The Avatar of obsession

Cold Open

In classic in medias res fashion, Sonic lands on Eggman’s space fleet and rips things to shreds the only way he knows how: quickly and with style. Eggman intervenes in his latest battle mech equipped with a minigun, missiles, and giant extendable arms that catch Sonic off-guard enough to capture him. In Eggman’s crushing grip, Sonic flashes a smile and uses his other name-brand skill, Chaos Energy, to transform into Super Sonic and escape, destroying most of Eggman’s space fleet along the way.

Eggman evades Sonic long enough to lead him back to his main base, where Eggman abuses Sonic’s good heart and pleads for his life, claiming to be a changed man. Even though Sonic doesn’t believe him, Eggman’s appeals to Sonic’s cockiness enough to trigger his master plan. With the trapping and forced removal of the Chaos Emeralds from Sonic, Eggman uses both Sonic’s and the emeralds’ power to fire his laser into the planet, breaking it open and awaking Dark Gaia.

But, you knew all this, though, right? Why go over it again?

I want Sonic’s key characteristics—his speed, flair, and confidence—to be fresh in mind, because this moment is when they’re ripped away from him. However, as the laser canon backfires and transforms Sonic into the werehog, Sonic loses another key characteristic that quickly adds to his discomfort: his approachability.

Establishment of the Ego

After Sonic faceplants in Apotos and meets Chip, he faces the first hurdle that this new form brings him. Chip runs away, scared to be eaten, and when Sonic asks him if he’s alright, we get the famous “Thanks for asking, Mr. Monster Guy!” line that throws Sonic for such a loop.

English: “Looks like things have gotten pretty ugly.”

Japanese: “Man… Looks like I’ve gotten in a real rut.”

Chip notices his amnesia, and Sonic offers to help him out of the goodness of his heart (and because he’s worried he caused the amnesia with his fall). Later in the day, with a plan established, Sonic fixates on his werehog appearance, and here, we learn just how much he cares about how he looks (in a vain/cheeky sort of way, surely—not to be taken seriously—but as we begin to talk with townspeople after dark, we see just how afraid/freaked out people are by Sonic as the werehog).

Embarrassment and Discomfort

Upon his first proper night-time transformation, Sonic solidifies that he’s clearly not a fan of the circumstances.

English:

Sonic: “So when the sun goes down… I turn into… this?”

Chip: “Are you okay, Sonic?”

Sonic: “I’m fine. I just need to be careful who sees me like this.”

Japanese:

Sonic: “Ohh… I get it. So when it turns to night… I become this form?”

Chip: “Are you okay, Sonic?”

Sonic: “Yeah. But I might stand out a little in the town…”

In both versions, Sonic’s tone is incredulous and frustrated as he recovers from the physical pain he endured during the transformation. What’s more, while Sonic, known to bush things off, spoke in a joking manner about his appearance before he knew what was happening to him, he’s a lot more worried now that he’s learned the truth.

We’ve established that Sonic finds himself physically attractive and that a lot of his confidence comes from that belief. However, there’s a part of him feels that it’s his body (both his overall physicality and his skills like speed, agility, combat, hyper-perception, et cetera) that makes him a hero—or rather, perhaps, is what enables him to be a hero—and without it, he’s lost a big part of his identity.

Despite all of this, Sonic leans right into the practicality of his new form once he discovers that his arms stretch and pack a punch, showcasing his ability to adapt, prioritize, and focus on the task at hand. He practices his new move set as he runs through Apotos, mutilates Dark Gaia’s monsters and Eggman’s robots, and rescues Tails. However, as Sonic fills Tails in on current events, he expresses anger at and regret of the situation.

English: “I need to find Eggman and make him fix this… and FAST.”

Japanese: “Well, sooner or later I’m gonna put the screws on that Dr. Eggman somehow.”

Something important to note is that, whether it’s out of a raw, comfortable bond or out of practical need, Sonic doesn’t seem to have any issues revealing himself to Tails. Despite his concerns about standing out or being seen, he doesn’t let his deeper insecurity show in front of Tails. Evidently, Tails isn’t someone Sonic needs to be careful about seeing, unlike…

Amy Rose

Unleashed presents Amy as the person, if not a metaphor for the public, that Sonic doesn’t want to see him as the werehog.

