Pulley

The Pulley (リール), also known as the Upreel (アップリール), Downreel (ダウンリール) and Crane Lift, is a gimmick in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. As their name implies, they are wheels with handles used to help the player scale steep slopes.

Description
Pulleys are gimmicks that typically consist of two parts: a handle attached to a piece of wire, and a crane-based machine for reeling in the handle. The exact appearance of the Pully varies from game to game however.

Pulleys usually hang on floating plates or are set on the tensile panels on edges of steep slopes in Zones or other places. When grabbing onto a Pulley's handle, the playable characters will be pulled up, thus helping the player reach the top of the slope. In some cases however, the Pulleys have also been known go down instead, thereby allowing the player to reach bottom areas safely.

Sometimes, pulleys do not pull down their reel unless the player has defeated all enemies nearby or has pressed a switch nearby. However, pulleys can sometimes have different additional mechanics depending on the game's gameplay style.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Similar-looking reels called Pulley Rifts were first seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In this game, the handle on each Pulley is a white ring. This white ring is attached to a brown wire, whose other end is attached to a large blue and yellow Spinning Wheel that pulls in the handle.

Pulleys in this game are only featured in Marble Garden Zone Act 2. In gameplay, they are set on steep hills that the player is unable to scale easily. When the playable character touches the white ring that is attached to the wire (which makes the playable character grab ahold of the ring), it will automatically pull the player up the slope. The Spinning Wheel will stop pulling in the playable character once he is next to it. The player can then let it go of the ring by jumping to the other side, which may have another slope with a Pulley handle on it to pull the player up to the top of the next slope.

Another, different type of pulleys are also featured in Launch Base Zone Act 2, which look like red and yellow-colored hooks from the same Zone. These handles are attached to hovering Twin Hammer crates. By grabbing ahold of this pulley, it will either pull the player up to the upper pathway or lower them down to a lower section.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2, and its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Pulleys are one the main gimmicks in the game. In the American guide books, this gimmick is known simply as the Pulley. In Japan on the other hand, it is known as the Upreel (アップリール)/Downreel (ダウンリール), depending on whether it takes the playable character upward or downward.

In terms of appearance, the Pulley's traction engine itself is a floating gray platform with red edges. Hanging from the bottom of this platform via a black wire is a red handle on a gray stock that has yellow and black hazard stripes painted on it.

In gameplay, the player can stand and jump on the Pulleys' traction engine like it is a regular platform. When the player grabs the handle on the pulley, the handle will automatically move up/down while the playable character is hanging onto the handle. In order to let go of the handle on the Pulley, the player has to jump away from it. Also, once the playable character lets go of the handle, the handle will move back into its original position.

Pulleys can be found in all three types of Stages in the game. During the Lock-on Shooting Stages in particular, both Tails and Eggman are able to shoot their enemy targets while hanging onto the Pulley. Pulleys are also featured during the Egg Golem fight. During this fight, the player can use the Pulleys to escape the quicksand pool at the bottom of the arena, just in case they fall down there.

Sonic Advance series
Pulleys and their appearance varies between two of the three Sonic Advance titles. In Sonic Advance, they only appear in Angel Island Zone, where they are metallic handles hanging from a metallic cord on the ceiling. These Pulleys do not appear often, but they usually lead to alternate pathways.

In Sonic Advance 3, Pulleys resemble the ones from Sonic Adventure 2 with floating platforms that are set on the ceilings. Here, Pulleys slowly pull the player upwards to the top of the slope. They can be only found in Route 99 and in the second mini game of the game.

Sonic Heroes
Pulleys in Sonic Heroes function similarly as they do in Sonic Adventure 2. However, in this game, the floating traction engine platforms are replaced with smaller, floating devices that the player is unable to stand on. Pulleys also have two traction ropes instead of one, and the handle is a large ring with flashing details.

When the lead character grabs the ring handle on the Pully, the other team members hold on to on each other's feet below the lead character. Pulleys can be found in most of the stages of the game. Occasionally, there are also times when the player has to descend below by using the Pulleys that decrease traction ropes down instead of up.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, Pullys look like they did in Sonic Heroes and function like they did in previous games. In this game, the Pulley allows for 360° rotation and when the player press the jump button, the character dashes away from it. In addition, the player can use weapons when hanging on it. After the player releases a Pulley, it returns to its original position.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Pulleys are also featured in Sonic the Hedgehog, where they can be found in a few action stages such as Aquatic Base. Pulleys are once again seen to have floating traction engine platforms, while the handles are white rings. There are also several Pulleys that can release traction ropes downward instead of pulling them up in hall sections, so that the player can safely move down by using them.

Sonic Unleashed
Pulleys appear in Sonic Unleashed, where they are named Crane Lifts and have a new appearance. Despite their redesign, they function similarly, except they can now lift the player to top faster than before. They do not have a floating traction platform, but are attached to the edges of steep walls and slopes. On the other end of the rope is a red colored square ring with neon circular on the center.

They are only seen in day stages, where the player can grab on to these to reach higher areas. Sometimes the player has to destroy a certain amount of enemies to make the red square ring descend in order grab it and progress through the game. As of this game, pulleys can now be targeted with the Homing Attack.

Sonic Colors
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, Crane Lifts function exactly like they did in Sonic Unleashed. Like in the previous game, Crane Lifts can pull the player to higher areas. Some only appear when the player has eliminated all enemies from an area.

Sonic Generations
Pulleys reappear in Sonic Generations, where they look like the Crane Lifts from Sonic Unleashed, and are slightly bigger. They are only found in modern Sonic's stages and challenges through the game. Some of them can also lead the player to secret pathways.

Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Pulley gimmicks appear in Stardust Speedway Zone. In this game, they borrow their design from the one they had in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Sonic Forces
Pulleys appear in Sonic Forces, working exactly as they did in recent games. They only appear in Modern Sonic and the Avatar's stages.