Movies

Sonic 3 writers explain change to dark video game moment

BBG News

As a long-time gamer and a connoisseur of the Sonic series, I must admit that I was taken aback by the creative approach Sonic 3 took to avoid depicting the death of Maria Robotnik. The PG rating and the family-friendly vibe were preserved through an explosion rather than a gunshot, which is quite refreshing in this era of high-octane action movies.

The creators of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 firmly decided against killing off Maria Robotik in the sequel, which led them to devise an alternative method for Shadow’s storyline of seeking revenge.

After making a strong opening at the box office, Sonic 3 skillfully maintained its family-friendly tone by employing an inventive strategy. The movie avoids depicting real firearms as weapons, which is why certain key deaths from the original games were altered in this version.

In the game, Maria is fatally shot by a solider from G.U.N., as she attempts to aid Shadow in his escape. This leaves Sonic, their mutual friend, heartbroken and determined to seek justice for her untimely death.

According to writers Josh Miller and Pat Casey, it appears that killing a young girl wasn’t part of the plan for the third movie.

Right from the outset, when discussions began on this matter, there seemed to be a general consensus among us all: “It seems rather inappropriate or impossible to consider harming a young girl,” Miller expressed to GamesRadar.

In a family-friendly film, it’s going to be challenging enough to build an entire plot around a young girl’s death. It seems unlikely that they would ever opt for her being shot instead.

In Sonic 3, they chose a more intense yet less violent depiction of an explosion instead. This blast resulted in Maria’s (Alyla Browne) demise and provided Shadow (voiced by Keanu Reeves) with a reason to pursue the destruction of Dr. Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey), while keeping the movie suitable for family viewing.

“It is funny because these movies are rated PG, but it’s a pretty hard PG,” Casey said.

As a gamer, I’d say what sets our gaming world apart from a more mature one is the fact we always opt for non-lethal weaponry like tasers, lasers, or energy weapons. This clever workaround helps us dodge the rating system set by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), keeping our game suitable for a younger audience.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is out now in cinemas.

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2024-12-27 14:19

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