High-speed elevator

High-speed elevators are frequent gimmicks in the Genesis-era Sonic the Hedgehog games and usually appear in the final or penultimate zones. It is used for quick transport between areas.

Description

High-speed elevators usually appear in industrial-themed Zones. When the player steps inside a high-speed elevator, they go into either their Spin Attack or horizontal spin animation before being rapidly teleported somewhere else through an extensive tube. For the most part, the player cannot backtrack once they go through a high-speed elevator.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

In this original Sonic the Hedgehog these devices appear in Scrap Brain Zone Act 2. They transport Sonic in a vertical direction and have different destinations, depending on how many Rings Sonic has at the time.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and its locked-on version Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, high-speed elevators are found in Metropolis Zone and are almost exactly like the ones in the Scrap Brain Zone, except they are gold in color. Also, when entering one, a light flashes on and off before Sonic is teleported.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles and its locked-on version Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, the high-speed elevators appear in Launch Base Zone Act 1 and are a little different than before. In these elevators, Sonic spins around horizontally instead of curling into a Spin Attack. They also use actual elevator cars instead of just tubes. When playing as Tails alone, he seems to take a different route when traveling in one.

A high-speed elevator in *Sonic & Knuckles*.

Much later, in Sonic & Knuckles' Death Egg Zone Act 2, these elevators are one of three ways to switch gravity and move from floor to ceiling. They also play a crucial role in defeating the Act 2 boss.

Sonic 3D Blast

In Sonic 3D Blast, both Gene Gadget Zone and Panic Puppet Zone have high-speed elevators.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

In Mad Gear Zone of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal, the Zone has the golden elevators like those from the Metropolis Zone. They work exactly the same, except these shoot Sonic out of a pipe at high speed. E.G.G. Station Zone has the same elevators and uses them to transport Sonic from one boss arena to the next.

Trivia

Strangely, in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Metropolis Zone, sometimes, if Super Sonic enters in a high-speed elevator, he will fall through the end of the elevator.
- This is fixed on the 2013 re-release.

Navigation Templates to High-speed elevator

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

Playable characters	Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Tails (Super Tails) \| Knuckles* (Super Knuckles*)
Non-playable characters	Dr. Robotnik \| Animals (Flicky, Pocky, Pecky, Cucky, Ricky, Picky, Rocky)
Zones	Green Hill Zone \| Marble Zone \| Spring Yard Zone \| Labyrinth Zone \| Star Light Zone \| Scrap Brain Zone \| Final Zone \| Special Stages
Enemies	Ball Hog \| Batbrain \| Bomb \| Burrobot \| Buzz Bomber \| Caterkiller \| Chopper \| Crabmeat \| Jaws \| Moto Bug \| Newtron \| Orbinaut (Uni Uni, Unidasu) \| Roller \| Spikes \| Splats
Bosses	Egg Mobile-H \| Marble Zone boss \| Spring Yard Zone boss \| Labyrinth Zone boss \| Star Light Zone boss \| Final Zone
Moves/Techniques	Crouch \| Spin Jump \| Spin Attack \| Spin Dash* \| Insta-Shield* \| Propeller Flying* \| Glide* \| Climb*
Gimmicks and obstacles	Bomb \| Bumper \| Capsule \| Chaos Emerald \| Color Block \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Electric Generator \| Fan \| Fire Statue \| Fireball Cannon \| Flywheel \| Giant spear \| Goal \| Goal Plate \| Giant Ring \| High-speed elevator \| Iron ball \| Jump Stand \| Lamppost \| Reverse \| Rotating platform \| See-saw \| Spikes \| Spring \| Switch \| Up and Down
Items	Air Bubble \| Movable box \| Ring \| Video Monitor (Aqua Shield, Extra Life, Flame Shield, Invincible, Power Sneakers, S, Shield, Super Ring, Thunder Shield)
Music	Sonic the Hedgehog 1&2 Soundtrack
Other	Bonus Point \| Continue \| Blue Sphere \| Debug Mode \| Madonna \| Shuttle loop \| Sonic the Hedgehog Band (Max, Mach, Sharps, Vector) \| South Island \| Sonic the Hedgehog (promotional comic) \| Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic \| Time Attack* \| Time Over \| Totem Pole \| Winding Tunnel Exclusive to the 2013 re-release of Sonic the Hedgehog*.

