Spikes (obstacle)


 * For enemies or objects with the same name, see Spikes (disambiguation).

Spikes (スパイク) are sharp obstacles that appear in Sonic the Hedgehog series which are set in places where the player would not expect to see them. If the player touches the spiky points of these obstacles, it damages the player or in the worst situation, the player will lose a life by touching spikes while having no rings. However, if the playable character has Rings or Shield, it only temporarily hurts the player.

Like hitting enemies or other obstacles, the player is able to collect rings that can lose after hitting spikes and as having invincibility, the player cannot get hurt by spikes at all (save for the first Sonic game). Despite that, the player has no possibility to destroy spikes by any means.

Description
Usually, a set of spikes has one grey base with five white spikes, more or less in some games. Depending of zones, there can be different colored spikes to fit the zone's atmosphere or even have different obstacles with spikes on them in various, different forms. When hitting spikes, the player takes damage and usually loses rings, or loses a Shield if equipped at the time of the collision.

Spikes are mostly set placed at inconsistent places that can prove to be most hazardous to the player, such as on the floors of the path, walls or ceilings. Sometimes, there can be more than one set of spikes in a single location to create a wider field of spikes, or the can be chasms and holes on the path that can be filled with a set number of spikes.

While spikes mostly stands out as stationary objects, there are instances where they are used in a trap-fashion or a tricky manner to make progress through the stages more difficult than normal. In such cases, the spikes can pop out of ground and then go down for few second, be seen part of platforms that may move or not in the air, or part of crushers' top or bottom sections.

Many of the enemies encountered in the stages, especially Badniks or other robots created by Doctor Eggman, defend themselves by using spikes as arm weaponry or even as part of the Badnik's body, for example Orbinauts having four spike balls.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Spikes first appear in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, as being seen widely in every zone of the game. Unlike in later games, there are no bases for spikes, as every single spike is erected separately on rows with small gaps. The original Sonic the Hedgehog also features an unexpected glitch that is usually referred to as the "spike bug", in which when the player touches spikes one time, Sonic would not get a few seconds of invulnerability and gets hit again, causing him to lose a life immediately after losing all of his rings because he touched the spikes a second time. In short, if Sonic were to fall on a bed of spikes, he would lose all his rings, fall backwards and land on more of them, losing a life because no invulnerability period was offered in the original game from spike hazards.

Over the course of the game, the spike obstacle is deployed in numerous ways across the zones:


 * In the third act of Green Hill Zone there can be found rotating tree trunks with sharp points that hurt the player similar to the spikes.


 * Marble Zone features crushers that have spikes on the bottom, which can fall down at high speed.


 * Spring Yard Zone features Badniks with same name, that have spikes on their top.


 * Labyrinth Zone and third act of Scrap Brain Zone features spike balls that spins around and are attached to walls with bondage.


 * In the game's underwater sections there can be found spiky spears set on tunnel walls and ceilings.


 * Star Light Zone has large platforms connected with chain, with their bottoms' having large spikes.


 * Both types of Orbinauts in the game use spike balls to defend themselves or attack to the player.

Spikes are also seen in 8-bit version of the game with same name, as having separate spikes like in 16-bit counterpart. However unlike 16-bit counterpart, spikes are more larger than Sonic himself, but the "spike bug" is non-existent as the player gets few seconds invulnerability after getting hit. Most other spiky obstacles from the 16-bit version are also seen in the 8-bit version. In the second act of Jungle Zone, there are also wooden spike sets under tree trunks that lying around at the front of waterfall. The Game Gear port also features "!" signs that warns the player about spike pits.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2


Sets of spikes are featured in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at almost every zone (with few exceptions). Chemical Plant Zone has only one set of spikes, which are located in an underwater area in Act 2. There are now four spikes per one base and the spike bug from the previous game is removed. These sets of spikes can be located separately alone and can also pop out at ground. Mystic Cave Zone has spiked balls and pits of spikes, including an infamous one which has no escape (until the 2013 re-release). The Badnik Shellcrackers, found in Metropolis Zone, have a large left claw with spikes. Wing Fortress Zone boss machine has rotating platforms with spikes on under bottom of them. Death Egg Robot also got three spikes on each hand, as it fires arms towards the player, which causes death. As Super Sonic, spikes don't do damage at all.

