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Creeper Gorge (クリーパー・ゴージ Kurīpā Gōji?) is the seventh area of Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric. It is a black gorge with a nature befitting its name, filled with fog, giant and hostile thorn-covered vines, and abandoned structures. The gorge is apparently not meant for living beings as indicated by the local remains of once great beasts. It can be entered after obtaining the Tidal Crystal and unlocking the level's Crystal Lock on Bygone Island.
During the events of Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, Team Sonic journey through Creeper Gorge in search of the Twilight Crystal where Eggman eventually comes after them with his newest mech.
Description[]
Creeper Gorge is an extremely hostile and uninviting environment. It is comprised of menacing and jagged spires made of black rock with blue veins, which form several water-filled gorges. The entire region is covered in fog with eerie colors: the fog in the gorges is black and obscures view, while the fog overcasting the sky is a sick green. The entrance to Creeper Gorge is marked by a rock formation resembling a grinning skull with glowing eyes. The paths here are smooth, but with extensively cracked surfaces. Additionally, the area is geologically unstable due to constant earthquakes and rock slides.
Creeper Gorge is an seemingly uninhabitable area for living beings, holding skeletons of building-sized animals in the walls. Regardless, it does contain some flora, like pale plants and gigantic vines. The vines are up to several meters thick with pink thorns, white flowers, and grow in extreme abundance. The most unnerving thing about the vines is that they are sapient and extremely hostile, moving around or spouting roots to attack intruders.
Throughout Creeper Gorge lies abandoned ruins of constructions from the Ancients, such as broken scaffolds, empty buildings and still functional hangars. In the center however, lies a pristine complex from the Ancients (which is presumed to be the reason why nobody comes to Creeper Gorge) that is surrounded by metallic objects resembling planets. This complex shoots a column of light into the sky which can be seen from everywhere.
Story[]
A thousand years ago, the Ancients hid the Twilight Crystal in Creeper Gorge so that Lyric could not find it.
In the present day, Team Sonic came to Creeper Gorge to find the Twilight Crystal, where they split up upon arrival. There, Tails and Amy saw Lyric salvaging a device for his robot army when he was confronted by Dr. Eggman in his mech. Lyric tried taking control of Eggman's mech, but its design made it impossible. Eggman, intending to eliminate Lyric and become the dominant villain, attacked him, but all his mech's missiles missed. Mocking the doctor, Lyric left.
Furious, Eggman saw Tails and Amy nearby and went after them. Tails and Amy soon reunited with Sonic and Knuckles, and the heroes took the fight somewhere else, where Eggman intended to crush Sonic for good. However, Team Sonic defeated Eggman and made the doctor retreat while they took the Twilight Crystal, which Eggman had found, from his mech's remains.
Gameplay[]
In Creeper Gorge, the player travels through several gorges to the Ancients' complex. Like other areas in the game, Creeper Gorge includes speed level sections, 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. It also features puzzles that the player must solve with the Enerbeam mechanic and Buttons.
Creeper Gorge contains gimmicks for all four playable characters' specific actions, though in fewer numbers than in most levels. These include Spin Ramps for Sonic, Climbable Walls for Knuckles, Tails Vents for Tails and Balance Beams and Beam Swings for Amy. Environmental hazards in Creeper Gorge revolve around the large vines that cause damage to both players and enemies when touched. Some vines block the player's path by holding rocks, but will move away when the rocks are destroyed. Other vines block paths by moving around in circles, meaning the player has to time their movements to get past them. In open areas, pillars of vines can also suddenly sprout out of the ground and then retract as traps. These vines can instantly destroy enemies, but can also harm the characters. However, as a warning, the ground will start moving at these vines' emerging point just before they appear. Additionally, in speed level sections, the vines or their roots can suddenly sprout out on the path to become damaging obstacles.
Besides vines, there are platforms with pink cracks that will fall into bottomless pits when stepping on them, though they will eventually respawn. At times, the floor will also crumble away to reveal new paths. Blocked paths can also be cleared by falling boulders when neared. Sometimes, enemies are also destroyed by boulders before they can attack the playable characters. Some sections of the level also feature earthquakes and footholes collapsing on their own, thereby altering the environment and creating new pathways. In the level's second half, the Eggman Mech starts appearing to shoot cannonballs and missiles at the player. While the player cannot block cannonballs, they can lasso missiles with the Enerbeam and use them against obstacles.
