Who Are the Metal Characters in the Finale of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?

Spoilers of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’

Contrary to popular belief, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ encounters a new and dangerous foe that isn’t Shadow. Sonic challenges Tails and Knuckles to a race during a scene in the middle of the credits. He wins but crashes into a state park in New York. A fleet of robot clones of himself, all designed to kill him, are present there. This is when Metal Sonic, one of Sonic’s most dangerous enemies and a malevolent creation of Doctor Robotnik, first appears. The fact that Metal Sonic is there suggests that he might play the main enemy in the next ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ game.

First seen in the Sonic CD video game, Metal Sonic was a weapon designed by Doctor Robotnik with the sole purpose of destroying Sonic. Metal Sonic, who was designed to equal Sonic’s speed, swiftly emerged as a recurrent antagonist in the series and was able to mimic and even evolve Sonic’s skills, including those of his companions. When Metal Sonic impersonated Robotnik in Sonic Heroes, he solidified his reputation as a serious threat and even transformed into other strong forms, such as “Metal Madness” and “Metal Overlord.”

Image Courtesy: Collider

Metal Sonic has previously appeared on screen in ‘Sonic Mania Adventures’ and as a major foe in the 1996 ‘Sonic the Hedgehog OVA’. He was a persistent pain in Sonic’s side and replicated Sonic’s skills in both cases. Since Amy Rose saves Sonic from the fleet of Metal Sonics in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’, there has been conjecture that Sonic CD may serve as the model for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 4’. 

Metal Sonic might serve as a fallback mechanism designed by Robotnik to carry out his grudge against Sonic even after his death, even though his death in the earlier movies raises doubts about his involvement. A thrilling continuation of the franchise is hinted at in the mid-credits sequence.

–Farheen Ali