Moments pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned.
Even in a crisis where Sonic is all alone and trying to find his friends (while dealing with monstrous robots and a mysterious girl along the way), what's a Sonic game without some laughs?
- When the Mysterious Voice calls Sonic "the key", he remarks "It sure beats being called a rodent".
- At one point, Sonic identifies a pinball machine mechanic... in ancient ruins. He's left questioning if pinball and people's enjoyment thereof just transcends time. It really makes one look at the dreaded billiard and golf puzzles in Dusty Desert's ancient temple in a new light.
- Even better, these are the ruins of the Ancients, and thus designed to be a receptacle for the powers of the Chaos Emeralds. The ancestors of Chaos may have invented pinball in the setting, or were just massive fans. It's up to the reader to decide which idea is more hilarious.
- Sonic can ask Tails about this in The Final Horizons. He explains that the mechanism was built as a way to control volcanic eruptions... but he has no clue why it was themed around pinball. His best guess is that the engineer was bored.
- Sonic's first encounter with Big is a sight to behold:Big: Oh, hey Sonic! You come to fish, too?
Sonic: Big?! What are you doing here?! How... did you get here?! What even IS here?!
Big: I dunno. I was looking for fishing spots and wound up here. So, now I'm fishin'.
Sonic: ...Of course you are.- Part of the Fishing minigame involves a standard timing input where you have to interact when a smaller ring overlaps the big red one. This is as early as Kronos Island, meaning that you could've been taught how to obliterate the WYVERN with its own missiles by fishing since it uses the same timing inputs.
- "The Final Horizon" reveals that like everything else in Cyber Space, Big is a construct and not real, and his closeness to the original is due to Sonic's clear memory of him. Sage assumes that Big represents a danger before Sonic informs her that he's actually really friendly. Considering that everything in Cyber Space is out to kill him, it says a lot about Sonic's image of Big that he's not only the only friendly thing in Cyber Space, but that Big being in places he shouldn't is so normal to Sonic that he paid it no mind.
- A lot of Sonic's nostalgic nods to his friends and enemies in the game can be pretty funny. For example, he openly wonders about Cutting the Knot and just calling in Rouge to steal the other emeralds for him so he doesn't have to do the work himself, begrudgingly admits Shadow wouldn't be such a bad guy to have around at the moment, and on the topic of finding an area on the islands that reminds Sonic of Sky Road, where he fought Zavok...Sonic: I bet Zavok would feel right at home here. Wonder how he's doing... terrible, I hope! Heh heh heh!
- Once Sonic is knocked out of his Super State and crash-lands into Ares Island, he snarks quite appropriately once the Chaos Emeralds have scattered across the Island again.Sonic: Nah, that's cool. I didn't want this to be easy anyway.
- When questioned by Sage what his end goal is, Sonic initially responds that sometimes it's a spinning sign or a giant ring (nods to the goal points of the classic and modern games respectively) before Sage elaborates that she's talking about his motive.
- Early in the same scene, as Sage appears, Sonic has an annoyed "I'm so done with this" face, only to shift it to a puzzled look after she asks the aforementioned question.
- After Sage once again warns him about his doom and his mistake in following the mysterious voice, he quickly responds with "Look, either stop being cryptic and tell me what's going on or skedaddle." He's then disappointed when she does leave.
- There is something hilarious about being able to fish highly-realistic fish from Big's Fishing Spots. But there are other improbable items you can fish up, like a single ring, a tire, a tin can, a chopper, and a signpost.
- Additionally, Sonic wears the same smile on his face regardless of what he fishes up, including literal garbage.
- There's also the fact that fishing up said literal garbage will inexplicably reward you with more tokens than many of the actual fish.
- One of the cutscenes opens up with Eggman laughing uproariously as Sage relates to him how Sonic got the crap kicked out of him by robots. It's just a honestly fun reminder of how Eggman can find joy in the little things in life. The best part is, the scene is framed like a kid telling her dad a funny story, and Sage — by her standards, at least — seems to have been getting into the story herself based on her voice acting.
- Also, one of Eggman's voice logs claims that Sage once told him a joke: "How fast can Sonic screw up? Instantly — he's the fastest thing alive!"Eggman: I tell you, she's a chip off the old block.
