Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack (Lego Dimensions)



Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack (also referred to as 71244 Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack or 71244 Level Pack or Sonic Dimensions) is a Sonic the Hedgehog themed level pack for Lego Dimensions which was released on 18 November 2016.

Description
The product includes three Lego toys set on pedestals which allows compatibility with the game Lego Dimensions. When the figures are placed on the Toy Pad, the game will receive data from the toys and unlock content based on the toys in the game.

Characters

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * A Lego minifigure version of Sonic the Hedgehog. While his body is shaped as a default minifigure, his head is more closely based after himself. As a playable character, in the game Sonic is able to perform such moves as Spin Jump (default jumping), Spin Dash, Stomp, Homing Attack, Spinning Needle Attack and usual Combos available in game. He is also able to become Super Sonic.

Vehicles

 * Tornado
 * An aerial vehicle based after the Tornado-1. It can alternate into a Crabmeat or the Eggcatcher.


 * Sonic Speedster
 * A land vehicle based after the Speed Star. It can alternate into the Blue Typhoon or a Motobug.

In LEGO Dimensions
When the Sonic the Hedgehog figure is used in the game, it unlocks a playable version of the figure in the game along with Sonic the Hedgehog World, a Lego Adventure World based after various locations from Sonic games and a level that features seperate levels, and a Battle Arena based on Carnival Night Zone. The world  and level have LEGO versions of Badniks that not only harm the player but also makes them lose collected studs/rings in the same manner as the Sonic games.

Adventure World
The adventure world is a floating island (similar to most Adventure Worlds in the game) that features many locations from Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic Adventure. Throughout the zone, there are races, quests from characters and rebuildable objects. A Star Post also appears that once punched, open a portal to the special stage, similar to Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The locations featured include:


 * Aquatic Ruin Zone
 * Carnival Night Zone
 * Chemical Plant Zone
 * Special Stage
 * Death Egg Zone
 * Green Hill Zone
 * Tails' Workshop
 * Emerald Altar
 * Hidden Palace Zone
 * Ice Cap Zone
 * Lava Reef Zone
 * Metropolis Zone
 * Sandopolis Zone

Plot
In Green Hill Zone, after collecting the final Chaos Emerald, Sonic runs to Tails' Lab to tell him the good news. However, Dr. Eggman reveals himself and has trapped Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow and Big. Eggman demands Sonic to give up the last emerald so that he would not harm his friends. Eggman also tells Sonic that he planned to use all the emeralds to power his Keystone Device in order to have complete control of the Dimensions. Sonic then compliments Eggman's moustache, which distracts the evil scientist as Sonic secretly freed his friends, except for Amy who mysteriously disappeared. Eggman's Keystone Device then overloads and opens up breaches to other dimensions. One portal transports Eggman and the six Chaos Emeralds he had away while the other Emeralds transport Knuckles, Shadow and Big away. Sonic quickly tells Tails to think of a plan as he goes after Eggman.

Sonic eventually catches up to Eggman on the Death Egg and has to face his three of his robotic counterparts; Robo Sonic, Mecha Sonic and Metal Sonic. After Sonic defeats all of them, Eggman flees through another portal and the hedgehog gives chase. Unknown to them, another breach opens which releases a trail of water. The water suddenly rises up and forms Chaos. While traveling through the dimensions, Sonic manages to snatch the Keystone Device and transports Eggman away. He then opens up another portal which Omochao, Knuckles, Shadow and Big jump out from. Sonic tells them that though he has the device he still needs to find the rest of the Chaos Emeralds. Big reveals that he saw one in Labyrinth Zone and despite having bad memories there, Sonic decides to head to the Zone quickly.

Sonic manages to get a few more Emeralds and returns to find Wyldstyle, Gandalf and Batman having a short meet with Knuckles, Shadow, Big and Omochao. After they leave, Tails arrives and tells them that Eggman had the last Emerald with him while rebuilding the Death Egg again. Sonic leaves the Keystone Device with Tails and comes face-to-face with the Eggman, who is wielding the Death Egg Robot. Sonic manages to get the upper hand on Eggman. However, their battle is cut short as Eggman escapes to get away from Chaos. Sonic concludes that it may have been looking for the Emerald as well. Chaos hits Tails out of the sky and absorbs the Keystone Device.

While Sonic fights Chaos, Amy manages to knock out Eggman and retrieves the Chaos Emerald. She gives it to Sonic and the latter finishes off Chaos with Super Sonic by piercing its brain. The Death Egg then turns to one side which forces Amy to fall out of the Death Egg. Super Sonic manages to open a breach in order to break her fall and Eggman escapes through after, stating he would have his revenge. Super Sonic thanks Tails for his help and they enter through the portal.

