Crater Lake

Crater Lake is one of the three hub world areas in Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric. It is a dormant volcano with a lake formed inside its crater on the top, and houses a few settlements on the edges and above the lake itself.

During the game's events, Sonic and the gang journeyed to Crater Lake where they searched inside and outside the rocky terrain to find the Radiant Crystal.

Overview
Crater Lake centers around a large volcano overlooking Bygone Island. Surrounding the volcano is a tropical environment with mostly grass and palm trees, though the sides of the volcano is barren brown rock. While the volcano itself is dormant, it is still partially active, with a few lava river pouring out.

On the volcano's top is its crater which is filled with water, forming a lake, hence Crater Lake's name. Due to the volcano's activity, the lake's waters are warm. The edges of the crater feature harden molten rock formations, a line of flora and a waterfall to the north which fills up the lake. To the south, the lake empties out in a waterfall which has formed a deep recess into the volcano and to the west lies Salty's house. In the middle of the lake lies some crudely made metal platforms and house-like water tanks where Hokey and Pokey live.

Crater Lake also features a series of lava caverns and tunnels made from molten rock with stalactites hanging from the roofs. Those near the lake are the most beautiful and cozy, with a partially flooded bottom, beautiful green moss in bloom which grow on the ground and along the edges, and illuminating fungus. This place is lit up by holes in the roof. Also, behind the upper waterfall lies a containment field for the Radiant Crystal made by the Ancients.

Story
A thousand years ago, the Ancients hid away the Radiant Crystal, one of their own Chaos Crystals, away in Crater Lake so that Lyric would not be able to find it. Eventually, Hokey and Pokey moved to Crater Lake where they found the Radiant Crystal. However, because it was so bright that they could not sleep with it, they tossed it up the nearby waterfall.

When Team Sonic arrived at Crater Lake, they meet Hokey and Pokey. Amy asked the elderly couple if they knew where the Radiant Crystal was, and they told them where they could find it.

As the gang made their way, they discover Lyric's ship coming towards them. As soon as they got rid of the Destruction Troops, they began to climb the rocky cliff to the waterfall. After finding their way through the caverns of the mountain, they found the Crystal behind the waterfall unguarded. Thinking it was safe, they began to reach it, when more of Lyric's goons came in to attack. After destroying them, Team Sonic collected the Radiant Crystal and headed back to the town.

Gameplay
In Crater Lake, the player must travel across the local lake and into the caverns behind the upper waterfall. Like other areas in Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, Crater Lake has a speed level section, where the player runs down a long path with speed-enhancing gimmicks while avoiding hazardous obstacles, and as well slower-paced areas for exploration and combat. The speed level section additionally includes lava squirts that will instantly form obstacles on the path without warning. It also features the game's signature puzzles which must be solved with the Enerbeam mechanic and Buttons.

While all four characters are available, Crater Lake only has gimmicks for Sonic, Tails and Knuckles' character actions. This includes Spin Ramps and Air Targets for Sonic, Climbable Walls and Ceilings and diggable surfaces for Knuckles, and Tails Vents and Buddy Bot sockets for Tails. There are also the Hydro Gates which give the player the Hydro Dash, allowing them to run across the lake's surface. Besides bottomless waters as environmental hazards, Crater Lake also has in one place a rotating platform with spikes that inflict damage and rotating blocks that can squeeze the player against the roof and cause damage too.

Should the player have accepted Salty's side-quest on Bygone Island, the player can interact with Pepper in Crater Lake to initiate a minigame. Here, the player must use the Riptide to destroy some Swarmer Hives on the lake using either Sonic's fast, but weak Water Cannon, Amy's immobilizing Ice Cannon, or Tails' powerful, but slow Mortar Shot, while dodging floating mines that can explode. When defeating a Swarmer Hive, a string of Rings will appear and lead on to the next.

Description
In Crater Lake, the player's objective is to collect the Radiant Crystal. At the beginning of the level, the player enters a speed level section which leads up the volcano to the lake on top. From there, the player must Hydro Dash to the metal platforms in the lake and meet Hokey and Pokey. One of Lyric's air ships will then appear and drop some Destruction Troops into an area. The player must travel across the platforms to the area and defeat the enemies to lower a bridge to the cliffs.

Across the bridge, the player must climb the cliffs using some moving platforms and then press three Buttons on some moving blocks to unlock a path leading into the caverns. The player must then ride an Ener-Rail into the caverns where they must climb the rock formations and uncover another Ener-Rail. After reaching the end of mentioned Ener-Rail, go left to reach the room of the Radiant Crystal. There, use the Enerbeam to activate a containment field which will make enemies appear. Defeat the enemies to obtain the Chaos Crystal and the level is completed.

Collectibles

 * Crowns: 8
 * Shinies: 5
 * Robot Scrap Chests: 12

Trivia

 * Crater Lake is the only hub in Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric from where the player cannot access additional levels or collect Power Glyphs.
 * Crater Lake has the same background music as Bygone Island.