Freeze

Freeze is a recurring game mechanic that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It refers to a state wherein the playable characters are rendered frozen for negative effects.

Description
When afflicted by freeze, the playable characters are encased in a sheet of ice. This status effects renders the playable characters immobile for a short time. This can have several consequences for the player, such as lowering time bonuses, damaging the player directly, or leaving them vulnerable to attack from nearby enemies. How freezing can be inflicted differs between games.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, there are in Wacky Workbench grey icy exhausts firing cold flames endlessly from the wide exhaust. Running into the blue flame will turn the playable character into a round-shaped ice block, with the character being frozen in a comical pose. This ice block will down to the ground, and after breaking out due the crash, the player will take damage. However, it is possible to press to jump at the right time without taking damage.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
In Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and its extension Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, getting frozen will trap the player's character in a block of ice. After a few seconds of remaining frozen, the player will thaw out, but will also take damage in the process. If the player plays as Sonic and has Tails following him during gameplay, Tails can help Sonic out the ice block before he takes damage.

Freezing Machines exist that can freeze the player's character. The game(s) also feature Doctor Robotnik’s Freeze-O-Matic, a boss whose icy breath attacks can freeze the playable characters like the Freezing Machine.

Sonic 3D Blast
In Sonic 3D Blast, there are Freezing Machines in Diamond Dust Zone that can freeze Sonic in an ice cube, which can slide along the ground. To release Sonic from an ice cube, press four times. While the player does not lose Rings from being frozen, the Flickies can fly away. However, if the player collides with a Badnik as a sliding ice cube, they will take damage.

In the certain automated section of Diamond Dust Zone Act 1, a frozen Sonic can slide down pathways. The boss in Diamond Dust Zone Act 3 also possess the ability to freeze Sonic like the Freezing Machine.

Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, the Ice Ball enemy and the Satellite can release puffs of cold air that will trap the playable characters in a block of ice for a short while if touched. Being frozen does not damage them in any way however. To break free of the ice, the player must move the control stick.

Sonic Rivals series
In Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2, players can obtain Power-Ups that can freeze their opponents in place temporarily. When used by the lead player, the ice will be dropped as a trap, and when used by the rear player, the ice will take the form a ball and chase down the leading player.

Sonic Unleashed
In Sonic Unleashed, the Egg Blizzards are capable of freezing Sonic the Werehog temporarily using their ice breath, leaving him vulnerable to attack by any other enemies that may be nearby.

Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, the blue Fish-Ones fire projectiles capable of freezing the player if hit. If this occurs, the player must move their Wii Remote in order to break free. When equipped, the Fiery Quaff and Hot Fiery Quaff are capable of decreasing the possibility of the player being frozen when being attacked by blue Fish-Ones.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
In Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the Ice Cannon can be used to freeze opposing racers. If a character can hit an opponent with two or more snowballs from the Ice Cannon in succession or all of them at once, it will leave the opponent temporarily frozen.