Metal Sonic

Metal Sonic (also known as Hyper Metal Sonic, Metalla in Japan) is the "robotic counterpart" of Sonic the Hedgehog. As well as resembling Sonic, he can also perform many of Sonic's moves, including his homing attack.

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
''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, 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.

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

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.

In Sonic Rivals 2, Metal Sonic finds himself a new rival: Metal Sonic Version 3.0, Eggman Nega's personal copy of Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic has an unlockable costume based on him called "Mach 3.0". Metal Sonic Version 3.0 looks just like the real Metal Sonic, but is colored black and yellow, similar to G-emerl.

Modern Appearances
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 metalic hedgehog is never told.

Strangely, Metal Sonic did not apear in the following game, Shadow the Hedgehog, and was not even mentioned in it. Actually, this is most likely because Shadow has lost his memory at this point.

Metal Sonic does, however, reappear in Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2.

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 is also completely obsessed with the idea that he is the true Sonic. In Sonic Heroes he even goes as far as calling Sonic "My loathsome copy", as well as desperately shouting "I am the real Sonic!" when he is defeated by Team Super Sonic. Hypocritically enough, he says "Sonic, I was created for the sole purpose of destroying you", near the middle of the fight.

Sonic the Comic
In the United Kingdom's official Sonic publication, Sonic the Comic, "Metal Sonic" was relegated to the character's title, and Sonic's robot double was redubbed with the less-clunky moniker of "Metallix" (hence, he was "Metallix, the Metal Sonic").

Metallix first appeared in the magazine's adaptation of Sonic CD, in which it was destroyed by Sonic. However, it was later revealed that this first Metallix was merely one of a vast brotherhood of identical robots, known collectively as the Brotherhood of Metallix. Ruled by a giant red-and-gold Emperor Metallix, the Brotherhood captured the Omni-Viewer, allowing them to travel back in time, and erase Doctor Robotnik from history. Since it had been Robotnik's assistant Grimer who built the Metallix robots, and Robotnik had contributed only a self-destruct mechanism, the Brotherhood was able to conquer Mobius, leaving Sonic in the unenviable position of having to travel back in time and ensure that Robotnik existed. With the timeline back in place, Sonic was forced to ally with Robotnik to defeat the Brotherhood of Metallix once and for all.

Sonic the Hedgehog Archie Comic

 * For information on other robotic duplicates of Sonic in the Archie comic series, see Sonic robots in the Archie comic.

Metal Sonic first appeared in issue #25, the Sonic CD adaptation. He raced Sonic as part of one of Robotnik's traps, but was destroyed at the end of the issue.

Metal Sonic returned in the adaptation of the game Knuckles' Chaotix. He was transformed into a giant red version of himself by a "Power Gem," but was destroyed by a similarly empowered Knuckles.

Metal Sonic's next appearance was in a two-part storyline in issues #86 and 87. He had rebuilt himself by the power of the Power Gem imbedded in him, and boasted improved powers and a new design. He captured Tails while he was gathering firewood in the forest in which the Freedom Fighters were stranded. Metal Sonic confronted Sonic, then made him race for his friend's life to the top of the soon to erupt Mt. Mobius volcano, where Tails was tied. Despte Metal Sonic's attacks along the way, Sonic made it to the summit of Mt. Mobius just as the lava began to rise. Though it seemed like they were doomed, Sonic and Tails refused to abandon one another, showing Metal Sonic that there was more to life than power. Metal Sonic held back the lava for them and Sonic and Tails managed to escape, but Metal Sonic was destroyed in the effort.

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.

Animation
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 seen racing Sonic in the good ending animation for Sonic CD.

Metal Sonic is has not yet made an appearance in the newer anime series Sonic X.