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Angel Island

From Sonic Retro

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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 and Knuckles, 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.

Appearances as a zone

Sonic 3

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 and Knuckles) was set on what is now known as the Angel Island (but was then known generally as the Floating Island).

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.

Sources

Angel Island has been referenced in the games Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and in the comic Sonic the Comic.