A Silly Phone Alt

I’m going to go over the JP dialogue between them.

only the JP exchange cuz for what ever reason the ENG dialogue chose to write Sonic incredibly OOC. Like it’s so bad that it logically makes no sense. AT ALL. I’m not going to talk about the ENG version in depth until the game releases. I’m just not convinced they’re sincerely going to include those lines in the game. there’s just no way. like it’s so genuinely STUPID that I can’t imagine them publishing it. but we’ll see.

So for now, I’ll talk about the JP dialogue.

Sonic Rival Interaction: Sonic: "HEY! メタル 久しぶりだな! たまには オレの前を走ったらどうだ?" Metal Sonic: "……!!"

Translation: Hey Metal! Long time no see! How about you run in front of me for once?

First off, SONIC GREETS METAL SONIC!!! 😭🥹💞

When I first read this, I couldn’t believe it. It’s so friendly that you really wouldn’t have guessed this was directed at Sonic’s evil robot counterpart created by his arch-nemesis to surpass and defeat him. like what do you MEAN Sonic tells Metal “long time no see”?!!?! It’s so sweet! It’s just too sweet!!! 🥹

It really gives this impression that Sonic’s happy to see Metal Sonic. It’s so energetic as if he was looking forward to seeing him. which, honestly makes sense.

What he said at the end of Sonic Heroes wasn’t just for show.

Sonic greets Metal Sonic like a friend he noticed he hasn’t seen in a while, so you can feel that appreciation for their races and Metal Sonic himself as a rival. Sonic enjoys the challenge Metal Sonic poses and genuinely gets excited when they get the chance to compete against each other.

and then, of course, Sonic teases Metal about always being behind in their races 🤭

I love the way he was written here. It’s not condescending or dismissive at all. It’s really cheeky.

This is the kinda taunt that riles you up without putting you down.

Sonic isn’t saying “you’ll never catch up to me.” Sonic is challenging Metal Sonic to overtake him.

He asks Metal to run in front of him as if he believes Metal Sonic can actually do it.

It stings so bad not because Sonic’s saying Metal can’t outpace him but because Metal Sonic hasn’t been able to yet. Sonic’s teasing only targets the history of their races. It’s an effortless burn that doesn’t rely on disrespecting Metal Sonic by attacking his abilities or potential as a rival. It acknowledges the legacy of their rivalry while encouraging Metal to keep giving it his all. The second line of dialogue follows the same respectful, cocky tone.

Metal Sonic Rival Interaction: Metal Sonic: "……!!" Sonic: "オレとオマエ 何勝何敗だっけ!? …Sorry! オレの全勝だ!"

Translation: What’s our win-loss record again!? ...Sorry! I’m undefeated!

Once again, Sonic isn’t saying “you’ll never beat me,” just that so far he’s won every time.

Just like before, Sonic’s taunt references their history without dismissing the potential of Metal Sonic changing his track record.

These lines of dialogue between the two reveal so much about their relationship:

The fact that Sonic greets Metal Sonic with familiarity shows his appreciation of the history together.

The lack of animosity and resentment in his tone shows that Sonic enjoys Metal Sonic’s presence.

The taunts being devoid of belittlement makes it clear that Sonic respects Metal Sonic as a rival.

The teasing about the current state of their rivalry shows Sonic loves to challenge Metal Sonic.

I’m sooooooooo HAPPY!!!!! This is literally the best thing EVER!!!! 🥰💞

This is what I wanted. This is exactly what I wanted to see! I basically won!!!!!!! sorta… (the ENG dialogue haunts me)

I can’t believe I got Metonic in Sonic Racing Crossworlds tho. like WOAH. I really enjoy their rivalry, too. Like shipping aside, it’s so cool to see Sonic treat Metal Sonic as a worthy rival. Metal is SUPER BADASS AND COOL, so I’m glad they let Sonic respect him so much. Though, I shouldn’t be too surprised. Sonic and Metal Sonic’s relationship rarely gets a focus in game stories or in general, but the few times it has been highlighted has always honored the depth that can be had between them.

I will say that I genuinely got scared. I saw the ENG lines before I even found the JP dialogue, so I thought something had changed for their relationship's direction.

It was extra weird to me that Sonic was calling Metal Sonic a cheater for using his turbine since he has Jet the Hawk as a rival... like. wtf? make it make sense. 🙄 But I should've known it was just Flynn going rogue. Back in July, Sonic Channel had this little fanart event where the the theme was "two people." Someone submitted an artwork with Sonic and Metal Sonic and the team left a comment on it that makes me smile so muuch!!!

