Super Peel Out

Super Peel Out (ダッシュ), also known as the Strike Dash or the Figure Eight in the Game Gear games, is a technique performed exclusively by Sonic the Hedgehog which first debuted in Sonic CD. When performing this move, Sonic moves his legs in a specific circle pattern, while remaining stationary, before taking off at speeds surpassing his regular speed.

Since its introduction, this move has as well appeared in Sonic Chaos, Sonic Triple Trouble, Sonic Blast, and made an cameo in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and other forms of media as well.

Description
Like the Spin Dash, the Super Peel Out allows Sonic to attain great speeds from a standing start. However, unlike the Spin Dash, Sonic does not perform a Spin Attack while performing the move, and that he can reach higher speeds that the Spin Dash can, even when charged. He can also continue to accelerate without first jumping to get out of his Spin Attack position.

When performing this move, Sonic crouches slightly down in a standing position, and begins moving his legs in a specific pattern to build up speed, while he remains stationary in one spot. Once he has build up enough speed, Sonic takes off in the direction he is facing at extreme speeds. The Super Peel Out will then last until Sonic either jumps or slows down.

The main disadvantage to the Super Peel Out is that, unlike a Spin Dash, Sonic will take damage if he collides with any badniks or other enemies that are in front of him, meaning that this move is (usually) not meant as a means of attack.

Sonic CD
The Super Peel Out move made its first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog CD. In this game, on the Sega CD, to perform this move, the player has to press up on the D-Pad then press, A, B, or C to charge, then release to move. On the PC, the player has to press down Arrow and Spacebar to charge. In this game, when Sonic performs the Super Peel Out, he moves his legs in such a manner and at such speeds that he creates the illusion that his legs disappears and that a red stream, forming a figure-8, appears below him. This appearance for the Super Peel Out technique has since become the most well-known illustration of the move.

Sonic Chaos
The Super Peel Out returned as a usable move in Sonic Chaos, where it was named the Strike Dash. In this game, to perform this move, the player has to press up on the D-Pad and hold the Jump button, then release. Also, instead of forming a Figure-8 pattern with his legs when using the move in this game, Sonic instead moves his legs in a circle.

Sonic Triple Trouble
The Super Peel Out made another appearance as a usable move in Sonic Triple Trouble where its appearance and name was the same as in Sonic Chaos. To perform this move in the game, the player has to hold the D-Pad up, then press Button 1 or 2 to charge. Once Sonic's feets starts to fly, the player has to release the D-Pad to dash. When performing the Super Peel Out in this game, Sonic is made invulnerable to enemy attacks for a shot time

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Super Peel Out appears as Sonic's running animation and side taunt. In this game, the move's appearance is the same as seen in Sonic CD.

Step Dash
In Sonic Advance 3, Amy Rose can use a move called Step Dash which is nearly identical to this when using Knuckles the Echidna as a partner (however, her legs do not make the figure eight).

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog episode Hedgehog of the Hound Table, there is a scene where Sonic's running animation looks different, as if he's using Super Peel Out.

Archie Comics
In the Archie Comics, the Super Peel Out, or the Figure 8 move as it is sometime called, is one of Sonic the Hedgehog's special moves, which he has used at various points in the continuity. In this media, the Super Peel Out  increases his speed, strength and allows him to briefly hover in midair. In fact, this move allows Sonic to reach such high speeds that he can tear up the environment and forge wide trenches in his wake.

The Super Peel Out first appeared in Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 25, when Sonic faced his first Metal Sonic. Having been working on this move for a while, Sonic used the Super Peel Out for the first time to reach "warp speeds" and managed to beat Metal Sonic in a race.

In Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 40's story, "Court Martial", when Sonic was looking for Nack the Weasel, Sonic used the Super Peel Out (called "figure 8" in this instance) to ram a gorilla bouncer and the door the bouncer was blocking head first to enter the bar where Nack was located.

Sonic later used the Super Peel Out again in Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 175, during the destruction of Knothole; in his losing battle with Doctor Eggman's Egg Beater, Sonic sped to the coast of the continent, readying the move, and sped back at unimaginable speeds and rammed directly into the Egg Beater's shield. The move, however, proved to be for naught as he only managed to leave a dent in the battle suit's shield.

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
Sonic uses the Super Peel Out multiple times in Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie. The move is usually seen when Sonic is about to or has reached his top speed.

It was first seen being performed by Sonic to save Tails and The Old Man Owl from damaged plane. Sonic also perform it enter the warp to get Robotropolis with Tails and during the chase scene with Metal Robotnik. Later Sonic tries to outrun Robot Generator's conveyor belt with Super Peel Out, but manages to get help from Knuckles in the last second. Sonic tries to face Robotnik straight forward, but Hyper Metal Sonic comes between them. Sonic also perform the Super Peel Out while entering the Ice Cap, during the confrontation between him and Metal Sonic and at the ending of film as Sonic runs away from the cast.

Trivia

 * "Peel-Out" is a racing term used to describe when a car launches off at a high speed.
 * In Sonic the Screen Saver, there is a sprite that shows Sonic doing the Super Peel Out move.