Espio the Chameleon
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character in Sega
's Sonic the Hedgehog video game series and media franchise
. He was created for the game Knuckles' Chaotix
and his subtle color changing demonstrated the technical capabilities of the Sega 32X
console. The character is a 16-year-old anthropomorphic
purple chameleon
with a cool but arrogant personality. He is one-sixth of the Chaotix team of private investigators.
Espio debuted as a player character
in Knuckles' Chaotix, teaming up with Knuckles the Echidna
and other characters to defeat Doctor Eggman. The character is also playable in Sonic the Fighters
, Sonic Heroes
, and Sonic Rivals 2
, and makes non-playable
appearances in other games. He is a recurring character in the comic book
series Sonic the Comic
and Sonic the Hedgehog
, as well as the Sonic X
anime. Espio has seen limited inclusion in Sonic merchandise. The character has received mixed critical response from sources such as Mega Zone
and Sega Magazine
.
for the video game Knuckles' Chaotix
, as part of the newly introduced Chaotix team of private investigators. In the game, his color subtly changes while he moves to demonstrate the technical capabilities of the Sega 32X
console. Espio was incorporated into Sonic Heroes
as part of a move to reintroduce neglected characters, and because the development team considered him to have a unique, interesting personality. He was the designated "speed" character in Sonic Heroes while teammates Vector the Crocodile and Charmy Bee respectively represented "power" and "flight". Espio was added to Sonic Rivals 2
to help "round out our cast of characters", and because designer Takashi Iizuka
appreciated the character's "stealthy agility".
Espio's design is that of a 16-year-old anthropomorphic
purple
chameleon
who stands at 110 cm (3' 7.3") and 36 kg (79.4 lbs). He is cool-headed, not threatened by danger, and disciplined, but often arrogant and opinionated. The character strongly values freedom, and has a strong dislike for Doctor Eggman. Claustrophobia is his main weakness. Due to his training as a ninja
and his ability to turn invisible
at will, Espio is able to move unnoticed. His trademark move is the ability to run along ceilings and walls.
Espio debuted in Knuckles' Chaotix as a player character
alongside the rest of the Chaotix—a team which included Mighty the Armadillo in this game—as well as Knuckles the Echidna
and two robots named Heavy and Bomb. The premise involves Doctor Eggman using energy from the Chaos Emerald that fuels the "Carnival Island" amusement park in order to power his own "Combi Confiner" machine. Knuckles, who patrols the island, finds that Eggman has captured the Chaotix. Once Espio is rescued, he joins with Knuckles to defeat Eggman. The character is also playable in the arcade
fighting game
Sonic the Fighters
, later ported to the Nintendo GameCube
and PlayStation 2
as part of Sonic Gems Collection. Four of his offensive moves use his tongue, a feature not demonstrated elsewhere in the series.
The Chaotix is one of four playable three-character teams in Sonic Heroes. The team receives a package in the mail which contains a walkie-talkie
through which an unknown client requests the team's help, promising to "pay handsomely". Espio is suspicious, but Vector and Charmy focus on the opportunity to make money
, to which Espio consents. As the quest progresses, Espio begins to suspect that the owner of the voice is a relative of Doctor Eggman, a sentiment which Vector deems feasible. When the client is revealed to be Eggman, the team is disappointed at their own incompetence. Eggman then reveals that he plans to conquer the world before paying them, which leads to Charmy beating him up. Missions in the game Shadow the Hedgehog
, which takes place after Sonic Heroes, are either "Hero"- or "Dark"-type; the missions selected change the course of the story. In a Hero-type mission, Espio requests Shadow the Hedgehog
's help in extracting data from Eggman's computer database. Shadow, the only player character in the game, can choose to accept or ignore Espio's request.
