Jump Dash

The Jump Dash (ジャンプダッシュ) is a reoccurring move in the Sonic the Hedgehog series which first appeared in Sonic Adventure. At first exclusive to Sonic the Hedgehog, it has since been used by numerous other characters. It is variant of the Homing Attack where the user hurtles forward in midair.

Description
When performing the Jump Dash, the user launches themselves straight forward in midair with a burst of speed, usually leaving a colored trail in their wake. In gameplay, this move is useful in cases like getting a burst of speed, crossing gaps, and accurate platforming.

The Jump Dash normally shares the same controls as the Homing Attack since it is basically the Homing Attack used when there is no targets for the move in the vicinity. This means that when using Homing Attack without anything to target, the move becomes the Jump Dash.

Sonic Adventure
The Jump Dash first appeared in Sonic Adventure and its later iteration Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut. In this game, the Jump Dash is only usable to Sonic the Hedgehog. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press / in mid-jump without any targets within range. When performing the Jump Dash, Sonic keeps his limbs stretched out as he dashes forward. The range of the Jump Dash can be shortened by pressing the action button.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its later iteration Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Jump Dash can be performed by both Sonic and Shadow, and as well Amy and Metal Sonic in the games' multiplayer mode. To perform Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to press / while airborne when there are no targets in range. Like in Sonic Adventure, when performing the Jump Dash, the users keep their limbs stretched out as they dash forward.

Sonic Advance series
In Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2, the Jump Dash can only be used by Sonic the Hedgehog. In these games, using the Jump Dash leaves Sonic vulnerable to damage, so it must be used with caution when near enemies. To perform it in gameplay, the player to quickly tap left or right twice on the while in midair. In Sonic Advance 2, the move can as well be performed after using Insta-Shield (which was not possible in Sonic Advance.)

In Sonic Advance 3, Sonic can perform the Jump Dash when partnered up with Cream. Similarly, Amy can perform it when partnered up with Sonic. Other than that, the move works identically to how it did in previous Sonic Advance titles. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press while jumping when there are no targets nearby.

Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the Jump Dash is used by all playable characters in the game which include Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose and Team Chaotix. However, the player can only use it manually when playing as a Speed Type character. The other characters on the teams will instead automatically try to perform the Jump Dash whenever the Speed Type character uses it.

Unlike in previous installments, the Jump Dash can in this game be used offensively against enemies. If a Jump Dash connects with an enemy, it still does the same damage as the Homing Attack. To perform the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player as to press // during a jump when there are no targets in the vicinity. In addition, the Jump Dash can be cancelled by pressing the attack button.

The Jump Dash shares the Homing Attack's attributes, meaning that for each blue Power Core the player collects (up to three), the Jump Attack becomes more powerful while gaining the same upgraded abilities as the Homing Attack. Each Power Core also adds more colored rings to the Jump Dash's trail, along with a multicolored mach cone. While dashing due to the Jump Dash, the playable characters stretch their limbs outward.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Jump Dash is only usable to Shadow. Like in Sonic Heroes, the Jump Dash can be used offensively against enemies. If a Jump Dash connects with an enemy, it still does the same damage as the Homing Attack. Super Shadow can also use the Jump Dash to dash without jumping in the battle with Devil Doom, similar to the Super Sonic Boost, but without the offensive capabilities. However, if Super Shadow Jump Dashes into an obstacle, it will either make him descend or ascend. If the former does happen, he automatically returns to normal altitude.

To perform the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to press // during a jump when there are no targets in the vicinity. Holding down the button for longer will allow the player to travel further. While dashing due to the Jump Dash, Shadow stretches his limbs outward.

Sonic Rush series
In Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, the Jump Dash can only be performed by Sonic. Other than that, its mechanics are identical to those it had in the Sonic Advance series. Blaze the Cat's equivalent to this move is the Burst Hover. To perform the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to press during a jump. Like in earlier titles, while dashing due to the move, Sonic keeps his limbs stretched outward.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), both Sonic and Shadow can use the Jump Dash. In this game, Shadow's Jump Dash is longer than Sonic's, and the colored trail left by using this technique is absent in the multiplayer. When using the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player can control the playable character's direction after launching it. To use it in gameplay, the player has to press / while airborne when there are no targets in the vicinity. While dashing due to the Jump Dash, the user curls into a spinball.

