View source for Hard-Boiled Heavies

{{GroupBob
| image=SonicMania PC HardBoiledHeavies.png
| charcolor=grey
| textcolor=
| name=Hard Boiled Heavies
| debut=Sonic Mania
| debutyear=2017
| series=
| member1=[[Heavy King]]
| member2=[[Heavy Gunner]]
| member3=[[Heavy Shinobi]]
| member4=[[Heavy Magician]]
| member5=[[Heavy Rider]]
}}
The '''Hard Boiled Heavies'''{{fileref|SM PC DIGITAL MANUAL UK V10 LR.pdf|page=5}} (ハードボイルドヘビーズ){{fileref|SonicMania consoles JP manual.pdf|page=4}}, abbreviated as "'''HBH'''"{{fileref|SM PC DIGITAL MANUAL UK V10 LR.pdf|page=5}}, are an elite squadron of [[Eggrobo]]s built by [[Dr. Eggman]] who appear in ''[[Sonic Mania]]''. The Hard Boiled Heavies themselves were just ordinary Eggrobos that were modified by the mysterious power of the [[Phantom Ruby]] to represent certain themes and to hold more firepower, though the power seems to have loosened a few of their screws, granting them free will.

==Character conception==
During concept stages, [[The Taxman|Christian Whitehead]] came up with the Hard Boiled Heavies after imagining Eggman being depressed after the events of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]''. Instead of going after [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]], he would merely lounge about at home wearing his pyjamas, and that a group of abandoned Eggrobos would go "a little mad". The term "Hard Boiled Heavies" came to mind after thinking about this concept.{{ref|{{LinkYoutube|video=5K6hU14wero|time=16m26s|title=Sonic Mania: Behind the Scenes Panel SDCC 2017}}}}

==History==
The Hard Boiled Heavies were first encountered as ordinary Eggrobos who excavated the Phantom Ruby at [[Angel Island Zone (Sonic Mania)|Angel Island Zone]]. Throughout ''Sonic Mania'', the Heavies would engage [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]], [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] and [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]] in boss battles, usually at the end of Act 2 in place of Eggman (the Heavy Gunner being the exception, as he is fought in Act 1), though each character only gets to fight four of them in a normal playthrough. Much later on in [[Titanic Monarch Zone]], Eggman masters control of the Phantom Ruby and uses it to further transform the Heavies into "Phantom" versions that attack the heroes during the final battle against the [[Phantom Egg]].

After the game's events, the Heavies were defeated and left for scrap at Angel Island Zone. However, the Heavy Magician had survived, and kickstarted the conflict of Encore Mode by swiping the Phantom Ruby from under Sonic and [[Mighty the Armadillo|Mighty]]/[[Ray the Flying Squirrel|Ray]]'s noses and passing it to the Heavy King, reviving the Heavies and repeating most of the events of Mania Mode as bosses.

==Members==
*[[Heavy Gunner]] - Armed with a missile cannon, he is fought in [[Studiopolis Zone]] Act 1 as a mini-boss.
*[[Heavy Shinobi]] - Armed with [[Asteron|Asterons]] and an icy katana, he is fought in [[Press Garden Zone]] Act 2 as a boss.
*[[Heavy Magician]] - With illusory tricks up her sleeve, she is fought in [[Mirage Saloon Zone]] Act 2 as a boss, and ambushes the heroes during Act 1.
*[[Heavy Rider]] - Riding around on a [[Motobug]] named Jimmy, she is fought in [[Lava Reef Zone (Sonic Mania)|Lava Reef Zone]] Act 2 as a boss when playing as Sonic and Tails.
*[[Heavy King]] - The leader of the Hard-Boiled Heavies. Fought in [[Lava Reef Zone (Sonic Mania)|Lava Reef Zone]] Act 2 as a boss when playing as Knuckles. He is also fought in [[Egg Reverie Zone]] when Sonic has collected all the [[Chaos Emeralds]].
==In other media==
===[[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW comics)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (IDW comics)]]===
After the events of ''[[Sonic Mania]]'', Dr. Eggman rebuilt the Hard-Boiled Heavies. Heavy King used this as an opportunity to take over the [[Eggman Empire]] for himself, but after he was defeated once again by [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], he went back to working for his creator.{{intref|Sonic_the_Hedgehog_30th_Anniversary_Special#Seasons_of_Chaos}} Later on, the Hard-Boiled Heavies tried to celebrate Dr. Eggman's birthday by destroying Sonic. The doctor stopped them before they were destroyed and scolded them back at his base.{{intref|Sonic_the_Hedgehog_30th_Anniversary_Special#Dr._Eggman.27s_Birthday}}

==References==
<references/>

{{SManiaOmni|3}}