Espio is one of eight playable racers in the PlayStation Portable
racing game Sonic Rivals 2
. After noticing that Chao
creatures have gone missing, Vector suspects Silver the Hedgehog of kidnapping them and tells Espio to investigate him. Silver suddenly appears to ask Espio about the missing Chao, which causes a startled Espio to trip over his wording. Silver then suspects Espio, but Espio tells him to leave. After interruptions from Sonic the Hedgehog
, Miles "Tails" Prower
, and other characters, Espio meets Silver. Silver explains that he did kidnap the Chao, but only to keep them safe. The two then work together to look for the Chao, pursuing Knuckles and Rouge the Bat
. Espio also appears in the sports
spin-offs Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
as a referee, and also as a costume that the player's Mii
can wear in the latter.
comic book
series published in the United Kingdom by Fleetway Editions. He is portrayed as a rival to Mighty, but was initially opposed to Knuckles, ambushing and fighting him until the Omni-Viewer ended the conflict. Espio makes rare use of his ability to turn invisible.
The character also regularly appears in the United States series Sonic the Hedgehog
published by Archie Comics
. He grew up as a member of the "Shinobi
Clan" in the "Dragon Kingdom" region. Espio later departed to join the community in the "Rainbow Valley" region of "Floating Island". He met Vector, Charmy, and Mighty when Knuckles requested their help to defeat Metal Sonic
. The group eventually became friends, forming the Chaotix team. In the Mobius: X Years Later canon of the same series, Espio works as Knuckles's secretary, and has two daughters named Salma and Juanita.
Espio was a minor recurring character in the Sonic X
anime
that ran from 2003 to 2006. He initially appears along with Vector and Charmy to look for Cream the Rabbit, confronting Miles "Tails" Prower
and Amy Rose
in the process. In a later episode, Vector accepts the offer of Vanilla the Rabbit, Cream's mother, to look for her, but Espio mentions that they don't have a spaceship.
Reception for Espio has generally been mixed. Mega Zone
s review of Knuckles' Chaotix stated that the introduction of Espio, along with Charmy, provided variety in the cast and could "keep you amused for many a night." IGN
's Travis Fahs opined that "the Chaotix crew was a hoot", highlighting "aerial maneuvers" such as Espio's trademark wall-running. A preview of Knuckles' Chaotix by Sega Magazine
called him "[a]nother Sonic wannabe", a position later echoed by GameZone
. Sega Magazines second, more in-depth preview of Knuckles' Chaotix stated that "his speed and his strange ability to stick to any surface – and that includes running upside down" were his most interesting characteristics. The preview called him overall a "geezer." Xbox World
s preview of Sonic Heroes opined that "Espio the Chameleon isn't completely rubbish, just mostly rubbish", citing poor visual appearance in both Knuckles' Chaotix and Sonic Heroes. Electronic Gaming Monthly
staff writer Casey Loe stated that Espio's unique abilities place him as "the breakout star of the game."
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
's Sonic the Hedgehog video game series and media franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
. He was created for the game Knuckles' Chaotix
Knuckles' Chaotix
Knuckles' Chaotix, is a platform game spin-off to the Sonic the Hedgehog series, developed by Sonic Team, and published by Sega for the Sega 32X. The game was released in North America in March 1995, in Japan on April 21, 1995 and finally in Europe in May 1995. The game's only re-release since then...
and his subtle color changing demonstrated the technical capabilities of the Sega 32X
Sega 32X
The Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is an add-on for the Mega Drive/Genesis video game console by Sega. Its aim was to increase the lifespan of the aging Mega Drive/Genesis system, which was facing stiff competition from the SNES...
console. The character is a 16-year-old anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
purple chameleon
Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...
with a cool but arrogant personality. He is one-sixth of the Chaotix team of private investigators.
Espio debuted as a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
in Knuckles' Chaotix, teaming up with Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles the Echidna is a video game character of the Sonic the Hedgehog game series, including spin-off games and comics. His first appearance was in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, released in 1994 to introduce a new rival for Sonic. He was presented as an antagonist who was tricked by Dr. Eggman into...
and other characters to defeat Doctor Eggman. The character is also playable in Sonic the Fighters
Sonic the Fighters
Sonic the Fighters is a fighting game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game's original Japanese title, Sonic The Fighters, is used in North American and European releases of Sonic Gems Collection.-Plot:...
, Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes
is a 2004 platforming single-player/multiplayer video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by Sonic Team USA. It is the first multiplatform title in the Sonic series, developed for Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox and released in Japan in December 2003, in North America in...
