Urban theme

Speed Highway is a great example of an urban setting.

The Urban theme is a stage theme in the Sonic the Hedgehog series .

Urban stages feature the player in modern cities, often running across streets and rooftops. Many streets are unrealistically convoluted and have unbelievably sharp turns. Urban-themed levels typically focus more on speed than platforming or exploration and tend to be greatest showcase of the game's speed, which in turn makes them widely popular.

Initally being used to a minimum in the Classic era, the Urban theme became a rampant and often used theme from Sonic Adventure onward, with virtually every game to follow, including spin offs, including an urban themed stage.

Typical elements found in urban stages include cars, rockets, breakable windows, and long moments of high speed.

Stages with an urban theme

• Spring Yard Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) - This zone also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Star Light Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
• Chemical Plant Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) - This zone also incorporates elements of the industrial theme. Act 2 also incorporates underwater elements in the form of Mega Mack.
• Casino Night Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) - This zone also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Quartz Quadrant, Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993) - The good future timeline incorporates urban elements while the past incorporates underground elements and present and bad future incorporates industrial elements.
• Stardust Speedway, Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993)
• Gigalopolis Zone, Sonic Chaos (1993)
• Spring Yard, Sonic Drift (1994)
• Star Light, Sonic Drift (1994)
• Casino Night, Sonic Drift 2 (1995) - This racecourse also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Radical City, Sonic R (1997) - This racecourse also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Speed Highway, Sonic Adventure (1998)
• City Escape, Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
• Radical Highway, Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
• Mission Street, Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
• Route 101, Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
• Route 280, Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
• Ice Paradise, Sonic Advance 2 (2002) - This Zone mainly incorporates elements of the winter theme.
• Grand Metropolis, Sonic Heroes (2003)
• Power Plant, Sonic Heroes (2003) - This stage also incorporates elements of the industrial theme.
• Casino Park, Sonic Heroes (2003) - This stage also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• BINGO Highway, Sonic Heroes (2003) - This stage also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Route 99, Sonic Advance 3 (2004)
• Westopolis, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)
• Lethal Highway, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)
• Central City, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)
• Night Carnival, Sonic Rush (2005) - This stage also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Metal City, Sonic Riders (2006)
• Night Chase, Sonic Riders (2006)
• Crisis City, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) - This stage also incorporates elements of the fire theme.
• Neon Palace Zone, Sonic Rivals 2 (2007) - This stage also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Chaotic Inferno Zone, Sonic Rivals 2 (2007) - This stage also incorporates elements of the fire theme.
• Megalo Station, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008)
• Nightside Rush, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008)
• '80s Boulevard, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008)
• '90s Boulevard, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008)
• Central City, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008)
• Rooftop Run, Sonic Unleashed (2008)
• Skyscraper Scamper, Sonic Unleashed (2008)
• Shibuya Downtown, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010) - This stage also incorporates elements of the east asian theme.
• Rokkaku Hill, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010)
• Highway Zero, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010)
• Casino Street Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I (2010) - This stage also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.
• Metropolis Speedway, Sonic Free Riders (2010)
• Final Factory, Sonic Free Riders (2010) - This stage also incorporates elements of the industrial theme.
• Metal City, Sonic Free Riders (2010)
• Chemical Plant, Sonic Generations (2011) - This zone also incorporates elements of the industrial and underwater themes.
• Speed Highway, Sonic Generations (2011)
• City Escape, Sonic Generations (2011)
• Crisis City, Sonic Generations (2011) - This stage also incorporates elements of the fire theme.
• Rooftop Run, Sonic Generations (2011)
• Radical Highway, Sonic Generations (2011)
• Graffiti City, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012) - This stage also incorporates elements of the east asian theme.
• Village, Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom (2015)
• Studiopolis Zone, Sonic Mania (2017) - This zone also incorporates elements of the amusement theme.