Dash Panel

Dash Panels (ダッシュパネル), also called as Dash Zones (ダッシュゾーン), Dash Pads and Boosters, are gimmicks that appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are panels that allow the player to reach top running speed. Dash Panels are usually placed in the high-speed sections of the Zones, and are even used to change the player's direction immediately.

The Dash Panels appeared as early as in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but it was not until Sonic Adventure that they became a frequently featured object in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series.

Description
The Dash Panels' primary function is to send the playable character forward with a burst of speed that exceeds the speed of sound. As soon as the playable characters touch a Dash Panel, they will automatically initiate a running dash away from the Dash Panel at their maximum running speed. However, Dash Panels can in most cases only launch the playable characters in one direction.

Dash Panels are always placed on solid surfaces and are usually used to help the player move through sections and across gimmicks where high-speed momentum is needed. As such, they are commonly placed on steep uphills, close to loops, runnable walls and ceilings, or just on straight paths. In some games, however, Dash Panels can be placed in locations that make it impossible for the player to backtrack in the levels. In some of the 3D games, Dash Panels can be placed in their own individual location, but there are also cases where they are lined up so they cover the whole width of the pathway. Overall, it all comes down to the scope of the route.

While usually used to reach maximum running speed, Dash Panels also serve in many automated sections of the levels to guide the playable character down certain pathways by shooting them in the right direction. Also, in several games, using the Dash Panel can make the playable character automatically use the Spin Attack when touching it.

The appearance of the Dash Panels have been changed frequently over the course of the series. In the first games, they were booster mechanisms, which are referred to as Boosters. These devices have lines of endlessly running wheels that push the playable character forward when they run in-between them. This design has appeared in several early (or classic) games such as Sonic Chaos and Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble. In several early games, their design were also changed somewhat for each Zone to fit their environment and could even function differently.

While a more flat panel design was introduced in Sonic Blast, it was not until in Sonic Adventure that they were redesigned as flat plates with endless moving treadmills on them, which were named Dash Panels. This design for the Dash Panel usually have a yellow, red and gray color scheme with arrows on their running treadmill parts, and is mainly reserved for the modern games. Since Sonic the Hedgehog 4 though, the Booster design from early games has been reused in modern games such as Sonic Lost World and Sonic Forces.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
The Dash Panels/Boosters were first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Here, two types of it are introduced.

The first and most basic type of the Dash Panels appear in Chemical Plant Zone, where they feature the Booster design. These Boosters are larger than the playable characters. They consist of a pair of spinning black wheels and have a glittering arrow on them. These gimmicks are placed in the more fast-paced and linear parts of the Zone.

The second type of Dash panels resemble plane launchers and appear in Wing Fortress Zone. These pads launch the player far into the air while propelling them forward. Pressing down on when the playable character is fired away, however, will minimize the distance the player is thrown. When the player is standing on these pads, they can jump off them as well. After being used, these pads will hover back to their standard position.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Dash Panels only appear in Stardust Speedway. Here, they resemble grey protrusions from the ground. When using these Dash Panels, the playable characters will create flame-like trails behind them as they shoot forward. Strangely, these Dash Panels disperse shell casings when used. As a rare exception, these Dash Panels can also propel the users forward in both the left and right direction. They are also good to use on linear sections when attempting to use the Time Warp Plates.

In the Special Stages, there are two types of plates with flashing arrows on them called Dash Zones ダッシュゾーン (Dasshu Zōn). Regular Dash Zones are medium-sized, while Mini Dash Zones (ミニダッシュゾーン) are smaller. Otherwise, they work like regular Dash Panels. However, they make navigating the Special Stages harder.

Sonic Chaos
In Sonic Chaos, the Dash Panels resemble those from the Chemical Plant Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, giving them the Booster design. In this game, their color scheme differs between each Zone due to palette limitations. They also make the playable character use the Spin Attack upon using then. In this game, the Boosters appear in the more linear sections of Sleeping Egg Zone, Aqua Planet Zone and Electric Egg Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles and the lock-on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, the Dash Panels' appearance and mechanics change according to each Zone.

In Hydrocity Zone, the Dash Panels are revolvers hidden underneath the ground that have hand-shaped attachments on them. When the player gets caught by the Dash Panels' hand, the revolver loads the player and sends them forward at high speed. The player can also use them to move through corkscrew loops easily.

In Carnival Night Zone, there are similar-looking side dash tunnels which magnetically warp the player through them. As a side-effect, the player cannot backtrack through such tunnels. More basic Dash Panels also appear in Launch Base Zone which launch the player forward with a segmented pole that is raised up from underground.

