6 Hated Sonic Characters Who Managed To Win Fans Over

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It’s easy to adore the effortlessly cool, stylish, and charismatic Sonic the Hedgehog, but the same can’t be said for every character in the Sonic series. Many characters have become disliked by fans for various reasons. This could be due to their strange looks, annoying personalities, or even just because the game they first appeared in wasn’t very good. Over time, however, several of these characters have actually improved their image, and some are now even considered fan favorites. Sonic has a diverse cast, and opinions have certainly changed over the years.

Featuring a disliked character in multiple games could make fans dislike them even further, but it also gives players a chance to get to know them better and potentially find something to appreciate. However, it’s also evident that Sega has worked hard to make some of these characters more understandable and sympathetic than they used to be. Regardless, even though these individuals from the Sonic series were seen as villains in the past, they’ve gained a following since their first appearances. So, let’s explore how they managed to turn things around.

Mephiles

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

As a long-time Sonic fan, I remember when Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) came out – and honestly, it was a huge disappointment. Sonic Team really aimed high with what they said would be the first truly next-gen Sonic game, but it just didn’t deliver. There were so many technical problems, the loading times were painfully slow, and the story felt really rushed and thrown together. Because of all that, fans weren’t thrilled, and that’s a big reason why the game’s villain, Mephiles, ended up getting so much criticism.

The biggest problems with Sonic 06 were definitely its bugs and strange story, but Mephiles was also a frequent topic of criticism. Many saw him as a detached and uninteresting character. However, with the franchise now thriving, fans have begun to appreciate Mephiles more. This is largely because he’s the only villain to have ever defeated Sonic, demonstrating how dangerous he really is. His increased popularity even led to him being included as a boss in the Sonic X Shadow Generations remaster.

Big The Cat

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

The Sonic Adventure games let players control several characters, each with their own distinct way of playing. One of these is Big the Cat. However, Big wasn’t as popular as other characters because, while they had fun and interesting abilities to experiment with, Big’s levels mostly involved fishing and finding his friend, Froggy. His gameplay felt quite different – and less engaging – compared to the others.

Certain missions featuring Big the Cat have gained a bad reputation – some find them impossibly difficult, while others consider them overly simple and dull, depending on who you ask. This led to Big becoming a popular meme within the gaming community, and many players expressed a desire for him to not return. As a result, Sega made some changes to his character to ensure he didn’t detract from the gameplay experience. For instance, in Sonic Heroes, he’s just one part of a team, and he’s capable of dealing significant damage thanks to his new, powerful abilities. And in Sonic Frontiers, he hosts a mini-game where players can fish for items and resources to aid them on their journey. These changes have helped Big become a more well-regarded character among fans, though it took a considerable amount of time to reach that point.

Chip

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

The trailers for Sonic Unleashed heavily featured the new Werehog transformation, leading many players to be surprised by a key companion throughout the game. Sonic is joined by Chip, a small, inquisitive alien who Sonic names him. Chip loves to talk constantly, sharing random facts or voicing complaints whenever he can. When he’s not doing that, you’ll usually find him enjoying a chocolate bar or ice cream, or playfully trying to distract from the main story.

It’s clear that Sonic Team intended players to initially dislike this character, but he quickly becomes crucial to the plot, particularly when his surprising past is uncovered. Ultimately, Chip makes the selfless choice to save Sonic and the world from destruction. Given how positively many fans now remember Sonic Unleashed, it’s clear that Chip is now viewed very differently than he was when the game first came out.

Zavok

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

Sonic Lost World is a platformer that dared to try new things with its gameplay, and for the most part, it worked well. However, the new villains, the Deadly Six, might have been a step too far. The main problem with these characters is that they feel out of place, like they wandered in from a cheap Saturday morning cartoon into the world of Sonic the Hedgehog. Many fans still dislike them, particularly because of how they look. Despite this, Zavok, their leader, has gradually won some people over, and there are a few reasons why.

He’s made several appearances in later games, like Sonic Forces, which have added more depth to his personality. The comics have also done a great job of establishing him as a truly frightening villain for Sonic and his friends. Nowadays, Zavok feels like a complete and fitting character within this iconic series-something that wasn’t true when he was first introduced as a rather blank character in Sonic Lost World.

Black Doom

A Merciless Antagonist Who Was A Little Too Outlandish For Some

The Sonic series is known for its unusual stories and characters, but Sonic Team really pushed the boundaries with the standalone game, Shadow the Hedgehog. It was already surprising to see Shadow using realistic firearms against numerous enemies, but fans were even more taken aback by the introduction of Black Doom, a secretive alien revealed to be connected to Shadow’s origins years prior.

Honestly, when I first saw Black Doom, I didn’t really get him. He seemed way too over-the-top to be a believable villain, especially with that really deep, serious voice and his… unique design. He honestly looked like something that wandered in from a horror game! But as more Sonic games came out, and we started seeing aliens more often, people – including me – started to appreciate him. His reputation really grew, and it was awesome to see him get such an important part in Shadow’s story for the Sonic X Shadow Generations remaster. It just goes to show how much things can change!

Jet The Hawk

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

The Sonic Riders game introduced a new group of bad guys called the Babylon Rogues, led by a playful and somewhat annoying racer named Jet the Hawk. There were a couple of reasons why fans didn’t immediately warm up to this new character when he first appeared. First, many thought Sonic already had plenty of rivals with characters like Shadow and Knuckles, so a new one felt unnecessary. Second, Jet’s voice was extremely high-pitched and grating, which could be unpleasant to listen to for extended periods during, before, or after a race.

So it’s easy to see why Sonic Team kept Jet out of the series for so long, but as they say, people appreciate things more when they’re gone. When Jet’s return was announced in Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, it brought back fond memories for Sonic fans everywhere, who were pleasantly surprised to see the proud hawk back in the game. Given how popular he’s become, it’s very likely the developers will continue to include Jet in future Sonic titles, particularly the spin-off games.

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2025-09-30 01:56