Super Sonic

"Time to scramble some Eggmen, Super Sonic style!"

- Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Generations

Super Sonic (スーパーソニック) is the Super State of Sonic the Hedgehog, achieved by harnessing the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds. Since Super Sonic's first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, this form has been Sonic's most commonly used transformation.

In the 2D games, he plays like Sonic, but can jump higher, is faster and is invincible. In his first appearance, Super Sonic bore no impact on the game's story, but would give the good ending if achieved. However, from Sonic & Knuckles onward, he usually has a greater impact on the story and is often part of the ending, or secret ending.

Appearance
When transformed into Super Sonic, Sonic's blue fur turns into a gold color and his peach skin gains a slightly golden hue. Additionally, his green eyes become ruby red and his quills turn upward. His top quill varies in position though, either having its angle slightly raised or being upturned like his other quills (the latter is mostly seen in CG scenes and artwork). He also possesses a golden aura which can be anything from smooth to flame-like in shape and displays either faint sparkles or electrical sparks.

Over the series, Super Sonic's appearance has changed gradually. In the games prior to Sonic Adventure, his eyes remained black when transformed (excluding Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, where his eyes would turn turquoise), he lacked a golden aura, and his quills would sometimes be more upturned and even messy. Up until Sonic Adventure, his middle quills would also grow longer when transformed. In games like Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and the Sonic Rush series, his middle quill would retain their normal shape, making his quills look identical to Shadow's.

Powers and abilities
While in his Super State, Sonic is easily one of the most powerful beings in the series, having defeated titanic robots, fearsome monsters, forces of nature, other Super State users and even all-powerful deities. As another testament to his power, Super Sonic has never been defeated or tied with anyone in battle.

As Super Sonic, Sonic's innate abilities far surpasses his normal ones. His strength has been increased to such levels that he can plow through large robots, barriers and Eggman’s space armada without slowing down, break enormous metal restraints without effort, and even knock back Perfect Dark Gaia whose size is on par with a mountain. His trademark super speed has been enhanced too, approaching the speed of light and presumably beyond. He also has improved reflexes to match his increased movements and can jump higher as well. Like the traditional Super State, Sonic has gained new abilities, including high-speed run-flight and virtual invulnerability to harm, although his invulnerability can be bypassed if he is hit with enough force, such as Solaris and Perfect Dark Gaia's attacks.

Super Sonic is able to freely perform several different Chaos Powers, such as shields that can deflect the enemy’s attacks and Chaos Control which allows him to bend time and space to his will, the latter of which is powerful enough to let him teleport objects as large as the Space Colony ARK with Super Shadow's help. He can also project chaos energy as highly destructive waves of golden energy and charge projectiles with energy before shooting them. Super Sonic can as well pass his chaos energy onto others, allowing them to achieve Super States of their own while maintaining his own. However, he rarely uses these powers unless absolutely necessary, as he relies more on his speed and strength to defeat his enemies.

Due to the positive chaos energy which empowers Super Sonic, he is able to neutralize negative chaos energy and turn people possessed by pure rage back to normal, like when he reverted Perfect Chaos back to normal while purifying it of its anger and rage.

In Sonic Lost World, Super Sonic has the ability to draw in rings like a magnet by running.

Moves and techniques
Super Sonic's trademark attack is the Super Sonic Boost, an attack where Sonic cloaks himself in a fiery aura and launches himself into enemies with increased speed and enormous force. This attack has both offensive and defensive capabilities, allowing Sonic to deflect projectiles back at his foes or blast through attacks. Alternatively, he can perform smaller dashes for quick, short-ranged movements. Over time, Super Sonic has developed variants of the Super Sonic Boost, like the Arrow of Light, where he arguments his attack by absorbing light, and the Super Sonic Missile. He can even combine his Super Sonic Boost with similar techniques to amplify its size and power, such as Super Shadow's Super Sonic Boost or Burning Blaze's Burning Fire Boost.

Like his natural state, Super Sonic can also utilize his standard techniques, including the Spin Attack, Spin Jump, Spin Dash and Homing Attack, and light-speed techniques such as the Light Speed Attack and the Light Speed Dash.

Weakness
Super Sonic can only stay transformed for a short time, as a Super State consumes tremendous amounts of energy and requires Rings to be sustained. If Sonic remains in this form for too long without sustainment, he will revert back to normal.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Once the player has collected all seven Chaos Emeralds from the Special Stages, Sonic can transform into Super Sonic automatically once he jumped with at least fifty rings. It is possible for Super Sonic to appear in the game's 2P Play by causing a Game Over or completing the game and then selecting 2P via the Options menu (any Chaos Emeralds the player has in the previous game will be carried over) although his sprite will appear to be messy.

