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Revision as of 00:03, 9 October 2017 by Mystical Orbot(Message Wall | contribs)(→Archie Comics: New title, replaced: [[Sonic the Hedgehog (comic series) → [[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comic series))
The Bat Brain (バサラン,Basaran?) is a recurring enemy in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are a mass-produced, bat-based Badnik model created by Dr. Eggman. Bat Brains hang in dark caves, waiting for its victim to get below it and then attack from above.
Bat Brain, as its name implies, is a robotic bat with wings stretched over their bodies, showing only the tip of their blue head. Firm claws ensure the Badnik stays on the ceiling and it has an engine on its back for propulsion. Its wings, feet and engine are metallic gray in color, while its body is dark blue. In Sonic Lost World, Bat Brains also have small mouths with tiny fangs.
Game appearances
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The Bat Brains made their first appearance in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog. They can be found in the cavern sections of Marble Zone.
In gameplay, Bat Brains hang on a ceiling, waiting for a target. When Sonic is spotted, they drop from their roost, unfold their wings, and flap towards him to cause damage upon touch. They will cling onto another ceiling if they fails to do any damage.
Bat Brains do not pose a huge threat and are easily dispatched before or after their landing with a Spin Jump. Upon their destruction, they release an Animal. However, they can easily get in the player's way, especially in challenging platforming sections.
Sonic Jump (2012)
In the 2012 remake of Sonic Jump, Bat Brains can be found in Blue Sky Zone. In this game, they appear before the player like they did in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, hanging platforms and clouds below, until they drop down and start flying at the player when the playable character gets close to them. These badniks can only be defeated by jumping into their underside.
Sonic Lost World
Bat Brains made a reappearance in Sonic Lost World. During the game, it turns out that the Badniks, including the Bat Brains, got hijacked by the Deadly Six. They appear in Windy Hill Zone 3 in the Wii U version and Windy Hill Zone 2 in the Nintendo 3DS version. Unlike in previous games though, Bat Brains here attack in groups. They are location in the tubular sections where they hang from a surface until they drop down to attack the player. They can be defeated with either a Spin Jump, charged Spin Dash or Focused Homing Attack.
Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania, the Bat Brains appears as enemies. Their design is exactly the same as in the original Sonic the Hedgehog. In this game, they are only encountered in Green Hill Zone.
In gameplay, like in their debut appearance, they are found in underground where they hang suspended from the ceiling, and once the playable characters get close, they will swoop down at them. Also, upon their destruction, they release an Animal.
Powers and abilities
Thanks to their wings and rocket thrusters, the Bat Brains are capable of flight.
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, the Bat Brains were a part of Dr. Robotnik's Badnik army before, during and after his rule of Mobius. Because of the different artists, Bat Brains had sometimes a slightly, but also drastically different look. The Bat Brains were frequently called into battle against the Freedom Fighters and their allies until Robotnik was toppled as Mobius' ruler. While he was stationed on Flickies' Island, Robotnik started to build a more powerful and dread-looking Bat Brains.
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Bat Brains were among the first generation of badniks produced by Dr. Robotnik. While Dr. Eggman would go on and make more advanced Bat Brains, the classic ones were eventually rendered obsolete and got decommissioned.
Bat Brains as they appear in Sonic X comic series.
In the Sonic X comic series published by Archie Comics, Bat Brains made a small appearance. While in a simulation of the Marble Zone, Sonic came across several Bat Brains, which he easily defeated.
Merchandise
The toy company TOMY has released a Bat Brain action figurine during the release of Sonic & Knuckles as it also includes a series of 21 Sonic figurines and these figurines came in packs of four under the Sonic & Knuckles label and were also released individually under a Sonic the Hedgehog label.
Trivia
Bat Brain was supposed to appear in the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, but was removed from the final game. However in Game Gear version, unused sprites of Bat Brain are found from game's code. Along with Roller, Bat Brain is one of badniks that doesn't appear in the 8-bit version.
Like the Orbinaut, the Bat Brain does not appear in neither the European or North American game manuals. Its English name thus comes from comics and other merchandise. Similar to the aforementioned Badnik, it is known by its Japanese name "Basaran" in Sonic Jam[1] and just "Batbrain" in the British Stay Sonic guide book.[2]
There is an enemy from the Super Mario franchise called "Swooper", which has a similar attack pattern to Bat Brains.
↑Wallis, James (4 January 1993). "Robotnik's Badniks". Stay Sonic. Fantail. p. 35. ISBN 978-0140903904. "Batbrain hangs around on roofs in the Marble Zone. Any movement wakes it, and it will flap down noisily to investigate. Beating one or two of them is easy for Sonic, but he's wary of larger flocks — especially if there's a Caterkiller around as well."
