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Sonic Wiki Zone
Sonic Wiki Zone

The Grind Step[1] is a move that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a technique used while grinding which allows the user to jump between parallel Grind Rails.

Description[]

When performing the Grind Step, the user, while grinding beside a parallel Grind Rail, does a jump over to the parallel rail at high speed, from where they continue grinding. In gameplay, this move enables the player to quickly and safely switch lanes when grinding in Grind Rail sections. This way, the player can dodge incoming obstacles on the Grind Rails while still maintaining speed or the Boost, as opposed to simply jumping to another rail.

Game appearances[]

Sonic Adventure 2[]

Sonic2app 2015-08-31 18-17-01-464

Sonic using the Grind Step, from the 2012 remaster of Sonic Adventure 2.

In Sonic Adventure 2 and its enhanced port Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Grind Step goes unnamed. In this game, it is only usable to Sonic and Shadow (as well as Amy and Metal Sonic in multiplayer) as only their Stages feature Grind Rails. To use the Grind Step in gameplay, the player must move Analog-Stick towards the Grind Rail they want to switch to and press A/A while grinding. The characters' movement can almost not be seen when Grind Stepping though, as the characters switch Grind Rail almost instantly.

Grind Stepping in this game is not entirely safe, as the Grind Rails do not "attract" the playable character when in mid-air.

Sonic Heroes[]

Dolphin 2015-02-09 14-42-48-338

Sonic using the Grind Step, from Sonic Heroes.

In Sonic Heroes, the Grind Step once again goes unnamed. In this game, it can be used by all playable characters. When using it, the user will jump over to another Grind Rail almost instantaneously. To use the Grind Step in gameplay, the player has to move Analog-Stick left/right then press A/Cross/XboxA while grinding.

Shadow the Hedgehog[]

LAVAEXP3

Shadow using the Grind Step, from Shadow the Hedgehog.

In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Grind Step is used primarily by Shadow the Hedgehog. In this game, Shadow executes the Grind Step in a slower manner than in Sonic Heroes by doing a side-flip instead of a horizontal hop towards the grind rail he switches to. To use the Grind Step in gameplay, the player must simply move Analog-Stick left or right while grinding.

Sonic Storybook Series[]

Sonic and the Secret Rings[]

In Sonic and the Secret Rings, the Grind Step is only used by Sonic the Hedgehog. When using the move in this game, Sonic strikes a pose while jumping between Grind Rails. Using the Grind Step in gameplay requires the player to quickly tilt the Wii Remote towards the desired Grind Rail while grinding.

Sonic and the Black Knight[]

In Sonic and the Black Knight, the Grind Step is only used by Sonic the Hedgehog. When using the move in this game, Sonic does a sideways hop between Grind Rails.

Sonic Rush Adventure[]

Grind Step (Sonic Rush Adventure)

Sonic using the Grind Step, from Sonic Rush Adventure.

In Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic and Blaze are able to use the Grind Step in Plant Kingdom Act 1, albeit only in the Stage's 3D section with parallel Grind Rails. When Grind Stepping in this game, Sonic and Blaze use their respective Spin Jump and Axel Jump forms when switching Grind Rails. To use the move in gameplay, the player has to press Left and right while grinding.

Sonic Unleashed[]

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Sonic using the Grind Step, from the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed.

In both the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version and the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, the Grind Step appeared as an unnamed Grind Rail-exclusive variant of the Quick Step. This time around, it can only be performed in the daytime as Sonic the Hedgehog. When performing the Grind Step in this game, Sonic does a side flip towards the Grind Rail he switches to, and seems to get a boost of speed each time he does so. Whereas countless opportunities to use this move occur in the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of the game, only one appears in the Wii/PlayStation 2 version. To perform the move in gameplay, the player must press the following buttons/move the following control sticks to move either left or right while grinding:

PS2 Wii PS3 Xbox 360
Wii Remote Classic
Controller
GameCube
controller
L1/R1 Analog-Stick left/right Wii-Classic-Button-L/ButtonIcon-WCC-R L/Rgame L1/R1 Xbox-Button-LB/Xbox-Button-RB

Sonic Colors[]

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Sonic using the Grind Step, from the Wii version of Sonic Colors.

In the Wii version of Sonic Colors and its remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the move was officially named the Grind Step.[1] In these games, it is used by Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Sonic, the Mii (Wii version only), and the Virtual Hedgehogs. Its execution is also the same as in Sonic Unleashed. In gameplay, Grind Stepping seems to increase one's grinding speed. To perform the Grind Step in gameplay, the player must move left or right using the following controls:

Wii Xbox One PS4 Switch PC
Wii Remote
(sideways)
Wii Remote
& Nunchuk
Classic
Controller
GameCube
controller
Left and right Analog-Stick left/right Left-Analog-Stick left/right Analog-Stick left/right

Sonic Generations[]

SonicGenerations 2015-02-09 14-21-54-811

Modern Sonic using the Grind Step, from the console/PC version of Sonic Generations.

In Sonic Generations, the Grind Step is only usable to Modern Sonic and Modern Super Sonic, meaning it can only be used in the Stages' second Acts. Modern Sonic's execution of the Grind Step is also the same as in Sonic Unleashed.

In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the player must move left or right with Analog-Stick while grinding in order to perform the Grind Step. In gameplay, Grind Stepping also seems to increase one's grinding speed.

In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, the Grind Step only appears during a brief 3D section at the end of Tropical Resort Act 2. To perform it, the player must move left or right with the movement controls.

Shadow Generations[]

Sonic Lost World[]

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, the Grind Step is used by Sonic, Super Sonic and the Virtual Hedgehogs. In this game, Sonic and the Virtual Hedgehog's execution of the move is the same as in Sonic Unleashed. To perform the Grind Step in gameplay, the player must press Left and right + DSB.

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle[]

In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, the Grind Step is used by all playable characters. In this game, the characters do a very brief, very short jump towards the Grind Rail they want to switch over to when executing the Grind Step. To perform the Grind Step in gameplay, the player simply must swipe left/right on the touchscreen.

Sonic Forces[]

In Sonic Forces, the Grind Step is a move that can be used by Sonic, Super Sonic and the Avatar. In this game, the characters execute the Grind step in same way as Sonic did in Sonic Unleashed. To perform it in gameplay, the player must press the following buttons while grinding:

Switch PS4 Xbox One PC
Switch l/Switch r L1/R1 Xbox LT3-1/Xbox RT2-1 [Q]/[E]

Sonic Frontiers[]

In Sonic Frontiers, the Grind Step makes an appearance as one of the basic moves used by Sonic in Open Zone areas and Cyber Space stages. When more than two long lines of Grind Rails or ancient rails are paralleling to each other while Grinding, the player can move Left-Analog-Stick to the direction to make Sonic quickly hop onto another rail in that direction.[2]

Notes[]

  1. Could use this move in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sonic Colors (Wii) United States instruction booklet, pg. 8.
  2. Sonic Team (8 November 2022). Sonic Frontiers. Xbox One. Sega. Area/level: Loading screen. "Tip: When grind rails are parallel to each other, change rails by moving Left-Analog-Stick in the direction of the rail to transfer to."

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