Super Sonic

I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to, um, getting Sonic Heroes™ for my son. Oh, heck, we all may as well admit it—Sonic rocks, and Sonic Heroes is a worthy addition to the long line of super games. Sonic has been around for more than a decade, so it's no surprise that the characters have grown over that time. Let's have a look at the faces we'll see in Sonic Heroes.

Each team in Sonic Heroes is composed of three members, filling out each of three positions. One team member fills the speed slot and is used when the terrain is open and time is of the essence. One member fills the Power slot, packing the biggest punch of anyone on your team and proving useful for laying the animated smackdown on the forces of Dr. Eggman. The last position is reserved as your Flying slot, which consists of characters that have the ability to go up and over the obstacles you'll encounter on your quest. Fortunately, the flying character can give the other two a lift—they are a team, after all.

Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic is the world's fastest hedgehog, taking his name from the fact that he can run at supersonic speeds. Quick-witted, brave, and looking for adventure, he's never content to sit in one place for long. Sonic is always looking for something new to discover and is never one to turn down a challenge. Of course, he's got plenty to do, with the world just begging to be explored and the nefarious schemes of Dr. Eggman and others to foil. Sonic is also a loyal friend to his companions and can be depended on to come through in a crisis.

Not surprisingly, Sonic fills the Speed slot on your team. He’s the character you'll want to control most of the time. It's fitting because, of course, Sonic is the natural leader of the bunch.

Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.

Miles "Tails" Power
It's not hard to see where Miles got his nickname—he's a fox with two tails. Although real foxes are the natural enemy of the hedgehog, Tails is Sonic's very best friend and stalwart companion. Running with Sonic is tough, but always a great adventure, and Tails wouldn't miss it for the world. He's younger than Sonic and looks to his friend for leadership, but he's not dumb. In fact, Tails has a brilliant mind and is a mechanical genius on par with Dr. Eggman.

That's not Tails’ only talent, though. He’s the capable fellow who fills the Flying slot on your team, and thus, you might imply that he flies. And, boy does he ever! His two tails give him a unique gift; by twirling them around he can take off just like a helicopter. That's not just handy, it's essential, and though Tails would never claim to be indispensable, there are many times when he's literally carrying the entire team.

The one question is why he's the only character with a proper name. It makes you wonder if "Sonic" is just a nickname. Does the world's most famous hedgehog have a secret identity?

Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles is a feisty Echidna. Yes, you heard me: an echidna. It's pronounced eh-KID-na, for those of you unfamiliar with this critter, and if you've never seen one, they look passingly like hedgehogs—basically spiny little fellows. Though the real echidna is most likely to roll up into a ball if you mess with him, Knuckles is more likely to ball up his fist and give you a hard time in return. In fact, he'd much rather bust up enemies than go around them and is thus the perfect character to fill the "Power" slot of your team.

Once upon a time, he and Sonic were rivals, but that's long past. Even so, he isn't averse to trying to show Sonic up once in a while. After all, there are times when speed isn't enough, and strength is the thing that saves the day.

By Steven Hart