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
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 the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

Main articles (Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic & Knuckles Collection) | Staff (Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic & Knuckles Collection) | Manuals (Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles) | Glitches (Sonic 3, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic & Knuckles Collection) | Beta elements (Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3 & Knuckles) | Galleries (Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic & Knuckles Collection)

Characters		Sonic (Super Sonic, Hyper Sonic) \| Tails (Super Tails) \| Knuckles (Super Knuckles, Hyper Knuckles) \| Dr. Robotnik \| Mecha Sonic (Mecha Sonic's Super State) \| Animals (Flicky (Flicky's Super State), Pocky, Pecky, Cucky, Ricky, Rocky)
Badniks		Batbot \| Blaster \| Blastoid (Carnival Night Zone) \| Blastoid (Hydrocity Zone) \| Bloominator \| Bubbles \| Bugernaut \| Butterdroid \| Catakiller, Jr. \| Chainspike \| Clamer \| Cluckoid \| Corkey \| Dragonfly \| EggRobo \| Fireworm \| Flybot767 \| Hyudoro \| Iwamodoki \| Jawz \| Madmole \| Mantis \| Mega Chopper \| Monkey Dude \| Mushmeanie \| Orbinaut \| Penguinator \| Pointdexter \| RhinoBot \| Ribot \| Rock'n \| Sandworm \| Skorp \| Snale Blaster \| Spikebonker \| Spiker \| Star Pointer \| Technosqueek \| Toxomister \| Turbo Spiker
Zones	Sonic 3	Angel Island Zone \| Hydrocity Zone \| Marble Garden Zone \| Carnival Night Zone \| IceCap Zone \| Launch Base Zone \| Special Stages \| Bonus Stages
	Sonic & Knuckles	Mushroom Hill Zone \| Flying Battery Zone \| Sandopolis Zone \| Lava Reef Zone \| Hidden Palace Zone \| Sky Sanctuary Zone \| Death Egg Zone \| The Doomsday Zone \| Special Stages \| Bonus Stages
	Competition	Azure Lake Zone \| Balloon Park Zone \| Chrome Gadget Zone \| Desert Palace Zone \| Endless Mine Zone
Bosses	Sub-bosses	Doctor Robotnik's Flame Craft \| Doctor Robotnik's Whirlpool Machine \| Tunnelbot \| Self D-Struct Machine \| Iceball \| Swing'm Spikez \| Hei Hou \| Gapsule \| Barrier Eggman \| Guardian \| Heat Arms \| Egg Mobile-H \| Flying Eggman \| Red Eye \| Death Ball
Bosses	Zone bosses	Doctor Robotnik's Flame Craft \| Doctor Robotnik's Waterspout and Depth Charge Machine \| Doctor Robotnik's Jet Drill Pod \| Doctor Robotnik's Energy Ship \| Doctor Robotnik's Freeze-O-Matic \| Ball Shooter \| Beam Rocket \| Big Arm \| Jet Mobile \| Hang Mobile \| Egg Golem \| Hot Mobile \| Knuckles \| Mecha Sonic \| Mecha Sonic's Super State \| Great Eggman Robo \| Final Weapon
Moves/Techniques		Bound Jump \| Crouch \| Double Jump \| Fireball Spin Dash \| Glide \| Gliding Knuckles Attack \| Hyper Flash \| Insta-Shield \| Propeller Flying \| Spin Jump \| Spin Dash \| Spin Attack \| Wall Climb
Items		Air Bubble \| Balloon \| Banana \| Bomb \| Booster \| Bumper \| Bumper wall \| Cannon \| Capsule \| Change \| Chaos Emerald \| Cloud \| Continue \| Fan \| Jump Stand \| Monitor (Water Shield, Flame Shield, Invincibility, Lightning Shield, Super Ring, Super Shoes, Extra Life, S, Eggman) \| Movable box \| Mushroom \| Pulley \| Ring \| Signpost \| Self-Propelled Bomb \| Slow-Down Shoes \| Snowboard \| Sphere \| Spikes \| Spring \| Spinning Top \| Star Post (Star Circle) \| Super Emerald \| Switch \| Transport \| Vine \| Zip Line
Other		Angel Island \| Barrel \| Conveyor Belt \| Corkscrew loop \| Crusher \| Death Egg \| Debug Mode \| Fireball Cannon \| Flipper \| Flywheel \| Freeze \| Giant spear \| Goal \| Gravity Control Switch \| Gumball \| High-speed elevator \| High-speed warp tube \| Icicle \| Iron ball \| Jewel Radar \| Perfect Bonus \| Platform-raising Wheel \| Pole Elevator \| Relief \| Reverse \| Ring Shooter \| Rock Drill \| Seesaw \| Shuttle loop \| Slot machine \| Snowblower \| Sonic & Knuckles • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 \| Strange Relief \| Time Attack \| Tornado \| Warp Point \| Winding Tunnel \| Wonderman

