Spring

The Spring (スプリング), also referred to as the Jump Spring (ジャンプバネ) and the Springboard, is a common gimmick in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are utilized by the player to bounce the playable character in a given direction, often for the purpose of reaching otherwise unreachable places or building up huge amounts of running speed in short time.

Springs originally made their debut as simple red and yellow platforms, but have since taken on a more distinct design over the course of the Sonic series.

Description
Surmised, Spring allows the playable characters to launch themselves through midair or along the ground. Once a playable character makes contact with a Spring's surface, they are instantly flung a certain distance in the direction the Spring is facing. Because a Spring can be aimed in virtually any direction, there are no trajectory the playable characters cannot be flung along (unless something is blocking the path). The Springs are therefore very useful whenever the player needs to traverse a level. They can for example help a player across a gap, nudge the characters towards a certain spot, help the player reach places and items that are otherwise out of their reach, or take the character down a predetermined path. In fact, it is not uncommon for Springs be aligned so that the player will be send from one Spring to the next whenever the player needs to follow a path they cannot traverse on their own. The player usually has to jump onto the Spring to be launched, although they can bounce off Springs by simply touching them in later games. Since the 3D games' introduction, the Springs can also be targeted with the Homing Attack.

The control the player can exert over their flight path when sent flying by a Spring vary. In some situations, especially in the early games or when using the "classic" Springs, the playable characters can still move left or right when being bounced directly upwards by a Spring. In other situations, especially when using the "modern" Springs, the player cannot control their movements in midair at all, as the Spring manually guides the player to another section, or at least until after the player reaches the apex of their bounce. Generally speaking, the modern Springs can be aimed in any direction whereas classic Springs are limited to horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions.

In early Sonic games, Springs are presented as red or yellow disk-shaped panels with a gray-colored spring underneath them. When they later made their debut in 3D games such as Sonic Adventure, the Springs' panels were shaped more like a flat hemisphere, which have red edges and a gold star in the middle of a blue circle emblazoned on top of them and gray/red springs underneath them. As the 3D installments went on, the Spring panels became rounder in shape with blue/yellow edge lines. Only a few games, such as Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Generations, reveal that Springs have pointy ends underneath their Spring panels. Springs can also be found floating in mid-air with the aid of propellers (such as Propeller Springs) or without them. Over the course of the series, there have also been several other gimmicks based on the Springs.

In the early installments, red Springs propel the player a high distance into the air, while yellow ones only send the playable character a medium to low distance. Some Springs are also hidden beneath a surface and will only appear when the character moves over them. Springs are usually aligned horizontally, vertically or diagonally. While the player can get launched into mid-air by vertical and diagonal Springs, horizontal types bounces the player backwards, thereby giving them extra running speed. Certain sections of the Zones can also have pits of Springs or corridors with diagonal pointing Springs. Some Springs can also have floating strings of Rings along the paths they send the playable characters.

There are Zones like Spring Yard Zone and Spring Stadium Zone that feature Springs as the main gimmicks. Some enemies throughout the Sonic series also use Springs to defend themselves.

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)
The Springs first appeared in the 16-bit of Sonic the Hedgehog, where they are referred to as both Springs and Springboards. The game introduced two basic variations of these "classic" Springs: Yellow Springs which only bounce the player a small distance into midair, and red Springs which bounce the player higher into midair than yellow Springs. These Springs are also only horizontally and vertically aligned.

Throughout the game's Zones, the Springs have special roles; in Green Hill Zone some of the Springs are hidden on top of palm trees, while in the Spring Yard Zone they are a part of the pseudo-pinball sections. Also, in the Labyrinth Zone, Springs can send the player even higher if the player bounces on them underwater.

Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
The 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog features both variants of the classic Springs that appeared in the game's 16-bit counterpart. Also, in this game, the Springs are referred to as Springboards. The game also exclusively present three variants of Springs in the game's Special Stages, each of which let Sonic bounce a different height: green Springs bounces the highest, yellow Springs medium heights, and purple Springs the lowest of all three.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)
In the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Springs retain their classic design. In gameplay, they are aligned both horizontally and vertically. Additionally, the game introduces for the first time diagonally aligned Springs which let the player bounce diagonally into the air, and Springs hidden in the ground.

Like in the previous game, many of the game's Zones make their own use of the Springs and their mechanics. When the playable characters exits a high-speed warp tube in Chemical Plant Zone, the tube's cover shuts down and protrudes a small red Spring. There are also Jump Panels and Spring Catapults in Casino Night Zone and steam pipes in Metropolis Zone, all of which function similarly to the Springs by sending the player flying through the air.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)
In the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Springs retain their classic design. They are also either horizontally, vertically or diagonally aligned. Due to the palette limitations in the game however, the game only has regular Springs which come in multiple colors, such as yellow, green, pink and gray.

SegaSonic the Hedgehog
In SegaSonic the Hedgehog, the Springs forego their classic design. Instead, they are designed as horizontally aligned Springs with square orange panels. In this game, they only appear in Icy Isle.

In gameplay, Icy Isle has pathways where the walls are lined with Springs. If the player touches these Springs, the playable character will be bounced back a small distance.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, horizontally, vertically and diagonally aligned red and yellow Springs appear. Noticeably, when bouncing on a vertical Spring, the playable character will twirl around himself in midair. Horizontal Springs can also be useful for time travelling, especially when there are two Springs pointing towards each other. Palmtree Panic and Metallic Madness also feature unique red Springs attached to small wheels which move back and forth, usually in sections with holes in the roofs.

Collision Chaos has arenas of full of vertical Springs, and certain horizontal Springs will pop up from behind to give the playable character an extra boost of speed on steep ramps. Red Springs (called as Spring Blocks ) also appear in several Special Stages.

Sonic Chaos
In Sonic Chaos, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, vertically aligned yellow and red Springs are usually hidden underground. Only the red Springs are aligned horizontally, though vertically and diagonally aligned Springs appear in the Special Stages as well.

Sonic Chaos introduces the Pogo Spring power-up that equips the player with a movable Spring to bounce with. Enemies like the Bane Motora, Frogger or the Great Bane Motora Gold also have Springs equipped for their own use, usually for defense.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, the Springs feature their classic design. In this game, yellow and red Springs are horizontally, vertically and diagonally aligned, whereas vertical Springs can be hidden underground or inside breakable obstacles.

In the Gumball Machine version of the Bonus Stages, red Springs on the bottom of the corridor disappear after being used once, but reappear after collecting green Gumballs. For the Competition mode, red Springs appear inside floating bubbles along the course. Tagging this bubbled item will make a Spring drop onto the course to catapult careless runners off their course.

Like in previous games, these titles use the Springs and their mechanics in different way for certain Zones. One section of Sky Sanctuary Zone for example have Springs that come out of the ground to bounce the player back down the path they just came running down of; these Springs later reappear in Death Egg Zone.

Sonic Drift
In Sonic Drift, the Springs retain their classic design and are all colored yellow. This particular gimmick is also referred to as the Jump Spring (ジャンプバネ).

In gameplay, the Springs appear on the racing courses and will send the user spinning forward through the air for few seconds, allowing them to pass over opponents and increase their speed a bit. In addition, they nullify any power-up the user may have in effect at the moment.

Sonic Drift 2
In Sonic Drift 2, the Springs retain their classic design and are all colored red. Additionally, this gimmick is renamed the Spring (ジャンプバネ) this time around.

In gameplay, the Springs appear on the racing courses and function basically like they did in the previous title: they send the user flying through the air for a few seconds while nullifying any power-up that might be in effect at the moment. There is also the Jump power-up which lets the playable characters launch themselves through the air like the Springs.

Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
In Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, vertically aligned yellow and red Springs are almost always hidden underground, while horizontally and diagonally aligned Springs appear normally. The Pogo Spring power-up also makes a return.

