Gondola

Gondolas will fall when the ropeway ends, so stay alert!

— Omochao, Sonic Generations (console/PC)

The Gondola is a gimmick that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a form of platform that works like a cable car, and is used for transportation over pits and gaps.

Description

The Gondolas mostly resemble primitive cable cars. Overall, they are solid platforms for the playable characters to stand on that are hanging from a single cable tied between two tall poles. The platforms themselves are attached to the cable through smaller cables.

The Gondolas are used by the player to cross over large chasms, bottomless abysses or lava pits. To start riding a Gondola, the player simply has to step onto the platform of the Gondola; it will then immediately start moving forward while descending until it reaches the other end of the cable. When riding a Gondola, the player is usually taken through floating clusters of Rings. When reaching the end of the cable, the Gondolas will detach and fall off the cable, so the player has to be quick to jump off them.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The Gondolas were first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where they only appear in Hill Top Zone. In this game, the Gondolas are blue platforms with low railings, and the cable they hang from and move along are green vines. The Gondolas mainly serve as the main gimmick in Hill Top Zone and appear both above ground and in caverns. Once they reach the end of their cables, the Gondolas will immediately fall off.

Sonic Generations

The Gondolas reappeared in the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, where they only appear in Rooftop Run Act 1. In this game, the Gondolas' platforms are flat yellow and blue cuboids, and the cables they move along are simple ropeways. The platforms themselves hang from the ropeways on four metal chains with hooks.

In gameplay, the Gondolas function much like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, except that they are more wobbly, meaning that the player has to make accurate jumps on them to reach other parts, and they make a slight movement before they fall off once they reach the end of the ropeways.

Trivia

In the Nick Arcade prototype of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Gondola does not break off after reaching the end of its path.

Gallery

Screenshots

Gallery
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sonic Generations (console/PC)

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Playable characters	Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Tails (Super Tails**)
Non-playable characters	Dr. Robotnik \| Animals (Becky, Cucky, Flicky, Pocky, Pecky, Cucky, Ricky, Picky, Rocky, Locky, Wocky, Micky, Tocky)
Zones	Emerald Hill Zone \| Chemical Plant Zone \| Aquatic Ruin Zone \| Casino Night Zone \| Hill Top Zone \| Mystic Cave Zone \| Oil Ocean Zone \| Metropolis Zone \| Sky Chase Zone \| Wing Fortress Zone \| Death Egg Zone \| Green Hill Zone* \| Hidden Palace Zone** \| Genocide City Zone* \| Sand Shower Zone* \| Rock World Zone* \| Wood Zone* \| Egg Gauntlet Zone \| Boss Attack Zone \| Proto Palace Zone** \| Special Stage
Enemies	Aquis \| Asteron \| Balkiry \| Banper* \| Batbot** \| BFish* \| Bubbler* \| Bubbler's Mother* \| Buzzer \| Cactus* \| Chop Chop \| Clucker \| Coconuts \| Crawl \| Crawlton \| Flasher \| Frog* \| Gator* \| Gohla \| Grabber \| Grounder \| Jellygnite** \| Lobster* \| Masher \| Nebula \| Octus \| Rexon \| Shellcracker \| Slicer \| Snail* \| Spiker \| Spiny \| Stegway \| Turtloids \| Redz \| Whisp
Bosses	Drill Eggman \| Water Eggman \| Hammer Eggman \| Catcher Eggman \| Submarine Eggman \| Drill Eggman II \| Hidden Palace Zone boss** \| Submarine Eggman II \| Flying Eggman \| Barrier Eggman \| Mecha Sonic \| Death Egg Robot
Moves/Techniques	Crouch \| Glide \| Insta-Shield \| Propeller Flying \| Spin Jump \| Super Dash Attack \| Super Spin Attack \| Swim
Gimmicks and obstacles	Bomb \| Booster \| Bumper \| Bumper wall \| Cannon \| Capsule \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Fan \| Flipper \| Giant spear \| Goal Plate \| Gondola \| High-speed elevator \| High-speed warp tube \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel \| Metal nut \| Seesaw \| Slot machine \| Spikes \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Star Post \| Stone pillar \| Switch
Items	Air Bubble \| Chaos Emerald \| Monitor (Eggman, Extra Life, Flame Shield, Invincible, Lightning Shield, Power Sneakers, Random, S, Shield, Super Ring, Teleporter, Water Shield) \| Ring \| Star Circle
Music	Sonic the Hedgehog 1&2 Soundtrack
Other	Continue \| Corkscrew loop \| Death Egg Robot \| Debug Mode \| Egg Jet \| Mega Mack \| Perfect Bonus \| Shuttle loop \| Time Attack \| Tornado \| Totem pole \| West Side Island \| Winding Tunnel Exclusive to the prototype versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. * Exclusive to the 2013 re-release version.