In the 2013 re-release of this game, Sonic transforms into Super Sonic once the jump button was tapped again during a jump instead.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 &amp; Knuckles
Like in the previous game, Sonic requires all of the seven Chaos Emeralds and has fifty Rings in hand before being able to transform into Super Sonic with the Insta-Shield.

Sonic the Fighters
Super Sonic can be played but only for the second match against Metal Sonic and the fight against Eggman. To play as Super Sonic, the player must not lose and enter hyper mode. The Chaos Emeralds are automatically collected after each fight.

Sonic R
Super Sonic can be played after finding all seven Chaos Emeralds in the game. He can then be selected to be used on any track. Unlike most of his other appearances, Super Sonic is not limited by a ring count and can even race alongside Sonic, as the two are considered separate characters in this game.

Sonic Adventure series
The Chaos Emeralds are an essential part of the plot and as such are already collected at the end of the game as part of the story. Super Sonic is only playable for the final boss, with the final stage unlocked by clearing all the other characters stories.

Sonic Advance / Sonic Rush series and Sonic Heroes
The Chaos Emeralds have to be collected throughout the game by clearing Special Stages, but unlike the Mega Drive/Genesis games, Super Sonic is only playable for the final boss.

Sonic Shuffle
Super Sonic can be used on any board in the vs mode. The player must first clear the single player campaign as Sonic, and then buy the bottom right picture in Sonic's Album in the Sonic Room. Super Sonic plays identical to Sonic, but with stronger attacks. In addition, his "Light Speed Dash" move can be chained indefinitely.

Sega Superstars series
Super Sonic is Sonic's powered up move. He gains super speed, invulnerability, and, in the tennis games, the ability to serve zigzagged tennis balls.

Sonic Riders series
Super Sonic is obtained by achieving gold emblem for all of Team Babylon missions in Sonic Riders. Then the Chaos Emerald Extreme gear is unlocked and when used by Sonic, he will become Super Sonic while he has rings. He is unlocked in a similar manner in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity by clearing all missions with the Extreme rank. He can also be unlocked in Sonic Free Riders by getting "S" ranks on all missions of World Grand Prix.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Super Sonic is unlocked in the same way as the Sonic Adventure series and again is only playable for the last boss fight against Solaris.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Sonic again becomes Super Sonic for the final fight. Due to the RPG nature of the game, Super Sonic is not bound by a ring count. Sonic gains a vast increase in HP as Super Sonic (several thousand compared to the several hundred or so of his regular form) and only attacks with the Super Sonic POW Move, which requires a long series of stylus commands, but can inflict over 9999 damage.

Sonic Unleashed
Sonic becomes Super Sonic in the game's opening, demolishing Eggman's armada and cornering the scientist. Unfortunately, Eggman traps Super Sonic and uses his power to awaken Dark Gaia (and accidentally create Sonic the Werehog). When all the Chaos Emeralds are empowered again, Super Sonic reappears for the boss fight against Perfect Dark Gaia. For the Wii/PS2 version, Super Sonic starts with only twelve rings, requiring the player to gather them to fill the boost gauge. In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version, he doesn't lose rings, but possesses a life gauge in that form and uses rings to fill it. Also, Super Sonic fights alongside Gaia Colossus in the Xbox 360/PS3 version.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl / Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
Super Sonic is Sonic's Final Smash. Upon activation, he shouts "Now I'll show you!" or "Super Sonic style" before transforming, the Chaos Emeralds briefly appearing before the transformation. He was not bound by a ring count (since there are no rings), but a fifteen-second time limit. When Sonic goes super, he can fly around, almost uncontrollably, hitting every opponent that comes into contact. Unlike in other games, Super Sonic is also invulnerable to the Blast Zone and thus cannot be KOed via suicide. In addition, Super Sonic is available as a collectible Trophy and Sticker.

Trophy Description

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Although Super Sonic himself doesn't appear, there is a suit of him for your Mii to wear. It has the same stats as Sonic the Hedgehog. This suit can be won randomly in the lottery.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
Super Sonic makes a return as playable in most stages in Sonic 4 by collecting all of the Chaos Emeralds in the Special Stages. While it still requires fifty rings to transform, the transformation is now activated by a different button than the Jump Button. He possesses all of the powers he possessed in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but now can breathe underwater, force the slot machines to come up as Jackpots and light up dark areas. In addition, his aura enhances the Spin Dash, which allows him to destroy certain enemies that Sonic would not be able to destroy otherwise. Finally, when Super Sonic destroys a Badnik, the player receives 400 points instead of the standard hundred.