In addition to the game's normal Zones, Springs also appear in the game's Special Stages. The sea turtle Badniks in Great Turquoise Zone likewise have Springs on their backs. Additionally, there is the Flying Spin Attack which both Sonic and Tails can perform after they get bounced into midair by Springs.

Knuckles' Chaotix
In Knuckles' Chaotix, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, horizontally, vertically and diagonally aligned Springs are featured regularly. In addition to the red and yellow Springs, this game also presents blue Springs which grant bounces even higher than those the red ones permit. Using Springs in this game can be difficult, however, due to the Ring Power, but it is possible to carry the Combi partner to make the usage of them easier.

In the game's Bonus Stages, red and yellow Springs are set on cubic blocks. Each time these Springs are hit (which result in the playable character being bounced upward), they crack, and after three hits, the blocks become broken, rendering the Springs unusable.

Tails Adventure
In Tails Adventure, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, stages such as Poloy's Forest, Cavern Island and Green Island feature blue Springs which the player can use to backtrack in the stage. Tails can also push these Springs along the ground in any direction to determine the location of the bounce.

Sonic 3D Blast
In Sonic 3D Blast, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, the typical Springs are all red and usually come in two types. The single types are placed under floating Sonic Medals, though the player sometimes must have Flickies to reach some of these medals. The other type of Springs are hidden underground and appear most commonly in Spring Stadium Zone.

Diamond Dust Zone contains rare, horizontal blue Springs on the walls that can send Sonic into a backwards roll. The Zone also has red Springs that are covered in snow drifts that must be broken to reveal said Springs. In the Sega Saturn version of Sonic 3D Blast, there are also pair of red Springs along the half-pipe routes of the Special Stages. These red Springs let the player bounce into the midair to catch Rings or reach higher platform routes.

Sonic Blast
In Sonic Blast, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, the Springs are all red and are all notably smaller. In gameplay, they appear in both the regular Zones and the Special Stages.

Sonic Jam
In Sonic Jam, the Spring retain their overall classic design and possess a red color scheme. However, for the first time in the Sonic series, the Springs' panels are emblazoned with a gold star in the middle of a blue circle. This design would become a mainstay for the Springs in future games.

In gameplay, the Springs only appear in Sonic World, which has two Springs that sent the player into midair.

Sonic R
In Sonic R, the Springs retain their classic design. In this game, red Springs appear in Regal Ruin and Reactive Factory where they help the player reach the other side of local pits or scale hills and cliffs.

Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure and its later iteration Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, the Springs were redesigned again, giving them their modern design for the first time. This design is used for every Spring in the game. They were also renamed "Spring Bumpers".

In this game, the Springs appear as common gimmicks in the Action Stages. Also, in gameplay, the Springs can shoot the player in any direction, unlike earlier Springs, which can only be aimed in certain directions. However, the player cannot control their movements in midair when they are sent flying by a Spring in this game, as they manually guide the player to another section.

In addition to Springs, Sonic Adventure introduces the uncommon Wide Spring which is a gimmick where three Springs are aligned next to each other.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, the Springs were given their classic design. In this game, yellow and red Springs reappear, all of which are aligned either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Some Spring-based gimmicks from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 also appear, including Jump Panels and Spring Catapults.

Sonic Shuffle
In Sonic Shuffle, the Springs were given their modern design. In this game, Springs appear if the player lands on a Jump Space on a Board. Using this Spring will bounce the playable character to another Space on the board.

The VS 4 Mini-Game, Sonic Tag, also features Springs, which appear in two corners. Hitting one of these Springs will bounce the characters to the top of the Mini-Game's pyramid.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2, the Springs were given their modern design, though this game's particular design also includes two blue lines along the Springs' edges. In gameplay, they also work similarly to how they did in Sonic Adventure.

