Jump Dash

The Jump Dash (ジャンプダッシュ) is a reoccurring move in the Sonic the Hedgehog series which first appeared in Sonic Adventure. At first exclusive to Sonic the Hedgehog, it has since been used by numerous other characters. It is variant of the Homing Attack where the user hurtles forward in midair.

Description
When performing the Jump Dash, the user launches themselves forward in midair with a burst of speed, usually leaving a colored trail in their wake. In gameplay, this move is useful in cases like getting a burst of speed, crossing gaps, and accurate platforming.

The Jump Dash normally shares the same controls as the Homing Attack since it is basically the Homing Attack used when there is no targets for the move in the vicinity. This means that when using Homing Attack without anything to target, the move becomes the Jump Dash.

Sonic Adventure
The Jump Dash first appeared in Sonic Adventure and its later iteration Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut. In this game, the Jump Dash is only usable to Sonic the Hedgehog. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press / in mid-jump without any targets within range. When performing the Jump Dash, Sonic keeps his limbs stretched out as he dashes forward.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its later iteration Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Jump Dash can be performed by both Sonic and Shadow, as well as Amy and Metal Sonic in the games' multiplayer mode. However, the move is not referred to by name. To perform Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to press / while airborne when there is no targets within range. Like in Sonic Adventure, when performing the Jump Dash, the users keep their limbs stretched out as they dash forward.

Sonic Advance series
In Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2 the Jump Dash is performed by quickly tapping the left or right button on the directional 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 both of these games, the Jump Dash could only be performed by Sonic, but in Sonic Advance 2 it could be performed after the player performed Insta-Shield (which was not possible to do in Sonic Advance.)

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 Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the Jump Dash is used by all playable characters in the game which include Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose and Team Chaotix. However, the player can only use it manually when playing as a Speed Type character. The other characters on the teams will instead automatically try to perform the Jump Dash whenever the Speed Type character uses it.

Unlike in previous installments, the Jump Dash can in this game be used offensively against enemies. If a Jump Dash connects with an enemy, it still does the same damage as the Homing Attack. To perform the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player as to press // during a jump when there are no targets in the vicinity. In addition, the Jump Dash can be cancelled by pressing the attack button.

The Jump Dash shares the Homing Attack's attributes, meaning that for each blue Power Core the player collects (up to three), the Jump Attack becomes more powerful while gaining the same upgraded abilities as the Homing Attack. Each Power Core also adds more colored rings to the Jump Dash's trail, along with a multicolored mach cone. Like in the Sonic Adventure games, while dashing due to the Jump Dash, the playable characters stretch their limbs outward.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Jump Dash is only usable to Shadow. Like in Sonic Heroes, the Jump Dash can be used offensively against enemies. If a Jump Dash connects with an enemy, it still does the same damage as the Homing Attack. Super Shadow can also use the Jump Dash to dash in the battle with Devil Doom, similar to the Super Sonic Boost, but without the offensive capabilities.

To perform the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player as to press // during a jump when there are no targets in the vicinity. Holding down the button for longer will allow the player to travel further. Like in the Sonic Adventure games, while dashing due to the Jump Dash, Shadow stretches his limbs outward.

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

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), both Sonic and Shadow can launch a Jump Dash when no enemy is near. When using it, the player will launch a basic Homing Attack, but without directing it toward anything. Shadow's Jump Dash is longer than Sonic's, and they both have the multicolored aura at their ends absent in the multiplayer. In this game, the player can control the direction of the move after launching it.

Sonic Rivals series
In Sonic Rivals and its sequel Sonic Rivals 2, the Jump Dash can be performed when there are no rivals/enemies/objects in the vincinty. The move functions identically to how in does in the main series games. All characters can perform Jump Dash.

Sonic Unleashed
In Sonic Unleashed, the Jump Dash retains the same length as before, but a trail of blue line will follow Sonic for a small time, after performing it. The Jump Dash does not allow the player to gain more speed, but it is good in the Town Stages of the Xbox360/PS3 version to recover the lack of gaining speed during these stages. In this version, it can be used by pressing the / after jumping.

In the PS2/Wii version, it is shorter and without a blue trail behind Sonic, making it useless to utilize it to reach gimmicks hanged in the air. In this version, it can be used by the same buttons of the Homing Attack.

Fireball Spin Dash
The Fireball Spin Dash (火の玉ダッシュ) is variant of the Jump Dash, that appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles. This move can only be performed with Sonic whilst in possession of the Flame Shield. Sonic can then perform the Fireball Spin Dash by pressing the, or  twice, thus sending the user forward with a fiery dash that can destroy breakable objects and damage enemies. It later returned in the console/PC version of Sonic Generations along with the Flame Shield, where Classic Sonic can perform the Fireball Dash.

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.

Air Boost
The Air Boost can be used as a far more powerful version of the Jump Dash. In addition to allowing the user to fly greater distances through midair at high speed, it also lets the user plow through airborne enemies. In exchange though, the users have much less control over their movements due to the speed.

Trivia

 * Sonic Colors as well and Sonic Unleashed (after obtaining the Air Boost Shoes) are the only games in which Sonic cannot perform the Jump Dash most of the time, because the Jump Dash and Boost are designated to the same button. If there is some energy in the boost gauge, he will boost instead of jump dashing.
 * Jump Dashing in certain areas in the Sonic Rivals series and Sonic Unleashed (Wii/PS2) causes the player to gain height for an unknown reason.
 * The Jump Dash in Sonic Generations eliminates forward momentum, making it useless to gain speed; the same is the case (to a lesser extent) in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and Sonic Unleashed (Wii/PS2).
 * If the player overspeed in Sonic Generations, and use the Homing Attack an on enemy, the game will not process the move, and instead a Jump Dash will be launched and destroy the enemy instead.