Sonic Colors
The Chaos Emeralds can be collected by completing all levels in the Sonic Simulator, which requires gathering all 180 Red Star Rings from the levels. Once done, the option to use Super Sonic must be activated from the options menu. Sonic cannot use Wisps in this mode (except White Wisps - an alternate route appears in areas that absolutely need the powers of the other Wisps), and requires fifty rings to transform, but he gains bonus points every few seconds it's active and has infinite boost power. Super Sonic retains most of his old mannerisms in games like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 such as gliding when picking up speed (and the fact Sonic needs fifty rings to transform once more as usual). Like in many games, Super Sonic cannot be used in the Wii version when fighting bosses. In the DS version, Super Sonic is playable only to beat a secret, optional boss called Nega-Mother Wisp. With the exception of the DS version's optional boss, Sonic is completely invincible in the game like in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as he is immune to flinching like in past games in final boss battles, and is able to destroy most objects (like normal) and foes by merely walking into them no matter how slow he moves. When Super Sonic performs a trick after passing over a Trick Ramp, the announcer skips directly to "AMAZING!".

Sonic Generations
The Chaos Emeralds are earned after beating the bosses, rivals and for restoring Planet Wisp. Like in Sonic Heroes, the player needs to collect all the Chaos Emeralds in order to reach the Time Eater, who the player fights it as Classic Super Sonic and Modern Super Sonic. Once the final boss is defeated, the player earns the Super Sonic Skill which when equipped, it allows Sonic needs to collect fifty rings and press Y/Triangle to transform. Both Super Sonics gain the upgrades and limitations featured in the previous games, such as invincibility, quicker acceleration, a higher jump, and the ring drain. However, the transformation drains rings now at a rate of two per second compared to previous games' one, effectively halving the time Super Sonic may stay transformed. Modern Super Sonic, as well as the aforementioned characteristics, retains the infinite boost from Sonic Colors. However, in an area where progression is linear, activating the Boost will cause him to fly on the fastest route to the end of the level. Using this Boost will drain rings at a substantially faster rate though (roughly eight per second), a trait somewhat similar to Super Sonic's iteration in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity and Sonic Free Riders. Unlike his iteration in Sonic Colors, it is possible to use Wisp powers with Super Sonic enabled in this game, although use of a Wisp Power will automatically de-transform Super Sonic to his normal form. If (normal) Sonic, has fifty or more rings, but has a Wisp Power, the Wisp Power will be activated first.

The Nintendo 3DS version requires the player to obtain all seven Chaos Emeralds from the Special Stages. Super Sonic is only available in the Time Eater fight in this version. The fight is unlocked once all other stages are cleared and the Emeralds obtained.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
Super Sonic is unlocked the same way as in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, via collecting every Chaos Emerald in the Special Stages. He still requires fifty rings to transform, but the form will deactivate when using the Rolling Combo, Copter Combo, or Submarine Combo. He will not, however, deactivate when the Tornado Boost is used in Acts that feature the Tornado. Additionally, Super Sonic can now be played during boss battles (the first time to do so since Sonic 3 & Knuckles), and now can do double damage to all of the bosses.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Super Sonic only appears in the 2013 re-release of the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Once the player enables the Max Emeralds to seven in the Level Select menu, the conditions of unlocking Super Sonic is the same to that of the Mega Drive titles (collect all seven Chaos Emeralds from the Special Stages and press the jump button during a jump with fifty rings in hand). Additionally, the player can instantly transform into Super Sonic by breaking the S monitor placed in Debug Mode.

Sonic Lost World
Super Sonic is usable in-game after either collecting all the Red Star Rings to get the Chaos Emeralds (Wii U) or beat the Special Stages to get the Chaos Emeralds (3DS). As usual, he retains his enhanced abilities, and can use his Super Sonic Boost instead of the Spin Dash freely for as long he likes. He also has the ability to draw in rings like a magnet by running, making maintaining the form much more easier. He cannot use Color Powers in both versions, as he will de-transform like in Sonic Generations, and he can be used to fight the bosses apart from the final boss (although the Nintendo 3DS allows the player to use Super Sonic during the final boss, save for the final blow). Unlike most previous games, he can de-transform at will in the Wii U version.

