- This article is about the video game character. For other uses, see Vector the Crocodile (disambiguation).
In other media[]
Animation[]
Sonic X[]
Vector the Crocodile, from "Defective Detectives".
In the Sonic X anime series, Vector is the leader of the Chaotix Detective Agency, a trio of underdog detectives accepting any job available, similar to his role in other continuities. He first appeared in "Defective Detectives", where the whole detective office was transported to Earth, the same world that Sonic and the others had ended up in. In a well-meaning, but misguided attempt to reunite Vanilla with her daughter, Vector and the Chaotix ran afoul with Sonic and his friends before all misunderstandings were eventually cleared up. After returning to their own world, Vector and the Chaotix came across the crew of the Blue Typhoon during their space travels a few times before later joining them in the final battle against the Metarex.
Sonic Boom[]
Vector the Crocodile, from Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom.
In the Sonic Boom franchise, Vector is a solo detective on Seaside Island with his own crime investigation reality show on the local television network. While big on the attitude, rough-speaking and on the look-out for a good income, Vector is nonetheless a professional and honest detective who always sees his cases through until he deems them solved. He is also known by Team Sonic, whom he once helped when Amy's Hammer went missing.
Books and comics[]
Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic[]
Vector makes a one-frame appearance in Volume One of the Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic from the magazine, Mega Drive Fan. In this manga, Vector is seen playing the keyboard as part of Sonic's band. This manga was released before the original Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991 and used beta concepts scrapped from said game, so Vector appears as he did in the scrapped Sound Test image.
Sonic the Comic[]
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, Vector is the intelligent leader of the Chaotix Crew and a close friend to the Omni-Viewer. He also has links to the Equinox Research Center, which is staffed entirely by crocodiles.[13] As with the other members of the group, he is a native of the Special Zone, specifically New Tek City on the Planet Meridian. He acts as the basic straight man of the group and takes out enemies with his powerful jaws.
Archie Comics[]
Vector the Crocodile, from Sonic Universe #64.
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Vector is the head of the Chaotix, a detective agency he runs with his two colleagues Espio and Charmy. While often testing others' patience with his directness, Vector is a clever and capable detective who has helped save the world on numerous occasions.
Prior to the Super Genesis Wave affecting both the universe and its history, Vector was the loudmouthed de-facto leader of the Chaotix, a group of freedom fighters and close friends residing on Angel Island. While initially debuting in his design from Knuckles' Chaotix, it was later changed to resemble his modern counterpart, explained as a result of his intense training with Mighty the Armadillo.
IDW Publishing[]
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing, Vector is the head honcho and leader of Team Chaotix and their detective agency. In this media, Vector's past is virtually identical to his game counterpart's, up until after the events of Sonic Forces. After the Eggman War, he, Espio and Charmy searched for Dr. Eggman until they found him in Windmill Village. However, they decided to leave him be because he had lost his memory and was thus harmless. Vector afterward took part in the battle for Angel Island. Following that, during the Metal Virus pandemic, Vector participated in Seaside City's evacuation, during which the Chaotix lost Charmy to the Metal Virus. They later found him and brought him to Restoration HQ, which was soon flooded by Zombots. In the end, Vector sacrificed himself to stop the Zombots and allow his friends to escape. After the Zombot apocalypse was averted and the Metal Virus victims were returned to normal, Vector and his team began searching for misplaced Metal Virus survivors.
Theme songs[]
- "Team Chaotix": This theme is shared with his team mates Espio the Chameleon and Charmy Bee. In the song, Vector is mentioned in the two lines "The muscle is Vector, the karma collector, and he's sworn to fight for you," and "And the green one cheers them on." At the beginning of the song, Vector can be heard shouting "brain-damaged!" during the lyrics "Boy, you'd be brain-damaged, just to think that you could get away."
- "EVENT: TEAM CHAOTIX": Heard in two cutscenes in Shadow the Hedgehog, where the Chaotix are attempting to hack Eggman's and the ARK's main computer.
