Buzz Bomber

Buzz Bombers are a recurring wasp-like Badnik enemy in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. They first appear in the Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog. Buzz Bombers are capable of flight using their small wings and rockets. They are also equipped with stingers that can fire a rail detonator blast, which appears as a concentrated orb of laser energy, at their target.

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)
In Sonic the Hedgehog, Buzz Bombers are the most common enemies, being featured specifically in the Green Hill Zone, Marble Zone and Spring Yard Zone.

In gameplay, Buzz Bombers fly alone or in a group from the side of the screen. When a Buzz Bomber targets Sonic, it stops moving in mid-air, retracts its stinger, and fires a rail detonator blast diagonally downward before flying away, although only to reappear from the opposite direction soon after. Sonic has to avoid projectiles, otherwise he takes damage. He can use either the Spin Jump or Spin Attack to defeat a Buzz Bomber while it is unguarded. Defeating a Buzz Bomber yields 100 points, and it also releases an Animal.

Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
In Sonic the Hedgehog, Buzz Bombers are featured as enemies in Green Hill Zone and Bridge Zone. In gameplay, the have the same attack pattern as their 16-bit counterparts; they fly above Sonic, only to stop in mid-air when they spot him and and fire a projectile diagonally downward, before flying off-screen (only to re-enter the screen from the opposite direction). Like many other Badniks in the Sega Game Gear and Sega Master System titles, Buzz Bombers do not have an Animal inside them as an organic battery. Regardless, upon their destruction, they reward the player with 100 points.

Sonic Chaos
In Sonic Chaos, the Buzz Bombers were redesigned with plain stingers replacing their usual rail detonator projectiles. These variations appear as enemies in Turquoise Hill Zone, Gigalopolis Zone and Electric Egg Zone: These variations include black flying Buzz Bombers in Turquoise Hill Zone, similar gray flying Buzz Bombers found in Gigalopolis Zone, and stationary gray Buzz Bombers found in Electric Egg Zone. Their only attack patterns are touching the playable character, as they do not shoot projectiles like the common Buzz Bomber.

In the English manual for the Sega Game Gear version, these enemies are generically referred to as "bugs". However, the Japanese version identifies them as "Beetons", which is the Buzz Bombers' Japanese name. Other sources simply refer to these enemies as "Buzzes", presumably due to their lack of bombing capabilities.

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
In Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, Buzz Bombers appear as enemies, and closely resemble their appearance in the Sonic the Hedgehog television series. Buzz Bombers hover around and block pathways in The Showdown, and they can be destroyed with one hit.

In the Sega Game Gear version, they are named Wasps, and in the Sega Master System version they are named Waspins. In these versions, defeating a Buzz Bomber earns the player 80,000 points.

Sonic's Schoolhouse
In Sonic's Schoolhouse, the Buzz Bombers appear in the Ring Hunt mini-game, where both itself and the Moto Bugs are known as "spoil sports". In spoil sports simply attempt to intercept the player as they collect Rings. If the player is caught, the minigame restarts.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its enhanced port Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Buzz Bombers are featured as enemies in the extra stage, Green Hill. Buzz Bombers resemble their original appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis, but are more cubic, and also behave similarly.

Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, Buzz Bombers appear among the winning fan art presented in the game.

Sonic the Hedgehog Level Creator
In Sonic the Hedgehog Level Creator, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies that users can insert in their custom Zones. Buzz Bombers' sprites are directly reused from the original Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega Genesis.

In gameplay, Buzz Bombers fly alone or in a group from the side of the screen. When a Buzz Bomber targets the playable character, it will halt in mid-air, retract its stinger, and fire a rail detonator blast diagonally downward before flying away (only to make a reappearance from the opposite direction soon after). The player has to avoid projectiles and use the Spin Jump or Spin Attack to defeat them when the timing is right. Upon their defeat, they release a Ricky and reward the player with 100 points.

Sonic Generations
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, Buzz Bombers from somewhere across spacetime appear as enemies. In these games, they were given a more mechanical-looking design. The player encounters the Buzz Bombers alongside the yellow Buzzers in Green Hill Act 2.