, and Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic Rivals 2 is the sequel to Sonic Rivals. The game was developed by Backbone Entertainment and supervised by Sega Studio USA, exclusively for the PlayStation Portable handheld videogame console. Sonic Rivals 2 was released on November 13, 2007 in North America...
, and makes non-playable
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
appearances in other games. He is a recurring character in the comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series Sonic the Comic
Sonic the Comic
Sonic the Comic, known to its many readers as STC, was a UK children's comic published fortnightly by Fleetway Editions between 1993 and 2002...
and Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)
Sonic the Hedgehog is an ongoing series of American comic books published by Archie Comics, featuring Sega's mascot video game character of the same name. The comic book series debuted in the United States as a 4 part mini-series published between November 1992 and February 1993...
, as well as the Sonic X
Sonic X
is an anime series based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. It was produced in Japan by TMS Entertainment with the partnership of Sega and was created by Sonic Team and Sonic Project. In the United States, 4Kids currently owns and manages copyright and branding of the series.- Series 1 ...
anime. Espio has seen limited inclusion in Sonic merchandise. The character has received mixed critical response from sources such as Mega Zone
Mega Zone
Mega Zone was a publication from Elwood, Vic. : Megazone Publications which ran from 1989-October of 95, ultimately publishing 56 issues. Mega Zone originally started out as a bi-monthly, multi-platform magazine but started publishing monthly and switched its focus to Sega software only in June 1993...
and Sega Magazine
Sega Saturn Magazine
Sega Saturn Magazine was a monthly UK magazine dedicated to the Sega Saturn. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and as such some issues included a demo CD created by Sega, called Sega Flash, which included playable games and game footage...
.
Design and characteristics
Espio was created by Sonic TeamSonic Team
is a Japanese computer and video game developer established in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan in 1990, originally known as Sega AM8. The Japan-based division is also known as G.E. Department Global Entertainment. The studio has collaborated with several in-house Japanese studios as well as other American-based...
for the video game Knuckles' Chaotix
Knuckles' Chaotix
Knuckles' Chaotix, is a platform game spin-off to the Sonic the Hedgehog series, developed by Sonic Team, and published by Sega for the Sega 32X. The game was released in North America in March 1995, in Japan on April 21, 1995 and finally in Europe in May 1995. The game's only re-release since then...
, as part of the newly introduced Chaotix team of private investigators. In the game, his color subtly changes while he moves to demonstrate the technical capabilities of the Sega 32X
Sega 32X
The Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is an add-on for the Mega Drive/Genesis video game console by Sega. Its aim was to increase the lifespan of the aging Mega Drive/Genesis system, which was facing stiff competition from the SNES...
console. Espio was incorporated into Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes
is a 2004 platforming single-player/multiplayer video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by Sonic Team USA. It is the first multiplatform title in the Sonic series, developed for Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox and released in Japan in December 2003, in North America in...
as part of a move to reintroduce neglected characters, and because the development team considered him to have a unique, interesting personality. He was the designated "speed" character in Sonic Heroes while teammates Vector the Crocodile and Charmy Bee respectively represented "power" and "flight". Espio was added to Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic Rivals 2 is the sequel to Sonic Rivals. The game was developed by Backbone Entertainment and supervised by Sega Studio USA, exclusively for the PlayStation Portable handheld videogame console. Sonic Rivals 2 was released on November 13, 2007 in North America...
to help "round out our cast of characters", and because designer Takashi Iizuka
Takashi Iizuka (game designer)
is a Japanese game producer, game director, game designer, level designer, scenario writer and currently the head of Sonic Team.-Early career:His first collaboration with Sega involved working with STI on Sonic 3 and Knuckles as a designer. Later, he helped supervise Traveller's Tales with the...
appreciated the character's "stealthy agility".
Espio's design is that of a 16-year-old anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
chameleon
Chameleon
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of lizards. They are distinguished by their parrot-like zygodactylous feet, their separately mobile and stereoscopic eyes, their very long, highly modified, and rapidly extrudable tongues, their swaying gait, the possession by many of a...
who stands at 110 cm (3' 7.3") and 36 kg (79.4 lbs). He is cool-headed, not threatened by danger, and disciplined, but often arrogant and opinionated. The character strongly values freedom, and has a strong dislike for Doctor Eggman. Claustrophobia is his main weakness. Due to his training as a ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
and his ability to turn invisible
Invisibility
Invisibility is the state of an object that cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be invisible . The term is usually used as a fantasy/science fiction term, where objects are literally made unseeable by magical or technological means; however, its effects can also be seen in the real...
at will, Espio is able to move unnoticed. His trademark move is the ability to run along ceilings and walls.
