Boss Gate Key

The Boss Gate Key, or just Boss Key,^[1] is a recurring object in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a special type of key that is needed to unlock Boss Gates, which grant access to the local levels' bosses.

Game appearances

Sonic Unleashed

The first Boss Keys appeared on the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed under the name Gaia Keys (ガイア神殿の鍵, Gaia shinden no kagi^?, lit. "Key to the Gaia temple"). In this game, they are needed to unlock certain Gaia Gates (called "Boss Gates" by Professor Pickle). Story-wise, they each grant access to their local Gaia Temple via their Boss Gates..

While there are seven Temples of Gaia in the world, only four Gaia Keys are available in the game. This is because the player automatically accesses the Gaia Temples in Eggmanland, Mazuri and Chun-nan without a need for a Gaia Key.

Each Gaia Key is split into to halves: one Sun Key and one Moon Key.^[2] Both these keys are needed to form one whole Gaia Key. To obtain both halves for a key, the player has to clear the main daytime Act (which holds the Sun Key) and nighttime Act (which holds the Moon Key) on one continent. This means, for example, to get the Gaia Key for Spagonia's Boss Gate, the player must clear both the daytime and nighttime version of Rooftop Run Act 1. When playing through these Acts for the first time, the Gaia Key halves will serve as the Goals; after that, they will be replaced with Goal Rings.

It should be noted that different continents' key halves cannot be used to substitute others. This means, for example, that Holoska's Sun Key cannot be used as a substitute for Spagonia's Sun Key if the player wants to form a whole Gaia Key.

In the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, the Gaia Keys are replaced by the Planet Tablets.

Sonic Generations

In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the Boss Keys are needed to open the Boss Gates in the White Space. Each Boss Gate found in the game requires three Boss Gate Keys to be unlocked, making a total of nine Boss Gate Keys to be found.

After both Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic clear all the Acts in an Area of the White Space, three Boss Gate Keys will appear around that Area. However, these keys will be surrounded by unpassable shields that makes them unobtainable. In order to obtain them, the player has to clear one Stage's Challenge Act in either Act 1 or Act 2 for each of the keys. Once a Challenge Act has been cleared, the shield will be lowered and the Boss Gate Key can be picked up.

In other media

Archie Comics

Main article: Gaia Key (Archie)

Gregorios exposits on the Gaia Keys, from *Sonic the Hedgehog* #272.

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Gaia Keys from Sonic Unleashed appear, though they share some elements from the Sun Tablets, Moon Tablets and Planet Tablets.

In this media, the Gaia Keys open up for the inner chambers of the Gaia Temples. In turn, they have been entrusted to select families who keep their duty a secret. Hoping to resolve the Shattered World Crisis, the sage Gregorios revealed the existence of the Gaia Keys to the Freedom Fighters and provided them with the identities and locations of the keyholders.

Gallery

Artwork

Gallery
The Gaia Key (Night) The Gaia Key (Day) The Gaia Key halves side-by-side. Sonic Generations Add a photo to this gallery

Models

Add a photo to this gallery

References

↑ Sonic Team (9 December 2008). Sonic Unleashed. PlayStation 3. Sega. Area/Level: Collection Room. "Prof. Pickle: Yes, to operate the Boss Gates, you'll need to assemble the Boss Key. The daytime and night stages should each hold a separate key. Those two can then be fused into a single key, and used at the gate."
↑ Sonic Unleashed (PlayStation 3) European instruction booklet, p. 21.