Levels
The level is titled Sonic Dimensions. It features Sonic going through several locations from the series' history in order to obtain the Chaos Emeralds. At one point, the Breakfast Kingdom from Adventure Time appears as a hidden area.
 * Green Hill Zone
 * Emerald Coast
 * Metropolis Zone
 * Marble Zone
 * Labyrinth Zone
 * Breakfast Kingdom (from Adventure Time)
 * Death Egg

Playable characters

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Super Sonic

Bosses

 * Egg Mobile
 * Chaos
 * Death Egg Robot
 * Mecha Sonic
 * Metal Sonic
 * Robo Sonic

Mentions and references

 * When talking to Lumpy Space Princess from Adventure Time, Sonic will mention his previous encounter with another princess but will quickly try to discard the conversation talking about it after he remembers what happened as a result of that. This likely references the notable negative reception that the game Sonic the Hedgehog received after the infamous scene where Elise kisses Sonic.
 * One of Sonic's lines when entering into the game is "Oh yeah! This is happening... That sounded better in my head." This is a reference to Sonic Adventure as the first line Sonic said was "Oh yeah! This is happening!"
 * Another one of Sonic's lines when entering the game is "Gotta go fast!" which is the name of the Sonic X theme song, "Gotta Go Fast."
 * Sonic also uses a variation of this phrase: "gotta build fast", during the Metropolis level.
 * E.T. the Extra Terrestrial will also use this line when entering the Sonic Speedster.
 * When teamed up with Marceline from Adventure Time, Sonic relates to how she can turn into a wolf, referencing Sonic Unleashed.
 * Green Arrow will give Sonic arrow-themed suggestions for alternitive names to Green Hill Zone, Emerald Hill Zone, and Mystic Cave Zone when teamed up with him.
 * Sonic will sometimes say "I can feel the sunshine, it's brightening up my day." This is a reference to the song "Can You Feel the Sunshine" from Sonic R, another game made by Travellers Tales.
 * Upon entering the Vortex for the first time, Sonic says “Whoah! Where am I? A Special Stage? Where are the rings? There's usually rings!” This is a reference as to how the Special Stages in the Sonic games usually have rings to collect.
 * The first Sonic cutscene for the game is based on the intro for the first game, but with Sonic waving a ring rather than his finger due to not having one.
 * Dr. Eggman repeatedly says "get a load of this" in his dialogue. This is a reference to the Egg Walker boss battle in Sonic Adventure, in which the line is repeated excessively.
 * At one point in the game, Shadow brandishes a gun and Knuckles quickly throws it away. This is a likely reference to some of the backlash that the video game Shadow the Hedgehog received regarding Shadow's use of firearms.
 * When the player completes Big the Cat's mission he says, that he is getting a call from a person named "Sanic". This is a reference to the popular Internet meme Sanic the Hedgehog.
 * In one of the levels, Eggman almost calls himself "Dr. Robotnik", but stops himself and calls himself Eggman. This is a reference to the inconsistency of Eggman's name early on in the series, with "Eggman" being his native name in Japan and "Robotnik" being his name in Western territories. This still remains a subject of dispute in the fanbase.
 * During one of the boss battles, Eggman calls Sonic "Needlemouse" which is a reference to Sonic's original name "Mr. Needlemouse."
 * In the second cutscene, Dr. Eggman can be seen juggling the Chaos Emeralds similarly to how he does on the bad ending screen of the original Sonic the Hedgehog.
 * The boat Sonic uses the pieces of to build the Sonic Speedster resembles the Speed Star's boat form in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
 * During the first boss fight against Dr. Eggman, Sonic will claim his mustache is fake, referencing an unused line from Omochao in Sonic Adventure 2.
 * Sonic calls Eggman "Baldy McNosehair" like in Sonic Colors and Sonic Lost World.
 * In the cutscene when Big mentions the details of Labyrinth Zone, Sonic briefly flashes back to a 16-bit version of himself drowning, a reference to how many players found the level difficult to complete without drowning.
 * When there are two Sonic figures on the toy pad Sonic will say either, "Hey, That's my line!", "I've found you, Faker!" or "I'll make you eat those words!" These reference the lines Sonic said in Sonic Adventure 2 when he meets Shadow the Hedgehog for the second time and Sonic Heroes when they meet up again.
 * Shadow also makes this reference during his side mission.
 * After completing Shadow's side mission, he will say "It all starts with this... An arrangement containing the ultimate flowers!" This is a reference to his line in Sonic Adventure 2: "It all starts with this... A jewel containing the ultimate power!"
 * When teamed up with Cragger from Legends of Chima (who is crocodile), Sonic will momentarily mistake him for Vector.
 * When talking to a Ghostbuster, Sonic will tell that the former that he saw a doll that looked like Tails and asks if the Ghostbuster can look into it. This is an indirect reference to Tails Doll, a character that appeared in Sonic R and how numerous fan-made ghost stories and "creepypastas" have been made about it.
 * During a cutscene, a Sega Genesis can been seen falling out of a wormhole.
 * In the Marble Zone and the Adventure World, the infamous "Barrel of Doom" (a term given by the fanbase) from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 appears. In the latter location, Omochao even refers to it by that name and references the players' frustrations with it.
 * Whilst fighting the Death Egg Robot, Sonic mentions it's "the fourth time [Eggman's] used it". This is a reference to the Death Egg Robot boss battles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, and Sonic Generations.
 * Whilst fighting Chaos, Sonic will exclaim "I'm taking you down like it's 1999." This is a reference to the American release date of Sonic Adventure and Chaos' introduction into the series.
 * Big's mission is titled "Big's Big Fishing Adventure 4". This is a reference to the commissioned fan game Big's Big Fishing Adventure 3.
 * Gene Fujimori of Sega confirmed that they had no inclusion with this easter egg.
 * Tails' Lab is modeled after its design in Sonic the Fighters.
 * The Tornado's appearance is based on its appearance in Sonic Adventure. Upgrading it allows its design to be replaced with the design for the Tornado Racer, the Tornado 2 and the Tornado from the Genesis games. The Tornado 2 design also appears in the level and Tails' Lab.
