Summary
Even thoughSonichas been around for over three decades by this point, it’s always an exciting occasion when a new game gets announced, especially since Sega often enjoys dropping reveal trailers completely out of the blue.Speaking of reveal trailers, there have been plenty ofSonicteasers and announcements over the years that have stuck with fans due to how much excitement and anticipation they managed to generate when they first dropped.
A good reveal trailer can show just enough about the game to get fans interested, without diving too deep into story spoilers or dragging on for too long to the point where they could become a little boring. TheSonicfranchise is arguably the strongest it’s ever been, so while Sega cooks up the latest installment in this beloved series, let’s take a deeper look at the bestSonicreveal trailers and teasers to understand why they generated such an infectious buzz when they first released.
It’s important to set out the context of where theSonicseries was at to understand why the teaser forFrontiersmeant so much to people. This game was coming off the back ofSonic Forces, which received a lot of backlash from critics and fans alike upon its release who felt the series was beginning to lose its way after several lackluster releases. However, theSonic Frontierstrailer didn’t go over the top with visuals or attempt to introduce a bunch of new characters, but instead, focused entirely on the Blue Blur himself,who can be seen sprinting through a forest.
The trailer purposely focused on Sonic’s movements, and how he subtly dodges the surrounding terrain to maintain his momentum, which was a clever implication the game was going to focus a lot more on movement and being able to run around in an open space. There was also a slightly dark and mysterious melody that played in the background that suggested the game was going to be a little more grounded and serious, which certainly got people intrigued.
The teaser trailer forSonic Unleashedis by far the shortest of any trailer in the series, clocking in at barely over 30 seconds, but in that time, it managed to raise so many questions and spawned a plethora of online discussions among the fanbase. At first, the trailer seems to take the POV of Sonic as he tosses a Ring up in the air while humming the theme of the game.
After a few seconds in, the whole dynamic changes as the background turns completely black, and out of nowhere, a monstrous hand lunges in from the side of the screen to smash the ring into a nearby concrete wall. Many assumed this was going to be anew and dangerous villain, but because of how quickly the change occurs, and the fact that it doesn’t show the face of either character, some fans made the bold assumption that this could be Sonic. Needless to say, Sega managed to spark people’s interest immediately with this simple but all-so-memorable trailer.
4Sonic Riders
Sonic Riders' Reveal Mixes High-Speed Action With A Fresh New Futuristic Setting
TheSonicseries has always taken a unique approach tothe racing genre, but the one game that is without a doubt the most out-there and experimental isSonic Riders, and the reveal trailer certainly does a good job at showcasing how exhilarating this new game would be in its gameplay. The trailer, which only runs for a minute in total, is extremely fast-paced as it constantly switches between in-game cutscenes, which look breathtaking thanks to the glossy visual style, and actual gameplay where iconic characters like Sonic, Tails, and Shadow can be seen racing in a seemingly futuristic setting.
As the trailer goes on, random words start appearing in the middle of the screen as if it’s some sort of early 2000s movie trailer, but they flash on the screen so briefly that it immediately demands the viewers' attention, keeping their eyes glued to the screen from beginning to end. Pair this with a fresh new look at a brand-new cast of villains, and it’s hard not to get pumped for this iconic spin-off game after watching the trailer.
When the reveal trailer for the latest game in theSonicseries debuted at the 2024 State of Play, a lot of fans were convinced for the first few moments that what they were seeing was a fresh new remake ofSonic Generations. This was already enough to get people on board, but the hype levels went through the roof onceShadow the Hedgehog himselfflew onto the screen, which then led into a pretty lengthy gameplay segment showing brand-new stages for Shadow’s section of the story.
It also felt as though Sega was making a real attempt to harken back to Shadow’s roots in the series, especially with the appearance of Black Doom, who hadn’t been seen sinceShadow the Hedgehogin 2005. Mixed in with this are stages from the regularSonic Generations, including Green Hill Zone and Rooftop Run, which looked phenomenal thanks to the new visual upgrade the game received.
2006 was an exciting year for the game industry as it was whenthe seventh generation of consoleswas finally released, so a lot of gamers were excited to see their favorite series make their debut on the latest hardware.Sonic the Hedgehogjumped on the hype train by releasing a reveal trailer that very year, and even though the game has become infamous for its lack of quality, the trailer made it seem as though this was genuinely going to be the best game the series had seen in a long time.
It kicks off with a jaw-dropping cinematic that looked far more grounded and realistic than anything that had been seen in aSonicgame before, while also putting a lot of focus on the human characters, which was also fairly unusual for the series. Once Sonic finally shows up, the epic “His World” theme kicks in as the cinematic flicks between Sonic, Shadow, and Silver all race through their respective stages, which almost felt like an homage to the multi-protagonist gameplay ofSonic Adventure 2. The music, the visuals, the gameplay, all of it came together to create a trailer which some would probably argue is better than the game it’s advertising.
Though theSonic Adventure 2reveal trailer showcased a bunch of gameplay from the perspective of numerous characters, there was also a notable emphasis on the story, which had traditionally been a weak spot for the series. The trailer is almost entirely based around contrasts; truth and lies, evil and justice, real and fake - all of these words show up in the trailer to get people thinking what exactly this game’s plot would be about, while also giving a clever insight into this entry’s brand-new character, Shadow.
There’s also a stylish quality to this trailer, whether it be through the creative transitions between shots or even just the sped-up sequences that show characters moving at lightning speeds, it’s a thrill ride that never lets its foot off the brakes. The final shot of a camera swirling around Shadow as he stands in the distance acts as a delightful cherry on top of such an epic trailer.
