Bumper

The Bumper (ボビン), also called Bumper Ball (バンパーボール), is one of the most iconic and well known pinball obstacle in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It made its first appearance in the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Bumpers work like real-life pinball bumpers, as when playable characters comes into contact with one of them, they will ricochet off it. Bumpers can be a nuisance, as the player can be stuck bouncing among bumpers; however, they can also be used to the advantage of the player, by propelling the player further distances.

Description
In Sonic the Hedgehog games, bumpers are basically featured in casino-themed zones, Bonus Stages or even in Special Stages. Bumpers usually flash after getting hit and bouncing off it is worth certain amount of points. In some games, the bumper will stop awarding points if the player hit it too many times. Because of this, each bumper can award a limited number of points.

The appearance of bumpers have changed many times thought the series, but usually it is described to be round, red with blue center and in the center is yellow or white colored five-pointed star. This circular symbol is used in other objects (see below). The shape of bumpers has been changed few times in the series. In the first Sonic games for Sega Genesis, Master System and Game Gear, it has been illustrated as a floating round object. After Sonic 3D, Sonic Adventure and few later games, bumpers have been illustrated like flat, real-life pinball bumpers, but it returns to its floating round object form in Sonic Heroes. Even to this day, the object's shape is varied, possibly depending on if the gameplay is in 2D or 3D.

Bumpers have a unique sound effect, which has been used in many games where the object has been appeared throught the whole series. According to Naoto Ohshima, when original Sonic the Hedgehog has been developing to the point, when Spring Yard Zone has been first finished level, everyone in Sonic Team start call bumpers as bobbins due its sound, which it makes as the player gets bounced.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Bumpers first appear at Spring Yard Zone in 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, where the player can earn 10 points for bouncing them. In that zone, these objects usually occur in groups. Bumpers can appear as common obstacles in the Special Stage and can be seen before Spring Yard Zone. This orb-shaped object is a red background, blue in the middle and has five-pointed star in it.

Bumpers also appear at Special Stages in 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog. In the game, bumpers have the same appearance as its 16-bit counterpart, although these objects are little larger than Sonic himself.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)
Bumpers made next appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where they are featured in Casino Night Zone. Bumpers have slightly similar appearance, as having a red outline with blue in the middle, but it now has white a five-pointed star, Also between red background and blue centering there's extra line, which flashes green and yellow.

By getting bounced once, the bumper rewards the player with 10 points, but soon stops giving points after bouncing to it ten times. On several sections of the Zone, the player can use them as platforms to reach other side of the gaps. There are also many other types of bumpers in the Zone, which either give points or not.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD bumpers are featured at Collision Chaos, Special Stages and above last bottomless bit of Metallic Madness. There are also smaller ones that don't earn points but keep the player on the air well while having better control than with normal ones. Collision Chaos also features different ones at large groups that broke after bouncing them once while giving 100 points. In Special Stages, normal bumpers are shown to be more flatter and have similar appearance from the first game.

In game's rounds, bumpers are more detailed looking, as their background is cubic ornaments with red and white colors and moves around. The centering of bumpers is colored blue and has a yellow five-pointed star in it. Like in the first game, these objects are floating in groups, although some of them moves in the air back and forth to certain directions. Bumpers earn 100 points after bouncing once while up to 5 times for a total of 500 points and after fifth bounce, it stops giving points.

Sonic Spinball
Although bumpers are missing from the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, they do appear at exclusive Egyptian-themed bonus stages in 8-bit version. In the game, bumpers are larger than Sonic himself, much like in the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Bumpers make their appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as bumpers are featured in Carnival Night Zone and Special Stages. These different bumpers are white with a red star in the middle this time around but they are still the same. Like in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 bumpers give 10 points until they stop doing this after bouncing several times. In Carnival Night Zone, there exist bumper grounds that are rotating around two or three ones. In Special Stages, bumpers bounces the player to walk backwards. In Competition Mode, four bumpers are featured in Balloon Park, which are colored as red and light yellow star symbol on it.

Sonic & Knuckles has two different-looking bumpers in two different Bonus Stages, although they work same as others. The first types exist in the Slot Machine area (20 rings is required to get in it), which is smaller, having a big red background, yellow between line and blue center with a white five-pointed star. Second variations can be found rarely from Magnetic Orbs Stage (50 rings is required to get in it), as its shape is similar to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 ones, but the background of them is green, red between lines, and a pink center with white five-pointed star.

Sonic Drift 2
Bumpers appear at all around Casino Night track in Sonic Drift 2, which tries to bounce the player out of track. Here bumpers look more like red and orange colored springs with a star above it.

