Time to discuss the plot! Already!

[Indigo Rush]

Eye color changes as you get older, guys. That's not an uncommon thing. My eyes were brown when I was born, went to green when I was around 5, and then until I was 14 they switched between brown and green almost daily, until they settled on hazel only recently.

Hair color does the same thing, people who are born with black hair can become blonde just though life.

Age: 6

It's not age.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Indigo Rush

[The Tenth Doctor]

Forget showing us how the eyes changed along with his eyelids. I want to see Modern Sonic give his classic incarnation a workout so he looses his chubbiness. Joking aside, this doesn't ruin a game if you ask me. It makes it slightly interesting if its added but its nothing to loose your temper over. Although the whole of Sonic 4 is screaming at me so I might as well zip my lip.

[Mike]

I'm surprised there are even people who presumably are gonna lose sleep over whether or not this game gives an explanation on how Modern Sonic "changed" into having green eyes and the "ability" to talk, when the black eyes and muteness are only represented in the most meta sense possible.

Overexposure to the Chaos Emeralds gave him green eyes!

He was banished from his village for being a mutant so he went to live at Xavier's Institute for gifted animals.

[Dr. Mechano]

Overexposure to the Chaos Emeralds gave him green eyes!

He was banished from his village for being a mutant so he went to live at Xavier's Institute for gifted animals.

Waiting for a totally normal explanation, if we get one at all.

Sonic starts crashing into everything, and it's revealed he needs glasses. He opts for some stylin' green contacts instead, decides to grow his hair out, and has a growth spurt, and the rest is history.

Now, why Eggman- a fully grown adult- also gets taller in the modern games is a bit more difficult to explain.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Dr. Mechano

[Core]

I'm surprised there are even people who presumably are gonna lose sleep over whether or not this game gives an explanation on how Modern Sonic "changed" into having green eyes and the "ability" to talk, when the black eyes and muteness are only represented in the most meta sense possible.

Jeez, I never said I was going to lose sleep over it I would just prefer if they didn't make Classic Sonic the younger self of Modern Sonic.

[Marcello]

I want to know why young Sonic can't talk.

[JaidynReiman]

^ He can. He won't talk because the fans will complain. For the most part, "classic Sonic" works fine as a younger version of Sonic. The ONLY thing that gets in the way is the black eyes. And even then, its easily explained: THE FANS WILL F-ING COMPLAIN IF HE'S GOT GREEN EYES!

"Not Talking" is pointless. Theoretically, he could talk if he wanted to. Its not that he CAN'T talk. I hate why people keep saying we've got to justify every little thing in this kind of plot. Its pointless and stupid--young Sonic won't talk because the fans will complain if "Classic Sonic" talks. The same goes for "green eyes." Its as simple as that. There isn't a canonical reason for him going from no irises (he doesn't have black eyes, he just doesn't have any irises) to having green irises.

Plot-wise, it is negligible, and Sonic isn't even going to notice that his former self doesn't have real eyes (if he does then Sega is stupid). The "not talking" thing can be described as easily as "he doesn't want to talk." No biggie.

[Balding Spider]

I want to know why young Sonic can't talk.

I'm sure they'll have a joke about that in a cutscene.

$20 say's Sonic breaks the fourth wall again.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Balding Spider

[Rusty Spy]

Waiting for a totally normal explanation, if we get one at all.

Normal. Heh, normal.

I want to know why young Sonic can't talk.

Because

[Blue Blood]

I want to know why young Sonic can't talk.

Because he's NOT young Sonic, he's Classic Sonic. In other words he's Previously Used Design Sonic. The time travel element of the plot isn't going to be literal time travel as seen in games like CD and '06 either. Someone else will be able to explain this better than me.

[Diogenes]

Because he's NOT young Sonic, he's Classic Sonic. In other words he's Previously Used Design Sonic. The time travel element of the plot isn't going to be literal time travel as seen in games like CD and '06 either. Someone else will be able to explain this better than me.

I haven't seen anything that implies that.

[Core]

Because he's NOT young Sonic, he's Classic Sonic. In other words he's Previously Used Design Sonic. The time travel element of the plot isn't going to be literal time travel as seen in games like CD and '06 either.

That's what I'm hoping, but the press release kinda makes it sound like Classic Sonic is young Sonic. Or do you know something?

