generations launching on October 25th, offering a remaster of Sonic Generations and a brand new standalone campaign starring Shadow. Check out some of the latest gameplay here. There’s also Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (the film) releasing on December 20th, which sees the debut of Shadow in the series, voiced by Keanu Reeves, no less.

]]> 599549 15 Great Video Game Series with at Least One Awful Game https://gamingbolt.com/15-great-video-game-series-with-at-least-one-awful-game Mon, 08 Jul 2024 12:49:36 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=590590 Nothing is quite as hard as consistency, and that stands doubly true when you’re expecting something to be consistently good. There have, of course, been a number of major gaming franchises over the years that have managed to do just that, and in doing so have earned themselves millions upon millions of fans. Even such franchises, however, have had their off days. Here, we’re going to take a look at a few gaming franchises that have generally been good, with some very notable exceptions. We will, of course, also be talking about those exceptions.

METAL GEAR – METAL GEAR SURVIVE

You’d think that Konami couldn’t have given the Metal Gear franchise a worse sendoff than it did with the troubled launch of MGS5 and the acrimonious departure of series mastermind Hideo Kojima, but the company decided to follow up on those disasters with another major screwup. That came in the form of Metal Gear Survive, an abomination of a survival game with mindless, repetitive mechanics, uninspired design, and an unimaginable misuse of a beloved IP. Metal Gear Survive isn’t mainline, of course, and as such easily ignorable- which is good, because that’s exactly what you should do with it.

]]> 590590 Like a Dragon, Persona, and Sonic the Hedgehog Will Become Annual Franchises for Sega – Rumor https://gamingbolt.com/like-a-dragon-persona-and-sonic-the-hedgehog-will-become-annual-franchises-for-sega-rumor Fri, 10 May 2024 09:58:07 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=586750 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Persona 3 Reload have been successes for Sega, and Sonic x Shadow Generations is coming later this year. Lest you’d think there’s any intention to slow down on any in the coming years, leaker Midori has reported that the current plan is to make them “annual franchises through new titles, remakes and remasters, DLC expansions and other media.”

When another user called them Sega’s “Big 3”, she replied, “This is correct information. Like a Dragon, Persona and Sonic are called the Main Pillar Brands at Sega.” She also clarified that it was Persona and not Shin Megami Tensei in a broader sense. However, “There are plans to expand the Shin Megami Tensei brand, and Sega is confident in the upcoming Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance.”

Each IP will reportedly receive new content yearly, with “other media” referring to crossovers and collaborations with other titles. There are even “early plans” for collaborations in upcoming titles like the Crazy Taxi reboot, allegedly a live-service/games-as-a-service title launching in 2027.

As for its big three, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will host auditions for its next Like a Dragon, and indicated that Like a Dragon Kiwami 3 would happen “sooner or later.” Persona 6 is rumored to launch next year and features a semi-open world with more open Social Links. Alongside the recently announced Sonic Rumble, a remake of Sonic Heroes and a Sonic Frontiers sequel are reportedly in the works. Stay tuned for more details and potential announcements in the coming months.

]]> 586750 Sega is “Considering Reboots and Remakes” for Sonic https://gamingbolt.com/sega-is-considering-reboots-and-remakes-for-sonic Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:05:19 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=559490 Sonic the Hedgehog might be an IP that sees its fair share of ups and downs, but it also remains Sega’s most important property. The company has recently adopted a strategy of implementing new ideas as it looks to expand it further, from last year’s Sonic Frontiers being the series’ first open world game to the upcoming 2D platformer Sonic Superstars being the first to feature co-op- though it seems the company is also interested in revisiting the series’ past.

In a recent interview with Famitsu, Sega president and COO Yukio Sugino spoke about the same, stating that though new titles in the franchise are obviously continue to get made, the company is also Sonic “considering reboots and remakes” for the future.

“Of course, we have to do new things, but not all IPs are the same for new releases and reboots,” Sugino said (translation via VGC). “For each IP, we will choose which method is appropriate at this time. Sonic is Sega’s flagship IP, and we are considering reboots and remakes for it in parallel with new titles.”

Of course, Sega is no stranger to releasing remakes, even if it’s an area where we haven’t seen too much of Sonic. The company has released a number of remakes of Yakuza titles, with the most recent being Like a Dragon: Ishin!, which launched earlier this year. Persona 3 Reload, meanwhile, is set to launch in early 2024, while reports have claimed that the company also has reboots of Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio in the works.

As for Sonic, while it remains to be seen whether the series will be turning its attention to potential remakes, fans do still have plenty to look forward to in the near future. Sonic Superstars is set to launch sometime this year for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. An official release date hasn’t yet been announced, but retailer listings have pointed to an October release.

