Batbrain


 * You may be looking for Bombat or Batbot.

The Bat Brain (バサラン) is bat-type Badnik model created by Dr. Eggman. It first appears in the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog. These small Badniks hang in dark caves, waiting for its victim to be below it and attacking from above.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Bat Brain makes its first appearance in 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, it can be found underground in Marble Zone. It hangs above the player but it can easily recognized from cavern's roof sections. It drops quietly down and starts to fly directly at the player.

These badniks can easily get in the player's way, especially in challenging platforming sections. Bat Brain can easily be destroyed before or after the landing with Spin Jump.

Sonic Jump (2012)
Several years later, The Bat Brains made another appearance in the 2012 remake of Sonic Jump, where they can be found in Blue Sky Zone. In this game, they appear before the player like they did in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, hanging platforms and clouds below, until they drop and start flying while the player is close to them. These badniks can only be defeated by jumping into their underside.

Sonic Lost World
Bat Brains finally reappear in a console video game, in this case Sonic Lost World. During the game, it turns out that badniks, including Bat Brains, got hijacked by the Deadly Six. They appear in Windy Hill Zone Three on the Wii U version. They have the same basic look as what they did in Sonic the Hedgehog, only now the badniks have tiny mouths. Unlike in previous games, Bat Brains are seen attacking in groups.

Physical Appearance
Bat Brain, as its name implies, is a robotic bat that is commonly found roosting on high ceilings, their wings stretched over their bodies, showing only the tip of their blue head. Firm claws ensure the Badnik stays on the ceiling, until it finds a target in range, at which point it swoops down and flies using the engine on its back. Its wings, feet and engine are metallic gray in color, while its body is dark blue.

Abilities
Bat Brain hangs on a ceiling, waiting for a target. When Sonic is spotted, it drops from its roost, unfolds its wings, and flaps towards him. It will cling onto another ceiling if it fails to do any damage. Bat Brain does not pose a huge threat and is easily dispatched.

Sonic the Comic
Bat Brains have appeared in Fleetway's Sonic the Comic, being part of Doctor Robotnik's badnik army during his rule of Mobius. Because of different artists, Bat Brains appear sometimes slightly but sometimes with a drastically different look.

In issue 3's story Mayhem in the Marble Zone, Bat Brain along with others have lead Tufftee's friends to a pit in Marble Zone, who would later threat to drop Tufftee to the lava pool instead of crushing him. Because of Tufftee's strong nature, badniks instead send in the Badnik Processing Badnik to deal with him until Sonic spins into the action and destroys all badniks (including Bat Brain), saving Tufftee and his friends.

During the comics run, at an operating station on Flickies' Island Robotnik started to build another model of Bat Brains, that are more round shaped and dreadful-looking. Both models have appeared during the New Robotnik Empire's invasion.

Archie Comics
Bat Brain also appears in the Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comics in early issues being part of Robotnik's badniks. However in miniseries issue 2, Several Bat Brains and Buzz Bombers were seen guarding Robotnik's airships, but were defeated easily by Sonic the Hedgehog. He's been one of badniks that has survived Sonic the longest. In issue 40 Bat Brain was second badnik that Sonic encountered at Robo-Hobo Jungle. Like many others, it gets kicked out.

Drastically different, second model of Bat Brain appears in issue 146, as it is operated and sent by Doctor Eggman to inquire, spotting Bunnie Rabbot at the sight of the explosion, which had recently happened and sends Metal Sonic to investigate. This Bat Brain model hasn't been seen since.

Bat Brain appeared alongside others at the Island of Misfit Badniks in issue 170. Sonic arrives at the island and defeats all badniks there but only fighting against Pseudo-Sonic. Bat Brain itself was behind behind the "Bighorn Challenge," which sank the whole island. After Sonic defeats the Pseudo-Sonic, Bat Brain along with other badniks starts to plan revenge by enlarging Pseudo-Sonic. Bat Brain was the last of the badniks to fight under Caterkiller's lead. It first gets hit by Bottlenose, second comes from Pseudo-Sonic and gets later crushed by Big Fluke.

Numerous Bat Brain badniks appear in issue 226 during the Genesis arc., as Sonic, Sally, Antoine and Rotor arrive at Marble Zone. As Antoine decides to hide inside a temple cavern, only to run out after a few seconds after being attacked by Bat Brains, only for each of them to be destroyed by Sonic.

Merchandise
The toy company TOMY has released a Bat Brain action figurine during the release of Sonic & Knuckles as it also includes a series of 21 Sonic figurines and these figurines came in packs of four under the Sonic & Knuckles label and were also released individually under a Sonic the Hedgehog label.

Related Badniks

 * BBat (Scrapped enemy from Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
 * Batbot
 * E-06 Bladed Spinner
 * E-16 Electro Spinner
 * Bombat

Trivia

 * Bat Brain was supposed to appear at one point in the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, but was removed from the final game. However unused sprites of Bat Brain can be found from game's code of the Game Gear version. Along with Roller, Bat Brain is one of badniks that doesn't appear in the 8-bit version.
 * Like Orbinaut, Bat Brain does not appear in the European or North American manuals, so its English name comes from comics and other merchandise. Similar to the aforementioned Badnik, it is known by its Japanese name ("Basaran") in Sonic Jam.
 * Bat Brains in Sonic the Comic issue 39 are seen able to fire lasers from their eyes; something that these badniks usually don't do.
 * In Sonic the Hedgehog #226 published by the Archie Comics, the Bat Brains that appear in the issue strangely have no ears.
 * There is an enemy from the Super Mario franchise called "Swooper", which has a similar attack pattern to Bat Brains.