Sonic Theories/Game Theory: Sonic BROKE His Own Lore! (Sonic Frontiers)
Game Theory: Sonic BROKE His Own Lore! (Sonic Frontiers)

Game Theory: Sonic BROKE His Own Lore! (Sonic Frontiers)

The Game Theorists13 minFeb 4, 2023
6 chapters
  • Introduction to Sonic Frontiers and Storytelling Issues(0'001'47)
    Sonic games were originally focused on running and jumping without deep storytelling, but evolved into 3D games that required more complex narratives.
    • Sonic Frontiers is an open world adventure with significant lore • Ian Flynn, former chief writer for Archie Comics, was hired to write the story • The results were confusing and potentially canon-breaking
    Does Sonic Frontiers shatter the sonic canon or reveal deeper connections?
    • Initial gameplay teaser looked empty and lifeless • Game was still largely empty upon release • Despite issues, it's the most solid 3D Sonic in a long time
  • Story Quality and Lore Connections(1'474'04)
    • Characters feel fleshed out with better dialogue • Knuckles and Sonic restored as rivals • Tails receives a character arc • Amy has depth beyond being an obsessive fan
    The game actively references Sonic Forces, Sonic Adventure 2, and Sonic Riders, proving all Sonic games are connected.
    Large portions of lore are hidden behind Eggman memos that can only be obtained by fishing with Big the cat.
    Things presented in Frontiers seem to contradict major plot details from other games, raising questions about canonical consistency.
  • The Ancient Aliens and Chaos Connection(4'047'40)
    Sonic gets pulled into cyberspace, a digital world built from memories of past adventures, while his friends become trapped.
    • A race of aliens whose home planet was destroyed by an entity called the End • They were drawn to Earth by the power of chaos emeralds • They look exactly like Chaos from Sonic Adventure
    In Sonic Adventure, Chaos was a mutant Chao (a cute fairy creature), not an alien. The Ancients in Frontiers are depicted as water monsters from the start, creating a contradiction.
    If Chaos and the Ancients are one and the same, how could Chaos have been a mutant Chao if the Ancients were always water monsters?
  • Solving the Canon Problem with Radiation(7'4011'08)
    Ian Flynn confirmed that the original lore where Chaos was a mutant Chao is still valid and was not retconned.
    • Chaos radiation from chaos emeralds and the Master Emerald can mutate creatures • Water monsters exposed to this radiation can be transformed into Chao • The Ancients placed chaos emeralds near the Master Emerald, exposing themselves to amplified radiation
    The chaos radiation that transformed the Ancients into Chao is the same radiation that could later transform a Chao back into an Ancient.
    Chaos protected the chaos emeralds during Sonic Adventure because his entire race depended on them and their power for their survival.
  • Master Emerald's Dual Power and Resolution(11'0812'16)
    • Master Emerald boosts chaos emeralds' power • It can also neutralize chaos emerald energy • This neutralization technique is used throughout the series to stop chaos emerald users
    An ancient clan of Echidnas knew an ancient prayer that could neutralize the chaos emeralds, first seen in Sonic Adventure.
    When chaos energy from the emeralds is neutralized by the Master Emerald, the mutation effects reverse, allowing Chao to return to their original Ancient form.
    The broken lore is officially unbroken—Chaos being both an Ancient water monster and a mutant Chao are compatible when considering the bidirectional mutation caused by chaos radiation and Master Emerald neutralization.
  • Future Implications and Conclusion(12'1613'48)
    Ian Flynn's involvement brings cohesion to Sonic's narrative, showing genuine care for the franchise and its lore.
    • Overreliance on Super Sonic may have negative physical effects on Sonic, potentially causing mutation • Tails' character arc about not relying on Sonic could set up a story where Tails saves Sonic • New creative directions for Sonic lore and character development
    The franchise is finally developing consistent narrative structure, moving away from disconnected games and unclear canon.
    That's just a theory. A Game Theory!