Amy is Sonic’s other best friend, right next to Tails, but in an entirely different way. By design, Sonic and Amy’s relationship is fundamentally different than Sonic and Tails’ relationship, a series-long fact spanning all continuities which I’ve touched upon in the past, but to summarize, Tails is the little brother whom Sonic wants to protect, while Amy is an equal whom Sonic trusts to handle herself and even him, when he needs. Not to say that Sonic looks down on Tails, but rather, he’s more comfortable putting up a front with him while he consistently finds himself at a loss with Amy.

Amy’s introduction to the game is actually important in establishing where Sonic tries to draw the line to save face. Entering from screen left (a classic gag of the time), Amy hugs Sonic, much to his shock. The camera deliberately focuses on Chip’s awe and amusement at the sight, important for the audience to see as this interaction shows Chip the nature of Sonic and Amy’s relationship—notice and remember that Chip made this connection right away, because it’ll come back later.

Soon, Amy “realizes” that she’s “not hugging Sonic,” and pushes him away.

English:

Amy: “W-Who are you?”

Sonic: “Uh…?”

Amy: “Oh my gosh, I am SO sorry!”

Japanese:

Amy: “Who are you?”

Sonic: “Huh?”

Amy: “Oh Man, I’m so sorry!”

As Amy talks to herself, in a detail I’ve only just noticed, Chip (via hand gestures) tries to question Sonic about who Amy is and prompts him to correct her, but Sonic’s entirely at a loss for words. As Amy offers a final apology and bids Sonic and Chip farewell, a stunned Sonic can only reach out to her retreating frame, wanting to say something, but at war with himself.

Sonic had multiple chances to correct Amy but seems to stop himself every time. His shrug to Chip and his reaction after Amy runs away shows that Sonic’s torn between telling his friend the truth and preserving her image/perception of him—his reputation, his finesse, his brand. Sonic knows how much Amy loves him, and if nothing else (even though I very clearly believe that there’s something else lol), he genuinely values her love, trust, devotion, and friendship.

This take isn’t all that original, but this is the first time in-canon that Sonic faces a possible road-block or “deal-breaker” for Amy’s feelings—well, in his mind, anyway. Sonic believes that Amy loves him because of his brand, and his ego wants to impress the person he knows to hold him so dear. However, without that brand, he’s in new territory.

Sonic’s fears are “confirmed” when Amy jumps back and doesn’t recognize him, mortified by her actions with this “stranger.” As she runs off and Chip reminds him of the claws and fangs and all that fear factor, Sonic realizes that he is no longer what Amy loves about him, and that hits him

h a r d.

Sonic draws a conclusion about not only his relationship with Amy but his relationship with the world: they like Sonic for his appearance; his skill; his power—not him. Without his brand, which he now believes is the driving force of his popularity and success, he’s lost the ability to gain the people’s trust.

So, when Chip says:

English: “You only look really scary, Sonic! Inside, you’re the same as ever! I guarantee it. Okay?”

Japanese: “Sonic, you look really scary on the outside, but I know you’re the same as ever on the inside! Right!?”

It doesn’t matter. Not Anymore.

Not long after this, Amy gets swept up in Dark Gaia’s dance party and Sonic comes to her rescue, which clues Amy in to the fact that Sonic is Sonic because, really, who the fuck else would get remotely close that that shitshow? Lmao.

Sonic wants to be her hero, but grimaces at the thought of scaring her; being seen; confronting her as he is because he’s not ready to reveal himself as someone other than, well, Sonic™️. He looks away from her and hesitates, ashamed before he runs off in a nervous panic—not a new response to how he copes with his feelings.

Chip, feeling that it’s not his place to say anything to Amy and in an understanding of Sonic and Amy’s relationship, deliberately doesn’t say his name when calling for him to “wait up!”

However, as we know, Professor Pickle updates Amy with the story, and before long, Sonic and Amy have yet another fated encounter. In a moment that I really, really wish was a cutscene to 1) incentivise the optional Amy subplot, and 2) prevent the never-ending incessant question of “Why is AMY here?????” by people who never speak to her in-game, Amy gives Sonic the key to the gate of endless possibilities:

He still a hero, he’s still her hero, and he’s still hers.

Sonamy pic creds to @latin-dr-robotnik, as always :)

Gaining New Confidence

A fun metaphor plays out between the increasingly complex level design and Sonic’s growing confidence in his new abilities and circumstances. He swings and tackles like the nighttime breeze, and he boosts the fuck around that clocktower.