In this game, the player is introduced to another variant of the Spring: the Propeller Springs. Additionally, there are the Spring Beetle enemies with Springs attached to them which make them virtually invulnerable. By using Mystic Melody, the player can also summon Springs on top of or near Ancient Ruins.

In the unlockable Green Hill stage, Springs have their original sound effect from the original Sonic the Hedgehog when the player bounces on them.

Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Advance, the Springs boast a distinguished design. These Springs have panels similar to the classic Springs', except these have more outward-pointed edges. They also have the bumper's symbol emblazoned on top of them.

In this game, horizontally, vertically and diagonally aligned red and yellow Springs appear. The yellow Springs in particular cannot launch the player as high up as the red Springs, like in earlier games. Also, the player has to leap onto the broad side of the Springs in order to use them.

Hitting a Spring with a Hammer Attack in this game will result in the playable character being catapulted higher than the Springs are normally capable of. This game also introduces the Special Springs which let the player enter Special Stages.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Advance 2, the Springs boast another distinguished design. These Springs have panels with sharp edges and the bumper's symbol emblazoned on top of them.

In this game, horizontally, vertically and diagonally aligned red Springs primarily appear. Also, in gameplay, unlike the Springs in Sonic Advance, the player can use the Springs by simply running into them. Also, when setting off from Springs, the player can pull off Mid-Air Trick Actions. In addition, like in Sonic Advance, hitting a Spring with a Hammer Attack will result in the playable character being catapulted higher than the Springs are normally capable of.

Exclusive to Sonic Advance 2 are dark blue Springs that let the player bounce higher by pressing and then releasing it as the playable characters jumps. Music Plant also has Hi-hats which work much like Springs. Also, in mini-game of Chao Garden, Cream uses a mobile Spring on wheels to bounce Cheese into midair so it can gather Rings.

Sonic Adventure 3
In Sonic Advance 3, the Springs underwent another redesign. This time around, the Springs have thick panels with soft edges and the bumper's symbol emblazoned on top of them.

In this game, only horizontally, vertically and diagonally aligned red Springs appear. Additionally, in gameplay, the player can simply run into Springs in order to use them, like in Sonic Advance 2. Also, the player can execute Mid-Air Trick Actions when they set off from Springs. In addition, like in Sonic Advance, hitting a Spring with a Hammer Attack will result in the playable character being catapulted higher than the Springs are normally capable of.

Besides the regular Springs, the game also features the Special Springs which let the player enter Special Stages. Exclusively to this game are also special flatten Springs that only become usable for a short time by pressing a nearby Switch. Also, in the mini-game of Chao Garden, Cream uses a mobile Spring on wheels to bounce Cheese into midair so it can gather Rings.

Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the Springs possess their modern design, although their design is more bulky this time around.

In this game, regular Springs do not appear as often as the Wide Springs due the gameplay involving team mechanic, and are usually found in or locked inside Cases which can be opened after defeating the enemies surrounding them.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Springs are given a redesign that fits the game's dark atmosphere. Being based on the modern design for Springs, they are tinted with a darker shade of red and slight rust, and have a green-glowing center on top of them. Despite the altered look though, the Springs function just like they did in Sonic Heroes.

Sonic Rush series
In both Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, the Spring is a common and often vital objects. In these games, the Spring is given a slightly rounder shape. They are usually aligned either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, though many of them are mostly set in tight roof corners.

When the player is sent into the air by Springs in these games, the player can perform Trick Actions to gain points and charge the Tension Gauge. Night Carnival in Sonic Rush also features blue Springs, which give automatically 200 points, and Spring blocks, which can be charged by pressing down the D-pad and releasing it at the right time for extra airtime.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Springs have been given a slightly more detailed appearance, and are normally aligned vertically or diagonally. Like in Sonic Heroes, some of the regular Springs are locked in cases that can be opened after defeating all of the enemies surrounding it.

