The latest poster for Paramount Pictures' Sonic the Hedgehog 2 features an apparent reference to one of the most maddening levels from the spiny blue mammal's original video game outing -- Labyrinth Zone.
Seen in the red and blue pillars framing both sides of the poster are intricate designs and bird-like faces that are uncannily similar to those found in Labyrinth Zone, the fourth level of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis.
Labyrinth Zone -- an underground, partially-sunken ruin full of robotic fish foes -- is one of the trickiest levels in the original Sonic game due to its underwater gimmick. While Sonic can run and jump underwater, he is slower when submerged, and eventually runs out of breath unless the player navigates him to air bubbles located throughout the stage. As Sonic's breath timer counts down, the stage's music speeds up into a frenzied tune and numbers appear above Sonic, indicating how much time he has left. Once zero appears, Sonic drowns, his blue face twisted in an expression of agony.
Similar underwater zones appeared in other Sonic the Hedgehog games -- including Chemical Plant Zone in 1992's Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Hydrocity Zone in 1994's Sonic the Hedgehog 3 -- and the breath timer, air bubble and drowning mechanics have become mainstays in the Sonic series.
While there is no indication that Sonic will be gasping for air bubbles and potentially drowning on the big screen, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has thus far shown a willingness to embrace Sonic's history and showcase references to the hedgehog's video games. Aside from the inclusion of Knuckles, Sonic's best buddy Tails -- voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey -- accompanies him throughout the film. The Death Egg Robot has been sighted in trailers, along with a biplane sequence evocative of Sky Chase Zone from 1992's Sonic 2 and a snowboarding scene reminiscent of Sonic 3's IceCap Zone.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 serves as a sequel to Paramount's 2020 film adaptation of the blue hedgehog's adventures. The film stars James Marsden as Sonic's human friend Tom Wachowski, Jim Carrey as the evil Doctor Robotnik, Ben Schwartz as Sonic himself and Idris Elba as Knuckles. The film debuts in theaters on April 8. A third Sonic movie has already been greenlit, along with a Paramount+ spinoff series starring Knuckles.
Source: Paramount Pictures