Scarab

The Scarab^{[note 1][note 2]} is an enemy in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are mass-produced scarab beetle-based Badniks created by Dr. Eggman.

Appearance

Scarabs are based on Scarabaeidaes (also called scarab beetles), although they bear little resemblance to them. They have an ellipsoid-shaped light green body with a red plating across their forehead and back, and a pair of black-eyed black-rimmed eyes on the front. They also have no limbs, except for a pair of long insect legs on their rear for moving them around.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Scarabs are found in Metallic Madness. In gameplay, they simply move back and forth, and have no offensive attacks. Instead, if the player tries attacking a Scarab from the rear, it will grab the playable character (without causing damage), force them into the Spin Attack and launch them in the opposite direction. Occasionally, they may also carry Item Boxes. To defeat a Scarab, the player must attack it from above with the Spin Jump.

In the Bad Future or sometimes the present time frame of Metallic Madness, Scarabs have not decayed, but move much slower. Like every Badnik in the game, they are powered by Little Planet flower seeds which will pop out of them when they are defeated.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Scarabs appear as enemies. In terms of design, they look exactly like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog CD. In these games, they only appear in Metallic Madness Zone.

In gameplay, the Scarabs move back and fourth while carrying objects, just like in their debut game. This time around however, they may carry around spikes instead of Item Boxes. Because no Scarabs in this game are empty-handed and the spikes they carry cannot be destroyed, it is impossible for the player to be caught between their claws. Also, upon destroying a Scarab, it will release an Animal.

Trivia

• In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, only a single Scarab carries an Item Box with the Super Ring power-up in the entire game. It can be found by taking the middle pathway of Metallic Madness Zone 1.

Notes

1. ↑ While not listed in any instruction manuals, in-game source code from the Sonic Gems Collection version of Sonic the Hedgehog CD refers to this Badnik as "scarab".
2. ↑ The PC version of Sonic Mania listed the enemy as "Scarab" according to the internal files of the game.