Case

The Case, or Cage, is a reoccurring gimmick in the Sonic the Hedgehog series that first appeared in Sonic Heroes. It is a variant of the Containers meant to hold objects that will be isolated from the player. By meeting certain criteria though, the player can open them and access the objects they hold.

Description
The Case is a cube-shaped container built with highly advanced technology. However, the Case's design is often inconsistent, differing between games. Its purpose is hold objects within them that the player can or must use or are going after, such as Item Boxes, Springs and even enemies. In most cases, it is obligatory for the player to get to the Cases' contents, though there are also times where opening them is optional.

The Cases are always locked when first encountered and are impervious to attacks from both playable characters and enemies alike, meaning they cannot be forced open by any means. To open them, the player either has to destroy surrounding enemies or obtain a key.

Sonic Heroes
Case first appeared was in ''Sonic Heroes. ''In this game there are two different types of Cages. The most common one is the big iron container, from the below of the cage there is an oblong attached with columns that surrounds the contained object in square form and the columns are attached to a big oblong from the top. When they are activated, they will rise down leaving the player to collect or use the objects that they are guarding. Those cages can be seen containing Goal Rings, Chao, Power up item, Warp Flower, Power cores and switches too. The other type is an dynamite-like object that is usually seen to be attached to a rising platform that cannot be activated until destroying this object, sometimes they can also be seen attached to an electronic road that the player must destroy the robots that are controlling this cage to destroy the cage and activate the road. Sometimes they can control the Spinning Platforms that helps the player reach higher areas. This dynamite- like objects can only be seen in Grand Metropolis and Power Plant stages, but the iron containers can be seen in almost every stage in the game.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, this gimmick has been changed slightly and there are new types of Cages that are red shinning hourglass-like container that can be considered as one of Black Arms inventions, and there are also the regular types that are look like the Cases that appeared in Sonic Heroes, but are green with GUN symbols in the below and the top of the Case. Like the previous game, those cages can only be opened by destroying enemies or finding a switch.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic 06, there are one types of the Cases that are small cubic containers built from blue lasers that surround the contained object, with 4 red line that look like the ribe of a cube. They are usually used for guarding a switch that can turn off lasers and also open doors. Like the previous games, those cages can only be opened by destroying enemies or finding a switch. It should be noted that the player can use the objects that are in the Case by using the Chaos Snap without opening the Case.

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, this gimmick is only appeared in Challenge Acts and they have the same design that appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). They can be used for reaching areas and can be seen sometimes guarding objects and the player has to find the correct switches to open the Cases or defeating enemies to open them.