Actions

Metal Sonic (Sonic Mania boss)

From Sonic Retro

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Sonic Mania
»
Bosses
»
Metal Sonic
MetalSonicBoss SonicMania.png
Metal Sonic
Game: Sonic Mania
Level: Stardust Speedway Zone
Hits to defeat: 12 (total), 4 (second phase), 8 (third phase)

Metal Sonic is the sixth major boss fought in Sonic Mania, encountered at the end of Stardust Speedway Zone Act 2. This boss battle received major changes with the release of Sonic Mania Plus, making alterations to the second phase and changing the third phase entirely.

Strategy

The battle begins when the player discovers a Metal Sonic hologram similar to those found in Sonic CD. After destroying the hologram, the real Metal Sonic appears and initiates a race similar to Sonic CD's Stardust Speedway boss. During the race, Metal Sonic will try to disrupt the player using his signature attacks, including the Maximum Overdrive Attack and Ring Spark Field.

The race eventually leads to an industrial area where Metal Sonic interfaces with a gigantic Eggman-shaped machine, in a similar manner to the penultimate battle with Metal Sonic in Chaotix. This is the first phase of the battle where the player is able to damage Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic will occasionally fire balls of electricity towards the player in an attempt to damage them, while the machine he is interfaced with produces Silver Sonic Badniks, which resemble Mecha Sonic from the 8-bit version of Sonic 2. The Silver Sonic Badnik has three possible attack patterns: it will either attempt to attack the player with a Spin Dash, swipe at the player using their extendable claw arms, or dash forward using the jets on their boots until they hit the edge of the screen. If the player spins or jumps into one of these Badniks when it is performing a Spin Dash, it will ricochet around the arena, and will damage Metal Sonic if it makes contact; otherwise, it can be destroyed in a single hit like any other Badnik. As of v1.04/Sonic Mania Plus, the robots will release energy balls upon destruction, which can also damage Metal. Silver Sonic's rebound is stronger if the player is in a Super form, which can make hitting Metal Sonic more difficult.

Once Metal Sonic has been hit 4 times, he ejects from the machine and a second racing phase begins, following the same rules as the first. Eventually, the player will reach an area where the top of the giant Eggman statue in the background is visible, at which point the boss begins its final phase.

Pre-Sonic Mania Plus

Metal Sonic appears to taunt the player once more, and a giant spiked wall assembles to the left of the screen. Once Metal Sonic begins moving to the right, the wall will follow, forcing the player to keep moving or be damaged by the spikes. Metal Sonic will continue to attempt to disrupt the player using his signature attacks; unlike the previous racing phases, however, Metal Sonic is now vulnerable after each of his attacks, and can be damaged with a spin attack.

Once Metal Sonic has been hit 8 further times, he is finally destroyed and the Capsule will float down from the sky, allowing the player to complete the Zone.

Post-Sonic Mania Plus

Metal Sonic will land on the platform, looking up at Dr. Eggman who has the Phantom Ruby. The fat man will throw Metal Sonic the Ruby as the machine begins flashing. After a burst of light, he turns into a blue, modified version of the final boss from Chaotix known as Giga Metal (named internally in the PC version's files). Giga Metal will trundle forward, chasing the player and smashing the floor behind him. He has two attacks: throwing three small bombs at you and blasting a huge laser. Additionally, you can also take damage if you touch his arms swinging around. The Phantom Ruby is encased in a glass shell on his chest. Hit the glass eight times and Giga Metal will explode out of his huge form and drop the Ruby. The Capsule will float out of the sky, but before the player can even think about picking up the dropped Ruby, a Dango will zoom in and bounce it away.

Once the score has tallied, the player will discover Eggman with a wireframe model of a giant mech displayed on a screen. Eggman will sic the Phantom Ruby on them, and teleport them to Hydrocity Zone.

References


Sonic Mania / Sonic Mania Plus
SonicMania title.png

Main page (Plus)
Maps
Achievements
Downloadable content
Changelog
Credits


Manuals
Promotional material
Magazine articles (Plus)
Reception
Merchandise


Development
Hidden content
Bugs
Technical information