Gohla

The Gohla^[6] is an enemy that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, sea-urchin based Badnik created by Dr. Eggman and a variant of the Orbinaut. Unlike their predecessors which utilized spiked balls, the Gohlas use fireballs for their weapons and defense.

Appearance

Originally, Gohlas were simple floating red orbs with two black eyes for a face and a varying number of fireballs orbiting them. They also appear to have a small hatch beneath their body. In Sonic Lost World, Gohlas retained this design, along with the inclusion of tired-looking, cyan eyes.

In Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2, the Gohlas had more details added to their design, receiving grey metal plates on their top and bottom, and six metal protrusions on their rear. Their fireballs were also depicted as metal spheres which were set ablaze. In Sonic Adventure 2, their fireballs were redesigned as orange robot drones with eyes, all of which were set ablaze.

In Sonic Advance 2, Gohlas look much like they did in the Sonic Adventure series, except the metal protrusions on their backs were altered to resemble spikes.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, its numerous ports and remasters, and the lock-on game Knuckles in Sonic 2, the Sol^[5] (ゴーラ^[7], Gōra^?, lit. "Gohla") appears as an enemy encountered in the overworld and cavern sections of Hill Top Zone.

In gameplay, due to their fireballs acting as a shield, the player will have a hard time attacking the Sols without getting hurt. Similar to Unidasus from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, the Sols only move in one direction and when they see the playable character, they will launch their fireballs in a straight line forward to where the player is, and then slowly advance in the direction that they shot their projectiles. The player is recommended to avoid the fireballs until all of them are released. The Sol will then be left without a defense and the player can destroy it with a Spin Jump. Upon their destruction, they will release an Animal.

Flashing Sols without fireballs appear on the other side of seesaws in Hill Top Zone, which the player has to use in conjunction with the seesaw to utilize said gimmick.

Sonic Blast

In Sonic Blast, the Gohla is referred to as the Gola (ゴーラ^[8], Gola^?) in Japanese material, but is unnamed in western materials. In this game, they are featured as enemies in Red Volcano Zone.

In gameplay, while the Golas' movement patters are only slightly different from those exhibited in earlier games, they only have one fireball orbiting them. They also do not release their fireball, opting to use it to protect themselves. These enemies are hard to avoid while crossing lava pools, but their lack of fireballs make them easier to destroy. Like every Badnik in the 8-bit titles, these Golas do not have Animals inside them.

Sonic Adventure

In Sonic Adventure and its enhanced port Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, the Gohla is referred to as the Gola^[2] (ゴーラ^[9], Gōra^?)}, or Gora.^[4] In this game, they were given a slight redesign, making them look more mechanized. However, their number of fireballs were reduced to three. They appear as enemies in the following Action Stages for each character:

In gameplay, Gohlas hover along the ground with fireballs orbiting them. Once the player approaches one, a Gohla will expand or contract the orbit of its fireballs to change its attack radius. Expanding its attack radius, however, leaves it vulnerable to attacks from above. The player must use the Spin Jump or Homing Attack to defeat a Gohla while avoiding its fireballs. Defeating a Gohla will also release an Animal from it.

Sonic Adventure 2

In Sonic Adventure 2 and its enhanced port Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Gohla is named Gola^[10] (ゴーラ^[11], Gōra^?). In this game, they look much like they did in Sonic Adventure, but have four fireballs orbiting them instead of just three. Gohlas are only encountered in the Death Chamber, where they serve as enemies.

In gameplay, Gohlas normally hover around aimlessly at first with their fireballs. Like in Sonic Adventure though, they will start expanding and contracting the orbit of their fireballs when the playable character gets close. Also, once a fireball hits an enemy, it will disappear. Expanding their orbit leaves them vulnerable to attacks from above, however. Like before, the player must avoid the fireballs and hit the Gohlas' core body to defeat them. Defeating a Gohla releases an Animal and awards the player one hundred points.

Sonic Advance 2

In Sonic Advance 2, the Gohlas returned with a new design, and are only featured in Hot Crater as enemies. Unlike in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, these Badniks move both back and forth on the ground, albeit slowly. The Gohlas also do not release their fireballs, which in this game orbit them laterally. The player can defeat the Gohlas by Spin Jumping on top of them. Upon their destruction, they will release an Animal.

Sonic Rivals 2

In Sonic Rivals 2, the Gohla appears on collectible cards:

Image	Card Number	Card	Challenge	Unlocked
	70	Gohla	100% Game Complete	N/A
	77	Gohla	Get the High Score in Zone 4 Act 3	Zone 4 Chao Detector

Sonic and the Black Knight

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

Sonic Lost World

In the Wii U version, PC version and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, the Gohlas return as enemies. During the games' events, the Deadly Six hijacked all of Dr. Eggman's Gohlas.

