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Caterkillers are adapted to navigating difficult terrain.


— Statue description, Sonic Dream Team

The Caterkiller[1][2] (ナール[3] Nāru?, lit. "Nal") is an enemy that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, caterpillar-based Badnik model created by Dr. Eggman that possesses a hard defense system and the ability to scatter its segments if destroyed incorrectly.

Appearance[]

Based on caterpillars, the Caterkillers' body consists of four spherical segments with curved yellow spikes on the sides. They also have two antennae located at the tip of their heads. They are mainly purple in color, with white fangs in their mouths, gray underbellies, and two antennae with yellow tops. They also have cartoonish, black eyes.

Other incarnations of the Caterkillers have been known to be pinkish in color instead of purple. The Badnik model from the Lost Hex incident has also been known to have cyan eyes.

Game appearances[]

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)[]

Caterkiller-sprite

In the 16-bit version of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, the Caterkillers[1] (ナール[3] Nāru?, lit. "Nal") appear in Marble Zone and Scrap Brain Zone.

In gameplay, Caterkillers crawl slowly along the ground. To defeat a Caterkiller, the player must Spin Jump onto its head or roll into it with the Spin Attack; otherwise, the player will take damage and scatter the Caterkiller's segments all over the place. If the player destroys a Caterkiller in this way, an Animal will not be freed unless the player manages to destroy the head before it bounces off the screen. Should the player manage to destroy a Caterkiller properly, they will be rewarded with 100 points.

Sonic 1 8-bit Caterkiller

In the 8-bit version, the Caterkillers only appear in Scrap Brain Zone as enemies. Caterkillers also have a movement pattern identical to their 16-bit counterparts. However, they do not have Animals. Destroying a Caterkiller rewards the player with 100 points.

Sonic Rivals[]

Card 071 (Sonic Rivals)

The Caterkiller's collectable card, from Sonic Rivals.

In Sonic Rivals, the Caterkiller makes an appearance as one of the collectible cards in the game.

Sonic Lost World[]

SONIC LOST WORLD 3DS top RGB v2 10

A Caterkiller, from the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.

In the Wii U version, PC version and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, more cartoonish-looking Caterkillers appear as enemies. Over the course of the game, Dr. Eggman's Badniks, including the Caterkillers, got hijacked by the Deadly Six. In gameplay, these Badniks move slowly around in certain pattern, like Snail Blasters, and due to having segments, the player has to hit their head sections with the Homing Attack, since hitting them on any other segment will result in the Caterkillers getting destroyed while the playable character takes damage. They appear in Windy Hill Zone 4 and Silent Forest Zone 3 in the Wii U/PC version of the game, and in Windy Will Tutorial and Windy Hill Zone 1 and 2 in the Nintendo 3DS version of the game.

Defeating a Caterkiller is slightly different in both versions. In the Wii U/PC version, they are large and the player has to hit them on their heads with the Homing Attack or the Bound Jump. In the Nintendo 3DS version, if the player uses a Somersault to stun this Badnik, it will be easier to destroy them without getting hit at the same time. Upon properly destroying a Caterkiller, it will release an Animal.

Sonic Dream Team[]

Other game appearances[]

Sonic Jump (2012)[]

In the 2012 version of Sonic Jump, the Caterkillers begin appearing in Mountain Zone. In this game, Caterkillers act like they did in their first appearance, although they like to fall down to the lower platforms (where they can usually be found).

Sonic Runners series[]

Sonic Runners[]

Caterkiller Runners gameplay

A Caterkiller, from Sonic Runners.

In Sonic Runners, the Caterkillers appear as enemies. In this game, they retained their design from Sonic Lost World. They are also some of the more common foes encountered in the speed type characters' stages. In gameplay, the Caterkiller's spike segments do not hurt the playable character or separate from the body when they are attacked. They also either move slowly forward or stand in one place and are either set separately or in groups.

The player can destroy the Caterkillers with any move or offensive power-up in the playable characters' arsenal. When destroyed, a Caterkiller will grant the player 100 points.

Caterkillers in Sonic Runners come in three types. Aside from the regular Caterkillers, there are golden ones which grant 300 points when defeated, and silver ones that grant 200 points when eliminated and which only Color Powers, Invincible and the power type characters' dash attack can defeat. All three variations also contain Animals that are released when they are destroyed. The Caterkillers also appear as part of several episodes' narrative, which features them being defeated time and time again by Team Sonic.

