Storm the Albatross

Lore & Background

Storm's narrative role is defined by his participation in the 'Babylon' story campaign, which intersects with the 'Heroes' story focused on Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. His team seeks the Key to Babylon Garden, an artifact said to unlock secrets of their ancestors. The plot begins when Doctor Eggman approaches Jet, the Rogues' leader, proposing a partnership using Chaos Emeralds to make Babylon Garden rise. Storm agrees to this plan as part of the team's effort to retrieve the Emeralds. During the competition, the Rogues face opposition from Team Sonic. In the final race of the Grand Prix, Wave sabotages Sonic's board, allowing Jet to win and claim all seven Chaos Emeralds. These events are central to Storm's journey within the game, leading to the appearance of Babylon Garden.

In Their Own Story

The story progresses when Eggman steals the Key from Jet after he uses the Chaos Emeralds to manifest Babylon Garden. As Eggman heads for the garden with Amy Rose as a hostage, both Sonic and Jet pursue him. Upon arrival at Babylon Garden, Storm is present alongside his teammates and Team Sonic. They encounter the Babylon Guardian, a giant creature protecting the treasure. Together, the two teams defeat the Guardian, revealing a chest containing only a carpet. After Eggman passes out in confusion, Jet uses the Key to make the carpet fly, revealing it as an early form of Extreme Gear. The story concludes with Team Sonic and the Babylon Rogues going their separate ways, with Jet promising to race Sonic again.

Reader's Guide

In gameplay terms, Storm is restricted from using certain types of Extreme Gear, adhering to the game's class system where characters are divided into Speed, Power, and Fly classes. As a member of the Power archetype (implied by his team dynamics and restrictions), he can break certain objects that others cannot. Each race features up to eight characters, with players controlling one character on an Extreme Gear vehicle that requires air as fuel. To succeed in races, players must manage their air tank, perform tricks off ramps or slipstreams to refill it, and collect rings to level up abilities. The game includes 16 tracks across eight unique areas, many of which are unlocked through progression. Players can also spend collected rings at the shop to purchase new Extreme Gear with unique statistics.

Did You Know?

• Storm appears in Sonic Riders, a game released in February 2006 in Japan and North America to commemorate the Sonic series' 15th anniversary.
• The game features two intersecting story campaigns: the 'Heroes' story with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and the 'Babylon' story featuring Storm, Jet, and Wave.
• Storm is one of only three characters in the 'Babylon' campaign and is restricted from using certain types of Extreme Gear based on his character class.
• The game was the last Sonic title produced with franchise co-creator Yuji Naka's involvement as executive producer before he left Sega to form Prope.
• Sonic Riders includes 16 playable characters in total, incorporating guest characters from Nights into Dreams, Space Channel 5, and Super Monkey Ball.