In the video games
| 1995 – | – Knuckles' Chaotix Knuckles' Chaotix Knuckles' Chaotix, is a platform game spin-off to the Sonic the Hedgehog series, developed by Sonic Team, and published by Sega for the Sega 32X. The game was released in North America in March 1995, in Japan on April 21, 1995 and finally in Europe in May 1995. The game's only re-release since then... |
||
| 1996 – | – Sonic the Fighters Sonic the Fighters Sonic the Fighters is a fighting game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game's original Japanese title, Sonic The Fighters, is used in North American and European releases of Sonic Gems Collection.-Plot:... |
||
| 1997 – | |||
| 1998 – | |||
| 1999 – | |||
| 2000 – | |||
| 2001 – | |||
| 2002 – | |||
| 2003 – | – Sonic Heroes Sonic Heroes is a 2004 platforming single-player/multiplayer video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by Sonic Team USA. It is the first multiplatform title in the Sonic series, developed for Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox and released in Japan in December 2003, in North America in... |
||
| 2004 – | |||
| 2005 – | – Shadow the Hedgehog Shadow the Hedgehog (video game) Shadow the Hedgehog is a 2005 video game developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega's Sonic Team. Featuring the titular fictional character Shadow the Hedgehog from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game was revealed at the March 2005 Walk of Game inauguration of... |
||
| 2006 – | |||
| 2007 – | – Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, known in Japan as , is a sports video game developed by the Sega Sports R&D Department of Sega Japan. It was published by Nintendo for Japan and by Sega for North America, Europe and all other regions. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic... – Sonic Rivals 2 Sonic Rivals 2 Sonic Rivals 2 is the sequel to Sonic Rivals. The game was developed by Backbone Entertainment and supervised by Sega Studio USA, exclusively for the PlayStation Portable handheld videogame console. Sonic Rivals 2 was released on November 13, 2007 in North America... |
||
| 2008 – | |||
| 2009 – | – Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is a 2009 sports video game developed by Sega. It was published by Nintendo for Japan and by Sega for North America and Europe. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee through exclusive license International Sports Multimedia... |
||
| 2010 – | – Sonic Colors Sonic Colors is a 2010 platforming game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was first announced on May 26, 2010, in a press release by Sega for Italy, and it included a teaser trailer... (DS) |
||
| 2011 – | – Sonic Generations Sonic Generations is a 2011 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, produced by Sonic Team for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo 3DS... |
||
Espio debuted in Knuckles' Chaotix as a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
alongside the rest of the Chaotix—a team which included Mighty the Armadillo in this game—as well as Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles the Echidna is a video game character of the Sonic the Hedgehog game series, including spin-off games and comics. His first appearance was in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, released in 1994 to introduce a new rival for Sonic. He was presented as an antagonist who was tricked by Dr. Eggman into...
and two robots named Heavy and Bomb. The premise involves Doctor Eggman using energy from the Chaos Emerald that fuels the "Carnival Island" amusement park in order to power his own "Combi Confiner" machine. Knuckles, who patrols the island, finds that Eggman has captured the Chaotix. Once Espio is rescued, he joins with Knuckles to defeat Eggman. The character is also playable in the arcade
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
Sonic the Fighters
Sonic the Fighters
Sonic the Fighters is a fighting game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game's original Japanese title, Sonic The Fighters, is used in North American and European releases of Sonic Gems Collection.-Plot:...
, later ported to the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
as part of Sonic Gems Collection. Four of his offensive moves use his tongue, a feature not demonstrated elsewhere in the series.