[Dr. Mechano]

Because he's NOT young Sonic, he's Classic Sonic. In other words he's Previously Used Design Sonic. The time travel element of the plot isn't going to be literal time travel as seen in games like CD and '06 either. Someone else will be able to explain this better than me.

Problem: Sega has already confirmed the classic games and modern games share one cohesive history.

Point 1: Sonic Adventure references the events of Sonic CD in Amy's flashback. (Using the modern designs, granted, but let's not harp on that)

Point 2: Sonic 4 references Sonic 1-3 in its backstory, and uses the modern designs. Therefore, the classic games had to have happened in the same timeline that "modern Sonic" exists in.

They're small bits of evidence, but I think they count.

[Sega DogTagz]

Because he's NOT young Sonic,

We don't know that yet.

Either he is Young Sonic, or he is just the Sonic of another era and the time travel mechanic is more of a 4th wall. Either way, Its impossible to know right now.

EDIT: Personally, I'm with the guy above me. Young Sonic adds up.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Sega DogTagz

[Blue Blood]

I haven't seen anything that implies that.

I thought it was a logical guess actually. It would certainly cause a few problems if he was supposed to be Sonic, only younger. Characters like Cream and Charmy, Eggman and of course why he doesn't talk. EDIT (you're posting as I type this): SA1 didn't move the series along a few years, rather it seemed to redesign it. Characters got new looks, Angel Island and the Master Emerald were changed, the series moved to be set in a more realistic setting (game dependant, of course) and several things were solidified in the story. Classic Sonic is from the same universe/canon, but pre-redesign.

That's what I'm hoping, but the press release kinda makes it sound like Classic Sonic is young Sonic. Or do you know something?

Oh nah, lol. I don't have any inside info or anything. Kinda wish I did though. To me it sounds like Sonic is travelling to past Adventures, but breaking the fourth wall in doing so as a crutch for C.Sonic to appear.

Sonic’s universe is thrown into chaos when a mysterious new power creates ‘time holes’ which pull him and his friends back through time. As a result he encounters some surprises from his past history including Classic Sonic, Sonic as he appeared in 1991. Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic must defeat this strange new enemy, save their friends, and find out who really is behind this diabolical deed...

They put time holes in inverted commas and to me it sounds like they're talking about Sonic's history as we have physically seen it on shelves, not the story of his life.

Problem: Sega has already confirmed the classic games and modern games share one cohesive history.

Point 1: Sonic Adventure references the events of Sonic CD in Amy's flashback. (Using the modern designs, granted, but let's not harp on that)

Point 2: Sonic 4 references Sonic 1-3 in its backstory, and uses the modern designs. Therefore, the classic games had to have happened in the same timeline that "modern Sonic" exists in.

They're small bits of evidence, but I think they count.

That does nothing but help my point if you consider what I've said to Core above. Unless I'm misunderstanding? It's the same timeline, but breaking the fourth wall in a way. It's how we see it.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Blue Blood

[Diogenes]

I thought it was a logical guess actually. It would certainly cause a few problems if he was supposed to be Sonic, only younger.

Yeah but Sonic Team's never let continuity problems get in the way of a good story. These are the people that forgot they blew up half the moon, remember.

Characters like Cream and Charmy, Eggman

...what of them?

They put time holes in inverted commas and to me it sounds like they're talking about Sonic's history as we have physically seen it on shelves, not the story of his life.

Putting quotes/apostrophes around a non-technical term is pretty standard, I think. It's sort of a "so these tears in the fabric of space-time, or 'time-holes', are" etc etc.

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

It's amazing how much we're getting blasted for stating our preferences, isn't it?

That's just the thing about having an opinion: it doesn't protect you from any criticism. So if you say something about your preferences, people are going to say something about it. Complaining about being blasted isn't going to get you anywhere.

[Tailikku]

Problem: Sega has already confirmed the classic games and modern games share one cohesive history.

Point 1: Sonic Adventure references the events of Sonic CD in Amy's flashback. (Using the modern designs, granted, but let's not harp on that)

Point 2: Sonic 4 references Sonic 1-3 in its backstory, and uses the modern designs. Therefore, the classic games had to have happened in the same timeline that "modern Sonic" exists in.

They're small bits of evidence, but I think they count.

And isn't Eggman's actions in this:

the same as

[Blue Blood]

Yeah but Sonic Team's never let continuity problems get in the way of a good story. These are the people that forgot they blew up half the moon, remember.

