Boost

The Sonic Boost (ソニックブースト) is a move used by Sonic the Hedgehog, mainly in the games Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors, and Sonic Generations (Modern Sonic).

This move first appeared in Sonic Heroes, in the special stages, where it can be used by all playable characters. It was since developed in Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, starting with the Super Boost and Fire Boost. With the release of Sonic Unleashed, it has become one of Sonic's signature techniques. It is a move where Sonic accelerates to high speeds, turning himself into a highly destructive projectile.

Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure (Super Boost)
The Super Boost is a move utilized by Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure and serves as the foundation for the Sonic Boost. In order for Sonic to perform the Super Boost, the player has to fill up his/her Tension Gauge by performing Combo Tricks, passing Star Posts or defeating enemies, while performing the Sonic Boost causes the Tension Gauge to be drained. To activate this move, the player must be holding the X/Y button while Sonic is standing on the ground and can be performed for as long as there are at least a little bit of energy in the Tension Gauge. If the Tension Gauge is at maximum, Sonic has unlimited use of the Super Boost for a short time.

When using this move, Sonic envelopes himself in a blue and white aura, and launches himself forward at increased speed as a highly destructive projectile. This grants Sonic limited invincibility (he can still take damage from running into spikes but not on and other indestructible harmful obstacles and being crushed etc), and allows him to destroy or damage any opponent in his path for as long as he has energy in his Tension Gauge. While Sonic is unable to activate this move while in midair, he can still keep it active when he jumps during the boost. This move will be canceled however if Sonic runs into a wall, has his Tension Gauge run out or if the player releases the X/Y button.

Sonic Unleashed
The Sonic Boost officially appeared in Sonic Unleashed. To perform the Sonic Boost, the player has to fill the Boost Bar in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The bar can be filled by collecting rings, performing the Sonic Drift, or stringing together tricks and attacks (Wii/PS2 versions only). While performing the Sonic Boost, Sonic gains limited invincibility and increased speed, plowing through enemies and object/obstacles but he'll still get hurt from hazards such as spikes. The Sonic Boost is limited by the energy in the Boost Bar; in the 360/PS3 version, the Sonic Boost can be performed at almost any time, even if there is a little bit of energy in the bar. In the Wii/PS2 versions, the bar is divided into three sub-bars (upgrades can increase the sub-bars to a maximum of six) and can only be performed when at least one of the bars is completely full.

This move can also be used to collect rings that are just out of reach, as the rings will be attracted to Sonic, much like the Lightning Shield. In the 360/PS3 there is also an upgrade found in Chun-Nan called the Air Boost Shoes (in the Wii/PS2 versions, Sonic already has all the upgrades). This upgrade can only be reached by also getting the Wall Jump Shoes in Spagonia. With the Air Boost Shoes, Sonic will be able to use the Sonic Boost in the air, as opposed to doing an ineffective Homing Attack.

In the Wii/PS2 version, Sonic is unable to perform a continuing boost. Instead the boost gauge is divided in separate bars, using one bar each boost, unable to use the next one until it runs out. Getting 10 rings in order to gain a bar to perform Sonic Boost.

Sonic Colors
This move reappears in Sonic Colors, and looks similar to the Wii/PS2 versions of Sonic Unleashed (however, Colors contains the shock-wave effect from the 360/PS3 versions of Sonic Unleashed). In Sonic Colors, there is an effect seen to either side of Sonic, which flashes in the colors of the rainbow. This effect is also seen when Drifting. Unlike in Sonic Unleashed, Sonic can only fill the Boost Bar by releasing White Wisps from Wisp Capsules or by defeating Egg Pawns.

Sonic Generations
The Sonic Boost also appears in Sonic Generations, the methods of using are the same as in Sonic Unleashed. To charge the Boost Bar, the player can defeat enemies, collect rings, drift, or perform tricks in the air. If enough tricks are performed, the Boost Bar can surpass its actual capacity, allowing boost for a longer time than normal. In the rival battle against Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow uses the Chaos Boost to rival the Sonic boost.

When Modern Super Sonic uses boost, he instead hovers at a blistering speed. However, the ring count drains up very quickly, as opposed to Sonic Colors.