 * The Sonic Speedster has three recolors based on Metal Sonic, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Super Sonic.
 * The robot teleporters (referred to as "robot generators") from Sonic the Hedgehog CD make an appearance during Tails' side mission. Tails even mentions how it was used by spread Badniks. Additionally, destroying such machines causes a Little Planet flower to blossom.
 * When interacting with Amy in the Adventure World and during her side mission, Amy will mention some of her past adventures. These include Metal Sonic's kidnapping of her in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, her quest to reunite birdie with its family in Sonic Adventure, how she broke Sonic out of Prison Island in Sonic Adventure 2, and her infiltration of the Egg Fleet to save Froggy and Chocola in Sonic Heroes.
 * During his side mission, Tails mentions Roboticization (spelled as "roboticisation") in conjunction with the robot generators. The context in which it is used however, is slightly wrong: Roboticization is the process where organic beings are turned into machines, and the animals in LEGO Dimensions are just used as organic batteries for the robots rather than being converted into robots.
 * During his side mission, Eggman mentions that he used to have a machine that made mean beans. This is a reference to Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. However, this game was set in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog continuity and not in the mainstream one.
 * During his side mission, Knuckles raps songs that are played in his stages from Sonic Adventure 2, namely Wild Canyon, Pumpkin Hill, Aquatic Mine, Death Chamber, and Meteor Herd, as well as his theme song, "Unknown To M.E.".
 * This is supposed to reference the fact that the raps are actually Knuckles telling his story through the stages.
 * During his side mission, Shadow mentions that Maria wanted him to "bring hope to humanity". In Sonic Battle, these were the exact same words Maria was said to have said before she died.
 * This is the first time that Shadow (in any media) has mentioned Maria since Shadow the Hedgehog.
 * During his side mission, Big says that whenever Froggy goes missing he always gets in trouble. This is a reference to how Froggy ran away from him in multiple times in Sonic Adventure and how Metal Sonic kidnapped him in Sonic Heroes.
 * Throughout the Marble Zone level, Omochao will appear and keep telling Sonic what he would need to do in order to progress, despite it being obvious. This is a reference as to how players would find it annoying in games as to how Omochao will provide information despite it being blatantly obvious.
 * When facing a boss, Sonic may say that its time to show him what they are made of.
 * Due to legal rights, no music from the Sega Genesis Sonic titles appear in this game (with one exception). Instead, music from the two Sonic Adventure titles and the two episodes of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 are used:
 * The Drowning music from the original game plays during a cutscene and when remaining underwater for too long in the Level.
 * The theme for Lost Labyrinth Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I plays in Labyrinth Zone instead of the actual theme.
 * The theme of the Special Stage in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II is used in the Adventure World version of the Special Stage.
 * "Azure Blue World": The theme of Emerald Coast.
 * "Fight for My Own Way": The rival battle theme from Sonic Adventure. Plays when enemy waves appear in Sonic the Hedgehog World.
 * "Theme of Dr. EGGMAN": Dr. Eggman's theme from Sonic Adventure. Plays in cutscenes, the first boss battle against the Eggmoblie, Sonic's metal copies, and the Eggman Parade Float in the Ghostbusters level.
 * "ZERO the Chase Master": The theme of ZERO. Plays during the second battle against the Egg Mobile.
 * "Egg Mobile ...Boss: Egg Hornet": The theme of the Egg Hornet. Plays during the last Egg Mobile boss fight, the Death Egg Robot fight and cutscenes.
 * "Boss: CHAOS ver.0, 2, 4": The theme of Chaos. Plays during the first part of the Chaos boss fight.
 * "Be Cool, Be Wild, and Be Groovy": The theme of the third area in Ice Cap from Sonic Adventure. Plays during the Snowboard race in the Adventure World.
 * "Open Your Heart" - instrumental: Plays during the second part of the Chaos boss fight and on the level results screen.
 * "It Doesn't Matter" - instrumental: The  Sonic Speedster's "Speaker" upgrade allows it to play this song on command, forcing nearby enemies and allies to dance (first version).
 * "Believe In Myself" - instrumental: Plays when talking to Tails in the Adventure World, when building the Tornado, and when entering an air race in the Sonic world (first version).
 * "Unknown from M.E." - instrumental: Plays when talking to Knuckles in the Adventure World (first version).
 * "My Sweet Passion" - instrumental: Plays when talking to Amy in the Adventure World.
 * "Lazy Days (Livin' in Paradise)" - instrumental: Plays when talking to Big in the Adventure World and when playing a special minigame in Carnival Night Zone.
 * "Let's Make It!": The music for the first cutscene of the Hero story of Sonic Adventure 2. Plays during underwater races in the Sonic Adventure World.
 * "Chasing Drive ...for Route 101 & 280": Plays during land races in the Sonic Adventure World.
 * "Unstable World": The theme of Crazy Gadget. Plays in the Death Egg sub-area in the Adventure World.
 * "Throw It All Away" - instrumental: Plays when talking to Shadow in the Adventure World.
 * "E.G.G.M.A.N." - instrumental: Plays when talking to Dr. Eggman in the Adventure World.
 * The slogan of the Level Pack is a reference to one of Sonic's victory's quotes he used in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Reception
The level pack got positive reviews from critics. Chris Carter from Destructoid praised how Sonic is well migrated with the game's engine, being as fast as in a Genesis game with elements of Sonic Adventure in the 2D old school legacy, although he criticized the strain on framerate on the Xbox One version, and the soundtrack being of replications rather than like in the original games. Similarly, Doctor MK from Sonic Stadium remarked the framerate drops on the Wii U version and the repetition of story progression and missions in addition to that, but also admired the "incredible attention to details".

