Time Warp Plate

Time Warp Plates (タイムワーププレート), also known as Past and Future Signposts are two different types of signposts, that help the player transporting in the time to past or future. These plates are only seen at the Little Planet and being featured in Sonic CD.

Description
Time Warp Plates are slightly smaller signposts, that have yellow and grey post with black posts. Either the sign states "Past" or "Future" with yellow font. By running past of the time warp plate makes the signpost flip once while echo voice stating the particular signpost's name at the same time. The symbol of signpost can be seen at the left hand corner next to lives hud after moving past through time warp plate.

As the player run past the signpost, the player has to build enough momentum to warp in time while the. As the symbol of signpost starts flashing at the left hand corner, the gameplay flashes to the scene with Sonic (Or Tails in 2011 remake) flying to the another time. If the player can't build enough of speed at the in time, the symbol disappears and the player has to find another time warp plate to try again. It will also disappears if the player run past the Goal Signpost before the Bonus Plate. The player has to find good place to build momentum, for example running forward without stopping, spin dashing downhill, bouncing back and forth between of two springs or using gimmicks at of rounds that increase the speed with many special ways. As the player transports at the time, the player is aware of the timeline as the Sonic/Tails life icon is changed to the icon with P or F letter (stating obviously "past" or "future" time).

Time warp plates are seen at first and second zones of each round while third zone has no plates as being generally short and featuring boss battles. In present time, both past and future signs are existed and available to use. At the player is playing at past timeline, future signs only are existing while in past, that transport back to present time. However if the player travels to the future, it is usually having at bad future with past signs to travel back to present time. It is possible to travel good future, if the player has collect all Time Stones from Special Stages or destroy all robot generators from past of the round. However with the last mentioned case, the player transports automatically to the third zone of round with good future where time warp plates are not featured.

Trivia

 * The time warp plate with past symbol is seen at "The Mobius Timeline" feature, which has been part of Sonic Super Specials by Archie Comics.