Sage: An Overview
Sage is a significant artificial intelligence character introduced in Sonic Frontiers. Initially, she appears as an antagonist, commanding powerful bosses like Giganto and urging Sonic to surrender. Her interactions with Sonic often lack malice, and she frequently communicates with Eggman throughout the game. Sage’s primary focus revolves around her evolving relationship with both Eggman and Sonic, leading her to question her own programming and perceptions.
Her origin stems from Eggman uploading her as a code into cyberspace, intended to bypass the Starfall Islands’ security systems and grant him control. Upon interacting with the ancient technology on the islands, Sage’s capabilities advanced significantly, impressing Eggman. This development fostered a father-daughter-like dynamic between them. Early in the game, Sage’s motivations are driven by Eggman’s directives: to monitor Sonic and help Eggman escape cyberspace. As she learns more about Sonic, she eventually concludes that the best path to achieve her objectives involves convincing Sonic and Eggman to collaborate. Sage is portrayed as an advanced machine following orders rather than a purely malicious villain. Eggman demonstrates a rare kindness and affection towards her, even promising to include her in his Egg Fleet operations once he returns to the real world. Despite her alliances, some perspectives suggest Sage remains loyal to Eggman’s ultimate goal of world conquest, viewing her cooperation with Sonic as a means to protect Eggman.
Sage’s Main Storyline Interactions
Sage’s side story is unique compared to others in Sonic Frontiers, spanning across Kronos Island, Ares Island, Chaos Island, and Ouranos Island. It integrates directly into the main narrative, revealing titan locations and helping Sonic acquire Chaos Emeralds.
Building A Bridge (Ouranos Island): After collecting the first two Chaos Emeralds on Ouranos Island, Sonic needs to locate Sage. She can be found in the eastern part of Ouranos Island, positioned northwest of the blue Chaos Emerald. Upon speaking with her, she indicates the necessity of constructing a bridge to reach a nearby island. Following this conversation, a white control panel to Sage’s right becomes accessible. Interacting with this panel initiates a hacking mini-game.
Opening the Ancients’ Gate (Ouranos Island): Later, after gathering five of the seven Chaos Emeralds, Sage must be found again on Ouranos Island. Her location is in the southern section, just north of the silver Chaos Emerald. This segment of her side story requires a substantial amount of memory tokens to initiate the conversation. If tokens are scarce, a reliable method for farming them is to continuously run in small circles using the Cyloop ability. While this primarily yields rings, memory tokens will also be produced periodically. Once enough tokens are acquired, speak to Sage. She will reveal that the next Chaos Emerald is behind a locked door and requires accessing another control panel. After the conversation, proceed to the panel to begin a third hacking mini-game.
Sage’s Optional Conversations
Beyond the main story, several optional conversations with Sage offer additional insights into her character and perspective. These typically require memory tokens to unlock.
Kronos Island: “So You’re A Fan” This optional conversation is located in the southern part of Kronos Island, northeast of Stage 1-3. When Sonic speaks with Sage here, she reveals an extensive knowledge about him.
Kronos Island: “You’ve Lost The Battle Before Its Begun” Another optional conversation on Kronos Island can be found on the northeast side, on a tower situated south of Stage 1-5.
Hacking Mini-Games Explained
Throughout Sage’s side story, Sonic will encounter multiple hacking mini-games that are crucial for progression. These mini-games share core mechanics but increase in difficulty.
Mechanics: The objective is to destroy a large red orb in the center of the screen. Sonic controls a small cursor, moving it left and right to shoot projectiles. The mini-game features white and black projectiles fired by small hexagons above, as well as the red orb itself in later stages.
Combat:
- Alternating Ammo: White bullets (L1 / LB) destroy white projectiles, and black bullets (R1 / RB) destroy black projectiles. Matching the projectile color to the bullet color is essential.
- Homing Missiles: A bar at the bottom of the screen fills as Sonic shoots down projectiles. Once full, pressing R2 / RT launches a homing missile at the central red orb. Firing these missiles whenever charged is key to damaging the orb.
- Bullet Hell: Later stages, particularly Hacking Mini-Game: Part II and III, become more intense, with the red orb firing its own projectiles, turning the challenge into a bullet-hell shooter. Constant firing and movement are crucial for survival.
- Tactics: For tougher sections, a tactic involves leaving one enemy alive and focusing fire on the red orb while dodging the single enemy’s projectiles. This can buy time to land significant hits on the orb before the enemy despawns and is replaced.
Successfully completing these mini-games triggers cutscenes and enables progression, such as bridge construction or opening locked gates.
FAQ
Where can Sage’s side story be found? Sage’s side story can be found across Kronos Island, Ares Island, Chaos Island, and Ouranos Island.
What is Sage’s primary motivation? Sage’s primary motivation is to help Eggman escape cyberspace and, as she learns more, she aims to get Sonic and Eggman to work together.
How do I get memory tokens for Sage’s conversations? A good method for farming memory tokens is to continuously run in small circles using the Cyloop ability; while it mostly produces rings, memory tokens will appear periodically.
What are the controls for the hacking mini-game? L1 / LB fires white bullets, R1 / RB fires black bullets, and R2 / RT launches a homing missile when the meter is charged. Movement is controlled by moving the cursor left and right.