Sonic Unleashed

Playable characters		Sonic (Super Sonic, Sonic the Werehog) \| Gaia Colossus
Non-playable characters	Apotos	Alexis \| Anastasia \| Eric \| Gregorios \| Hot Dog Vendor* \| Ice Cream Vendor \| Lambros \| Lucas* \| Milos* \| Sandra
	Spagonia	Aida* \| Barbara \| Ciccio \| David \| Denise \| Dora \| Elio* \| Federica \| Franco* \| Gigi \| Hot Dog Vendor* \| Ippolita \| Irma* \| Josef \| Lilli* \| Lucia \| Marcantonio* \| Mauro \| Natalia* \| Otto \| Professor Pickle \| Professor Pickle's Assistant \| Raimondo
	Mazuri	Ana \| Essie \| Gwek \| Hog Dog Vendor* \| Kofi \| Kwami \| Kwod \| Yawa \| Yaya
	Chun-nan	Chun \| Hot Dog Vendor* \| Hualin \| Jinlin* \| Lin \| Shuifon \| Wang* \| Yilin \| Zonshen
	Holoska	Hot Dog Vendor* \| Jari-Pekka \| Jari-Thure \| Marketa \| Sarianna \| Ursule
	Shamar	Ara \| Dimah \| Ehsan \| Erhan \| Hizir \| Hot Dog Vendor* \| Iman \| Labib \| Latif \| Layla \| Mufid \| Musaid \| Raniya \| Sa'id \| Sadiq \| Safi \| Samia \| Sammar \| Shadi \| Utba \| Yasmine
	Empire City	Boss* \| Brenda* \| Charles* \| Def Big* \| Elizabeth* \| Hot Dog Vendor* \| Li'l Kate* \| Louie Montaine* \| Robert*
	Adabat	Hot Dog Vendor* \| Jamal \| Kaeo \| Nagi \| Rudi \| Teanchai
	Eggmanland	EF-DC1998* \| EF-MD1991* \| EF-XB2006* \| Hot Dog Vendor*
	Misc.	Amy \| Chip \| Dark Gaia (Perfect Dark Gaia) \| Dr. Eggman \| Tails \| SA-55 \| Su* \| Uh* \| Wentos*
Town Stages/Villages		Apotos \| Mazuri \| Spagonia \| Chun-nan \| Holoska \| Shamar \| Empire City* \| Adabat \| Eggmanland
Action Stages/Stages		Windmill Isle \| Savannah Citadel* \| Rooftop Run \| Dragon Road \| Cool Edge \| Arid Sands \| Skyscraper Scamper* \| Jungle Joyride \| Eggmanland \| Tornado Defense*
Enemies	Eggman's Machinery	Aero-Cannon \| Aero-Chaser \| Egg Blizzard \| Egg Burst \| Egg Fighter \| Egg Fighter: Knight (Electric shield, Spring shield) \| Egg Fighter: Shield (Electric shield, Spring shield) \| Egg Fighter: Sword* \| Egg Flame \| Egg Launcher (H) \| Egg Launcher (H+V) \| Egg Launcher (V) \| Egg Shackle \| Egg Shooter \| Egg Typhoon \| Gold Aero-Cannon \| Interceptor \| Little Fighter* \| Mole Cannon \| Spinner \| Thunder Ball \| Thunder Spinner
Enemies	Dark Gaia's minions	Big Mother \| Cure Master* \| Dark Bat \| Dark Bat Sniper \| Dark Eel* \| Dark Fright \| Dark Master** \| Deep Nightmare \| Evil Flower* \| Fire Master \| Fright Master \| Killer Bee \| Lightning Master \| Little Rex \| Nightmare \| Power Master* \| Red Fright \| Red Killer Bee \| Red Nightmare \| Red Deep Nightmare \| Red Rex \| Red Titan \| Spike \| Thunder Bat \| Titan
Bosses		Egg Beetle \| Egg Cauldron* \| Egg Devil Ray \| Egg Dragoon \| Egg Lancer \| Dark Gaia \| Dark Gaia Phoenix \| Dark Guardian \| Dark Moray \| Perfect Dark Gaia
Moves/ Techniques	Sonic	Air Boost \| Cartwheel \| Crouch \| Foot Sweep* \| Grind Step \| Grinding \| Homing Attack \| Hop \| Jump Dash \| Lightspeed Dash \| Slide \| Skydiving \| Sonic Boost \| Sonic Drift \| Spin Jump \| Stomp \| Quick Step \| Wall Jump
	Werehog	Dash \| Double Jump \| Grab \| Guard \| Unleashed Mode \| Wall Shuffle
	Misc.	Boost \| Drill Attack \| Super Sonic Boost \| Turbo Boost
Skills	Straight attacks	Donkey Kick Combo* \| Double Axle Combo* \| Double Kick Combo* \| Feral Were-Hammer* \| Knuckle Sandwich Combo* \| Sho-Hog-Ken* \| Unleashed Knuckle Sandwich* \| Vertical Were-Hammer* \| Were-Hammer* \| Werewheel Rush*
	Hook attacks	Earthshaker* \| Egg Scrambler* \| Feral Wild Whirl* \| Rolling Kick Combo* \| Sho-Claw-Ken* \| Ultimate Wild Combo* \| Unleashed Wild Combo* \| Wereclap* \| Wild Whirl* \| Wild Whirl Were-Hammer*
