Babylon Guardian

From the Sonic News Network, the Sonic Wiki

The Babylon Guardian (called Angelus the Gatekeeper in Japan) is the final boss character from Sonic Riders. Somewhat confusingly, "Babylon Guardian" is also the name of the stage in which he appears.

Angelus is a genie in a bottle, and resembles a large purple hawk who guards the treasure of Babylon. He is also referred to as "the guardian God of Babylon" when choosing his stage.

The guardian God is defeated by boosting into his bottle three times. His health is displayed at the top of the screen by three hearts. He occasionally throws energy balls at the player or shrinks into his bottle. The player has to successfully hit the bottle and cross the finish line to go on to the next lap; the lap counter will remain on Lap 1 until the player boost into him and crosses the marker. Once he is defeated, crossing the finish line first will win the race.

Angelus regards those who seek treasure as greedy, and he is hidden behind a large door in Babylon Garden (the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Japan). He is the final and only 'boss' of Sonic Riders. He is defeated by Sonic at the end of the Babylon Story.

Maddie Blaustein provides the character's voice in the English version of Sonic Riders, although Angelus' discourse is restricted to incoherant howling.

[edit] Story

After losing to Sonic, Sonic decides to give Jet the key anyway. The Babylon Rogues enter to find the treasure. Just as Sonic and friends are about to leave, a loud roar eminates from the palace. Sonic and friends then decide to join up with the Rogues to see what's going on. A large creature forms and reveals itself to be the Babylon Guardian. He then attacks them because he believes them to be greedy.

After Sonic defeats him, they finally find the treasure. It is a magic carpet that is believed to be a prototype gear created by the Babylonians. With that, the Rogues leave to look for more treasure and to prepare for the day when they meet again.

[edit] Course Overview

The course is a simple oval track with a virtual underworld background. However, it is only a projection, as it reverts back to a cyberspace background each time the Babylon Guardian is hit. There are two trick ramps and one shortcut for each type.

[edit] Trivia

• Due to Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity revealing Babylon Garden to be an advanced spaceship, it is possible that Angelus was simply a security system, with the bottle being a hologram projector.
• The Babylon Guardian is one of the only final bosses in recent games not to be defeated by Super Sonic