Iron ball

The spiked ball, also known as the spike ball (トゲボール) or Iron Ball (鉄球), is an obstacle that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a variant of the more common Spikes, being a metal sphere covered in harmful spikes.

Description
Spiked balls have maintained an overall consistent design over the course of the Sonic series, being heavy gray/black spheres that are covered in white/gray spikes. The dimensions of the spiked balls tends to vary from game to game though.

In gameplay, when a playable character physically touches a spiked ball, they will receive damage. As such, they usually serve as obstacles that are placed along the player's way in the levels. Occasionally, the spiked balls will be stationary. In different games however, they tend to be attached to chains or other devices that causes them to swing around. On other occasions, the spiked balls will be moving around in midair on their own.

In later games such as Sonic Unleashed, Sonic and the Black Knight and Sonic Generations, spike balls are usually set just on, or embedded in the ground.

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)
The spiked balls made their first appearance in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog. In this game, they appear in various forms and sizes.

Spring Yard Zone features both large gray spiked balls that float around in various patterns, and smaller darker rows of spiked balls that spin around fixed points inside narrow passageways. Medium-sized gray spiked balls with chains attached to them also circle around fixed points in Labyrinth Zone and Scrap Brain Zone Act 3. Star Light Zone also has Seesaws that use small spiked balls as counterweights. Lastly, there is Scrap Brain Zone Act 2 which has large gray spiked balls attached to chains that swing back and forth.

Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
In the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, the spiked balls make a brief appearance in Labyrinth Zone. Here, small gray spiked balls orbit blue orbs that are embedded in the walls.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, small and black slow-moving spiked balls with green chains attached to them can be found orbiting platforms in Mystic Cave Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the spiked balls make a few appearances. In Wacky Workbench, there are strings of small spiked balls that rotate around a fixed points. Also, in Stardust Speedway, there are bluish spiked balls with long spikes. These spiked balls float left and right on surfaces or move up and down through small devices that either float in midair or sit embedded in the ground.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles and its lock-on continuation Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, there are specific spiked balls that block the player's path using different methods.

In Marble Garden Zone, there are large grey spiked balls attached to poles via chains. These spiked balls swing around their poles either horizontally or vertically (depending on whether their poles are attached to a vertical or horizontal surface). Also, in Launch Base Zone Act 1, the player will encounter the Swing’m Spikez, a sub-boss that attacks by swinging around chains with small spiked balls at their ends.

In Mushroom Hill Zone, rows of black spiked balls appear during the boss battle with the Jet Mobile. Curiously, these spiked balls will flash when the Jet Mobile takes damage. Also, in Flying Battery Zone, there are more high-tech-looking spiked balls. In the outdoor sections of Flying Battery Zone, these spiked balls orbit fixed points, and in the indoor sections, they sit by themselves, moving up and down in accordance to the magnetic currents running through the ceiling above them. In addition, the sub-boss Gapsule in Flying battery Zone uses large and gray spiked balls at the end of its arms to attack the player.

Lava Reef Zone features a large variety of different spiked balls. In both Acts, there are small gray spiked balls with chains attached to them that circle around fixed points. Also, exclusive to Lava Reef Zone Act 1 are large and gray spiked balls that roll back and forth on the ground on their own. Exclusive to Act 2 on the other hand are medium-sized gray spiked balls that circle around walkable or passable cylinders, or around plaforms. Lastly, while fighting the Hot Mobile in Lava Reef Zone Act 2, the boss will deploy black spiked balls. In order to damage the Hot Mobile, the player has to let the spiked balls collide with the Hot Mobile. Like the spiked balls during the Jet Mobile fight, these spiked balls flash when the Hot Mobile takes damage.

Knuckles' Chaotix
In Knuckles' Chaotix, the spiked ball are known as the spike ball (トゲボール). In this game, black spiked balls appear only in the Special Stages, where they lie along the player's path. Also, touching a spiked ball in the Special Stage will make the player lose ten Rings.

Sonic 3D Blast
In Sonic 3D Blast, the spiked balls made various appearances. In Green Grove Zone, there are spiked balls with purple details that float around on their own in various patterns. The Zone also features Hunter Badniks that have spiked balls orbiting their bodies. Also, during the encounter with the Green Grove Zone boss, Eggman will be equipped with a large and gray spiked ball that he attempts to drop on Sonic. This spiked ball bounces a few times when dropped.

