South Island


 * For the location in the Archie Comics, see South Island (Archie).

South Island (サウスアイランド) is a location in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is also the main setting of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) and has made many appearances in the earlier games. South Island is known to be a trove of gems and ancient ruins, that supposedly shifts along the water due to some connection to the Chaos Emeralds. The island is also inhabited by animals.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Sonic goes to the island and finds that the evil Doctor Robotnik built a base on the island and turned the local wildlife into robots. The heroic hedgehog stops Robotnik while collecting the Emeralds. Zones of the game are below:


 * Green Hill Zone, grassy plains with lakes and waterfalls. This zone has appeared in several other Sonic games as well. It is without a doubt the most iconic level in all of Sonic history.
 * Marble Zone, ancient ruins half-sunk in lava.
 * Spring Yard Zone, an urban area with pinball bumpers and springs.
 * Labyrinth Zone, an underwater maze.
 * Star Light Zone, a peaceful, highway-like city area at night.
 * Scrap Brain Zone, a heavily industrialized area which serves as Robotnik's base.

Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
The story in the 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog is the same as in the 16-bit one, and the games most likely depict the same adventure. However, after collecting all the Chaos Emeralds, the pollution cloud caused by Scrap Brain Zone above the South Island is erased by emeralds. Zones of the game are below:


 * Green Hill Zone, sporting the same verdant fields as in its other appearances.
 * Bridge Zone, a long bridge over a river.
 * Jungle Zone, a rain forest with wild rivers and vines.
 * Labyrinth Zone, the same submerged ruins as in the 16-bit game.
 * Scrap Brain Zone, the Doctor's industrial stronghold.
 * Sky Base Zone, a large, weaponized zeppelin made by Robotnik.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Dr. Robotnik returns and kidnaps all the inhabitants, along with Miles "Tails" Prower, demanding a ransom of six Chaos Emeralds to return them. Sonic goes out to stop him once again and succeeds. The Zones of the game are as follows:


 * Under Ground Zone, a volcanic mountain, once used as a mine.
 * Sky High Zone, the top of a mountain that reaches the clouds.
 * Aqua Lake Zone, a lake surrounded by fountains and pillars.
 * Green Hills Zone, very like the one from the previous games, but with normal trees instead of palm trees.
 * Gimmick Mountain Zone, one of Robotnik's metallic bases, apparently set inside a mountain.
 * Scrambled Egg Zone, a mountain filled with large pipes, and another of Robotnik's bases.
 * Crystal Egg Zone, a transparent crystal base of Robotnik's. Can only be accessed with six Chaos Emeralds.

Sonic Chaos
In Sonic Chaos, Robotnik steals one of the Chaos Emeralds on South Island and as a result, the rest of the Emeralds become unbalanced and cause the island to slowly sink into the ocean. However, Sonic recovers all the Emeralds and saves the island. Zones of the game are below:


 * Turquoise Hill Zone, a grassy hillside area, much like Green Hill Zone.
 * Gigalopolis Zone, a sprawling urban area with various passages. The Game Gear version spells it as "Gigapolis Zone".
 * Sleeping Egg Zone, a mostly flat region of plains, with Eggman's self-portrait adorning parts of the background.
 * Mecha Green Hill Zone, Robotnik's version of the Green Hill Zone, with deathtraps strewn everywhere.
 * Aqua Planet Zone, a group of ruins partially submerged in water. Despite the name, there is actually very little water.
 * Electric Egg Zone, another of Robotnik's many large bases.

Sonic the Fighters
In Sonic the Fighters, South Island is one of the battle arenas. It is the very first arena in story mode, and is where the player character faces Knuckles the Echidna. The arena is set on a small island plateau, in an area that looks mostly like the Green Hill Zone. If the player plays as Knuckles here, the player will fight a shadow Knuckles.

Sonic Blast
In Sonic Blast, Robotnik's latest floating base threatens Sonic's home, so Sonic and Knuckles resolve to take it down. While the location was not specified as South Island in the western storyline, the presence of another version of Green Hill Zone further implies it. Zones of the game are below:


 * Green Hill Zone, a version of the series landmark.
 * Yellow Desert Zone, a large yellow desert with Egyptian caverns.
 * Red Volcano Zone, an active underground area surrounded by molten rock.
 * Blue Marine Zone, the waters off the coast inhabited by ancient ruins.
 * Silver Castle Zone, Robotnik's massive station that rose from the ocean.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its GameCube re-release, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Green Hill Zone was a secret stage that could be unlocked by obtaining all 180 Emblems. On the Stage Select screen, the icon for Green Hill could be found on a secluded island, presumably South Island.

Sonic Battle
Sonic Battle features Green Hill as an unlockable arena unrelated to Story Mode. In addition, as Central City would later be shown to be located on South Island, it introduces Emerald Town, Holy Summit and Night Babylon as neighboring areas on the island.

Sonic Chronicles: Dark Brotherhood
South Island appears here as the western landmass in the first part of the game. In addition to Green Hill Zone and Central City, it reveals that the Mystic Ruins and the remains of Station Square are also found here.

Sonic Generations
Although South Island itself is not mentioned in Sonic Generations, one of its main locations, Green Hill, makes its reappearance as the first level in this game.

Sonic the Comic
In the Sonic the Comic published by Fleetway Editions, South Island is a location on Planet Mobius which hosts a number of prominent Hill-themed Zones, including not only the Green Hill Zone but the Emerald Hill Zone as well. It is also home to the Emerald Hill Folk and the Freedom Fighters.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
In Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, South Island, rather than being a single island, is a region in the Land of the Sky on Planet Freedom which is governed by the President. It is made up of many islands suspended in the sky. Sonic the Hedgehog and Tails serves as South Island's defenders, protecting it from Dr. Robotnik's schemes.

Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, South Island is a location on Sonic's World. In the Post-Super Genesis Wave timeline, Sonic the Hedgehog has had many battles with Dr. Eggman and his forces.