In Flying Battery Zone and Death Egg Zone, there are plane launchers similar to those in Wing Fortress Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. They function like those in Wing Fortress Zone, but their design slightly varies and they do not lift Sonic off the ground.

Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
In Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, the Dash Panels have the same design as in Sonic Chaos, giving them the Booster design. Unlike those in Sonic Chaos, however, these Boosters do not force the playable character to use the Spin Attack and they only give a small speed boost. They generally appear in Meta Junglira Zone where they have a wooden look, and rarely in Atomic Destroyer Zone.

Sonic 3D Blast
In Sonic 3D Blast, the Dash Panels have a different design and functionality. Here, they are at first a plate with arrows, but when Sonic stands on them, a blue wheel will appear behind him and rev him up as he Spin Dashes, before launching him forward.

In this game, the Dash Panels are generally used to automatically travel between the sections of a Zone, or to travel uphill. Also, in front of the Dash Panels that leads to another section are purple gates that prevent the player from passing through them unless they use the Dash Panels.

The player is unable to backtrack down the same path used by the Dash Panels, but they can use alternate paths to return to previous sections. In the Sega Saturn version of the game, the Special Stages also have red gates which can lead Sonic through strings of Rings with a speed boost, similar to the Dash Panels.

Sonic Blast
In Sonic Blast, the Special Stages have more panel-like Dash Panels, giving them the appearance of the modern Dash Poanel. In this game, they are flat and blue with yellow arrows on their running treadmills. They are usually placed in front of strings of Rings to make it easier for the player to collect said Rings with the speed boost they give (which lasts for a few seconds).

Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, the Dash Panels appear as a main gimmick for the first time, and feature an early modern Dash Panel design. In these games, the Dash Panels are rectangular plates with a grey treadmill on them that runs endlessly, and yellow and black hazard stripes on the front and rear. They are usually set individually on narrow routes, though there can be more than two or three of them set in wider areas where momentum is needed. When used by Sonic, he can only go faster than he already is by using the Spin Dash.

Sonic Pocket Adventure
In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, there are Booster-based Dash Panels similar to those that appear in Chemical Plant Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. These Boosters only appear in Secret Plant Zone. Plane launcher-like plates also appear in Aerobase Zone which function like those in Wing Fortress Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and the remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Dash Panels still feature the modern Dash Panel design, but are more advanced-looking than in Sonic Adventure. In this game, they are still rectangular, but with wider bottom edges, and they have yellow and black hazard stripes on the sides. They also have treadmills with grey arrows and red side-edges on the front, and smaller blacks one with red arrows on the rear.

In these games, the Dash Panels are generally featured in High-Speed Action Stages and Shooting Stages. Like in Sonic Adventure, narrow sections use lone Dash Panels to provide much-needed momentums. However, several wider areas utilize larger lines of Dash Panels than in Sonic Adventure.

Sonic Advance
In Sonic Advance, the Dash Panels' design borrows mostly from their Booster design, being small yellow plates with orange running wheels on them. They also appear more often in the Acts than in most other games, a factor of which occurs in all subsequent entries in the Sonic Advance series.

Sonic Advance 2
In Sonic Advance 2, the Dash Panels look exactly like they did in Sonic Advance. Occasionally though, the Dash Panels' appearance is changed to fit a Zone's atmosphere, such as in Techno Base. In addition, when using the Dash Panel in this game, the player automatically enters Boost Mode.

Sonic Advance 3
In Sonic Advance 3, the Dash Panels look exactly like they did in Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2. Like in the previous title, their appearance might change according to their Zone's atmosphere. They also retain their Boost Mode-activating mechanic.

Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the Dash Panels have a new design that is closer to the modern Dash Panels'. In this game, they are flat, rectangular plates with a gray running treadmill on them. These treadmills have red arrows on them showcasing the direction they sent the playable character in. They also have orange frames on the sides which are extra thick on the lower sides and colored red on the bottom.

In this game, Dash Panels usually appear in rows of three and their main function is to guide the player rather than increasing their speed. Additionally, Pinball tables in Casino Park, BINGO Highway and Pinball Match have flashing neon orange arrows which function like Dash Panels. The Special Stages in the game also have different, flashing panels in rows. Due to the nature of the game, whenever the player uses a Dash Panel, their playable characters' perspective aura will appear ahead of them, similar to when using a Dash Ring.

Aside from regular Dash Panels, Sonic Heroes also introduced the Dash Rail, which are essentially Dash Panels on Grind Rails.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Dash Panels have the same design they had in Sonic Heroes, except their orange frames are duller and their bottoms are grey. Other than that, everything about them are the same as in Sonic Heroes.

