Team Chaotix


 * For other uses, see Chaotix (disambiguation).

Team Chaotix (チームカオティクス), also known as the Chaotix Crew, and just Chaotix (カオティクス), are a group that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are a trio of detectives-for-hire consisting of Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon and Charmy Bee who run the Chaotix Detective Agency. Originally, the team's founding members came together during the Chaos Ring inficident to stop Dr. Eggman's operations in the Newtrogic High Zone. These members would later go on to officially found the present-day Team Chaotix.

Despite being a goofy bunch and not as involved in the ongoing world-spanning conflicts as often as Sonic the Hedgehog and his other allies are, Team Chaotix is nonetheless a competent trio when the need arises, and are always ready to lend a hand in the face of danger.

Knuckles' Chaotix
In Knuckles' Chaotix, Vector, Espio, Charmy, and Mighty came together when they visited a mysterious island by themselves, which had risen from the depths of the ocean. There, they got captured by Dr. Robotnik, who was using the island to harness the power of the Dark Rings. When Knuckles arrived, he managed to fend off Eggman trying to imprison Espio. Knuckles and Espio then ventured to Eggman's carnival themed fortress, the Newtrogic High Zone, where the others were being held captive in the Combi Catcher. After being freed, these individuals decided to work together to stop the Doctor's evil plan. Surprisingly, they also got support from two of Eggman's robots, Heavy and Bomb.

After defeating Eggman in the Newtrogic High Zone's five main attractions, Metal Sonic merged with the Stage Select machine and used its deadly traps to attack the group of heroes. After the heroes destroyed the machine, the damaged Metal Sonic fled back to Eggman, who activated his Special Ring. The heroes were then confronted by a giant, red, monstrous version of Metal Sonic. The heroes managed to defeat the robot and put an end to Dr. Eggman's scheme however.

Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes Vector, Espio and Charmy had officially come together to form what became known as Team Chaotix and operated their own business: the Chaotix Detective Agency. They were hired by a mysterious client and come into conflict with the robotic forces of Dr. Eggman. However, their job is eventually revealed to be to release Eggman, and to stop Metal Sonic, who had earlier mutinied against his master. Besides fighting against "Eggman" (actually Metal Sonic in disguise), Chaotix also had run-in with Team Dark and Team Rose, the former due to their mistaking them for Eggman's henchmen and the latter due to miscommunication that led Team Rose to believe they were responsible for abducting Chocola. In the game, Espio is Speed type, Charmy is Fly type, and Vector is Power type. Their missions are special when compared to other teams in the game, as they have to complete a certain objective in order to finish the level. Usually the missions involve gathering a certain amount of objects. Their extra missions are basically the same like the normal missions: the goal is the same but with added difficulty. Their Team Blast is Chaotix Recital. It destroys all enemies in its area of effect and makes each of them drop five, ten, or twenty rings.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Chaotix Detective Agency were working on a secret case. Charmy in particular was sent to Prison Island by Vector to locate secret discs for G.U.N.. Afterwards, the trio met in one of Eggman's bases to hack his computer. As Shadow arrived and opened a portal to the Mad Matrix, Vector had Espio follow the hedgehog and extract information from the terminals. Some time later, Vector entered the Space Colony ARK to find the main computer room. Joining up with Shadow, the duo found the room, only to be attacked by Black Doom whom they defeated, allowing Vector to regroup with Team Chaotix.

In the control room, Vector rushed Espio to hack the ARK's computer, fearing to lose all the recovered data. Charmy however had enough of waiting and rammed the computer. To everyone's surprise, it worked and gave them access to a secret message from Gerald Robotnik which played all around the world, revealing his true intentions behind Shadow's creation and giving Shadow the determination to defeat Black Doom for good.

Sonic Rivals 2
In Sonic Rivals 2, Team Chaotix were hired to investigate recent Chao disappearances. Suspecting Silver the Hedgehog as the culprit, Vector sent Espio to investigate him. However, Espio befriended the hedgehog and learned his true intentions for hiding Team Chao was to protect them from Dr. Eggman Nega. When finding out that Espio had failed his mission, Vector was furious as he already spent their client's money on rent payments.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Team Chaotix helped G.U.N. gather clues about the Marauders and find out where they imprisoned Knuckles. After pinning down four possible hideouts, Vector met Sonic over G.U.N.'s channel and promised his team would gather intel on Shade.