- Also, one of Eggman's voice logs claims that Sage once told him a joke: "How fast can Sonic screw up? Instantly — he's the fastest thing alive!"
- The smug grin on Sonic's face as he walks up to free Knuckles. There's no doubt he's thinking something along the lines of "I can't wait to rub this rescue in his face after all this." And then Knuckles complains about his rescue, much to Sonic's chagrin.Knuckles: Some rescue! I'm still half-ghost!
Sonic: (annoyed) I'm working on it, okay?!- The competitive looks they give each other at the end of the cutscene also count.
- Though there are traversable bodies of water that you can likewise drown in after a short amount of time, the iconic and dreaded "Drowning" music is conspicuously absent, as is the numbered countdown from five you get when it starts. Then, in the fourth island, you're abruptly introduced to a new enemy type that looks goofy and harmless compared to most, and just traps Sonic in itself... and is full of liquid. If you don't figure out the fact that you need to repeatedly stomp inside it to burst it within about ten seconds, you end up finding out that all the classic anxiety-inducing trappings of drowning in a Sonic game are now assigned to this specific robot, turning it from goofy to hilariously dread-inducing on a dime.
- Upon defeating WYVERN, the following exchange happens with Super Sonic and Knuckles:Knuckles: Not bad. Things would have been over faster if I'd been Super Knuckles, but you did all right.
Super Sonic: Yeah, you keep telling yourself that. - Even though it was heartwarming for Sonic to state all the achievements Tails had gone through despite at times being scared or at the sideline, Tails' response pretty much sums up the audience's view on his character.Tails: I... Then I'm wildly inconsistent!
- Later in the same conversation, Sonic briefly mentions how cool it is that Tails can "fly with [his] butt." Tails gives a half-amused Aside Glance at this. Doubly hilarious as this isn't the first time Sonic made such a comment.
- While the conversation Tails has with Sonic about how he needs to go find his own path for a little while is mostly just heartfelt, there is one fun exchange after Sonic admits that Tails grew up a little faster than he expected.Tails: (with a smug grin) Are you saying I outpaced you?
Sonic: Yeah, don't push it. - On Ares Island, you encounter a robot that's essentially just a giant moving spring whose only move is to jump on you. You can of course jump on it for a decent upward boost, but to defeat it, you have to stomp the poor thing so hard that it's crushed beneath its own cap.
- Another enemy that manages to be silly while also being frustrating is one designed to chase you down. It can't be beaten with basic combat moves, but it doesn't kill you, no. It steals one of your Chaos Emeralds and plays keep-away with it, leaving a temporary grind rail behind it that you need to use to catch up to it, wait until it's stopped to see where you've gone, and stomp it on the big bright light on its head to get the Emerald back.
- One of Eggman's Egg Memos gloats about how he adopted the name "Eggman" after Sonic insulted him with it and turned it into a name that inspires fear rather than mockery. He then notes that he will not do the same thing with "Baldy McNosehair", since his "dignity has limits".
- One cutscene has Sonic set off to find some machine parts for the Ancients' cannons as Tails waves goodbye to him. Right then, Sage teleports to the fox, who doesn't react to her presence at first... before jumping in shock with a "Yipe!"
- While Sonic's friends mourn his cyber-corruption, Eggman is actually happy about his arch-enemy's state.
- After this, Sage warns Eggman that he must be returned to Cyber Space immediately. His response is to angrily say, "I just got out! That was the whole point!"
- And when Sonic's cyber-corruption is cured via The Power of Friendship, the "Hell, Yes!" Moment is promptly ruined when a disappointed Eggman grumbles, "Oh, good. He's back."
- After spending most of the game adamantly refusing to yet another truce with Sonic, Eggman — at Sage's plea — is forced to cooperate in order to vanquish THE END. Regardless, he tries (in vain) to frame it as something other than a team-up.Eggman: (deadpan) Sonic, I hereby induct you into the Eggman Empire and order you to save us all. Understand? This is NOT an alliance!
Sonic: If that's how you wanna spin it, Dr. Ego-man. (Eggman growls)- During Sage's plea, the camera is focused on her and Eggman as the latter thinks over the request. The camera then pans over to Sonic, sporting the smuggest grin possible, as he was listening in on them the whole time.
