Wide spring

The wide spring (３連バネ), also known as the Long Spring (ロングスプリング), is a recurring gimmick in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a variation of the regular Spring, but with three springs on one plate.

Description
The Wide Spring's standard appearance is a red oblong with three blue circles on, each with a yellow star in the center. The Wide Spring's main object is to send the player flying into the air when touched, though there are some differences between them from game to game, like appearance and additional abilities. The player can also use the Homing Attack to target the Wide Spring from a distance.

Sonic Adventure
The Wide Spring first appeared in Sonic Adventure, where it looks slightly winded. Wide Springs do not appear often in the game, only being found in specific Stages such as Twinkle Park.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2, the Wide Spring's appearance was slightly modified to be oblong-shaped. When using it, the playable characters will enter their spinball form. The Wide Springs are only used by Sonic, Shadow, Knuckles, Rouge, Tikal and Chaos.

Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the Wide Spring's appearance is slightly modified, as instead of being completely oblong, the Wide Spring is bend from the sides and one of its circles will lights up when the player touches it. After touching all its circles, the player will get a special power-up, like Invincibility, Super Rings and Power Cores. Like in Sonic Adventure 2, it will turn the playable character into a ball when touching it.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Wide Spring's design is changed to possesses a scratched red surface and three dark green circles instead of the blue circle with stars. Also, it will just make Shadow spin without an aura, but he is still can do a Homing Attack after launching by one of them.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the Wide Springs returned to their regular appearance from Sonic Heroes. The only difference between the Wide Springs in this game and their previous iterations is that these will only launch the player higher to the air without the playable characters entering their spinball form. Additionally, the player can still use the Homing Attack after being launched up by one these springs.

In Very Hard Mode stages, a Wide Spring can sometimes appear out of nowhere if a group of enemies in an area is destroyed.

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
In Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the Wide Spring retained its appearance from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and are seen in most courses. When interacted, the Wide Spring will launch the player to a series of smaller Springs or other gimmicks to traverse through the course, usually acting as a shortcut. However, the player cannot interact with them unless he/she is running along the course on-foot, or is under the effects of the Attack power-up item.

Sonic Unleashed
In both versions of Sonic Unleashed, the Wide Spring retained its classic design. Like in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), it will not make the playable character enter his spinball form but the player can still use the Homing Attack after being launching by it.

Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, the Wide Spring's appearance is based to that of Sonic Unleashed. They appear only in the game's Legacy missions.

Sonic Colors
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, the Wide Spring reappeared again and more often than the regular Springs. Like in the previous games, it will not make the playable character enter his spinball form and the player can use the Homing Attack after being launched by it.

Besides the regular Wide Springs, there are yellow types of them in this game, but they appear less frequently. After touching one of these springs, it will start to move horizontally along with the player but eventually it will then move vertically causing the stage to auto-scroll with the spring. Like traditional yellow Springs, they don't bounce as high as regular ones, but it is possible to get launched higher by stomping multiple times. Using Super Sonic on this platform is not advisable as it cannot keep up with his speed.

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, the Wide Spring has nearly the same design it had in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). Like in the previous games, it will not make the playable character enter his spinball form but the player can still use the Homing Attack after being launched by it.

Sonic Forces
The Wide Spring reappears in Sonic Forces. In this game, it retains the same design and functionality from Sonic Generations.

Trivia

 * In the multiplayer mode of Sonic Adventure 2, if Metal Sonic bounces off the Wide Spring while performing the Somersault at the same time, he will be propelled in his standing animation.
 * Wide Springs also appear in Feel The Magic: XY/XX during the "Chaser" minigame. Both games were developed by Sonic Team.