Sonic the Comic
In Sonic the Comic (STC), the UK publication by Fleetway Editions, Super Sonic was again a powered-up form of Sonic's, but in this series he was also portrayed as an evil entity, bent on destruction. Sonic frequently battled to prevent his transformations into Super Sonic, since this put innocent people (including Sonic's friends) in great danger. Sonic is able to transform into Super Sonic when he's either exposed to chaos energy or when he's under extreme stress/anger.

During the series, Sonic was separated from Super Sonic, who unwittingly contributed to the downfall of Doctor Robotnik in issue #100. Shortly after this, Super Sonic lost his memory and his powers, becoming peaceful for a time. Eventually, however, he regained his memory and powers again, and returned to his evil self. Sonic was forced to re-merge with Super Sonic in order to keep the demon under control.

Archie Comics
In the Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series and its spin-off comics, Super Sonic is Sonic the Hedgehog's super form, which he can assume when absorbing seven Chaos Emeralds or something with equivalent amounts of Chaos energy to them.

Super Sonic's first appearance in the comics was in Sonic the Hedgehog #4 to battle the Universalamander: In the subsequent years, Sonic would assume this form again to battle Hyper Knuckles, Master Mogul, Perfect Chaos and the Finalhazard, and as well briefly when trying to stop a time abnormality engulfing Knothole.

When Sonic was thrust into deep space, he tried using the red Chaos Emeralds of planet Thoraxia to become Super Sonic and defeat the Bzzzz. Rather than transforming into Super Sonic however, his powered-up form became a separate, malevolent entity. Before Sonic's rogue Super State could kill him though, he ran out of energy and dissipated. When Enerjak later resurfaced, Sonic used the Master Emerald to become Super Sonic and stop the demi-god. Sonic would soon after assume his Super State two times more, both times to reverse the effects of the Genesis Wave, though the latter attempt would cause the Multiverse to reboot.

Following the Super Genesis Wave, Super Sonic became nearly identical to his game counterpart.

Sonic X
In the anime series Sonic X and its comic series published by Archie Comics, Sonic can transform into Super Sonic using only the seven Chaos Emeralds. In this media, Super Sonic's appearance is very similar to his game counterpart's, except his eyes are orange instead of red. He has the ability to use healing powers.

Sonic's first transformation into Super Sonic occurred during his fight with the E-99 Eggsterminator. When Sonic was beaten to a pulp, Chris ensured Sonic got all seven Chaos Emeralds, which let him turn into Super Sonic and make short work of the Eggsterminator. Sonic would transform into Super Sonic three more times after that, first to defeat Perfect Chaos, then to stop the Space Colony ARK from impacting the earth with Super Shadow, and finally to return to his home dimension. Back home, Sonic would become Super Sonic three times more to battle Dark Oak and his legions of Metarex.

In the comics, Sonic would become Super Sonic once more to stop Chaosbot from destroying Station Square. The battle was tough, but Sonic secured his victory and restore Chaosbot to normal.

Theme songs

 * "Open Your Heart" by Crush 40 - Played during the final battle of Sonic Adventure against Perfect Chaos. The song describes the rage of Chaos.
 * "Live and Learn" by Crush 40 - Played during the final battle of Sonic Adventure 2 against Finalhazard. It can also be described as the shared theme of both Super Sonic and Super Shadow.
 * "What I'm Made Of..." by Crush 40 - Played during the final battle of Sonic Heroes against Metal Overlord. Although considered a theme for Metal Sonic, the song clearly references both characters. Such lines as "my energy" refers to Metal Sonic copying Sonic's (as well as the other members of each teams in Sonic Heroes) energy and transforms into Super Sonic to show Metal Sonic, exactly what he is made of, hence the title of the song.
 * "His World" (instrumental version) Played during the final battle of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) against Solaris Phase 2.
 * "Endless Possibility" (instrumental version) composed by Tomoya Ohtani - Played during the final battle of Sonic Unleashed against Dark Gaia.
 * "Reach For The Stars" (instrumental version) composed by Tomoya Ohtani and sung by Cash Cash. - Played whenever Sonic transforms into Super Sonic in Sonic Colors. A remixed instrumental played when Super Sonic is fighting the Nega-Mother Wisp.
 * "Super Sonic Racing" - Played when playing as Super Sonic in Radiant Emerald in Sonic R.

