Difference between revisions of "Tornado"

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Tornado

First seen: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)
Users: Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower

The Tornado (トルネード)Media:Sonic2 MD JP manual.pdf^[1] is a small red bi-plane which serves as Sonic and Tails' principal means of long-distance travel in the Sonic the Hedgehog games and most other media. It was first seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where it appeared above West Side Island in Sky Chase Zone. Originally owned by SonicMedia:Sonic2 MD JP manual.pdf^[2], responsibility for the airplane seems to have passed to Tails as the series has progressed. Starting in Sonic Adventure, there have been several different versions and remodels of the plane.

Versions

Tornado I

The original red plane appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but reappeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic Triple Trouble, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Advance, Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, and Sonic Lost World. Over the course of this time, it has gone over major revisions, starting out as a cartoonish bi-plane, then getting a custom jet booster added to the bottom by the end of its first appearance in Sonic 2. In Sonic Adventure it was redesigned into a more realistic plane with guns and missile launchers but the booster was built into its bottom. It reappears in Sonic Lost World, sporting a visual closer to the original's, with details in silver. Used primarily in cutscenes, it has a bonus level for itself in the Hidden World towards the end of the game.

The plane's maximum speed was originally 450km/h, but thanks to the custom booster engine Tails tuned and fitted to the plane, it became capable of flying at speeds that exceed the speed of sound.Media:Sonic2 MD JP manual.pdf^[1]

In Sonic 2
Sonic 2 with booster
S3&K with holder
Triple Trouble
Sonic Adventure DX
Sonic Origins

Tornado II

During Sonic Adventure, a new blue plane made by Tails appeared, called the Tornado II (トルネード2). Its plane mode is similar to the Sonic Adventure design of the original red aircraft, but this vehicle is powered by a Chaos Emerald to improve upon the original. As well as the minigun and missiles, it has the additional ability to transform into a jet mode - the X-wing type configuration first seen here. Tails made the mistake of forgetting to install landing gear into the jet mode, leading to a bumpy arrival on the Egg Carrier Adventure Field. Big later flies it away from the Carrier, and it ends the game crashed in a river next to the cat's house in Mystic Ruins.

In Sonic X, the Tornado II is Tails' plane of choice during the first few episodes of the series. It is actually the original red Tornado that was upgraded and repainted. In the eighth episode Satellite Swindle, its inability to travel through space makes it incapable of defeating Eggman's robot Super Sweeper, so Tails builds the more advanced X-Tornado as a successor. After that, the Tornado II makes one last appearance in Memories of the Wind where it transforms into the Hyper Tornado (a going away present from Chuck).

This blue plane also cameoed in Team Sonic's opening for Sonic Heroes, and appears in the Special Stages of Sonic Advance 3.

SADX, biplane
SADX, transformed
In Sky Chase Act 2
Sonic Advance 3

Other variations

Sonic Adventure 2 introduced another new plane by Tails called the Tornado III. This new version only flies in a jet setting, but has the additional ability to transform into a walker dubbed the Cyclone and an automobile. This version later reappears in Shadow the Hedgehog in its plane configuration.

In Sonic Rivals 2, a new Tornado model by Tails is alluded to but not shown.

In Sonic Unleashed, the Tornado 03 (referred to as the Tornado-1 in the English dub) debuted. Like the Tornado II, it features a jet mode. Sonic and Tails use it to travel across the world, and to fight off swarms of enemies in Tornado Defense.

Tails also created a small bi-plane from leftover scrap metal in one of Eggman's invasions called the Tornado Racer. He uses it for his race car in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. It is capable of tighter turns than normal aircraft, which helps him in races.

The Tornado III in Cyclone mode
The Tornado 03
The Tornado Racer