Metal Sonic (Sonic Generations)

Metal Sonic is the first rival in the game Sonic Generations. The battle is set in the Bad Future of Stardust Speedway (console/PC) or Casino Night (Nintendo 3DS), representing Sonic the Hedgehog CD in the game. The stage is located in the Chemical Plant area of the hub world after Sonic completes Sky Sanctuary.

Gameplay
The stage begins with a cutscene in which Classic Sonic is seen running through Stardust Speedway until Metal Sonic destroys the road. Sonic then uses the falling debris to get back up, along with jumping on top of Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic recovers from the blow and attempts to hit Sonic, but misses. After that, the two begin to battle.

The entire fight is a high-speed chase, with Metal Sonic flying overhead, attacking Sonic. Metal Sonic has a variety of attacks, including the Ring Spark Field, flying into the foreground to snap off street lights to fall on the player, and the V. Maximum Overdrive Attack. After attacking, Metal Sonic becomes vulnerable for a short amount of time, allowing the player to counterattack with a Spin Jump. It takes a total of four hits to defeat Metal Sonic on Normal and Hard mode.

Metal Sonic starts the fight by lunging forward at Sonic, forcing the player to jump out of the way. After being attacked, Metal Sonic will perform an Electric Shield attack where he generates a huge amount of electricity around and directly underneath him that Sonic must avoid or attack while he's charging it. Metal Sonic's next attack involves snapping off street lights to throw directly at Sonic; the player must avoid these by watching the shadows of the streetlights on the road. Finally, Metal Sonic will attack with a powered up version of his first attack, which can avoided by jumping up on higher platforms. Once Metal Sonic is given the final blow, there is a brief cutscene of Sonic kicking Metal Sonic away, who proceeds to explode.

Hard Mode
In Hard Mode, Classic Metal Sonic is much faster, making it harder to avoid his attacks. The order of his attacks also changes; Classic Metal Sonic snaps a total of five street lights at Classic Sonic before performing his Electric Shield attack, as opposed to two.

Trivia

 * This is the only stage in Sonic Generations which directly references Sonic the Hedgehog CD.
 * This stage features a remix of the Present and Bad Future music from the JP soundtrack.
 * However, a remix of the US version of this music is unlockable.
 * Metal Sonic's artwork on the Achievement Icon looks similar to his artwork in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games.
 * Metal Sonic's Electric Shield attack can be nullified by jumping at him while he's charging up.
 * Unlike the original, Sonic cannot stop running; he also does not possess the Super Peel Out move, as Classic Sonic's gameplay is based on the Sega Genesis games rather than the Sega CD.
 * Metal Sonic is the only rival that Classic Sonic fights.
 * Many of the visual setpieces seen in this stage are reused in the opening cutscene of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal.
 * Some of the skyscrapers in the background look similar to the Ionian column design used in Greek architecture (This could be a reference to how Stardust Speedway's past is heavily based on ancient Greece).
 * This is the only Classic Sonic boss (rival) fight to have an auto running feature, as if the player does not move the control stick that moves Sonic, he will continue to move at a slow pace that barely keeps him from falling with the disintegrating road.
 * Metal Sonic's sound clips were recycled from Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2.
 * While facing Metal Sonic, there is a glitch possible when he uses his final attack. Getting hit at a certain point on the screen will cause nearly all of the platforms on the stage to vanish. Sonic will turn around and continue running, with the camera fixed so that he does not always run in the same direction. Despite the glitch, Metal Sonic will continue to attack, and can in fact be beaten. The floor will remain invisible during the cutscene and result screen. The glitch can be removed by pausing and starting over.