Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-5495117-20130925213053/@comment-679780-20131004181404

I believe he does want to kill him, just a gun is inadequate to someone much faster than a bullet. So he builds robots and his own boss machines for two prime reasons.

The first reason is that Dr. Robotnik finds engineering and robotology a form of art and takes great pride when he design robot series, battle machines or accessories for his Egg-mobile. While he hates Sonic the most, he greatly appreciates Sonic's compliments when it comes to his machines, especially Tails who's IQ almost matches his, it is sort of like a reverse-Stockholm thing. Yes most of his robots are easily destroyed by Sonic but since the robots have different functions and designs, they're mostly artistic phases than series of weapons.

The second reason is that while the primary function of all machines Eggman constructs are made to kill sonic, the secondary function is to slow them down. This is because Sonic is so fast he escapes death itself so the Badniks were designed to at least slow Sonic down if not to kill. Such as different weapons Sonic must adapt too such as freezing which is known to slow him down, or the fact each Badnik is powered by an innocent critter which plays on Sonic/the players conscious whenever to take time to free the animal or press on to the important goal.

So yes, I believe that the reason why Dr. Robotnik makes interesting robots, plans his doomsday plots and fancy Boss battles is because he is really an artist and is using his creativity in order to distract Sonic long enough to slow him down.

all Dr. Eggman needs is a few seconds.