Sonic and Metal Sonic are officially ETERNAL RIVALS!!!!!

Sonic Team still recognizes the depth of their rivalry! and honestly IDGAF about the ENG script. so long as Sonic Team supports Metal Sonic as a worthy rival, I'm good.

of course...

to simply call them rivals doesn't do them justice 🤭💞

This short animation is soooooo sweet. I like to see it as a Sonic CD reference/homage since it features the whole cast of that game along with holiday renditions of Collision Chaos and Stardust Speedway’s OST. There’s even the fact that the flower she gives Sonic and Metal Sonic is found in Collision Chaos, too. It’s crazy cool how they told a cute story with these guys. But the thing that makes me lose my mind the most is that the whole story follows Amy’s card reading she did at Never Lake in Sonic CD.

So I have the Amy Rose card deck, and it came with a guidebook that’s basically Amy explaining the meaning of her cards. In Sonic Origins, they have a cutscene that shows exactly how her reading went at Never Lake. She pulls four cards: Time, Travel, Doom and Hero. All of these actually exist in the deck. The animation shows their prototype designs, but they’re not too different from the final version. So these cards all have meaningful descriptions that reflect beats in her original adventure on Little Planet:

Time (Wheel of Fortune) Time is cyclical, and that's why clocks are round! (I'm kidding!) The past can repeat itself, and we can chart the future by paying attention to where we've been. Everything changes, but everything comes around again, too.

Hero Draw: Change is on the horizon. Maybe you saw it coming, maybe not, but you should be ready for it. Pay attention to where you've been and think about where you want to be. You'll be making that journey soon!

Travel (The Fool) Travel represents the free spirit out and about, exploring the world. It's a new adventure with endless possibilities! It's all about seeing the world with fresh eyes and experiencing things for the first time. Plot a course, follow your map, and be sure to take detours along the way!

Hero Draw: You're about to start something new and exciting! Or you're approaching something with a fresh perspective, experiencing it anew. Either way, you're about to enter unexplored territory, so be prepared for anything. Happy trails!

Doom (The Tower) There aren't any "bad" cards in the Major Fortunes, but this one is a doozy. There's a major change that needed to happen a long time ago, and now it's going to come to pass whether you're ready or not. This can lead to great things in the long run, but be prepared for a major shake-up!

Hero Draw: A major event is going to happen soon! It may not be the most comfortable transition, but it's something you really need to happen. Look on the bright side and make the most of the situation. Be part of the moment, not just a spectator!

Hero (Strength) This card is about a major influence in your life. Maybe something is pushing you to act. Maybe you've found the courage and the strength to finally act on something. There's a focus now, a determination that wasn't there before.

Hero Draw: The strength you need is inside you! Be brave as you make your decision and forge ahead! When things get tough or scary, you know you have it within you to overcome. Or if you're doubting yourself, this card is telling you it's okay – it's time for action!

The guidebook has Amy explain the three-card reading she does at Never Lake, too! It’s called Never Lake’s Clarity:

• The first card represents the user's immediate future and motivation for their journey. This card features signs or elements that will affect the entire read. This one is pretty simple. Amy’s adventure on Little Planet lead to a life changing encounter with Sonic. From that point onward, she’d follow him out of love for exciting adventures and Sonic himself. Though, this card represents her motivation, so it makes me think that Amy must’ve wanted a change in her life, too.

• The second card represents the user and acts as a starting point for their journey. It also applies to the question asked or action the user plans to take. We’re never really given the exact question Amy asked, at least not that I know of. But this card definitely represented Amy’s character at the start of Sonic CD. I like to think her adventure on Little Planet was the first of it’s kind in her life. She’s inexperienced and motivated by her belief in her destined encounter with the hero her cards foretold. She has NO IDEA what she’s getting herself into. Amy perfectly embodies the Travel card also known as The Fool.

• The third card represents the user’s fortune, the resolution of the user's journey. The final result of the read is based on the action the user took from the second card.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting.

The first draw Amy had for her fortune was Doom. This card represented her encounter with Metal Sonic. His sudden appearance was completely unexpected and out of her control. Being kidnapped by Metal definitely wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t all bad. After Sonic rescues her, she got to be carried in his arms as they escape the collapsing structures of Dr. Eggman’s scheme on Little Planet!