In the Wii U/PC version of the game, the Gohlas are found in Desert Ruins Zone 1, Frozen Factory Zone 1 and Sky Road Zone 4. In the game's Speed Race mode, Gohlas are also found in Desert Ruins Zone 4. In the 3D sections of Desert Ruins and Frozen Factory, Gohlas either remain stationary or move around in linear patterns while their fireballs orbit them horizontally. When the player gets close to them, Gohlas have their fireballs orbit Sonic for a few seconds before making them collide with him to inflict damage. However, using this attack leaves the Gohlas vulnerable. The only way to avoid this attack is to jump as the fireballs close in or destroy the Gohla before its fireballs hit using the Spin Jump, Focused Homing Attack or Spin Dash. In the 2.5D sections of Sky Road Zone 4, Gohlas remain stationary in-between ceilings while lines of fireballs orbit them laterally.

In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, Gohlas appear in Desert Ruins Zone 1-3. In the 3D sections, their four fireballs orbit them horizontally, similar to their counterparts from the Wii U/PC version. In the 2.5D sections, they are found in wide areas or tight cavities, where they have two-to-four fireballs orbit them laterally. The player can use a Somersault to stun them and then hit them with a Homing Attack, or time an attack so it hits the Gohlas without Sonic touching the fireballs.

When a Gohla is destroyed in these games, it will release an Animal.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Gohlas are enemies found in Oil Ocean Zone Act 2. In gameplay, they appear hovering around slowly throughout the Act. While few throw their fireballs like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, most will not launch their fireballs at all and instead keep them around, as they did in Sonic Blast. In contrast to its original appearances, Gohlas only have two fireballs.

Gohlas can be destroyed by attacking them with a Spin Attack-related move. Upon their destruction, they will release an Animal and award the player with 100 points. Also, if they still have at least one fireball after they are destroyed, these will fall off. If they land on oil, they will set it on fire for a few seconds. These fireballs and the flames they can emit cannot damage the player if they are wielding a Flame Shield.

Other game appearances

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, the Gohlas appear as obstacles. This time around, they possess the design they had in Sonic Adventure 2.

In this game, the player only encounters the Gohlas in the Dream Snowboard Cross event on Radical Highway. In gameplay, these Badniks float along the racing course, keeping their three fireballs rotating around them. However, they will not launch them at playable characters. Running into a Gohla during this event will make the playable character fall down and lose speed.

Sonic Speed Simulator

This section requires an expansion.

Powers and abilities

The Gohlas are capable of levitation, though their main abilities lie in their fireballs which they can hold in orbit around them. They act both as weapons and a shield, and can be launched at their foes. By the time of the Lost Hex incident, Gohlas have demonstrated the ability to sheer their fireballs after launching them, allowing them to attack their targets with fireballs from multiple directions at once should they be unable to react in time.

Weaknesses

Gohlas are incapable of generating new fireballs. As such, they are left completely vulnerable should they use up all their fireballs.

In other media

Books and comics

The Sonic the Hedgehog comic strip series

Main article: Sol (Sonic the Comic)

Ladybird

Main article: Gohla (Ladybird)

IDW Publishing

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing, during their escape from the Eggperial City, Sonic, Tails, and Belle were pursued by the Badnik Horde, with a Gohla being among them.^[12]

Sometime later, the Gohlas were among the many Badniks that attended Orbot and Cubot's Winter Jam reality show.^[13]

Trivia

• The Gohla's original English localized name of Sol was only used twice, the first being in the North American manual for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 without any accompanying illustration for that name, and the second being in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic strip series published by Fleetway Editions. The European guidebook, Stay Sonic, recalled this Badnik simply as Orbinaut.^[14]
  • Also, Sonic Jam called this Badnik Ghora after its Japanese name,^[1] which would later be re-translated for their Sonic Rivals 2 Collectable Cards.
  • Another alternative spelling, Gola, is featured during the end credits of 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Nintendo 3DS.^[15]
• A Gohla in its Sonic Advance 2 design makes a small appearance on the variant cover of Sonic the Hedgehog #251, where it provides fire for Dr. Eggman and Dr. Wily around a campfire.
• The Gohla's attack pattern in the 2.5D sections of the Wii U version and PC version of Sonic Lost World, as well as the 3D sections in the Nintendo 3DS version, is similar to the Fire Bars from the Mario franchise.
• The Gohla's name in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, "Sol," is derived from sol, meaning "sun" in Spanish.
• In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Gohla's main body shares its sprite with Spiker, which also appears in Hill Top Zone.

References