Warning! SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
In the final fight of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the titular hero gets an upgrade as he turns into Super Sonic for the first time. The transformation was teased in Sonic the Hedgehog when Sonic charged up and shot sparks of blue electricity, as he sent Dr. Robotnik to the Mushroom Planet. The live-action Sonic films are filled with references to the Sonic video game series, and the sequel neatly introduced Sonic’s closest allies Tails and Knuckles. Super Sonic’s first appearance was a fun piece of fan service that fit the narrative of the film, but the series is yet to explore his full power.
Super Sonic’s video game debut game was, coincidentally, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, released in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive. Gamers can unlock his power by collecting the seven Chaos Emeralds, the franchise’s equivalent to Marvel’s Infinity Stones. As Super Sonic, his appearance changes from blue to gold, and he unlocks abilities beyond his famous super-speed, including super-strength and flight. However, he can only stay that way temporarily. The power-up has been a key part of the series, with Sonic often transforming to take on his greatest enemies.
The source of Super Sonic’s powers in Sonic 2 is faithful to the games. In the final showdown against Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik, Sonic and his new friends, Tails and Knuckles, team up to reclaim the Master Emerald. The team is partially successful, but the Master Emerald is shattered into pieces and the only traces left of it are seven mysterious stones. The seven stones turn out to be the Chaos Emeralds, which, like in the video game, awaken Sonic’s superpowers just in time to save everyone from an angry Robotnik.
Super Sonic uses the character’s most recognizable abilities from the video game series, super-strength and flight, to free himself from Robotnik’s giant Death Egg Robot. In a powered-up moment reminiscent of the final battle in the first film, Sonic then uses a precise, super-speed attack to rip the roof off of the Death Egg. When Super Sonic gets his hero shot in all of his golden glowing, video game accurate glory, Robotnik quips that the new look works for him. As the superpowered version of himself, Sonic is much more serious and doesn’t waste time finishing off Robotnik by tapping the Death Egg over with his boot, a reference to Sonic ’06.
In another nod to Sonic’s history, before relinquishing his new powers Sonic conjures a chili dog, his favorite snack which first appeared in 1993’s Sonic the Comic. With Robotnik defeated, Knuckles, who is getting his own TV show, rebuilds the Master Emerald from the seven Chaos Emeralds, and the team votes to act as the guardians of the gem. With the source of Sonic’s powers in their control, expect Sonic or one of his friends to turn super in the third installment of the franchise. More of Super Sonic’s powers should be explored, in particular the use of chaos energy as a weapon against his enemies. Sonic may even need to transform into Hyper Sonic, an even more powered-up, invulnerable version of the blue hedgehog, to take down the next big villain who was teased in Sonic 2‘s post-credit scene.
