Sonic the Hedgehog, a Japanese video game series and media franchise created by Sonic Team and owned by Sega, is known for its large cast of characters.
Protagonists
editSonic the Hedgehog
editMiles "Tails" Prower
editMighty the Armadillo
editRay the Flying Squirrel
editAmy Rose
editKnuckles the Echidna
editChaotix
editBig the Cat
editE-102 Gamma
editShadow the Hedgehog
editRouge the Bat
editCream the Rabbit and Cheese
editE-123 Omega
editBlaze the Cat
editSilver the Hedgehog
editSupporting characters
editChao
editOmochao
editTikal the Echidna
editProfessor Gerald Robotnik
editMaria Robotnik
editGuardian Units of Nations
editWisps
editAntagonists
editDoctor Eggman
editBadniks
editMetal Sonic
editMetal Sonic[a] is a robotic doppelgänger of Sonic who serves as Eggman's sidekick and top enforcer. He was created by Hoshino for Sonic CD (1993),[1] although a similar character, known as Mecha Sonic or Silver Sonic, appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 a year earlier.[2] Metal Sonic is homicidal and emotionless,[3] and his defining characteristics include his black eyes, red irises, and an engine that allows him to rival Sonic's speed.[4] He appears as a boss in Sonic CD, Sonic Triple Trouble, Sonic Heroes, Sonic Generations, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, Sonic Mania, and Sonic Forces. He notably serves as the main antagonist of Sonic Heroes, in which he imprisons and impersonates Eggman in an attempt to destroy Sonic.
Hoshino designed Metal Sonic at the request of Ohshima, who wanted Sonic to have a strong rival. Hoshino had a clear image of Metal Sonic in his mind from the moment he was briefed, and the design emerged after only a few sketches.[1] Hoshino imagined Metal Sonic in a confrontation with Sonic to create the design.[4] The metallic design originated from the Sonic CD developers' desire to have shiny, reflective surfaces reminiscent of computer-generated imagery, and for Metal Sonic to move as fast as Sonic, Hoshino based his design on a jet engine inspired by drag racers.[4] Metal Sonic levitates to distinguish him from Sonic;[5] Hoshino commented that he thought it would be boring if Metal Sonic had identical abilities.[4]
Fang the Hunter
editFang the Hunter, originally known as Fang the Sniper in Japanese and Nack the Weasel in English, is a bounty hunter who first appeared in the Game Gear game Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble (1994). He is a purple jerboa
He was designed by Shinichi Higashi
Chaos
editBlack Doom
editEggman Nega
editBabylon Rogues
editSolaris
editSolaris is the Sonic universe's god of the sun and the main antagonist of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). Sonic the Hedgehog's story sees the government of the city-state Soleanna, whose people worship Solaris, conduct experiments on it in an attempt to harness its power. Solaris escapes containment and is split into two entities that are later pursued by Eggman.
- Iblis, also known as the Flames of Disaster, is Solaris's raw power. It is sealed within Elise, the princess of Soleanna, and can be unleashed if she cries or dies. Iblis serves as the main antagonist of Silver's campaign in Sonic the Hedgehog, in which Eggman's attempts to harness its power lead to it destroying the world in the future. It is a mass of magma and rocks, and takes on humanoid and serpent forms in boss battles. Iblis also appears in the Knuckles episode "The Flames of Disaster" (2024), in which it is revealed as the source of Knuckles' power in the live-action Sonic films.[6]
- Mephiles the Dark (voiced by Takayuki Sakazume in Japanese and Dan Green (2006) and Robbie Daymond (2024) in English) is Solaris' conscience. He serves as the main antagonist of Shadow's campaign in Sonic the Hedgehog[6] and as a boss in Shadow Generations, in addition to cameos in other Sonic games and playable appearances in mobile spin-offs such as Sonic Runners. He appears as a hedgehog-like being and is portrayed as cruel and malevolent. Mephiles seeks to reunify with Iblis and attempts to manipulate Silver into killing Sonic to accomplish this. He holds a grudge against Shadow, who had sealed him within a scepter after he escaped containment.
Orbot and Cubot
editDeadly Six
editWhile GamesRadar+ found the Deadly Six's stereotypical personalities enjoyable, Game Informer called them generic, forgettable, and "some of the most aggressively annoying villains ever... bound to test the patience of even the truest Sonic fans." IGN described their boss fights as "some of the most boring battles in the series' history".
Introduced in other media
editFreedom Fighters
editSnively
editChris Thorndyke
editSticks the Badger
editTom and Maddie Wachowski
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Stuart 2014, pp. 289–290.
- ^ Kalata, Kurt (July 6, 2018). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ Woo, Ginny (May 29, 2018). "Detroit Become Human and the Worst Robots in Gaming". Game Revolution. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Sonic CD – Developer Interview Collection". Shmuplations. March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ^ Sega of America (December 12, 2011). Sonic CD - Developer Diary (Interview with Kazuyuki Hoshino). Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ a b Kelley, Aiden (May 1, 2024). "'Knuckles' Has a Deep Cut Easter Egg From One of the Worst 'Sonic' Games". Collider. Retrieved October 29, 2024.