The characters introduced at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 are exciting, but they will create a major problem for the fourth film. The story of Sonic 3 follows Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, who are recruited by GUN to take on Shadow, who escapes from Prison Island at the beginning of the film. Shadow proves to be too powerful for them to fight alone, so they end up reuniting with Jim Carrey’s Ivo Robotnik. At the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Gerald Robotnik, Ivo’s grandfather, emerges as the true villain and is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ set on destroying the world.

Sonic and Shadow eventually team up to defeat Gerald Robotnik. As he did in the previous films, Sonic once again manages to save the day in Sonic 3. However, Sonic’s world is going to be a lot more complicated in the confirmed Sonic the Hedgehog 4 after two major character introductions. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s post-credits scene, Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, two major characters from the video games, are introduced. The introduction of Amy Rose and Metal Sonic is exciting, but creates a big problem for Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

Amy Rose & Metal Sonic Give Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Even More Characters To Juggle

Amy Rose & Metal Sonic Will Likely Both Have Major Roles In Sonic 4

At the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles decide to race each other, echoing a moment from earlier in the movie. In Sonic 3’s post-credits scene, it is revealed that Sonic oversH๏τ the finish line and is alone in New York. Sonic then comes face-to-face with Metal Sonic, a robot which looks exactly like him. He then realizes that he is surrounded by dozens of robots. This is when Amy Rose, wielding her Piko Piko Hammer, shows up and takes them all out, saving Sonic.

Amy Rose and Metal Sonic are both popular characters from the Sonic video games, and open up many possibilities for Sonic the Hedgehog 4. However, their introduction also gives Sonic 4 more characters to juggle. Over the course of the three Sonic films, the ensemble cast has grown significantly. Therefore, after the introduction of Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, several characters are at risk of getting their screen time cut in Sonic 4. All the characters in the Sonic series are very entertaining, so it would be a shame if any of them got cut.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Shows The Growing Character Count Is Becoming An Issue

There Are A Lot Of Characters In The Sonic Movies

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 may be the highest-rated entry in the franchise yet, but it also highlights a major problem in the series. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has way too many characters to juggle, and can’t give everyone the screen time that they deserve. Tom and Maddie, for example, have always been the main human characters in the series, but they have essentially been reduced to very minor supporting characters. As more “alien” characters get introduced in the Sonic films, there is less time to spend on human characters.

Additionally, Tails and Knuckles also had very minor roles in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Both Tails and Knuckles are major characters in the video games, so it is disappointing to see them reduced to minor characters in the movies. Even Sonic didn’t get a lot of attention in the most recent movie. Sonic did receive a fitting character arc in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but it is clear the movie’s primary goal was to tell Shadow’s story. Therefore, Sonic 3 struggles to balance all the characters and give them all meaningful roles.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 May Need To Cut Some Characters To Make Room For Amy Rose & Metal Sonic

Ivo Robotnik & Shadow Could Be Cut From Sonic 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 proves that it might be necessary to leave some characters out of Sonic 4 so that the movie can properly develop both Amy Rose and Metal Sonic. The ending of Sonic 3 seemingly killed Ivo Robotnik, so it is currently unknown if Jim Carrey will return for Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Carrey has always been a highlight of the Sonic films, but perhaps he should be left out of Sonic 4, or at least have a much smaller role if he does return. This would allow the film to remain focused on Metal Sonic, another villain.

Amy Rose also needs to have a major role in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, as she will act as a sort of love interest for Sonic in the film. It would be strange to cut Tails or Knuckles from the movie, since they are loyal members of Team Sonic, so perhaps Shadow shouldn’t return for Sonic 4. Shadow was confirmed to still be alive at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but he would benefit the most from getting his own spinoff movie or series, rather than taking up a lot of screen time once again in Sonic 4.

How Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Can Make All Of These Characters Work Together

Sonic 4 Needs To Be Smart With Its Characters

If Metal Sonic essentially replaces Ivo Robotnik and Amy Rose takes Shadow’s place, then it would be much easier for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 to balance all the characters. However, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will still have just as many characters as Sonic 3, so it needs to do a better job of giving the supporting characters more screen time. Sonic 4 could keep Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, and potentially Tom and Maddie as well, together for the majority of the movie to ensure that they all get adequate screen time.

Rather than having everyone form a huge team, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 could also split its characters up into duos. Sonic and Amy Rose could lead the main plot, which will likely involve defeating Metal Sonic, while the duos of Tails and Knuckles and Tom and Maddie could both be on side missions. However, their side missions will have to be important enough to make all the character’s roles feel vital in Sonic 4’s story. Overall, Sonic 4 needs to learn from the mistakes of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to properly balance its ensemble cast.