The 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 features sets of spikes in every zone. It is first game to feature different colored spikes. Underground Zone has mostly dark yellow spikes on ceilings, as even some of them can fall onto the player as being close enough. Sky High Zone has yellow spikes on small ravines and deep pits. White spikes can be found at underwater sections of Aqua Lake Zone and ravines and deep pits of Green Hills Zone. Cyan spikes are seen on ravines and hall walls of Gimmick Mountain Zone. White spikes are generally seen in Scrambled Egg Zone, while Crystal Egg Zone has pink and light yellow colored spikes.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Spikes are featured wildly in every round in every timeline of Sonic the Hedgehog CD. Each base has four spikes and are mostly set separately over the zones. Spikes can be generally in the way during building momentum to time travel. Sometimes even two set of spikes are connected to each other from both sides. In Collision Chaos there can be blocks with side walls pop out from the ground. Also tunnel sections have spike ball chains spinning around.

During the confrontation at Quartz Quadrant, Robotnik tries to force Sonic, who is running on a conveyor belt, into the spikes that adorn the entrance. The Wacky Workbench Boss has a spinning set of spikes on top of it. Stardust Speedway features floating purple spike balls. During the race with Metal Sonic, normal sets of spikes can be in the way while Metal Sonic can easily destroy them. Metallic Madness features rotating poles with four swinging blades on them. There are also halls with falling plates that have spikes at the bottom of them.

There are Badniks like Taga-Taga, Kemusi, Noro-Noro and Minomusi, that defend themselves with spikes on their bodies. Badniks like Mosquis, Mecha-Bu and second variations of Poh-Bees try to attack the player with spike-related weaponry.

Sonic Chaos
Sonic Chaos features different colored sets of four spikes in every zone (expect Sleeping Egg Zone). Dark yellow spikes are seen in Turquoise Hill Zone, Gigalopolis Zone has light blue spikes, Mecha Green Hill Zone has white and dark yellow spikes, Aqua Planet Zone has white spikes and Electric Egg Zone has orange and white spikes at one set. Spikes also normally pop out on the ground and go back.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Spikes make an appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, its add-on continuation Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, as being featured in every main zones in two games on floors, walls and ceilings. They are nearly identical to Sonic 2's spikes, except they are more white than grey in color. There are four spikes per one base. There are crushers on Marble Garden Zone, that has thin spikes on them. Ice Cap Zone has rows of sharp icicles at caverns. Flying Battery Zone has slightly different looking spikes that move at one point of the base. It is possible to push the spike base to the lateral direction to find hidden passages under of obstacles.

There are also different set of other obstacles. Spike balls are featured generally such as rotating around while being attached to the pole in Marble Garden Zone, mid-bosses Twin Hammers and Gapsule have swinging spike balls as weapons and spike balls are rotating around in Lava Reef Zone. Mid-boss machine Bowling Spin has spinning plate that has spikes on its side, Ice Cap Zone has icy spheres with spiky points that also floats in the air. Half split spike ball with chain gets to the air by magnet in Flying Battery Zone. Moving carrier with chains in Sky Sanctuary Zone have spikes bottom of it. Second phase of mid-boss at Death Egg Zone has spinning platforms with spikes under bottom of them and Death Ball drops small rolling bombs with spikes on top of them which can damages the machine.

Many Badniks in both games are armed with spike-related weapons such as Bloominators, Rhinobots, Dragonflies, Sandworms, Fireworms and Chainspikes. Pointdexters and Bubbles have spikes around their body. The most notable Badnik Spiker has normal set of spikes on the top, that actually are bouncy, instead of hurting the player. Another variants of Orbinauts also have four spinning spike balls, while also Skorps and Spike Bonkers utilized spike balls. Some Robotnik's vehicles Freezer Mobile Big Arm Hang Mobile, Egg Golem and Hot Mobile have spike weaponry.

Sonic Triple Trouble
Sets of four spikes appear in every zone of Sonic Triple Trouble. White spikes are located on floors, walls and ceilings, while also popping out of floors. Bombaberry Badniks also carry spike balls in the air and drop them onto player's neck at Great Turquoise Zone and Sunset Park Zone. If the player is driving Spin Coasters, they can easily run over and destroy spikes out the way in Sunset Park Zone.