Sonic Colors
In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, Team Chaotix were tasked to investigate Dr. Eggman's Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park and find Dr. Eggman. Arriving there, the group split up to scout Planet Wisp for clues. However, Charmy got distracted by the attractions while Espio utilized the local hazards to train. As both of them ran into Sonic and Tails, Vector awaited their reports before meeting Sonic as well. Fearing Sonic's involvement would cost Team Chaotix their reward, Vector initially told Sonic to leave, but allowed his help once Charmy provided a clue. When their search yielded no result though, Espio reunited with his team too. Seemingly giving up on their objective, Vector looked for other jobs for Team Chaotix, even offering Sonic to join their agency.

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, Team Chaotix helped prepare a surprise birthday party for Sonic. As the party began, the Time Eater suddenly appeared and created Time Holes which transported Espio to Seaside Hill, Vector to Rooftop Run and Charmy to Planet Wisp, turning them into statues in the White Space.

Eventually, the detectives were restored to normal by Sonic and his past self, and they soon appeared to cheer on both Sonics as they confronted the Time Eater, controlled by Dr. Eggman. Upon the Time Eater's defeat, Team Chaotix were transported back to the present where they resumed the celebration and later waved goodbye to Classic Sonic and Classic Tails as they returned to their own time.

Sonic Forces
In Sonic Forces, after Dr. Eggman defeated Sonic (and seemingly killed him) and began conquering the world, Team Chaotix and their allies formed a ragtag resistance group, with Knuckles at the helm, to counter the Eggman Empire's reign.

At some point during the ensuing war between the Eggman Army and the Resistance, Team Chaotix appeared in the City to help organize its defenses. A few days later, the City came under attack by an Eggman Army battalion. As Team Chaotix began preparing the troops, their efforts got slowed slightly down by an eager, but incompetent resistance rookie. When the Badnik battalion then broke into the City, Team Chaotix faced the robots head on. Thanks to the rookie though, the robots withdrew. Praising the rookie for their work, Team Chaotix began organizing an evacuation.

After six months of warfare, Eggman had taken control of more than 99% of the planet, leaving Team Chaotix and the rest of the Resistance with impossible odds to beat. Eventually, Team Chaotix met up at the Resistance HQ where they, after some discussions, were debriefed on the Resistance's newest recruit, the Avatar, whom Knuckles introduced them to. Learning soon after that Sonic was alive, but kept imprisoned onboard the newly-rebuilt Death Egg, Espio and Vector went to the Spaceport with a squad and managed to steal a shuttle for the Resistance to head to the Death Egg in. Discovering afterward that Sonic was to be banished into space soon, Vector and Espio joined the rescue team heading to the Death Egg. However, they quickly got lost. Luckily, the Avatar found Sonic and escape with him. When the Avatar was then sent on a mission with Sonic, Vector and Charmy had opposing opinions about whether or not the Avatar was up for it.

Team Chaotix later fought Eggman's forces at Seaside Hill before coming over to Park Avenue and helping secure an escape route for civilians. When Tails and Classic Sonic (who had been brought to Team Chaotix's dimension by Eggman's new power) later joined the Resistance, Team Chaotix learned of Eggman's plan to eliminate the Resistance in three days. Soon after, Vector and Charmy observed the Resistance's efforts to hold back an army of Death Egg Robot sentinels and Shadow, who turned out to be a replica created by the Phantom Ruby. While Sonic confronted the Shadow replica, Team Chaotix took part in Knuckles' full frontal assault on Metropolis. Unfortunately, Infinite, Eggman's new henchmen, was waiting for the Resistance and activated his Phantom Ruby prototype, wiping out over 80% of the heroes' forces in the confusion. Forced to regroup, Team Chaotix and the Resistance launched another plan to destroy the Death Egg, the power supply for Eggman's Phantom Rubies, in order to shut these weapons down.

