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The breakaway column[1] (石柱[2] sekichū?, lit. "stone pillar") is an object that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are breakable, rising structures that block the player's progress in various stages.

Description[]

Breakaway columns are gray stone pillars based on Ionic columns. Unnaturally, some columns tend to increase their height, while other columns have their damaged bottom parts revealed while floating in mid-air, akin to platforms.

Game appearances[]

Sonic the Hedgehog 2[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, three types of breakaway columns are featured in Aquatic Ruin Zone. The first type columns are stationary until the player gets close enough for it to extend its height, thereby blocking the player's path. However, the playable character can use the Spin Jump to hop into it and break the column into multiple pieces. There are also a few regular breakaway columns alongside the active ones that do not extend their height when approached.

The second type of breakaway columns float above the surface of water pools or the underwater sections of the Zone. The player cannot break these columns, but the playable character can jump on top of them to access shortcuts on the other side of their water pools. If the player stands on one of these columns for too long however, it will sink to the bottom of the underwater section.

The third type of stationary columns are found connected to ceilings near close to waterfalls or in the underwater sections. If the player approaches these columns from below, the bottom half of the pillars will fall to the ground. These stone chunks can crush the playable character if they are standing below them when they fall.

In the lock-on game Knuckles in Sonic 2, Knuckles' jump height is slightly lower than that of Sonic, which makes the rising breakaway columns challenging to break. However, the player can gain a little more height by jumping from the nearest platform or using a Spin Dash and Spin Jump combination on the terrain with slopes to reach the top of a breakaway column.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, there are two types of breakaway columns in Aquatic Relix Zone. The first type of columns function much like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the second, floating type of columns are completely stationary in the underwater sections with falling bottom chunks.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II[]

Ep2 w z1a3 04

Sonic and Tails pushing down a large column in Sylvania Castle Zone Act 3, from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, Sylvania Castle Zone Act 3 features two types of similar, large columns blocking the pathways to the right or small holes in the ground. The first type of columns are thick stone pillars standing upright. The player is unable to leap over them without performing the Copter Combo. However, the player can use the Spin Jump or Homing Attack on them three times to make them fall down and break into pieces. These stone columns can also be torn to pieces with one straight hit from the Rolling Combo.

The second type of columns are set in long queue with wide platforms on top of them. The player can use the Copter Combo to leap onto them to get access to alternate pathways. Much like the thick stone pillars however, these stone columns are blocking other pathways. Regardless, the player can hit these stone pillar on the left side using the Spin Jump, Homing Attack or Rolling Combo to trigger a domino effect that makes all the stone columns crumble. Doing this however will cost the player the opportunity to access higher pathway.

In other media[]

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog[]

In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series, a breakaway column appears in the episode "Trail of the Missing Tails". It is seen with Tails tied up to it by Dr. Warpnik in the Warp of Confusion.

Trivia[]

  • In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, columns with yellow/green color schemes are seen as a part of the Aquatic Ruin Zone's backdrop while Monitors or Springs are usually placed on them. However, if the player tries to land on them, the playable character will fall down behind them.

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Gallery

References[]

  1. Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2: Sega's Official Player's Guide. Compute; Expanded edition. 1993. p. 91. ISBN 1-55958-335-5.
  2. (in Japanese) ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 メガドライブ公式ガイドブック. Shogakukan. December 1992. p. 26. ISBN 978-4091024145.

Main article (Knuckles in Sonic 2) · Staff · Manuals · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Pre-releases (Nick Arcade, Simon Wai) · Re-releases (2006, Dash!, Crash!, 2013, 3D, Sega Ages)

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