Sonic Rush
In Sonic Rush, the Dash Panels returned to their Booster design. In this game, they look exactly like they did in the Sonic Advance titles. They also retain their ability to allow the player to enter Boost Mode when using them.

In the game's Special Stages, Dash Panels are used to guide the player through the lines of Rings. Also, their design in the Special Stages vaguely resemble the one in Sonic Heroes, with them being black treadmills with magenta arrows on them and red and orange-striped edges on the sides.

Sonic Rush Adventure
In Sonic Rush Adventure, the Dash Panels look and behave exactly like they did in Sonic Rush.

Sonic Riders
In Sonic Riders, the Dash Panels have their modern Dash Panel designs. In addition, they look virtually identical to how they appeared in Sonic Adventure 2. In this game, they can either be set in long rows to guide the racer and gain extra amount of boost for each participant, or individually to guide the player through narrow pathways.

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
In Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the Dash Panels retain their Dash Panel design from Sonic Riders. In gameplay, they serve the same roles as they did in the previous title as well.

Sonic Free Riders
In Sonic Free Riders, the Dash Panels' designs were once based on the modern Dash Panel. This time however, their design resemble more the one they had in Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors. In gameplay, they serve the same roles as they did in the previous Sonic Riders titles.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the Dash Panels have the same modern Dash Panel design they had in Sonic Heroes. In this game, many of them are placed by themselves rather than in rows and serve primarily to guide the player's direction. Due to the game's incomplete development, the Dash Panels can sometimes glitch, resulting in the player running into an invisible wall or steering away from strings of Rings. The Dash Panel can also glitch when using the Psycho Shock on it, delaying its speed boost until the player jumps.

When using a Dash Panel, the player will be unable to control the playable character for a short time. For Sonic and Shadow, the Dash Panels are mostly used to grant a boost of speed. In Silver's case, they are just used to direct him, since they do not work properly on him.

Sonic Rivals
In Sonic Rivals, the Dash Panels have a drastically different design in the regular Zones. In this game, they are gray treadmill panels set between two white high-tech posts, but otherwise give the Dash Panel's speed boost when passing through them. They are usually placed at wide pathways, loops and slopes.

Sonic Rivals 2
In Sonic Rivals 2, the Dash Panels look exactly like they did in Sonic Rivals. Like in Sonic Rivals, they are usually placed at wide pathways, loops and slopes.

Sonic and the Secret Rings
In Sonic and the Secret Rings, the Dash Panels' overall appearance is identical to the modern Dash Panel design featured in Sonic Heroes and Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). These Dash Panels however, are given a more yellow color scheme and artistic details to fit the local environment. Like in the previous games, they are most of the time set in rows or placed individually, depending on the route's scope.

Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, the Dash Panels' designs are derived from the modern Dash Panel design featured in Sonic Unleashed. In this game, they are encountered exclusively in the game's Legacy Missions. Like in the games before it, they appear mostly in rows, but can also appear individually, depending on the scope of the road.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, the Dash Panels are more or less designed after the modern Dash Panel. In this game, they have grey edges and black and yellow arrows on them, much like in Sonic Adventure. In gameplay, they are only encountered during the running section that occurs when the player chooses the flee option in a battle or when an opponent tries to escape a battle. During this running section, the Dash Panels will appear along the path the playable characters are running, where they increase the characters' running speed briefly, thus improving the player's chances of reaching the end of the running section or catching up to the escaping opponents.

Sonic Unleashed
In Sonic Unleashed, the Dash Panels are designed like the modern Dash Panels. They look much like they did in Sonic Heroes, except their sideframes are now red and the arrows on their treadmill are now orange. In this game, they only appear in the daytime Action Stages, where they are either placed individually in the 2.5D sections of the Acts and in rows of three-to-five in the 3D sections.

Episode I
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I (and to an extend Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal), the Dash Panels have their Booster-design from the early installments in the series. In these games, they are attachments with four rapidly spinning red-orange wheels on a gray plate that has arrows on it.

Unlike in the early games, the Boosters appear more often and are featured in every Zone. Also, like in Sonic Chaos, the Boosters make the playable character use the Spin Attack upon using them.

Episode II
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, the Dash Panels in the regular Zones retain their Booster-design from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I. They also possess the same Spin Attack-inducing mechanic they had in the previous title.

Like in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, the Boosters appear in every Zone in the game. Modern Dash Panels (which resemble those seen in Sonic Unleashed) also appear in the Special Stages. In these Stages, they are placed individually and serve to direct the player through strings of Rings.

Sonic Colors
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, the Dash Panels possess their modern Dash Panel design, which looks exactly like the one they had in Sonic Unleashed. In this version of the game, they are placed individually in the 2.5D sections of the Acts and in long rows in the 3D sections.

