Metal Sonic

Metal Sonic (also known as Hyper Metal Sonic and also Metallix amongst some fans in the UK and Metalla in Japan) is the "robotic counterpart" of video game character Sonic the Hedgehog. Being a robot, Metal Sonic has no gender; however, Metal is usually referred to as being male, since he is a robot based on a male character. As well as resembling Sonic, he can also perform Sonic's 'homing attack'. His character designer is Kazuyuki Hoshino.

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Personality

Metal Sonic is aggressive and very cold hearted. For a long time he more or less acted as Eggman's slave, but after turning aginst his master in Sonic Heroes it became clear he is actually a very dominative person, who views himself as superior to others and wishes to rule over them. He believes he is the true Sonic, and strives at all costs to defeat his "copy". Metal Sonic is also very power hungry, and is more of a genius than Eggman is.

Abilities

• Being a duplicate of Sonic, Metal Sonic is of course capable of moving at super sonic speed.
• Unlike Sonic, Metal Sonic has tremendous strength.
• Like the later Emerl, Metal Sonic can copy moves from his opponents.
• Metal Sonic can power up into a variety of Super forms.
• As a result of absorbing the data of Chaos, Metal Sonic could shapeshift and turn into liquid.
• Metal Sonic can fire energy blasts that cause lightning.

Super Forms

Metal Madness/Metal Overlord

At the end of Sonic Heroes, Metal Sonic fired a bolt of lightning into the sky and destroyed half of Eggman's flagship, creating a powerful vortex. The next thing the Sonic Heroes knew, was that Metal Sonic had transformed into a giant metallic dragon. Team Rose, Team Chaotix and Team Dark fought Metal Sonic, who had become the Metal Madness. Metal Madness resembled Metal Sonic slightly, with the same blue coloring. Metal Madness had two eyes on top of each other. It also had a right hand converted into a flamethrower and its left was converted into a missile shooter. It could also project its spines at enemies.

Metal Sonic then completed his transformation by sprouting a pair of wings and flying away into the sky. He had become the Metal Overlord. In addition to his old attacks, he could fire crystals at you, and could even throw Egg Fleet battleships. He was quickly followed by Team Super Sonic, led by Super Sonic. Super Sonic, Tails and Knuckles fought and defeated Metal Overlord, who tumbled down to the flagship.

Super Mecha Sonic

It wasn't actually Metal Sonic but Mecha Sonic (see "other Sonic robots" below) who once used the Master Emerald to power up. Transforming into a metallic Super Sonic, it did battle with Knuckles. However, it's powers were only temporary and required recharge, giving Knuckles the opprotunity to destroy it.

Game history

Early Appearances

The first appearance of Metal Sonic was in Sonic CD for the Sega CD console. In this game, he is under the control of Dr. Robotnik and is sent back in time to change the past so that Dr. Robotnik can rule the future. Later, he kidnaps Amy Rose, who had been following Sonic. He was defeated in the Stardust Speedway zone.

Metal Sonic´s second major appearance was in Knuckles' Chaotix, where he attempts to absorb the Chaos Rings' powers to wreak havoc in the Carnival Zone but was defeated by the Chaotix before he could. This occasion also featured his first power up, as he transformed into a massive, red version of himself called Mega Metal Sonic.

Metal Sonic had appearances in Sonic Drift 2, Sonic the Fighters,Sonic R, and was a boss character in "Sonic Triple Trouble".

Other Sonic Robots

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Mecha Sonic robot from Sonic 2 (right)

Note - Some early material refers to Metal Sonic as Mecha Sonic. This has long since been phased out.

Another robot often confused with Metal Sonic is the Sonic robot from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, called Mecha Sonic in Japan ("Mecha" is a japanese word meaning "Machine" or "mechanical") and Silver Sonic in the western comics. There have been much confusion about whether the name "Mecha Sonic" really is an official name or not, but it was in fact mentioned in both the original japanese Sonic the Hedgehog 2 manual and the japanese version of Sonic Jam (though since it only means "Machine" or "mecahnical" it still doesn't prove to be it's real name). This presumed prototype did not have Metal's painted blue color and was also very clunky compared to the sleeker and generally more Sonic-like Metal Sonic.

In the game Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit), another robot appeared. This robot was also called "Mecha Sonic" in the games japanese manual, but refered to as Silver Sonic in the American manual.

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Later on in Sonic & Knuckles, another Sonic robot appeared and attacked both Sonic and Knuckles. It to was called "Mecha Sonic" in the Japanese version of Sonic Jam, but isn't refered to at all in American manuals.

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Against Sonic and Tails, it appeared three times in Sky Sanctuary Zone - twice in machines Dr. Eggman had used in Sonic the Hedgehog (Green Hill Zone Act 3) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Metropolis Zone Act 3) and once in a one-on-one fight. Against Knuckles it fought one-on-one, as in the final fight with Sonic and Tails, but in the second phase of the battle he used the Master Emerald to go Super (much like Sonic can go Super and become Super Sonic) for brief periods of time.