- Eggman and Sage then set out to find the Chaos Emeralds, the former claiming Sonic won't be fast enough to get them himself — much, of course, to the Blue Blur's annoyance.
- Later on, after finding the 6th Emerald, Sonic worriedly comments that he needs to find the last Emerald soon. Cue Sage and Eggman showing up, with the latter grumpily approaching him. He proceeds to inform Sonic that he wasn't fast enough, and that he and Sage already found the last Emerald for him, before handing it over. He then, in the most Tsundere-ish manner imaginable, tells Sonic not to lose it. Sonic responds by sarcastically informing him that he would never want to disappoint him, then transforms into Super Sonic and flies off to take on the final Titan while Eggman just stands there huffing like a child over having to rely on Sonic to save the world.
- Throughout the game you occasionally have to hack a terminal, which turns into an Unexpected Shmup Level that happens to notably homage Ikaruga on an incredibly simple design. Most players would just consider it a cute side thing that exists for variety's sake. The fact that the Hard difficulty unlocks a secret True Final Boss that takes this gameplay and then some into Bullet Hell territory crosses into absurdity, almost as if it's designed by folks that really loved that homage or gameplay idea and decided to Throw It In! just for the extra twist on an unsuspecting player.
- The way THE END is defeated: Sage with the SUPREME Titan just picks up Super Sonic and pitches him to deal a fatal blow, as if a highly-advanced and sentient A.I. channeling the technology and power of the Ancients basically didn't have any better ideas. And it becomes especially amusing if you fought the True Final Boss and its complete and utter Bullet Hell, coming off as a downright cathartic shutdown of THE END's "The Reason You Suck" Speech after everything you just went through.
- Similarly, the failure for the final Quick Time Event is absolutely hilarious in its own right, in contrast to failures prior leading to a swift death for Super Sonic. Sonic is speeding towards THE END, but the QTE is him building up speed to ram straight through. If you don't pass the prompt three times in the time you're given, Sonic gives off a huge Oh, Crap! expression as this culminates in the Running Gag of Sonic not doing well with sudden landings throughout the franchise reaching its apex as he faceplants into the incarnation of oblivion.
- When the gang starts to head home, Sonic says, "So... that was fun." This comment (understandably) annoys his friends (or worries, in Tails' case).
- In the 23rd audio log Eggman has, he mentions about Knuckles, noticing the Master Emerald is unguarded and planning to snag it in the meantime. Then he remembers the predicament he's in himself...Eggman (Audio Log 23): Knuckles is here too. What a rube. That hair-trigger of his is a problem, but also a boon when I can get him to go off in the right direction. Wait! If he's here, that means the Master Emerald is unguarded! Its power will be mine! Oh. No, wait. I'm stuck here. Phooey.
- In Eggman's first cutscene in Cyberspace, he praises it for being even more advanced than his systems, before quickly recording an audio log reminding himself to never admit he ever said that.
- There's just something hilarious about seeing Sonic the Hedgehog running around wearing friggin' Rathalos armor and barbecuing meat on a spit (complete with the proper music cues). The ridiculousness of the crossover is one thing, but both sets of armor also just look really goofy on him, which is precisely the point. Oh, and just like the other cosmetics, he still wears them in most of the cutscenes.
- In the new cooking mini-game, it’s possible to undercook or burn the meat you're cooking. If that happens, Sonic will look disappointed, with the message "Well, some people like it that way" popping up. If Sonic is successful in cooking it perfectly, though, he'll triumphantly hoist it in the air while the message "So tasty!" pops up. It even plays a voice clip of this being said like in the actual games!
- After Sonic frees him, Tails tries to explain what happened to him and Sonic, who... doesn't understand.Sonic: Those sure are words you said just now.
(Tails turns to Sonic and grins slyly.) - Okay, admit it. You're minding your own business and are either trying to complete a Challenge or upgrading your Skill Tree. As you look around or unpause the game, you're greeted by a Boss Subtitle. The Boss in question? SQUID. All the more hilarious when the Guardian in question just stops to stare at the camera, with its appearance making it look like a hilariously Dull Surprise.