	Aerial attacks	Aerial Claw Slash* \| Aerial Claw Slash and Spin* \| Aerial Piledriver* \| Crescent Moon Strike* \| Diving Bodypress* \| Flying Double-Punch* \| Flying Double-Punch Crush* \| Hurricane Combo* \| Shooting Star Combo* \| Typhoon Combo*
	Special attacks	Comet Punch* \| Missile Punch* \| Spinning Needle Attack* \| Tricky Tornado Uppercut* \| Triple Wild Claw* \| Were-Claw Charge* \| Were-Cyclone* \| Were-Rush* \| Were-Tornado* \| Wild Werewhip*
	Wii/PS2	Beatdown \| Claw Charge \| Crescent Moon Strike \| Earthshaker \| Wereclap \| Were-Hammer \| Were-Claw \| Were-Wallop \| Wild Claw \| Wild Whirl**
Gimmicks and obstacles		Balloon \| Blue spring \| Bobsled \| Bomb \| Buggy \| Buoy \| Check Point \| Conveyor Belt \| Crane Lift \| Crank \| Dark Energy Force Field \| Dash Panel \| Dash Rail \| Dash Ring \| Door \| Fountain \| Giant spear** \| Grind Rail \| Hanging vine \| Hint Ring \| Horizontal Bar \| Hourglass* \| Icicle \| Iron ball \| Jump Selector \| Laser field \| Lever \| Movable box \| Moving Crate \| Rainbow Ring \| Ramp \| Snowblower \| Spike Trap \| Spikes \| Springboard/Spring \| Springpole \| Switch \| Thorn Spring \| Trap Spring \| Trick Jump Panel \| Wide spring \| Zip Line
Items	General	1UP \| 5 Ring Bonus \| 20 Rings** \| Art Book* \| Audio System \| Big 50 Ring** \| Blue Tea* \| Bookshelf* \| Boss Gate \| Chaos Orb* \| Container (Explosive crate, Steel Container, Wooden Container) \| Crystal Ball* \| Dark Energy Key \| Dark Gaia Force \| Edible item (Apple, Banana, Canned Juice, Chai, Chili Dog, Donut, Sundae Supreme) \| Gaia Gate \| Gaia Key*** \| Goal Ring \| Gift* \| Gramophone* \| Green Tea* \| Item Capsule** \| Key Stone* \| Lovely Ring* \| Maiden Statue* \| Moon Medal \| Moon Tablet** \| Old Necklace* \| Planet Tablet** \| Pick-Me-Up* \| Pretty Bouquet* \| Power Shield* \| Record* \| Red Tea* \| Ring \| Shield Charge* \| Souvenir* \| Sun Medal \| Sun Tablet** \| Super Claw* \| Super Ring \| Turquoise Tea* \| TV* \| Videotape* \| Violet Tea* \| White Tea* \| Yellow Tea*
Items	Level Up Items	Air Boost Shoes* \| Light Speed Dash Shoes* \| Stomping Shoes* \| Wall Jump Shoes*
English voice actors		Jason Griffith (Sonic, Sonic the Werehog, Prof. Pickle's Assistant) \| Amy Palant (Tails) \| Lisa Ortiz (Amy) \| Anthony Salerno (Chip) \| Mike Pollock (Eggman, Zonshen) \| Christopher Collet (SA-55) \| Dan Green (Ice Cream Vendor, Prof. Pickle)
Japanese voice actors		Jun'ichi Kanemaru (Sonic) \| Chikao Otsuka (Eggman) \| Chō (Prof. Pickle) \| Ryo Hirohashi (Tails) \| Taeko Kawata (Amy) \| Tomokazu Seki (Sonic the Werehog) \| Ryōko Shiraishi (Chip)
Music	Songs	Endless Possibility \| Dear My Friend
Music	Albums	Planetary Pieces: Sonic World Adventure Original Soundtrack
Other		Auto Running \| Boost Gauge \| Boost Gauge \| Chao* \| Chaos Emerald \| Chaos Energy Cannon \| Chun-nan's Treasure \| Collection Room* \| Combo \| Critical Attack \| Don Fachio* \| Doctor Eggman's chair \| Earth \| Eggman Fleet \| Egg Dragoon \| Egg Mobile \| Entrance Stage* \| Exorcisms \| Experience Point \| Freeze \| Gaia Manuscripts \| Gaia Temple \| Gaia Temple guardian \| Hallowmoon \| Havok \| Health Gauge \| Miles Electric \| Orb Result** \| Real-Time Interaction \| Ring Energy Gauge \| Shield Gauge \| Shop* (Counter of Dreams 2, Eggshop, Flying Fish Beach Shop, Golden Trading Company, Josef's, Surfside Seagull Sundries, Traveling Salesman Wentos, Treeshade, Ursule's Trading Post, Wang's Emporium) \| Shuttle loop \| Sonic: Night of the Werehog \| Sonic World Adventure (manga) \| Spagonia University \| SPD \| Tornado-1 \| Rank \| Time of awakening \| Unleashed Gauge "" Exclusive to Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version "*" Exclusive to Wii/PlayStation 2 version.

