Spin Attack

The Spin Attack (スピンアタック), also called Rolling Attack (ローリングアタック), is a trademark move used in many games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, which first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), and serve notably as the basis of several attacks in the early main installments of the series, such as the Spin Jump, Spin Dash and Homing Attack. It consists of the user curling into a ball while rolling along the ground. When used at a very high speed, the user is also able to destroy breakable obstacles and enemies.

Overview
The Spin Attack is one of basic maneuvers in the games that the player can utilize after gaining enough of running speed. Once activated, the playable character curls into a tight rounded ball that keeps moving forward, with the rotation speed increasing depending how fast they are going. Some playable characters will have unique Spin Attack animation, such as Tails' twin-tails and Cream's rabbit ears fluttering behind their curled form. Characters like Espio whirls around like a tornado and Vector curls into a spiky wheel when they perform Spin Attack in Knuckles' Chaotix.

The functionality of the Spin Attack is variable despite its simplicity. While in the motion, the playable character can smash through items like Item Boxes and break through obstacles such as rarefied walls. The Spin Attack can be used to attack enemies along the ground. However enemies can damage or stop the player while using the Spin Attack if they hold any shields, shoot projectiles or have damaging parts on their body such as spikes.

Depending on the place or how to player uses the Spin Attack, it can make the playable character move faster than when running on top speed. The player can utilize both the game's level design and momentum physics by rolling down on hills or different type of ramps. With the high speed, the Spin Attack can easy roll through shuttle loops and going up on steep hills or ceilings. However, if the player does not have enough of speed, they will usually roll backwards. The player will also easily lose rolling speed on flat terrain without any slopes and hillocks. Certain Zone gimmicks can make the playable characters execute the Spin Attack, such as winding tunnels, transport tubes and high-speed elevators, as they may roll through sections where the gimmicks are utilized. Certain objects such as certain Dash Panels and Cannons can also make the playable characters curl into the Spin Attack.

By pressing in the opposite direction on, the rolling speed decreases to the point where the player stops moving. While curling, the player can jump to the air. However, the momentum will decrease drastically if the player presses forward during this process. If the player tries to perform Spin Attack while standing still, they will instead crouch. The Spin Attack shares some of its attributes with the mid-air variation Spin Jump, if the playable character rolls down from a cliff or is launched into the air.

In many earlier installments of the series, the player has to gain enough of speed and press down on to perform the Spin Attack. After earlier installments for the Sega Genesis, this simple button function is used in all platformer titles where the Spin Attack has been featured. These include platform games for Master System and Game Gear, Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, the Sonic Advance games, the Sonic Rush games, all episodes of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors. In Sonic 3D Blast, the player has to gain running speed and press for Sonic to perform the Spin Attack. In Sonic R, the player has to press down on to perform Spin Dash Roll as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. In Sonic Adventure Tails is the only character who can perform the Spin Attack, where he curls into a regular ball. After Sonic Adventure, Spin Attack as separated movement is notably absent in the 3D titles, but playable characters can perform it when performing Spin Jump and Spin Dash. In these games, Sonic or any other playable character emit different colored auras around them while spinning. The Spin Attack returned once again as a separated movement for Classic Sonic in both versions of Sonic Generations where it functions similarly as in earlier installments. It is also set to be featured in Sonic Runners.

Name variations
Spin Attack has multiple names given in instruction manuals. In early installments of the series for the Sega Genesis, the move is first called as the Super Sonic Spin Attack and Super Spin Attack in the North American instruction manuals. In Japan, the Spin Attack is named simply as Spin (スピン). In Knuckles' Chaotix, the Spin Attack is called the Super Spin (回転) and in Sonic R along with the Spin Dash, the Spin Attack is called the Spin Dash Roll.

In Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and the Sonic Advance games, the Spin Jump is miscalled the Spin Attack in instruction manuals. In some handheld games, the Spin Dash and Spin Attack have been designated the same move in the instruction manuals and guides.

Spin Jump
The Spin Jump is probably the most commonly used variation of the Spin Attack. Also called the Rolling Jump, the Spin Jump enables the user to curl up into the Spin Attack while jumping to attack midair enemies on contact. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic does not use the Spin Jump merely by jumping, even though he curls up during the jump, but rather as one of his midair attacks.

Spin Dash
The Spin Dash, also called Super Spin Dash, is Sonic's trademark move and is frequently used throughout the series. It allows the user to instantly launch themselves forward into a high speed Spin Attack from a stationary position. The user crouches, performs an oval-shaped Spin Attack to charge, then dashes off in a high speed rolling attack. The Spin Dash is used to attack enemies or break through walls, as well as dash up steep slopes without having to build up running momentum.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic has three variations of this move; his down special (the original attack), his forward special (a slower dash that does not need to charge and begins with a hop to aid in recovery), and his down smash (a rapid Spin Dash back and forth).

Insta-shield
Originating in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Insta-shield causes Sonic to rapidly spin in the air, fast enough to briefly generate a shield of wind. For the split second it lasts, it extends the range of his standard Spin Attack and grants him temporary invincibility. This attack was not seen again until Sonic Advance due to it being replaced by the Homing Attack in Sonic Adventure. In Sonic Advance 3, Tails could also perform the Insta-shield when he was partnered with Knuckles.

