Solaris


 * You may also be looking for the Solaris Project.

Solaris (ソラリス) is a super-dimensional life-form, as well as a god of time and the sun god of Soleanna. He appears as the primary antagonist and final boss of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). Prior to the game's events during the Solaris Project, he was seperated into two halves: Mephiles (the conscious mind) and Iblis (the raw strength). His desire is to destroy all of reality, by consuming all existing time lines, and thus bring the collapse of time itself.

History
Solaris initially existed as a flame which was worshiped by the citizens of Soleanna. The Duke of Soleanna led the Solaris Project experiments in the hopes of using its time control powers to allow humanity to correct its past sins (and also to allow himself and his young daughter, Princess Elise, to see Elise's deceased mother once again). However, during one such experiment, Solaris became unstable and split into two forms: Iblis and Mephiles. Mephiles was sealed into an artifact known as the Scepter of Darkness by the time-traveling Shadow the Hedgehog, while the Duke was forced to seal Iblis inside of Elise's soul. Before dying from wounds caused by the accident, he told his daughter to grow up to be a strong queen who would never cry as doing so would destroy the seal on Iblis.

Mephiles was eventually freed and he began plotting to reunite with Iblis. He made Elise cry by killing Sonic the Hedgehog, thereby releasing Iblis, and the two entities joined to create Solaris again. Solaris immediately plunged the world into darkness and prepared to devour time itself. Before he could achieve this, he was defeated by a combined assault from Super Shadow, Super Silver, and a resurrected Super Sonic. Solaris' defeat spirited Elise and Sonic back to before the fateful experiment. After some contemplation, Elise chose to blow out the tiny flame that would become Solaris and thus change history by erasing his corporeal form from existence.

Powers and Abilities


Solaris is the most powerful villain in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), and probably the most powerful villain in the Sonic series. It took the combined might of three super hedgehogs to defeat him, and even then, they could not actually destroy him. Described as a super-dimensional being, Solaris is able to exist in the past, present and future, making him him virtually omnipresent throughout time and impossible to defeat, unless he is attacked simultaneously in all time periods. In addition, Solaris is one of the few bosses in the series whose attacks take rings away from super form characters; each of his attacks costs Super Sonic, Super Shadow, or Super Silver 10 rings.

As a god over time, Solaris is capable of freely manipulating time itself, and is able to cause instablilities in time and create time-space rifts. As stated by Dr. Eggman, Solaris can consume dimensions and time lines as well. Should he consume all existing time lines, it would lead to the collapse of time itself.

Solaris can shoot out meteors and fire lasers that can hit its enemies from any distance. He increases the number of meteors and laser in his second form (he can fire out between 6 and 14 lasers), and can launch purple orbs similar to Mephiles' that will follow the opponent until it hits. He has also an almost impenetrable shield of light that can only be bypassed at certain times.

During the "End of the World" level (where the characters are trying to revive Sonic), another power Solaris has is to create massive orb-like "eyes" that suck in anything around them, including enemies that the characters encounter. Touching the eye results in instant death, regardless of rings or even an invincibility power-up. He also has red eyes that he uses to hurl objects at his enemies.

Much like his two halves, Iblis and Mephiles, Solaris appears to be immortal and indestructible, as he easily came back after his first defeat by Super Sonic, Super Shadow and Super Silver, even after they eliminated the strength of his omnipresent. His only weakness is his consciousness, which is still vulnearble to attacks. By destroying it, it would still leave Solaris' body intact, but he would be unable to use it.

Strategy
To defeat Solaris, the player must take control of Super Sonic, Super Shadow, and Super Silver. Like most super forms, rings are required to maintain them. If running low on rings, switch characters to collect more. The boss has two phases, and the strategies for each are below.

Solaris Phase One
To defeat this form of Solaris, the player's targets are the "light shells" on his body. Solaris mainly attacks by telekineticly throwing meteors at the hedgehogs as well as firing a laser from his chest. He can also create an invisible force field to protect himself. To start the fight, switch to Super Silver and use his ESP to grab the meteors Solaris throws and hurl them back to destroy the light shell on his left arm. Once that light shell is gone, switch to Super Shadow and use his Chaos Spear to destroy the light shell on his right arm. After the light shell on his right arm is destroyed, switch to Super Sonic and use his Super Sonic Boost to destroy the light shell on his body. Once all three light shells are destroyed, attack the red core on his chest until he is defeated. Or so it seems...

Solaris Phase Two
It seems that Solaris has been defeated, but he quickly rises up with a new body. Eggman suggests that if they cannot stop his body, they can stop his consciousness. To do so, the player must attack the red core to damage him. Solaris' tactics have not changed from the previous battle. The only obvious difference is that Solaris can increase the number of lasers and meteors he can fire at the hedgehogs, up to 14 lasers! Otherwise, this is the easier of the two forms. As long as the player switches characters to collect more rings, Solaris will be defeated, and you will have won the game.

Trivia

 * The six stones behind Solaris turn clockwise with Sonic and Shadow being controlled however with Silver, his stones turn counter clockwise (after several hits).
 * Solaris, at least in its second form, looks remarkably like part of the crest of Hyrule from the Legend of Zelda series.
 * In his first phase, Solaris has 6 stones on his back, 6 claws, and 6 horn segments on his head. This may be a reference to the number 666, the Number of the Beast from the Book of Revelations.