- Unnamed short beat which plays in Sonic Generations during Vector: Pick Up the Beat, which gets more frantic the further the player progresses through the Challenge Act.
- In Team Sonic Racing, Vector's theme is "Team Ultimate: Vector", a remix of "Team Chaotix" that plays during his Team Ultimate.
- In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, a remix of "Team Chaotix" is used as the theme for DJ Vector's signature item, Beat Boost.
Quotes[]
- "Espio, don't be silly! Besides, you know our policy. We never turn down work that pays! Come on boys, let's go!"
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Heroes
- "Yeah yeah, I'm the one, I'm Vector the Crocodile! Herrhehe!"
- —Vector singing during the Team Blast Chaotix Recital, Sonic Heroes
- "Perfect! The work of professionals, hah!"
- —Vector the Crocodile getting an A-Rank, Sonic Heroes
- "Darn, I forgot to pay the electric bill for the office."
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Heroes
- "Once we start a job... we finish the job! That's our policy! We're Team Chaotix!"
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Heroes
- "Now I can finally pay off Big Louie! And maybe Small Louie too..."
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Free Riders
- "I can relate to wanting that money, believe me. But it's not worth sacrificing a teammate."
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Free Riders
- "You really are something else, Sonic. Now if you could just learn to shut that big mouth of yours."
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Colors (Nintendo DS)
- "It's good work. It's got thrills, suspense, mystique... every day's an adventure!"
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Colors (Nintendo DS)
- "Is it a job? We're in, so long as the pay's good. Is it not? Forget you, then."
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Colors (Nintendo DS)
- "Thanks, Sonic! You know, I got a hunch someone or something is controlling that monster."
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Generations
- "Looks like it's time to earn our pay, boys!"
- —Vector the Crocodile, Sonic Forces: Moment of Truth
Merchandise[]
The second version of the Vector action figure by Jazwares.
Due to Knuckles' Chaotix receiving no merchandise and the main amount of Sonic merchandise throughout the 2000s being dedicated to Sonic X, Vector didn't receive merchandise until 2010 when Jazwares created the first action figure of him.[14] The figure was re-released the following year with slight changes as part of a Team Chaotix 3-pack. Great Eastern Entertainment and Tomy later produced plush toys of Vector in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Following the release of Team Sonic Racing, a personalized Team Vector jersey was made available on the Sega Shop. A player piece figurine of Vector was made for the Sonic the Hedgehog: Battle Racers board game.[15]
Following the release of the 2021 monthly Sonic Channel stories, batches of promotional keychains were produced based on the art accompanying each story. This included a keychain featuring Vector and Sonic together from Vector's story (for April). Starting from 2022, Jakks Pacific released their first articulated Vector the Crocodile figure for Wave 10 of the 4" line, a diecast vehicle of Vector in his Beat Monster from Team Sonic Racing in their fourth wave of vehicles and later a 2.5" figure of Vector for Wave 16. He also got a figurine from Cocorico in 2023.
Outfits[]
Trivia[]
- According to Takashi Iizuka, Vector and the Team Chaotix in Sonic Heroes were recreated as new characters from the same characters in Knuckles' Chaotix when Sonic Heroes was designed, ignoring certain traits that had been established in Knuckles' Chaotix that would have contradicted their intent in the game.[16]
- In the April 1992 issue of Shogaku Gonensei, Vector appeared alongside Sharps the Parakeet, who was also in Sonic's band and Mighty the Armadillo, who would co-star alongside Vector in Knuckles' Chaotix.[17] Another profile page in the August 1992 issue of Shogaku Ichinensei describes Vector as "Sonic's new friend".
- Vector's connection to bubblegum is likely a play on the term "gumshoe", which is an old slang word describing a private detective or investigator.[18]
- As a detective, Vector is often used to hint at final story revelations:
- In Sonic Heroes, he knew their client was the real Eggman while the one the Chaotix were fighting was an imposter.
- In Shadow the Hedgehog, Vector tried to convince Shadow that he may not have been created for evil causes, as would later be revealed in Gerald Robotnik's message.
