Jump Dash

The Jump Dash (ジャンプダッシュ) is an move used by Sonic the Hedgehog and many of his friends and allies later on. It first debuted in Sonic Adventure and is usually performed when a character attempts a Homing Attack when no enemies are in the vicinity. This move sends the character hurling forward in midair.

Description
In order to perform the Jump Dash, the user be positioned in midair, usually from a jump, and as such, the Jump Dash can only be used in midair. Once in midair, the user launches himself/herself forward with a burst of forward momentum, allowing the user to travel quickly through midair. More modern games shows the user leaving a colored trail behind when performing the Jump Dash. In gameplay this allows the player for fast zone completion. It is also useful for crossing gaps and more accurate platforming.

Main Console Series
The Jump Dash first appeared in Sonic Adventure and has since then appeared in all of the main console games (and the Sonic Storybook Series). On these consoles, the Jump Dash is closely linked to the performance of the Homing Attack. If the user tries to perform the Homing Attack with no targets in the near vicinity, the user will instead perform the Jump Dash. Doing so however, will sometimes make the user curl into a ball.

Sonic Advance Series
In Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2 the Jump Dash is performed by quickly pressing the left or right button on the control pad. Performing the Jump Dash in these games however, leaves the user vulnerable to damage, so it must be used with caution near enemies.

In Sonic Advance it could only be performed by Sonic, but in Sonic Advance 2 it could be performed by all playable characters and could be used to ascend higher into the air as well. If Sonic teamed up with Cream the Rabbit in Sonic Advance 3 he would be able to use the jump dash and as well the homing attack. Amy can also perform it as well when she is teamed up with Sonic, but she doesn't have the Homing Attack. Knuckles has a headbutt move similar to the jump dash when he is teamed up with Sonic.

Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure
In Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, the Jump Dash is performed (by Sonic) by pressing the R button during a jump. Its performance and weaknesses are identical to those presented in Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2.

Fireball Spin Dash
The Fireball Dash first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles. The move could only be performed with Sonic whilst in possession of the Fire Shield. Sonic can then perform the Fireball Spin Dash by pressing the jump button twice, thus sending the user forward with a fiery dash that can damage opponents.

Homing Attack
The Homing Attack is offensive version of the Jump Dash where the users dashes through midair to attack enemies ahead of them. It first appeared in Sonic Adventure.

Sonic Boost
The Sonic Boost can as well be used as a far more powerful version of the Jump Dash. While it is primarily performed on the ground, it can also be used in midair as well, allowing the user to fly through midair as a destructive projectile as high speed. While it first appeared in Sonic Unleashed it can still be performed in Sonic Generations, However, in Sonic Generations the air boost, or midair boost is weaker than the one in Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors.

Trivia

 * Sonic Colors was the only game in which Sonic can not perform the jump dash at anytime, as the boost guage should be empty.