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Orbinaut is a spherical badnik created by Dr. Eggman.
History
Early Use
During Dr. Eggman's early rule over Mobotropolis, a number of Orbinaut would engage the newly formed Freedom Fighters with little success as the heroes fought to reclaim their city. (SSD: #8, #11)
Genesis
Orbinauts in Labyrinth Zone.
A small team of Orbinauts reappeared underwater in the Labyrinth Zone during Operation: Clean Sweep, where they attacked Sonic and his group. Making a hole in a wall, Sonic created a drain which sucked in him, Sally, Rotor, Antoine and the Orbinauts. Emerging from a waterfall, the Orbinauts and Antoine fell into the depths while the rest escaped. (StH: #227)
Abilities
Orbinaut's abilities rely on its four spiked balls. Their spinning enables Orbinaut to float in the air, and they can be launched one by one at his foes.
Background information
- Orbinaut is based on the like named badnik from Sonic the Hedgehog. There were two versions present in the games. The blue version with orange maces (all light blue in Game Gear, and named Unidus in Japan), stupidly launches all 4 maces quickly, leaving itself vulnerable on all sides. It appears only in the Labyrinth Zone. The other variant (green in Genesis, orange in Game Gear) doesn't even attempt to attack, opting for invincibility. That version is only in the Star Light Zone (Genesis) and Sky Base Zone (Game Gear). A red variant with 4 fireballs (called Sol in America, and Gola in Japan) fights like the Labyrinth version, appearing in Hill Top Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis only). A black variant armed with ice chunks (called Star Pointer/ Icedus in America and Japan respectively) has similar attack patterns, appearing only in Ice Cap Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, while Orbinaut itself, now completely black (called Pola or Bola in Japan). fights like the green version, appearing in the Launch Base Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Orbinaut is also the basis for the spikier Unidus/Gola (black/red) units in Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2, the latter has versions that never launch it maces/fireballs. By contrast, Orbinaut was originally all purple, but by issue #40, Orbinaut was green with light orange maces.