Spin Jump

The Spin Jump (回転ジャンプ), also called the Super Sonic Spin Attack or Jump, is one of the first and most basic maneuvers in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mid-air variation of the Spin Attack, where the user curls up and jumps into enemies or obstacles, dealing damage. It has since its introduction become one of the most basic attacks in the series, and arguably the most common as well, given that almost every playable character in the series has at some point been able to perform it.

Description
When performing the Spin Jump, the user first jumps up into midair and then curls into a ball, like when performing the Spin Attack and starts rolling around at high speed. However, certain characters can have different performances or variants of the Spin Jump; when Tails and Cream are performing the Spin Jump, Tails' twin tails and Cream's ears can be seen hanging from behind their respective curling ball form. Also, in Knuckles' Chaotix, when Espio and Vector are performing the Spin Jump, Espio whirls around like a tornado and Vector curls into a wheel.

While performing the Spin Jump, the user can deal damage to any enemies that he/she makes successful and undisturbed physical contact with, and also break breakable objects in the Zones, such as item boxes, barriers and certain floors. However, it does not affect certain enemies that are clad in projection such as spikes or wielding weapons in the player's path which can damage the player instead of destroying the enemy. When the playable character transforms into a Super State, the Spin Jump usually increases in height and speed.

There is certain mechanic for the Spin Jump that can increase the jumping height of the playable character by jumping into the enemy/object from higher places or from the right angle and then getting bounced higher than the playable character is normally able to jump. The player is able to do this by pressing the jump button down until the player hits the targeted enemy. Depending on how long the player keeps the jump button down, the higher will the playable character will bounce. Outside the Genesis games, this technique is functional in the Sonic Adventure titles, the Sonic Advance series and the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, though only for Classic Sonic.

In the first main games for the Sega Genesis, depending on how many enemies the player destroys with a single Spin Jump, the points that the player receives from defeating each enemy increases. While defeating one enemy is worth 100 points, destroying two enemies in a chain by doing the Spin Jump once increases points to 200, and destroying three enemy in a chain gives 500 points in total. After destroying four to fifteen enemies, the player receives 1000 points and for any chain of destroyed enemies larger than that, the player earns 10000 points for each destroyed enemy.

In the earlier games of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the Spin Jump is a very useful and often vital attack for the player, due to it having greater movement control than the Spin Attack and Spin Dash and is often needed to defeat bosses and certain enemies. In the later games, when the player presses the jump button twice, the player can also perform another move during the Spin Jump, such as the Insta-Shield and Homing Attack, a Double Jump, or for certain characters, allow the player to fly or glide.

To perform the Spin Jump in gameplay, the player usually has to press the jump button in the respective games. To control the direction the Spin Jump is moving in, the player has to use the movement controls.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The Spin Jump was first featured in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) where it is one of Sonic the Hedgehog's maneuvers. In the English releases of the game, it is referred to as the Super Sonic Spin Attack. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press //. In the 2013 re-release, the Spin Jump can also be used by Miles "Tails" Prower and Knuckles the Echidna.

In the 8-bit version of the game, the mechanics of the Spin Jump are the same, except the player has to press or  button.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Spin Jump can be performed by both Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower. This is the first game to show a visual difference for the Spin Jump between users, as Tails' twin-tails can be seen hanging out from behind his Spin Jump. It is also the first game where it is referred to as the Spin Jump in English releases. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press //. Knuckles the Echidna in Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 2013 re-release can also perform the Spin Jump.

In the 8-bit version of the game, the Spin Jump is only performed by Sonic as he is the only playable character. The mechanics of the Spin Jump are the same, except the player has to press /.

SegaSonic the Hedgehog
In SegaSonic the Hedgehog, the Spin Jump is used by Sonic the Hedgehog, Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Because the game was released on arcades only, the player had to press the only action button on the control to use the Spin Jump. No further mechanics were added to it.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the Spin Jump is again only usable by Sonic the Hedgehog, but it can also be used by Miles "Tails" Prower in 2011 re-release. In the English releases of the game, it is referred to as the Spin Attack. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press //. Sonic can jump higher, depending on how hard the player presses //down.

Sonic Chaos
In Sonic Chaos, the Spin Jump can be performed by both Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower. In the English releases of the game, it is only referred to as Jump. Unlike in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 though, Tails' twin-tails do not hang out from behind his Spin Jump. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press /.

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
In Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, the Spin Jump is again only usable by Sonic the Hedgehog. Except from the Spin dash, it is Sonic's only offensive move. Like in Sonic Chaos the move is referred to as Jump. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press // on the 16-bit version, and / on the 8-bit version.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3
In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Spin Jump can be performed by both Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower. In the English releases of the game, it is referred to as the Super Spin Attack. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press //.

Sonic & Knuckles
In Sonic & Knuckles, the Spin Jump can be performed by both Sonic the Hedgehog and as well newcomer Knuckles the Echidna. In the English releases of the game, it is referred simply to as Jump. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press //.

Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
In Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, the Spin Jump is performed only by Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower. In the English releases of the game, it is referred to as the Super Spin Attack. Like in Sonic Chaos, Tails' twin-tails does not hang out from behind his Spin Jump. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press /.

Knuckles' Chaotix
In Knuckles' Chaotix, out of the game's seven playable characters, only Knuckles the Echidna, Espio the Chameleon, Mighty the Armadillo and Vector the Crocodile can perform the Spin Jump. In the English releases of the game, it is just referred to as Jump. Also, while Knuckles and Mighty perform the Spin Jump in the traditional fashion, Vector curls into a wheel and Espio whirls around like a tornado. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press.

