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{{Infobox character
| name = Sol Badguy
| image =
| caption = Sol Badguy in '']''
| series = ]
| firstgame = '']''
| creator = ]
| voice = '''English'''<br/>David Forseth {{small|(''Xrd - present'')}}<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Sol Badguy Voices (Guilty Gear) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Guilty-Gear/Sol-Badguy/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><br/>'''Japanese'''<br/>] {{small|(''Guilty Gear'', ''X'' and ''XX'')}}<ref>{{cite video game | developer=Arc System Works | title=Guilty Gear | publisher=] | scene=Ending credits, 27:52 in, CHARACTER VOICES | year=1998}}</ref><!-- url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aoba8ZhDl6s --><br/>] {{small|(''Guilty Gear X2'' story mode)}}<br/>] {{small|(''Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus'' (story mode & alternative voice) - present)}}<ref name="btva"/>
| origin = {{flagicon|USA}} ]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.guiltygearx2reload.com/sol.htm | title=Sol Badguy | publisher=Guiltygearx2reload.com | accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref>
| nationality = ]
}}
{{nihongo|'''Sol Badguy'''|ソル=バッドガイ|Soru Baddogai|lead=yes}} is a ] in ]' '']'' video game series. He first appeared in the ] video game '']'', as the main character<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:公式攻略ファンブック ギルティ・ギア コンプリートバイブル|trans-title=Official Walkthrough Fanbook Guilty Gear Complete Bible|publisher=]|page=157|date=May 28, 1998|isbn=978-4-796-61347-7|language=Japanese}}</ref> and namesake.<ref>{{cite video game|date=October 31, 1998|title=Guilty Gear|developer=Arc System Works|publisher=]|quote='''Narrator''' "Sol, the Guilty Gear, stared at his bloodstained hands and prayed..."/"...prayed for the soul of the grotesque sacrifice lying at his feet."|scene=After Sol's battle with Justice}}</ref> In the series, he is a ] who has dedicated his life to the destruction of Gears, a race of magical bioweapons that plunged the world into a hundred-year war known as the Crusades. He was once a member of the Sacred Order of the Holy Knights, and this appearance was featured in another ] named {{nihongo|'''Order-Sol'''|聖騎士団ソル|Seikishidan Soru}}.

Sol Badguy, whose real name is '''Frederick Bulsara''', was named after ]'s nickname, "Mr. Bad Guy", by ], the series' creator, who also provided his voice in the video games. Despite being criticized as a generic fictional character, ] compared his relationship with his main rival, ], to that of other notable video game characters. Sol's fighting abilities and the choice of his name were also the subject of reviewers, receiving both praise and criticism.

==Creation and design==
Creator Daisuke Ishiwatari designed Sol in many ways as his alter ego, and also recorded Sol's in-game voice (the voice actor for ''Guilty Gear X2'''s story mode and drama CDs, however, is done by ]). Ishiwatari's favorite band is ], and he put in Sol's profile that he is a fan of Queen,<ref>{{cite book | year = 2002
| title = Guilty Gear X2 ''PS2 manual'' | publisher =] | language = Japanese | page =23}}</ref> and named Sol Badguy,<ref name=da>{{cite book|script-title=ja:ギルティギアゼクスドラフティングアートワークス|trans-title=Guilty Gear X Drafting Artworks|date=January 2001|page=5|publisher=]|isbn=978-475-770301-8|language=Japanese}}</ref> whose real name is Frederick (or Freddie for short),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_154/4970-What-Makes-a-Superhero|title=What Makes a Superhero?|author=Evans, John|work=]|accessdate=August 8, 2013}}</ref> after Freddie Mercury, whose nickname was "Mr. Bad Guy".<ref name=da/>

