Sonic Beyond

SONIC BEYND is the nineteenth mainline installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. A spiritual successor to Sonic Generations, Sonic Beyond was created as a celebration for the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Sonic franchise, set to occur in 2026. As a result Sonic Beyond includes a number of locations and characters from throughout the history of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
As with Sonic Generations the game features multiple different kinds of gameplay styles, though exclusively features the "modern" Sonic from that game as opposed to two separate incarnations of the character. In addition to the "classic" 2.5D platforming segments and the "modern" 3D boost segments, the game also brings back the "open zone" gameplay style first introduced in Sonic Frontiers, albeit in a more limited capacity.
== Story ==
== Characters ==
=== Playable Characters ===
There are six playable characters in the game. Sonic is available by default, while the other five can be unlocked by locating and defeating bosses hidden in each of the five Zones the player visits.
All six of the playable characters have unique attacks and abilities, allowing the player to revisit areas and challenge them in different ways. Though it is possible for the player to collect all of the Emerald Shards in the game using only Sonic, the abilities that the other characters possess will often make collecting some less difficult.
== Levels ==
Sonic Beyond features two types of stages: Action Stages and Zones. Action Stages feature combinations of "classic" platforming and "modern" boost segments, akin to those from most other Sonic the Hedgehog titles, where the player has a limited pool of abilities. Zones are large, open areas based on the "open zone" concept from Sonic Frontiers, in which the player is capable of performing more advanced combat maneuvers as they fight enemies.
Action Stages make up the bulk of the game's levels, with Zones instead being different hub areas from which the player can access the Action Stages.
The Zones also feature optional objectives, which can be used to unlock collectibles. Each zone also features an optional, hidden boss which, when defeated, will unlock another character for the player to control.
=== Zones ===
There are five Zones in the game, and eight Action Stages can be accessed from each of them. Seven of these Action Stages are normal levels, with the final one being a boss battle that unlocks access to the next Zone.
Zone 	Description 	Hidden Boss
Seaside HillSonic Heroes 	Despite being named, and primarily based upon Seaside Hill, the Zone also incorporates elements of Ocean Palace, another location from Sonic Heroes. The most notable of these elements is the titular Ocean Palace, which is where Sonic initially finds himself after falling into a pit in the Emerald Hill Zone. Outside of the Ocean Palace, Seaside Hill is a fairly simplistic grassland and beach area that inco	The Egg-Genesis from Sonic the Hedgehog 2006. A robot created by Dr. Eggman, the Egg-Genesis is a flying enemy that possesses a large arsenal of missiles and the ability to fire a powerful laser from its core. It can be found in a hidden room in the depths of the Ocean Palace, and defeating it will unlock the ability to play as Tails.
SoleannaSonic the Hedgehog 2006 	 	
Frontier Canyon ZoneSonic Rivals 2 	 	
Eggman IslandSegaSonic the Hedgehog	 	
Mystic RuinsSonic Adventure 	 	
=== Action Stages ===
Unlike most other "modern" Sonic titles, Sonic Beyond does not grant the player a rank upon completing an Action Stage. This is because every level features seven Emerald Shards: one Emerald Shard is awarded upon completing the level, while the remaining six are hidden throughout the missions. In a lot of cases, these Emerald Shards are hidden in places that are difficult for Sonic, but not as difficult for other characters, to reach.
Action Stage 	Description	Zone
Emerald Hill ZoneSonic the Hedgehog 2	The opening level of the game. The level consists of an exact replica of Emerald Hill Zone: Act 1 from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, being almost entirely a "classic" platforming segment. At the end of the original level, the level switches to a boost segment as the player must then avoid falling debris and holes opening up in the ground. This leads to an abrupt ending of the level.
:Enemies: Buzzer, Coconuts, Masher	Seaside Hill
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Seaside Hill
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Seaside Hill
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Seaside Hill
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Seaside Hill
Bridge ZoneSonic the Hedgehog 8-bit 	
:Enemies: 	Seaside Hill
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Seaside Hill
center|200x200px .. 	
:Boss: 	Seaside Hill
City EscapeSonic Adventure 2 	
:Enemies: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Boss: 	Soleanna
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Frontier Canyon Zone
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Frontier Canyon Zone
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Frontier Canyon Zone
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Frontier Canyon Zone
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Frontier Canyon Zone
Pumpkin HillSonic Adventure 2 	
:Enemies: 	Frontier Canyon Zone
Dragon RoadSonic Unleashed 	
:Enemies: 	Frontier Canyon Zone
Mechanical ZoneSonic Jump Fever 	The Mechanical Zone stage consists of an opening boost segment, wherein the player has to dodge a barrage of missiles in the lead-up to a tall skyscraper-like structure. Once the player reaches the battle proper, the perspective switches to the "classic"-styled 2D platforming, and forces the player into an upwards climb as the Egg Dragoon from Sonic Unleashed appears. The Egg Dragoon attacks primarily with ranged attacks, launching missiles and fireballs at the player as they ascend, only allowing the player to get close while it charges an electricity attack. Should the player not attack the Egg Dragoon in time during this period, it will sent a burst of lightning across the screen, destroying many of the platforms in the player's path. The player is in additional danger as the camera continually scrolls upwards, and falling down off-screen results in an instant death.
:Boss: Egg Dragoon	Frontier Canyon Zone
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Eggman Island
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Eggman Island
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Eggman Island
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Eggman Island
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Eggman Island
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Eggman Island
Mecha Green Hill ZoneSonic Chaos 	A mechanized version of the classic Green Hill Zone. Though explicitly stated to be based on the Zone from Sonic Chaos, the Mecha Green Hill Zone stage actually combines elements of it with different incarnations of the original Green Hill Zone, though still retaining its entirely-mechanical appearance. The stage's "classic" segments includes the infamous tilting bridges that force the player to run at high speeds in multiple areas, and a large emphasis on caution as the ground is littered with several different kinds of traps. The boost segment that ends the stage has the player needing to dodge a barrage of attacks from Tree Crawlers, as well as pendulums based upon the one attached to Dr. Eggman's classic Egg Wrecker vehicle, none of which can be actually harmed.
:Enemies: Boing-o-Bot, Buzz Bomber, Chopper, Crabmeat, Moto Bug, Newtron	Eggman Island
center|200x200px .. 	
:Boss: 	Eggman Island
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Mystic Ruins
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Mystic Ruins
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Mystic Ruins
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Mystic Ruins
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Mystic Ruins
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Mystic Ruins
center|200x200px .. 	
:Enemies: 	Mystic Ruins
center|200x200px .. 	
:Boss: 	Mystic Ruins