In gameplay, Buzz Bombers, which are more uncommon than Buzzers, simply fly towards the player without launching any attack. Outside the main Acts, there are also giant purple, indestructible Buzz Bombers in the Knuckles: Horde of Enemies Challenge Act. These Buzz Bombers cannot hurt Sonic, nor do they attempt to attack him, but they can propel Sonic high into the air if they are struck by an attack from a certain height, which is useful during these Buzz Bombers' Challenge Act. A statue of the purple Buzz Bomber can also be unlocked in the Statue Room.

Sonic Jump (2012)
In the 2012 Sonic Jump, yellow and orange variations of the Buzz Bombers appear at Green Hill Zone. In gameplay, these Badniks act much like their yellow variations did in Sonic Generations, namely by shooting energy projectiles from their stingers. However, they can easily be destroyed by jumping into them from below.

Sonic Lost World
In the Wii U version, PC version, and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, blue Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. They were given a more comical design reminiscent of their appearance in the original Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis. During the game, the Badniks, Buzz Bombers included, got hijacked by the Deadly Six when they turned against Eggman and used to attack him under the Deadly Six's orders. When that happened, a few of them got destroyed by Sonic. One Buzz Bomber managed to injure Tails though, which made Sonic retreat with Tails.

In the Wii U version of the game, the player encounters the Buzz Bombers in Desert Ruins Zone 1 and 3, Tropical Coast Zone 1 and 3, Silent Forest Zone 4, Sky Road Zone ?, and Lava Mountain Zone 2. On the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, the player encounters them in Windy Hill Tutorial, Windy Hill Zone 1, 2 and 3, Desert Ruins Zone 1 and 3, Frozen Factory Zone 2 and 3, Silent Forest Zone 1, 2 and 3, and Sky Road Zone 1 and 3. In the game's Speed Race mode, Buzz Bombers are also found in Desert Ruins Zone 4.

In gameplay, the Buzz Bombers either just fly around or float stationary in one place from where they shoot lasers at the player whenever they spot the playable character. Like in earlier games, a Buzz Bomber releases an Animal when defeated. Sometimes, the Buzz Bombers also appears in chains with Spinners which the player can use to skip across with the Homing Attack.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, they are named Buzzers, and appear in the Action & Answers Tour. Buzzers namely appear in the "Midair Formation & Answer" event as midair objects to keep an eye on. As the player plays out the Ski Jumping Large Hill event, they have to take notice of the midair formations the Buzz Bombers and Paratroopas progressively assume in midair on the way down. The longer the player stays in midair, the closer the Buzz Bombers and Paratroopas will get to completing their formation. After the player has landed, they must then identify the formation the Buzz Bombers and Paratroopas were trying to assume out from four answer options.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
In the Nintendo Switch version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies in the mini-game Tokyo Sky Flight. Here, they have their sprite-based appearance from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. During the "Tokyo Sly Flight" mini-game, they come in two variants. First, there are the standard blue Buzz Bombers that fly towards the player from one side of the screen and gradually fire at the playable characters before then flying away. Lastly, there are the yellow Buzz Bombers that only fly a short distance away from the right side of the screen before quickly retreating. As the player progresses through the mini-game however, the Buzz Bombers will appear from more random directions and attack more relentlessly; the blue Buzz Bombers, for example, will gradually go from appearing from the right side of the screen and not attacking at all to appearing from both sides of the screen and firing rapid shots at the playable characters in quick succession. Regardless of their behavior, the Buzz Bombers are easily destroyed with one gunshot from the Tornado.

Some Buzz Bombers come equipped with Bumper shields that can protect them from the Tornado's gunshots. However, they can be knocked away with the Tornado's shockwave attack. Also, upon destroying a Buzz Bomber, the player receives points; blue Buzz Bombers grant 100 points each while yellow Buzz Bombers grant 500 points each.

Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. In this game, they retain their design from Sonic Lost World. They are also some of the more common foes encountered in the flying type characters' stages. In gameplay, they do not fire projectiles. Instead, some of them fly around back and forth separately or in groups. Other simply hover in place.

The player can destroy the Buzz Bombers with any move or offensive power-up in the playable characters' arsenal. When destroyed, a Buzz Bomber will grant the player 100 points.

Buzz Bombers in Sonic Runners come in three types. Aside from the regular Buzz Bombers, there are golden ones which grant 300 points when defeated, and silver ones that grant 200 points when eliminated and which only Color Powers, Invincible and the power type characters' dash attack can defeat. All three variations also contain Animals that are released when they are destroyed. The Buzz Bombers also appear as part of several episodes' narrative, which features them being defeated time and time again by Team Sonic.

Sonic Runners Adventure
In Sonic Runners Adventure, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. In this game, they retain their design from Sonic Lost World. The player encounters them in Green Hill, Desert Ruins and Lava Mountain.

In gameplay, the Buzz Bombers slowly fly towards the player without attacking them. Also, upon their destruction, they release an Animal.

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle
In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, the Buzz Bombers from Sonic Forces appear on the race tracks. In gameplay, they act as stationary obstacles for the player to run into, perpetually floating in midair. However, they do not attack the player and can easily be destroyed using the Spin Jump. Upon their destruction, they grant the player five Rings.

Sonic Forces
In Sonic Forces, the Buzz Bombers appear as enemies. In this game, they were completely redesigned to have modernized, militaristic looks. The player encounters them in Lost Valley, Spaceport, Ghost Town, Prison Hall, Egg Gate, Arsenal Pyramid, Luminous Forest, Green Hill, Park Avenue, Capital City, Guardian Rock, Network Terminal, Death Egg, Metropolitan Highway and Mortar Canyon.

In gameplay, the Buzz Bombers exhibit two distinct attack patterns. In some sections, they simply hover in midair, never moving from their spot. When they see the playable character however, they will start taking shots at them. In other sections, the Buzz Bombers will fly forward until they spot the playable character, upon which they will stop in midair to shoot at them, much like in the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

During the boss battle with Zavok, yellow and orange-colored Buzz Bombers appear. They appear around the boss area, where they fly into the player. Upon colliding into something or getting hit by Zavok, the Buzz Bombers get destroyed.

Sonic Speed Simulator
Buzz Bombers appear in enemies in Sonic Speed Simulator appearing in Tornado Assault as well as Green Hill Zone.

Sonic Frontiers
In Sonic Frontiers, Buzz Bombers along with Buzzers, appear as enemies exclusively in Cyber Space stages. With their appearance taken from console/PC version of Sonic Generations, Buzz Bombers are uncommon sight out of two bee-like Badniks, as they are encountered in Cyber Space stages 1-4, 1-6, 2-2, 3-6 and 4-3. Either found stationary in the mid-air or hovering back and forth at low speed, Buzz Bombers don't fire projectiles when Sonic is near close to them compared to Buzzers, much like in Sonic Generations.

The player can defeat Buzz Bomber with one hit despite of multiple hit points, while sometimes they are required to be taken down in groups by using Homing Attack to reach another section of the stage. Because of being digital replicas of Badniks in Cyber Space, Buzz Bombers are disintegrated into the air in after one hit without containing Animals inside them.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series, the Buzz Bombers are red and green with no engines, eyes with no pupils, and drills for noses. They would occasionally come after Sonic and Tails, but would prove no match for the hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog (television series)
In the Sonic the Hedgehog, their name is spelled Buzz-Bombers, which possess a more sinister design, although they retain their wings, rockets, and laser stingers. They only appeared in "Heads or Tails", where Dr. Robotnik deployed them twice; first to coax out Sonic and later to deploy a chemical weapon against the Great Forest. Both times though, they were stopped by Sonic and the Freedom Fighters.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
In Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, the Buzz Bombers are a brand of robots created by Dr. Robotnik that patrol the Land of Darkness. Sonic and Tails encountered a swarm of them on their road to Robotropolis.

