Launch Base Zone - Sonic Metropolis

Information about the Zone

Game appearances : Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (1994).

Different versions : Big Arms bossfight (Sonic Generations (3DS) (2011)).

Type : Action Stage.

Zone description : Dr. Robotnik’s main base on Angel Island. It is here, on the Launch Base Zone, that the villain has set up a command center to control the capture of the island. It was from the Launch Base Zone that the new Death Egg station was planned to be launched, which was, fortunately for everyone, successfully disrupted by Sonic and Tails. Filled with hostile robots, various traps, flooded sections and a maze of pipes, elevators and strange mechanisms, the Launch Base Zone is one of the most dangerous places set up by Robotnik on Angel Island.

OSTs used in this Zone

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (1994) [Act 1]

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (1994) [Act 2]

Events

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994)

After his defeat, Dr. Robotnik lands on Angel Island, where he finds an energy source even more powerful than the Chaos Emeralds, namely the Master Emerald. However, it was protected by the powerful guardian Knuckles the Echidna. Despite his power, Knuckles is rather gullible, so Robotnik convinces the echidna that Sonic and Tails are trying to steal the Master Emerald, thus turning Knuckles against the heroes. Soon, Sonic and Tails arrive on Angel Island and are immediately attacked by Knuckles, who takes the Chaos Emeralds from the heroes and hides them in Special Stages portals around the island. Sonic and Tails have to search all over Angel Island to find the portals in the form of giant rings while chasing Robotnik and Knuckles along the way.

After defeating Dr. Robotnik at Ice Cap Zone, Sonic and Tails use Spindash to dig a tunnel through the snowy ground, suddenly finding themselves in Dr. Robotnik’s main base, the Launch Base Zone. Traversing the mazes of Robotnik’s main base, filled with traps and hostile robots, Sonic and Tails are trapped in a tiny room, where they have to overpower three Twin Hammers robots. Afterwards, the heroes make their way to the heart of the Launch Base Zone, where they encounter Robotnik himself in his new deadly machine, the Egg Cannon. After his defeat and destruction of the Egg Cannon, the villain escapes to the still unfinished Death Egg station, which was the whole plan to build. Not having any other choice, in his attempt to escape, Dr. Robotnik launches an unfinished station in the air. Sonic and Tails pursue the villain in his own Egg Mobile (in the process, Knuckles tries to stop them, but is thrown into the sea due to the destruction caused by the Death Egg launch). Once on Death Egg, Sonic and Tails face off again in a deadly battle with Dr. Robotnik in his new machine, the Egg Rocket. The battle causes damage to the unfinished station, and after the destruction of the Egg Rocket, Death Egg crashes. Sonic and Tails successfully jump off the station and into the Mushroom Hill Zone, where they continue their adventure.

After destroying the Launch Base Zone, Sonic and Tails followed Knuckles into one of the portals, but it did not lead to the Special Stage. Instead, it led them to the Master Emerald altar. After placing the Chaos Emeralds around the Master Emerald, Sonic and Tails find the portals to the Special Stages again, where they energize the Emeralds, turning them into Super Emeralds with the power of the Master Emerald. Using the power of the Super Emeralds, Sonic and Tails finally defeat Knuckles and Robotnik.

Sonic & Knuckles (1994)

After the defeat of Dr. Robotnik, however, many of the evil doctor’s robots and machines remained on the island. One robot, called Egg Robo, had enough intelligence to replace Dr. Robotnik and rebuild an army of robots and weapons itself. After dropping bombs on Knuckles, Egg Robo steals the Master Emerald, forcing the echidna to go in pursuit. Like Sonic and Tails, Knuckles also visits the Launch Base Zone where he also battles the Twin Hammers robots. Since the Death Egg station has already been launched and destroyed, Knuckles did not have to fight the Egg Cannon and Egg Rocket to destroy it, but on his way through the base Knuckles is intercepted by the Egg Robo in an extremely powerful robot, the Big Arms, which Knuckles, though with difficulty, manages to defeat.

On the way, Knuckles finds seven Chaos Emeralds and absorbs them, activating the form of Super Knuckles. After destroying Launch Base, Knuckles enhances the Chaos Emeralds on the Master Emerald altar, turning them into Super Emeralds. Using their power, Knuckles transforms into his Hyper Knuckles form. Eventually, Knuckles catches up with Egg Robo at Sky Sanctuary, defeats Neo Metal Sonic and retrieves the Master Emerald. After his victory, Knuckles returns Master Emerald to its altar and restores peace to Angel Island.