==Appearances==
Introduced in the first installment of the series (1998), Frederick was one of the lead scientists of the Gear project, as well as being the prototypical Gear, dating from over a hundred years before the events of the ''Guilty Gear'' games. As a prototype, he is immune to the orders of Commander Gears. He was personally acquainted with Asuka R. Kreutz (typically known as That Man) prior to the Crusades. As Frederick, Sol created the "Outrage", which he called a supreme Anti-Gear weapon. The Outrage has eight components called "Jinki" (Godlike Weapons), which greatly amplify their wielders' magical ability. Later, he was himself recruited into the order, as a bounty hunter named Sol Badguy. Sol took part in the Crusades, during which he was a member of the Sacred Order of Holy Knights (Seikishidan), acquiring the nickname {{nihongo|"Flame of Corruption"|背徳の炎|Haitoku no Honō}}. However, he later became disenchanted with the methods of the Sacred Order, and fled the order, taking with him the {{nihongo|Fūenken|封炎剣||Fireseal}}. The theft earned him Ky Kiske's enmity.<ref name="gg">{{cite video game|developer=]|title=]|publisher=]|date=1998|platform=]}}</ref>

In 2175, Sol faced ] directly. During the fight, which Justice won, she discovered that Sol was a Gear. Justice attempted to assert her power as a Commander Gear to control Sol, but was unable to do so. Exploiting her confusion and weakness from the fight, the Holy Order, led by Ky, sealed Justice away, bringing the war to an end. However, a Gear named ] began a plan to free ], and to stop it, the Union of Nations held a tournament. The canon stated that Sol was the winner of the Tournament, which also resulted in Justice discovering that Sol was, in fact, Frederick. Justice, in her dying words, commented that she wished that "...the three of us..." could talk one last time, and Sol swore to kill Asuka.<ref name="gg"/>

In '']'' (2000), Sol has three endings, all of which involve a fight against ], who has a half-million dollar bounty on her head. However, he spares her life in all of them, losing against her in his second ending, and judging that she is not a threat to the world in the other two.<ref>{{cite video game|developer=]|title=]|publisher=]|date=2001|platform=]}}</ref>

In the subsequent game, '']'' (2002), his story-line involved chasing down ]. In his first ending, his defeat of I-No led to a direct confrontation with Asuka, who casually deflected all of Sol's attacks, saying that Sol was needed because soon a greater battle than the Crusades will occur. In Sol's second ending, ] informed him of the ]'s interest in Dizzy. In the third ending, he fought Dizzy, who had been possessed by Necro, after I-No knocked her off the Mayship, and sent Dizzy on her way to meet Johnny and May.<ref>{{cite video game|developer=]|title=]|publisher=]|date=2003|platform=]}}</ref>

In '']'' (2008), Sol had two endings. In one, I-No threw him back in time to fight his past self, Order-Sol. After both are weakened from the battle, I-No reappeared to murder ], which, in turn, caused Sol's present form to cease existing. In his other ending, the same set of events played out, but Sol's present form, strangely, is unaffected by his past self's death. After escaping the time rift, Ky confronted and engaged him in battle. After the fight, Sol and Ky finally settled their differences and went their separate ways, with Ky asking Sol to promise that they will meet again. Though it was referenced in both Sol and Ky's endings, only Sol's told the events directly after the battle, which implied that Sol was the victor.<ref>{{cite video game|developer=]|title=]|publisher=]|date=2008|platform=]}}</ref>

In '']'' (2007), Sol Badguy took in a young man named ] as his apprentice, and traveled the world with him as bounty hunters. During their journey, he met ], who told him that a man called Vizel was seeking out and destroying Gears, by order of ], and that his next target was the kingdom of Illyria. Sol, Sin, and Izuna go to Illyria and find Ky Kiske trapped with a binding spell. With ]'s help they were able to release him. Eventually, they captured Valentine, who transformed herself into a monster. Sol fought her, and after the fight, he found himself in a white space, unable to return. However, he was confronted by That Man, who confirmed that Valentine was a copy of Aria, Sol's former lover. Sol was returned to the real world, where he reunited with his allies.<ref>{{cite video game|developer=]|title=]|publisher=]|date=2007|platform=]}}</ref>

In '']'' (2014), Sol continued his journeys with Sin when ] declared war on humanity. Working alongside Ky, Sin, ], and ], Sol fought to stop the Conclave from using the Cradle to resurrect Justice and destroy humanity. In the end, Sol and his allies were able to stop Justice from reviving, but Elphelt betrayed them and tried to kill them. She was eventually taken to the Backyard, and Sol, Sin and Ramlethal set out to find her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ggxrd.com/character/|title=Character – Guilty Gear Xrd Portal Site|publisher=Ggxrd.com|access-date=August 3, 2013|language=Japanese|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804232359/http://ggxrd.com/character/|archive-date=August 4, 2013|df=}}</ref>

