Uni Uni

Orbinauts (ウニウニ, Uni-uni) are badniks created by Doctor Robotnik, which first appear at original Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991. It is a green variety of Orbinaut that keeps the four yellow spiked balls around it for defense.

Like Unidus ones, Uni-Uni is named simply Orbinaut in the North American instruction manual of original Sonic the Hedgehog. However what separates these two Orbinaut variants are their japanese names, different color schemes and attack patterns.

Physical Appearance
As being part of the sub-series created by Doctor Robotnik, Orbinaut has similar appearance comparing to its other variant in Labyrinth Zone and other variants in general. The only difference is its coloring, as the this variant has green orb core and four yellow spike balls.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4, its appearance is little more detailed as having two lines going all-around, one going side direction and two black bases in each side.

Abilities
These variants keep their spike balls spinning around in slow speed, unlike Unidus one that releases all of them to its victims, leaving them being defenseless. This makes Uni-Uni variants hard to defeat or as fast moving even hard to dodge. It keeps simply hovering forward and never stopping at one place.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
As first appearing in original Sonic the Hedgehog, these Orbinauts can be found hovering around at highways of Star Light Zone. As it is mentioned earlier, it is hard to avoid them at high speed. The player can avoid it by doing Spin Attack under of it and ignore it completely. However it can only be defeated while the player is invincible, at time while player has to hit very carefully or when player takes a hit and he has a quick moment to hit while having few seconds momentary invincible.

In 8-bit of the game with same name, these Orbinauts appear only at first act of Sky Base. Its appearance also is different as having pinkish orb and yellow spike balls. However its attack pattern is similar to its 16-bit counterpart, but like all badniks in Master System and Game Gear titles, it doesn't have animal friend as power source.

Sonic Rivals
Uni-uni variant of Orbinaut appears in Sonic Rivals, only being featured as collectible card.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Both Uni-uni and Unidus variants make reappearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 as both types appear in Lost Labyrinth Zone with upgraded models. Despite that, both types appear to have same attack patterns from their first appearance. However as Uni-uni one sees the player it actually expand its spike balls to little bit wider area.

Sonic 4 Website Info

 * The Orbinauts return as one of Sonic's most challenging Badniks! Pay close attention, you only have a split second to defeat them.

Sonic Colors
Orbinaut also makes appearance in the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors as being featured at Aquarium Park. Having somehow similar appearance from Sonic the Hedgehog 4, it appears both of ground and underwater sections.

Some of them can be seen blocking path openings and there are also ones that moves only up and down. The only way to destroy them is using drill or laser Whisp powers. Also in underwater sections of same level have big sea ​​mines, which look like one of Orbinaut's spike balls.

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
A single Orbinaut appears briefly in Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 2's story ''Clash!! South Island''. In Star Land Zone, it quickly appears in front of Sonic, who used the seesaw to get Egg Capsule. As the Orbinaut tries to stop him, Sonic uses Spin Attack which knocks Orbinaut on his way.

Sonic the Comic
Uni-uni variants of Orbinauts appear many issues in Fleetway's Sonic the Comic as part of Robotnik's badnik army. In few stories, Orbinauts are colored as completely gray. Orbinaut is also featured in pin-up of issue 106.

Archie Comics
A single Orbinaut appears in earlier issues of Archies Sonic the Hedgehog comics as part of Robotnik's badniks. In the comics its coloring has varied in many stories, as in earlier issues it is colored as dark blue orb with spike balls, but since issue 40, it has familiar green and yellow color scheme.

Robotnik first announced the Orbinaut in Casino Night Zone and after that he tested it for Sonic, who gets knocked out by one of its spiked balls. However Sonic used Spin Attack to deflect two more spiked balls, which got sent back to the Orbinaut itself. It later tries attack to Tails with Buzz Bomber but got knocked down by his own spike balls which Tails sends back. Instead of being at Robo Hobo Jungle fighting Sonic, he's later seen informing Robotnik that Sonic was spotted in the badlands during the Mecha Madness being backfired. He's also later seen fighting with several other badniks against Sonic and Bunnie Rabbot at robot bar called Rusty's.

Orbinaut doesn't appear for long time until Sonic decided to visit in the Island of Misfit Badniks, Orbinaut and numerous other badniks nabbed him. Usually Sonic quickly beat all badniks, but as Pseudo Sonic arrives, the duel between them makes the island sink down. Badniks with Orbinaut return with revenge plan with enlarging Pseudo Sonic, but got interrupted by the Forty Fathom Freedom Fighters. While Orbinaut saw them interfering him, he lost to P.B. Jellyfish Later all of them got crushed by Big Fluke into a cube.

Sonic X (Comics)
Orbinauts makes short appearance in issue 11 of Sonic X comics. In Star Light Zone while Orbinauts keep moving slowly forward, Sonic, Knuckles, Amy and Rouge are seen ducking under of them.

Trivia

 * There's been difficulties, especially in comics to recognize which type of Orbinauts can be appearing during the time. There's also been problem to recognize if the Orbinaut is Uni-Uni- or Unidus one due both having same physical appearance but different color scheme in games. Major example is in Archie Comics, as Robotnik has created only single Orbinaut that has dark blue appearance, similar to Unidus one. However in several times, it happens that Orbinaut has same color scheme as Uni-Uni one.
 * This is the same problem that appears in issue 11 of Sonic X comics as Orbinauts have dark blue appearance with orange spike balls and appear at Star Light Zone. Although it is obvious that these are the Uni-uni ones due the zone where it appears in the game.
 * Orbinaut is one of badniks that hasn't been featured in character bios of Sonic Archives.