Heavy Rider

The **Heavy Rider**[1] (ヘビーライダー[2] *Hebī Raidā*?) is an antagonist that appears in the *Sonic the Hedgehog* series. A member of the Hard Boiled Heavies, the Heavy Rider is the enhanced version of an Egg-Robo created by Dr. Eggman after being struck with the power of the Phantom Ruby. The Heavy Rider is usually accompanied by her trusty steed, Jimmy.

## Appearance

Originally an Egg-Robo, the Heavy Rider received a makeover when she stumbled upon the Phantom Ruby. Decorated as a knight, the Heavy Rider's design reflects that of a purple knight with a gray-colored helmet. She also has a black lower torso, red eyes, and gray appendages. She possesses as well three spikes on her chest and has purple forefeet.

## History

### Sonic Mania

The Heavy Rider was originally an elite Egg-Robo who handled the most extreme tasks for her creator, Dr. Eggman.[3] After detecting a mysterious energy source on Angel Island, Eggman sent the Heavy Rider and the other Hard Boiled Heavies to investigate.[4] Upon reaching Angel Island, she and her troop excavated the energy source, the Phantom Ruby, just as Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower arrived. The Phantom Ruby promptly warped space-time around them,[4] transforming the Heavy Rider into her knight attire along with her troop. As a side effect of the ruby, the Heavy Rider and her team gained free wills and personalities of their own, though they were driven mad in the process.[1]

The Phantom Ruby transported the Hard Boiled Heavies, along with Sonic, Tails, and a nearby Knuckles the Echidna, to the Green Hill Zone, where the troop fled with the gemstone. After that, the Hard Boiled Heavies planned to keep the Phantom Ruby for themselves. The Heavy Rider, now having a Moto Bug named Jimmy as her steed, and her troop soon met Eggman again though, who tried to command the group. When they would not listen though, Eggman snatched the Phantom Ruby from their clutches. The Heavy Rider and her troop then fled the scene.

The Heavy Rider and Jimmy appeared soon after in the Lava Reef Zone where they fought Sonic and Tails onboard a rocket heading for Little Planet. However, the heroic duo proved too much for the Heavy Rider, who fled from the fight after being defeated.

The Heavy Rider, now modified into the Phantom Rider alongside a modified-Jimmy, would later reappear to fight Sonic and co. again during their fight with the Phantom Egg, but was unable to beat them.

### *Sonic Mania Plus*

In *Sonic Mania Plus*, the Phantom Rider had been destroyed after the events in the Titanic Monarch Zone, her remains having been left on Angel Island with most of the other Phantom Heavies. However, after Sonic's return with the Phantom Ruby following the War to Take Back the Planet, the Heavy Magician was able to steal the Phantom Ruby and give it to the Phantom King, who used it to revive himself and the rest of the Hard Boiled Heavies, including the Phantom Rider, just as Sonic and his companion caught up to them. The group's resurrection reverted the Phantom Rider back to the Heavy Rider, while also triggering a warp that sent them all to Green Hill Zone. There, the Heavy Rider and the Hard Boiled Heavies fled with the Phantom Ruby in hand. In the meantime, the Heavy Rider regained Jimmy as her steed. When they regrouped, the group thought they could keep the Phantom Ruby to themselves. However, Eggman showed up again and took the ruby when they would not obey him, leaving the Heavy Rider and her troop to flee the scene.

When Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty and Ray boarded a rocket heading for Little Planet in the Lava Reef Zone, the Heavy Rider and Jimmy showed up to challenge the heroes. However, she lost and had to retreat. When the heroic group later fought the Phantom Egg, the Heavy Rider, now re-upgraded into the Phantom Rider once more, fought Sonic and co. when her turn came, but was unable to defeat the heroes.

## Personality

The Heavy Rider is said to have gotten a couple of screws loose after receiving newfound power from the Phantom Ruby. Besides this, she is said to be a courageous thrill-seeker who loves pulling off dangerous stunts.[1] It is also implied that she has a playful attitude, as confetti and a loud "YAY!" is heard as she jumps over her stunts in her battle arena.

## Powers and abilities

The Heavy Rider possesses incredible strength, enough to swing around a giant metal flail with ease. She is also shown to be a masterful driver when riding her trusty steed, Jimmy.

### Weapons

The Heavy Rider's main weapon of choice is a large, gray-colored mace that she uses to protect herself and attack her opponents.

## Trivia

* Oddly enough, the Heavy Rider's spiked flail is designed like the iron balls seen in Marble Garden Zone and Lava Reef Zone in-game, while in official art, the flail has a more plain design.
* Prior to the release of version v1.04/*Sonic Mania Plus*, Heavy Rider released an Animal when defeated in Lava Reef Zone.
* The sounds used when the Heavy Rider turns, jumps, or revs up come from *Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball*.
* Through Debug Mode, it is possible to fight the Heavy Rider in Lava Reef Zone as Knuckles.

## External Link

* Heavy\_Rider from the Sonic News Network