In ''Xrd -REVELATOR-'' (2016), Sol was confronted by Raven, who told him that That Man needed his help in preventing Elphelt from merging with Justice. Before the final battle against Ariels, Sol attempted to claim he is not related to Dizzy, due to her mother being Justice, who was once Aria. His allies began to theorize his connection with the two female Gears, which caused Ky—Dizzy's husband—and Sol to scream out in horror at the supposed revelation that the two rivals are in-laws. After Ariels' defeat, Jack-O took Elphelt’s place and fused with Justice, becoming a reincarnated Aria, and Sol revealed to his allies That Man’s true identity—Asuka R. Kreutz.

In the epilogue storyline added in ''Xrd REV 2'' (2017), Sol visited Ky's manor, where he challenged Ky to a duel. As Ky noticed Sol’s fighting intent, they took their discussion outside the manor to speak privately. While recalling their days as members of the Sacred Order of Holy Knights, Sol mocked Ky, claiming that he held back every time they fought, despite him not doing so when he battled Gears. He further remarked that Dizzy was a “monster”, just like himself, angering Ky, who then entered a frenzied rage and managed to overpower Sol in combat. As Sol lied in a newly-formed crater, Sol explained that he had a score to settle with Asuka, with Ky asking him about it. Unbeknownst to them, at the same time they spoke, Asuka turned himself in to the United States government.

Sol returns as a main protagonist in '']'' (2021), arriving to Washington as guest of the White House during a peace meeting with Asuka targeted by his mentor The Original and I-No. Sol’s story concludes as Asuka extracted the Flame of Corruption from him to restore his humanity, going off the grid by his original name with the governments declaring him legally dead.

He was also a playable character in the ] games '']'' (2001),<ref>{{cite web
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124052400/http://www.guiltygearx.com/ws/chara.html|archivedate=January 24, 2001
|url=http://www.guiltygearx.com/ws/chara.html|script-title=ja:ギルティギア プチ キャラクター紹介|publisher=Guiltygearx.com|accessdate=August 4, 2013|language=Japanese}}</ref> '']'' (2003),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guiltygearx.com/old/archive/ggx/awisuka/cha/cha.html|title=Guilty Gear Isuka – Character|publisher=Guiltygearx.com|accessdate=August 3, 2013|language=Japanese|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125132948/http://guiltygearx.com/archive/ggx/awisuka/cha/cha.html|archivedate=November 25, 2010}}</ref> '']'' (2006),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guiltygeards.com/home.php|title=Guilty Gear Dust Strikers for Nintendo DS|publisher=]|access-date=August 3, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616015622/http://www.guiltygeards.com/home.php|archive-date=June 16, 2006|df=}}</ref> and '']'' (2006).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/guilty-gear-judgment-review/?page=2|title=Guilty Gear Judgment Review|page=2|publisher=]|work=]|date=June 24, 2012|author=Reparaz, Mikel|accessdate=August 1, 2013}}</ref>

===Order-Sol===
Order-Sol is an alternative past version of the original character. Sol was once a part of the Sacred Order of the Holy Knights, and Order-Sol is a take on what Sol looked like and how he fought during that time. This form also shows a glimpse of Sol's true Gear form when performing one of his special moves.

He first appeared as a playable character in '']'' (2005),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sega.jp/arcade/ggxxs/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051128032909/http://sega.jp/arcade/ggxxs/|archivedate=November 28, 2005|title=Guilty Gear XX Slash|publisher=]|accessdate=August 3, 2013 | language=Japanese}}</ref> and subsequently appeared in '']'' (2006),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/14/guilty-gear-xx-accent-core-review?page=2|title=Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Review|author=Clements, Ryan|date=September 14, 2007|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> '']'' (2008),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guiltygearx.com/old/ggxxac/character/o_sol.html|script-title=ja:ギルティギア イグゼクス アクセントコア【キャラクター】 – 聖騎士団ソル|publisher=Guiltygearx.com|accessdate=August 5, 2013|language=Japanese}}</ref> and '']'' (2012).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guiltygearx.com/ggxxacpr/character|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216062833/http://www.guiltygearx.com/ggxxacpr/character|title=Character – ギルティギア アクセントコア プラスアール|archivedate=February 16, 2013|publisher=Guiltygearx.com|accessdate=August 5, 2013|language=Japanese}}</ref> In addition to being playable, Order-Sol also appeared as a final ] of ''Guilty Gear XX Slash''{{'}}s Arcade Mode.

