Plot Details Flynn Offers Sonic Frontiers Story Details in New Interview

[GX -The Spindash-]

Continuing in IGN First's coverage of Sonic Frontiers, prolific Sonic writer Ian Flynn spoke to IGN regarding his experience writing an entirely new Sonic game for the first time.

With so little known about Frontiers' world and story, Flynn does lay out the basic premise:

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Sonic, Tails and Amy embark for the Starfall Islands to investigate the disappearance of the Chaos Emeralds. Things take a turn for the dramatic immediately, and Sonic is left alone with a lot of questions. The story is his journey to uncover all the mysteries of the islands, rescue his friends, and discover how everything ties together.

For fans of story in Sonic games, you'll likely be relieved that it sounds a bit more involved than the slim plots of Generations, Colors, and Lost World. Though we've not seen any thus far, Flynn suggests that you will have significant interactions with other characters in the game, and that the story itself may have a slightly darker, "melancholy," tone, than other recent entries:

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Sonic’s indomitable spirit carries him throughout the adventure, and it’s what allows him to help each of his friends as they tackle their own personal challenges. Someone else you encounter will have their very identity shaped by their interactions with Sonic, which isn’t always a comfortable process. Then there’s the secrets of the Starfall Islands themselves and how the tragedies of the past have led to the adventure today. Sonic’s “never say die” attitude is certainly put to the test.

It will be interesting to see what Flynn brings to Sonic game writing. He notes that while he has greater creative control with what he pitches in his other work on the franchise, the core elements of Frontiers' story were provided by SEGA. Which isn't to say there's no room for his trademark style of characterization, as Flynn cites getting to take Dr. Eggman "in some interesting directions." In closing, Flynn offers well wishes to players, and hints at another of his trademarks: connections and references between Frontiers and other games in the series.

Flynn's Sonic resume is impressive, and while he's best known for his work on both the Archie and IDW Sonic comics, he's also contributed to Sonic Boom, Sonic Origins, YouTube's Tails Tube shorts, and the upcoming Sonic Prime in a consulting role. With Sonic Frontiers releasing this Winter, there's still plenty of time for SEGA to give eager fans a more robust taste of this new and distinct Sonic setting and story.

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[TSS Classic Comment Bot]

Posted By: Robin

I'm so excited for the new game! I think setting Sonic in a more serious story line will really make the characters feel more engaging, and I hope that's the case!!

[TSS Classic Comment Bot]

Posted By: Godot

Something that would make Eggman interesting again would be seeing him without dumb sidekicks, so axe Orbot and Cubot. Put ’em on the metal compressor!

[TSS Classic Comment Bot]

Posted By: Momo

Objection, Flynn have done too much damage to Eggman in the past by turning him into a bumbling, man child so his own fan characters can shine.

[GX -The Spindash-]

On 6/25/2022 at 7:52 AM, Momo said:

Objection, Flynn have done too much damage to Eggman in the past by turning him into a bumbling, man child so his own fan characters can shine.

Objection, he was a bumbling man child long before Flynn was involved. Unless your entire view of his characterization is isolated to two Dreamcast games, SATAM, and I don’t know, maybe Fleetway, I haven’t read much, but they always seemed incredibly self-serious.
Outside of that, he’s had plenty of games, cartoons, comics, and movies in almost every region to become the doofy despot he is today.

*leans back and thinks wistfully about the OVA…*