Sonic Generations (console/PC)

Playable characters		Modern Sonic (Modern Super Sonic) \| Classic Sonic (Classic Super Sonic)
Non-playable characters		Amy \| Animals (Flicky, Picky, Pecky, Cucky) \| Blaze \| Cheese \| Classic Eggman \| Classic Metal Sonic \| Classic Tails \| Cream \| Cubot \| Knuckles \| Modern Eggman \| Modern Tails \| Omochao \| Orbot \| Perfect Chaos \| Rouge \| Shadow \| Silver \| Team Chaotix (Charmy, Espio, Vector) \| Time Eater
Wisps		Orange \| Pink
Stages		Green Hill \| Chemical Plant \| Sky Sanctuary \| Speed Highway \| City Escape \| Seaside Hill \| Crisis City \| Rooftop Run \| Planet Wisp \| Casino Night
Challenge Acts		Doppelganger Race! \| The Buzz Bombers' Revenge! \| Knuckles: Horde of Enemies \| Swingset Circus \| High Speed Challenge \| Look Out Below! \| Tails: Way Past Fast \| Jump Rush \| 300% Boost Gauge Challenge \| Tails: Toxic Skies \| Which Switch is Which? \| Aqua Shield Challenge \| Invincibility Challenge \| One Ring Challenge \| Amy: Taking the Leap Together! \| Grappling with Grabbers \| Underwater Ring Machine \| Eggrobo Rush \| Aerial Paradise \| Ring Time Challenge \| Amy: Topsy Turvy \| Knuckles: Buried Treasure \| 200% Boost Gauge Challenge \| Balloon Bonanza \| High-Speed Hijinks (Modern) \| Cream: Chao Hunt \| Hot Pursuit (Classic) \| High Speed Challenge 2 \| Resisting Arrest \| Overdrift \| Hot Pursuit (Modern) \| Drill Baby Drill \| Espio: Master of Camouflage \| Lord of the Board \| Thunder Shield Challenge \| Rouge: The Bombardier \| Rite of Spring \| Cream: Helping Hand \| Dash Ring 1-2-3 (Modern) \| Topsy-Turvy \| High-Speed Hijinks 2 \| Rescue the Animals! \| Espio: Way of the Ninja \| High-Speed Hijinks (Classic) \| Underwater Challenge \| Rouge: The Temptress \| Trick Island \| Surf, Sea, and Sand \| Terror From the Deep \| Goal Post Juggle \| Vector: Through the Storm \| Flame Shield Challenge \| Ring Time Challenge 2 \| Power Stomp Challenge \| Switcheroo \| Blaze: Piercing the Flames \| Four-way Cannon Cavalcade \| High-Rise Balloon Climb \| Dash Ring 1-2-3 (Classic) \| Charmy: Don't Bug Me! \| One Ring Challenge 2 \| Barrel Ring Bonus \| Rooftop Rail Grind \| Endless Boost \| Vector: Pick Up the Beat \| With Your Powers Combined \| Goal Post Juggle 2 \| Chase After Blaze \| Rescue the Animals 2! \| Cart Challenge \| Charmy: High in the Sky \| Action Master \| Orange Rocket, Blast Off!
Enemies		Aero-Cannon \| Buzz Bomber \| Buzzer \| Chopper \| Cop Speeder \| Crabmeat \| Egg Chaser \| Egg Fighter \| Egg Fighter: Sword \| Egg Launcher (H) \| Egg Launcher (H+V) \| Egg Launcher (V) \| Egg Pawn \| Eggrobo \| Giant Chopper \| Grabber \| Gun Beetle \| Gun Hunter \| Iblis's Minions (Iblis Biter, Iblis Taker, Iblis Worm) \| Mono Beetle \| Moto Bug \| Sandworm \| Spinner \| Spiny \| Sprinkler \| Thunder Spinner
Bosses		Metal Sonic \| Death Egg Robot \| Shadow the Hedgehog \| Perfect Chaos \| Silver the Hedgehog \| Egg Dragoon \| Time Eater
Moves/ Techniques	Playable characters	Air Boost \| Atomic Spin \| Boost \| Bound Jump \| Cartwheel \| Crouch \| Double Jump \| Drift \| Freestyle Tricks \| Grind Step \| Grinding \| Homing Attack \| Hop \| Insta-Shield \| Jump Dash \| Kick boost \| Lightspeed Dash \| Mid-Air Dash \| Quick Step \| Slide \| Skydiving \| Spin \| Spin Dash \| Spin Jump \| Stomp \| Super Sonic Boost \| Super Sonic Missile \| Wall Jump
Moves/ Techniques	NPCs	Chaos Spear \| Dig \| Drill Attack \| Fire Beam \| Heart Effect \| Ice Wave \| Meteor Smash \| Ninja Arts: Camouflage \| Propeller Flying \| Psychic Knife \| Restraint Trap \| Ring Spark Field \| Sun Burst \| V. Maximum Overdrive Attack \| Warping arm attack \| Whirlwind