In the 3DS version, the boost gauge works like the one from the console version, except that when it's completely full, the boost gauge turns from yellow to blue. From this point, Sonic can boost as much as he wants until the bar turns yellow again. This feature is similar to the one from the Tension Gauge.

Boost Mode
Boost Mode refers, in its most general sense, to a high-speed dash state which some characters are able to perform, most notably Sonic the Hedgehog. The mode is accompanied by after-images of the character to emphasize the eye-blistering velocities involved. It appears in Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Advance 3.

Boost Mode can be performed by Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose, Miles Tails Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, and Cream the Rabbit.

In Sonic Advance 3, Boost Mode can only be achieved with Sonic on the team. When Sonic is not on the team, the other characters cannot boost at all, and as such do not have their increased running speeds. If Sonic is the partner character using your Partner Action will allow the player to instantly boost away at full speed as if they have run over an orange booster.

Super Sonic Boost
The Super Sonic Boost is the variation of the Sonic Boost that super transformed characters uses and is much more powerful than the Sonic Boost. Its name comes from the fact that it is Super Sonic's main form of attack against his foes and it is mostly used by him.

Fire Boost
The Fire Boost is Blaze the Cat's version of the Super Boost/Sonic Boost and is utilized by her in Sonic Rush and in Sonic Rush Adventure.

Burning Fire Boost
The Burning Fire Boost a variation of the Super Sonic Boost. It is used by Burning Blaze instead of the Super Sonic Boost.

Infinite Boost
In the DS version of Sonic Colors, if Sonic manages to collect all of the Special Rings in the game, he unlocks the Infinite Boost. When activated, Sonic can boost as much as he wants, even if the Boost Gauge is empty.

Chaos Boost
Shadow the Hedgehog can perform his own version of the Sonic Boost, the Chaos Boost. When using it, he hovers off the ground at high speeds and uses his chaos energy and hover shoes to move forward at high speeds that rival the Sonic Boost. It first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), but it was not until the Mario &amp; Sonic Series and Sonic Generations that it provides a boost in speed.

Mach Speed
The blue gem upgrade for Sonic, which can be purchased in the local shop in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), gives Sonic a small boost of speed called Mach Speed when activated.

Sonic Boom
The Sonic Boom is Sonic the Hedgehog's signature move in Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2. It is a more wild and slightly uncontrollable version of the Sonic Boost.

Trivia

 * Sonic Colors (Wii version) is the only game that doesn't allow modification of the Boost Gauge. In Sonic Unleashed (360/PS3), the Boost (originally named Ring Energy) Gauge can be upgraded five times, lengthening the gauge and the decreasing the rate that it drains. In Sonic Generations (360/PS3/PC), the gauge (as well as Boosting and what fills the gauge) can be modified through Skills, as follows:
 * Auto-Gauge fills up the Boost Gauge automatically over time.
 * Blast Off allows a free Boost (one that doesn't initially drain the Gauge) when the Boost Button is pressed when "GO!" appears at the start of the Act.
 * Boost Gauge Up extends the length of the Boost Gauge (about 200% the capacity of the standard length)
 * Endless Boost works just like Super Sonic's Boost Gauge, as it never decreases. However, this is at the cost of not being able to obtain a single Ring, which makes it a high-risk/high-reward skill.
 * Gauge Rebooter has the player start with a full Boost Gauge upon losing a life and restarting at a checkpoint.
 * Ring Energy Bonus fills the Gauge faster when collecting Rings.
 * Smasher Bonus fills the Gauge faster when destroying enemies and breaking objects.
 * Trick Mastery allows tricks to be performed faster, thus filling (and overfilling) the gauge faster.
 * In earlier builds of Sonic Unleashed, the boost "aura" (wind resistance) was originally colored white.
 * When using Sonic Boost in Sonic Generations and Sonic Unleashed, you will notice a distortion effect, or fisheye effect. This "distortion" is probably used to indicate a Sonic boom.
 * The magnetic force of the boost attracting rings has been lowered in Sonic Generations compared to Sonic Unleashed.