- For other uses, see Shellcracker (disambiguation).
The Shellcracker[1][2] (カニパンチ[3] Kani Panchi?, lit. "Crab Punch"), is an enemy that appears the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, fiddler crab-based Badnik created by Dr. Eggman.
Appearance
Shellcrackers are Badniks based on red fiddler crabs. They each have a red and white carapace with a white abdomen, two pair of white legs and a pair of eyestalks with large yellow eyes. Shellcrackers also have two different-sized red claws. Their right claw is tremendous and has three spikes adorning the upper joint, while their left one is much smaller. For the original models, the left claw was connected to the Shellcrakers' body with four orbs.
The Shellcrackers' design during the first part of the Death Egg mk.II incident received a few changes. Here, they have blue feet joints and the lower section of their claws are yellow on the outside and gray inside. As of the prelude of the Starfall Islands incident, this design has been left relatively unchanged.
Game appearances
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
The first appearance of this Badnik was in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where it served as an enemy that is encountered in Metropolis Zone.
In gameplay, the Shellcrakers walk back and forth slowly, while also blocking the narrow paths to the elevators. They can attack with punches by extending their spiked claws out at the playable character in a straigth line when they get nearby, before retracting them. The player can destroy these Badniks by Spin Jumping on them from above or behind, but they have to be very precise with their aim; their large claws often block their hits from the front. Upon their destruction, a Shellcracker will release an Animal and award the player 100 points.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, Shellcrackers appear in Mad Gear Zone. Despite having an upgraded design, the Shellcrackers behave like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. However, the Shellcracker's claw attack is now easier to predict, as it raises its left claw before thrusting its right one. Despite this, the Shellcrackers can still be defeated the same way as in their debut, where upon their destruction they will release an Animal and award the player 100 points.
Other game appearances
Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, Shellcrackers appear in Gigantic Angel Zone, where they behave and attack in the same manner as they did previously in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, as well as being defeated in the same manner as they could in their debut, where upon their destruction, they release an Animal.
Personality
Like with most Badniks, the Shellcrackers posses several personality traits, such as showing stress when struggling to carry Dr. Eggman's throne.[4]
Powers and abilities
Despite being far less advanced than other Badniks like those in the E-Series, the Shellcrackers' design allows them to perform tasks flawlessly.[5] Each one possesses a large pincher claw that packs a serious punch and can extend over a limited range, with said punch having enough force to even knock down Sonic if timed properly.[6] Additionally, the Shellcrackers are also quite physically strong as well, as two Shellcrackers were capable of carrying Dr. Eggman's golden throne while he was sitting on it.[4]
In other media
Books and comics
Ladybird
Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Shellcrackers were parts of Dr. Eggman's Badnik Horde who were guarding the Metropolis Zone during Operation: Clean Sweep.
After the Super Genesis Wave rebooted the timeline, Shellcrackers became nearly identical to their game counterparts. In this reality, they are Badniks under the command of the Metropolis Egg Army.
Sonic Comic
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IDW Publishing
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing, the claw of a destroyed Shellcracker would end up in a pile of destroyed Badniks and other robots from Gene Gadget Zone.[7] At another point in the past, two Shellcrackers were seen carrying Dr. Eggman's golden throne while he was sitting on it, though the Shellcrackers eventually got crushed due to the stress of carrying said throne.[4]
After the War to Take Back the Planet, when Sonic was escaping through a crumbling building, two Shellcrackers attempted to attack him. Unfortunately for the Shellcrackers, Sonic would easily destroy them.[8]
When Sonic returned to Vista View, two Shellcrackers waiting by the entrance would manage to successfully knock down Sonic using a well-timed punch attack. Unfortunately for the two Shellcrackers, a citizen would quickly destroy the both of them using his Cube Wispon, as well as saving Sonic.[6]
Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence
In Sonic Frontiers prequel comic Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence, a group of Shellcrackers along with Crabmeats are found attacking Amy Rose on a tropical island with "Dr. Eggman" piloting a large Shellcracker-like mech as well. The mech along with the Shellcrackers and Crabmeats, were destroyed by Amy, Sonic and Tails.[9]
Trivia
- For some reason, there are a couple of sources that call the Shellcrackers as "Shellcrakers,"[10][11] though this is most likely just a misspelling.
- In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Shellcrakers can sometimes disappear from certain places where they would usually be in. This can also happen to the Slicers as well.
- As with the Slicers, the Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I website points out their annoyance because of their placement and attack pattern in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
- The Stay Sonic book states that Shellcrackers are a variant of Crabmeat.[12] However, due to the book pertaining to the early Sonic canon, this claim is most likely non-canonical.
Gallery
Development images
Artwork
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Screenshots
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Promotional material
Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence
References
- ↑ Sega . Sonic the Hedgehog 4 :: Episode I. Badniks: Shellcracker. Sega. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved on October 27, 2017.
- ↑ Sonic Jam
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Mega Drive) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 52.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter Issue 3, "story one"
- ↑ "Dr. Eggman in... My Greatest Invention". Sonic the Hedgehog: Rival Edition. Tomy. 2017.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sonic the Hedgehog: #1 5th Anniversary Edition, "Familiar Territory"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog: Tails' 30th Anniversary Special, "Flying Off the Rails"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #51, "Escaping the Empire"
- ↑ Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Convergence, "Prologue: Convergence"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Genesis) United States instruction booklet, pg. 15.
- ↑ 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2, ending credits.
- ↑ Stay Sonic page 41.
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