The Madmole[1] (モグモグ[2],Mogu-Mogu?) is an enemy that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, mole-based Badnik created by Dr. Eggman that pops out of metallic holes and throws mushrooms at their targets.
Based on moles, Madmoles have blue and grey armor with yellow helmets on their heads and short hoe-shaped hands. They also wear protective blue glasses and have long noses.
The Madmoles' design have remained fairly consistent since their debut, except in Sonic Lost World where they had clamps for hands. Also, the Madmoles onboard the FlyingBattery have a color scheme consisting of yellow shoulders and torsos, grey helmets and yellow glasses.
Game appearances
Sonic & Knuckles
In Sonic & Knuckles and the lock-on game Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Madmoles hide in metallic holes in Mushroom Hill Zone. When the player approaches, the Madmoles will pop out of their holes and throw mushrooms at the player. The mushrooms will not damage the player, but they will push the playable character backwards, usually into hazardous obstacles. In order to defeat a Madmole, the player has to avoid their mushrooms and destroy them with a Spin Jump at the right time, upon doing so will make them release their Animal and award the player 100 points.
Sonic Generations
In the Nintendo 3DSversion of Sonic Generations, Madmoles from somewhere across spacetime appear as enemies in both Acts of Mushroom Hill (in Act 1 they can even be found in the same spots they were in their debut game). In this game, they retain their attack patterns and methods from Sonic & Knuckles. The player can easily defeat them with a Spin Jump or Homing Attack.
Sonic Lost World
In the Wii U version and PCversion of Sonic Lost World, the Madmoles returned as enemies. During the game, the Madmoles and the other Badniks got hijacked by the Deadly Six. They can be found in Silent ForestZone 1 where they hide in groups in small burrows. Like in Sonic & Knuckles, Madmoles will pop out of their holes and they will pelt Sonic with bouncy mushrooms when he approaches them. The player can easily defeat them by using the Focused Homing Attack; the Flying Kick is useless against them as they will simply avoid it. Upon destroying a Madmole, an Animal is released.
Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, Madmoles appear as enemies found in Flying Battery Zone Act 2, although they never directly fight the player. In gameplay, they reside on platforms outside the ship. In these areas, they sit in individual pods, from where they periodically send electrical currents through a network of electrical conduits that are connected by orbs at their joints. When electricity courses through these otherwise-passable electrical conduits, they become damage-inducing barriers that are impossible for the player to pass.
The player can attack the platforms the Madmoles reside on with a Spin Jump. Doing so will cause the platforms and the Madmoles on them to fall off. This will also deactivate their respective electrical conduits for good.
The Madmoles employ a form of highly bouncy mushrooms as projectile weapons against their foes. While they are not harmful, their resilience make them adequate for pushing foes back.
Trivia
Madmole's Japanese name "Mogu-mogu" comes from "mogura", which is Japanese for "mole."
After completing Mushroom Hill Zone Act 2 in Sonic & Knuckles, a recolored Madmole can be seen on the Flying Battery, as it flies overhead. This variant of Madmole was not seen again, not even in Flying Battery Zone itself, until Sonic Mania.
Sonic Origins edits the appearance of this Madmole, applying to it the regular color pallete seen in the models throughout Mushroom Hill Zone.
In the Wii U/PC version of Sonic Lost World, when Sonic gets caught by a mushroom thrown by a Madmole, it can sometimes clip Sonic through the floor and cause him to die.