Overview[]
The player's objective in Creeper Gorge is to find the Twilight Crystal. The level begins at the start of the standard speed section, with the player in control of all of Team Sonic. To start the speed section, head down the path rising up from above. While proceeding down the speed section, the player has to avoid obstacles. Along the way, they are also given the choice of taking multiple alternative routes. At the end of this speed section, the characters are send flying into the air and towards a flat piece of rock
In the next section, the player takes control of Sonic and Knuckles. From their starting point, use the Boost Pad ahead to break through a wall and enter a 2.5D section featuring a maze of passages, breakable rocks, and thorny vines. First, use the first three Bounce Pads the characters come across to climb upward. After the third Bounce Pad however, go down the passage on the left and break the rocks there to make the thorny vines blocking the path circle around. When an opening in the vine appears, get through it and wait for the opening in the thorny vines to appear above, thereby unblocking the path. Proceed through this hole to fall down to another thorny vine blocking the path. There, an earthquake will destroy the rock the thorny vine holds onto and the Destruction Troops beyond, granting the player safe passage. Use then the incoming Bounce Pad and the following Zip Targets to reach the path above. Follow it through the breakable wall and the characters will arrive on the top of the maze. From there, the player has to pass through the entrance to Creeper Gorge and then cross a number of platforms held above a chasm. However, avoid the thorny vines that hold the plaforms and the thorny vines circling around them. Also worth noting is that some of the incoming platforms are unstable and will collapse shortly after the characters step on them.
At the end of this platforming section, some collapsing boulders will open a blocked passage and eliminate a group of Destruction Troops. From there, the player can reach another speed section marked with a Boost Ring. When proceeding down this section, the player will encounter thorny vines retracting as the player approaches and quick-growing roots that sprout out of the walls and down on the road. When the speed section takes the player to a lake, they can choose one of two paths to take along the speed section. if they choose the branch marked with a Bounce Pad, they will be led to another road segment over the precipice with collectibles along it. The other path will lead down a more mundane way. Regardless, the player will eventually arrive in an area with a Checkpoint. From there, follow the narrow passage ahead, but hurry across it and watch out for the collapsing segments along it. Eventually, the player will arrive in a small area with Destruction Troops. Here, the player can lasso Destruction Troops with the Enerbeam and throw them into the rock wall ahead to break it down. Alternatively, they can break down the rock wall with regular attacks. Use then either the Spin Ramp for Sonic or the Climbable Walls for Knuckles that were behind the rock wall to climb up the cliff. At the top of the cliff, use the Ener-Rail there and ride it to another area, but be mindful of the thorny vines on the sides along it. When arriving in the next area, the player will be attacked by more Destruction Troops, including the new Roller Shocker. Here, the player must lasso the Destruction Troops with the Enerbeam and throw them into the thorny vine blocking the path ahead of the area. This will open up for a Spin Ramp and a Climbable Wall that either Sonic or Knuckles can use to scale the cliff ahead.
