Slide

Slide (スライディング), also known as the Sliding Attack, is a recurring move in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a kick the user delivers to their opponents when sliding along the ground.

Description
The mechanics behind the Slide are very similar to the Skid Attack, but better as it possesses greater range and speed. When performing the move, the user falls down while running and slides along the ground with his feet in the front, which sometimes creates an aura field around them. While sliding along the ground, the user can attack and damage any enemy or weaker obstacles caught in his path. This also allows the user to squeeze through narrow entrances or doors that is coming in at high speed. The Slide will automatically continue until the user gets hit, slows down from the Slide's friction, or goes off a ledge.

It should be noted that the Spin Dash in some games (mostly for 3D games) can be an alternative for the narrow entrance issue if one does not pick up speed for the Slide, especially since it can be done from a stationary position. If chosen, the user can also at any time break the Slide before coming to a halt, and resume his running nearly undisturbed. Therefore, in Sonic's case, if the player wants to preserve Sonic's momentum when forced to do a Slide, it is advisable to time the Slide so that Sonic only has to perform it for a fraction of a second.

The attack range, or rather the distance and speed the user can slide, is determined by how fast he was moving before performing the Slide. In other words, the faster the user is running prior to the Slide, the longer range the Slide has.

Shadow the Hedgehog
Despite being similar to Kick in Sonic Heroes, Shadow was the first to use this attack in Shadow the Hedgehog. While running, the player must slightly press / / to slide (though // can also be used without a ranged weapon equipped). Shadow can also break Slide with a backward flip to reposition himself and immediately after execute midair attacks.

Slide in this game deals about the same amount of damage as a Homing Attack. It is also useful for breaking the defenses of shielded enemies.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
The Slide reappeared in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) as one of Sonic's moves. In order to perform the Slide, Sonic has to possess the Level Up Item Antigravity. Once obtained, the player can freely perform the Slide with Sonic by holding / when moving, and can as well direct Sonic's path along the ground when sliding with the control stick for a short time. It can be stopped by either pressing the attack button or by letting it run out on its own. In gameplay, the Slide is useful when the player wants to deal multiple hits of damages to enemies while dodging their attacks. While using this move, the player will also be protected from all hazards.

Sonic also glides across the water sections in the game in the same manner as Slide, even if the player has not yet obtained Antigravity.

Sonic Unleashed
The Slide later returned in Sonic Unleashed as one of Sonic's standard moves. In this game, Sonic can perform the Slide by pressing / when running and break it by releasing it, but will slowly reduce Sonic's speed if continuously used. If Sonic tries to use the Slide when standing still, it will make Sonic perform the Crouch, a move where he ducks/crawls around on all fours. Sonic will crawl under tight spaces should he not be running and is instead simply standing near one.

Sonic Colors
The Slide also appeared in both the Wii and Nintendo DS versions of Sonic Colors (with the latter being the first handheld console Sonic game to feature the move). In the Wii version, the move's performance and mechanics are near-identical to that of Sonic Unleashed except that when Sonic uses the Slide while standing still near a tight space, he will not crawl, but instead resort to sliding at a slow speed. In the Nintendo DS version however, the player is required to be moving at sufficient speeds to perform the Slide.

The Slide can be performed by pressing one of the following buttons while moving.

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, the Slide is only used by Modern Sonic. It functions like in Sonic Unleashed, though it can always be used regardless of momentum, like in Sonic Colors (but without an aura). Additionally, if Sonic runs into tight spaces, he automatically starts sliding at slow speed. The Slide can also be used simultaneously with the Sonic Boost to increase its speed.

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle
In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, the majority of the playable characters can perform the Slide, except for Charmy, Classic Sonic, Omega, Rouge, Vector, Chaos and Metal Sonic. In this game, the qualified characters use the Slide when performing their ground-sliding maneuver, which is used primarily to slide underneath obstacles during a run. To perform the Slide in gameplay, the player must swipe downwards on the touchscreen.

Sonic Forces
In Sonic Forces, the Slide is utilized by Sonic the Hedgehog and the Avatar. It is also one of Shadow's moves in the game's Episode Shadow DLC. To perform it in gameplay, the player must press and hold // while the playable character is running.

Trivia

 * When Sonic and Elise are together in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Sonic's sliding light turns golden instead of blue.
 * Super Sonic's slide is blue in Sonic Colors, but was changed to gold in Sonic Generations.