Trivia

 * The name of this form is play on the term, "supersonic."
 * Although Super Sonic's bio on Sonic Channel states that Sonic burns through energy in order to maintain this form (consecutively shown to be Ring energy), there has been numerous times in which Super Sonic has appeared without any apparent Ring consumption displayed (which is either not shown at all or is replaced by a life bar like in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood and the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed). In Sonic R, the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, and Sonic the Fighters he can even stay in his Super State indefinitely. Similarly, Sonic has been able to transform into Super Sonic with Ring amounts below the fifty-Ring minimum like in Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 3. The true ending of Sonic Advance also shows Sonic still as Super Sonic after a few days - though it is unknown what occurred over those days.
 * There is a glitch in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 when Sonic finishes an Act after passing the Goal Plate or opening the Capsule. If he jumps while having fifty Rings, he will turn into Super Sonic, but he does not transform and will instead do a running animation in the air without going on. Some times the results screen will not appear and the player may have to restart the game.
 * Super Sonic was the first character to have different eye color once the transformation was achieved.
 * When Sonic transforms into Super Sonic in Sonic Adventure, his Crystal Ring disappears, and in Sonic Adventure 2, his Flame Ring, Bounce Bracelet, and Magic Hand disappears. Strangely, his only visible upgrades in Sonic Adventure are the Light Speed Shoes and in Sonic Adventure 2 the Light Shoes, respectively.
 * In the Wii/PS2 versions of Sonic Unleashed, Super Sonic starts off with twelve Rings instead of the usual fifty Rings.
 * There is an achievement/trophy called "Golden Flash" for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, which requires all Zones to be completed with Super Sonic. It is also present in Episode 2, though its requirements have been changed: all bosses must be cleared with Super Sonic.
 * Sonic Colors marks the first time Super Sonic is playable in a 3D Platformer on any stage. Previously, Super Sonic was only used for the final boss.
 * In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, the player can use Super Sonic in every stage but the bosses, which is ironic with Super Sonic being reserved for the final boss in all other 3D games, while Sonic Colors is the only 3D game that cannot use Super Sonic on any boss.
 * A Super Sonic 3-inch figure was released by Jazwares, although the figure has black lines going down his eyes, in the the actual games he does not have the black lines. Later releases of this figure, though, had those lines removed.
 * In the beta version of Sonic Colors (Wii version), there was going to be a special music track for playing the final boss with Super Sonic. However, it was dis-included in the final version, as Super Sonic did not make it as playable in bosses. However, the music is programmed in the system.
 * Sonic Adventure was originally going to have Super Sonic playable in every stage, but was scrapped.
 * Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) originally had a gem in which could transform Sonic into Super Sonic. The gem was not included in the game's final release.
 * In Sonic Colors, the player gets points while playing as Super Sonic. It is called "Super Sonic Bonus" in the score history.
 * Sonic Generations is the first game since Sonic & Knuckles to feature Super Sonic as a bonus character and make him relevant to the plot. It is also the first mainstream game without a dedicated theme for Super Sonic (although Sonic the Hedgehog 4 ' s theme plays when the two Sonics transform in the cutscene before the final fight against the Time Eater and before defeating him with their final attack ).
 * In Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II, Super Sonic can be used within boss fights, making this the first since Sonic & Knuckles to do so. The "Golden Flash" achievement from the game is awarded when all bosses are cleared with Super Sonic. However, it is actually very difficult to do so, due to the bosses all having elaborate attack patterns that only allow Sonic to strike at a certain time. Additionally, using Tails will cause Sonic to de-transform, making him vulnerable. Boss stages usually give Sonic the bare minimum of fifty rings required to transform; if he gets hurt even once, transforming becomes impossible.
 * In Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations and Super Smash Bros. Brawl Sonic would transform into Super Sonic before the Chaos Emeralds enter his body.
 * In most Sonic games, Sonic gets an extra life for gaining a hundred rings. As the ring-draining mechanic while using Super Sonic allows for the player to reach the hundred ring mark multiple times, the games don't allow Sonic to get an extra life from the same hundred after once.
 * Only three games make it possible for the player to de-transform from Super Sonic at will. These are Sonic Generations, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Ep II, and Sonic Lost World. In Sonic Generations and Sonic Lost World (3DS), it is only possible by using a Wisp's Color power while in the super state. In Sonic 4:2, it can be done anytime simply by performing a tag action with Tails. In Sonic Lost World, it can be done anytime, with or without using a Color power. De-transforming is useful in that it allows the player to conserve rings.
 * However in Sonic 3 (and its lock-on with Sonic and Knuckles), when Super Sonic enters a bonus stage (as long as he has at least fifty [Sonic 3 only]/second rings when touching a star point), he also de-transforms to his normal form.
 * In Sonic Generations, there is unused text for a bio of Super Sonic in the Collection Room. It is unknown why it was not used.
 * In Sonic Lost World there is an unnoticed error leaving Super Sonic with two mouths.