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Chao (Sonic the Hedgehog)

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Chao
'Sonic the Hedgehog' character
File:ThreeChao.JPG
A screenshot from Sonic Adventure 2: Battle showing three Chao: "Dark", "Neutral", and "Hero" (from left to right).
First gameSonic Adventure (1998)

A Chao (チャオ) is a fictional life form in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series published by Sega. Chao made their first appearance in the 1998 Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure as digital pets. They have since appeared in several video games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, generally as digital pets or minor characters. They have also appeared in games outside the series, and the Sonic X anime. Chao and the Chao raising system have been featured in promotions, and generally well-received by critics such as IGN and GameSpot.

Design and characteristics

Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka stated in an interview with video game publication 1UP.com that Chao were incorporated into Sonic Adventure "so that new players would be forced to go out, explore the action sections, and find Flickies and things."[1] Chao were designed as a "relative neutral entity" in this game. However, to remain consistent with the good–evil dichotomy of Sonic Adventure 2, they were designed so that the player could raise them as "Hero Chao" or "Dark Chao". A Chao "socialization program" was incorporated into Sonic Adventure 2 in order to make the game unique.[2]

Chao are small creatures with a pudding-like body and behave much like human infants.[3] Official sources state that Chao are cute,[4] have pleasant and relaxing personalities,[5] and enjoy toys[6] and being held or petted.[7] Chao's diets consist of tree fruit. Chao hatch from eggs found in Chao Gardens. When the player spends enough time with a Chao in the Chao Garden, the Chao develops a cocoon; it hatches from this as an adult. Eventually it develops another cocoon. If the Chao has been treated well, the cocoon is pink and the Chao is reincarnated as an egg; the cycle then restarts and the Chao remembers the player. If, however, the Chao has been treated poorly, the cocoon is gray and disappears.[3] Chao can breed to produce fertile eggs.[8]

Appearances

Chao have appeared in numerous Sonic the Hedgehog video games as digital pets. They made their first appearance in the 1998 Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure. The player can raise them, enter them in races,[9] and export them to Chao Adventure, a game for the Dreamcast's VMU peripheral. The player can also trade Chao or post their high scores online using the Dreamcast's Internet capabilities.[10] The Chao raising feature was expanded in Sonic Adventure 2; Chao may become "Hero Chao" or "Dark Chao" depending on whether the game's "hero" characters (Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Knuckles the Echidna) or "dark" characters (Shadow the Hedgehog, Doctor Ivo Robotnik, and Rouge the Bat) are nicer to them. Chao can enter karate competitions in this game, as well as racing.[2] The Game Boy Advance (GBA) games Sonic Advance, Sonic Advance 2, and Sonic Pinball Party feature a "Tiny Chao Garden", similar to the Chao Gardens of Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 but with minigames in place of racing and karate competitions.[11][12][13] Chao can be traded between Sonic Adventure 2: Battle and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut—Nintendo GameCube ports of Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure—and the GBA games featuring a Tiny Chao Garden.[14][15]

Chao have also appeared in the series as minor characters. During levels in Sonic Adventure 2, Chao give the player hints.[16] On the Sonic the Hedgehog-styled pinball board in Sonic Pinball Party, one of the player's objectives is to hatch several Chao eggs.[13] Each world in the 2004 GBA game Sonic Advance 3 features Chao-inspired minigames to earn extra lives for the player, and a sidequest that involves finding Chao to obtain Chaos Emeralds.[17] In the 2008 Nintendo DS role-playing game Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Chao can be collected and equipped to characters. This affects the characters' performance in battle; for example, one kind will increase the character's hit points. The game features a multiplayer mode in which Chao can be traded between players who each have a copy of the game.[18]

Cream the Rabbit, a prominent character in the series, has a Chao named Cheese as a partner. In a move to keep her image safe, she often uses him to attack enemies instead of doing so herself.[19] Another notable Chao is Omochao, a robotic Chao who appears as a minor character in several games.