Sonic Generations

Playable characters		Modern Sonic (Modern Super Sonic) \| Classic Sonic (Classic Super Sonic)
Non-playable characters		Modern Eggman \| Classic Eggman \| Time Eater \| Modern Tails \| Classic Tails \| Amy \| Knuckles \| Shadow \| Rouge \| Cream \| Cheese \| Silver \| Blaze \| Omochao \| Team Chaotix (Espio, Vector, Charmy) \| Orbot \| Cubot \| Animals (Flicky, Picky, Pecky, Cucky)
Wisps		Cyan** \| Orange* \| Pink* \| Red**
Stages	Console/PC*	Green Hill \| Chemical Plant \| Sky Sanctuary \| Speed Highway \| City Escape \| Seaside Hill \| Crisis City \| Rooftop Run \| Planet Wisp \| Casino Night
Stages	Nintendo 3DS**	Green Hill \| Casino Night \| Mushroom Hill \| Emerald Coast \| Radical Highway \| Water Palace \| Tropical Resort
Challenge Acts*		Doppelganger Race! \| The Buzz Bombers' Revenge! \| Knuckles: Horde of Enemies \| Swingset Circus \| High Speed Challenge \| Look Out Below! \| Tails: Way Past Fast \| Jump Rush \| 300% Boost Gauge Challenge \| Tails: Toxic Skies \| Which Switch is Which? \| Aqua Shield Challenge \| Invincibility Challenge \| One Ring Challenge \| Amy: Taking the Leap Together! \| Grappling with Grabbers \| Underwater Ring Machine \| Eggrobo Rush \| Aerial Paradise \| Ring Time Challenge \| Amy: Topsy Turvy \| Knuckles: Buried Treasure \| 200% Boost Gauge Challenge \| Balloon Bonanza \| High-Speed Hijinks (Modern) \| Cream: Chao Hunt \| Hot Pursuit (Classic) \| High Speed Challenge 2 \| Resisting Arrest \| Overdrift \| Hot Pursuit (Modern) \| Drill Baby Drill \| Espio: Master of Camouflage \| Lord of the Board \| Thunder Shield Challenge \| Rouge: The Bombardier \| Rite of Spring \| Cream: Helping Hand \| Dash Ring 1-2-3 (Modern) \| Topsy-Turvy \| High-Speed Hijinks 2 \| Rescue the Animals! \| Espio: Way of the Ninja \| High-Speed Hijinks (Classic) \| Underwater Challenge \| Rouge: The Temptress \| Trick Island \| Surf, Sea, and Sand \| Terror From the Deep \| Goal Post Juggle \| Vector: Through the Storm \| Flame Shield Challenge \| Ring Time Challenge 2 \| Power Stomp Challenge \| Switcheroo \| Blaze: Piercing the Flames \| Four-way Cannon Cavalcade \| High-Rise Balloon Climb \| Dash Ring 1-2-3 (Classic) \| Charmy: Don't Bug Me! \| One Ring Challenge 2 \| Barrel Ring Bonus \| Rooftop Rail Grind \| Endless Boost \| Vector: Pick Up the Beat \| With Your Powers Combined \| Goal Post Juggle 2 \| Chase After Blaze \| Rescue the Animals 2! \| Cart Challenge \| Charmy: High in the Sky \| Action Master \| Orange Rocket, Blast Off!
