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"Infinite can create virtual reality projections. They have mass and form, but no heart and soul."
"Virtual reality? So all those familiar faces that were part of Eggman's army..."
"Replicas. The problem is, they may not be real, but their powers are as formidable as the originals."


Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Forces

Phantom Copies,[1] also referred to as Replicas (レプリカ Repurika?), are creatures that appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are distinct virtual reality projections of existing beings created by Infinite through the power of the Phantom Ruby. Serving the Eggman Empire, Phantom Copies have all the strengths and powers that their original counterparts possess, though they have no free will. Each Phantom Copy can also be mass-produced.

Description[]

Anatomy[]

SFIT19

A Phantom Copy of Shadow, whose eyes are different compared to the original.

Phantom Copies are virtual reality projections of existing lifeforms. The Phantom Copies take on the form of their original counterparts, with little to no differences between comparing the original to the fake (the Phantom Copy of Shadow is shown to have different eyes than the original Shadow, namely having slitted, cat-like pupils). It is also worth noting that the Phantom Copies will occasionally have red particles that resemble forms of pixelated glitching randomly appearing on their body, a likely factor of the Phantom Ruby's abilities.

Powers and abilities[]

Phantom Copies are capable to using any ability that their original counterpart can utilize. The Phantom Copy of Zavok, for example, is capable of fighting against Sonic in a brawl with both the personality and strength that the original Zavok has.

History[]

Past[]

When Doctor Eggman discovered the Phantom Ruby, he tested its power on Angel Island, creating a virtual reality illusion of the village of the Knuckles Clan. As a part of this restoration, a Phantom Copy of Chaos emerged from the Master Emerald to fight Knuckles the Echidna and Silver the Hedgehog. However, it disappeared as soon as Knuckles and Silver defeated it.

Using the power of the Phantom Ruby, Infinite was able to create Phantom Copies of Rouge the Bat and E-123 Omega. In the Virtual Reality, the Rouge Phantom Copy talks to Shadow the Hedgehog over the radio, stating that Omega disappeared at this facility three months ago. Shadow is confused about what happened to Infinite but makes his way through the area regardless.

Later on, Shadow reaches the point where Omega was defeated, but cannot find any sign of him. Rouge calmly states that this is because it never really happened. At this point, the Omega Phantom Copy joins the radio, stating that he has never been defeated before breaking down into constantly shouting "I am not weak", which alluded to Infinite's inferiority complex as a result of being beaten by Shadow earlier.

Sonic Forces[]

Infinite later created virtual reality projections of Shadow, Metal Sonic, Chaos, and Zavok. In the City, Sonic had rescued Tails and several civilians from Eggman's clutches, but was shortly subdued by Infinite and his gang of Phantom Copies.

Six months would pass before Sonic was freed from inside the Death Egg, to which he fought the Phantom Copy of Zavok. After defeating the copy, it disintegrated, with Sonic noticing the sound it emitted upon that happening, the very same sound used when the Phantom Ruby was in use. However, he was not able to give the matter much thought, as Sonic was forced to escape quickly due to the prison cell area undergoing violent convulsions. Around the same time, the Chaos Phantom Copy ambushed and attempted to kill Tails, although the timely arrival of Classic Sonic made short work of the copy. Infinite later used Phantom Copies of himself during his fight against Sonic in Mystic Jungle, although Sonic used his Homing Attack to both neutralize them and go on the offensive against Infinite himself. Sonic later returned to the City after the Shadow Phantom Copy was spotted leading Eggman's army on a rampage through the desolate town. When Sonic confronted the copy, the real Shadow arrived and defeated it. After the fight, Shadow revealed to Sonic what Phantom Copies were, giving the Resistance some insight to Infinite's power. Eventually, Sonic and the Avatar proceeded to fight the Metal Sonic Phantom Copy, which had grown in size, and defeated it.

Eventually, the Resistance would reach the Eggman Empire Fortress, where an army of Phantom Copies would serve during the climatic battle between the heroes and the Eggman Empire. The creation of Phantom Copies was further increased by the thousands after the generator was destroyed, due to Eggman using the generator as a decoy while powering the Death Egg Robot with the actual Phantom Ruby, which was overclocked. Once the Death Egg Robot was destroyed and the Phantom Ruby along with it, the Phantom Copies ceased to exist.

Other game appearances[]

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle[]

Main article: Deadly Replica

In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, Infinite can create Phantom Copies of himself as a part of the Deadly Replica power-up. Additionally, during gameplay, other players' characters are portrayed as Phantom Copies.

In other media[]

Books and comics[]

IDW Publishing[]

Main article: Phantom

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series published by IDW Publishing, Phantom Copies are referred to as phantoms. When Sonic met Neo Metal Sonic, he realized that he only fought a phantom of Metal Sonic because the actual robot was in the process of being upgraded.

Trivia[]

  • Shadow and Chaos are the only two Eggman Army Phantom Copies that do not have their own boss fight in Sonic Forces.
  • Chaos is the only Phantom Copy who only appears in the cutscenes of Sonic Forces without involving the battle in the gameplay, as Zavok and Metal Sonic were full-fledged boss fights, and while the Shadow Phantom Copy is never fought as a boss battle, he does nonetheless appear at the very end of Sunset Heights during gameplay.
  • After both Sonic and the Avatar defeated Infinite, an army of Infinite Phantom Copies were fighting against the Resistance.
    • However, the Phantom Copies of Infinite were not seen during the cutscene. They were, however, observed during the first Infinite boss battle.
  • Although Shadow and various other characters stated that the Phantom Copies lacked the heart and soul of the originals, it seems that they at the very least possessed the memories of the original, as the Zavok Phantom Copy, when defeated by Sonic, expresses irritation over losing to him again, alluding to the original's previous encounter with the hedgehog.
  • Despite having slitted pupils in-game, the Shadow Phantom Copy has normal eyes in promotional artwork and the E3 Trailer. Though it is possible that he has slitted pupils in-game so the player can tell him and the real Shadow apart.
  • In the early game script for Sonic Forces, Phantom Copies of Mephiles the Dark appeared during the battle at Eggman Empire Fortress.[2]
  • In the early game script for Sonic Forces, Sonic believes that the Metal Sonic fought as a boss is not a Phantom Copy.[2]

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Gallery

References[]

  1. Flynn, Ian; Sega (8 December 2021). "Sonic Goes Mobile". Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia. Dark Horse Books. p. 268. ISBN 978-1506719276. "Players are pitted against three other people in real time, although the other racers are presented as Phantom Copies."
  2. 2.0 2.1 Unofficial English translation of early script (15 January 2016). Retrieved on 19 June 2018.

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