The Chaotix is one of four playable three-character teams in Sonic Heroes. The team receives a package in the mail which contains a walkie-talkie
Walkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
through which an unknown client requests the team's help, promising to "pay handsomely". Espio is suspicious, but Vector and Charmy focus on the opportunity to make money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
, to which Espio consents. As the quest progresses, Espio begins to suspect that the owner of the voice is a relative of Doctor Eggman, a sentiment which Vector deems feasible. When the client is revealed to be Eggman, the team is disappointed at their own incompetence. Eggman then reveals that he plans to conquer the world before paying them, which leads to Charmy beating him up. Missions in the game Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)
Shadow the Hedgehog is a 2005 video game developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega's Sonic Team. Featuring the titular fictional character Shadow the Hedgehog from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game was revealed at the March 2005 Walk of Game inauguration of...
, which takes place after Sonic Heroes, are either "Hero"- or "Dark"-type; the missions selected change the course of the story. In a Hero-type mission, Espio requests Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog
is a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Shadow is an artificially-created life form. His trademark hover shoes propel him at extreme speeds that rival those of Sonic, and with a Chaos Emerald he has the ability to distort time and space using "Chaos Control." Often referred to as being...
's help in extracting data from Eggman's computer database. Shadow, the only player character in the game, can choose to accept or ignore Espio's request.
Espio is one of eight playable racers in the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
racing game Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic Rivals 2 is the sequel to Sonic Rivals. The game was developed by Backbone Entertainment and supervised by Sega Studio USA, exclusively for the PlayStation Portable handheld videogame console. Sonic Rivals 2 was released on November 13, 2007 in North America...
. After noticing that Chao
Chao (Sonic the Hedgehog)
A 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 as digital pets, minor characters,...
creatures have gone missing, Vector suspects Silver the Hedgehog of kidnapping them and tells Espio to investigate him. Silver suddenly appears to ask Espio about the missing Chao, which causes a startled Espio to trip over his wording. Silver then suspects Espio, but Espio tells him to leave. After interruptions from Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog (character)
, trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is a video game character and the main protagonist of the Sonic video game series released by Sega, as well as in numerous spin-off comics, cartoons, and a feature film. The first game was released on June 23, 1991, to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's...
, Miles "Tails" Prower
Miles "Tails" Prower
, better known by his nickname , is a character, as well as the main deuteragonist in the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games, comics, animated series and film released by Sega....
, and other characters, Espio meets Silver. Silver explains that he did kidnap the Chao, but only to keep them safe. The two then work together to look for the Chao, pursuing Knuckles and Rouge the Bat
Rouge the Bat
is a character in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, who is a determined treasure hunter and part-time government agent who plans to make all the gems and treasures of the world hers. Her main jewel obsessions are the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds...
. Espio also appears in the sports
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
spin-offs Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, known in Japan as , is a sports video game developed by the Sega Sports R&D Department of Sega Japan. It was published by Nintendo for Japan and by Sega for North America, Europe and all other regions. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic...
and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
is a 2009 sports video game developed by Sega. It was published by Nintendo for Japan and by Sega for North America and Europe. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee through exclusive license International Sports Multimedia...
as a referee, and also as a costume that the player's Mii
Mii
A is a digital avatar used in Nintendo's Wii and Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. They allow users to capture a likeness of themselves and others. After creating one using the Wii's Mii Channel or the Nintendo 3DS's Mii Maker, they can be used as playable characters in various titles for the...
can wear in the latter.
In related media
Espio was a recurring character in the Sonic the ComicSonic the Comic
Sonic the Comic, known to its many readers as STC, was a UK children's comic published fortnightly by Fleetway Editions between 1993 and 2002...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published in the United Kingdom by Fleetway Editions. He is portrayed as a rival to Mighty, but was initially opposed to Knuckles, ambushing and fighting him until the Omni-Viewer ended the conflict. Espio makes rare use of his ability to turn invisible.
The character also regularly appears in the United States series Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)
Sonic the Hedgehog is an ongoing series of American comic books published by Archie Comics, featuring Sega's mascot video game character of the same name. The comic book series debuted in the United States as a 4 part mini-series published between November 1992 and February 1993...
published by Archie Comics
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
. He grew up as a member of the "Shinobi
Shinobi
Shinobi is the Japanese word for male ninja. It may also refer to:*Shinobi , a series of video games**Shinobi , the original video game in the series developed by Sega**Shinobi , the PlayStation 2 sequel...
