- For other uses, see Needlenose (disambiguation).
The Needlenose[1] (カメカ[2][3] Kameka?), also known as the Robot Mosquito[4] (モスキー[5] Mosukī?), Kameka,[6] and Mosqui,[7] is an enemy that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, mosquito-based Badnik created by Dr. Eggman that is designed to skewer their foes.
Appearance[]
Based on a mosquito, the Needlenose is one of the smallest Badniks Dr. Eggman has ever created. They each have a cone-shaped body with a gray needle-like proboscis at the point of their bodies, two large and cartoonish black eyes between their bodies and proboscises, and white circular wings behind their eyes. Standard Needlenoses have a red body with a yellow line near their rear, though the Needlenoses in Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble have a gray body with a white line.
Game appearances[]
Sonic the Hedgehog CD[]
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the Needlenose is referred to as both Robot Mosquito[4] (モスキー[5] Mosukī?) and Mosqui.[7] In this game, they appear in Palmtree Panic. In gameplay, they fly in straight lines, but when the playable character passes underneath them, they will attempt to dart down at high speeds and puncture the playable character. Regardless, they are very easily dodged, and can be destroyed in the air. Also, after attempting to dive-bomb the playable character, they will be stuck in the ground, rendering them helplessly and leaving them vulnerable to attack.
Unlike other Badniks in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, if the player does not destroy a Robot Mosquito after it has landed on the ground and goes off the screen, it does not come back upon returning.
In the Bad Future of Palmtree Panic, Robot Mosquitos will be worn down from age, showing a twisted nose. These Robot Mosquitos fly a bit slower and has slower reaction times, significantly reducing any threat they pose. Also, like every Badnik in the game, they are powered by Little Planet flower seeds which will pop out of them when they are defeated.
Several Robot Mosquitos also appear during the ending sequence that plays during the credits, attempting to dive-bomb Sonic, only for Sonic to dodge them despite his initial surprise.
Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble[]
In Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, the Needlenose is referred to as the Kameka[6] (カメカ[2]?). They appear in the skies of Sunset Park Zone. In this game, their color scheme is gray and white.
In gameplay, like in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, they fly along a straight line, but will turn to drive into the ground as soon as the playable character passes underneath them. Sometimes, because of their placement around the wind turbines in Sunset Park Zone, the player may end up taking damage from attempting to attack them in the air as they will often have their Spin Jump cancelled by the turbines. Like other Badniks in the game, Kamekas do not have any Animal power sources (or any visible power source for that matter).
Knuckles' Chaotix[]
In Knuckles' Chaotix, this Badnik is referred to as Needlenose[1] (カメカ[3] Kameka?). In the game's cinematic opening sequence, four Needlenoses are shown flying above the Newtrogic High Zone before joining Metal Sonic on his flight.
In gameplay, Needlenoses appear as enemies in Speed Slider. Much like in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, they fly overhead, but will dash straight down as soon as the player passes underneath, plunging their noses into the ground. Upon impacting the ground through, they also release a pair of flashing projectiles. In this game, like all of the Badniks featured in Knuckles' Chaotix, the Needlenoses are powered by Dark Rings.
Powers and abilities[]
Needlenoses are capable of flight and possesses needle-like noses that can skewer their opponents. Later variants were also able to release energy-based projectiles upon striking the ground.
In other media[]
Books and comics[]
Sonic the Comic[]
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, the Needlenoses are as a part of Dr. Robotnik's Badnik army. They have only made a few brief appearances during the comic's run. Between the issues, the different artists would give the Needlenoses different designs.
Archie Comics[]
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Needlenoses are old robots from Dr. Eggman's Badnik Horde. Several of them were left behind on Isolated Island, where they got turned into helper robots by Dr. Ellidy.
IDW Publishing[]
Dr. Eggman's Birthday[]
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing, several Needlenoses, along with many other Badniks worked together to give Dr. Eggman a nice birthday by trying to destroy Sonic for him. However, they were ordered to return to base by Eggman before they could commence their attack.[8]
Trivia[]
- The "ka" (カ?) in its second Japanese name, Kameka, is Japanese for "mosquito".
- The Needlenose's Japanese name in Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble ("Kameka"), which literally means "mosquito mecha", is derived from the Needlenose's original concept art for Sonic the Hedgehog CD.[9]
- The Needlenose is notable for being one of the many recurring Badniks of the older Sonic the Hedgehog games.
- It is also notable for getting a different moniker in each of its original appearances, even though it looks and behaves virtually identically every time. The only new ability they earned was to release projectiles when they hit the ground in Knuckles' Chaotix.
Gallery[]
Concept artwork[]
Artwork[]
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Screenshots[]
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Knuckles' Chaotix (Sega 32X) United States instruction booklet, pg. 26.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sonic & Tails 2 (Sega Game Gear) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 31.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chaotix (Super 32X) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 42.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Robot Mosquito flies slowly through the air. When it sees an enemy it swoops to attack! - Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Windows 95) help file.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Mega-CD) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 30.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Flynn, Ian; Sega (8 December 2021). "Sonic The Hedgehog Triple Trouble". Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia. Dark Horse Books. p. 63. ISBN 978-1506719276. "Enemies - Kameka"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Flynn, Ian; Sega (8 December 2021). "Sonic CD". Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia. Dark Horse Books. p. 33. ISBN 978-1506719276. "Mosqui - Divebombing mosquito."
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special, "Dr. Eggman's Birthday"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog CD concept artwork.