- In Sonic Generations, he presumed someone was controlling the Time Eater from behind the scenes.
- In Team Sonic Racing, Vector revealed Dodon Pa's background as well as Donpa Motors to the group, leading to Eggman kidnapping the tanuki for his Ultimate Energy Engine.
- Vector is the second tallest organic non-human Sonic character behind Big the Cat.
- In the days of the Sega Mega Drive, Sega released a game starring a character called Vectorman, who, coincidentally, is also green.
- This likeness is referenced in the Sonic Channel May 2023 calendar art, where a reality-warped version of Vector appears as a superhero called "Vectorman", striking the same pose as seen on the cover of the namesake game.[19]
Concept artwork of Vector for the Sonic the Hedgehog manga.
- Early concept artwork of Vector shows him in attire referencing the The Blues Brothers.
- The band is further referenced in his Japanese profile for Knuckles' Chaotix, which states Vector traveled to Newtrogic High Zone believing its rise was an act of God - similarly, The Blues Brothers has the protagonists set out on "a mission from God".
- The mention of Vector's religious quest was simplified in his profile for the Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia, instead referring to him as a "spirited investigator" drawn to the island by "tales of supernatural mysteries".[20] Author Ian Flynn stated that this was due to his reasoning for going to Newtrogic High Zone on "a mission from God" appearing to be a half baked The Blues Brothers gag and it struggled in its execution.[21]
- Vector's donut-shaped Spin Jump in Knuckles' Chaotix was referenced in the Dream Long Jump event in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games when the player shakes the Wii remote to make Vector float in mid-air for a few seconds.
- Vector's design in Knuckles' Chaotix is very similar to the design of Ben Ali Gator from Disney's Fantasia.
- Vector is part of the most three-person teams at least once in the franchise, being part of Team Chaotix in Sonic Heroes, Team Rose in Sonic Free Riders, and Team Vector in Team Sonic Racing.
- He is also the only Power Type character in both Sonic Heroes and Team Sonic Racing to be the leader of his respective teams.
- In the first cutscene of Team Chaotix in Sonic Heroes, Vector can be heard listening to Team Chaotix, the team's theme song.
- Vector has become popular for his line "Find the computer room!" in Shadow the Hedgehog, which became an internet meme.
- Vector is the only friend character in Sonic Generations to say the same phrase to both Classic and Modern Sonic after being rescued, most likely due to it being relevant to the story.
- In Sonic Generations, Vector makes some references to popular music in his quotes.
- "You've got the power, Sonic!" is a reference to the song, The Touch, by American singer and guitarist, Stan Bush, specifically the lyrics, "You've got the power".
- "Just press the
/ and I'll be there!" references the song, I'll Be There, by The Jackson 5, specifically the lyrics, "Just call my name and I'll be there (I'll be there)".
- In the Challenge Act Vector: Pick Up the Beat, Vector is standing next to a piano, a callback to his history in the Sonic the Hedgehog Band. Furthermore, among several neon signs found in Speed Highway advertising "Club Vector", a few of them actually read "Band House Vector".
Vector with dark green arms.
- Vector's arms were miscolored dark green in the intro of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as in the game's official artwork.
- This error was carried over to Vector's artwork for Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
- Vector's official artwork for Team Sonic Racing uses the same model as the aforementioned games, and while the color of his arms has been corrected, an early demo version of the game still showed them as dark green.
- In the Mario & Sonic series, Vector acts as a rival to both Bowser and Donkey Kong.
Vector's sprite sheet, from Sonic Jump (2012).
- Although Vector never got to be released in Sonic Jump (2012) as the app ceased to get new updates, Vector and the other two unreleased characters are fully functional, and Vector's in-game description indicates he was going to have a powerful stomp as his special ability.
- Vector can be seen as a playable racer in an early roster mock-up for Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing alongside Rouge, Espio, Blaze and Silver, but he was not included in the final game.