Clan" in the "Dragon Kingdom" region. Espio later departed to join the community in the "Rainbow Valley" region of "Floating Island". He met Vector, Charmy, and Mighty when Knuckles requested their help to defeat Metal Sonic
Metal Sonic
is a fictional character and a recurring antagonist in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. In the series, Metal Sonic is an evil identical robotic duplicate of Sonic the Hedgehog, created by the series antagonist Dr. Robotnik, and is able to match Sonic's every move and even surpass his...
. The group eventually became friends, forming the Chaotix team. In the Mobius: X Years Later canon of the same series, Espio works as Knuckles's secretary, and has two daughters named Salma and Juanita.
Espio was a minor recurring character in the Sonic X
Sonic X
is an anime series based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. It was produced in Japan by TMS Entertainment with the partnership of Sega and was created by Sonic Team and Sonic Project. In the United States, 4Kids currently owns and manages copyright and branding of the series.- Series 1 ...
anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
that ran from 2003 to 2006. He initially appears along with Vector and Charmy to look for Cream the Rabbit, confronting Miles "Tails" Prower
Miles "Tails" Prower
, better known by his nickname , is a character, as well as the main deuteragonist in the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games, comics, animated series and film released by Sega....
and Amy Rose
Amy Rose
, known earlier as Rosy the Rascal, is a video game character who appears in most of the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games developed by Sega's Sonic Team, debuting in Sonic CD as the third recurring protagonist. Amy Rose was created by Kazuyuki Hoshino and based on one of Kenji Terada's...
in the process. In a later episode, Vector accepts the offer of Vanilla the Rabbit, Cream's mother, to look for her, but Espio mentions that they don't have a spaceship.
Cultural impact
Espio has seen limited inclusion in officially released Sonic merchandise. In 1996, Espio's likeness in Sonic the Fighters was adapted into a plush toy. In March 2010, Joe Amaro of plastic toy manufacturer Jazwares announced to Sega and the online community that an Espio toy was in production. The figure was released in fall 2010 in a comic book pack with a Vector figure.Reception for Espio has generally been mixed. Mega Zone
Mega Zone
Mega Zone was a publication from Elwood, Vic. : Megazone Publications which ran from 1989-October of 95, ultimately publishing 56 issues. Mega Zone originally started out as a bi-monthly, multi-platform magazine but started publishing monthly and switched its focus to Sega software only in June 1993...
s review of Knuckles' Chaotix stated that the introduction of Espio, along with Charmy, provided variety in the cast and could "keep you amused for many a night." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Travis Fahs opined that "the Chaotix crew was a hoot", highlighting "aerial maneuvers" such as Espio's trademark wall-running. A preview of Knuckles' Chaotix by Sega Magazine
Sega Saturn Magazine
Sega Saturn Magazine was a monthly UK magazine dedicated to the Sega Saturn. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and as such some issues included a demo CD created by Sega, called Sega Flash, which included playable games and game footage...
called him "[a]nother Sonic wannabe", a position later echoed by GameZone
GameZone
GameZone is an American multiplatform video game website. GameZone's daily coverage includes reviews, previews, news, hints & cheats, and editorials. Additionally, GameZone offers downloads, a child-targeted website and in association with GameStop, hosts GZGameShop, an online retailer...
. Sega Magazines second, more in-depth preview of Knuckles' Chaotix stated that "his speed and his strange ability to stick to any surface – and that includes running upside down" were his most interesting characteristics. The preview called him overall a "geezer." Xbox World
Xbox World 360
Xbox World 360 is a British Xbox and Xbox 360 magazine published by Future Publishing.- History :Xbox World 360 began life as Xbox World, with issue one released in early 2003, over a year after the Xbox's release...
s preview of Sonic Heroes opined that "Espio the Chameleon isn't completely rubbish, just mostly rubbish", citing poor visual appearance in both Knuckles' Chaotix and Sonic Heroes. Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
staff writer Casey Loe stated that Espio's unique abilities place him as "the breakout star of the game."
External links
- Espio the Chameleon at Sonic News Network
- Espio the Chameleon (video game character) at Giant BombGiant BombGiant Bomb is an American video game website and wiki that includes gaming news, reviews, commentary, and video, created by former GameSpot editors Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis in collaboration with Whiskey Media...