Tornado 2 (トルネード2 Torunēdo Tsū?) is a upgraded version of the original Tornado, that has been build by Miles "Tails" Prower in Sonic Adventure after the original Tornado being shot down during Sonic and Tails' stories. The most known feature of the Tornado 2 is to fold its wings into an X-shape and transforming into a different shape for the plane's tail. This gives extreme speed for the plane once doing this. Tornado 2 has then made several appearances since its debut.
Game appearances
Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure, the original Tornado owned by Sonic was again made playable in a retread of the classic Sky Chase Zone, now in two acts instead of one. At the end of Act 1, the plane gets shot down by the laser cannon of Dr. Eggman's Egg Carrier and crashes down. This causes Sonic and Tails getting separated to each other.
When Tails regained consciousness, he went back to his workshop to finish the construction of his new blue-tinted experimental biplane, the Tornado 2. Unlike the original Tornado, it required a Chaos Emerald to function. It was placed in the front of the craft with two engines to hold the power. After finding an Emerald and finishing the plane, Tails and Sonic went to chase the Egg Carrier yet again. This time, they were more successful, as the Tornado 2 was capable of folding its wings into an X-shape to reach extreme speeds. After crash-landing on the Egg Carrier due to a lack of landing gear, it was found by Big the Cat and flown to Mystic Ruins, where it crash-landed again. After this, Chaos found it and stole the Chaos Emerald from it, largely wrecking the already damaged plane.
Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, Tails flies the Tornado 2 in the beginning of Team Sonic's story, with Knuckles in the (apparently new) back seat. The Tornado 2 is in its X-shape used to catch up to Sonic and give him an important message from Eggman. After Sonic throws away the message, Tails and Knuckles jump out of the Tornado 2 and follow Sonic on foot, with the Tornado 2 flying off-screen, possibly on autopilot. Due to the lack of a Chaos Emerald on the Tornado 2, it can be assumed that Tails perfected its design and it no longer requires an Emerald to work correctly.
Sonic Advance 3
Tornado 2 as it is seen in Sonic Advance 3.
In Sonic Advance 3, the player rides atop the Tornado 2 in Special Stages, maneuvering up, down, left and right to collect the required number of rings. The plane can also temporarily transform into its X-winged configuration by flying through blue portals, increasing the plane's speed, increasing the value of each collected ring times two, and leaving the player's character comically holding onto the plane for dear life. Failure to collect enough rings at either the halfway mark or at the end results in the Tornado throwing the players' character off and spinning off the screen out of control.
Sonic Riders
In Sonic Riders, the Tornado 2 is seen towards the end of the Hero Story, when Eggman steals the Babylon control box and flies to the Babylon Garden. Tails flies the Tornado over to the island, while Jet the Hawk controls the large Babylon Airship. Knuckles is sitting in the second seat, and Sonic is standing on the wings. Sonic heads down to catch Eggman, but Tails hands him a new gear first. The plane isn't seen again, though it can be assumed that Tails landed it on the Babylon Garden.
Apperances in other media
Archie Comics
The Tornado 2 in the Archie Comics.
Tornado 2 (simply called Tornado) has seen in Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comics. It is owned by Sonic himself and either he or Tails has been seen as pilot it. It is similar to game's counterpart with being able to transform its wings to X-shape. It has been destroyed and damaged numerous times, but has always been repaired back as well. Few times on certain stories, it is seen to be miscolored as red, while it is later on being normally colored as blue.
Sonic X
Tornado 2 in Sonic X anime.
Tornado 2 is first seen Sonic X at episode Chaos Control Freaks. In the episode Tails used it at air combat and helping Sonic to get to the Eggman's tower base, while Amy being on the backseat. They got eventually shot on the plane's side. Due of this, Tails has to land to the ground with Tornado 2, but it almost crashes against a large rock. However Tails and Amy are saved by Knuckles, who punches the rock on the way, thus Tornado 2 getting safely landed.