Sonic and the Secret Rings
In Sonic and the Secret Rings, the Jump Dash is a Skill for Sonic which is obtained at the beginning of the game and costs 10 Skill Points to be equipped. To use the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to quickly move the Wii Remote forward while jumping when there are no targets in the vicinity. While dashing due to this move, Sonic keeps his limbs stretched outward.

Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, the Jump Dash is usable to all playable characters in Adventure Mode and Battle Mode, except for King Arthur in the latter. Like in earlier games, while dashing due to this move, most playable characters keep their limbs stretched outward. Other playable characters will use a different move instead however: To perform the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to press during a jump when there are no targets in the vicinity (otherwise the player will perform the Homing Dash). To cancel the move during the dash, the player has to press again.
 * The Blacksmith will use Propeller Flying
 * Sir Gawain/Knuckles the Echidna will use Glide
 * Sir Galahad will use Levitate

Sonic Rivals series
In Sonic Rivals and its sequel Sonic Rivals 2, the Jump Dash can be performed by every playable character in the games. Otherwise, the move's mechanics are the same as those it has in the main series. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press during a jump when there are no targets in the vicinity. Like in earlier games, while dashing due to this move, the playable characters keep their limbs stretched outward.

Sonic Unleashed
In Sonic Unleashed, the Jump Dash is only used by Sonic in the daytime Stages. In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of the game, the Jump Dash is too slow to be used to gain speed, but is good for traversing the Town Stages. After obtaining the Air Boost Shoes, the player cannot use the Jump Dash until the Boost Gauge is emptied, as the Jump Dash and the Air Boost share the same controls and the latter will take priority as long as the Boost Gauge has energy. To use the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to press / while jumping when there are no targets in the vicinity. While dashing due to the Jump Dash, Sonic curls into a spinball.

In the PlayStation 2/Wii version of the game, the Jump Dash has a shorter range, making it pretty much useless to reach midair gimmicks. However, it can used offensively against enemies who are too close for the Homing Attack to work. To use the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to execute the following controls while jumping:

Sonic Colors
In Sonic Colors, the Jump Dash is only again used by Sonic. In the Wii version of the game, like in Sonic Unleashed, the player cannot use the Jump Dash until the Boost Gauge is emptied since the Jump Dash and the Air Boost share the same controls and the latter will take priority as long as the Boost Gauge has energy. While dashing due to the move, Sonic keeps his limbs outward without leaving a trail. To perform the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player has to execute the following controls while airborne:

In the Nintendo DS version of the game, the Jump Dash can be used at anytime as it does not share the Air Boost's controls. To perform it in gameplay, the player has to press / while airborne.

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, the Jump Dash can be used by both Classic and Modern Sonic. At the beginning though, only Modern Sonic can use it. For Classic Sonic, the player must have acquired the Homing Attack ability for him before his Jump Dash becomes available (His Jump Dash is also slightly shorter than Modern Sonic's). To use the Jump Dash in gameplay, the player must press / during a jump when there are no targets in the vicinity. While dashing due to the Jump Dash, Sonic curls into a spinball.

Homing Attack
The Homing Attack is offensive version of the Jump Dash where the users dashes through midair to attack enemies ahead of them. It first appeared in Sonic Adventure.

Air Boost
The Air Boost can be used as a far more powerful version of the Jump Dash. In addition to allowing the user to fly greater distances through midair at high speed, it also lets the user plow through airborne enemies. In exchange though, the users have much less control over their movements due to the speed.

Triangle Jump
The Triangle Jump is an application of the Jump Dash that first appeared in Sonic Heroes. It consists of the users doing Jump Dashes between walls, allowing them to travel between parallel walls and avoid obstacles.

Trivia

 * Jump Dashing in certain areas in the Sonic Rivals series and Sonic Unleashed (Wii/PS2) causes the player to gain height for an unknown reason.
 * The Jump Dash in Sonic Generations eliminates forward momentum, making it useless to gain speed; the same is the case (to a lesser extent) in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and Sonic Unleashed (Wii/PS2).
 * If the player overspeed in Sonic Generations, and use the Homing Attack an on enemy, the game will not process the move. Instead, a Jump Dash will be launched and destroy the enemy.
 * In the Xbox360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, if the player tries using the Jump Dash on an obstacle or on a human, it turns into a Homing Attack.
 * In Shadow the Hedgehog, If the player performs a Jump Dash near Devil Doom's eye, it will become a Homing Attack and aim for his eye. However, it does not hurt him very much.