Luminous Forest

Luminous Forest (ルミナスフォレスト) is the eight stage in Sonic Forces, and the fourth Sonic stage in the game.

Located in the Mystic Jungle, this previously unspoiled wilderness sporting the remnants of an ancient civilization is now having its ruins converted into a casino by Dr. Eggman. During the events of the game, the Eggman Fleet would bombard Luminous Forest when the Resistance began occupying the area.

Overview
Similar to other areas within the Mystic Jungle, Luminous Forest is set in a brown mountainous region at night during a full moon. It should be noted that the mountains in this stage are rather blocky, much like in Green Hill, and there are evidence of a recent rainfall. Also, growing all around are lush tropical trees with round tree crowns, grass and fern-like bushes.

Also found in Luminous Forest are ancient ruins, such as roads, pillars, road gates, crumbling walls, temples and still-burning torches, most of which are overgrown with plants. All of these ruins have yellow runes/murals that glow. There is as well a river/lake that runs through this stage and giant tree trunks that form half-pipes through midair.

As a result of Dr. Eggman's actions, the majority of the ruins have been converted into casinos. Numerous neon signs in different shapes and colors have been added to the ruins, and ancient temples have been converted into neon palaces. Ancient pillars have similarly been turned into palm-shaped street lights. Further into the stage, one can also see the Eggman Fleet against the sky in the background as they drop bombs on Luminous Jungle, causing large sections of the forest to be set ablaze.

Story
Luminous Forest was originally an ancient ruin. After Dr. Eggman settled in Mystic Ruins though, he began construction on the area to turn it into a casino.

Having receives news from Amy that Silver is currently fighting Infinite in the Mystic Jungle, Sonic hurries to Luminous Forest to back up Silver. Upon arrival however, Sonic receives news from Knuckles and Amy over the radio that the Eggman Fleet is scattering bombs all over the place, putting the local Resistance forces at risk. Observing the jungle going up in flames, Sonic assures the despairing Resistance soldiers that they have done plenty. While guided by Amy, Sonic promises as well to make sure that the soldiers' efforts were not in vain.

As Sonic approaches the ruin where Silver is, Amy warms him of an approaching lifeform. Soon after, Sonic runs into a giant snake, whom Sonic deduces was rudely awoken by the bombings, and is eaten by it. However, this proves to be a mistake for the snake as Sonic, proving why hedgehogs does not make good snacks for snakes, proceeds to repeatedly beat its insides until the snake is forced to spit him out and lose consciousness.

Further ahead, Silver gets defeated by Infinite, although not before making the masked jackal drop a Phantom Ruby prototype without knowing. Before Infinite can finish Silver however, Sonic intervenes. Getting reacquainted with Infinite, Sonic smugly asks for the secret behind his strange powers. Infinite however, has no intention of telling Sonic, and proceeds to fight him.

Gameplay
In Luminous Forest, there are red platforms that collapse a couple of seconds after the player steps on them. There are also platforms in sets of three attached on chains that revolve around a fixed point. These platforms are useful when the player has to cross gap sections or reach higher ground. In some places, there are also thorn bushes that will damage Sonic in case he touches them.

Being a Sonic stage, Luminous Forest has numerous Wisp Capsules filled exclusively with White Wisps along the way for the player to charge their Boost Gauge with.

Description
At the start of the stage, the player runs down a path from a 3D perspective. Eventually, the camera switches to a 2.5D perspective, and the player will arrive in a section with multiple paths at different heights that all lead forward. Each of these routes uses moveable platforms in some way. At the end of this section, the perspective switches to 3D again.

Just as the perspective switches, the player will hit a Ramp that will send them down a half-pipe. Along the half-pipe, the player will encounter Egg Pawns and ostrich-like Badniks that will run from Sonic while firing missiles at him. It should also be noted that at the beginning of this half-pipe, the player can enter a diverging shortcut that leads to the end of the half-pipe.

At the end of the half-pipe, the player must Homing Attack across enemies to reach solid ground, where a Star Post can be found. After that Star Post, the player will then find a new Ramp that takes them to another half-pipe. This half-pipe has the same obstacles along it as the one before and a shortcut that can be found at the stsrt of it.

At the end of the half-pipe, the player will hit some Grind Rails that lead back to solid ground. After then being launched into the air by some Springs a little ahead on the path, the player will initiate a Real-Time Interaction cinematic. Here, the player has to press the jump button when the green rings that appear overlap; the better the player times the button presses, the greater the point bonus the player will receive. During the aforementioned cinematic, a giant snake emerges from the jungle's underground to swallow Sonic in midair. By completing the first Real-Time Interaction, Sonic will hit the snake on its head and run down its back, only for the snake to throw him into his mouth and swallow him. The player must then complete a series of Real-Time Interactions while Sonic ricochets around inside the snake. At the end of the cinematic, the snake will spit Sonic out, causing him to be flung towards the goal.