Enemies		Aero-Cannon* \| Butterdroid** \| Buzz Bomber \| Buzzer \| Chopper \| Cop Speeder* \| Crabmeat \| Crawl \| Dragonfly \| Flapper** \| Egg Chaser* \| Egg Diver** \| Egg Fighter* \| Egg Fighter: Sword* \| Egg Launcher (H)* \| Egg Launcher (H+V)* \| Egg Launcher (V)* \| Egg Pawn \| Egg Pawn (spear) \| Eggrobo* \| Giant Chopper* \| Gold Beetle** \| Grabber* \| Gun Beetle* \| Gun Hunter \| Iblis's Minions (Iblis Biter, Iblis Taker, Iblis Worm)* \| Kiki \| Klagen \| Madmole \| Mono Beetle \| Moto Bug \| Mushmeanie \| Newtron \| Rhinotank** \| Sandworm* \| Spinner \| Spiny* \| Sprinkler* \| Sweeper** \| Thunder Spinner
Bosses	Console/PC*	Metal Sonic \| Death Egg Robot \| Shadow the Hedgehog \| Perfect Chaos \| Silver the Hedgehog \| Egg Dragoon \| Time Eater
Bosses	Nintendo 3DS**	Metal Sonic \| Big Arm \| Shadow the Hedgehog \| Biolizard \| Silver the Hedgehog \| Egg Emperor \| Time Eater
Moves/ Techniques	Playable characters	Air Boost \| Atomic Spin \| Bound Jump* \| Cartwheel \| Crouch \| Double Jump* \| Drift* \| Freestyle Tricks* \| Grind Step \| Grinding \| Homing Attack \| Hop \| Jump Dash \| Kick boost \| Lightspeed Dash* \| Mid-Air Dash* \| Quick Step* \| Boost \| Slide \| Skydiving* \| Spin Dash \| Spin Jump \| Stomp \| Super Sonic Boost \| Super Sonic Missile \| Wall Jump
Moves/ Techniques	NPCs	Chaos Spear \| Drill Attack* \| Fire Beam* \| Heart Effect* \| Ice Wave* \| Meteor Smash* \| Ninja Arts: Camouflage* \| Propeller Flying* \| Psychic Knife \| Restraint Trap \| Ring Spark Field \| Sun Burst \| V. Maximum Overdrive Attack \| Warping arm attack \| Whirlwind*
Color Powers		Cyan Laser** \| Orange Rocket* \| Pink Spikes* \| Red Burst**
Skills*		Aqua Shield \| Flame Shield \| Thunder Shield \| Twin Spin Attack \| Invincible Start \| Shield \| Power Sneakers \| Long Spin Dash \| Treasure Scanner \| Homing Attack \| Hercules Muscles \| Breath Holder \| Boardmaster \| Ring Time \| Blast Off \| Speed Up \| Direct Jump \| Power Stomp \| Quick Slide \| Acceleration \| Smasher Bonus \| Ring Energy Bonus \| Boost Gauge Up \| Serial Homing \| Auto-Gauge \| Gauge Rebooter \| Trick Mastery \| Endless Boost \| Power Brake \| Sure-Footed \| Safety Net \| Last Chance \| 10-Second Rings \| Athleticism \| Time Break \| Super Sonic \| Sega Genesis Controller
Gimmicks and obstacles		Balloon \| Barrel \| Big Balloon \| Bomb \| Bonus Bell* \| Bottomless pit \| Bumper \| Cannon \| Capsule \| Cart \| Cloud* \| Conveyor Belt** \| Crusher \| Dash Panel \| Dash Rail \| Dash Ring \| Dimensional Bomb \| Explosion Trap \| Fan \| Flipper \| Four-way Cannon* \| Gear Platform \| Gondola* \| GUN Military Truck* \| Hanging Bell* \| Heart bomb* \| Helicopter* \| High-speed warp tube \| Horizontal Bar \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel (plate) \| Jump Panel (ramp) \| Kao \| Laser field \| Meteorite \| Movable box \| Mushroom \| Pole Elevator \| Prism \| Propeller Spring \| Pulley \| Rainbow Ring \| Rocket \| Route Signal* \| Seed Propeller** \| Seesaw \| Slot machine \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Spring Pole \| Spike Trap \| Spinning Top \| Spinning Platform \| Spotlight \| Star Post \| Switch \| Trap Spring \| Trick Jump Panel \| Wall Jump Block \| Warp Point \| Wide spring \| Zip Line