It’s honestly soooo romantic. He really was her hero🥰💞

This is where her second draw comes in. Just like the cards told her, she got to meet Sonic! He was undeniably a major influence for her. I like to think Amy had a bit of doubt about adventuring after being kidnapped by Metal Sonic. Adventures like the one she had were dangerous as hell! But after meeting Sonic, she felt a bit braver. His cool attitude while rescuing her might’ve inspired her to face more dangers, if only to be with him on more adventures. Sonic perfectly captured her final draw, the Hero card.

You can see how the cards told Amy about her travel through time on Little Planet and how her encounters with Sonic and Metal Sonic would influence her adventure. (though she doesn’t seem to recognize the Doom card representing Metal Sonic…)

The reading gives this sorta narrative structure feeling to Amy’s journey on Little Planet. And like I said before, this same reading is used to map the story beats of From A. Rose. More specifically, the emotional journey both Amy Rose and Metal Sonic go through in the story.

Time: "Everything changes, but everything comes around again, too."

It all starts with Amy tripping over Metal Sonic who’s buried underneath the snow before her. Just like the card says, they meet again but things are different. Metal Sonic is as terrifying as he was the first time Amy met him... until she notices that he doesn’t attack her. For Metal, his situation is not good. He spent months stuck in place with no way to return home. Amy’s arrival changes everything for him.

Travel: "It's all about seeing the world with fresh eyes and experiencing things for the first time."

After Amy calms down, she realizes the situation Metal Sonic is in. Amy sees Metal Sonic in a new light; he’s not an active threat to her but rather someone who needs help. Metal Sonic experiences a fresh perspective of Amy Rose, too. She’s not a victim or damsel-in-distress; she’s the one who rescues him. His Hero, if you will🤭

The two travel together, this time with Amy “whisking” Metal Sonic away.

Doom: "It may not be the most comfortable transition, but it's something you really need to happen."

Now, this card is represented in the decision Amy makes. Choosing to return Metal Sonic, the very lethal and dangerous robot, to Dr. Eggman, the super sinister scientist who will DEFINITELY use him for evil, was not an easy choice to make. Like, I don’t think it was lost on Amy how messed up this scenario is. But in that moment, she decided it was best to treat Metal Sonic as who he was presently, someone who needed to get home. Compassion overrode logic, and Amy returned Metal Sonic to Eggman.

For Metal, this card was more about facing his master again. He disappointed Eggman greatly, so being returned to the doctor didn’t guarantee he’d be taken in. Metal Sonic is broken and damaged with only the flower Amy gave him as a peace offering. It’s not ideal but it had to happen. The tension as he waits for Eggman’s response really sells the feeling of the Doom card.

Hero: "When things get tough or scary, you know you have it within you to overcome."

The Hero card’s message is found within Amy throughout this entire episode. She acts on her inner strength, her compassionate heart, as she makes her decision to return Metal Sonic to Dr. Eggman. This card’s symbolism extends to Sonic as well! Sonic is her personal hero, yet seems to be in disbelief about what he’s seen. He’s like a surrogate for everyone who wasn’t touched by the story, those who were thinking logically. By placing a flower in Sonic’s hand, Amy asks Sonic (and the audience) to see beyond the surface and have the courage to understand why she chose to do what she did.

For Metal, Amy acted as a major influence for his fate in this episode. Like I said before, she was his hero. It’s fun to think that the flower Amy gives Metal is something like an encouragement to face Eggman and reassurance that everything’s going to be okay. I like to think this moment had some influence on Metal Sonic’s character as well, though we haven’t seen any sign of it…

It’s honestly amazing how thoughtful this little animation was. Technically, I don’t have an official source that confirms this is what the author wanted people to get, but I do know that Tyson Hesse, aka the author, REALLY wanted to create this episode. It was planned to be part of the original set of episodes, so it was never an extra add-on. I wouldn’t be surprised if he intentionally designed the story this way. Yeah, the cards weren’t release back then but clearly the lore for them was in production for a long while. (their prototype designs)

Still, whether it was intentional or not, I really do love how everything came together for both stories.I love these cards so much! It’s such a small detail that grew into this neat little lore for Amy.

Also, it’s great fuel for Metsonamy 😏💞 They’re literally meant to be! IT’S WRITTEN IN THE CARDS!!! 😝