Sonic Omens 2: Rise of Santiago

Sonic Omens 2: Rise of Santiago is a 2022 action platformer and a sequel to Sonic Omens. Being released on November 14th, 2022, it has mainly the same gameplay as it's predecessor, with high speed boosting and platforming through several open ended stages with multiple paths. However, Instead of the trio of Sonic, Shadow, and Tails, Sonic and Walter White are the only playable characters, each with similar but varied and equally passionate and ambitious move sets. The plot of the game entails how Sonic and Walter White defeat the Evil Santiago and prevent him from bringing about a Meta Era.

## Gameplay

As stated earlier, Sonic Omens 2 shares similar gameplay with Sonic Omens (cause as they always say, Don't fix what's already broken), involving running through stages with loops, rings, enemies to kill, and platforming. There are also 100 optional red rings that unlock secrets. Both characters have distinct abilities that separate eachother.

### Sonic

Sonic retains his moves from Sonic Omens, being Bouncing, the Light Speed Dash/Attack, Homing attacking, as well as swinging (This time with Sonic pulses, special projectiles that can damage enemies) He can also unleash sonic waves, which blows away foes and other objects and allows him to operate fans that open up pathways.

### Walter White

unlike Sonic, Nikocado cannot Homing Attack, or do Light Speed moves. However, he can spindash and roll to kill enemies and take advantage of hills to gain more speed. He can also use Crystal Meth Powers to levitate and throw enemies, and throw exploding pizza boxes. If he collects enough Crystal Meth, he can upgrade his levitation with higher enemy carrying capacity, and higher damage. In some segments, Walter speeds up drastically and must dodge enemies and obstacles. These are called Mach Speed segments. These areas are not too different from the Mach Speed segments in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).

## Story

One day, a massive giant hedgehog named Santiago arrives and annihilates Chao Paradise, kidnapping the Chao that reside within and unleashing biased and soulless wisps. Sonic teams up with some Chao to find the King of Chao Paradise, Walter White. Walter agrees to help, but only if he gets some money.

Sonic and Walter follow Santiago to a beach city named Soleanna. They help GUN drive off Santiago from the Soleanna Castle town, but he retreats into the Kingdom Valley. Walter then catches up to him and fights him , which causes Santiago to flee to Momentum Park, a GUN base stationed far out into the sea. The unamed, hooded leader of GUN shows up to give them info on where Santiago will go next across their journey. Walter wastes time by selling Meth, making Sonic force him to go to Momentum Park via Tails and his Tornado plane.

In Momentum Park, however, they fail to stop Santiago, and he destroys the base. Fortunately, everybody escapes. They fly off to Central City to plan out their next attack, only to find that Santiago has invaded Central City as well. They are fortunately able to push his forces out, unlike last time.

Once again, Walter wastes more time by selling meth. Sonic scolds his behavior, but Nikocado explains he must sell meth to charge up a Super Powerful Meth Blast, an attack that could kill Santiago for good. He explains that to get enough supplies to fuel the attack, they must raid the GUN meth bank in the based stage from Sonic Adventure 2, Wild Canyon, and allow Walter to sell all of the meth

They both take the tornado to Wild Canyon, but the plane crashes, forcing the, to go to the bank on foot. The GUN leader gives them instructions on bow to enter the meth vault, and soon enough, they enter and Walter everything. After reciving orders to go to Area 99, Walter drives the plane to his destination, only to reveal that they were back at Walter's Cave. Walter explains that all he wanted was to get rich, ending any good will between Sonic and Walter. Sonic drives to Area 99 himself.

Once Sonic ends up at his destination, he is greeted by the GUN leader. Sonic is congratulated, but is eventually caught off guard and captured by the GUN Leader, revealing himself to be an evil mastermind named Ken Pontac (or just Pontac.) Pontac reveals to Sonic that he was actually assisting Santiago in capturing people so that he could prevent any resistance to him taking over the world and establishing an age where everything is self referential, appealing to Classic Sonic fans, and devoid of Passion and Ambition. In short, he wants to bring about a Meta Era. Sonic is sent to a huge prison on the ARK, with his own cell at the Cannons Core.

Walter is swimming in money when the Chao interrupt and use magic to show how much damage has been caused to the world. Walter finally realizes that he had been in the wrong by focusing on cash, and vows to save the world. The chao show him that Area 99 is still intact and he can use a rocket to go to the ARK, where Sonic has been held. He runs across the water and through Area 99 and is able to reach a rocket just in time before takeoff.

Walter arrives at the ARK, and makes his way to Sonic's Cell using the Chao's special tracking powers that lead them to people they have bonded with. Walter frees Sonic and apologies for his selfish behavior. Sonic accepts the apology and they become best buddies. They escape the ark and take the rocket to the Gun Master Fortress, where they confront Pontac. After a big fight, Pontac is defeated, but mentions how Santiago still rampages throughout Station Square and then starts to explain how Santiago became such a monster.

Santiago was actually a prototype of the Ultimate Life Form (similar to the Biolizard in Sonic Adventure 1) created by Professor Gerald Robotnik. In order to avoid being killed during the raid on the ARK by GUN, Gerald uses a time travel pod to send Santiago to the future. Santiago is transported to 50 years into the future, where he crash lands on earth and is held into care by GUN. He is able to befreind Exiled and Chris Thorndyke, but after the death of Chris, he is devestated and does not know what to do.

Pontac actually used to work for GUN during the time Santiago was being created, and even worked with Gerald on Santiago. Eanting to use his powers, Pontac searched for Santiago for 50 years. After a long time, the 2 finally reunite. Santiago expresses his desire to destroy gun for destroying his family. Seeing an opportunity to manipulate Santiago into doing his own bidding, Pontac took advantage of this and corrupted Santiago into a ravenous, giant, revenge seeking monster. Pontac then leaves on his Meta-Mobile.

Sonic and Walter arrive at Station Square, unsure of how to fight Santiago. However, Nikocado starts to feel a strange power emmiting from him. All of a sudden, the ground starts shaking, and Walter suddenly realises he can become Heisenberg because he collected so much meth. He then starts to grow to the same Size as Santiago.

Sonic and Heisenberg work together to defeat Santiago. Santiago starts crying, expressing that he only wanted to get revenge on GUN. But just then, Pontac arrives with a giant machine that once fully charged, will unleash a huge laser that will return Heisenberg and Santiago to normal size. Seeing this as a chance to redeem himself, Santiago helps Heisenberg and Sonic defeat Pontac in the game's true final boss. Santiago uses all of his power to destroy the giant robot and throw Pontac into the space. Santiago then jumps up the the ARK and uses a special Sonic wave that can unlock prisons to unlock all of the doors. He then uses the rest of his power to repair all of the damage done and bring everybody back home. This turns him small, but he does not care that much. He bids farewell to Sonic and Heisenberg as the duo ride the tornado back home, going towards the sunset.

## Reception

Litterally every body that isn't a poopy doodie meta era fan gave this game a 200/10 or above. It's so fucking good.