Items		Air Bubble \| Boss Gate \| Boss Gate Key* \| Buoy \| Chaos Emerald \| Container (Case, Spike Block, Steel Container, Unbreakable Container, Wooden Container) \| Crank \| Energy Core \| Goal Ring \| Information Pod* \| Item Box (1-Up, Aqua Shield, Flame Shield, Invincible, Magnetic Shield*, Power Sneakers, Skateboard, Super Ring, Thunder Shield) \| Medal \| Mega Mack \| Musical note* \| Red Star Ring* \| Ring \| Snowboard \| Sphere \| Stomping Shoes \| Time Bonus \| Wisp Capsule
English voice actors		Roger Craig Smith (Sonic) \| Mike Pollock (Eggman) \| Kate Higgins (Tails) \| Travis Willingham (Knuckles) \| Cindy Robinson (Amy) \| Kirk Thornton (Shadow) \| Quinton Flynn (Silver) \| Laura Bailey (Omochao, Blaze) \| Karen Strassman (Rouge) \| Michelle Ruff (Cream) \| Keith Silverstein (Vector) \| Troy Baker (Espio) \| Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Charmy)
Japanese voice actors		Junichi Kanemaru (Sonic) \| Chikao Ōtsuka (Eggman) \| Ryo Hirohashi (Tails (Modern)) \| Takuto Yoshinaga (Tails (Classic)) \| Nobutoshi Canna (Knuckles) \| Taeko Kawata (Amy) \| Koji Yusa (Shadow) \| Rumi Ochiai (Rouge) \| Daisuke Ono (Silver) \| Nao Takamori (Blaze) \| Sayaka Aoki (Cream) \| Kenta Miyake (Vector) \| Yuuki Masuda (Espio) \| Youko Teppozuka (Charmy) \| Etsuko Kozakura (Omochao)
Music	Songs	Back 2 Back \| Escape from the City* \| Vengeance is Mine** \| You're My Hero
Music	Albums	Blue Blur: Sonic Generations Original Soundtrack \| Sonic Generations: 20 Years of Sonic Music \| History of the 1st Stage Original Soundtrack Blue Edition \| History of the 1st Stage Original Soundtrack White Edition
Other		Sonic's birthday \| Boost Gauge \| Chao in Space \| Collection Room \| Combo* \| Corkscrew loop \| Death Egg \| Death Egg Robot* \| Egg Dragoon* \| Egg Gun \| Egg Mobile \| Egg Spear \| Havok* \| Health Gauge** \| Lair of the Time Eater \| Miles Electric \| Orca \| Perfect Bonus \| Rank \| Skill Shop* \| Sonic Generations (manga) \| Sonic Generations of Skate \| Statue Room* \| Time Attack \| Tornado-1 \| Totem Pole \| White Space \| Winding Tunnel \| Wisp Gauge** Console/PC version only *Nintendo 3DS version only

[Pickle_hint-1] Sonic Team (9 December 2008). Sonic Unleashed. PlayStation 3. Sega. Area/Level: Collection Room. "Prof. Pickle: Yes, to operate the Boss Gates, you'll need to assemble the Boss Key. The daytime and night stages should each hold a separate key. Those two can then be fused into a single key, and used at the gate."

[2] Sonic Unleashed (PlayStation 3) European instruction booklet, p. 21.

[1]

[2]