In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, the Dash Panels possess their Booster design, which looks more like the one they had did in the Sonic Rush games. In this version of the game, like in Sonic Advance 2-3 and the Sonic Rush titles, using these Dash Panels makes the player enter Boost Mode.

Sonic Generations
In both versions of Sonic Generations, the Dash Panels come in two different designs. However, they both function in the same way. Act 1 of each Stage feature the original Boosters from earlier games; these devices consist of rapidly spinning black wheels on red and black platforms. Act 2 of each Stage on the other hand feature the modern Dash Panels; these devices look like the Dash Panels in Sonic Unleashed.

When using the Dash Panels in the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, both Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic will automatically use their Spin Attack, much like in Sonic Chaos. On the console/PC versions of the game however, only Modern Sonic will use the Spin Attack (albeit briefly) whenever he runs over a Dash Panel at certain speeds.

In the console/PC version of the game, the Boosters also have their own trophy in the hidden Statue Room.

Sonic Dash
In Sonic Dash, the Dash Panels serve as minor objects when the player enters the Loop-de-loop section. In this game, they are somewhat different with simple red and black colored panels with blue arrows on the treadmills. They are used to give small amount of increased speed when the player enters the shuttle loop or corkscrew loop in their sections. They also make the playable character perform the Spin Attack automatically.

Sonic Lost World
In both versions of Sonic Lost World, the Dash Panels have the original Booster-design from the early installments of the series. This time around, they look identical to the Boosters seen in Sonic Generations. However, their placements within the Zones are somewhat unusual, as they can be placed on narrow steep roads or inside tubular pipes.

Like in previous games, rows of three or five Boosters appear in the 3D sections of the game for the sake of giving the player a boost of speed, while other are placed individually to guide the player. Along with the Spin Dash, the Boosters are the only way for Sonic to reach maximum running speed.

Sonic Mania
The Boosters make a reappearance in Sonic Mania.

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle
In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, Dash Panels are randomly placed in certain areas on the tracks.

Sonic Forces
In Sonic Forces, the Boosters are featured as a main gimmick. In this game, they have their original Booster design from earlier games, with rapidly spinning black wheels on red and black platforms with arrow-marked treadmills running along them.

Accelerators
Accelerators are objects in Sonic R that serve as the game's counterpart for the Dash Panels. The more Rings the player has when passing through them, the further distance will the Accelerator send the player. To use it, the player must pay up to fifty Rings.

Jump Panel
Jump Panels were first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but it was not until Sonic Adventure that they took up the properties of the Dash Panels. Unlike the Dash Panels which send the player into a dash along the ground, these panels sends the player flying into mid-air, usually to get to the other side of gaps. Since Sonic Adventure 2, they have branched into two types; regular and Trick Jump Panels.

Dash Ring
Dash Rings are another version of the Dash Panels which were first introduced in Sonic Adventure. When passing through these rings, the player's character is send flying the direction the Dash Ring is facing while giving a small boost in speed. Early on, they were designed as high-tech rings, but later became more generic orange rings. Since Sonic Heroes, Dash Rings also come in a different variant called Rainbow Rings.

Dash Rail
Dash Rails are another variant of the regular Dash Panels introduced in Sonic Heroes. They function similarly to their ground counterparts, but are meant to boost the users' speed when grinding on Grind Rails.

Blue Fairies
Blue Fairies are one of four different types of Fairies that appear in Sonic and the Black Knight. In the game, they hover in clusters and function like a Dash Panel when touching them, increasing the playable character's running speed and sending him/her running in a linear direction. Like regular Dash Panels, they are placed in different sizes of rows. They can also send the playable character zooming up and down in midair, similar to a Spring.

Triple Dash Pads
Triple Dash Pads are a variant of regular Dash Panels that appear in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle. They appear as slightly larger Dash Panels with a light blue ring vertically surrounding them. When passed through, they will give the user a short boost of speed and a colorful aura. The amount of speed given increases for each consecutive Triple Dash Pad that is passed through by the player. The first aura is colored cyan, followed by yellow, and finally purple, which represents the greatest amount of speed which can be reached by using them.

Trivia

 * One of major criticisms of Dash Panels from the community over the years have been the object's unfitting placements or the over usability of them in many games. Notable this has been part of the explanation, where the game has claimed to become more heavily scripted and giving no possibility to backtrack or doing exploration.
 * Sonic Pinball Party features the Dash Panel briefly as part of the plunger in each Sonic-themed pinball table of the game.
 * In the PlayStation 2/Wii version of Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Generations, when Sonic runs past a Dash Panel while using the Boost, Sonic will do a Spin Dash animation.