Color Powers		Orange Rocket \| Pink Spikes
Skills		Aqua Shield \| Flame Shield \| Thunder Shield \| Twin Spin Attack \| Invincible Start \| Shield \| Power Sneakers \| Long Spin Dash \| Treasure Scanner \| Homing Attack \| Hercules Muscles \| Breath Holder \| Boardmaster \| Ring Time \| Blast Off \| Speed Up \| Direct Jump \| Power Stomp \| Quick Slide \| Acceleration \| Smasher Bonus \| Ring Energy Bonus \| Boost Gauge Up \| Serial Homing \| Auto-Gauge \| Gauge Rebooter \| Trick Mastery \| Endless Boost \| Power Brake \| Sure-Footed \| Safety Net \| Last Chance \| 10-Second Rings \| Athleticism \| Time Break \| Super Sonic \| Sega Genesis Controller
Gimmicks and obstacles		Balloon \| Barrel \| Big Balloon \| Bomb \| Bonus Bell \| Bottomless pit \| Bumper \| Cannon \| Capsule \| Cart \| Cloud \| Crusher \| Dash Panel \| Dash Rail \| Dash Ring \| Dimensional Bomb \| Explosion Trap \| Fan \| Flipper \| Four-way Cannon \| Gear Platform \| Goal Plate \| Gondola \| GUN Military Truck \| Hanging Bell \| Heart bomb \| Helicopter \| High-speed warp tube \| Horizontal Bar \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel \| Kao \| Laser field \| Meteorite \| Movable box \| Pole Elevator \| Propeller Spring \| Pulley \| Rainbow Ring \| Rocket \| Route Signal \| Seesaw \| Slot machine \| Spike Trap \| Spikes \| Spinning Top \| Spinning Platform \| Spotlight \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Spring Pole \| Star Post \| Switch \| Trap Spring \| Trick Jump Panel \| Wall Jump Block \| Warp Point \| Wide spring \| Zip Line
Items		Air Bubble \| Boss Gate \| Boss Gate Key \| Buoy \| Chaos Emerald \| Container (Case, Spike Block, Steel Container, Unbreakable Container, Wooden Container) \| Energy Core \| Goal Ring \| Information Pod \| Item Box (1-Up, Aqua Shield, Flame Shield, Invincible, Power Sneakers, Skateboard, Super Ring, Thunder Shield) \| Medal \| Mega Mack \| Musical note \| Red Star Ring \| Ring \| Snowboard \| Time Bonus \| Wisp Capsule
English voice actors		Roger Craig Smith (Modern Sonic) \| Mike Pollock (Classic Eggman, Modern Eggman) \| Kate Higgins (Classic Tails, Modern Tails) \| Travis Willingham (Knuckles) \| Cindy Robinson (Amy) \| Kirk Thornton (Shadow) \| Quinton Flynn (Silver) \| Laura Bailey (Blaze, Omochao) \| Karen Strassman (Rouge) \| Michelle Ruff (Cream) \| Keith Silverstein (Vector) \| Troy Baker (Espio) \| Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Charmy)
Japanese voice actors		Jun'ichi Kanemaru (Modern Sonic) \| Chikao Ōtsuka (Classic Eggman, Modern Eggman) \| Ryō Hirohashi (Modern Tails) \| Takuto Yoshinaga (Classic Tails) \| Nobutoshi Canna (Knuckles) \| Taeko Kawata (Amy) \| Kōji Yusa (Shadow) \| Rumi Ochiai (Rouge) \| Daisuke Ono (Silver) \| Nao Takamori (Blaze) \| Sayaka Aoki (Cream) \| Kenta Miyake (Vector) \| Yūki Masuda (Espio) \| Yōko Teppōzuka (Charmy) \| Etsuko Kozakura (Omochao)
Music	Songs	"Escape from the City" \| "You're My Hero"
Music	Albums	20 Years of Sonic Music \| Blue Blur: Sonic Generations Original Soundtrack \| History of the 1st Stage Original Soundtrack White Edition
Other		Sonic's birthday \| Boost Gauge \| Chao in Space \| Collection Room \| Combo \| Corkscrew loop \| Death Egg (Modern) \| Death Egg (Classic) \| Death Egg Robot \| Egg Dragoon \| Egg Gun \| Egg Mobile \| Egg Spear \| Havok \| Lair of the Time Eater \| Miles Electric \| Orca \| Perfect Bonus \| Rank \| Sonic Generations (manga) \| Sonic Generations of Skate \| Statue Room \| Time Hole \| Tornado-1 \| Totem pole \| White Space \| Winding Tunnel