Buzz Bomber


 * For other uses of the term, see Buzz Bomber (disambiguation).

The Buzz Bomber (ビートン) is a recurring enemy in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, bee-based Badnik model created by Dr. Eggman.

Buzz Bombers have several upgraded models based on them. Since the Buzz Bombers' first appearance, they or other similar bee-type Badniks (such as Buzzers) have become one of the most common enemies in the series.

Appearance
The classic Buzz Bomber resembles a mechanical mud dauber with a black coloring around its spherical thorax. The stinger at the tip of its blue-striped abdomen is a rail detonator cannon, its primary weapon. Two mechanical devices resembling pale wings give it the ability to hover. Also, two engines are installed into the sides of this Badnik's thorax. Finally, the classic Buzz Bomber has a blue head with cartoony eyes, two mandibles and yellow antenna.

In Sonic Generations, the Buzz Bomber models were more mechanically detailed, with four pink wings, cyan eyes, and a bendable bar between its thorax and abdomen. In Sonic Lost World and several subsequent games, the Buzz Bombers retained their softer appearance from earlier games.

In Sonic Forces, the Buzz Bombers received a more modernized and militaristic design. These Buzz Bombers retained the typical Buzz Bombers' basic shape. However, their wings had become yellow, their abdomens had lost their stripes, and their thoraxes had become blue. They also had black heads with a single red eye each and small antenna.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The Buzz Bombers first appeared as enemies in the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog. These Badniks were the most common enemies in the game, being featured specifically in the Green Hill Zone, Marble Zone and Spring Yard Zone.

In the original 16-bit version, Buzz Bombers fly alone or in a group from the side of the screen. When a Buzz Bomber targets an enemy, it will halt in mid-air, retract its stinger, and fire a rail detonator blast before flying away. The player has to avoid projectiles and use the Spin Jump to defeat them when the timing is right. Upon their defeat, they release an Animal.

In the 8-bit version of the game with same name, the Buzz Bombers have the same attack pattern and are featured in Green Hill Zone and Bridge Zone. Like many other Badniks in the Game Gear and Master System titles, Buzz Bombers do not have Animals inside them as an organic battery.

Sonic Chaos
In Sonic Chaos, the Buzz Bombers were redesigned with plain stingers replacing their usual rail detonator projectiles. These variations appear as enemies in Turquoise Hill Zone, Gigalopolis Zone and Electric Egg Zone. They fly around in the first two Zones, but are stationary in the latter Zone.

In the game's English manual for the Game Gear version, these enemies are simply called "bugs". However, the Japanese version identifies them as "Beetons", which is the name used for Buzz Bombers in Japan. Other sources simply refer to these enemies as "Buzzes", presumeably due to their lack of bombing capabilities.

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
In Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, the Buzz Bombers, also known as "Wasps" in the Game Gear version and "Waspins" in the Master System version, closely resemble the Buzz-Bombers from the Sonic the Hedgehog animated series.

In gameplay, these enemies hover around and block pathways in The Showdown. They can be destroyed with one hit and, in the 8-bit versions of the game, destroying one of them rewards the player with 80,000 points.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Buzz Bombers made an appearance as enemies in the extra stage, Green Hill. The appearance of the Buzz Bombers is almost identical, but is more cubic.

In gameplay, these Badniks mostly act like how they did in their first appearance. Upon their destruction, they will also release an Animal.

Sonic Generations
In both the console/PC and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. In these games, they were given a more mechanical-looking design. They also came in two known colorations: yellow and purple. In both the console/PC version and Nintendo 3DS of the game, the player encounters the Buzz Bombers in Green Hill Act 1 and 2.

In gameplay on the console/PC version, yellow Buzz Bombers hover in place and take shots at Sonic when he gets close. Purple Buzz Bombers on the other hand, which are more uncommon, simply fly towards the player without launching any attack. There are also giant purple Buzz Bombers in the Knuckles: Horde of Enemies Challenge Act. These Buzz Bombers cannot hurt Sonic, nor do they attempt to attack him, but they can propel Sonic high into the air if they are struck by an attack from a certain height, which is useful during these Buzz Bombers' Challenge Act. A statue of the purple Buzz Bomber can also be unlocked in the console/PC version's Statue Room.

In gameplay on the Nintendo 3DS version, the player only encounters yellow Buzz Bombers. These Badniks either fly towards the player or hover in place in midair. When they spot Sonic though, they will take aim before firing shots at him.

Sonic Jump
In the 2012 remake of Sonic Jump, yellow and orange variations of the Buzz Bombers appeared at Green Hill Zone. In gameplay, these Badniks act much like their yellow variations did in Sonic Generations, namely by shooting energy projectiles from their stingers. However, they can easily be destroyed by jumping into them from below.

Sonic Lost World
In both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, only blue Buzz Bombers appeared, although in this game, they were given a more comical design reminiscent of their appearance in the original Sonic the Hedgehog. During the game, the Badniks, Buzz Bombers included, got hijacked by the Deadly Six when they turned against Eggman and used to attack him under the Deadly Six's orders. When that happened, a few of them got destroyed by Sonic. One Buzz Bomber managed to injure Tails though, which made Sonic retreat with Tails.

In gameplay, the Buzz Bombers appear in multiple Zones where they either just fly around or float stationary in one place from where they shoot lasers at the player whenever they spot Sonic. Like in earlier games, the Buzz Bombers release Animals when defeated. Sometimes, the Buzz Bombers also appears in chains with Spinners which the player can use to traverse the Zone.

Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, the Buzz Bombers retained their design from Sonic Lost World. They are also some of the more common enemies encountered in the flying type characters' stages. In gameplay, they do not fire projectiles. Instead, some of them fly around back and forth separately or in groups. Other simply hover in place. Upon their destruction, they release an Animal.

Buzz Bombers in Sonic Runners come in three types. Aside from the regular types, there are golden Buzz Bombers which give 300 extra points each when destroyed, and black ones called Super Buzz Bombers which only Color Powers and power type characters can destroy. Also, any type of Buzz Bomber contain Animals inside them.

Sonic Runners Adventure
In Sonic Runners Adventure, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. In this game, they retain their design from Sonic Lost World. The player encounters them in Green Hill, Desert Ruins and Lava Mountain.

In gameplay, the Buzz Bombers slowly fly towards the player without attacking them. Also, upon their destruction, they release an Animal.

Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. In terms of design, they look exactly like they did in the original Sonic the Hedgehog. In this game, they only appear in Green Hill Zone.

In gameplay, the Buzz Bombers behave exactly like they did in their debut appearance, namely by flying in from the side of the screen (either in groups or by themselves), during which they will stop in midair and shoot at the playable characters when they get them in their sight before resuming their flight. Upon their destruction, they will release an Animal.

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle
In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, the Buzz Bombers from Sonic Forces appear on the race tracks. In gameplay, they act as stationary obstacles for the player to run into, perpetually floating in midair. However, they do not attack the player and can easily be destroyed using the Spin Jump. Upon their destruction, they grant the player five Rings.

Sonic Forces
in Sonic Forces, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. In this game, they were completely redesigned to have modernized, militaristic looks. They player encounters them in Lost Valley, Spaceport, Ghost Town, Prison Hall, Egg Gate, Arsenal Pyramid, Luminous Forest, Green Hill, Park Avenue, Capital City, Guardian Rock, Network Terminal, Death Egg, Metropolitan Highway and Mortar Canyon.

In gameplay, Buzz Bombers' exhibit two distinct attack patterns. In some sections, the Buzz Bombers will hover in midair, never moving from their spot. When they see the playable character however, they will start taking shots at them. In other sections, the Buzz Bombers will fly forward until they spot the playable character, upon which they will stop in midair and shoot at them, much like in the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

During the boss battle with Zavok, yellow and orange versions of the Buzz Bombers appear. These enemies will appear around the boss area, where they will flying into the player. Upon colliding with something or getting hit by Zavok however, they will be destroyed.

Powers and abilities
With the aid of their (small but effective) wings and rockets, the Buzz Bombers are capable of flight. They are also equipped with stingers that can fire a rail detonator blast, which appears as a concentrated orb of laser energy, at their target.

Variants

 * Buzzer
 * Poh-Bee
 * Krondor

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
Buzz Bomber appears briefly in Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic manga. At the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 3' story Sonic Rampage!!, Buzz Bomber can be seen in the background getting defeated by Sonic with his Spin Attack as Eggman keeps mentioning how his arch-nemesis is always getting his way.

Sonic the Comic
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, the Buzz Bombers are a part of Dr. Robotnik's Badnik army. Depending on the artist, the Buzz Bomber's design was altered in different issues. They are among the first generation of Badniks Robotnik produced and have threatened the people of Mobius since their creation.

Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Buzz Bombers, here called Buzzbombers, were among the first generation of badniks produced by Dr. Robotnik. Early on, their design resembled that of their counterparts from the Sonic the Hedgehog television series, though they would come to resemble their game counterparts. Over time though, the Buzzbombers were rendered obsolete by more advanced robots and got decommissioned.

Following the events of Worlds Collide, the Buzzbombers' history became nearly identical to that of their game counterparts.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series, the Buzz Bombers are red and green with no engines, eye eyes, and drills for noses. They would occasionally come after Sonic and Tails, but would prove no match for the hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)
In the Sonic the Hedgehog, the Buzz-Bombers, here spelled Buzz-Bombers, possessed a more sinister design, although they retained their wings, rockets, and laser stingers. They only appeared in "Heads or Tails", where Dr. Robotnik deployed them twice, first to coax out Sonic and later to deploy a chemical weapon against the Great Forest. Both times though, they were stopped by Sonic and the Freedom Fighters.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
In Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, the Buzz Bombers are a brand of robots created by Dr. Robotnik that patrol the Land of Darkness. Sonic and Tails encountered a swarm of them on their road to Robotropolis.

Sonic Boom
In the Sonic Boom televisions series, the Buzz Bombers, here called Bee Bots, are a mass-produced robot model created by Dr. Eggman. They serve both as Eggman's sentries and foot soldiers which the doctor uses for his frequent attacks on Team Sonic and Seaside Island. While fast and agile, they are not very powerful and are easily destroyed in intense combat.

Merchandise
The toy company TOMY has released Buzz Bomber 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.

Trivia

 * The Buzz Bomber's names might have been based on a game for the Intellivision called "Buzz Bombers", which is also the name of a minigame for Penn and Teller's Smoke and Mirrors.
 * Buzz Bomber appears in Sonic and the Black Knight in winning Fan Art.
 * In the original 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, the Buzz Bomber was known as Le Bourdon Bombardier in French, La Avispa Mortifera in Spanish, Vespa Bombardiere in Italian, Vliegende Bommenwerper in Dutch, and Pörriäispommittaja in Finnish.
 * Buzz Bombers in Sonic Generations are simply recolors of the Buzzer that do not fire at Sonic. Before Sonic Generations this Buzzer model was used in Sonic Colors.
 * The Corn Hornets which appear in Treetop Terrace, a chapter in Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, bear a slight resemblance to the Buzz Bombers.