Knuckles' Chaotix
In Knuckles' Chaotix, bumpers are included in both Bonus Stages and Special Stages, where bumpers are moving around or rotating in one direction. Getting bounced by one sends the player to walk backwards until it starts walk ahead again. Some of them have spinning spiked balls being connected with chains, which the player has to avoid while running ahead. Some bumpers are seen being set in a row on edges, which may help to not get fall off the Special Stage.

It also appears a few times in normal gameplay, as one of badniks Dribbler is seen dribbling two bumpers on each hands and during the boss fight of Botanic Base, the single bumper floats around the arena while the player has to used it move around, while combi partner has got stuck to Robotnik's device above the arena. The bumpers' appearance is basic as its background is blue, center is red and a yellow five-pointed star.

Sonic 3D
The bumper's appearance in Sonic 3D is slightly different in every zone. It appears as a more flat, green glowing ball at Rusty Ruin Zone, a flat, red and yellow colored ball at Spring Stadium Zone, and a flat, light blue glowing ball at Diamond Dust Zone. In the game, bumpers don't give points nor does it bounce very far unless the player is in full speed.

Sonic Blast
Bumpers appear briefly in Sonic Blast, only being featured at the Special Stages where it will bounce the player backwards like in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Bumpers in this game have a red background and a blue center with a yellow five-pointed star in it.

Sonic Adventure
Bumpers appeared at Sonic-themed pinball section of Casinopolis in Sonic Adventure. It's similar to its Sonic the Hedgehog 2 appearance, but having more realistic appearance like a real pinball bumper. After bouncing on it few times, the player can earn a one ring per hit. Bumpers are also seen floating in the air on upper side sections of the pinball table, where the player has to balance on them to get to the other side or the player will fall down to the pinball table.

Sonic Pocket Adventure
Bumpers make appearance in Sonic Pocket Adventure as common objects in Cosmic Casino. As the place looks like Casino Night Zone, bumpers have taken its look from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic Advance
In Sonic Advance bumpers are featured in Casino Paradise Zone. Its appearance looks like one from the first Sonic the Hedgehog game and acts much like it did originally. It normally gives 10 points by getting bounced once.

Sonic Heroes
Bumpers make its appearance in Sonic Heroes, usually as a floating, spherical pinball bumper. Bumpers have green surface and its front side is colored black with a light green five-pointed star. Bumpers are featured in Casino Park and Bingo Highway, as it can be found in pinball tables and outside of them. Outside of pinball sections, the speed characters can bounce on them more safety by using the Homing Attack.

Sonic Pinball Party
Bumpers appear at almost every Sonic board in Sonic Pinball Party. In the game, bumpers give points and have exactly the same appearance as Sonic Advance.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
Bumpers returns at Casino Street Zone and Special Stages in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, having its Sonic the Hedgehog 2 appearance. Due the different rotations on this game's physics, bumpers don't bounce the player very far and it's easy maintain Sonic's direction while bouncing.

Sonic Generations
Bumpers also return in the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, as it is featured in Casino Night Zone. It acts much like it does in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, although the player earns one ring by bouncing to it. The only times bumpers appear in console/PC versions is the DLC pinball mini-game of Casino Night (where bumpers take on a more realistic appearance) and Classic Sonic's challenge of Crisis City, which features Vector the Crocodile as ally. Here, bumpers are flat and floats in group.

Sonic Lost World
Bumpers make an appearance in Sonic Lost World, where they have simple, yet similar appearance from Sonic Generations. In the game, Bumpers are set around the numerous pinball tables on casino-themed zone at Frozen Factory Zone 3. Getting hit by Bumper is seen to be worth of 100 points. Bumpers also appear in normal platforming sections of the zone as well, but unlike in previous games, Bumpers still have more resemblance to real-life bumpers instead of floating objects. The player is able to balance on these types of Bumpers by jumping on them.

In Desert Ruins Zone 4, there are also Antlions growling under sand pools, which apparently are seen caring on numerous amount of Bumpers behind on its tail. This is only seen in Wii U version of the game. In Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, bumpers are only seen at the beginning of casino-themed Sky Road Zone 2, where they are set around the planetoid-arena. Unlike in Wii U version, they are smaller and more round-shaped.

Breakaway Bumper
Breakaway Bumpers, also known simply as Bumpers and Spheres, are variants that appeared in Sonic CD and Sonic Triple Trouble. These obscure bumpers are seen as one large group or rarely as singles being separated at pinball sections. As the player bounces one of them, it breaks and disappear while giving points or nothing.