That IS more than just a little true, I'll give you that. I can't see it being the case though. It's a wait and see situation now.

...what of them?

They use the modern design. Charmy and Cream are 6, while Eggman was already an adult. Surely the points more towards a design change than ageing, doesn't it?

Putting quotes/apostrophes around a non-technical term is pretty standard, I think. It's sort of a "so these tears in the fabric of space-time, or 'time-holes', are" etc etc.

Kind of, but there's other things they say. Specifically saying "Sonic as he appeared in 1991" rather than saying "his younger self". At any rate they're also calling the two Sonics Classic and Modern respectively. While it could just be a case of ascended fanon or what have you, surely it would make more sense to call C.Sonic Young Sonic instead if that was the case.

Also this late addition to my previous post:

SA1 didn't move the series along a few years, rather it seemed to redesign it. Characters got new looks, Angel Island and the Master Emerald were changed, the series moved to be set in a more realistic setting (game dependant, of course) and several things were solidified in the story. Classic Sonic is from the same universe/canon, but pre-redesign.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Blue Blood

[Core]

Oh nah, lol. I don't have any inside info or anything. Kinda wish I did though. To me it sounds like Sonic is travelling to past Adventures, but breaking the fourth wall in doing so as a crutch for C.Sonic to appear.

They put time holes in inverted commas and to me it sounds like they're talking about Sonic's history as we have physically seen it on shelves, not the story of his life.

Hmm, I must have misread the press release. It could be interpreted both ways, but the fact that they mention 1991 may mean that it is indeed about the out-of-universe game history. I hope you're right about that.

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

Yeah but there was a page of "OMG R U LOSING SLEEP??" "Why do you care so much???" "Don't expect it to make sense." and so forth.

Well the fandom does have a habit of taking little things out of proportion, so it isn't any surprise why some folks are quick to strike down what they consider a potential problem. Although it can become overreactive despite the intents.

I'm just saying I think it'd be cooler if they were from seperate universes.

At least you're being sensible about it. But don't expect others not to question it regardless.

[Blue Blood]

Hmm, I must have misread the press release. It could be interpreted both ways, but the fact that they mention 1991 may mean that it is indeed about the out-of-universe game history. I hope you're right about that.

I hope so too. It would just be rather lame for them to say that C.Sonic was M.Sonic but younger. It would also draw up yet more inconsistencies in the story for the series.

[Preston]

I'm not sure if this has been brought up (I'm not going to read 12 pages of speculation) but could it be possible that Modern Sonic is actually a reincarnation of Classic Sonic rather than an older version of him? Think about it for a moment. Toon Link is a reincarnation of the original Link as confirmed in Wind Waker. Yugi Mutou is the reincarnation of Pharaoh Atem/Yami Yugi due to their connection with the Millennium Puzzle. The same could be possible with Classic and Modern Sonic. I've always speculated that Modern Sonic lives in a distant time period than Classic Sonic where humans are abundant and human architecture makes up most of the world. Classic Sonic, on the other hand, lives in a more prehistoric time when the world was more chaotic and mostly occupied by animals.

This would conflict with the history of Angel Island and how Knuckles became the Master Emerald guardian though. Classic Sonic's time period would have to be very distant from Modern Sonic's in order for there to be no conflict between the history of Modern Angel Island from 3000 years ago and the (pre)history of Classic Angel Island. I'm not sure if Sega could work this out without some serious thought into the series' (nearly nonexistent) canon.

Edited April 22, 2011 by Preston

[Mike]

Classic Sonic obviously went too fast creating a tear in space and time teleporting him directly into the music video "Take on Me".

When he came out the artist had re-drawn him older.

It's the only logical explanation.

[Dr. Mechano]

I've always speculated that Modern Sonic lives in a distant time period than Classic Sonic where humans are abundant and human architecture makes up most of the world. Classic Sonic, on the other hand, lives in a more prehistoric time when the world was more chaotic and mostly occupied by animals.

Um.

There are big cities all over the classic games:

- Spring Yard Zone: City in the background

- Starlight Zone: Entire stage is a huge modern city

- Chemical Plant Zone: City in the background

- Casino Night Zone: City in the background

These cities simply looked like ordinary modern civilizations, not technological bases for Eggman.