Sonic The Fighters

{{Infobox Game {{Japan}} June, 1996 {{NA}} July, 1996
 * title       = Sonic The Fighters
 * image       =
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 * developer   = Sega-AM2
 * publisher   = Sega
 * distributor =
 * designer    =
 * engine      =
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Virtual Console {{NA}} November 19, 2006 {{Japan}} December 2, 2006 {{Australia}} December 7, 2006 {{Europe}} December 8, 2006
 * genre       = Platform
 * modes       = Single player, multiplayer
 * ratings     =
 * platform    = Arcade,Gamecube,Playstation 2
 * media       =
 * requirements =
 * input       = Joystick

Sonic The Fighters Sonic the Fighters (Sonic Championship in US arcades), is a fighting game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game's original title is used in North American and European releases of Sonic Gems Collection. The game was once planned for release on the Sega Saturn, but was cancelled for that console.

Masahiro Sugiyama, a character designer at AM2 added Sonic and Tails into the fighting game Fighting Vipers. Yu Suzuki saw this and decided to present the idea of a 3D Sonic fighting game to Hiroshi Kataoka. Suzuki then presented the idea to Yuji Naka. Initial thoughts about the game were that the game would give Sonic a negative and violent image, and Kataoka thought that Naka would not approve, but Naka loved the idea and approved of the game's development. This was Sonic's first 3D debut and had Naka's full support. The game was released in Japanese arcades in June 1996, running on Sega Model 2 hardware.

Plot
Dr. Robotnik (Doctor Eggman in the Japanese version. His North American name, Dr. Robotnik, was misspelled as "Dr. Robotonic") has built the Death Egg II, along with Metal Sonic. Tails alerts Sonic to this and they plan to fly into space via the Lunar Fox, a spaceship Tails built in an effort to stop it. However, as it is a single seater, only one of them can go and it requires the energy of eight Chaos Emeralds. The two set off in the Tornado to find them, detecting one in Knuckles's possession. Sonic demands that he hands it over, but Knuckles queries as to why Sonic should be the one to go. It's therefore decided that a tournament of sorts will be held to see who has the honor of piloting the Lunar Fox.

If a character defeats all eight opponents, they will go on to face Metal Sonic and Dr. Robotnik. However, the player has to defeat Dr. Robotnik within 15 seconds of his stage to get the ending, or otherwise the game is still won, though Robotnik wins and the player receives a Game Over instead.

Super Smash Bros. series
Many elements from this game have been seen in the Super Smash Bros. games.


 * Sonics A attacks are based on the "punch, punch, kick" move he used in this game.
 * Mario's Smash Down A move is based on a move in the game which required Mario to crouch and press the attack button.
 * Mario's Dash attack is based on a similar move from this game in which the player has to run, crouch, and attack.
 * The Metal Box from this game appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee and will be appearing in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * The Peach's Castle stage and the Rainbow Cruise stage are both based on areas from this game
 * The "Slide" music from this game can be heard during in the music for the Rainbow Cruise stage.