Rusty Ruin Zone features spiked balls which appear to be made of stone. Among them are large ones that swing around poles that they are attached to via chains, and unique ones that appear like statues built into the ground.

Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, spiked balls became slightly more common obstacles. In this game, they are rather large with polished surfaces.

Some spiked balls have chains attached to them and swing around a fixed point (which sometimes go up and down). Others pairs of spiked balls have poles attached between them and spin together around a shared fixed point. There are also some spiked balls that simply float in midair, and some of them will be periodically slamming into the ground. Additionally, some spiked balls are arranged so that they move around in rows.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle appear again as obstacles. In these gams, they are black with red-purple spikes on then.

Much like in Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, they often come in pairs with poles attached between that spin around a fixed point together. In other cases, they are simply floating in midair or rolling along the ground.

Sonic Advance
In Sonic Advance, the typical spiked ball is called the Iron Ball with Thorns (トゲ付き鉄球). In gameplay, gray spiked balls appear in Angel Island Zone and yellow spiked balls appear in Egg Rocket Zone. In both Zones, these spiked balls float around in midair in different patterns.

During the battle with the Casino Paradise's boss, the Egg Ball, a technological-looking spiked ball will appear from the same tubes that the Egg Ball is flying through as a distraction.

Sonic Advance 3
Spiked balls appear in Sonic Advance 3 as part of the Egg Chaser boss. Eggman will occasionally flip the machine over and launch a mace at the player.

Sonic Heroes
They reappear in Sonic Heroes as standard obstacles.

Sonic Rush
The Egg Scarab in Sonic Rush attacks the player with spiked balls. However, the spikes will occasionally retract, at which point the player can Spin Jump into the ball to send it rolling back towards the boss. As long as the Scarab's claw are facing away from the ball at this point, it'll get hit and take damage, otherwise it can easily catch it.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Silver can grab these with his Telekinesis ability and utilize them to destroy enemies or other obstacles. Some spike balls will roll down inclines in Dusty Desert or Kingdom Valley.

Sonic and the Secret Rings
Spiked balls appear as common obstacles in Sonic and the Secret Rings. They either move around in the air, or are placed on or embedded into the ground. At the end of Sand Oasis's second mission, some spiked balls will get in the player's way by rolling down the hill.

Sonic and the Black Knight
They reappear in Sonic and the Black Knight, acting as simple obstacles.

Sonic Unleashed
They reappear in Sonic Unleashed, acting as standard obstacles. In some of the daytime Acts, they will appear midair and require the player to time homing attacks carefully so Sonic doesn't smash into them.

Sonic Colors
Spiked balls appear as obstacles in Sonic Colors. They will also be dropped by the Frigate Orcan and Frigate Skullian bosses. Also, if the player gets a non-beneficial line-up of symbols on the slot machine in the Sonic Simulator, theen the slot machine will release spiked balls.

Sonic Generations
They appear in Sonic Generations, acting as obstacles in both Classic and Modern stages such as Seaside Hill, and appear much more frequently in many of the challenge acts of the game.

Sonic Lost World
They reappear as standard obstacles in Sonic Lost World. They appear most frequently in auto running sections, either embedded in the ground as in Desert Ruins Zone 2, or simply floating and possibly even moving around the platforms.

Sonic Runners
Spiked balls appear occasionally as obstacles in Sonic Runners. Dr. Eggman will also drop spiked balls in the Iron Ball Eggmobile fight.

Sonic Runners Adventure
Spiked balls play the same role in Sonic Runners Adventure as they do in it's predecessor, up to and including being dropped by Eggman in a boss fight.

Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, spiked balls appear as regular obstacles, particularly in Flying Battery, Stardust Speedway, and Lava Reef. They appear both on their own (including the variants in Flying Battery that are periodically raised by the Zone's electromagnets) and swinging on chains. Some enemies, such as the Robot Bees and Heavy Rider, also wield spiked balls attached to chains that they use as offensive weapons.

Sonic Forces
They reappear once again in Sonic Forces. They can be seen both floating (stationary or not) and swinging around on chains. During the first boss fight with Infinite, taking damage from his cubes can potentially lead to a virtual reality with spiked balls to avoid. Their appearance is identical to their design in Sonic Generations.