The UK site Metro gave the level pack 8 of 10, commending the sense of speed that is put into the game, and the hub world of it being "a thing of beauty".

Trivia

 * LEGO Dimensions have Studs as the games form of currency. The studs are replaced with rings similar to those used in the Lord of the Rings sets. They even sound like rings when Sonic collects them.
 * A Red Brick can be obtained in the Sonic Adventure World that transforms studs in all levels and worlds into rings.
 * Getting harm by Badniks will make you lose studs, these lost studs will have same gameplay logic from studs found from breaking scenery objects in Adventure Worlds making it possible to recollect them before they vanish.
 * The enemy LEGO Buzz Bombers comes in two colours, purple and yellow. This is because they are based on the Buzz Bombers from Sonic Generations which come in these colors.
 * The yellow Buzz Bombers are based after the Buzzers, the successor Badniks to the Buzz Bombers.
 * Sonic appears in the 2016 Ghostbusters Adventure World as a parade balloon. Likewise, a ghost balloon version of Dr. Eggman is a boss in the Story Pack alongside ghost versions of Buzz Bombers and Moto Bugs as minor enemies.
 * Although non-canon, this is the first time that Mecha Sonic and the Super Emeralds have appeared in a game in years (not counting remakes).
 * In-game, due to Sonic's inability to swim, he wears a life jacket and swims using backstroke.
 * This is his second time as a toy that can be used in games, the first time being an amiibo made for the Super Smash Bros. series.
 * One of Sonic's idle animations features him taking a nap and dreaming about his 16-bit Genesis form.
 * Another idle animation has Sonic looking at his wrist, and stamping his foot. This is a reference to the original idle animations in the original 1991 game.
 * Sonic currently has the least abilities of any year 2 level pack character.
 * Sonic is one of the only playable characters that's fast enough to run on water so far.
 * When Knuckles prepares to throw away Shadow's gun, he removes one of his gloves, revealing a smaller glove.
 * If Doctor Who is there, Sonic will say "Hey, you're THE Doctor, right? I heard you named a screwdriver after me! How cool is that?!" This is a reference to the Sonic Screwdriver the Doctor uses in his franchise.
 * When teamed up with Bart Simpson, Sonic will tell him if he sees a gold brick, that he should "just take it! Take it, take it, take it, take it! Take it!", referencing a cameo of Sonic that appeared in the episode "Marge Be Not Proud" from The Simpsons.
 * Two robots that look like a Guard Robo and E-104 Epsilon appear as generic robots that Sonic must disable in Metropolis Zone.
 * A breakable statue of Aquaman appears in Labyrinth Zone.