Sonic Boom
In the Sonic Boom television series, the Buzz Bombers, here called Bee Bots, are a mass-produced robot model created by Dr. Eggman. They serve both as Eggman's sentries and foot soldiers which the doctor uses for his frequent attacks on Team Sonic and Seaside Island. While fast and agile, they are not very powerful and are easily destroyed in intense combat. The series also features Bea the Bee, a Bee Bot which would be adopted by Amy.

Sonic Prime
In the Sonic Prime animated series, Buzz Bombers are set appear as part of Dr. Eggman's army.

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
In the Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic manga, a Buzz Bomber appears briefly. At the beginning of the Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 3 story, Sonic Rampage!! a Buzz Bomber can be seen in the background being defeated by Sonic with his Spin Attack, just as Eggman keeps mentioning how his arch-nemesis is always getting his way.

Sonic the Comic
In the Sonic the Comic series and its spin-offs published by Fleetway Editions, the Buzz Bombers are a part of Dr. Robotnik's Badnik army. Depending on the artist, the Buzz Bomber would be depicted differently in different issues. They were among the first generation of Badniks whom Robotnik produced and have threatened the people of Mobius since their creation.

Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Buzz Bombers, here called Buzzbombers, were among the first generation of Badniks produced by Dr. Robotnik. Early on, their design resembled that of their counterparts from the Sonic the Hedgehog television series, though they would eventually come to resemble their game counterparts. Over time though, the Buzzbombers were rendered obsolete by more advanced robots and got decommissioned.

Following the events of Worlds Collide, the Buzzbombers' history became nearly identical to that of their game counterparts'.

Sonic X
In the Sonic X comic series published by Archie Comics, the Buzz Bombers appeared as digital enemies whom Sonic encountered in a virtual reality Dr. Eggman had trapped him in.

IDW Publishing
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing, the Buzz Bombers are Badniks created by Dr. Eggman. Their past is virtually identical to their game counterparts', up until after the events of Sonic Forces. In addition to the standard Buzz Bombers, there is also a huge Buzz Bomber-based robot transporter variant.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
In the film Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Buzz Bombers are among Dr. Eggman's forces. They appear completely different than their in-game counterparts, bearing little resemblance other than the basic body shape.

Merchandise
The toy company TOMY has released Buzz Bomber action figurine during the release of Sonic & Knuckles as it also includes a series of 21 Sonic figurines and these figurines came in packs of four under the Sonic & Knuckles label and were also released individually under a Sonic the Hedgehog label.

Physical appearance
The classic Buzz Bomber resembles a mechanical with a black coloring around its spherical thorax. The stinger at the tip of its blue-striped abdomen is a rail detonator cannon, its primary weapon. Two mechanical devices resembling pale wings give it the ability to hover. Also, two engines are installed into the sides of this Badnik's thorax. Finally, the classic Buzz Bomber has a blue head with cartoony eyes, two mandibles and yellow antennae.

In Sonic Generations, the Buzz Bomber models were more mechanically detailed, with four pink wings, cyan eyes, and a bendable bar between their thoraxes and abdomens. In Sonic Lost World and several subsequent games, the Buzz Bombers retained their softer appearance from earlier games.

In Sonic Forces, the Buzz Bombers received a more modernized and militaristic design. These Buzz Bombers retained the typical Buzz Bombers' basic shape. However, their wings had become yellow, their abdomens had lost their stripes, and their thoraxes had become blue. They also had black heads with a single red eye each and small antenna.

Profiles

 * Sonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia (page 12): "It flies in, takes aim, and launches a single shot at Sonic."

Trivia

 * The Buzz Bomber's names might have been derived from the Intellivision game . Coincidentally, Buzz Bombers is also the name of a minigame in Penn & Teller's Smoke and Mirrors.
 * The purple Buzz Bombers in Sonic Generations are simply recolors of the Buzzers that do not fire at Sonic. Before Sonic Generations, this Buzzer model was used in Sonic Colors.