Bounce Attack
The Bounce Attack can only be used by Sonic. It sends the user downward rapidly in a Spin Attack, and then bounces him/her back up. It is used to attack enemies below the user, as well as gain extra height when used repeatedly. The user must have first obtained the Bounce Bracelet (or, in some games, the Aqua Shield) to perform this attack.

Homing Attack
The Homing Attack debuted in Sonic Adventure. Whilst in the air, the character performs a high-speed Spin Dash towards the nearest enemy or Item Box. If there is no target nearby, the character just dashes forward in the air. Although the Homing Attack debuted in Sonic Adventure, similar attacks could be performed in Sonic 3 and Sonic 3D Blast with the help of special power-ups. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic uses this as his standard special move, albeit with a brief pause to charge up the dash. This attack is arguably the second most commonly used variation of the Spin Attack.

Somersault
The Somersault attack is exclusive to Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog, Amy, and Metal Sonic. The user simply somersaults forward and attacks along the ground. It's not nearly as fast as the Spin Dash, but it's done as soon as you press the Melee Attack button, so it's ideal for close combat. It can be upgraded with the Flame Ring to become the Fire Somersault, which surrounds the user with fire while executing it. It is also commonly used to slide underneath hazards and into small openings in walls.

Light Speed Dash
The Light Speed Dash is an attack that debuted in Sonic Adventure. The move allows the user to perform a Spin Dash through a trail of Rings at the speed of light, and can also attack enemies caught in the line of Rings. In order to perform this move though, the user must have first obtained the Light Speed Shoes. Depending on the game, the Light Speed Dash may not involve the Spin Attack at all.

Light Speed Attack
The Light Speed Attack is exclusive to Sonic and Shadow. This move allows the user to use the Light Speed Dash on enemies and can destroy all nearby enemies in in an instant. The user must have fully charged a Spin Dash before being able to perform the move, as a lot of energy is used to execute it. The user must have obtained the Ancient Light in Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 or use Sonic Overdrive in Sonic Heroes to perform it.

Burst Dash
The Burst Dash is a move used by Blaze the Cat and her personal take on the Spin Dash. When performing this move, Blaze stands on her feet and spins on the tip of his toes along the ground like a top, diagonally pivoted, while enveloping herself in a cloak of flames, thus turning her into a fiery tornado.

Rolling Attack
The Rolling Attack is a move in the mobile game, Sonic Dash. The move is similar to the Spin Attack, however you can keep it moving for as long as you want by just repeatedly sliding the touch screen down.

Archie Comics
The Spin Attack has also made several appearances in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs, published by Archie Comics. In this media, it is one of Sonic the Hedgehog's signature attacks and is sometimes called the Sonic Spin.

In the comic series' earlier issues, the Spin Attack was only used by Sonic and was one of his most defined maneuvers. Over time though, the Spin Attack continued to evolve as Sonic used it to develop the Spin Dash and for other applications. It was eventually used by others charactersas well, such as Shadow the Hedgehog, Scourge the Hedgehog and even Tails. Following the Super Genesis Wave, the Spin Attack has become a common maneuver that is performed by several characters, such as Knuckles the Echidna, Big the Cat and Antoine D'Coolette.

Sonic X
The Spin Attack is seen several times in Sonic X. In this media, it is one of the more powerful attacks used by both Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog and the X Robot, but also rarely by other characters in certain situations. The users are also shown performing what resemble variants of the Spin Attack, including the Spin Dash and the Homing Attack.

In the beginning of the series, Sonic could only perform the Spin Attack whenever he used a Ring. At the beginning of the second season (second half of the first series) however, he became able to use the Spin Attack at will.

Sonic Boom
Spin Attack is also used in the Sonic Boom franchise by Sonic. When using it, Sonic rolls into a ball and surrounds himself into a blue aura that he uses to attack his enemies at high speed. Like in the games, he leaves a small light in his wake when using it for a short time.

Trivia

 * Certain characters are not able to perform the Spin Attack, most likely due the lack of agile. Notably, Amy Rose has been able to evolve to perform Spin Attack first time in Sonic Advance 2. Before that, she wasn't able to do that.
 * In Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and its add-on Sonic & Knuckles, Knuckles can break through various walls without need to use Spin Attack.
 * Spin Attack in Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors and console versions of Sonic Generations, has a strange phenomenon, that effects to player's momentum. The player's speed notably decreases if the player let go the after performing the Spin Attack. The playable character would not normally curl down on hills or through the loops. Even in some previous mentioned games, the player can't roll on certain ramps on the medium speed and may stop rolling at the mid-point of it. This may depend on how the game's momentum physics are constructed in these games and it is somewhat fixed in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.
 * As mentioned in the article, Tails' tails are seen swinging behind his curlind ball mode, but in games such as Sonic Chaos, Sonic Triple Trouble and Sonic Adventure, Tails' Spin Attack is the same as Sonic with his tails completely missing possibly due the technical limitations or unknown reasons.