The greatest rivalries in sonic history

Sonic the Hedgehog was designed as a cooler counterpart to Mario. Faster, sexier and more open, this series thrived on controversy. While Sonic's run as Mario's competitor was short-lived, and he'd rather face him now at the Olympics, the blue blur continues to be a beloved character.

Due to Sonic's more straightforward characterization, the rivalries in this series aren't so much about the battle between good and evil; they're more about competition. Even if he ends up saving the day, this hedgehog's biggest rivals are those who challenge him on a personal level – the same goes for his friends. Here are the most compelling.

8

Sonic VS Jet

Ride Sonic

As is the case with much of the post-2000 series, Sonic Riders is a critically panned, fan-supported game. His dark horse debut is Jet, a trash-talking, cheating charlatan whose team uses sabotage to win the hoverboard Grand Prix.

Sonic is a perfect foil for Jet: he's also confident and bombastic, but he doesn't cheat to win. The two end up working as allies once the stakes are raised, and by the end, their rivalry is big instead of just animus.

7

Tails VS Eggman

Sonic Adventure 2

By the time Sonic Adventure 2 came out, Eggman had long ceased to be the ultimate villain of the series. He often ended up being a mid-book antagonist, even helping Sonic and his friends if a true world breaker appeared.

One of the highlights of Sonic Adventure 2 is Tails' evolution. Often facing Eggman in single combat, Tails is forced out of his comfort zone as Sonic's sidekick and becomes a hero in his own right. Eggman initially underestimates Tails, but by the time they have their rematch, he has come to respect him as a worthy opponent.

Sonic CD

Eggman is no longer an effective villain, but you have to hand it to him: the man is handy with the nuts and bolts. Realizing that he could not defeat Sonic on his own terms, Eggman created Metal Sonic: a machine designed to be more ruthless but just as fast as his archnemesis.

Metal Sonic served as Sonic's biggest threat since the series' debut: cold and emotionless, he was easier to take seriously than the goofball Eggman. He is the final boss of Sonic Heroes; his rivalry with Sonic has faded in recent years, appearing mostly in spin-offs.

5

Shadow VS Mephiles

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

The 2006 reboot of Sonic the Hedgehog paid its dues by being mocked for its ridiculous storyline, at one point featuring a romance between a human princess and a hedgehog. One of the best aspects of the campaign is Shadow's rivalry with Mephiles. At this point, Shadow is no longer a villain. Mephiles, the basis for Shadow's creation, is very much.

He tries to get Shadow to join the dark side by showing him a future where humanity turns against him. But Shadow refuses, saying that he can write his own destiny. Maybe he was looking forward to the timeline that had Sonic x Shadow Generations.

4

Sonic VS Eggman

The whole series

When Sonic debuted in 1991, Eggman was Mario's Bowser. These days, he's more of a Donkey Kong. That doesn't change the intensity of their rivalry in the early games. Even with his constant appearances in nearly every level—a rarity for most video game bosses—Eggman felt villainous.

Imprisoning forest creatures and creating robots, Eggman seeks the Chaos Emeralds for their power. He can't really hash it though, because Sonic keeps stopping him. Three decades later, it became clear that Eggman's dreams of world domination would never come true. But that doesn't stop him from trying.

3

Knuckles VS Rouge

Sonic Adventure 2

Knuckles is tasked with protecting the Master Emerald; Rouge wants it because she likes shiny jewelry. The two don't get along, making them perfect candidates for a buddy movie. This is basically the plot of their campaign in Sonic Adventure 2.

Once the two are locked in space, they begin to open up to each other. Rouge gives Knuckles the fragments of the Master Emerald she picks up, while Knuckles apologizes if he hurt her. Of course, the two mask their mutual crush in teasing and disgust, but they've been much more polite since then.

2

Sonic VS Knuckles

Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Putting robotics aside for a while, Eggman decided in Sonic 3 that the best way to get to the blue hedgehog was to take on another spiny mammal. It just so happened that Knuckles, the guardian of the Master Emerald, was very gullible. Once Eggman convinces him that Sonic is the bad guy, Knuckles is happy to accept him.

Echidna is more than a match for Sonic, if not for his speed then for his strength. Sonic 3 was the first and last time they were enemies, because once Knuckles knew he was tricked, he sided with Sonic. Despite their friendship since then, feelings of envy still linger: Sonic can go where he wants and do what he wants, while Knuckles is bound by duty.

1

Sonic VS Shadow

Sonic Adventure 2

In a normal race, you have a 25 percent chance, at best, of beating Sonic. But Shadow is the ultimate life form and it's not normal. When he appears in Sonic Adventure 2, he's the closest the blue hedgehog ever gets to being overpowered.

Once the world faces a greater threat, the two accept and go Super Saiyan together, resulting in possibly the coolest Sonic moment in history. Backed by Crush 40 Live and Learn on the soundtrack, they battle a threat that's bigger than a hundred Eggmen. By the time they were done, a bond had formed; however the two compete in a more friendly fashion to this day.