Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is set to release in 2027, and based on the fact that the third movie teased the introduction of Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, the next installment in the franchise is going to be loosely based on Sonic CD, the 1993 video game which marked the first appearance of either of those characters.

While Sonic CD‘s story is likely to play some part in determining what happens in Sonic 4, the movie is unlikely to be a direct adaptation, because even Sonic 3, which was an adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2, took plenty of creative liberties with the plot and characters.

One idea central to Sonic CD that could very well show up in Sonic 4 was time travel, as it makes sense to add to the franchise at this point. However, the way time travel was introduced in Sonic CD shouldn’t be directly translated to the movie, as it would present some major problems for the film.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Shouldn’t Include The Time Stones From Sonic CD

The Movie Doesn’t Need Another MacGuffin

In Sonic CD, the only way to travel through time was to use the Time Stones, a set of seven mystical gems that appeared on Little Planet, the game’s central location. The plot was about racing Eggman to get the Time Stones first to reverse the damage he did to the planet.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because it is a very classic Sonic plotline and one that the movies themselves have used, namely in Sonic 2, albeit with the Master/Chaos Emeralds instead of the Time Stones. Sonic 4 introducing the Time Stones in this way would feel pretty repeтιтive, as that story has already been done in this franchise.

While repeating similar plots in the original games worked fine, as gameplay, not story, was the central focus, the movies need to have engaging and original storylines. Introducing another set of gems for the characters to find to save the day would feel far too similar to what the Sonic movie franchise has already done.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Can Find A Better Way To Incorporate Time Travel

There Are Plenty Of Ways To Introduce The Concept

If time travel does end up being a major part of Sonic 4, the film will need some way to explain it, even if the explanation is kept fairly simple. The movies have already shown off some incredibly advanced technology with things like the Eclipse Cannon in Sonic 3, so time travel tech wouldn’t be too unbelievable for this universe.

Alternatively, the film could use something similar to the Time Stones, but rather than making them the central thrust of the plot, they could simply make them part of the time travel device that everyone uses, keeping them somewhat relevant to the film’s story without forcing the characters to spend the entire time looking for them.

Time travel in movies can often be a big, complicated mess, so Sonic 4 needs to keep it simple, and not get too caught up in the nitty-gritty details. Sonic‘s characters have always been the heart of these films, and focusing on them instead of the rules of time travel will be central to making sure Sonic the Hedgehog 4 works.