Sonic Runners Adventure[]

Caterkiller Runners Adventure

A Caterkiller, from Sonic Runners Adventure.

In Sonic Runners Adventure, the Caterkillers appear as enemies. In this game, they retain their design from Sonic Lost World. The player encounters them in every stage.

In gameplay, the Caterkillers stand in one place. Upon their destruction, they release an Animal.

Personality[]

While built to serve as work drones, Caterkillers possess a degree of sentience and personality traits. These traits include fawning over Dr. Eggman and celebrating his birthday on their own volition,[4] as well as showing fear and stress moments before being destroyed.[5]

Powers and abilities[]

Despite being far less advanced than other Badniks like those in the E-Series, the Caterkillers' design allows them to perform tasks flawlessly.[6] This Badnik's main attack method lies in its ability to only have one segment that can be destroyed without any injury to the attacker, making it more of a defensive Badnik than an offensive one. Not only will the attacker be hurt if they try to hurt the last three segments, but the segments will detach and scurry around the area, causing even more potential damage.

Variants[]

Although Caterkiller has not made many in game appearances, there exist different modifications that may have been based on the Caterkiller.

In other media[]

Television[]

Sonic Prime[]

EFNY 15

A Caterkiller about to attack Amy Rose in a flashback, from "Escape from New Yoke".

Caterkillers reappear in the Sonic Prime television series, sporting a design similar to their appearance in the games, but with pinkish spots on their segments and cheeks, as well as being significantly larger.

The Caterkillers, alongside Buzz Bombers and Burrobots are among the many Badniks that attempted to defeat Sonic and his friends, but were ultimately destroyed in the process. Like the other Badniks, it is unknown what the fate of the Caterkillers were after Sonic accidentally broke the Paradox Prism.

Books and comics[]

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic[]

The Caterkiller appears in Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic manga published by Shogakukan. At the beginning of the Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 2 story Clash!! South Island, Caterkiller chases Pocky at Marble Zone until Sonic destroys it with his Spin Attack and saves Pocky. A little later Picky emerges from the wreckage of the Caterkiller, serving as an organic battery of the Badnik.

Archie Comics[]

Caterkiller Post-SGW

A Caterkiller, from Sonic the Hedgehog #275.

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Caterkillers were among the first generation of Badniks produced by Dr. Robotnik. The Caterkiller was in fact the first Badnik Sonic the Hedgehog encountered. Over time though, the Caterkillers were rendered obsolete by more advanced robots. When Dr. Eggman took over, he would go on and produce a far larger and more powerful, but also less intelligent, Caterkiller.

After the Super Genesis Wave re-wrote history, the Caterkillers' history became nearly identical to that of their game counterparts.

Sonic the Comic[]

Caterkiller STC 6

A Caterkiller, from Sonic the Comic #121. Art by Richard Elson.

In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, the Caterkillers were a part of Dr. Robotnik's Badnik army. Because of the different artists, Caterkillers were often give a slightly different look in each of their appearance. Despite having a strong bite, Caterkillers were not smart in their early appearances, but over time, later models got faster and were able to burrow through the ground.

The Caterkillers were frequently called into battle against the Freedom Fighters and their allies. While he was stationed on Flickies' Island, Robotnik started building a more powerful and dread-looking model of Caterkillers.

Sonic X[]

Main article: Caterkiller (Sonic X)
Caterkillerx

A Caterkiller, from Sonic X #10.

In the Sonic X comic series published by Archie Comics, the Caterkillers appeared as digital enemies whom Sonic encountered in a virtual reality Dr. Eggman had trapped him in.

IDW Publishing[]

Dr. Eggman's Birthday[]

CaterkillerClassicIDW

A Caterkiller, from Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special.