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
Bumpers appears briefly in Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 2 story "Clash!! South Island" as during the journey of saving animal friends, Sonic enters to the Sparkling Zone, he accidentally slips on a slide and is thrown into the pinball arena. He then gets bounced back and forth between the many bumpers, only being confused. After that he lands to the ground, until one second later Crabmeat and Newtron tries to attack him, but got destroyed by Sonic.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog episode Attack on Pinball Fortress, different coloring bumpers are featured at Dr. Ivo Robotnik's new lair, Pinball Fortress. Bumpers are usually set to the pinball section as Sonic, Sergeant Doberman and Wes Weasely keep bouncing them countless times to get through giant pinball table. Bumper symbols also can be seen at fortress' background.

Bumpers also appear in episode Robotnikland where objects are part of large pinball table called "Pin-Ball Blizzard" at park that Robotnik has taken over. Sonic gets bounced bumpers and other gimmicks while Robotnik is earning points from the pinball game. After while Sonic starts earning points for himself and such Robotnik sends Scratch and Grounder to the pinball table to stop Sonic. However the badniks assault fails and they got stuck to the pinball, bouncing around bumpers and other pinball gimmicks.

Sonic the Hedgehog (TV Series)
Multiple color bumpers are featured in the episode "Game Guy" of Sonic the Hedgehog animated series, as being part of large pinball table created by Robotnik, inside of the mechanized pyramid. As Sonic himself gets trapped there by Ari, Robotnik forces him to being used as pinball ball and trying to get him trapped to the void.

Sonic gets bounced red, blue and yellow bumpers, while Robotnik ears points about that time. Sonic tries to fight back by earning points for himself while the gate of void gets closed down, but Robotnik keeps throwing every phase on his strategy to get him to the void. As Sonic takes Power Ring to action, he starts to destroy many pinball table gimmicks on his way, including bumpers. As Robotnik starts to increase the suction power, many bumpers start to get sucked to the void along with Ari himself. After that, pinball table along with mechanized pyramid gets destroyed.

Archie Comics
A single bumper is featured in Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comics. Doctor Eggman created it as part of Hunter's weaponry. It was basic plate with red background with word "EGG" at upper corner, blue center with yellow star in it. It is able to float around while also having small antenna to keep contact. Hunter used this bumper only time in issue 141 against Sonic the Hedgehog, who gets bounced all over the place as the bumper moves from place to place quickly, while Hunter himself deals with Knuckles and attempts to steal Master Emerald. As Knuckles turns to Super Knuckles, Hunter gets defeated, the bumper shuts down and falls to the ground.

Sonic X (Comics)
Bumpers are seen in Sonic X comic issues 10 and 11 story "No thanks for the memories!". Bumpers are featured at background of Spring Yard Zone, as Sonic, Knuckles and Amy are trying to get through the zone while getting sometimes bounced by bumpers.

Symbol
The yellow or white five-pointed star on a blue circle among a red background or in an annulus is a common symbol in the series. In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the symbol of a star in a red annulus is the main feature of Star Posts replacing the lamppost that were the previous checkpoints in Sonic the Hedgehog. Also the Badnik Crawl has shields fashioned like bumpers that protect them, functioning just like the real thing.

Ever since springs have been rendered in 3D games they have been red, supporting the star-on-blue-circle bumper design on them where Sonic jumps from. Also since Sonic Adventure 2, large red balloons with the bumper symbol are on certain stages. Once popped, the player gets a bonus item, and is useful to gliding or flying characters who need a bit of lift.

In Sonic Heroes, checkpoints have been redesign as pillars of blue light with gold stars in red circle. The colors and design also resemble the bumper symbol. These checkpoints are favored for Nintendo DS side-scrolling games.

The recently introduced Red Rings have stars that take up most of the space set in their centers.

Trivia

 * There have been exceptions in which bumpers used a different sound effect instead of its unique one, such as Sonic CD, Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, Sonic Adventure and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations. Many Master System / Game Gear titles and Sonic Advance also have different sound effect as well, but this is due the sound emulation of handheld consoles.
 * Apparently in Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, neon red colored, downwards pointing flippers misleadingly recycle the Bumper's sound effect, when the player gets bounced backwards once.
 * Few enemies or even bosses used bumpers as shields such Crawl and Robotnik's EGG-HVC-001. Oddly enough, many of them use the spring sound effect.
 * Two bumpers are seen at the background during one of mini-games in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. However they don't have any effort during the action of mini-game.