Knuckles Chaotix
Spikes make appearance in Knuckles' Chaotix, as being featured every zone of the game. Like in previous games, there are four spikes per one base. However, one set of spikes are featured generally separated rather than being in group. Many Badniks in the game are armed with spikes such as Needlenose, Spiketower and Motorspike.

Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic 3D Blast features two types of spikes. The first type is featured more generally in the game, as they are located on grey and red plates with five holes from which spikes protrude and retract. Spike plates are usually located on in two rows. If the player steps on these plates, spikes will pop out to harm him/her.

In Gene Gadget Zone, these set of spikes are also electrocuted. In the same zone, there is also a second type of spikes, which are taller and in a row. Rusty Ruin Zone features spike balls on chains connected to poles. Many Badniks in the game also are armed with spikes as well.

Sonic Adventure
Spikes make an appearance in Sonic Adventure, as they are featured on every action stage of the game. There are usually four thick spikes on one plate. Like in Sonic 3D Blast, these spike plates are set as row carpets. The spikes pops out from plates, although plates are easy to recognize on the ground.

Sonic Adventure also features gates called Spiked Traps which are rows of rounded spikes that fall down and then move up at certain time intervals, repeating the same method. The game also features spike balls with different methods. Some spike balls are are spinning around with chains and without of them. Some spike balls are moving up and then fall down to the ground. Some Badniks from the E-series are armed with spikes.

Sonic Pocket Adventure
Spikes make an appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, having sets of four spikes, while there are also many bases with only two spikes including being on gray platforms in Sky Chase Zone and Aerobase Zone. Some of the spikes will pop out the ground and possibly hit the player. Spikes are featured in most of the main zones in the game with the exception of Secret Plant. However, Eggman's vehicle in Secret Plant uses two platforms with spikes under bottom of them.

Sonic Adventure 2
Spikes make an appearance in Sonic Adventure 2, as these obstacles are only seen in unlockable Green Hill. Because the action stage is a 3D variation of the zone from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, spikes are located in similar positions to their 16-bit counterpart. Although the spikes have a different appearance and different movement methods from Sonic Adventure, spikes are set in rows in action stages. Spike balls are seen in normal action stages. One type of G.U.N. enemies, the Rhino Spikes, has spikes on top of them to defend itself.

Sonic Advance games
Spikes appeared in the three Sonic Advance games, as having similar appearances and methods from earlier games. However there are now five spikes in one set. Spikes can also pop out from ground or even ceiling. Casino Paradise Zone and Angel Island Zone features moving platforms that have spikes at top or bottom of them. Music Plant in Sonic Advance 2 has yellow and white colored spikes, while Techno Base features set of three thick, electric spikes that can also disappear and comes back few seconds later. Ocean Base in Sonic Advance 3 has crushers that activates spikes on top of it, if the player tries to move above it, while Toy Kingdom features colorful set of spikes.

There are several other spike obstacles, including moving yellow spike balls and spinning wheels with spikes on them in Egg Rocket Zone, box that include spring or spikes at Toy Kingdom and spike balls on seesaws. Several Eggman's robots are armed with spikes as well as many Eggman's vehicles have also armed with spikes.

Sonic Rush games
Spikes are generally featured in both Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure games, as there five spikes on one set. Spikes are located as separated obstacles or on large spike pits, that player must cross numerous times with different gimmicks. Several boss machines used spikes as weaponry.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Spikes make appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), as 14 spikes will pop out from each black plate like in previous titles and spikes are also set on a row or sometimes at square formations. The game also features spike balls as separate obstacles that Silver can use his Psychokinesis to launch them at enemies. Spiked traps also are featured at certain action stages.

Sonic Storybook Series
Spikes are widely featured in both Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight, as there are now eight narrower spikes on one set. Mostly spikes are seen on floors and walls. As the player has to balance on walls at certain stages, he/she has to watch out how spikes come out of plates. Spike balls also are seen moving in the air to certain directions.

Sonic Unleashed
Spikes make appearance in Sonic Unleashed, as being one of general obstacles that appear in the game. Plates have 13 narrower spikes. Spikes can now also appear on grind rails, as the player has to dodge spikes by jumping to another grind rail. Some spikes also are set as spiked fences, that are featured at Quick Step sections. Spike balls also appear and spiked traps also return in the game.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Spikes make an appearance in both episodes of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, as one set has five spikes like in Sonic Advance games. Spikes are located every zone of the game and having same methods from previous games, including popping out of ground. Lost Labyrinth Zone Act 3 features an infamous spike placement, which is set to the upper corner of water tunnel's end. It is hard to recognize and the player is able to lose all rings without getting none of them after that. In Oil Desert Zone' boss battle of Episode II have certain boxes that contains spikes that will pop out if the player stands above it.

