Even Sonic's Voice Wizard Had His Doubts About Frontiers – Here's Why It Still Worked (Mostly)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Even Sonic's long-time voice actor, Roger Craig Smith, had his doubts about the character's deeper, more serious voice in *Sonic Frontiers*, revealing his 'loosey-goosey' improv approach to bringing the iconic hedgehog to life, warts and all.
Alright, gather 'round, folks, because I’ve been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, but you’re still not quite sure how you pulled it off? That, my friends, seems to be a bit like the situation with Sonic's voice in *Sonic Frontiers*, straight from the mouth of the wizard himself, Roger Craig Smith.
Now, if you're anything like me, you've probably muttered 'Gotta go fast!' more times than you'd care to admit while hurtling through virtual worlds. And apparently, you're not alone. Roger Craig Smith, the man who’s been giving life to the Blue Blur since 2010 – making him the longest-tenured English VA for Sonic, no less – reckons if he had a nickel for every time he's heard that catchphrase, he'd be living a 'very different existence.' Fair dinkum, I can imagine! He even says it’s his go-to mental note when slipping into the role. "There it is. That's the character," he told Polygon in a recent chat, and honestly, you can't argue with that.
But here’s where it gets interesting, beyond just the iconic speedster. Smith isn't your average voice actor; he's more like a digital alchemist, someone who started off trying his hand at stand-up comedy. Not the 'observational humor about airline food' kind, mind you, but character-driven bits with a myriad of funny voices. It wasn't until enough people started nudging him toward voice acting that he realised he'd stumbled upon his true calling. "It really combined everything that I loved, the improv of comedy, the character arc and understanding of story arc," he mused. And honestly, when you hear how he approaches his craft, that improv background absolutely shines through.
Think about it: from the stoic grimness of Chris Redfield in *Resident Evil* to the suave gravitas of Ezio Auditore in *Assassin’s Creed*, Smith has breathed life into some genuinely legendary gaming figures. But he describes many of these as living in a bit of a 'box.' You can play around, sure, but step too far outside, and you're 'violating' the character. It’s a delicate dance, as he puts it. Sonic, however? Ah, Sonic is a different kettle of fish altogether. He’s the wildcard, the character who can get away with breaking the fourth wall (remember his name joke in *Sonic Boom*?) or quipping about a villain being 'Baldy McNosehair.' You won't hear Batman cracking those jokes anytime soon, mate.
This 'loosey-goosey' approach is where Smith's improv roots really come into play. He sees voice acting as a collaborative throwing-ideas-at-the-wall kind of process, where the actor's job is to inhabit the character vocally, giving it a life that might not always be explicitly detailed in the script. It’s about ensuring the character's unique cadence and tone shine through, rather than just sounding like the writer's internal monologue.
Now, this flexible approach is all well and good when Sonic is his usual snarky, high-pitched self. But then came *Sonic Frontiers*. Remember that? The game where our favourite hedgehog took on a noticeably deeper, more serious tone? Smith, true to his curious nature, found himself thinking, "Oh, OK, this'll be interesting to see how this lands." He even called it "bizarre" at a GalaxyCon panel, which, frankly, is peak Jeff energy. It was a vocal departure, a creative experiment to fit the game's more sombre atmosphere, and let’s be honest, it didn’t land with *everyone*. Some players were a bit thrown, accustomed as they were to the lighter, more sarcastic Sonic.
Smith, in a move that I reckon many of us can relate to (especially with our ever-growing backlogs), admits he still hasn’t actually played *Frontiers*. He’s been 'woefully behind' on most of his recent projects. But he does try to play them eventually, to see how his 'vocal baby' grew up. "You birth this vocal baby," he explains, "And then I hand that vocal baby to people who can be in charge of sometimes making that vocal baby look real pretty or look really ugly." It’s like getting the school pictures in the mail, and sometimes you're left wondering, 'Oh, yeah. I don't know about that outfit.' It’s a brilliant analogy for the unpredictable journey of creative work, isn't it?
Looking ahead, 2026 marks Sonic’s 35th anniversary (he actually first appeared in *Rad Mobile* in 1991, for those playing trivia at home, even before his first titular game!). Sega's been teasing 'content, partnerships, collectibles, and fan experiences,' along with more crossover racers for *Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds*. Smith, despite his unplayed backlog, sounds genuinely excited. And while we don’t know if we’ll hear that deeper *Frontiers* voice again, his message to long-time players is clear: "There's never been a better time to be a Sonic fan." It’s a surprisingly optimistic outlook given the zig-zagging legacy, and frankly, I'm here for the chaotic ride. It just goes to show, even when the wizards aren't sure how the spell will land, the magic can still happen. Just maybe, keep an eye on those outfits, eh?
— Based on an original article by Austin Manchester for Polygon.
Tags: SonicTheHedgehog, VoiceActing, GameDevelopment, GamingCulture, SonicFrontiers
Original article: Polygon