In the upcoming scenes, we catch a glimpse of both Sonic and Robotnik’s teams, and one of them feels a bit off. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails, with his new jetpack, are racing through the lush forests of Green Hill, and they seem perfectly in sync. However, there’s something peculiar about the lineup on the other side, featuring both versions of Robotnik, Shadow, and Agent Stone. What stands out is the awkward gap between Stone and Robotnik, which just doesn’t sit right from a shot composition perspective. Now, if Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is indeed taking cues from Sonic Adventure 2, it’s puzzling to see one significant character missing: Rouge the Bat.
In the Dreamcast game, Rouge is a savvy treasure-hunting double-agent and Knuckles’ rival. It’s quite disappointing that she appears to be left out of this movie adaptation, which marks her debut alongside Shadow. Unless, of course, we’re in for a surprise similar to the unannounced appearances in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Could they have cleverly edited her, or another character from the Sonic universe, out of that blank spot for a dramatic reveal once the movie hits theaters? There’s even speculation that this void could be reserved for Metal Sonic. Fans have been buzzing since the first trailer, thinking that the menacing mechanical hedgehog might make an appearance either in this film or the one that follows.
Now, if Robotnik is contemplating a change of heart, it might just make sense for him to be the mastermind behind creating the robotic Sonic. Yet, there’s a nagging worry here. Could Paramount be trying to cram too much into a single film by attempting to merge another Sonic storyline with an Adventure 2 adaptation? We already have Shadow stirring up enough trouble. Let’s hope for a grand entrance from Rouge instead.
