Silver Sonic

Silver Sonic (referred to as Mecha Sonic in the Japanese manual ) is the robotic version of Sonic the Hedgehog that appeared in both the Game Gear and Megadrive versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

It is apparently an early version of Metal Sonic, a better known robotic double of Sonic.

In his 8-bit debut, Silver Sonic resembles the original hedgehog, although he is slightly taller and a bit low-tech. He has a metallic grey color scheme and possesses many of his organic template's own moves, including the ability to role into a ball and spin, though has a few abilities of his own. Thankfully, Sonic is more nimble and can guard against most of its attacks. Once defeated, Silver Sonic is destroyed, and Sonic faced Robotnik in the final battle.

A more well-known Silver Sonic model was featured in the 16-bit version of Sonic 2, which was released later than the 8-bit game. While he was never explicitly referred to as Silver Sonic and was known as Mecha Sonic in Japanese materials, he is very similar to the other version and its name was adopted by western Sonic media including the Archie Comics. In this appearance, he is the first line of defense aboard the Death Egg. He has a sturdier form, is extremely bulky and may have been remote controlled by Doctor Robotnik, but is more combat-capable and would be able to instantly shred Sonic with its saw-blade spikes. In order to defeat him, Sonic must strike him eight times while avoiding his spikes (not easy considering there are once again no rings in this zone).

In Sonic Adventure, it appeared that Eggman had at one point been working on another Silver Sonic model, which could be seen in a storage tube next to Metal Sonic in his laboratory. It is unknown what purpose this new version would serve, and was likely destroyed during Sonic's battle with the Egg Viper.

Abilities
The Silver Sonic models posses many different mechanisms along the body, the first one could speed across the room, spin-jump, and shoot small spikes in mid-spin jump. The model in the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had notably the same powers, but was also powered by a Chaos Emerald.

Archie Comics
In the Archie Comics continuity, Silver Sonic appeared in the miniseries Sonic Quest, a loose adaptation of Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles. This version of Silver Sonic was much larger and slower than the version in the games, standing about ten times the size of Sonic the Hedgehog.

History
Sonic and Tails encountered Silver Sonic during their mission to destroy Robotnik's new Death Egg space station, which despite its speed proved to be a formidable opponent. Silver Sonic's exoskeleton was invulnerable to Sonic's best hits. With a single powerful punch, it nearly knocked Sonic unconscious, but in the process it exposed electrical wires from inside the Death Egg. Before Silver Sonic could crush Sonic to death beneath its foot, Sonic used the cables to send thousands of volts of electricity into Silver Sonic, destroying its primary brain circuits and rendering him inoperable.

Robotnik, having witnessed the defeat of his creation, put on his Eggs-O-Skeleton armor so he could battle Sonic himself. However, Sonic was able to climb inside Silver Sonic's head and control the robot's body manually. Silver Sonic was so strong that Sonic was able to send Robotnik flying out of the Death Egg. Shortly afterwards, Tails activated the station's self-destruct sequence, and Sonic and Tails used Silver Sonic's body to escape safely back to Mobius.

Almost a year later, he was rebuilt by Doctor Eggman into Silver Sonic II, loosely based on Silver Sonic's design but much smaller. Sonic managed to reprogram Silver Sonic, and the robot became Station Square's protector until he was destroyed by Shadow.

Silver Sonic returned in Issue #225 in a new and much bigger form, to battle and distract Sonic while Dr. Eggman's gun came up and shot down Sally Acorn, killing her while Sonic runs from Silver Sonic to try and rescue Sally.

After reality had been set back to normal, Sonic went in to save Sally from Eggman's turret, ignoring Silver Sonic. When Silver Sonic attempted to pursue, the turret fired at him, causing its supposed death. However, when Sonic and Sally confronted the doctor, a new version of Metal Sonic and a heavily damaged Silver Sonic appeared and began to attack Sonic. Once the backfire of the World Roboticizer was completed, both robots were destroyed in the rubble.

Sonic the Comic
In Sonic the Comic, Sonic and Tails return to the Death Egg some time after the events of Sonic 2 to find that Silver Sonic is still functional (barely). It is heavily damaged, and Sonic comments that it is a sad imitation of him. (In Nigel Kitching's original script for the story, it is mentioned that the Silver Sonic actually repaired itself after Sonic's previous encounter with it.) Sonic defeats it for good by kicking off its head. It was presumably a forerunner of the Metallix robots in this continuity.

In this continuity, the robot was not referred to by name.

Jazwares
Jazwares designer, Joe Amaro designed this Silver Sonic action figure which is just a simple re-paint of Metal Sonic. SEGA did not approve this idea and so this figure will never be manufactured.

Trivia

 * While facing Silver Sonic on Sonic 2 (Genesis), a glitch may happen that when once you beat him, he will turn into a floating flame and it will not allow you to go on.
 * Asuming the Death Egg in Sonic Generations is the same as in Sonic 2 (due to the boss) you can see Classic Sonic run through a room in the cutscene before fighting the Death Egg Robot, most likley this is where Silver Sonic is suppose to be but Sonic leaves the room before he had a chance to appear yet.