Robotnik Ruins sounds good. Hmmhmmhmm, yes.
Sentiment Sanctuary ZoneSomehow, someway, Sonic's/Tails'/whoever's egg-beating adventures have brought them to a technicolor landscape that appears to manifest as emotions... on the outside it seems like nothing more than just a mesh of colours and ideas, but in reality, there is far more to it than even that. Exactly
how does this place exist, and how does it work? Who made it? And what does Robotnik plan to do here? There's only one way to find out.
Unfortunately, as I just said, Robotnik
is here, and his current plan involves something to do with it, so it's to be expected that he's "remodified" the place a little.
The idea is for this to work a little like End of the World, that in it's single act (yes, there's only one act, like Wing Fortress/Sky Sanctuary/etc), there are sections based on certain kinds of feelings, and you must jump, spin, and bust your way through each and every one of them (the emotions all being in seperate parts, incidentally, is Robotnik's work, and normally the place is more... "combined"). They each resemble "tunnels" like the water section in Kingdom Valley, only they come with their own thematics and traps, and are made with some sort of liquidy light energy rather than water. Also like EotW, the music would change depending on what part of the level it is you're in. Here's how it would go (maybe):
You start off on a single technicolor road along a black void. And I mean,
black. As in, there is literally nothing apart from the road you're standing on, almost exactly like the SMK Rainbow Road. There is no music. Aside from a 1-Up at the
very back, there's nothing here, so all you can do is march forward. Suddenly - inexplicably - a portal appears. It is in the shape of a phantom mask, and it looks like it's laughing. Jump in it.
The first sector would be based around fun and laughter, the tunnel being yellow. The scenery will remind you of zones like Toy Kingdom, Sweet Mountain and Music Plant, with many harmless and innocuous things to play around with. That is, if it weren't for the Badniks, which in this part take the form of things like bouncing balls, jack-in-the-boxes, ice cream, and more.
At the end, another one of those phantom mask portals appear, this time with a look of shock. Jump on in.
The second sector would be based around surprises and the unexpected, the tunnel being green. The scenery looks like it'd belong in Knuckles Chaotix, with the likes of clown and rubix cube Badniks on your tail as you guess what nonsensical metaphorical meaning this part is meant to secretly be about.
Yep, the end harbors a phantom mask portal. But rather than laughing or being shocked, this one looks puzzled.
The third sector would be based around confusion and mystery (sadly, I haven't thought of what colour could fit the tunnel that hasn't already been used). Despite still being in these "tunnels", this one feels slightly more subterranean, with things like crashed U.F.Os and dinosaur bones all over the place. The Badniks would include question marks and abstract paintings.
You'd be right if you suspected a phantom mask portal near the end. This one looks... rather mad.
The fourth sector would be based around anger and hatred, the tunnel being red. This is one of the most difficult parts, and it takes the form of a charred wasteland. Lava's erupting all over as if the place itself was sentient, and if that's not keeping you on your toes, the spontaneous earthquakes will. The Badniks would resemble rather creepy (but still Sonicy of course) and demonic creatures, and the place overall represents Robotnik's undying desire to see the primary source of 95% of his anxiety die a painful and humiliating death.
Can you tell what it is yet? Yep, phantom mask portal, now with a look that implies it would have lost all colour in it's face if it wasn't already pale to begin with
The fifth sector would be based around fear and frights, the tunnel being purple. This isn't messing around with it's idea of fears. The ghosts may be robots as well, but they sure are convincing. But it's not just all about the paranormal, as there's also more traditional "fears" - heights, for example. And don't forget the Badniks, which have been kind enough to look like such things as giant spiders just for you.
Oh hey, it's Mephiles! Just kidding, it's only another phantom mask portal. But this one... well, you can't help but feel sorry for it a little...
The penultimate sector would be based around sadness and despair, the tunnel being dark blue. You appear to be in a graveyard... all sporting the names of Sonic characters old and new on the tombstones. This is of course one of Robotnik's petty attempts at playing with the player character's own emotions, but you'll be having none of that. The snow is gently falling from the foggy sky, and despite all the crying teddy bear and teardrop Badniks rampaging around, the whole place feels abandoned.
What ho, phantom mask portal! This one's thankfully far more humble looking than his previous peers.
The final sector would be based around happiness and joy, the tunnel being cyan. To put it simply, it's a giant goddamn flower field, just like in Mother 3 or Paper Mario. There may be a few flower-themed Badniks hiding within in an attempt to ambush you, but this is the easiest part in the whole zone. Enjoy the scenery, enjoy the music, just enjoy yourself... but you will eventually have to make it out obviously.
After this, one final mask portal awaits. But this one has a moustache, is grinning, and has a somewhat Roosevelt-esque appearance. Wonder why.
You're back at the technicolor road in the black void. The music has stopped, and once again, all you can do is run, run, and run some more, as you spot Robotnik's core within this domain in the distance.
The penultimate boss before fighting Robotnik would be the Tails Doll, in an attempt to make him actually worthy of praise. As with Monochrome Maze, I don't have a clear idea just yet, but it'd probably take a few cues from Arkham-Scarecrow.
Edited by Dr. Crusher, 18 April 2012 - 10:34 AM.