Whether these "Mecha" Sonic's really are different robots, or if they are in fact one and the same that gets rebuilt whenever he is destroyed (like Metal Sonic) is source of much debate among fans, as there is no official material that states anything about this.

Modern Appearances

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Metal Sonic in his tube in Sonic Adventure.

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Metal Madness in Sonic Heroes.

Metal Sonic had a cameo in Sonic Adventure , inside a tube in one of Dr. Robotnik's hideouts along with an unnamed Sonic robot that is speculated to be related to the previous Sonic robots.

His next appearance was as an unlockable multiplayer character in Sonic Adventure 2, and subsequently a standard multiplayer character in the GameCube remake, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. He can project a black shield to protect himself from the attacks of other characters, but has no special attacks of his own. After that, he had a cameo as an opponent in Sonic Pinball Party's Story Mode. He then appeared as a gift for getting all of the Emblems in the GameCube remake of Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure DX: Directors Cut, one could then play time trials as Metal Sonic in Sonic's stages. Metal Sonic essentially acted as an alternate skin for Sonic.

His latest appearance was as the main antagonist in Sonic Heroes. After turning against Doctor Eggman and assuming his guise he copies the physical data (and/or abilities) of Sonic, Shadow, Froggy and Chocola to assume his ultimate form, Metal Madness, and later Metal Overlord. This not only increased Metal Sonic's power, but gave him shape-shifting abilities and a new look (a cape, elf-like shoes and longer spines on his head). He manages to achieve this through the use of Chocola, since Chao have a distinct connection to Chaos, the water monster from Sonic Adventure , and Froggy, who periodically had Chaos' tail in Sonic Adventure. After he is defeated by Team Super Sonic in his Metal Overlord form, he reverts to his original form. Sonic then challenges Metal Sonic to a future rematch and races away. Metal Sonic passes out cold and is lifted off the ground by Omega, who exchanges a glance with Shadow. What they have in mind for the metallic hedgehog is never told.

Strangely, Metal Sonic did not apear in the following game, Shadow the Hedgehog, and was not even mentioned in it.

Sonic the Comic

In the United Kingdom's official Sonic publication, Sonic the Comic, Metal Sonic was introduced in the magazine's adaptation of Sonic CD, an issue entitled "The Sonic Terminator." Relegating "Metal Sonic" to the character's title, Sonic's robot double was redubbed with the less-clunky moniker of "Metallix" (hence, he was "Metallix, the Metal Sonic"). Metallix lured Sonic to the Miracle Planet by capturing Amy Rose, and in the course of the adventure, Sonic travelled back in time to prevent Doctor Robotnik from cyberforming the planet, thereby erasing Metallix, who had used the planet as a power source, from the timeline.

The Brotherhood of Metallix

A new model of Metallix appeared during the comic's adaptation of Sonic and Knuckles, stealing the Master Emerald for Robotnik to use as the power core of his new Death Egg. Metallix drew power from the emerald and incapacitated Knuckles, but Sonic was able to destroy him by using the emerald's power to become Super Sonic. Before he died, the new Metallix revealed that both he and the original Metallix were members of an elite brotherhood.

This brotherhood soon revealed itself when Knuckles was accidentally transported into the Special Zone and encountered Chaotix. Operating out of Robotnik's abandoned Egg Fortress in the Special Zone, the Brotherhood of Metallix - innumerable Metallixes identical to the original, ruled over by an giant red and gold Emperor - had been charged with producing the ultimate badnik version of Sonic, but had developed their own plans and goals. With the help of the turncoat Chaotix member, Nack the Weasel, the Brotherhood of Metallix captured the Omni-Viewer, Chaotix's sentient, space-time transporter. With Knuckles's help, Chaotix were able to retrieve the Omni-Viewer, and though it appeared that the Metallixes had been defeated, they in fact survived, and had copied the Omni-Viewer for their own purposes.

Final battle

In their next move, the Brotherhood captured Grimer, Doctor Robotnik's chief scientist, who had created the Metallix design in the first place. They charged him with building the Alpha Device, a device that began to cyberform the Miracle Planet once again. Sonic's attempt to stop the plan apparently succeeded, but his ally, Porker Lewis, was trapped on the Miracle Planet when it vanished from Mobius orbit in its usual pattern. During that month, the Metallixes reasserted themselves, captured Porker and completed the cyberforming of the planet. A Metallix, disguised as Porker, was left to stand guard as the Metallixes departed into Mobius' past with their copy of the Omni-Viewer, and when they returned, they encountered Sonic and Chaotix, who had come to investigate. But then the terrifying truth became apparent - the Metallixes had changed history, and Mobius had become a city-planet, covered with filthy industry, where surviving Mobians lived underground.

The reason for the change soon became apparent, as Sonic and Chaotix attempted to fix the timeline by using the real Omni-Viewer - the Brotherhood of Metallix had travelled back in time to the point of Doctor Robotnik's creation, and removed from the fridge the rotten egg that would transform Ovi Kintobor into Ivo Robotnik. Kintobor never became Robotnik, and the Metallixes, created by Grimer alone, ruled the planet. Retrieving the egg, Sonic and Chaotix returned to Kintobor's lab and replaced it, and then, as Kintobor held it in his hand, Sonic yanked a cable to trip him up, triggering the chain of events that turned him into Doctor Robotnik. Despite the disturbing revelation that he was responsible for creating the greatest evil on Mobius, Sonic returned to the present with Chaotix, where the robots still held control of the Miracle Planet. Forced into an alliance with Doctor Robotnik, Sonic retrieved a device from the villain that deactivated all the Metallixes in a pitched final battle.

Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Comic

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Sonic and his various robotic incarnations, including the three Metal Sonics, Mecha Sonic, Silver Sonic, Silver Sonic 2, and Pseudo Sonic. Artwork by Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante

Though it was not his first true appearance, a Metal Sonic-like robot appeared in the comic's early issues. He was known as Pseudo Sonic, and was destroyed by the end of the issue. Psuedo Sonic also appeared in an episode of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Metal Sonic first appeared in the comic's first "25 issue anniversary", the Sonic CD adaption. Here, he raced Sonic as part of Dr. Robotnik's trap, but was destroyed at the end of the issue.

Metal Sonic would later return in the series' Knuckles' Chaotix adaptation. Here, he would be transformed into a giant red version of himself by an item known as a Power Gem, before being destroyed by a similarly empowered Knuckles the Echidna.

Metal Sonic's next appearance would follow the Sonic Adventure adaption, in a two-part story where he would ambush Sonic and Tails. He had rebuilt himself, using the power gem that had empowered him as a power source, and boasted a new design that included an arm cannon. After kidnapping Tails, Metal Sonic made Sonic race for his friend's life towards the Mt. Mobius volcano. However, ultimately, it was Sonic's concern for Tails that showed Metal Sonic that he was wrong, and ultimately saved the two of them from the erupting volcano.

A new Metal Sonic created from scratch by Robotnik appeared in recent comic issues, as part of a storyline involving a 3-way battle between himself, Shadow, and Sonic.

Silver Sonic

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Sonic vs. Silver Sonic, from SonicQuest: The Death Egg Saga

Silver Sonic appeared as a separate robot in Archie's Death Egg Saga mini-series. Here, he was portrayed as a gigantic lumbering robotic version of Sonic, but after defeating it, Sonic crawled inside and took control of it in order to battle Robotnik in his own battle armor. Sonic abandoned the shell when he escaped the Death Egg.

Robotnik would create a smaller, more individualized version of Silver Sonic following the Sonic Adventure adaption, where he would use it to attack Station Square. This version was again defeated by Sonic, but this time, he would be reprogrammed as Station Square's defender. Unfortunately, he would later be destroyed by Shadow in the Sonic Adventure 2 adaptation.

Mecha Sonic

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Mecha Sonic from the Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic, issue #39

In the Archie comics, Mecha Sonic would refer to Sonic when he was roboticized in issue #39 and the following Mecha Madness special. After being captured by Nack the Weasel, Sonic would be roboticized and turned on the village of Knothole. Despite going up against both Bunnie Rabbot and Knuckles, Mecha Sonic managed to destroy large portions of the city, leaving the Freedom Fighters with only one choice. Knuckles roboticized himself, using a nueral overrider to retain his will, and fought Mecha Sonic. Ultimately, the fight went to Robotropolis, setting of a nuclear explosion that Mecha Sonic saved Knuckles from at the last minute. Sonic would later be restored by the power of his 1 Billionth collected Power Ring, and though he was put on trial for his crimes as Mecha Sonic, he would clear his name.

Mecha Sonic made a shorter appearance later on when he and Tails were transformed into robots by an alien race, to fight Dr. Robotnik and Snively (who had been transformed back into organics) in order to prove which was superior - robots or organics.

Miscellaneous Information

• Metal Sonic also starred in the OVA as Sonic's main rival. In the anime, they had a mindlink and were able to hear each other's thoughts. Near the end of the movie, Tails reprogrammed him to be on Sonic's side, but Metal was destroyed soon after.

• Metal Sonic is the only major Sonic character that has not yet made an appearance in the newer anime series Sonic X.

• Being a robot, Metal Sonic of course has no "family". However, there are several characters prominent in it's creation. Dr. Eggman is his creator, and Sonic was his design basis and rival.

• In Japan, his voice is done by Junichi Kanemaru, which is also Sonic's Japanese voice actor.
• In America, his voice was done by Ryan Drummond, which used to be Sonic's American voice actor. However, the 'Sonic X' 4Kids VAs are in the spotlight now.

• Many people debate over whether the song "What I'm Made Of" is Metal's theme or Team Super Sonic's. However, the overwhelming evidence is that it's Team Super Sonic's theme.

Quotes

• Ultimate life form data...has been copied! (Sonic Heroes)
• Chaos data...has been copied. (Sonic Heroes)
• All living things kneel before your master! (Sonic Heroes)
• It's no use, but why can't I defeat you? (Sonic Heroes)
• All life form data...successfully copied! (Sonic Heroes)
• I am the real Sonic! (Sonic Heroes)
• See me as I am. No longer afraid of anything! (Sonic Heroes)