Chao have also made appearances in video games outside the Sonic the Hedgehog series. In the 2004 PlayStation 2 game Sega Superstars; the player uses points earned during the game to please a pet Chao.[20] Marking the introduction of the character Sonic the Hedgehog to the 2008 Wii game Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Chao and other characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series appear as collectible trophies[5] and stickers.[21]

Chao were recurring characters in the Sonic X anime that ran from 2003 to 2006.[22][23]

Promotion and reception

Chao's likenesses in Sonic X have been adapted into key chains.[24] Between July 27 and September 8, 2002, Sega hosted a promotion at Tokyo-based department stores. Attendees could download "Chao Mini Garden"s and exclusive Chao to their copies of Sonic Advance. Chao clothing clips, along with accessories based on other Sega characters, were available.[25]

Chao and the Chao raising system have been generally well-received by critics. In a review of Sonic Adventure, GameSpot's Peter Bartholow stated that "[w]ith the Chao-breeding simulation and the minigames, Sonic offers much more beyond the completion of its story."[26] IGN stated that "SA more than has the extras department covered."[9] This enthusiasm was extended to IGN's reviews of Sonic Adventure 2,[27] Sonic Advance,[11] and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut.[15] GameSpot's Shane Satterfield was critical of the Chao raising feature in Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, stating that "there's little in the way of interactivity" and that "the [C]hao training aspect using the Game Boy Advance is little more than a novelty."[14] However, GameSpy's Shane Bettenhausen praised the feature in the game, comparing Chao to Tamagotchi digital pets.[28] GameSpot's Frank Provo noted the appeal to "those people who might only enjoy pinball in passing" that Chao brought to Sonic Pinball Party.[13] 1UP.com's Chris Baker called the Chao feature in Sega Superstars "ultimately worthless ... but some might find it amusing."[20] In a review of Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, GameSpot's Shiva Stella praised the level of strategy that the game's Chao system added.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Afterthoughts: Sonic Heroes". 1UP.com. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  2. ^ a b IGN Staff (June 4, 2001). "Interview With Sonic Adventure 2 Director Takashi Iizuka". IGN. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "CHAO Laboratory". Sega/Sonic Team. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  4. ^ Sega Studio USA. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Professor Chao: Chao are small, cute and mysterious creatures who live in the Chao garden. Everyone loves Chao. If you go to the Chao garden, you can raise your own Chao.
  5. ^ a b Sora Ltd. Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Chao trophy: A type of creature that can absorb and learn skills and traits from other life-forms, adapting its shape as it does. This results in vast variations in appearance, behavior, and personality. Chao are generally very cute, and their mannerisms are pleasant and relaxing. Chao Gardens are a good place to find them, but they also inhabit areas with freshwater.
  6. ^ Sega Studio USA. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Professor Chao: Toys are the prizes you get for winning Chao Races or Chao Karate tournaments. Chao loves toys, so raise your Chao to win a grand prize!
  7. ^ Sega Studio USA. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Professor Chao: Chao love to be held or petted.
  8. ^ Sega Studio USA. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Professor Chao: You will be able to tell it's mating season when you see flowers blooming around your Chao. Mate them and they may lay eggs.
  9. ^ a b "Sonic Adventure Review". IGN. September 8, 1999. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  10. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Sonic Adventure - Overview". Allgame. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
  11. ^ a b Harris, Craig (February 5, 2002). "Sonic Advance Review". IGN. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  12. ^ Provo, Frank (April 7, 2003). "Sonic Advance 2 Review for Game Boy Advance". GameSpot. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  13. ^ a b c Provo, Frank (June 25, 2003). "Sonic Pinball Party Review for Game Boy Advance". GameSpot. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  14. ^ a b Satterfield, Shane (February 15, 2002). "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle Review for GameCube". GameSpot. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  15. ^ a b Casamassina, Matt (June 20, 2003). "Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut Review". IGN. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  16. ^ Sega Studio USA. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Chao in City Escape: The Chao key is in this container. If you keep it, you can go to the Chao garden when you finish the stage!
  17. ^ Provo, Frank (June 23, 2004). "Sonic Advance 3 Review for Game Boy Advance". GameSpot. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  18. ^ a b Stella, Shiva (October 10, 2008). "Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Review for DS". GameSpot. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  19. ^ "Sonic Central". Sega. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  20. ^ a b Baker, Chris (November 16, 2004). "Sega Superstars Review from 1UP.com". 1UP.com. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  21. ^ "Sticker List". Smash Bros. DOJO!!. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  22. ^ "Little Chaos Lost". Sonic X. Season 1. Episode 22. August 31, 2003. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Flood Fight". Sonic X. Season 2. Episode 32. November 9, 2003. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Sonic the Hedgehog: Chao Mood Keychain GE4655: Clothing". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  25. ^ Harris, Craig (July 23, 2002). "Download Sega GBA Games for Free". IGN. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  26. ^ Bartholow, Peter (December 31, 1998). "Sonic Adventure Review for Dreamcast". GameSpot. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  27. ^ "Sonic Adventure 2 Review". IGN. June 22, 2001. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  28. ^ "Reviews: Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (GCN)". GameSpy. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
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