List of pinball obstacles

In Sonic the Hedgehog games, pinball obstacles are bouncy obstacles, most of the time featured in Casino, amusement park or other related Zones. Large amount of them are featured on amusing sections in the arena, making the arena resemble the huge pinball table. Aside of bouncing the player backwards by simply touching it, some pinball obstacles can reward him with small amount of points or nothing. Many of them are based on known layouts featured on real-life's pinball machines.

The following article lists many pinball obstacles featured in Sonic the Hedgehog series. Several variations of obstacles in the list are never mentioned or named in any form, and because of this, some of them are being named after their real-life pinball machine layout counterparts.

Bumper
Bumpers are the most general and well known variations pinball obstacles in the series. As their real-life counterparts, Bumpers functions and affects by bouncing the player backwards after single touch. Through the series, their appearance is seen changed numerous times, which their well known aspects include the round shape, red edges with blue center and in the center is yellow or white colored five-pointed star. Bumpers are also one variations of pinball obstacles, which will reward the player with certain amount of points, when he gets bounced by one certain amount of times.

Breakaway Bumper
Breakaway Bumpers are sub-series of regular Bumpers, which have made appearances in Sonic the Hedgehog CD and Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble.

Bumper Pillar
Bumper Pillars have made their only appearance in 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, where they serve as huge obstacles for the player in the game's Special Stages. They are descriped as around wrapping cylinder pillars with light green and yellow color scheme. The player has to keep crossing over or below them, as getting bounced easily by pillars at the high speed, the player can easily lose the control of the playable character.

Hexagonal Bumper
Hexagonal Bumpers are one variations of regular pinball obstacles, which function similarly like regular Bumpers. Only heavily noticeable differences with this variation comparing to the regular Bumper is the hexagonal shape and appearance, while unlike the regular Bumper, they don't give points. Hexagonal Bumpers also come in two types: the normal ones, which are hovering on the one place and some of these obstacles are also seen moving to the left and right with the linear pattern.

Both types of Hexagonal Bumpers are first featured in Casino Night Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where they are illustrated as blue and orange colored blocks. Both types of obstacles later made appearance in Sonic Advance, where they are featured at Casino Paradise Zone. They are somewhat flatter and have red color scheme with yellow five-pointed star on it. Hexagonal Bumpers are also seen hovering at one place at Casino Street Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, where they are seen having yellow and blue color scheme.

Triangle Bumper
Triangle Bumpers are another type of pinball obstacles, that usually come in two types. The first type is usually large and wide plate, which are set on the ground, walls, ceilings or even against each other. The second type is smaller, but more triangle look. The second types of triangle bumpers are set on many corner sections. Both of them made first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where they are featured in Casino Night Zone. Here, wider triangle plates are colored red and blue, while corner triangle bumpers are colored red and green.

Wider triangle plates are featured at Glowing Spheres type of Bonus Stage in Sonic & Knuckles, where they are set in walls instead of being separated obstacles. In Sonic Drift 2, Casino Night race track has smaller triangle bumpers as obstacles, which can push racers on sideways. Wider triangle plates reprise their role from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, as they are featured at Cosmic Casino in Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure. Both types are also seen at Casino Paradise Zone in Sonic Advance, as both wider and smaller triangle bumpers have seen having red and yellow color scheme. In Sonic Heroes, wider triangle plates are colored black and green while being featured on pinball tables of Casino Park and BINGO Highway. In Casino Street Zone of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, wider triangle plates are shown having yellow and blue color scheme, while corner triangle bumpers have darker, red and green color scheme.

Drop Target
Drop Targets are one of more different and unique types of pinball obstacles, that first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. They are much smaller than regular bumpers or other obstacles and are seen floating in the mid-air in string lines. Drop Targets come in three different colors depending how much the player jumps on them. Before jumping on them, they are green colored, which then turn into yellow and red after the second jump. After third jumping, the Drop Target will disappear. Drop Targets are one type of obstacles, which earn points for the player once jumping on to it.

Triangular Spring
Triangular Springs are loose variations of regular Springs, that made debut appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. They are small yellow or different colored series of bouncy plates set on narrow routes and gaps. They are not as wildly featured as other pinball obstacles in Casino or amusement park themed Zones. They are featured at Carnival Night Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Casino Paradise Zone in Sonic Advance. In Sonic Heroes, white Triangular Springs are seen on pinball tables of Casino Park and BINGO Highway.

Slingshot
Slingshots are another type of pinball obstacles, which made first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball. They function similarly like wide triangle plates, but their placement and shape is different. Slingshots also have more traditional setting as like in real-life pinball machines, there are two slingshots and flippers placed between the kickout hole.

Slingshots are featured in 3D games than most of pinball obstacles, as they are featured in both Sonic and Nights pinball tables at Casinopolis in Sonic Adventure and all pinball tables in Sonic Pinball Party. Large, green slingshots are also seen at pinball tables of Casino Park and BINGO Highway in Sonic Heroes, Casino Night DLC pinball table in console/PC versions of Sonic Generations and separated pinball tables in Frozen Factory Zone 3 in Sonic Lost World for Wii U.