During a recent interview with Axios (thanks, IGN), the head of Sonic Team Takashi Iizuka laid down a few rules regarding the creation of games featuring Sega's mascot, Sonic.
The first two are relatively self explanatory and serve as the "official" rules: number one, Sonic needs to display a strong sense of speed, and number two, Sonic doesn't have the ability to swim. Indeed, Iizuka went so far as to point out that Sonic requires the use of a flotation device during swimming events in the likes of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The third rule is more of an unofficial addition courtesy of Iizuka, but it's perhaps an important one for the reputation of the franchise: Sonic will no longer be kissing any human characters - probably. Iizuka simply said "I don't think we'll be doing that again" when discussing the infamous scene in 2006's Sonic the Hedgehog between Sonic himself and the human character Princess Elise the Third.
So there you go; we probably won't be seeing Sonic kiss any human characters from this moment on. Having said that, a quick search on the internet will likely demonstrate that folks have a keen fondness for such a concept. Cheeky!
What do you think Iizuka's rules on Sonic? Reckon they make sense? Let us know with a comment!
Comments 62
That's... a relief? I guess
So does that mean we can finally see Sonic make out with Big The Cat like I've always wrote about in my fan fiction stories?
Seeing Sonic lay his hedgehog lips upon a human figure's face is something I wish I never had to see.
Thanks Sega.
Instead he’ll move directly to home base.
I must be in the minority here but I actually found that scene quite moving the first time I saw it.
We'll see if Sonic can keep to this rule once he meets me and my kissing lips
I think this is the one thing that Sega said that won’t cause any backlash. Good job Sega.
Dagnabit, Sega, I was genuinely looking forward to Frontiers until now. (ノಥ,_」ಥ)ノ彡┻━┻
I never had the honor (and I'm sure some say I was fortunate) to play Sonic '06. So this scenario is new to me. With that being said, Sonic kissing a human really doesn't;t seem like that egregious of a deal. His strong sense of speed and his inability to swim is obviously no-brainers. I just watched Sonic 2 last night and it was cool to see that rule adhered to (Don't recall if the first movie had any moments of Sonic underwater).
That's it. I'm cancelling my preorder.
Shouldn't "anymore" be written as two words in this context?
"Don't expect to see Sonic kissing humans anymore."
"Don't expect to see Sonic kissing any more humans."
Either way, "anymore" is non-standard, and is usually written as two words in British and Australian English.
Well, here's the thing.
Sonic didn't kiss Elise, Elise kissed Sonic. Whilst he was dead.
That wasn't just a kiss, this was necrophilia mixed with sodomy. I bet Elise practiced with roadkills before see meat Sonic.
Sonic cant swim? Thats kind of an arbitrary rule.
Why closing the doors to a potentially interesting game mechanic and environment.
Fan artists everywhere: "Oh, we'll just see about that!"
@Pak-Man I was JUST about to say that lol. This man is a fool to think he can keep a lid on deviantART.
@RareFan : And bestiality. This "Elise" character is a patchwork of perversion!
This is not the best hill to die on, but I've grown to dislike how played up that particular controversy is.
Like, I get the inherent and aesthetical weirdness of it... but I feel the worst part of it was being a cliche and unearned trope, not that an anthropomorphic, talking hedgehog was kissed by a human.
And I say this as someone who also would rather not see Sonic kiss another human in my lifetime.
@Silly_G @Silly_G You are correct.
Your first and second examples are actually both standard in American English.
In "Don't expect to see Sonic kissing humans anymore" the word 'anymore' is a single-word adverb, describing the verb 'to kiss.'
In "Don't expect to see Sonic kissing any more humans" the word 'any' is an adverb, again describing the verb 'to kiss,' while the word 'more' is an adjective describing 'humans.'
Ultimately though, language is a means to an end, and if we all understand what they meant, that's really all that matters uwu
>expecting praise for not putting obscene gross awkward scenes in their games
Yeah that should just be the default, you don't get praise for that. How about not trying to reinvent 3D Sonic with every entry? How about taking a style that works (Boost Sonic or Adventure Sonic) and really just focus on developing that style without any goofy, gimicky stuff?
How about disbanding Sonic Team and letting another studio work on a 3D Sonic for change? Sonic Team isn't even the same people that brought us Adventure or the classics, why keep this farce going?
@RupeeClock You’re right - Elise was the one who initiated, even though it saved Sonic’s life.
Even though this topic has been memed longer than some Sonic fans have been alive (and even I think it could’ve been salvaged if Elise had a less realistic design and more to her character), I think this is one guideline most Sonic fans can get behind.
there go my chances I guess ...
@Deadlyblack There's something about the clashing art styles of a weirdly proportioned cartoon hedgehog and a realistic human princess that really makes me question, "How did anyone not see how goofy this looks?"
Wasn't it the other way around in this clip, though? It wasn't like Sonic kissed her, she kissed him and he was unconscious, so there wasn't even consent from Sonic. He could even sue, if he wanted.
@PreMonition Honestly, if Princess Elise was another species similar to Sonic like his cast of friends or whatever than nobody would be having an issue with it happening, also Sonic's reputation would have been still fine but unfortunately that was the moment his career was kinda of ruined.