]]> 559490 15 Best Sonic Games of All Time – Before You Play Sonic Frontiers https://gamingbolt.com/15-best-sonic-games-of-all-time-before-you-play-sonic-frontiers https://gamingbolt.com/15-best-sonic-games-of-all-time-before-you-play-sonic-frontiers#respond Mon, 08 Aug 2022 09:14:08 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=525980 Sonic Frontiers looks to take the franchise in a brand new direction when it releases for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch later this year. However, it’s worth taking a look back at the series and the mark it left on video game history as we know it. Here are 15 of the best Sonic games which are worth playing before the release of Sonic Frontiers.

Sonic Adventure

Yes, it had some iffy voice acting and lip syncing. Yes, there were some bugs and collision issues. But the first time I saw that cinematic with Chaos wreaking havoc in Station Square as “Open Your Heart” played, I knew Sonic Adventure would be incredible. It offered gorgeous Action Stages to explore in Emerald Coast, Windy Valley, and Speedy Highway while each playable character offered their own unique gameplay hook.

E-101 with its lock-on shooting, Knuckles with the exploration and Chaos Emerald hunting, Amy and her struggle to escape ZERO – there was plenty of good and a bit bad, as seen with Big the Cat’s mercifully short fishing stages. Nevertheless, Sonic Adventure served as an incredible transition from 2D to 3D with its sense of speed, unforgettable music and gameplay.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/15-best-sonic-games-of-all-time-before-you-play-sonic-frontiers/feed 0 525980 Sonic Origins – 10 New Things You Need To Know https://gamingbolt.com/sonic-origins-10-new-things-you-need-to-know https://gamingbolt.com/sonic-origins-10-new-things-you-need-to-know#respond Fri, 27 May 2022 07:12:17 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=518210 Before Sonic goes full Breath of the Wild in Sonic Frontiers later this year, fans will have a chance to revisit the classics in Sonic Origins. Releasing on June 23rd, this collection offers a selection of titles from the Sega Genesis and Sega CD era with new features and content for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. It’s also had a fair amount of backlash due to the DLC but we’ll get to that. Let’s take a look at 10 things you should know before buying Sonic Origins.

Four “Remakes”

As the name implies, Sonic Origins focuses on the original Sonic the Hedgehog titles from the Sega Genesis era (which also includes the short-lived Sega CD). Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3 and Knuckles (the combo of Sonic 3 with Sonic and Knuckles), and Sonic CD are all included in one package for $40. These are all remade on the Retro Engine, which Sonic Mania was also developed on. Along with high resolution visuals, each title also has new opening and ending animations.

Story Mode

sonic origins

While you could play each game separately, the new “Story Mode” ties them all together, allowing one to play them sequentially and experience the entire saga with animated cutscenes bridging each game. How does Sonic meet Tails in the lead-up to Sonic 2? How do the two know about the mysterious floating island and travel there? For that matter, how does the conclusion of Sonic 3 and Knuckles tie into Sonic CD? The new Story Mode should hopefully provide the answers to these long-burning questions.

Classic and Anniversary Modes

Each title in the collection can also be played in two separate modes – Classic and Anniversary. Classic is the original version with a 4:3 aspect ratio and limited lives. Anniversary offers the new updated resolution in wide-screen format with no limit on lives. So while the difficulty more or less stays the same for the latter, you’re now welcome to retry as many times as possible. Of course, those who insist on enjoying the games in their original, challenging states are able to do so.

Sonic Mania Developer Involved

Sonic Origins

Aside from the engine, Sonic Mania has a bit of an effect on Origins with the Drop Dash from the former being incorporated into Sonic’s moveset (but only in Anniversary Mode). That’s not all though – developer Headcannon has also played a significant role in the collection’s development. Along with assisting in pre-production for Sonic CD and co-developing Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2, it also developed the Sonic 3 and Knuckles remaster. Considering how much fun Sonic Mania was, it’s good to see the developer being on board throughout Origins and contributing in such a significant way.

Boss Rush

If you want to skip through the platforming sections and simply take on each game’s bosses, then there’s good news. Each title has a new Boss Rush mode that lets you do just that. The particulars still need to be clarified though like whether there are leaderboards, if you get anything from completing them and so on and so forth. Will there be a one-hit kill option where you must defeat every boss without taking any damage? We don’t know but it should be fun to find out.

Mirror Mode

Though these are technically remakes rebuilt on the Retro Engine, they’re still the classics that fans know and love. As such, a lot of this is going to look familiar, for better or worse. If you want to mix up playthroughs of Green Hill Zone and Stardust Speedway, then there’s the new Mirror Mode. This essentially flips the level’s layout, so instead of going from left to right, you travel from right to left. It may sound deceptively simple but may also screw with your muscle memory, forcing you to adapt to the new challenge.

