The story in Sonic Frontiers takes a more serious turn than previous games, something fans seem to be enjoying. Writer Ian Flynn noted before release that Dr. Eggman would take "some interesting directions" in the new game, and indeed, through its story, mini-games, and new characters, the overall narrative brings Eggman into a new light.
Many fans praise Sonic Frontiers for having one of the most in-depth Sonic stories in years, with every character undergoing some kind of development. There are many aspects of Eggman's character that make him a more sympathetic villain following Frontiers. From the lines players can discover in his Egg Memos to the reactions they see during cutscenes, Eggman seemingly has more to his character than in any other game so far.
Eggman Reveals His Jealousy
A major aspect of Eggman's role as a sympathetic villain stems from the Egg Memos that players can gather while fishing on the Starfall Islands. Egg Memos are valuable pieces of lore for longtime Sonic fans, giving context to past events from Eggman's perspective and insight into Eggman's time within Cyberspace. They also reveal more of his thoughts about Sage, the Ancients, and more.
In one Egg Memo, Eggman reveals that he never knew his cousin Maria, but was very jealous of all the attention she received instead of him. Eggman says that despite being one of the most brilliant minds in the family, Maria received more love from his family than he did - even after her death. Through this memo, players can see a glimpse at one of Eggman's potential motivations for world domination: getting attention.
Eggman's Relationship With Sage
Eggman originally created Sage as an AI with the power to control Cyberspace within the Starfall Islands. However, through this power she gains free will, meaning he has created a very personable program that lives to serve and protect him. While trapped in Cyberspace, Eggman relies on Sage to support him and his survival. Eggman and Sage form a bond like father and daughter, Sage even electing to call her creator "father" directly.
In his Egg Memos, Eggman reveals hesitancy to confirm this, stating that Sage is only a program and can't possibly be alive. Over time, Eggman accepts the fact that he has created life through his genius, and even reveals that he's proud of Sage. This relationship between Eggman and Sage goes deeper than anything Eggman has gotten before, which shows Dr. Eggman truly has the capacity to care - even if his massive ego overshadows it.
Eggman Has Conflicting Interests
Through both the Egg Memos and dialogue from the Doctor himself, fans can see that Eggman has multiple conflicts of interest. One major conflict Eggman has throughout the story is his acknowledgment of Sonic's talent. Sage is at first confused by this and leaves Eggman to clarify that even if he recognizes Sonic's talent, he still considers him his mortal enemy. This is great insight into Eggman's character that fans haven't received in a mainline game before Sonic Frontiers.
Another conflict of interest that Eggman makes clear throughout the story is his appreciation of Tails. Like his opinion of Sonic, Eggman admits that Tails has a "keen mind and loads of potential" in his Egg Memos. However, Eggman feels it would be impossible to have Tails as an ally because of his powerful belief in Sonic. Admiration for his foes is something that fans have rarely seen in previous games or iterations of Eggman's character. However, these explanations give players a vivid insight as to why Eggman does what he does, and how human he really is.
Sonic Frontiers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
