- "Chemical Plant Zone" redirects here. For other uses of the term, see Chemical Plant Zone (disambiguation).
The Chemical Plant (ケミカルプラント Kemikaru Puranto?), also known as Chemical Plant Zone (ケミカルプラントゾーン Kemikaru Puranto Zōn?), is a location that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It refers to the chemical-producing facilities that are owned by Dr. Eggman and used to supply the doctor's nefarious schemes.[1] Numerous chemical plants have been established across the Earth over time, although the most famous of these remains the one on West Side Island.
Along with Green Hill, Chemical Plant is one of the most commonly visited locations in various of Sonic's adventures.
Concept and creation[]
Early Sonic the Hedgehog 2 concept art by Hirokazu Yasuhara depicting Chemical Plant Zone as a location in a ruined future.
The Chemical Plant was created in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which served as its debut. In earlier story concepts by Hirokazu Yasuhara, this location came from a ruined future ruled by Dr. Eggman, along with Casino Night and a scrapped Zone called "Genocide City Zone". While this idea was ultimately scrapped due to being seen as too ambitious,[2] the concept of the Chemical Plant did stick and made it into the final game.
Description[]
The Chemical Plants are industrial cityscapes complete with futuristic skyscrapers, roads, and industrial structures such as warehouses and port areas. guarded by Badnik troops and filled with blue toxic gloop and twisting chemical pipes. Designed as high-tech mazes, these complexes are full of tubes and floating platforms. While the facilities in the Chemical Plants are known for producing bad chemicals,[3] they are especially well-known for producing an unpleasant substance known as "Mega Mack".
Due to the chemicals produced in these facilities, the vicinity of the Chemical Plants are generally polluted.
When the Chemical Plant was recreated in Cyber Space through Sonic's memories during the Starfall Islands incident, it appeared similar to its previous depictions, but also featured many half-pipe lines, islands, and other landmasses floating in the far distance, with a red digitized sky full of geometric shapes and cubes. Rapid, blue digitized sparks would often appear, owing to digitized atmosphere of the stage.
History[]
Sonic the Hedgehog 2[]
Sonic and Tails in Chemical Plant Zone, from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, a Chemical Plant was established on West Side Island by Dr. Robotnik. This Zone was the second one Sonic and Tails passed through during their adventure to stop the villain from finishing his plans with the Death Egg, succeeding Emerald Hill. While making their way through the Chemical Plant, the duo had to deal with the Badniks patrolling the area. At the end of this area, the two got attacked by Robotnik and his Egg Poison. The heroes managed to defeat the doctor however, and were able to proceed with their journey.
Sonic Generations[]
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, an incarnation of Chemical Plant from somewhere in spacetime got transported to White Space where it was drained of color and life.
Classic Sonic in Chemical Plant, from the console/PC version of Sonic Generations.
Chemical Plant was the second area Modern and Classic Sonic paid a visit to after ending up in White Space. Inside this location, Sonic and Tails would regroup and discuss the strange sense of déjà vu they got from it. Regardless, by speeding through Chemical Plant, the Sonics were able to fix space, thereby restoring Chemical Plant and, by extension, Amy from their lifeless states.
When the Time Eater got destroyed, Chemical Plant was seemingly returned to its rightful place.
Sonic Mania[]
In Sonic Mania, sometime after the Angel Island incident, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles were sent from Green Hill to the Chemical Plant by the Phantom Ruby when it was snatched by Dr. Robotnik, now known as "Eggman". After their traversal through this location, the trio was challenged by the doctor to a mischievous game in his Mean Bean Machine. When they came out victorious, the heroes used a pipe to travel to Studiopolis.
Sonic Mania Plus[]
In Sonic Mania Plus, following Sonic's return from the War to Take Back the Planet, the hedgehog, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty and Ray were sent from Green Hill to the Chemical Plant by the Phantom Ruby when it was snatched by Dr. Eggman for another nasty scheme. After their traversal through this location, the group fought the doctor in a rematch of the deadly Mean Bean Machine. When they prevailed again, the heroes traveled to Studiopolis.
Sonic Forces[]
In Sonic Forces, industrial areas like Chemical Plant were expanded to other regions on the planet following Dr. Eggman's conquest of the world (specifically the freezing north of the world). In this region, the Chemical Plant served as both a chemical factory and a spaceport.[1]
Upon discovering that Sonic had survived his defeat at the hands of Dr. Eggman's latest weapon, Knuckles arranged a daring rescue mission to save him from Eggman's orbital prison. In order to reach Sonic, the key figures from the Resistance and a new recruit infiltrated the Chemical Plant's Spaceport and managed to procure a space shuttle. Later on, Tails and Classic Sonic travelled to the Chemical Plant, their goal being to access the doctor's computer in order to learn more about his newly acquired power - the Phantom Ruby.