Mission Mode

For those looking to further spice up their runs, there’s Mission Mode. This adds several different objectives for each game in the collection, like slaying five Caterkillers and reaching the goal in Sonic the Hedgehog 1. Completing a mission confers Coins. There are four grades based on how well the objective is completed with C being the lowest and the highest being S – higher grades equals more Coins earned. With multiple missions for each game, there’s plenty to keep one busy.

Coins and Museum Content

So what do you spend the Coins on? Content from the Museum, of course. Though Sega has yet to outline all of the unlockable content, it’s confirmed that tracks from other titles (Sonic Spinball) are included. There will also likely be illustrations, wallpapers, animated cutscenes (like from Sonic CD) and other goodies to unlock. Coins can also be spent on playing special stages.

Start Dash Pack, Premium Fun Pack and Classic Music Pack DLC

sonic origins editions

Here’s where things get very confusing. The Standard Edition only includes the base game but pre-ordering will get you the Start Dash Pack for free. This includes 100 Bonus Coins to start with, a Letterbox Background for playing through Classic Mode, and Mirror Mode unlocked. Mirror Mode doesn’t seem restricted to this pack – instead, it seems that buying it will grant instant access to the same though Sega has yet to clarify.

Then there’s the Premium Fun Pack which can’t be purchased separately at present. It includes Hard Missions for Mission Mode (which, again, can presumably be unlocked through regular play), a Letterbox Background, Character Animations in the Main Menu, camera controls over the Main Menu’s Islands, and Character Animations during the Music Islands. The Classic Music Pack, which also hasn’t been priced separately, offers additional tracks from the Sega Genesis titles. You can get both of these in the Digital Deluxe Edition.

However, if you don’t pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition (which costs $45), then you’re missing out on the Start Dash Pack’s content. How much that will cost separately after launch also remains to be seen. Not exactly the most ideal breakup of DLC that a retro game collection should have but hopefully most of this will be included in-game and simply requires Coins to unlock.

PC System Requirements

For PC players, Sonic Origins requires an Intel Core i5-2400 3.1 GHz or AMD FX-8350 4.2 GHz with 6 GB of RAM and a GTX 760 or Radeon HD 7870 with 2 GB VRAM at minimum. This is to run the game at 720p resolution and 60 FPS. Recommended requirements include a Core i5-4570 3.2 GHz or Ryzen 3 1300X 3.4 GHz with 8 GB of RAM and either a GTX 770 or Radeon R9 280. You wouldn’t think four remakes of classic titles that are remarkably similar to the originals would need so much RAM but alas, here we are.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/sonic-origins-10-new-things-you-need-to-know/feed 0 518210 Sonic Origins Rated in South Korea, Possibly Hinting at Looming Launch https://gamingbolt.com/sonic-origins-rated-in-south-korea-possibly-hinting-at-looming-launch https://gamingbolt.com/sonic-origins-rated-in-south-korea-possibly-hinting-at-looming-launch#respond Mon, 18 Apr 2022 17:44:29 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=514952 In May last year, Sega celebrated the 35th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog with announcements of several upcoming games, looking at both, the past and the future of the series. Where the former is concerned, one of these announcements was Sonic Origins, a collection of classic Sonic titles that was given a 2022 launch window.

There have been next to no updates on the collection since then, but it seems that could change soon. Recently, Sonic Origins was given a classification rating by South Korea’s ratings committee, the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC), suggesting that an update regarding its release date could be coming soon.

When Sonic Origins was announced last year, Sega didn’t mention any platforms for it, and that information still hasn’t been unveiled. The collection will include Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3 and Knuckles, and Sonic CD, along with “fresh content” that Sega has yet to detail.

Meanwhile, later this year, open world 3D platformer Sonic Frontiers will be launching for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/sonic-origins-rated-in-south-korea-possibly-hinting-at-looming-launch/feed 0 514952 A Third Sonic the Hedgehog Movie and a Live Action Knuckles Series Are in Production https://gamingbolt.com/a-third-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-and-a-live-action-knuckles-series-are-in-production https://gamingbolt.com/a-third-sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-and-a-live-action-knuckles-series-are-in-production#respond Wed, 16 Feb 2022 23:30:02 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=508660 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog movie had its fair share of issues during its production, but ultimately, people warmed up to it, and it became a hit, spawning an upcoming sequel, which releases in April. And it seems the journey of the blue Hedgehog and friends in that universe will continue beyond that.

Through a post on Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter, the company announced that a third Sonic the Hedgehog movie is currently in the works with Paramount. CEO of Sega Corporation, Haruki Satomi, also announced that a live action series based on the character Knuckles, who is set to debut in the upcoming movie sequel, is set to premiere on Paramount+ in 2023, with Idris Elba reprising his role from the movie.

Satomi also talked about the future of the franchise, saying that 2022 is shaping up to be a significant year for it, with the second film coming out in April and Sonic Frontiers coming out this holiday, adding that Sega looks forward to continuing to bring memorable moments and experiences to fans.

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