Madmole

Madmole^[1] (モグモグ^[2], Mogu-Mogu^?) is an enemy in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, mole-based Badnik model created by Dr. Eggman that pops out of metallic holes and throws mushrooms at its targets.

Appearance

Based on moles, Madmoles have blue and grey armor with yellow helmets on their heads and short hoe-shaped hands. They also wear protective blue glasses and have long noses.

The Madmoles' design have remained fairly consistent since their debut, except in Sonic Lost World where they had clamps for hands. Also, the Madmoles onboard the Flying Battery have a color scheme consisting of yellow shoulders and torsos, grey helmets and yellow glasses.

Game appearances

Sonic & Knuckles

In Sonic & Knuckles, Madmoles hide in metallic holes in Mushroom Hill Zone. When the player approaches, the Madmoles will pop out of their holes and throw mushrooms at the player. The mushrooms will not damage the player, but they will push the playable character backwards, usually into hazardous obstacles. The player has to avoid the mushrooms and defeat the Madmoles with a Spin Jump at the right time.

Sonic Generations

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, the Madmoles appear in Mushroom Hill (in Act 1 they can even be found in the same spots they were in their debut game). In this game, they retain their attack patters and methods from Sonic & Knuckles. The player can easily defeat them with a Spin Jump or Homing Attack.

Sonic Lost World

In the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World, the Madmoles returned as enemies. During the game, the Madmoles and the other Badniks got hijacked by the Deadly Six. They can be found in Silent Forest Zone 1 where they hide in groups in small burrows. Like in Sonic & Knuckles, Madmoles will pop out of their holes and they will pelt Sonic with bouncy mushrooms when he approaches them. The player can easily defeat them by using the Focused Homing Attack; the Flying Kick is useless against them as they will simply avoid it.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Madmoles returned as enemies. Physically, the Madmoles look like they did in their debut game, except they are colored like those piloting the Flying Battery in Mushroom Hill Zone back in Sonic & Knuckles. In these games, they only appear in Flying Battery Zone Act 2, although they also make a cameo on a television screen after the fight with the Weather Globe in Studiopolis Zone.

In gameplay, Madmoles reside on plaforms outside the ship. In these areas, they sit in individual pods, from where they periodically send electrical currents through a network of connectors that are connected by orbs at their joints. When electricity courses through these otherwise-passable connectors, they become damage-inducing barriers that are impossible for the player to pass. By destroying the Madmoles with the Spin Attack, the connectors will be stopped for good, although the player can also destroy the connector's orbs in order to stop the flow.

Powers and abilities

Weapons

The Madmoles employ a form of highly bouncy mushrooms as projectile weapons against their foes. While they are not harmful, their resilience make them adequate for pushing foes back.

Trivia

• After completing Mushroom Hill Zone Act 2 in Sonic & Knuckles, a recolored Madmole can be seen on the Flying Battery, as it flies overhead. This Badnik was not seen again, not even in Flying Battery Zone itself, until Sonic Mania.
• Madmole's Japanese name "Mogu-mogu" comes from "mogura", which is Japanese for "mole."
• In the Wii U/PC version of Sonic Lost World, when Sonic gets caught by a mushroom thrown by a Madmole, it can sometimes clip Sonic through the floor and die.
• In Sonic Mania, Madmoles are referred to as "Tuesday" in the game's files. The reason for this is unknown.

Gallery

Artwork

Sonic & Knuckles

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Screenshots

Gallery
Sonic & Knuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles Sonic Generations (Nintendo 3DS) Sonic Lost World (Wii U) Sonic Mania Add a photo to this gallery

References