Flywheel

The Flywheels^[1] are gimmicks in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are floating wheels with their own center of gravity, which can be used to build up momentum and achieve distant jumps.

Description

Flywheels are round wheels, rotating in midair, which are usually found in factory-themed Zones. Their cosmetic appearance is different for each game. When the playable character jumps onto these wheels, the player can move along the Flywheel's surface without falling to the ground, regardless of outside gravity, unless the player jumps off them.

Due to their hazardless and moving surface, the Flywheels can be used by the player to build up momentum by running around them. Then, by jumping off them at the right time, the player can fling themselves off the Flywheels to make significantly longer and higher leaps than normal, which is useful for crossing greater distances or reach higher areas in the different Zones. The Flywheels' purposes have changed slightly over the course of the series though, as they can be automatic and are not always needed for momentum.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

Flywheels were featured for the first time in the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog. Here, they are only found in the large halls of Scrap Brain Zone Act 2. In this game, the Flywheels are gray-green with gray belts around them, which move clockwise faster than the wheels themselves.

If the player performs the Spin Attack on a Flywheel, they can quickly build up momentum around the Flywheel for an enhanced Spin Jump.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)

In the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Flywheels are major gimmicks in Gimmick Mt. Zone. In this game, Flywheels are grey and metallic. When Sonic jumps onto it, he automatically performs a Spin Attack. The player can control the rotation speed of the Flywheel that Sonic is on with : pressing right makes the Flywheel rotate faster and pressing left makes it rotate slower.

Slightly different Flywheels appear in Crystal Egg Zone Act 2. In this Act, the Flywheels are smaller bubble-looking wheels with blue, four-pointed stars in their center. These wheels can be found above pits filled with spikes where they constantly float left and right in midair. Despite their differences though, they work just like the Flywheels in Gimmick Mt. Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Flywheels are only featured in Metallic Madness Zone 2. This time around, they are wheels with a differently-colored belt around them. In addition, their color scheme depends on the timeline in the Zone.

The Flywheels function like those in Scrap Brain Zone. However, when Sonic starts performing his Spin Attack on the Flywheel, the camera direction moves to the right side. The Flywheels can also be useful when the player need to gain momentum to create a time warp in the Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Flywheels are featured in Carnival Night Zone. In this game, the Flywheels are mostly black with a gray outer rim and a hollow center with a red inner rim and a yellow cross with a red circle inside its center. They are also much larger than in previous games, but function like the Flywheels in the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic Advance 3

In Sonic Advance 3, the Flywheels appear in Cyber Track, where they have a grayish shell with a red lighting edge on the inner rim, and a dark green horizontal cube in the center. Unlike in previous games, the player can stand still on the Flywheel while it rotates in one place.

Sonic Lost World

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, the Flywheels are featured in Sky Road Zone 1. In this game, they have a more mechanical appearance like in previous games, and they rotate in the right direction. Unusually, the player has to jump between Flywheels while spinning around them. Unlike in previous games however, the player cannot build up momentum by spinning around the Flywheel.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Flywheels appear in Metallic Madness Zone Act 2. In this game, they behave and look like the Flywheels from the Present timeline of Metallic Madness Zone 2. In gameplay, they serve as little else than difficult platforms for reaching ledges.

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, the Flywheels appear in Iron Fortress and are used by Classic Sonic. In this game, they look like flat, mechanical cylinders. These Flywheels also possess a yellow outer rim on the front surface, purple patches in the form of a cross on the front surface, and a hollow center with green insides. In gameplay, like most other incarnations, the player can build up momentum on the Flywheels by spinning around on them, which will enable an enhanced Spin Jump.

Gallery

Sprites

Gallery
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) Sonic the Hedgehog CD Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Sonic Advance 3 Sonic Mania Add a photo to this gallery

Screenshots

Gallery
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) Sonic the Hedgehog CD Sonic the Hedgehog CD Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Sonic Lost World (Nintendo 3DS) Sonic Mania Sonic Forces Add a photo to this gallery

References