Also, minor in the grand scheme of the story but b i g for their relationship, Sonic and Amy grow more comfortable with and fond of each other, showcasing the impact of Amy’s positive encouragement and flirting. Sonic formally warms up to her for the first time and learns to manage his nerves, and a foundation for what their relationship will be going forward (with a Pontacc and Graff ✨snafus✨ here and there) is born. However…

Feigned Acceptance

Sonic’s growing confidence comes as a result of Feigned Acceptance, or a surface-level, somewhat fragile belief and presentation of confidence. He’s pushing himself through the fear and insecurity for the cause, but it all comes to a head in No Reason.

(Besides the fact that I have this cutscene memorized and can recite the dialogue to musical cues, I knew that this scene would be important.)

As Chip tells the story of Light and Dark Gaia, forever fated to destroy and complete each other, Sonic listens intently, reeling from the information.

A side-note to the people who don’t believe that Sonic has a temper—just the mention of Eggman completely changes Sonic’s demeanour. It’s instant and ephemeral.

Also, go watch this scene twice. Focus on a different character each time. When I say that this is my favourite game of all time and the best in the series, this level of detail in every single facet of the game is why.

Sonic no longer winces when he transforms, which shows coping, adjustment, and a form of acceptance on his part. However, right before he transforms, a look of realization—of disappointment, even—settles on Sonic’s face, because…

English: “I’ll bet it’s thanks to you. […] Even at night, when I’m like this. I’m still myself, not like all the other people we’ve seen. You must have been protecting me this whole time.”

Japanese: “It must have been thanks to you, Chip. […] Even when it turns night and I become this form, my mind doesn’t change like the others. Is that because you were protecting me?”

While having been reassured by Amy and the general public, Sonic still questions why he’s been fine under the influence of Dark Gaia while others haven’t. He still doesn’t see himself as he used to; he still has this new darkness inside of him that he’s inherently uncomfortable with, and to an extent, he doesn’t trust himself. He never trusted himself like this, not really. His transformation every night reminds him of what’s inside, and this “realization” is the final emotional, ego setback that Sonic faces.

Chip, however, is completely shocked by this admission, because the true reason for Sonic’s resilience, to him and to everyone, is obvious.

English: “I haven’t done anything, Sonic. You’re the reason you haven’t changed at all. You’re too strong to lose yourself! […] You never doubt yourself, no matter what. You never give into the night, or the darkness inside your heart.”

Japanese: “Nope. I didn’t do anything. You don’t change thanks to the strength of your own heart, Sonic! […] No matter what happens, you never waver. Your heart doesn’t give into the night or the darkness’ temptations.”

True Acceptance

After Chip reassures him again, Sonic has reborn confidence in his new self and feels truly ready to accept this new life, no matter what happens. With rejuvenation, he dives head-first into the finale.

Here, we witness Sonic’s pure mastery and True Acceptance of his circumstances as, at this point, he doesn’t know if they’re reversible. Eggmanland represents the powerful reconciliation of Sonic’s new dichotomy; quick-paced flair, style, and speed marry intricate platforming and problem-solving in a mix of running, sliding, grinding, jumping, and swinging—a mix of day and night, unified and magical.

And then, as we face the Egg Dragoon, Sonic shines. This fight and the cutscene leading up to it are the climax of Sonic’s emotional journey as we finally witness Sonic’s reconciliation with the night and his conquering of the darkness. This moment is the first and only time where Sonic fights Eggman as the werehog, and he conquers this challenge with the level of grace and power we’ve always known him to have. Normally, as the werehog, it’s with organic Dark Gaia beings, beat-‘em-up style. With Eggman, however, we’re back to timing, agility, and strategic strength—nature versus technology, once more.

Eggman starts the adventure by mocking Sonic’s new “festive” look. Now, he cowers in fear at the “beast” he created… And it’s beautiful.

It’s beautiful, because now—truly—Eggman is the only one who sees a beast in those emerald eyes.

Why All This Matters

I heard someone recently say that Sonic Unleashed’s story was just “Sonic Adventure: Reskinned.” Do I see the comparison? Sure.

But while the story of Sonic Adventure revolves around Chaos and how he was wronged, abused, and healed, Dark Gaia is just a plot device. The story isn’t about him at all. What matters here is not only the special bond that forms between Sonic and Chip, but the emotional growth that Sonic experiences in the face of this new kind of adversity.

Sonic’s ego journey is a level of character development we hadn’t seen for Sonic in a long time, and it is so evident how much Sonic Team wanted to do better by him. And they did. Immensely.