Set in a world where Sonic has fallen into a wormhole and separated from his friends, Sonic Frontiers sees the titular character exploring Starfall Islands and collecting Chaos Emeralds. The first truly open-world game in the series, you'll play a variety of mini-games ranging from jumping rope to fishing in Frontiers.

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With a diverse and plentiful range of content, Frontiers contains countless nuances, including Easter eggs, dialogue nods, and game elements borrowed from classic video games. These references range from previous Sonic entries to Tetris and Ikaruga. If you're sharp-eyed enough, you'll see some loving details that make the game an even richer experience. These small details will keep you talking about Starfall Islands long after you've finished playing the game.

10 Vandalize

Final Boss in Sonic Frontiers

One of the most enjoyable songs in the trailer to Sonic Frontiers is One Ok Rock’s Vandalize, which is unfortunately easy to skip in the game. Many players fell in love with the song when it appeared on the game's soundtrack but were confused when they could not find it in the game.

The song only plays if you proceed through the final boss fight on Easy or Normal. The song also plays in the second part of the credits in this setting if you select either of these difficulty settings. If you instead choose to play Frontiers on a harder setting, you will be accompanied by One Way Dream during the fight instead.

9 The Early Version Of Giganto

Giganto in Sonic Frontiers

Many players caught a figure in the second teaser to Frontiers but later could not find that character anywhere in the game. In reality, this is just an early version of Giganto, the first boss in the game who takes the form of a colossal Titan roaming Starfall Islands.

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Based on the teaser figure’s body and shoulders, you can tell that this character ended up becoming Giganto. This was merely an early version of Giganto when the game was still being developed. An early concept of Giganto can even be found in the digital art book. While players think that they missed this character, he appears in Frontiers, albeit in a different form

8 Sonic Boost Animation

Sonic running with the boost animation in Sonic Fronntiers

A small but easy-to-miss detail is the visual of Sonic whenever he runs at a greater speed than his base pace; this turns into a boost animation. This small detail has never been present in a boost game. Instead, Sonic has often had a noticeable difference in his running animation whenever he boosts. In previous games, if Sonic goes off the dash pad, his speed increases greatly.

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This purposeful design choice creates a different visual style when boosting outside of boost auras. Meanwhile, the game’s action style is focused on providing better control of Sonic’s speed. Sonic’s creator has commented that he wants Frontiers to have a similar impact to Sonic Adventures. This means that Frontiers will be the base for future Sonic games. Instead of relying solely on the style of Adventures, Frontiers opts for two gameplay styles.

7 Sonic Pinball

The pinball machine featured in Sonic Frontiers.

This game pays tribute to several games often not viewed as connected to the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Released in 1993, Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball sees Sonic trying to stop Doctor Robotnik from taking over a pinball-like world.

In Frontiers, while Sonic is on Chaos Island, you are tasked with defeating a pinball machine. The layout of this challenging mini-game will likely remind you of Spinball. One noticeable difference between the two games, however, is that Sonic is the ball in Spinball while a conventional pinball is used in Frontiers.

6 Ikaruga

Ikaruga style gameplay in Sonic Frontiers

Released in 2001, Ikaruga is a 2D side-scrolling shooter where the color of your ship determines what projectiles you fire. Despite mixed reviews when it was first released, Ikaruga is remembered as one of the best 2D shooters.

The true final boss in Frontiers is The End, which sees Sonic fighting in a 2D shooter that's reminiscent of Ikaruga. In the game, Sonic needs to either dodge enemy fire or absorb the fire. This reference brings up the question of whether this means that Sonic is now officially linked to Ikaruga.

5 Tetris Reference

Tetris reference in Sonic Frontiers

At several locations, including on Ouranos Island, Sonic encounters several puzzles where Tetris-like blocks fall from the sky. These blocks then must be properly placed.

On first impression, the game's bright-colored blocks that fall from the sky evoke Tetris. On closer inspection, though, you might remember some other similar classic block games like Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine and Puyo Puyo. While it might be a difficult part of Frontiers, this puzzle is much easier if you’ve logged hours with any of these games.

4 Team Sonic Racing

Sonic Racing Reference as an Egg Memo

Throughout Frontiers, you can unlock various Egg Memos. These memos reference various Sonic installments.

Egg Memo 4 mentions Planet Donpa Kingdom is a planet in Team Sonic Racing, a 2019 game inspired by Mario Kart. The planet is presided over by Dodon Pa, an alien who is best remembered for driving a black, red, and white hover vehicle. Dodon Pa is also a philanthropist who hosts various races. It remains uncertain if the events in Sonic Team Racing occur before or after Frontiers.

3 Goal Plate

spinning sign with Dr. Eggman on it in Sonic Frontiers

Playing the fishing mini-game, you can retrieve various items related to Sonic's history. The most iconic piece of Sonic memorabilia that you can retrieve while fishing is the goal plate with Dr. Robotnik's face. First seen in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, these plates mark the end of each level. The goal plates spin after Sonic runs by them. When the spinning stops, the sign indicates whether Sonic has reached the end level or the end act.

2 Mario 64

Sonic's pants on fire in Sonic Frontiers

Over the years, Mario and Sonic have become friends. This first started when the two video game mascots appeared together in 2007's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Frontiers seems to make a small but iconic reference to Mario.

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If Sonic falls into lava in Frontiers, he skyrockets into the air with his bands on fire. This animation is very similar to how Mario responds in Mario 64 when he falls into lava in locations like Lethal Lava Land. While an official link between the two games has not been made, this reference does not seem to bar stretch, given the two appear in a series of games together.

1 Hyudoros

Hyudoro reference in Sonic Frontiers

On Aries Island, Sonic has a line of dialogue that expresses optimism that at least the area is not filled with ghosts. This small dialogue nod is almost certainly a reference to the various ghosts that Sonic has encountered on his adventures.

Sonic first encountered ghosts in Sonic and Knuckles' Sandopolis Zone. In this 1994 game, the ghosts are called Hyudoro and lurk around Sandopolis as well as other haunted spots. The Hyudoro have since appeared in other Sonic games, including Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic Rivals 2.

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