@russell-marlow It's like someone making out with a theme park mascot lol.
@Pillowpants
The start of the Sonic ‘06 sequel, no doubt.
So the fanfictions where Sonic kisses Shadow check out? Good to know.
@russell-marlow
Sonic Boom established that "animal people" are separate from "animals", too.
This upsets the DeviantArt.
Yeah no more Sonic playing sleeping beauty. It's time the hedgehog finally makes out with Sally.
@Zequio Wait, is this a joke or just ignoring the fact that Sonic never could swim in any game and it's kind of part of his identity to just.. hate water cause he sinks like a rock?
That’s good. The only romance that ever worked for Sonic was Princess Sally in the Saturday Morning cartoon and in the better written days of the Archie comics. Their final kiss was perfection.
To be fair, Sonic is the type of character who probably shouldn’t have a “knight and damsel” relationship like we see so often. Whomever he ends up with, if anyone, I’m hoping it’s as different as Sonic is.
Keep Sonic from kissing humans.
I only want him to kiss goombas. Like me. 😍😍😍
Yep, that's the big pressing issue people have had with Sonic over the last 15+ years...
I guess the furry population will be displeased?
@DTFaux Yeah I've always been offended at the idea of being rewarded with getting a girl at the end of a long hard adventure. Where the hell is my sexy party with at least a dozen sexy ladies?
"Sonic need to display a strong sense of speed", hey Sega you broke this rule in Sonic Frontiers.
good. was cringe.
I mean, it was a dumb scene but honestly I think people care way too much.
Hey! Let us ship whomever we want.
Actually yeah this was probably for the best.
@nessisonett This is one of the best comments I've seen on this website lol
I honestly think the "rule" is stupid and makes the reputation worse. Imagine limiting such freedom to appeal to a bunch of normies who think it's wrong for two different species to like each other. It honestly is worse to have it because I would rather have the franchise have such freedom than limit it in favor of the type of people who hates something that isn't really bad. Know what I mean? I'm not even a fan of sonic but it does bother me to see something that now probably feels a bit more political for the worse if you know what I mean.
...... Still better than Boom.....
@nessisonett Gotta' go fast!
@RupeeClock We're talking about Sonic's species and humans not literal animals.
One of the few "rules" thats without a doubt for the best.
Trust me, I'm not complaining about that at all.
@Zequio hear hear!
while we're at it, can we restate the rule from years ago that sonic would never date Amy? isn't he supposed to be the sort of guy that just doesn't want a romantic relationship?
Thank you! I know its silly to even care about such stuff with fictional characters (and there is some prescident for it, with the very original designs showing him having a human gf called Madonna) but its always really weirded me out when he is romantically involved with humans. Sonic with Amy makes sense, they are Hedgehogs.
Cream, Rouge, Blaze, Sally, whatever other species at least in the same rough visual style and clearly from the same universe at least makes more sense than realistic humans. But even then, the keen-ness for some people to over sexualise the whole thing is unsettling to me.
They are canonically kids. In official media, keep it sweetly innocently romantic at most please. Its adorable in Sonic CD when Amy runs to hug Sonic and hearts come out, and he pretends to not care. Thats perfect. Whether classic Sonic as 10, or Modern Sonic as 15, thats pretty normal behaviour from a young boy trying to be cool around a girl, or even just being embarassed and not knowing what to do.
I'm obviously aware none of these characters are real and what people want to do in their own fan art or fan fiction to make themselves happy is their business, I can avoid that easily enough. Its when the official material starts to lean into the weirder side that I get uncomfortable.
@nessisonett 😲
Tbh I could care if he did, I just don’t know why??
Any rules involving Tails and park benches?
@Exmotable I agree, but at the same time, that rule was set when Sonic was 10 and Amy was 8. Therefore in Modern games he's 15 and she's 13. After all their years and adventures, and her character moving to be more confident, less "annoying" (that was Sonic's opinion, I always found her cute) and more of a useful team mate, rather than only to be rescued, and far more of an equal to Sonic, I can cope with them flirting and him softening towards her. But still, they shouldn't go too far with it.
@solarhorse No, why, Noooo, nooooo!
Adds new meaning to 'don't kiss and tell'
This must offend a lot of people who identify as other species but still are attracted to humans.
@RubyCarbuncle
I don’t actually mind it since it’s used to revive Sonic, and a princess’s kiss being magic isn’t a new concept at all. The princess & the frog also exists.
@Giancarlothomaz
Sonic Frontiers has speed upgrading though.
lmfao I love that video thumbnail with Knuckles awkwardly watching from behind
Here’s some real news, Sonic Frontiers is going to be 20-60 hours long depending on player skill and completion percent.
Twitter artist realizing they can't do commissions of people and sonic because it breaks the rules of sonic. I'm also now calling this rule sonic rule #34 (please don't google this).
Plot twist, Sonic will turn into human if got kissed by female human. (The Princess and the Sonic)
Sonic cannot swim?
I will teach him how to swim with breaststroke style.
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