Boost

The Sonic Boost (ソニックブースト) is a move used by Sonic the Hedgehog, mainly in the games Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations (Modern Sonic).

This move first appeared in Sonic Heroes, in the special stages where it can be used by all playable characters. It was since developed in Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, starting with the Super Boost and Fire Boost. With the release of Sonic Unleashed, it has become one of Sonic's signature techniques. It is a move where the user accelerates to high speeds, turning themselves into destructive projectiles.

Super Boost (Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure)
The Super Boost is a move utilized by Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure) and serves as the foundation of the Sonic Boost as such it can only be started on the ground but will carry on into the air. In order to perform the Super Boost, the player has to fill the Tension Gauge by performing tricks or defeat enemies. The technique can then be activated by holding the X or Y button while on the ground. When the Tension Gauge has at least a little bit of energy, Sonic is enveloped in a blue and white aura and can rush forward and plow through enemies while depleting the Tension Gauge. Once the Tension Gauge is maximally filled, the Super Boost can be used indefinitely for a limited time.

Sonic Unleashed
The Sonic Boost officially appeared in Sonic Unleashed. To perform the Sonic Boost, the player has to fill the Boost Bar in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The bar can be filled by collecting rings, performing the Sonic Drift, or stringing together tricks and attacks (Wii/PS2 versions only). While performing the Sonic Boost, Sonic gains limited invincibility and increased speed, plowing through enemies and object/obstacles but he'll still get hurt from hazards such as spikes. The Sonic Boost is limited by the energy in the Boost Bar; in the 360/PS3 version, the Sonic Boost can be performed at almost any time, even if there is a little bit of energy in the bar. In the Wii/PS2 versions, the bar is divided into three sub-bars (upgrades can increase the sub-bars to a maximum of six) and can only be performed when at least one of the bars is completely full.

This move can also be used to collect rings that are just out of reach, as the rings will be attracted to Sonic, much like the Lightning Shield. In the 360/PS3 there is also an upgrade found in Chun-Nan called the Air Boost Shoes (in the Wii/PS2 versions, Sonic already has all the upgrades). This upgrade can only be reached by also getting the Wall Jump Shoes in Spagonia. With the Air Boost Shoes, Sonic will be able to use the Sonic Boost in the air, as opposed to doing an ineffective Homing Attack.

Sonic Colors
This move reappears in Sonic Colors, and looks similar to the Wii/PS2 versions of Sonic Unleashed (however, Colors contains the shock-wave effect from the 360/PS3 versions of Sonic Unleashed). In Sonic Colors, there is an effect seen to either side of Sonic, which also flashes in the colors of the rainbow. This effect is also seen when Drifting. Unlike in Sonic Unleashed, Sonic can only fill the Boost Bar by releasing White Wisps from Wisp Capsules or by defeating Egg Pawns.

Sonic Generations
The Sonic Boost also appears in Sonic Generations, the methods of using are the same as in Sonic Unleashed. To charge the Boost Bar, the player can defeat enemies, collect rings, drift, or perform tricks in the air. If enough tricks are performed, the Boost Bar can surpass its actual capacity, allowing boost for a longer time than normal. In the rival battle against Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow use the Chaos Boost from the Mario and Sonic series to rival the Sonic boost. In the final cutscene for Sonic Generations, Classic Sonic jumps into the air and tries to perform an Air Boost, Classic Sonic achieves boost for a split-second, before losing it, causing him to fall to the ground.

When Modern Super Sonic uses boost, he instead hovers at a blistering speed. However, the ring count drains up very quickly, as opposed to Sonic Colors.

In the 3DS version, the boost gauge works like the one from the console version, except that when it's completely full, the boost gauge turns from yellow to blue and Sonic can boost as much as he wants until the bar turns yellow again.

Boost Mode (Sonic Advance 2 & 3)
Boost Mode refers, in its most general sense, to a high-speed dash state which some characters are able to perform, most notably Sonic the Hedgehog. The mode is accompanied by after-images of the character to emphasize the eye-blistering velocities involved.

Boost Mode can be performed by Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles Tails Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Cream the Rabbit, and Amy Rose.

In Sonic Advance 3, Boost Mode can only be achieved with Sonic on the team. When Sonic is not on the team, the other characters cannot boost at all, and as such do not have their increased running speeds. If Sonic is the partner character using your Partner Action will allow the player to instantly boost away at full speed as if they have run over an orange booster.

Fire Boost
The Fire Boost is Blaze the Cat's version of the Super Boost/Sonic Boost and is utilized by her in Sonic Rush and in Sonic Rush Adventure.

Mach Speed (Sonic the Hedgehog (2006))
The blue gem upgrade for Sonic, that can be purchased in the local shop, gives Sonic a small boost of speed called Mach Speed when activated.

Infinite Boost (Sonic Colors DS)
In the DS version of Sonic Colors, if Sonic manages to collect all of the Special Rings in the game, he unlocks the Infinite Boost. When activated, Sonic can boost as much as he wants, even if the Boost Gauge is empty.

Chaos Boost (Sonic Generations and Mario & Sonic series)
Shadow the Hedgehog can perform his own version of the Sonic Boost, the Chaos Boost. When using it he hovers off the ground at high speeds and uses his chaos energy and hover shoes to move forward at high speeds equal to that of the Sonic Boost. It is weaker in the Mario & Sonic series than it is in Sonic Generations.

Super Sonic Boost
´The Super Sonic Boost is the variations of the Sonic Boost that super transformed characters uses and is much more powerful than the Sonic Boost.It's name comes from the fact that it's Super Sonic's main form of attack aginst most foes as well as it is used by him the most

Trivia

 * Sonic Colors (Wii version) is the only game that doesn't allow modification of the Boost Gauge. In Sonic Unleashed (360/PS3), the Boost (originally named Ring Energy) Gauge can be upgraded five times, lengthening the gauge and the decreasing the rate that it drains. In Sonic Generations (360/PS3/PC), the gauge (as well as Boosting and what fills the gauge) can be modified through Skills, as follows:
 * Auto-Gauge fills up the Boost Gauge automatically over time
 * Blast Off allows a free Boost (one that doesn't initially drain the Gauge) when the Boost Button is pressed when "GO!" appears at the start of the Act
 * Boost Gauge Up extends the length of the Boost Gauge (about 300% the capacity of the standard length)
 * Endless Boost works just like Super Sonic's Boost Gauge, as it never decreases. However, this is at the cost of not being able to obtain a single Ring, which makes it a high-risk/high-reward skill
 * Gauge Rebooter has the player start with a full Boost Gauge upon losing a life and restarting at a checkpoint
 * Ring Energy Bonus fills the Gauge faster when collecting Rings
 * Smasher Bonus fills the Gauge faster when breaking enemies and objects
 * Trick Mastery allows tricks to be performed faster, thus filling (and overfilling) the gauge faster