6 Hated Sonic Characters Who Managed To Win Fans Over

It’s hard not to love the effortlessly cool, stylish, and charismatic Sonic the Hedgehog, but the same certainly can’t be said for every character that has been seen throughout the Sonic franchise. There are many individuals who, for one reason or another, would end up becoming heavily disliked by much of the fanbase. Whether it’s because of their outlandish appearance, their whiny personality, or even simply because the game they debuted in was lackluster, there are many reasons why certain characters in the Sonic franchise have been looked down upon for many years. With that being said, however, several of these characters have actually managed to establish a much more positive reputation over the years, to the point where some could now be considered fan favorites.

Having an unfavorable character show up in numerous games does run the risk of fans disliking them even more, but it can also have the adverse effect of allowing players to learn more about them, to hopefully find something they like. On the other hand, it’s also clear that Sega has put a lot of time and effort into making some of these characters a lot more relatable and sympathetic than they were originally. Either way, despite these individuals from the Sonic franchise being vilified many years ago, they have managed to win fans over since they made their debuts, so it’s time to take a closer look at how exactly this happened.

Mephiles

The Main Villain Of One Of The Most Infamous Sonic Games Ever Released

It’s no secret that Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) didn’t exactly turn out to be the home run that Sonic Team were hoping for. Thanks to a litany of technical issues, unbearably slow loading times, and a story that felt put together with a paper clip and some string, it’s fair to say fans weren’t too happy with what was teased as being the first truly next-gen Sonic game, and this is a big reason why the game’s main villain, Mephiles, was so heavily ridiculed.

While the glitches and bizarre story were by far the biggest issues with Sonic 06, Mephiles would also be someone who was brought up a lot in these types of critical conversations, with many people seeing him as little more than a mysterious loner who didn’t seem all that intriguing. However, now that the franchise is in a much better place, many fans look back on Mephiles a lot more fondly, especially since he is currently the only villain who has ever been able to actually kill Sonic, which highlights just how much of a threat he truly is. He would even earn a spot as a boss in the Sonic X Shadow Generations remaster thanks to his sudden surge in popularity.

Big The Cat

Big’s Boring Gameplay Segments In Adventure Made Him A Punching Bag For Many Years

The Sonic Adventure games allow players to control multiple different characters who all have their own unique gameplay styles, with one of these individuals being Big the Cat. The problem with Big was that, unlike many of the other characters who had interesting gimmicks that are an absolute blast to toy around with in-game, the clumsy cat’s levels were entirely based around fishing, alongside rescuing his friendly companion, known as Froggy.

These specific missions have become infamous for being both impossible to complete and far too easy and boring, depending on who is asked. This would result in Big becoming a massive meme among the community, who many players hoped would never make a return, so in response, Sega decided to alter his character a little so that he wouldn’t be getting in the way of the gameplay. In Sonic Heroes, for example, he is only one member of a trio where he can actually dish out plenty of damage because of his brand new hard-hitting abilities, while in Sonic Frontiers, he is the host of a mini-game where players can fish for items and resources to help in the adventure. This has helped Big become a much more respectable character among the fans, but it certainly took a long while for him to get to that point.

Chip

From Annoying Companion To One Of Sonic’s Most Beloved Allies

Because the trailers for Sonic Unleashed primarily focused on the brand new Werehog gimmick, many players were completely unaware that Sonic would actually be accompanied by a small and curious alien for the entire adventure. Chip, the name given to him by Sonic, loves nothing more than talking his head off at any opportunity he gets. When he’s not spouting out random facts or complaining about his current predicament, he can usually be found eating a bar of chocolate or chowing down on some ice cream, or simply trying to derail the story in one way or another.

Needless to say, it’s almost as if Sonic Team wanted players to despise this guy right from the beginning, but it doesn’t take long before he starts to become much more important to the story, especially when his unexpected backstory is finally revealed. In the end, it’s Chip who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save not only Sonic but the entire world from being destroyed, and considering how fondly many people reflect on Sonic Unleashed as a game, it means that Chip, too, has been seen in a much different light since the game was first released.

Zavok

Despite His Cartoony Appearance, Zavok Has Proved He Belongs In The Franchise

Sonic Lost World is an ambitious platformer that took many risks with its gameplay that ultimately ended up paying off, but one area where the developers might have gone a little too far was with the new villains, the Deadly Six. The biggest issue with these antagonists is that they all look like Saturday morning cartoon rejects who had suddenly been dropped into the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, and to this day, many fans still aren’t all that fond of them, especially due to their designs. However, their ringleader, Zavok, has been able to sway people’s opinions over the years for a few different reasons.

Not only has he appeared in multiple subsequent games, which have helped to flesh out his character a little more, such as in Sonic Forces, but the comics have also gone a very long way in showing that he is a villain who deserves to be feared by Sonic and his pals. These days, Zavok feels much more like a fully realized character who belongs in this legendary franchise, but that definitely couldn’t be said for him when he was little more than an emotionless husk back in Sonic Lost World.

Black Doom

A Merciless Antagonist Who Was A Little Too Outlandish For Some

The Sonic franchise has never been shy about getting a little weird with its stories and characters, but Sonic Team took this to a whole new level with the Shadow the Hedgehog standalone game, in more ways than one. While it was already pretty bizarre to see Shadow gunning down swarms of soldiers with real-life firearms, another aspect of the game that caught many fans by surprise was the debut of Black Doom, a mysterious alien who was confirmed to have been involved in Shadow’s creation many years ago.

To many people, Black Doom was simply too outlandish a character to be taken all that seriously, especially with his super serious, gravely voice and oddball design made him look like a character that was ripped straight out of a horror game. As more games were released, though, and aliens started becoming more of a common sight in the series, Black Doom’s reputation among fans began to change, so much so that he would be afforded a very important role in Shadow’s story for the Sonic X Shadow Generations remaster.

Jet The Hawk

Ironically Enough, After Being Absent For So Many Years, Fans Began Begging For Jet To Make A Return

The Sonic Riders spin-off saw the introduction of a new batch of villains known as the Babylon Rogues, with the leader of the Pack being a mischievous racer known as Jet the Hawk. There are two main reasons why this cocky antagonist came across as so unlikable in his debut. For one, many felt that Sonic didn’t really need a new rival, considering he already had Shadow and Knuckles to keep him on his toes anytime there was a competition at hand. There was also the fact that Jet had an incredibly screechy voice, which could easily pierce the ears of anyone who listened to him squawking for too long during, before, or after a race.

It’s therefore understandable why Sonic Team decided to keep him away from the franchise for many years, but as the saying goes, absence only makes the heart grow fonder. When Jet was announced to be making a grand return in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, it lit a spark of nostalgia in the hearts of Sonic fans around the world who were all surprisingly happy to see the egotistical hawk back in action. Considering how beloved he has become these days, it seems highly likely the developers will continue giving Jet a chance to appear in future Sonic games, especially the spin-offs.