After transporting to the alternative world, Tornado 2 has been used by Tails for a while until it is rebuilt as the X Tornado in episode Satellite Swindle. In the episode A Chaotic Day, Sonic is seen piloting Tornado 2 once. In the episode "A New Start", it is rebuilt again as the Tornado 2 when Tails and his friends go back to their home world, but with the ability to transform into a powerful jet-plane known as the Hyper Tornado. This version of the Tornado has two seats instead of just one.
According the Japanese eyecatch card in the episode "Satellite Swindle", the Tornado 2 is 18.7 ft (5.7m) in length, it has a 12.1 ft (3.7m) wingspan, it is 6.9 ft (2.1m) in height, its primary engine is originally made by Tails. It features two 125 MM machine guns and custom, unlimited homing missiles as weapons. The Tornado 2's maximum speed however, is stated being unknown.
X Tornado
The X-Tornado from Sonic X.
The X Tornado is a large white jet plane introduced in Sonic X. It was created by Tails and Chuck Thorndyke. This jet plane appeared in episode eight called "Satellite Swindle" after Tails had to retreat with the Tornado 2. Tails tells Chuck that he needs something strong enough to beat Eggman's E-90 ship. Tails then tells Chuck that he needs more Chaos Emeralds, but Chuck tells him that if he uses that much power, the Tornado 2 would likely blow up. They then start to build the X Tornado. This jet deserts all of the Tornado's parts. It was used for transportation. This jet plane can also transform into a warrior-like robot with a sword and shield. It can also transform into a walker. In the third season, the X Tornado is painted gold, where it is part of the Blue Typhoon. Chris Thorndyke pilots the X Tornado in episode 56 "A Chilling Discovery". Later, in episode 73, "The Cosmo Conspiracy", Shadow breaks into the Blue Typhoon. Sonic, Chris and Knuckles try to stop him, but they all fail. Tails and Cosmo get in the jet to escape Shadow. Tails threatens to run him over in order to protect Cosmo. Shadow doesn't think a jet plane like that can stop him. He then destroys the jet plane but in episode 78, Tails rebuilt the X Tornado.
Hyper Tornado
The Hyper Tornado.
An upgraded version of the Tornado 2, the Hyper Tornado was modified in secret by Chuck Thorndyke in Sonic X. In Episode 52, Tails discovers this during a late night battle with Eggman's Grand Egg Imperial battleship, along with a message from his friend Chuck explaining the modifications. The Hyper Tornado is about the same size as the X-Tornado, but only holds a single pilot. The Hyper Tornado also appears in the third season of Sonic X, where it is piloted by Chris Thorndyke.
Trivia
- In Sonic X episode "A New Start" Chuck mispronounces "X Tornado Transform" before the Tornado 2 transforms to Hyper Tornado.
- The X shaped wing of the Tornado 2 and the X Tornado bears design elements similar to the X-wing starfighter from the Star Wars series.
- The variable forms of the Cyclone and the X Tornado bears a resemblance to the variable modes of the Variable Fighter series from the Macross series. The X Tornado in flight form resemble Macross Plus and Macross 7's VF-11 Thunderbolt III's Fighter mode, a resemblance that is further reinforced later on with the appearance of the Blue Typhoon, whose flight deck resemble the flight deck of Battle 7 from Macross 7.
- In Sonic X when Tails introduces the X Tornado he calls it Tornado X. This was only for the episode it debuted in, as all other episodes featuring it had it being called X Tornado.
- In the Archie Comics, the blue Tornado 2 appears in the Sonic Rush Adventure comic adaption by Archie Comics, while in original game, it is original red Tornado with Tails and Sonic in it.
- A similar vehicle appears in Sonic Adventure 2 known as the Cyclone, though the biggest difference is its ability to walk and its tank-like armor and weapons.
Gallery
Artwork
Screenshots
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External links
- Tornado 2 information card from Sonic X - features size and minor information (Japanese)
- X-Tornado information card from Sonic X - features size and minor information (Japanese)
- X-Cyclone information card from Sonic X - features size and minor information (Japanese)