Once at the top of the cliff, there will be more Destruction Troops to lasso and throw into the thorny vines on the left until the vines retract. Go then down the unveiled path to arrive at a labyrinth of thorny vines. From there, the perspective switches to a birds-eye view. To get through this labyrinth, first take the path on the right, and then the first path on the left. Follow then this path until a black rock appears on the right. Destroy it to make some vines circle around and use the holes in them to go straight forward. The player will then arrive at two circles of thorny vines. Beak the rock there to make them move, and slip through the circling vines to the path with Rings on it. Ahead of this path is a Bounce Pad hidden behind some thorny vines. Break the rock there to make the vine move and slip onto the Bounce Pad. This will take the player out of the labyrinth and up to another platform where the player will be attacked by minor Destruction Troops. Ride then the nearby Ener-Rail between the branches of thorny vines to a spacious island with a Checkpoint and vines sprouting from the ground in intervals. Here, cross a field with these sprouting plants to get to the crane ahead. There, defeat the Destruction Troops guarding it and pull then the latches on the crane with the Enerbeam to move a road into place with the crane. This will activate a Button that, when pressed, will lower the missing part of the road into place. After that, the player switches over to Tails and Amy
In Tails and Amy's part of the level, the player will find themselves in front of a speed section. Enter this speed section and follow it through a cave, then a corkscrew, and finally across a bridge over a body of water. Along the way, watch out for thorny vines retracting or moving onto the road as the player approaches and quick-growing roots that sprout out of the walls and down on the road. They player can also utilize Ener-Rails along this route to take easier shortcuts. After completing this section, the player will land on a stretch of path leading up to a rusty gate. There, a brief cutscene will play. After the cutscene, the Eggman Mech will appear in the background and start firing defective missiles at the characters while they come under attack by Destruction Troops. Lasso the missiles with the Enerbeam and throw them into the gate to destroy it. After the gate is gone, pass through it to enter another 2.5D section. There, Tails and Amy have to traverse the path ahead using their respective character skills: Amy can use Balance Beams and Beam Swings while Tails can use Tails Vents, although two of the Tails Vents must be activated using Buddy Bot. Meanwhile, the Eggman Mech will fire uncatchable cannonballs at the characters from the background which must be dodged. After reaching the end of this section, the Eggman Mech will depart. The player must then climb up to the plaform above. Up there, there is a red curtain hiding the passage to a hidden room with collectibles. Somewhat next to this entrance is also a opening leading out to a bridge. Cross this bridge to come across a Bomber Elite for the first time. Destroy this enemy, and a rock wall ahead will blow up, revealing an Ener-Rail behind it. Latch onto this Ener-Rail and ride it to the next area. Along it, the player will come across parallel Ener-Rails that the player can switch over to. This allows the player to reach different areas with all kinds of collectibles in them. Regardless of the route chosen though, the player will always arrive in the gorge in the middle with a Checkpoint in it.
From there, follow the path into a ravine. Here, Tails and Amy has to get up to an Ener-Rail above using Balance Beams and Tails Vents. To reach them however, the player must first press three Buttons that lie scattered across the ravine. However, these Buttons are guarded by Destruction Troops and there are vines popping out of the ground in intervals around them. When all the Buttons have been pressed, the player will have open three cargo doors with Enerbeam latches behind them. Pull each of these three latches with the Enerbeam to move Balance Beams/Tails Vents into place. Afterward, the player can use these gimmicks one by one to reach the Ener-Rail above. Use then this Ener-Rail to ride across the abyss to another area. Along the way however, the player will be attacked by the Eggman Mech, which will fire cannonballs at the characters. Lean on the Enerbeam in order to avoid them. At the end of the Ener-Rail, the player will arrive on a plaform where they will be attacked by Destruction Troops and the Eggman Mech. There, the player has to direct or throw the Eggman Mech's missiles into the two stone pillars on the sides of the plaform. Once the pillars are destroyed, a footbridge will be lowered, and Sonic and Knuckles will rejoin the player's roster. From here, go up the footbridge and follow the path past a Checkpoint, and up to the beginning of the level's last speed section. Along this route, the player must first run through a cave full of thorny vines. Be careful however, as the route is often attacked by quick-growing roots and requires the use of Ener-Rails. Towards the end, the player has to pass through two loops, a few Boost Rings, some Bounce Pads, and an Ener-Rail. The road will then continue into the giant complex in the center of the area. After landing on the central platform inside the complex, the player must then defeat the Eggman Mech to get the Twilight Crystal and complete the level.
Boss[]
The boss of Creeper Gorge is the Eggman Mech, a shoddy combat mech created by Dr. Eggman. It can be fought directly after reaching the end of Creeper Gorge. For this boss battle, the player controls all of Team Sonic.
In this battle, the Eggman Mech will attack with ground stopping, punches, cannonballs and missiles while enemies swarm the arena. To defeat the Eggman Mech, throw its missiles back at it with the Enerbeam to stun it and then pull it in for a beatdown. Repeat this process three times to defeat this boss. For each phase completed however, the Eggman Mech becomes faster and gains more attacks.
Collectibles[]
This level has the following total of collectable items:
- Crowns: 21
- Shinies: 6
- Robot Scrap Chests: 20
Gallery[]
Concept artwork[]
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Artwork[]
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Music[]
Name | Artist(s) | Length | Music track |
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N/A | Richard Jacques | 3:20 |