Sonic Rivals series
In both Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2, the Springs are given a new look, having been redesigned as flat white plates with a red top, a yellow circle in the middle and a blue star at the center. Otherwise, they function like in previous games. All of the Springs are aligned either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Sonic Storybook series
In Sonic and the Secret Rings, Springs are usually featured at end of rail sections and walls, where they are given a look befitting the World of the Arabian Nights. Springs along with Wide Springs, also appear at few occasional cases in Sonic and the Black Knight, particularly in the Legacy missions, but are otherwise replaced by blue fairies.

Super Smash Bros. series
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Spring is a part of Sonic's moveset. In these games, the Spring's design mixes the shape of the regular red Springs from early games with their distinct patterns from the 3D games.

When performing Sonic's Up+Special move called Spring Jump, by pressing up and, a Spring immediately appears underneath Sonic and shoots him up a great vertical distance. When Sonic summons it for himself however, the Spring can also be used by other characters before it disappears.

Sega Superstars Tennis
In Sega Superstars Tennis, Springs can be seen in the background of the Green Hill tennis court.

Sonic Unleashed
In Sonic Unleashed, regular Springs are referred to as Springboards on the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of the game. In this game, the Springs' panel design is more round and has a yellow line around the edge. Certain Springs also have white bases under said panel.

Springs are usually placed to send Sonic to another pathway or section of the stage. The game also introduces several new variants of the regular Spring: Trap Springs which are meant to knock the player off-course, Thorn Springs which can damage the player if they touch it at the wrong time, Springs which float in midair thanks to propellers on their bottom, and blue springs which initiate a Real-Time Interaction when the player bounces off them.

Two Egg Fighter varieties in the game come equipped with Springs for protection: the Egg Fighter: Knight and Egg Fighter: Shield, each of which wields a shield equipped with a Spring to repel Sonic.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
In Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Whale Lagoon race course has horizontally placed Springs on the wall. If the racer drives way close to the wall, he/she will be bounced toward the right side of the race track.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
In all the episodes of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, the regular red Springs are a commonly featured gimmicks, where they are aligned either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Like in the 3D games, Sonic is able to target the Springs with the Homing Attack.

In all the episodes, Springs are usually located close to a string of Bubbles line for midair traversing. Like in earlier games, the Springs and their mechanics are also used in different ways in certain Zones: Sylvania Castle Zone features floating platforms in the water sections called Flip Platforms, which the player can use the Homing Attack on to reveal a Spring on their bottom, and White Park Zone Act 2 has Springs that bounce the player between routes that run parallel to each other.

Sonic Colors
Springs appear in both the Wii and Nintendo DS versions of Sonic Colors, along with Trap Springs and Wide Springs, which also have a new yellow variant being around in accordance to the player's movements. The Nintendo DS version of the game only features regular red Springs like those in the Sonic Rush games which are aligned either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Sonic Generations
In both the console/PC and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, the first Act of all the Stages feature only the original yellow and red Springs from the earlier games (with all of their mechanics intact), while the second Act of the Stages only feature the standard modernized Springs from the recent games.

While mostly faithful to their original setting, some of the Springs in the first Act of the Stages are exclusively floating in midair, revealing a pointy head on the bottom. The game also include many Spring-related gimmicks from the entire series, such as Jump Panels, Wide Springs, Propeller Springs and Trap Springs.

Sonic Jump games
In the original Sonic Jump and Sonic Jump 2, vertically pointing Springs come in both yellow and red variants. However in Sonic Jump (2012) and Sonic Jump Fever, all vertical Springs are red.

Sonic Dash
In Sonic Dash, Springs are used by the player to mark the transition between the sections of the running sections. They will also initiate a banking procedure whenever they are used. They are located in rows of three at the end of the routes, with a floating icon above each of them which mark a special feature they grant:
 * Ring icon: Let the player earn Rings while they are sent flying,
 * Shuttle loop icon: Has the player enter a small do-or-die Real-Time Interaction
 * Whale statue icon: Sends the player from the grass route to the stoned bridge of Seaside Hill
 * Totem pole icon: brings the player back to the grassy route.

