@johnny to answer the parenthetical question: i think Robotnik needs Sonic. he's incomplete without Sonic. there is no challenge in enslaving all the woodland creatures or whatever w/o Sonic there to stop him. the moment Sonic dies is the moment the fun stops for Robotnik. this is my personal theory. he's effectively in love w/ Sonic. this kind of works in reverse to, w/ Sonic being reliant on Robotnik. they complete each other.