Time Eater

The Time Eater (タイム・イーター) is one of the main antagonists and the final boss of Sonic Generations. Initially a creature/force drifting through space, gifted with powers over time and space itself, it was discovered by Dr. Eggman who decided to use it to conquer the world by using it to alter history.

History
The original and primordial form of the Time Eater was a supernatural creature/force of unknown origin, drifting through the vast regions of space in Sonic's universe. At some point, after his last defeat by Sonic the Hedgehog, Dr. Eggman discovered this form of the Time Eater, while he, Cubot and Orbot was floating through space. After examining it, Eggman discovered that the Time Eater had the ability to erase time and space. He then came up with the idea of utilizing the Time Eater's powers to prevent his previous defeats by the the hands of Sonic, by altering and possibly erasing Sonic's history so that he would be victorious in the present.

Through unknown means, Dr. Eggman managed to convert the Time Eater into a robot-like being which he could control. He was unable to complete the process, however, and he needed help from someone as smart as himself to finish the Time Eater. Still, even with the Time Eater incomplete, Dr. Eggman was able to travel through time and began interfering with history.

The Time Eater first appears in Green Hill Zone as Classic Sonic, Sonic's past self, explores it. It is next seen in the present day, when it appears at a birthday party for Modern Sonic, Sonic's present self. Using the Time Eater, Dr. Eggman abducts Sonic's friends and scatters them through time, intending to bait Sonic into his laid-out traps. In the process the Time Eater beats back Sonic when he tries to stop the it. Sonic is then forced into the White Space by the Time Eater, only to meet with his Classic self later.

After Classic Sonic defeats the Death Egg Robot aboard the Death Egg, the Time Eater reappears, apparently kidnapping that time's Dr. Eggman; this actually turn out to be the result of Dr. Eggman search: It turned out that the the only person smart enough to help Modern Dr. Eggman perfect the Time Eater was himself, so he decided to kidnap this time's Eggman so he could assist him. After disappearing from the Death Egg, Classic Dr. Eggman gladly decides to team up with Modern Dr. Eggman to defeat Sonic and help complete the Time Eater. The Time Eater reappears several times after that, flying through the White Space. It is next seen after Modern Sonic defeats the Egg Dragoon, where reappears and takes the Modern Dr. Eggman away (This time it was possibly controlled by Classic Dr. Eggman).

After this, both Sonics confront Time Eater in the Center of Time, where the perfected Time Eater appears. Modern Dr. Eggman then reveals himself as the first pilot of the Time Eater, to which Tails wonders how Eggman could pull it off. The second pilot is then revealed to be Classic Eggman, who stated that he had a little help. Modern Eggman then explains his discovery of the Time Eater, his partnership with Classic Dr. Eggman and his plans to use the Time Eater to erase Sonic's actions from history and to destroy both Classic and Modern Sonic, thus erasing Sonic from the time line entirely.

Sonic declares that he takes on Eggman all the time and wins, and taunts him with fact that this time there are two of him to fight. Modern and Classic Dr. Eggman then begins assaulting them with the Time Eater, where the Sonics evades all attacks. Modern Dr. Eggman then launches the Time Eater's arm into a time portal as the two Sonics attack. The Time Eater effortlessly beats back both Sonics before the portal opens up behind them - and Time Eater's arm emerges from it, squashing the pair.

As the Time Eater gets ready to finish them off, however, Sonic's friends arrive and encourage them both to defeat the Time Eater and both Eggmans. The Chaos Emeralds emerges and the pair transform into Super Sonic who confronts the Time Eater in another dimension. The pair are eventually victorious in destroying the Time Eater, leaving both Eggmans stranded in the White Space while they and their friends return to the present day while undoing all the Time Eater's work.

Strategy
When facing Time Eater as the final boss, the player has control of both Classic and Modern Super Sonic (most of the boss battle is done in 3D style). The wormhole is cluttered with several ruin objects from Sonic's history, sometimes slowing Sonic down when he needs to boost. The battle begins with the two chasing Time Eater through a time wormhole, trying to maintain a distance from them. Its most used attack is a wave of homing missiles, aimed for whatever Sonic the player is in control of. But this attack is fairly easy to avoid as it is not very fast and Sonic does not lose rings when he is hit.

It sometimes dives out of the wormhole and into the outer void surrounding it. At this time, the player can switch to Classic Super Sonic's version of the final boss by pressing the triangle button, pushing the two hedgehogs outside as well and shifting the camera to 2D. Another of the monster's attacks include warping its upper arms off its body and launching them through spacial rifts to attack Sonic. But the player can move Sonic away before the hand tries to swat them.

To defeat Time Eater, the player must boost Sonic into the core of the beast, signaled by a lock-on target when in range. When the core is cracked from the impact, rings begin spewing out and can be collected through boost. After the first two hits, Time Eater loses its lower body limbs, replaced by black misty smoke. It also has a new attack, a giant laser that charges before firing. Also, Time Eater can affect the flow of time and slow down time around both Sonics, letting it build a huge wave of homing attacks before time returns to normal speed.

Once Time Eater's core has been hit three times, it unleashes its final attack. It launches a giant flaming fireball towards them. It is too big to avoid. The only way to counter this is to use the "L1" and "R1" or "LB" and "RB" buttons at the same time to combine both Super Sonic's powers, bursting through and striking at Time Eater's core for the final blow.

Trivia

 * This is the only original boss in Sonic Generations since the rest are all re-imaginings of previous bosses.
 * This is to date, the only time Eggman has uncovered an ancient monster that hasn't later grown out of his control and turned against him.
 * This is the first time in a 3D Sonic game that Eggman is the true final boss where you fight him as Super Sonic. In Sonic Colors, Eggman was the true final boss but you fought him as normal Sonic.
 * Due to the fact that Eggman did not technically "create" Time Eater, it leaves to wonder what gave birth to Time Eater.
 * The scene in the boss trailer showing Time Eater confronting the two Sonics and Tails in Green Hill Zone never happens in the game. They really encounter Time Eater face-to-face in the Center of Time.
 * In the console verison, the Time Eater, has four arms, but in the handheld version, he has two arms.

Music
thumb|left|300px|Final Battle Theme: Modern Sonic thumb|right|300px|Final Battle Theme: Classic Sonic

Videos
thumb|300px|right|Time Eater - Final Bossthumb|left|300px|Sonic Generations 3DS - Final Boss.