Sonic Lost World
In Sonic Lost World, Springs come in three different types. The regular and medium sized Springs are common gimmicks used for simple transport, and then there are extremely large Springs which are used to move from one section of the Zone to another. The game also has the original yellow and red Springs from the earlier games which may also be hidden underground or in walls.

Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, Springs come in two types. There are the regular Springs which are larger than normal and aligned either vertically or diagonally, and then there are the Support Springs/Spring Platforms. The latter is a booster-class item that the player can either obtain from an Item Box marked with a Spring icon in the Stages or equip beforehand for 1,000 Rings, which sets up which sets up a string of Springs across bottomless pits temporarily to prevent the player from falling into them.

Sonic Runners Adventure
In Sonic Runners Adventure, the Springs are referred to as Jump Springs.

Sonic Mania
Springs with classic yellow and red plates make an appearance in Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, as main objects. Placed horizontally, vertically or diagonally aligned, Springs function closely the same as in early games for the Sega Genesis.

Many Spring based gimmicks and variants from previous games make an appearance in their exclusive Zones, including Jump Panels, Spring plates of high-speed warp tubes, bouncing Capsule switches of Flying Battery Zone, floating Spring launchers of Stardust Speedway Zone, depressible green Springs of Oil Ocean Zone, Springs on wheels of Metallic Madness Zone, and bumper walls, which all function the same way like in previous games. Flying Battery Zone also features flipping, orange Springs that function like red Springs, much like in Sonic & Knuckles. A new variants called Ice Springs are introduced in Press Garden Zone Act 2 as well.

Sonic Forces
Springs made an appearance in Sonic Forces. In Modern Sonic's levels, they retain their modernized design from recent games, while Classic Sonic's stages feature the classic yellow-and-red variants from the 16-bit entries, which, unlike in Sonic Generations and similar to the classic games, work only when the player jumps onto it.

Blue spring
Blue springs are a variant of Springs that only appear in Sonic Unleashed. They look almost the same as regular Springs, but are blue instead of red. When the player gets bounced of one of these Springs, the player automatically enters a Real-Time Interaction that must be completed to make the bounce perfect or risk a premature fall.

Color Panel
The Color Panel is a type of Spring that only appear in two of the Stages in Shadow the Hedgehog. The Data Spring is similar to the regular Spring, but only appear in data worlds, such as Digital Circuit and Mad Matrix.

Ice Spring
Ice Springs are variants of Springs that are exclusive to Press Garden Zone Act 2. Usually found inside breakable ice cubes, these light blue Springs act like the yellow ones, but after they are used they get evaporated and cannot be used again. They first appear in Sonic Mania.

Jump Panel
The Jump Panel is a variation of the Springs, that first appeared in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. When running into the Jump Panel, the player is sends flying straight ahead without having to stop.

Pogo Spring
Pogo Spring is a power-up that appeared in Sonic Chaos and Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble. It allows the player to move around with a Spring equipped to the playable character's feet and use it to reach higher levels. Once the player bounces higher and jumps off the Pogo Spring, they will lose it.

Propeller Spring
The Propeller Springs first debuted in Sonic Adventure 2 and have been later featured in a few current games. Propeller Springs can raise themselves higher into the air if the player continuously uses the Homing Attack on its Spring.

Special Spring
Special Springs appear in both Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 3. These springs are slightly bigger and used to get to the Special Stage. In Sonic Advance they are hidden in one of the Acts in each Zone except for Ice Mountain Zone which have Special Spring hidden in both Acts. In Sonic Advance 3, the player needs to find ten hidden Chao per Zone to unlock the Special Key which will activate the Special Spring and allow entrance to the Special Stage.

Spring Catapult
The Spring Catapults first appeared in Casino Night Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. For these gimmicks, the player has to hold down the button to load the Spring Catapult to launch the player into the pinball sections.