==Reception==
In a 2013 poll conducted by ], Sol was voted as the second most popular character from the series.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://arcsystemworks.jp/vote_guiltygear/ | title=GUILTY GEARキャラクター人気投票結果発表ページ | publisher=Arc System Works | access-date=January 24, 2014 | language=Japanese | archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Pp1qpxgO?url=http://arcsystemworks.jp/vote_guiltygear/ | archive-date=May 25, 2014 | url-status=live | df= }}</ref> Daisuke Ishiwatari cited Sol as his favorite character several times.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Games/Features/AX_09/4.html | title=Anime Expo 2009 |author1=Sung, Lydia |author2=Vega, Gabriel | date=July 22, 2009 | publisher=Neoseeker | accessdate=August 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=110450 | title=Anime Expo 2009: interview with Daisuke Ishiwatari and Toshimichi Mori | author=Asia Pacif Arts Staff | date=July 17, 2009 | publisher=] | access-date=August 24, 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713103610/http://asiaarts.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=110450 | archive-date=July 13, 2010 | df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/05/06/all-about-guilty-gear-with-creator-daisuke-ishiwatari/ | title=All About Guilty Gear With Creator Daisuke Ishiwatari | date=May 6, 2011 | publisher=Siliconera | accessdate=August 24, 2013}}</ref> William Usher from Cinema Blend found Sol to be one of his favorite characters "... of all time, for any game".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Preview-Guilty-Gear-2-Overture-12318.html | title=Preview: Guilty Gear 2: Overture | author=Usher, William | publisher=Cinema Blend | accessdate=January 22, 2014}}</ref> He has been praised for his last name's loftiness by many sources,<ref name=gr>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/top-7-best-fighting-game-characters/|title=The Top 7… Best fighting game characters|author=Sullivan, Lucas|date=September 10, 2012|work=GamesRadar|publisher=Future plc|accessdate=August 5, 2013|quote=With a surname like that, how could you not grow up to be a total killer?}}</ref><ref name=complex>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/05/the-50-most-dominant-fighting-characters-in-video-games/sol-badguy|title=34. Sol Badguy — The 50 Most Dominant Fighting Game Characters|author=Jones, Elton|date=May 17, 2012|work=]|publisher=Complex Media|accessdate=August 5, 2013|quote=Look at that last name. Says it all right there, doesn't it?}}</ref><ref name=spy>{{cite web|author=Turner, Benjamin|date=February 5, 2003|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/february03/guiltygearx2ps2/index2.shtml|title=Reviews: Guilty Gear X2|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521202209/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/february03/guiltygearx2ps2/index2.shtml|archivedate=May 21, 2009|accessdate=August 1, 2013|work=GameSpy|publisher=IGN Entertainment|quote=Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske (did I mention they also have great names?) are the closest you'll get to a Ken and Ryu, but they look approximately a thousand times cooler. |page=2}}</ref> with ] calling him "... the best-named videogame character of all time."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/wii-roundup?page=2|title=Wii Roundup Review|author=Gibson, Ellie|date=April 17, 2008|publisher=]|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> On the other hand, Hardcore Gaming 101 said "... his name is ridiculous",<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/guiltygear/guiltygear.htm |author1=Kalata, Kurt |author2=Natabuu | publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 | accessdate=January 24, 2014 | title=Guilty Gear}}</ref> ] ranked him sixth in their "Top 10 Most Ridiculous Character Names",<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.1up.com/features/top-10-ridiculous-character-names | title=Top 10 Most Ridiculous Character Names | work=] | publisher=Ziff Davis Media | access-date=January 24, 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202164602/http://www.1up.com/features/top-10-ridiculous-character-names | archive-date=February 2, 2014 | df= }}</ref> while Emily Gera of VideoGamer.com included him in a list of "Oddest Character Names in Games",<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.videogamer.com/features/article/oddest_character_names_in_games.html?page=6 | title=Oddest Character Names in Games | author=Gera, Emily | date=December 16, 2010 | publisher=VideoGamer.com | accessdate=January 24, 2014}}</ref> and ]'s David Houghton placed him among the "... 25 most gloriously stupid character names in video games".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamesradar.com/25-most-gloriously-stupid-character-names-video-games/ | title=The 25 most gloriously stupid character names in video games | date=October 22, 2013 | author=Houghton, David | work=GamesRadar|publisher=Future plc|accessdate=January 22, 2014}}</ref>

