The third chapter in the Sonic series was released this past weekend, and it capped off the trilogy perfectly. Spoilers ahead!
Sonic 3 had the potential to fail like a majority of video game adaptations, except it defied expectations. Although, it wasn't too difficult with the recent addition of Keanu Reeves as Shadow. Reeves' announcement felt like the movie would be too clunky with so many characters, but the dynamic worked out in the end. Not to mention, Shadow made it possible for scenes directly from the games to happen on the big screen.
While Shadow (Reeves) opened the door for more nods to the games, every character in the movie referenced them in one way or another. The fun aspect is they seemingly blended into the plot. Cameos can occasionally feel like product placement or a corporate-sponsored tie-in, though every reference to the games in Sonic 3 was appropriate. Take a look at some of the best in our list below:
Blowing On The Cartridge
Towards the climax, Tom and Maddie hack into the London GUN facility to let Sonic in. Tom has to insert a USB drive into the correct port at a specific server room, except there's a problem. It doesn't work right away. Tails doesn't have a backup, and there's no retreating, so the latter resorts to the only thing he knows. Tom pulls the USB drive out and blows on the output port. Somehow, Tom's unorthodox solution makes the device work, and they proceed.
People who've played the old Sega games know that a common fix for malfunctioning or unresponsive cartridges was to blow out the dust and reinsert the cartridge. The funny thing is while the method has never been proven successful, avid video game players will attest to the method's effectiveness. Who knows if there is logic to it, but spit-covered microchips probably don't make them function better, or maybe they do.
Sonic/Shadow Team-Up
Shadow and Sonic teaming up was everything gamers could've asked for and then some. They're typically enemies—and rivals—which means new fans don't expect them to wind up on the same side, but that's how the narrative plays out in the games.
For audiences who don't know, Sonic and Shadow originally teamed in the Sonic Adventure Battle games. Those second-generation titles began a new chapter in the series that extended beyond Sonic racing through a two-dimensional scroller. They crafted a more developed storyline for the characters, hence why the Sonic-Shadow pairing is a significant callback. It also happens at the culmination of the games, so the hedgehogs teaming up in the final battle pay tribute to their video game origins further.
Super Sonic/Super Shadow
Probably everyone in the theater, from the adults who grew up playing the games to the kids who were watching a Sonic movie for the first time, let out an audible "woah" when the dueling hedgehogs' clash for the Chaos Emerald resulted in them sharing its power. Sonic's golden transformation happens in the original trilogy, but Shadow's ascension is exceptionally recent. While he briefly gains it in Sonic Adventure Battle 2, Shadow's time with the Chaos Emerald is so short that it barely counts. He has the golden abilities a lot more often in Sonic Forces. They're also accessible in Sonic Origins.
Racing
It's not an official mode found in the games, though fans of Sonic 2 remember an option to play through the scroller with Sonic and Tails. A fun goal gamers would give themselves was to beat Tails to the finish line using Sonic. Tails is always on Sonic's heels while running, but if a player is good enough to avoid obstacles that Tails can't, it's possible to leave a noticeable gap between Sonic and Tails before the latter crosses the finish line. Players can also race Sonic and Knuckles in the aptly-titled videogame by inserting a Sonic 3 cartridge while Sonic and Knuckles is playing.
In Sonic 3, the Blue Blur, Tails, and Knuckles all participate in a similar race. Having the animal heroes race was a slightly unofficial nod to the series. Of course, it still worked to reference secret modes that only loyal gamers will remember.
Sonic Adventure Robots
Throughout the first two Sonic movies, Eggman's machines are nearly identical to the robots from the original trilogy of games. They don't seem to change, sans a few minor exceptions. Eggman's creations do, however, undergo a massive makeover in the latest installment.
During the final clash between Grandpa Eggman (Jim Carrey) and the dueling hedgehogs, he unleashes a new barrage of robots to prevent them from stopping his space laser. The robots are only onscreen briefly as Sonic and Shadow make quick work of them. Luckily, though, they're present long enough to determine their designs hail directly from Sonic Adventure.
The Gun Hunters originally made a tremendous impact since they forced a more aggressive approach. Players could typically avoid most obstacles in the original trilogy by jumping over them, but when faced with the Gun Hunters in Sonic Adventure, the situation called for action. A spinning attack or ricochet works, though it requires good timing and coordination.
Sonic 3 is currently in theaters everywhere. The movie's streaming date is still TBA; the first two Sonic movies are currently streaming on Paramount+.