Never Lake[1] (ネバーレイク[2] Nebāreiku?) is a location that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a pristine lake area on Earth where Little Planet appears in the skies above for one month every year.
Description
Never Lake is depicted as a very large and beautiful clear lake in an open, green-fielded landscape with occasional rock formations, and a river that feeds it. The borders of the lake are surrounded by steep cliffs with no beach below them. Around Never Lake are several mountains and sharp summits. While its exact location on Earth is not known, it was shown to be located on a peninsula at the southwestern corner of an unnamed continent that is eastwards of Flicky Island.[3]
During the Death Egg mk.II incident, Never Lake is shown as a large body of water, with a few spiky rocks protruding from its surface. On one side, the lake is surrounded by tree-covered plains, with several large brown mountains rising from the landscape. On the opposite side, there lake is connected to a river, and is surrounded by a grassy area covered by conifer trees, where the Sylvania Castle is located. Beyond this area, a snowy mountainous landscape leads to White Park.[4][5]
History
Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Seeking to submit Little Planet, a giant metal chain was set up by Dr. Robotnik from a mountain at Never Lake to chain the satellite to Sonic's world while the doctor searched for the Time Stones on it. Heading to Never Lake for himself, Sonic the Hedgehog arrived only to narrowly dodge the mountain debris around Never Lake knocked loose by the chain before heading off to stop Robotnik and save Little Planet. Upon succeeding, Sonic returned to Never Lake with Robotnik's previous captive Amy Rose and cut the giant chain, allowing Little Planet to disappear above Never Lake.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
While on their quest to destroy the Death Egg mk.II, Sonic and Tails venture through the flooded Sylvania Castle beside the Never Lake.[5]
In other media
Books and comics
Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Never Lake was a location on Mobius, and a sacred lake in the Kingdom of Mercia, where the Little Planet appeared above once a year for a month.
After the Super Genesis Wave re-wrote reality, Never Lake became a location on Sonic's World with a history nearly identical to its game counterpart's.
Sonic the Comic
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, Never Lake is a location found on Planet Mobius. Much like in the games, Never Lake is where the Miracle Planet appears above for three days every month. Before Dr. Robotnik came, it was one of the greatest beauty spots on Mobius, but its environment has since been left greatly damaged. Many of the Freedom Fighters' battles with the Brotherhood of Metallix would either begin or take place around Never Lake.
Gallery
Artwork
Screenshots
References
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Sega CD) United States instruction booklet, pg. 2.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Mega-CD) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 4.
- ↑ Sega, Headcannon (23 June 2022). Sonic Origins. Nintendo Switch. Sega. Area/Level: Main menu.
- ↑ Sega (15 May 2012). Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II. PC. Sega. Area/Level: World map.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Flynn, Ian; Sega (8 December 2021). "Sonic The Hedgehog 4". Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia. Dark Horse Books. p. 229. ISBN 978-1506719276. "Sylvania Castle Zone - Sonic and Tails explore the flooded ruins near Never Lake, only to discover Little Planet is in peril."