Summary
An opening line has the opportunity to set the tone for an entire game. Whether it’s an introduction to the story through narration or even simply a cheesy one-liner, theSonicseries has opened up its games with a variety of different dialogue choices, sometimes being said by the Blue Blur himself, but this is not always the case.
Considering that this particular series has also gone through plenty of tonal shifts throughout its history, it also means that these introductory lines differ quite a bit in how they set the stage, with some being creepy and unnerving and others being much more lighthearted. Either way, here’s a ranking of some of thebest first lines in theSonicgames, with each standing out for its memorability and relevance to the wider story and characters.
This particular line is uttered by Doctor Eggmanin the first few seconds ofSonic Forces’story, and though it might seem simple, it’s honestly a pretty memorable way to kick off the game. In trying to devise yet another plan to take down Sonic for good, Eggman seems to reminisce for a moment about just how many issues the hedgehog has caused him in the past, always preventing the doctor from getting what he wants.
However, there’s also a slightly creepy undertone to this line, especially when considering that this is the game where Eggman, with the help of Infinite, actually manages to defeat Sonic, even imprisoning him not long after this introductory sequence takes place.
The Shadow portion of theSonic Generationsremaster hones in on Shadow’s tragic backstory as an experiment of Gerald Robotnik. While aboard the ARK, Shadow loses his closest friend, Maria, and this continues to haunt him throughout the entire story. As a result, this opening line essentially summarizes Shadow’s origins, specifically highlighting where he was created and for what purpose.
It’s also just useful narration for any new fans who may not have been able to experienceSonic Adventure 2orShadow the Hedgehog, and are therefore learning about the hedgehog’s story in real-time. After this line is said, the cinematic then digs a little deeper intothe character of Maria and even Black Doom, giving fans everything they need to know before jumping into the first stage.
Upon booting upSonic Colors, players will be dropped directly into Tropical Resort where they must complete two high-speed missions before eventually being given some context on where they are andhow Sonic and Tails ended up therein the first place. Everything becomes much clearer once Eggman delivers this introduction, which perfectly sets up the game and the adventure players are about to embark on.
Sonic Colorswould become well known for its cheesy dialogue, which many fans came to embrace, and Eggman made sure to put it front and center with this opening line. It manages to be comedic while still emphasizing his greediness and willingness to do literally anything if it gets him one step closer to catching Sonic.
Sonic Team decided to take a slightly more mature and darker tone withSonic Frontiers, with a big focus of the story being placed on the Ancients, an extraterrestrial race who, it is revealed, were entirely wiped out long before the events of the game began.
Eggman’s opening line during the first cutscene immediately puts the Ancients into frame, but it’s also quite unnerving to see Eggman talking with such authority, rather than the comical dialogue he’s often known for. It also manages to set up the basic foundations of the story with a single line, highlighting Eggman’s connection to the Ancients while also mentioning the mysterious ”secrets” that would be revealed as the game progresses.
While Shadow was first introduced back inSonic Adventure 2, when he arrives in his own self-titled game, he begins the story withonly vague memories of who he isand his tragic past. This line, which is said during the first cutscene of the Hero story, signifies just how deeply troubled Shadow is by his amnesia while also showcasing how he has forgotten his own name, one that continues to “haunt” him.
This line creates a clean slate right from the get-go that also feeds into the gameplay, which allows players to take Shadow down different paths in order toacquire multiple unique endings. It’s a line that works well as an introduction and has become somewhat of an iconic quote among the fanbase for how mysterious yet also badass it sounds.
A callback to the very first game in the series, Sonic shouts this to Eggman while on top of the Tornado as the doctor can be seen carrying a case of small animals inSonic Lost World, just as he does in the original game. At the same time, it’s also just such a joy for an opening to feature another bit of banter betweenSonic and his arch-rival.
It’s also a quote that immediately directs the players’ eyes to the screen to see for themselves what Eggman is up to and, more importantly, how Sonic is going to stop him and save the animals. While things quickly go pear-shaped for Sonic not long after this encounter, this line still does an excellent job at getting players right into the action from the very first scene.
By the timeSonic CDwas released in 1993, the franchise had started becoming well-known for itshigh-tempo and upbeat music tracks. As a result, the American version ofCDkicks off with a stunning animation of Sonic racing around a vast open landscape while the now beloved “Sonic Boom” track plays in the background, with the catchy first lines being “If you’re strong, you can fly. You can reach the other side of the rainbow.”
Not only does this line hype players up for their next adventure, but it also emphasizes the core of the entire series, that being speed. Having such a stylish intro line also lends itself to Sonic’s character who, at the time, was characterized by his cool and laid-back attitude.
While the pilots of the helicopter keeping Sonic captive do say a few things to one another in the first few seconds ofSonic Adventure 2,this is the very first proper line that is said by a main character in the story. During this era of the games, Sonic was always portrayed as being cool and laid back at all times, and nowhere was this more clear than with this introductory line that the hedgehog says after managing to escape from a mid-flight helicopter.
Despite being hunted down by G.U.N. and almost imprisoned, Sonic jokingly remarks that the “low budget flight” and lack of food or movies encouraged him to take a leap of faith withhis new makeshift skateboard. It’s a fun reminder of just how calm and collected Sonic always is that he’s able to conjure up such comical lines when the stakes are so staggeringly high.