- This gets funnier in the Cyberspace episode of Sonic Frontiers: Speed Strats, when Evan encounters this boss and just decides to bail it to Cyberspace. When he comes back, SQUID is waiting for him, much to his panic.
- One of the idle lines Sonic has makes mention of Chao Gardens from the Adventure era. What's funny is that, though Sonic idly wonders if a Chao Garden could be found around the isles, he blows the idea off on the basis of the climate. This can get chuckles out of players given how one of the Chao Gardens is effectively Chao Hell. It also serves to make the player ponder where Chao Gardens 'occupy' the world; back in Station Square, you could get to a Chao Garden just by riding an elevator! Maybe Chao Gardens could exist on the isles...
- One of Knuckle's interactions has him mentioning he tried to test the structures on Ares Island... by punching them.Sonic: Knuckles... don't punch the ruins.
- As part of Another Story, Tails, Knuckles and Amy are made fully playable with their own Max Boost skills to put them on par with Sonic. Knuckles gets a drill dash to use while gliding, Tails whips out the Cyclone, and Amy... uses her hammer and tarot cards as a psychic monowheel. An interesting use of her powers if nothing else.
- When discussing the new plan, Eggman grumbles at the idea of Sonic giving another tedious speech about "the super-power of teamwork"
- Amy’s idle pose has her draw a set of tarot cards, pick one, flip it around only to glare at it in annoyance.
- During the story, she tries to get some insight into how to find the Chaos Emeralds from her Fortune Cards, only to get frustrated when all the cards can tell her is that things are "Obscured" and "Danger Approaches," both of which she already knew.
- Crossing over with Moment of Awesome: when playing as Knuckles, one of his challenges is to Button Mash Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs at a Koco in the exact same manner the memetic "Standing here I realize" scene, and the Koco he's punching gets so freaking hyped that it screams "ORAAAAH!" once you're done. Knuckles punching things is so awesome his punching bag got excited.
- In one of the conversations in "Another Story", Sonic asks if Sage would like to try rail grinding with him. Sage is confused, as she reveals to Sonic that she cannot see or interact with any of the rails, springs, or objects that Sonic uses to platform and explore the island, as they only appear to him due to his closeness to Cyber Space (much like how the stages are designed after places he's been to). From the very beginning of the game to just now, Sage has been watching Sonic essentially walk, grind, and bounce off thin air. One can only imagine the AI's expression seeing the hedgehog apparently break every law of physics. Even funnier when you recall a common complaint that the floating rails and other gimmicks lying around the island looking out of place just got hand waved into canon.
- In "Another Story", when Super Sonic flies off to confront the final boss, Sage gives him a nod of respect. Eggman does a comical double take when he sees this, then sits back and crosses his arms. He almost comes off as a father disapproving of his daughter crushing on a bad boy.
Misc.
- A few weeks after the game was released, two new teasers came out that brought back an old advertising gimmick from the 90's.
- The first ad
has a kid racing home from school to beat his mom coming home from work because they both wanna play the game. The boy grinds on rails and speeds past a big guy holding a Pomeranian in his arms, but not before taking a selfie, while the mom does a Cyloop around a chili dog stand and gets two dogs, one of which she uses to bribe her kid to let her play even though he beat her home. All of this is done to the tune of Don't Stop Me Now from the first movie. But the cherry on top: the dog's ending to the ad: the classic 90's "SEGA!" scream! - The second ad parodies Christmas giving infomercials with a chili dog rotisserie (complete with pointless warning about hot food from Omochao) and a book by Eggman being rejected in favor of Sonic Frontiers, with a google-eyed hand puppet at the end uttering the "SEGA!" scream.
- The first ad
- The fanmade mod of GIGANTO... dancing to "Gangnam Style". The fact that the ground constantly shakes and trembles from his dancing footsteps, and the fact it actually makes him harder to climb and fight adds to the hilarity. Fans have dubbed it as the "real Hard mode".
- This mod is also made infinitely funnier by the revelation that it was one of the very first mods released for the game.
- There is another fan mod which takes that Freeze-Frame Bonus clip from Sonic Prime where Shadow uses Sonic as a skateboard and replaces Sonic's model in the cyberspace stages with it. Yes, it's a mod where Shadow clears the Cyberstages by riding on Sonic.
- A mod replaces Amy's tarot cards with Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.