Sonic infiltrating Chemical Plant, from Sonic Forces.
Discovering that the latest Death Egg was in fact powering the Phantom Ruby, the Resistance returned to the Chemical Plant once more, as the facility's computer controlled the space station's defense systems. After the rookie Resistance member successfully created a diversion at Green Hill, Sonic made his way through the unguarded Chemical Plant in order to reach the computer and disable the Death Egg's defenses. Once Sonic was done, the Resistance was able to take the Chemical Plant.
Sonic Frontiers[]
In Sonic Frontiers, the Chemical Plant was a setting of stages that Sonic went through while in Cyber Space.
| Portal | Location | Time | Inspiration | Access Portal Gears requirement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage | Game | ||||
| 1-5 | Kronos Island | Red Sky | 3D sections of Chemical Plant Act 2 | Sonic Generations | 1 |
| 2-3 | Ares Island | Original | 1 | ||
| 2-4 | Radical Highway | Sonic Adventure 2 | |||
| 3-7 | Chaos Island | 2D sections of Chemical Plant Act 2 | Sonic Generations | N/A | |
| 4-1 | Ouranos Island | Metal Harbor | Sonic Adventure 2 | 1 | |
| 4-3 | Original | ||||
| 4-6 | Chemical Plant Act 1 | Sonic Generations | |||
| 4-D | Ouranos Island (The Final Horizon) | Cyber Space 4-3 | Sonic Frontiers | 2 | |
| 4-E | Cyber Space 1-5 | 1 | |||
| 4-F | Cyber Space 2-4 | ||||
Other game appearances[]
Sonic the Hedgehog (Didj)[]
In Sonic the Hedgehog (Didj), Chemical Plant Zone is the sixth Zone in the game.
Sonic Speed Simulator[]
In Sonic Speed Simulator, Chemical Plant Zone appears under the name Chemical Plant. In this game, it serves as the game's sixth world. It was added to the game as a part of its v1.7 update on 28 May 2022. Its features include many of its original elements and key designs, although it borrows several artistic elements from its incarnation from the console/PC version of Sonic Generations as well.
Sonic Rumble[]
Chemical Plant is one of the returning stages in Sonic Rumble.
Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack (LEGO Dimensions)[]
The Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack in LEGO Dimensions features a Chemical Plant area within the adventure world.
Sonic the Hedgehog (Minecraft)[]
In Sonic the Hedgehog (Minecraft), Chemical Plant appears as one of the Zones that are in the game. The layout of the zone is randomized on each playthrough, though certain areas are consistent just ordered in a randomly.
In other media[]
Books and comics[]
Sonic the Hedgehog (manga)[]
In the Sonic the Hedgehog manga published by Shogakukan, Chemical Plant Zone was a location that Sonic, Tails and Charmy once traveled to in order to save Amy from Dr. Eggman.
Archie Comics[]
Chemical Plant Zone merged with the federal prison on Mega Man's world, from Mega Man #50.
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Chemical Plant Zone was a location that appeared on Mobius during Operation: Clean Sweep, where Dr. Eggman and his accomplishes reshaped reality with the Genesis Wave.
After the Super Genesis Wave re-wrote history, Chemical Plant Zone became a permanent part of Sonic's World, with a history largely undistinguishable from its game counterpart's.
Sonic the Comic[]
The Chemical Plant Zone, from Sonic the Comic #114. Art by Richard Elson.
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, the Chemical Plant Zone is a large industrial Zone on Mobius. Once a beautiful and natural region, it was laid to waste by Dr. Ivo Robotnik. During the villain's global rule, it played a huge role in the pollution of Mobius and was also the sole producer of Mega Mack, the chemical designed to kill Sonic the Hedgehog.
Animation[]
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog[]
In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series, Chemical Plant Zone was one of the locations Sonic, Tails and Professor Caninestein pass through during the Mobius 5000 race against Dr. Robotnik's Race Bots.
Trivia[]
Chemical Plant as it appears in LEGO Dimensions.
- In all of the games it has been featured, Chemical Plant is the second Zone, usually after a Green Hill-themed stage, if not Green Hill itself.
- Chemical Plant is the fifth most recurring Zone in the series overall, after Green Hill, Seaside Hill, Mushroom Hill, and Casino Night.
- During the credits of Wreck-It Ralph, Sonic can be seen running through Chemical Plant Zone.
- Chemical Plant Zone appears in LEGO Dimensions as the first part of the Sonic Dimensions level pack and part of the Sonic the Hedgehog Adventure World.
- Chemical Plant Zone is featured as one of the three Zones in the Sonic the Hedgehog DLC of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition. The other two are Green Hill Zone and Sky Sanctuary Zone.
References[]
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