Sonic Colors
Spikes make another appearance in both versions of Sonic Colors, as the Nintendo DS version features sets with five spikes on them, similar from Sonic Rush games. The Wii version features sets of 13 spikes from Sonic Unleashed with same methods. Spikes can also hurt if the player is under the effects of a Wisp's Color Powers except for the Pink Wisp's Pink Spikes. Spike balls are also featured in the game as being moving around with chains or without it.

Sonic Generations
Spikes are seen in both versions of Sonic Generations, as obstacles are featured at both classic and modern acts of zones. Like in Sonic Adventure, there are five spikes on one black plate. In modern acts, spikes are seen in quick step sections and the player can also face spikes being set in grind rails, like in previous games. Modern act of Rooftop Run has quick step section, where ship drops spinning barrels with spikes on them.

In Nintendo 3DS version, one plate has six spikes and as the classic acts of first three levels are identical to original counterparts, spikes are set on same places as obstacles are seen in the zone's original counterpart. Emerald Coast features spiked traps like in original action stage of Sonic Adventure.

Sonic Lost World
Spikes reappear in Sonic Lost World, while having the same design from Sonic Generations with five spikes on one black base. While spikes are being set on walls and on rows, spiked balls will make reappearance as well, which are set on rows or to narrow canyons, where the player has to use parkour movements to get through.

Other Appearances
Spikes are set to the several crushers, which appear at Trap Tower in SegaSonic the Hedgehog arcade, while moving forward or up and down. Several spike sets are featured at few levels of Sonic Labyrinth, where there are four spikes on one set. Spikes are also featured in every zone of Sonic Blast. The game does only feature three spikes on one set while many zones also have floors and crushing walls with spikes. Spikes are also generally seen in Tails Adventure, where they are usually seen at floors, walls and ceilings, mostly part of the environment of island instead of being simple white spikes. Spikes are generally featured in Sonic Jump mobile games as the player has not jump to platform that has set of spikes on it. Five spikes sets are also seen in Sonic Dash, which can be dodge or jump over while moving. By touching spikes makes the player lose rings that he has collected.

Spiked Balls
Spiked Balls also known as Iron Ball (鉄球), are variants that are described as heavy black / grey balls that have white or grey colored spikes around. These variants are first seen in 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, as spiked balls spins around at certain sections of Spring Yard Zone. Smaller spike balls appear swinging around at Labyrinth Zone, while bigger spike balls appear swinging back and forth at second act of Scrap Brain Zone. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, there are specific large spike balls, that can have different methods such as swinging around in Marble Garden Zone dependent on the pole or rotating back and forth, even rotating to the player's neck at one point in Lava Reef Zone.

In later games since Sonic Adventure, spike balls become more occurring obstacles. These obstacles may be swinging around or dropping down and moving up while doing same method. In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Silver can grab these with his telekinesis ability and utilize them to destroy enemies or other obstacles. Some spike balls may fall down to player's neck at Dusty Desert or Kingdom Valley. Games such as Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Generations, spike balls are set just on the player's way.

Spiked Traps
Spiked Traps are variants that first appear in SegaSonic the Hedgehog and then at Emerald Coast in Sonic Adventure. It is tall gate that has stanchion with sharp spikes pointing to up and down. It keeps moving to up, until it will fall down on front of or onto the player. After that it will move back to the top to do same method.

These objects later are seen in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), while having the same look and method from Sonic Adventure. However, these gates have now spinning rod that has full of spikes. It also appears in Sonic Unleashed and at the both classic and modern acts of Emerald Coast in Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
Spikes made a brief appearance at Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie. As Sonic and Tails travel through Land of the Darkness to reach Robotropolis, they come across numerous sets of six white spikes with yellow sharp heads in deep forest. As Sonic dodges many of them while moving forward at the same time, he also manages to destroy a few of them by doing a fast Spin Jump.

Trivia

 * One of scrapped gimmicks in original Sonic the Hedgehog was a horizontal crusher with spikes intended for Marble Zone. The object can still be placed in Debug Mode, but doesn't appear to have programming.