The Greatest Rivalries In Sonic History

Sonic the Hedgehog was conceived as a cooler counterpart to Mario. Faster, edgier, and more outspoken, this series thrived on contention. While Sonic’s campaign as a competitor to Mario was short-lived, and he’d much rather face him at the Olympics now, the blue blur continues to be a beloved character.

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Due to Sonic’s more direct characterization, the rivalries in this series aren’t so much about the battle between good and evil; they’re more about competition. Even if he does end up saving the day, this hedgehog’s greatest rivals are those who challenge him on a personal level – the same goes for his friends. Here are the most compelling ones.

8

Sonic VS Jet

Sonic Riders

As is the case for much of the post-2000 series, Sonic Riders is a game dismissed by critics and championed by the fans. Its dark horse debut is Jet, a trash-talking, cheating charlatan whose team uses sabotage to win the hoverboarding Grand Prix.

Sonic is a perfect foil for Jet: he is also self-assured and bombastic, but he doesn’t cheat to win. The two end up working as allies once the stakes are raised, and by the end, their rivalry is magnanimous instead of just animus.

7

Tails VS Eggman

Sonic Adventure 2

By the time Sonic Adventure 2 rolled around, Eggman had long since ceased to be the series’ ultimate villain. He often ended up being a midcard antagonist, even helping Sonic and his friends if a true world-ender showed up.

One of the highlights of Sonic Adventure 2 is Tails’ evolution. Often facing Eggman in single combat, Tails is forced out of his comfort zone as Sonic’s sidekick and becomes a hero in his own right. Eggman initially underestimates Tails, but by the time they have their rematch, he’s grown to respect him as a suitable opponent.

Sonic CD

Eggman is no longer an effective villain, but you have to hand it to him: the man is handy with nuts and bolts. Realizing that he couldn’t beat Sonic on his own terms, Eggman created Metal Sonic: a machine designed to be more ruthless, yet just as fast as his archnemesis.

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Metal Sonic served as the greatest threat to Sonic since the series debuted: cold and emotionless, he was easier to take seriously than the bumbling Eggman. He is the final boss of Sonic Heroes; his rivalry with Sonic has fizzled out in recent years, mostly appearing in spin-offs.

5

Shadow VS Mephiles

Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

Action-Adventure

Platformer

Systems

Released

November 14, 2006

Developer(s)

Sonic Team

Engine

Havok

The 2006 reboot of Sonic the Hedgehog has paid its dues in being mocked for its ridiculous story, at one point featuring a romance between a human princess and a hedgehog. One of the better facets of the campaign is Shadow’s rivalry with Mephiles. At this point, Shadow is no longer a villain. Mephiles, the basis for Shadow’s creation, very much is.

He tries to get Shadow to join the dark side, showing him a future where humanity turns on him. But Shadow refuses, saying he can write his own destiny. Maybe he was looking forward to the timeline that had Sonic x Shadow Generations.

4

Sonic VS Eggman

The Entire Series

When Sonic debuted in 1991, Eggman was the Bowser to his Mario. These days, he’s more of a Donkey Kong. That doesn’t change the intensity of their rivalry in the first few games. Even with his constant appearances in almost every level – a rarity for most video game bosses – Eggman felt mean.

Imprisoning forest critters and creating robots, Eggman seeks the Chaos Emeralds for their power. He can’t quite hash it, though, because Sonic always stops him. Three decades later, it’s become clear that Eggman’s dreams of world domination will never come true. That doesn’t stop him from trying, though.

3

Knuckles VS Rouge

Sonic Adventure 2

Knuckles is charged with protecting the Master Emerald; Rouge wants it because she likes shiny jewels. The two don’t get along, making them the perfect candidates for a buddy movie. That’s basically the plot of their campaign in Sonic Adventure 2.

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Once the two are stuck in space, they start opening up to each other. Rouge gives Knuckles the fragments of the Master Emerald they pick up while Knuckles apologizes if he hurt her. Of course, the two disguise their mutual crush as teasing and disgust, but they’re much more polite from then on.

2

Sonic VS Knuckles

Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Systems

Released

February 2, 1994

Developer(s)

Sonic Team

Engine

The Retro Engine,

Setting aside the robotics for a while, Eggman decided in Sonic 3 that the best way to get to the blue hedgehog was by pitting himself against another spiny mammal. It just so happened that Knuckles, guardian of the Master Emerald, is very gullible. Once Eggman convinces him that Sonic is the bad guy, Knuckles is happy to take him on.

The echidna is more than a match for Sonic, if not for his speed, then for his strength. Sonic 3 was the first and last time they were enemies, because once Knuckles knew he’d been tricked, he joined Sonic. Despite their friendship from then on, feelings of envy still linger: Sonic can go where he wants and do as he pleases, while Knuckles is bound by duty.

1

Sonic VS Shadow

Sonic Adventure 2

In a normal race, you have a 25 percent chance, at best, of beating Sonic. But Shadow is the ultimate life form, and he’s not normal. When he shows up in Sonic Adventure 2, it’s the closest the blue hedgehog ever gets to being overtaken.

Once the world faces a bigger threat, the two acquiesce and go Super Saiyan together, resulting in probably the coolest Sonic moment in history. Backed up by Crush 40’s Live and Learn on the soundtrack, they battle a threat that is bigger than a hundred Eggmen. By the time they’re done, a bond has formed; yet the two still compete in a friendlier manner to this day.

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