- When Vector is wearing his "DJ Vector" outfit, he has a gray branded "Chaotix" hoodie underneath his jacket. The hoodie itself could be a nod and/or reference to the "Supreme" hoodie, with both hoodies having the word in a bold white font contained in a colored rectangle.
- The "DJ Vector" outfit is also one of the most recurring character outfits within the mobile games. Having been in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, Sonic Racing, Sonic Speed Simulator and Sonic Rumble.
Vector and Espio's cameo appearance in Casino Night from Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-Quill.
- In Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-Quill, which is the comic book for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 which is the second installment and which is the second movie in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series, he and Espio, made a cameo in one of the scenes in Casino Night.
- Vector and Espio are the first members of Team Chaotix to appear in the film series.
- Similar to Knuckles the Echidna, additionally, Vector and Espio are the first characters from the video game series to be introduced in a book and not debut in a live-action film. With it being currently unknown when they will make their live-action debut in the film series.
- This also marks the first time an incarnation of Vector has debut alongside Espio, but without Charmy.
References[]
- ↑ ●SonicJPNews● (@SonicJPNews) on Twitter (12 November 2019). Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved on 12 November 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Sonic Channel (Japanese). Characters: Vector. Sega (3 July 2015). Archived from the original on 25 May 2019.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Devra Newberger Speregen (2016). Sonic: The Ultimate Character Guide. Scholastic. p. 41. ISBN 978-1338033243.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chaotix (Super 32X) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 7.
- ↑ Sega (7 May 2020). Sonic at the Olympic Games. iOS. Sega. Area/level: Collection (Badges). "Has apparently been taste-testing all the best sweets in Tokyo."
- ↑ Sonic Team (24 June 2015). Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Wii U. Sega. Area/level: Copacabana Beach "Mii: Since I completed my Vector costume, I've had people approach me with all kinds of dangerous gigs. Guess he's a real talented detective after all, huh? The kids only dealt in candy, but I took their jobs anyway! Vector would never pass up a job, or a stick of bubblegum!"
- ↑ Sonic Channel (Japanese). Sonic Comic: Act 011. Sega (9 September 2016).
- ↑ Sega Japan (13 October 2009). Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. Nintendo DS. Sega. Area/level: Icepeak. "Vector: I may skip out on work, but I'd never skip out on a competition!"
- ↑ Sega (15 November 2013). Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Wii U. Nintendo. "Vector the Crocodile's biography: With a love of all things gold, this crafty croc will use his impressive strength to snag as many Gold Medals as possible."
- ↑ I'm Not Saying It Was Nermies.... Youtube (Dec 21st 2022). Retrieved on January 4, 2023.
- ↑ Sonic Team (4 November 2010). Sonic Free Riders. Xbox 360. Sega. Area/level: Metropolis Speedway. "Vector: Now I can finally pay off Big Louie... and maybe Small Louie, too..."
- ↑ Sonic Team (4 November 2010). Sonic Free Riders. Xbox 360. Sega. Area/level: Final Factory. "Vector: I've had it up to here with robots and Eggman and ALL of it!"
- ↑ Sonic the Comic #99, "Doomsday, Part 3"
- ↑ First Look at New Wave of Jazwares Sonic Figurines. TSSZ News.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Battle Racers. Kickstarter. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021.
- ↑ Afterthoughts: SONIC HEROES - A candid chat with Sonic Team's lord of the rings. Electronic Gaming Monthly (3 February 2004). Archived from the original on 30 March 2004.
- ↑ knnosr on Twitter. Twitter (14 October 2020). Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved on 15 October 2020.
- ↑ SEGA HARDlight on Twitter. Twitter (7 February 2020). Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved on 23 April 2021.
- ↑ Kazuyuki Hoshino on Twitter. Twitter (24 April 2023). Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved on 24 April 2023.
- ↑ Flynn, Ian; Sega (8 December 2021). "Knuckles' Chaotix". Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia. Dark Horse Books. p. 73. ISBN 978-1506719276.
- ↑ Ian Flynn (@IanFlynnBKC) on Twitter. Twitter (30 December 2021). Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved on 24 January 2022.