Sonic 3D Blast

Playable characters		Sonic
Non-playable characters		Dr. Eggman \| Tails \| Knuckles \| Flicky
Zones		Green Grove Zone \| Rusty Ruin Zone \| Spring Stadium Zone \| Diamond Dust Zone \| Volcano Valley Zone \| Gene Gadget Zone \| Panic Puppet Zone \| The Final Fight \| Special Stage
Enemies		Bat \| Bee \| Bug \| Bunny \| Crock \| Dragfly \| Firefly \| Fish \| Hunter \| Mouse \| Octopus \| Pengo \| Scorpy \| Scouter \| Shell \| Snake \| Snowman \| Spider \| Walker \| Whirl
Bosses		Green Grove Zone \| Rusty Ruin Zone \| Spring Stadium Zone \| Diamond Dust Zone \| Volcano Valley Zone \| Gene Gadget Zone \| Panic Puppet Zone \| The Final Fight
Moves/Techniques		Blast Attack \| Spin Attack \| Spin Dash \| Spin Jump
Gimmicks and obstacles		Balloon \| Booster \| Bomb \| Bumper \| Cannon \| Conveyor Belt \| Giant spear \| High-speed elevator \| High-speed warp tube \| Industrial fan \| Iron ball \| Snowblower \| Spring \| Transport
Items		Chaos Emerald \| Continue \| Dimension Ring \| Ring \| Sonic Medal \| TV (1-Up, 10 Ring, Blue Shield, Gold Shield, High Speed, Invincible, Red Shield)
Other		Archie Sonic Blast \| Atlantis \| Flicky Island \| Freeze \| You're My Hero

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I

Main article | Staff | Gallery

Playable characters		Sonic (Super Sonic)
Non-playable characters		Dr. Eggman \| Animals (Flicky, Pocky, Pecky, Cucky, Picky) \| Metal Sonic
Zones		Splash Hill Zone \| Casino Street Zone \| Lost Labyrinth Zone \| Mad Gear Zone \| E.G.G. Station Zone \| Special Stages
Enemies		Asteron \| Batbot \| Bubbles \| Burrobot \| Buzzer \| Chopper \| Crawl \| Jaws \| Moto Bug \| Newtron \| Orbinaut (Uni Uni, Unidasu) \| Shellcracker \| Slicer
Bosses		Egg Mobile-H \| Lost Labyrinth Zone boss \| Catcher Eggman \| Flying Eggman \| Death Egg Robot
Moves/Techniques		Crouch \| Spin Jump \| Spin Attack \| Spin Dash \| Homing Attack
Gimmicks and obstacles		! \| Bumper \| Bumper wall \| Cannon \| Capsule \| Color Block \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Goal Plate \| Flipper \| Giant spear \| High-speed elevator \| Iron ball \| Minecart \| Jump Stand \| Slot machine \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Star Post \| Switch \| Vine \| Zip Line
Items		Air Bubble \| Chaos Emerald \| Giant Ring \| Ring \| Item box (Super Ring, Shield, Power Sneakers, Invincible, Extra Life) \| Time Bonus
Music		Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I Original Soundtrack \| Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I & II Original Soundtrack
Other		Corkscrew loop \| Death Egg Robot \| Level Select \| Shuttle loop \| Tails' rocket \| Time Attack \| Winding Tunnel