Spring Pole
The Spring Poles first appear in Sonic the Hedgehog CD as minor gimmicks, but became more common objects since Sonic Advance. Spring Poles are flexible bars, usually hanging on walls and the player can launch themselves higher into the air by bouncing on them or gain an extra air boost. Sometimes, the player has to bounce multiple times on them to reach the desired destination.

Thorn Spring
The Thorn Springs are dangerous Springs that first appeared in Sonic and the Secret Rings. These Springs have spikes on their bottom and flip around in intervals. They will thus harm the player should they dare to touch it while their spikes are up.

Trap Spring
Trap Springs are type of Springs that debuted in Sonic Unleashed. Trap Springs have an angular square shape with the Eggmanland symbol on their panel. These Springs are located in place where, should the player hit them, they will bounce the player backwards or off-course. It plays a short, high-pitched laugh after hitting it.

Wide Spring
Wide Springs, also known as Long Springs, debuted in Sonic Adventure and have been featured in almost every 3D games since then. As the name says, it features three bumper-based Springs side by side on a panel. Wide Springs are easier to connect with during fast-paced gameplay and bounces the player straight upward.

The Wii version of Sonic Colors later featured a yellow variant of the Wide Spring with three-setter Springs. Like yellow Springs in the first games, these yellow Wide Springs bounces the player less higher than the red ones. After touching it, it starts auto-scrolling to the right and the player usually has to balance on it.

Sonic the Comic
In Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, Springs are positioned all around the Mobius and like in games, the user can archive incredible heights by using them. They only appeared in the early stories of the series and are shown with a different color scheme each time. One time, Sonic and Amy used a Hyper-Spring to get to the Floating Island.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
In the episode Tails Prevails of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, a grey Spring can be seen activated by Doctor Robotnik, who used it to Scratch and Grounder after telling him about Tails having knowledge of machinery. The Spring bounces them to the roof where they get trapped because of the magnet.

Sonic the Hedgehog the Movie
In Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie, a single Spring appears briefly. As Sonic and Tails headed for Robotropolis, Sonic at one point used a green Spring to scale a vertical cliff.

Sonic X
In the anime series Sonic X, a giant Spring with Eggman's face on it appeared in "Chaos Control Freaks" as one of the traps surrounding Dr. Eggman's fortress. Sonic accidentally triggered it when invading Eggman's fortress which sent him miles away.

Trivia

 * In the 8-bit games, most of the Springs are actually drawn in the level layout itself instead of being sprites because of the low sprite limit of the Sega Master System and the Sega Game Gear; because of this, they are not animated unlike their 16-bit counterparts. Furthermore, their color is likely to change according to the palette of the level they are placed in (for example, the Springs in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)'s Under Ground Zone are gray, while the ones in Sky High Zone are green). However, despite the sprite limit, in Sonic Chaos and Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble a Spring object exists. These Spring objects are normally invisible, hidden in the ground or on the top of a palm tree or other scenery elements, and they pop up, complete with the springing animation, when the playable character comes in contact with them. Due to the high number of color variations, the springs pictured below do not cover all the kinds existing in the 8-bit games.
 * In the world of Sonic the Hedgehog, Springs are not mentioned in the storylines, but they are featured as devices created by humans and has advertising. As an example in City Escape of Sonic Adventure 2, there's a posters which advertise an event, "Spring Festival".
 * A leftover model of the Spring from Sonic Jam can be found in data of Sonic Adventure.
 * When using the Spring in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the character will bounce but the Spring won't move, or doesn't bounce the player but instead repeats its animation.
 * In the Adventure mode of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Sonic has the ability to use Springs, although Mario cannot.
 * In an early screenshot of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), anyone can notice that the concept design of the Spring is the same as in Sonic Heroes.
 * Springs made a cameo appearance in Samba De Amigo for the Wii, but they are different looking. The top is made of two parts which are held together by a metal clasp.
 * In episode 23 of the Digimon Adventure anime, the sound effect for the regular Spring can be heard, when Digitamamon raises one eyebrow.