Some Caterkillers, along with many other Badniks worked together to give Dr. Eggman a nice birthday by trying to destroy Sonic for him. However, they were ordered to return to base by Eggman before they could commence their attack. Back at base, the Caterkillers and other Badniks were scolded by Eggman for their carelessness. Although they regretted their actions, the Caterkillers nevertheless joined in on Eggman's subsequent birthday celebration in spite of Eggman's reluctance.[4]

Recent past[]

A Caterkiller was once used as a test subject for the Egg Noggin before the Doctor himself scrapped the program.[7]

Tangle & Whisper[]

Caterkiller parts could once be found in an abandoned Eggman Empire warehouse, which was been occupied by Mimic.[8]

Eggman's Day Off[]

The model of a Caterkiller was shown to Dr. Starline by Dr. Eggman when they latter showed the former the Badniks and models he had created over time.[9]

Chao Races and Badnik Bases[]

Having obtained a used Caterkiller for his collection in his suite at the White Park Grand Chateau, Clutch would activate a Caterkiller alongside other used Badniks and have it attack Amy, Cream, Gemerl and Belle after they crossed him. Eventually though, the Caterkillers were destroyed by the heroes and Clutch's Chao.[10][11]

Imposter Syndrome and Trial by Fire[]

During Dr. Starline's revisit to the Egg Cave, he would gaze upon Dr. Eggman's Caterkiller model while reminiscing.[12] Not long after, a few Caterkillers stationed in Eggperial City attempted to stop Surge and Kit when they began wrecking havoc around the city, only to be destroyed by the duo. When Dr. Starline then took over the Eggman Empire, he sent out an override code that brought Badniks all over the world under his control, including the Caterkillers.[13]

Following Starline's next command, the Caterkillers from around the world began traveling to Eggperial City.[13][14] While the Caterkillers would ignore those along the way, they eventually began attacking Sonic, Tails, and Belle not too far from Eggperial City when they tried to stop Motobud. However, they abandoned their attack after Belle cut Motobud's power, and continued their march towards Eggperial City.[14]

Battle for the Empire[]

When Dr. Eggman regained control over his Badniks after Dr. Starline had seized control of them, the doctor had the Caterkillers and other Badniks in Eggperial City surround Sonic, Tails, and Belle.[15]

Urban Warfare[]

IDWCaterkiller

A group of Caterkillers, from Sonic the Hedgehog #58.

A group of Caterkillers and Batbrains attempted to attack Sonic while he was infuriating the Eggperial City. Unfortunately for the Caterkillers and Batbrains, they would be quickly be embolized by Silver's Psychokinesis and burned to a crisp by Blaze when they came to rescue Sonic from the Badniks.[5]

Miscellaneous[]

Come Join the Eggman Empire![]

In Come Join the Eggman Empire!, a Caterkiller makes a brief cameo via Eggman's demonstration of robotomy, where a normal caterpillar is transformed into a Caterkiller.[16]

Merchandise[]

Tomy S&K pack Moto Bug

A Caterkiller minifigure (bottom right) by Tomy.

The toy company Tomy released a Caterkiller figurine during the release of Sonic & Knuckles in a pack with three other figurines.

Trivia[]

  • The Caterkiller was originally intended to appear in Spring Yard Zone instead of Marble Zone, but was switched with Spikes late in development. This change can be seen as one of Roller's sprites is corrupted in the original game due to overlapping with its data. Caterkiller appears as a default Badnik of Spring Yard Zone in the original Sonic the Hedgehog's Debug Mode.[17]
  • The standard Caterkiller models were intended to appear in Sonic Mania as enemies in Metallic Madness Zone. However, they were scrapped.[18]
  • The Caterkiller's Japanese name, "Nal," is derived from naru, meaning "to reach."
    • This is also shared with Sandworm, a Caterkiller variant.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis) United States instruction booklet, pg. 12.
  2. Jonod (November 3, 2014). A Not so Little Look at: Sonic The Hedgehog 2014 Classic Style Guide. The Sonic Stadium. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved on March 13, 2022.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Mega Drive) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 38.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Special, "Dr. Eggman's Birthday"
  5. 5.0 5.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #58, "Urban Warfare, Part 2"
  6. "Dr. Eggman in... My Greatest Invention". Sonic the Hedgehog: Rival Edition. Tomy. 2017.
  7. Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island #4, story one
  8. Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper #2, "Ambush"
  9. Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2020, "Eggman's Day Off"
  10. Sonic the Hedgehog #35, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 3"
  11. Sonic the Hedgehog #36, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 4"
  12. Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome #2, story one
  13. 13.0 13.1 Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome #4, story one
  14. 14.0 14.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #49, "Wound Up"
  15. Sonic the Hedgehog #50, "Battle for the Empire"
  16. Sonic the Hedgehog (November 2, 2017). Come Join the Eggman Empire!. YouTube. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
  17. Message #9762 at sonicthecomic Yahoo! Group
  18. Sonic Mania. The Cutting Room Floor. Retrieved on October 29, 2018.
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