Sonic 3D Blast
In Sonic 3D Blast, the Spin Jump is again only performed by Sonic the Hedgehog. In the English releases of the game, it is referred to as Jump. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press or / or.

Sonic Blast
In Sonic Blast, the Spin Jump is a maneuver used by both Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press /.

Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure and its remake Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, all playable characters except Amy Rose, Big the Cat and E-102 Gamma can perform the Spin Jump. In this game, when performing the Spin Jump, the characters spin faster, appearing more as a ball. As a new mechanism included to the Spin Jump, the player can cancel the move in midair by pressing the action button. It should be noted that this is the one of the few games where Super Sonic does not enhance the size of the Spin Jump. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press /.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Spin Jump is used by Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna and Rouge the Bat in the main story. When performing the Spin Jump in this game, Sonic and Shadow is surrounded by their respectively-colored auras which they leave behind in their wake as they move around. In the games' multiplayer mode, Metal Sonic, Amy Rose, Tikal and Chaos can use the Spin Jump as well, where Amy and Metal Sonic create the same aura effect as Sonic and Shadow when using it. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press /.

Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the Spin Jump is performed by all playable characters in the game which include Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose and Team Chaotix. When performing the Spin Jump in this game, each playable character is surrounded by a sphere of their respective auras. In gameplay, the Spin Jump deals one hit worth of damage to weaker or unprotected enemies. Additionally, using it on enemies allows the character to bounce continuously on them and deal more damage until the enemy retaliates. Furthermore, depending on which character is the leader, the player can follow up by pressing another button while jumping to perform more useful maneuver or offensive abilities. Again, Super Sonic does not enhance the Spin Jump's size. It should be noted that when attacking Metal Madness with the Homing Attack, the player will bounce back in the Spin Jump formation.

To perform this move in gameplay, the player has to press //.

Sonic Advance series
In the Sonic Advance trilogy, the Spin Jump is used by all the playable characters. In the English releases of Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2, the Spin Jump is in particular referred to as the Jump or Jump-Attack.

Each character is not a consistent user of the Spin Jump: Amy cannot perform it in Sonic Advance and when paired up with Amy in Sonic Advance 3, Amy's partner will jump without going into the Spin Jump. To use it in gameplay in all three games, the player has to press.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow and the supporting characters Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Rouge, Espio, Vector, Amy, and Omega can use the Spin Jump. The Spin Jump's animation is the same as in Sonic Heroes. Shadow Androids also use the technique along with others. Trying to use it continuously on strong enemies will only make the player fall back on the ground. While the Spin Jump cannot take out shielded enemies, it can destroy the shields if used enough. By using Strafe, the player can take more control of the Spin Jump, but at the cost of losing some jumping height.

Sonic Rush series
In Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, the Spin Jump is only used by Sonic the Hedgehog. The games' other playable character, Blaze the Cat, uses her own equivalent to the Spin Jump, called the Axel Jump.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the Spin Jump is used by all playable characters except Silver and Omega. However, it cannot be used to damage enemies, thus it is only used for vertical movements.

Sonic Rivals series
In Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2, the Spin Jump can be used by all the games' respective playable characters. When using the Spin Jump in these games, the characters are each surrounded by their respective aura. It cannot damage the opposing rival with the move though. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press.

Super Smash Bros. series
Sonic uses the Spin Jump in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. Unlike in the Sonic games, the Spin Jump does not do any damage to opponents.

Sonic Unleashed
In Sonic Unleashed, the Spin Jump is again only used by Sonic the Hedgehog. In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of the game, Sonic is surrounded by a close blue aura when using the Spin Jump but is not in the PlayStation 2/Wii version of the game. The player can also use the Spin Jump in conjunction with the Sonic Boost to increase its range and speed, though it decreases the speed of the boost.

Sonic Colors
In Sonic Colors, the Spin Jump can be used by Sonic the Hedgehog and as well in his Pink Spikes form. In the English release of the game, it is referred to as the Spin Attack. Like in Sonic Unleashed, Sonic is surrounded by a close blue aura when using the Spin Jump and can use it in conjunction with the Boost to enhance his range and speed. Additionally, its height can be multiplied by using the Double Jump. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press the following buttons.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, II and Metal, the Spin Jump is used by Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower and Metal Sonic. In these games, it has the same capabilities and appearance as it had in the earlier games. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press ////.

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, the Spin Jump is used by both Classic and Modern Sonic. Modern Sonic's Spin Jump looks like it did in Sonic Unleashed while Classic Sonic's look like it did in previous games. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press /.

Sonic Lost World
In Sonic Lost World, the Spin Jump maneuver does not surround Sonic in a blue aura. On the Wii U version, when in mid-air, Sonic can Double Jump by back flipping instead of curling into a ball, unlike in the Nintendo 3DS version.

Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, the Spin Jump is usable to every playable character in the game, including newcomers as playable characters like Sticks the Badger and Mephiles the Dark. In this game, users that perform the Spin Jump will be surrounded by three air streaks colored in the user's respective aura. For the gameplay of Sonic Runners, the Spin Jump is an exceptionally vital move during runs. To perform it in gameplay, simply tap the screen.

Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania, the Spin Jump can be used by Sonic, Tails and Knuckles where its capabilities and appearance are exactly the same as it is in the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis games.

Trivia

 * In Sonic Adventure, whenever the player Spin Jumps near Tails as Sonic, Tails will get hurt, even if he is also jumping, despite not being an enemy.