Despite calling him one of the cast's "... more generic characters ...",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/05/guilty-gear-isuka?page=2|title=Guilty Gear Isuka|author=Dunham, Jeremy|date=November 4, 2004|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis Media|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> ] commented that Sol has a "... standard speed and versatility ...",<ref name=core/> and considered Sol "cool" because he is a good character to play with for newcomers, as he is "... one of the easier characters to get acquainted ]''] with."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/02/guilty-gear-x2-sol|title=Guilty Gear X2: Sol|author=Alfonso, Andrew|date=July 1, 2004|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis Media|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> Thunderbolt Games listed his Dust Loop as one of "Fighting Games' Most Infamous Combos", and stated it is "... the biggest crowd upsetting combo in ''X2''", as well as "... one of history's most boring and abused combos".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderboltgames.com/features/article/fighting-games-most-infamous-combos-round-1-feature-for-all.html|title=Fighting Games’ Most Infamous Combos, Round 1|author=Chyou, Stew|date=December 28, 2010|publisher=Thunderbolt Games|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> On the other hand, GamesRadar's "Top 7" named him the fifth best character in fighting games of all time, adding, "Sol and his array of fiery attacks are emblematic ...", and calling Dust Loop, "... one of fighting games' most iconic combos".<ref name=gr/> Similarly, he was ranked 34th in '']''{{'}}s list of "Most Dominant Fighting Game Characters".<ref name=complex/> In ''Game Informer''{{'}}s 2009 list of the "Top Ten Best Fighting Game Characters", Sol placed sixth.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Top Ten Best Fighting Game Characters| journal=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop Corporation| date=August 2009|issn=1067-6392}}</ref> The option of his alternate form, Order-Sol, was also praised by IGN that remarked he "... is utterly fantastic and makes a great addition to the cast".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/20/guilty-gear-xx-accent-core-review-2?page=2|title=Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Review|author=Clements, Ryan|date=October 19, 2007|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis Media|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> In contrast, Lucas Sullivan from GamesRadar described him as a "... bit like ]: ''just'' different enough from the original to justify your inclusion in a limited roster".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gamesradar.com/gamings-most-impractical-swords-metalworker-and-master-fencer-weigh-in/ | title=Gaming's 19 most impractical swords: A metalworker and master fencer weigh in | author=Sullivan, Lucas | date=January 23, 2014 | work=GamesRadar | publisher=Future plc | accessdate=January 26, 2014}}</ref>

His relation with Ky Kiske has also been commended by reviewers. Todd Ciolek from ] described it as a "true relationship",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-x-button/2009-04-15|title=Machine Music - The X-Button|author=Ciolek, Todd|date=April 15, 2009|publisher=]|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> and IGN writer, Ryan Clements, called them a legendary pair,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/19/the-best-animes-that-wed-love-to-play|title=The Anime We’d Love to Play|author=Clements, Ryan|date=October 9, 2012|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis Media|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref> IGN's Vincent Ingenito said "Ky and Sol might very well have been the next ] and ] ... or at least the next ] and ]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/08/guilty-gear-xx-accent-core-plus-review-4|title=Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus Review|author=Ingenito, Vincent|date=December 7, 2012|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis Media|accessdate=August 3, 2013}}</ref> Writing for ], Benjamin Turner commented that they "... are the closest you'll get to a Ken and Ryu, but they look approximately a thousand times cooler."<ref name=spy/> On the same subject, Clements, however, said their clashes were "... great melodrama".<ref name=core>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/17/guilty-gear-xx-accent-core-plus-review-3|title=Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus Review|author=Clements, Ryan|date=April 17, 2009|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis Media|accessdate=August 5, 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Guilty Gear}}

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Latest revision as of 11:50, 31 August 2023

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