Thanks to the Sonics' cooperation, the Death Egg was soon destroyed, which Team Chaotix would celebrate in the HQ. However, the Resistance discovered while capturing Metropolis that Eggman had a backup reactor for his Phantom Rubies underneath the Eggman Empire Fortress. With less than an hour before Eggman put his endgame into effect, Team Chaotix and the Resistance launched one final attack on Eggman's tower in hopes of stopping the Phantom Rubies. As they fought their way through the army of replicas, E-123 Omega came to their rescue when Infinite got ready to finish them off. It was then, however, that Infinite launched Eggman's plan: using his Phantom Ruby, he got ready to drop a sun on the Resistance and kill them all. While Team Chaotix were at a loss about what to do, the Avatar was able to neutralize Infinite's sun in the last second using a Phantom Ruby prototype. Team Chaotix subsequently returned to the battle with the Eggman Army while Sonic and the Avatar destroyed Infinite and the Phantom Rubies' reactor. Eggman, however, had foreseen this and his used his original Phantom Ruby in conjunction with his Death Egg Robot to create thousands of replicas to overwhelm Team Chaotix and the rest with. Fortunately, Sonic, the Avatar and Classic Sonic beat Eggman and destroyed his Phantom Ruby, which made his replica army vanish and left the Resistance as the victors.

After watching Classic Sonic return to his own dimension now that the Phantom Ruby was gone, Team Chaotix and their friends followed Sonic's example and set out to rid the world of all traces of Eggman's reign. At a last meeting in the Resistance HQ, Knuckles disbanded the Resistance as the Avatar announced their departure, whom Team Chaotix expressed their respect to. The friends then agreed with Tails that even though they were going back to their old lives, they would be friends forever and keep working together to restore the world.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
In the DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Team Chaotix were sent to investigate Whitestones. While Charmy got to guard a gate in Cubyrinth, Vector and Espio headed to Icepeak. However, Vector grew disinterested and skipped out on work to compete in an event. There, he met Sonic, Mario and the gang, and joined their adventure to get out of work. Planning to pick up Charmy, the group ran into Espio who was angry at Vector for interrupting his own investigation, but was willing to finish alone. Back in Cubyrinth, Charmy refused to open the gate for the team until Vector remembered they had to answer a quiz. After answering it correctly, Charmy happily reunited with his friend.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
In the 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Team Chaotix visited London to participate in the Olympic Games. Soon after their arrival, however, the Phantasmal Fog started covering London and the trio split up to get behind its secret as each of them assisted some athletes in destroying Fog Machines and returning the city to its former glory.

Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, Vector, Espio and Charmy are all playable characters, where they are assigned a "Chaotix" personality type, allowing each of them to boost the number of collected Rings by 75%.

During the "Birthday on Windy Hill" event, Team Chaotix were kidnapped by Dr. Eggman on their way to Sonic's birthday party. While escaping their holding place, they learned Eggman was planning something in a nearby base, unaware they were being fed the information for a trap. Team Chaotix tracked down Team Sonic to pass on their intel, but not before giving Sonic a birthday surprise. After all the Death Egg drones were destroyed, they joined Sonic's celebration and wished him a happy birthday.

Sonic Runners Adventure
In Sonic Runners Adventure, Vector, Espio and Charmy are all playable characters. In this game, each of Chaotix's members are again assigned the Chaotix Type, which allows them to turn 30% of the Rings in levels into Super Rings for a limited time.

Sonic the Comic
In Sonic the Comic, Team Chaotix are the guardians of the Special Zone and were founded by the Omni-Viewer. In this continuity the group consists of Vector, Espio, Charmy, and Mighty. Nack the Weasel was also an early member, but quit the group and betrayed them to the Brotherhood of Metallix.

They first appeared when Knuckles arrived in the Special Zone. Believing Knuckles to be a servant of Doctor Robotnik, the Omni-Viewer summoned the Chaotix to fight him. When the truth was discovered, Knuckles briefly joined forces with them in order to fight a greater threat.

Sonic the Hedgehog was later trapped in the Special Zone for an extended period, and spent much time with the Chaotix. During this period he met several of the Chaotix's own enemies, such as Lord Sidewinder, as well as Mighty's senile father Blockhead Bill. The Chaotix were instrumental in imprisoning Super Sonic, first within the Omni-Viewer's time field and then within the Black Asteroid.

Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Team Chaotix are a group of detectives who would take on almost every job to make their rent, but often end up saving the world along the way.

Prior to the Super Genesis Wave rewriting both the world and its history, the Chaotix were a group of Freedom Fighters who were closely affiliated with Knuckles. They came together to help Knuckles free the Knothole Freedom Fighters from Dr. Ivo Robotnik's captivity and had since assisted Knuckles in his duties as Guardian of Angel Island, before later aiding the world as a whole against the Eggman Empire as well.

Sonic X
In Sonic X, Vector, Espio and Charmy appear as members of a detective agency in one episode of Season 2, in which Vanilla the Rabbit hired them to find her daughter Cream. Their search eventually brought them to the Thorndyke residence, where they believed Cream was being held hostage by the family while spying through the window. After Espio's failed attempt to sneak into the house (being knocked out accidentally by Amy's hammer while invisible), Vector and Charmy decide to storm into the house and a fight breaks out between Sonic's friends and the two detectives. But before it can escalate anymore, Sonic and Vanilla arrive and clear up the whole ordeal.

They played a larger role in season 3, seen mostly delivering items that Chris' family teleported to their world from Earth. Afterwards, they found themselves lost in space until crossing paths with Sonic and crew again, who helped them fix their ship. They were present during the final battle between the Metarex and Sonic. They decided to take part in fighting the Metarex alongside with the heroes when Shadow crashed their ship on the Metarex mothership.

Theme songs

 * "Team Chaotix" - Gunnar Nelson
 * EVENT : TEAM CHAOTIX (Shadow the Hedgehog)

Reception
Critical reception to the Chaotix has been mixed. In a retrospective review for Knuckles' Chaotix, IGN noted that they were introduced before fans grew weary of the series' extensive cast of recurring characters and praised the depth they provided for the gameplay, calling them "a hoot". Similarly, Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) and Sega Magazine spoke favorably of the characters; EGM wrote that they, and the game's elastic bond mechanic, added "spice" to the gameplay and Sega Magazine noted their wide variety of abilities, singling out Knuckles as being the best In 2015, Game Informer wrote that the Chaotix were among the best characters of the franchise, and felt that they, specifically Espio and Mighty, were underused.

Trivia

 * According to Takashi Iizuka, the Team Chaotix seen in Sonic Heroes were recreated as new characters from the same ones found in Knuckles' Chaotix when Sonic Heroes was designed, ignoring certain traits that had been established in Knuckles' Chaotix that would have contradicted their intent in the game.
 * Team Chaotix is the only team in Sonic Heroes to consist entirely of non-mammalian animals, since Vector and Espio are reptiles and Charmy is an insect.
 * In Sonic Heroes, Team Chaotix is the only team where the Speed Type is not a hedgehog. In fact, it is the only team which does not contain a hedgehog.
 * Team Chaotix is also the only team to have the Power Type character as the leader. Team Sonic and Team Rose both have a Speed Type character as their respective Team leaders, while Team Dark's Team leader was a Fly Type character.
 * Charmy is the only member of Team Chaotix not to have appeared in any game without his teammates. Espio made a solo appearance in Sonic the Fighters, while Vector made solo appearances in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood and Sonic Free Riders.
 * Team Chaotix can be seen as the secondary colors&mdash;Charmy (orange), Vector (green) and Espio (purple)&mdash;in the same way Team Sonic can be seen as the primary colors&mdash;Knuckles (red), Tails (yellow) and Sonic (blue).
 * Team Chaotix is the only Sonic Heroes team that does not appear as a collectible card in Sonic Rivals.
 * Vector, Espio and Charmy were at one point planned to appear in the Lego Dimensions Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack, as textures and models related to them exist in the game's files.
 * Counting their appearance in Knuckles' Chaotix, Team Chaotix were the first team to be ever founded in the series, as the rest of the Sonic Heroes teams would be founded at the beginning of that game, although the members of Team Sonic had worked together several times before.
 * Unlike the rest of the Sonic Heroes teams, the members of Team Chaotix are rarely seen separated from each other.