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Angel Island

From Sonic Retro

Revision as of 22:47, 10 October 2009 by True Dude (talk | contribs) (Other Appearences)
File:Angelisland.jpg
Angel Island, as depicted in Sonic 3.

Angel Island (formerly called the Floating Island) is a fictional floating island high in the air in the world of the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. It was first introduced in the video game Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

The island is the home of the Master Emerald, a large and powerful green gem that is protected by Knuckles the Echidna and also keeps the Angel Island itself suspended in the sky. The Master Emerald is able to control the Chaos Emeralds, which are an important plot device in many Sonic the Hedgehog stories and games. In some continuities, there is a selection of Chaos Emeralds on the island itself.

History

According to most versions of the story, when Dr. Eggman's Death Egg crashed on Angel Island at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, he tricked the Master Emerald's guardian, Knuckles the Echidna, into thinking that Sonic wanted to steal the Master Emerald, when it was actually Eggman who wanted it. Sonic managed to convince Knuckles of his innocence, after which they stopped Eggman together and became friends.

Angel Island has served as a location for several events in many Sonic the Hedgehog games, and has also appeared in other related media. It was an important location in the Fleetway comic, Sonic the Comic, though its introduction occurred much as it did during the games themselves.

Angel Island has fallen to sea level several times since its first appearance. It fell for the first time when Eggman stole the Master Emerald in Sonic 3 & Knuckles (albeit it was being pressed downward while the Death Egg was crashed on it), and has fallen several times in Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 when the Master Emerald was shattered. Both games involved long stretches in which Knuckles (and later, Rouge the Bat) searched for fragments of the Master Emerald.

At some point in the future of Sonic's world, Angel Island is renamed Onyx Island. It is under this name that Eggman Nega warps the entire island back in time during Sonic Rivals.

Appearances as a zone

Although "Angel Island" can refer to the entire floating landmass, various stages in Sonic games have worn the name "Angel Island" or "Angel Island Zone", despite the fact that they depict only one of the myriad different sections of the whole island. Such levels include:

Sonic 3

Main Article: Angel Island Zone

Angel Island Zone is the name of the first zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, where Knuckles is introduced. The environment of the stage is that of the tropical beach resort similar to Green Hill Zone (of Sonic 1) and Emerald Hill Zone (of Sonic the Hedgehog 2) with the exception that halfway through, the zone gets firebombed by Eggman and ends up in flames. However, the entire game of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (as well as its immediate follow-up, Sonic & Knuckles) was set on what is now known as the Angel Island (but was then known generally as the Floating Island).

Sonic Advance

Main Article: Angel Island Zone (Sonic Advance)

Angel Island Zone is also the fifth zone in Sonic Advance. This time, however, the zone is not a beach area but one of mountains and ancient ruins most similar to Marble Garden Zone from Sonic 3.

Sonic Chronicles: TDB

Main Article: Angel Island (Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood)

Angel Island appears as an area in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. During Chapter 5 (named Battle for Angel Island, appropriately enough), Sonic and Knuckles battle the Nocturnus Clan echidnas in a (failed) effort to prevent them taking the Master Emerald into the Twilight Cage. This location most closely resembles the Knuckles Clan pyramid-temples seen in Sonic Adventure's Mystic Ruins adventure field.

Other Appearences

Angel Island has been referenced in the games Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Rivals, and in the comics Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Comic. It can also be seen floating in the background of the Dream Fencing stage of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games.