Ring Spark Field

The Ring Spark Field^[1]^[2] is a technique in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. When performing this move, the user unleashes a powerful electric field at the cost of lowering their speed.

Description

The Ring Spark Field is a technique reserved for robots. When using this move, the user uses a radioactive force within them to create a powerful electrical field around them.^[2]^[3] In gameplay, anyone who touches the Ring Spark Field will take damage.

The downside to the Ring Spark Field is that it drains the user of so much of available energy that their mobility deceases considerably and leaves them worn down for a few moments.^[2]^[3]

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

The Ring Spark Field first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog CD during Metal Sonic's race with Sonic on Stardust Speedway. When performing the Ring Spark Field in this game, Metal Sonic flashes red while releasing blue electrical charges. However, the attack's range is very limited.

In gameplay, whenever Sonic comes close to Metal Sonic while he is moving along the ground, Metal Sonic unleashes his Ring Spark Field to halt Sonic's advances.

Sonic Generations

Metal-sonic-boss-02-min — The Ring Spark Field in *Sonic Generations*.

In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the Ring Spark Field appears in the game's recreation of Classic Metal Sonic and Classic Sonic's fight on Stardust Speedway. In this game, the Ring Spark Field is colored yellow, and has a much further range than in Sonic the Hedgehog CD. Unlike in Sonic the Hedgehog CD though, Metal Sonic uses the Ring Spark Field in the air rather that on the ground. However, he can send two columns of electricity down to the road from the bottom Ring Spark Field where Classic Sonic is running, thus limiting the space he can run on.

When Metal Sonic is about to use the Ring Spark Field, he charges up the attack, which is signified by a pulsating electrical field surrounding him, before finally attacking. After using it, he will be left vulnerable to attack for a while.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Ring Spark Field is used by Classic Metal Sonic during the boss battle with him in Stardust Speedway Zone Act 2. In this game, the appearance of the Ring Spark Field is the same as in Sonic the Hedgehog CD.

In gameplay, Metal Sonic will use the Ring Spark Field during the two running segments of his boss battle. When performing the move, Metal Sonic charges up the Ring Spark Field for a few seconds before launching himself towards the playable characters in an attempt to damage them. In 1.03 of Sonic Mania and the versions prior to it, Metal Sonic will also use the Ring Spark Field during the final phase of his boss battle; if Metal Sonic is off-screen, he will activate his Ring Spark Field and fly ahead to launch multiple sparks at the player from the air (although he is still prone to doing this move if the player is behind him when he is about to pull off a attack).

Trivia

In the Archie Comics, this ability is called "Burst Shield".

References

↑ Sumo Digital, Feral Interactive (26 February 2010). Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (PlayStation 3). Sege, Feral Interactive. "Metal Sonic's character profile: He can mimic Sonic's spin dash and homing attack, and thanks to the jet engine in his torso, he can beat Sonic's acceleration and equal Sonic's speed! He has extra abilities however, due to his mechanoid form. These include his Ring Spark Field, telescopic limbs, and a forcefield known as the Black Shield."
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 "El arma secreta de Dr. Robotnik" (in Spanish). Hobby Consolas magazine. August 1993. p. 21. "Another powerful attack Metal Sonic has is the "Ring Spark Field", a radioactive force that also has its disadvantages: the speed and energy of the robot decreases considerably."
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Very Crazy Penguin (21 May 2007). Metal Sonic profile. Very Crazy Penguin.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

Characters		Sonic \| Tails* \| Amy \| Dr. Eggman \| Metal Sonic \| Animals (Flicky, Pocky, Ricky, Pecky, Sheep, Swallow)
Rounds		Palmtree Panic \| Collision Chaos \| Tidal Tempest \| Quartz Quadrant \| Wacky Workbench \| Stardust Speedway \| Metallic Madness \| Special Stage \| Bonus Stage \| R2 \| Desert Dazzle*
Enemies		Amenbo \| Antlion \| Bigbom \| Dango \| Ga \| Hotaru \| Kabasira \| Kanabun \| Kemusi \| Kumo-Kumo \| Minomusi \| Noro-Noro \| Robot Ant \| Robot Bee \| Robot Beetle \| Robot Butterfly \| Robot Mantis \| Robot Mosquito \| Sasori \| Scarab \| Semi \| Taga-Taga \| Tamabboh \| Tentou \| Tonbo \| Yago
Bosses		EGG-HVC-001 \| Collision Chaos boss \| Tidal Tempest boss \| Quartz Quadrant boss \| Wacky Workbench boss \| Metal Sonic \| Metallic Madness boss \| Final Fever*
Moves/ Techniques	Playable characters	Propeller Flying* \| Spin Jump \| Super Spin Attack \| Super Spin Dash \| Super Peel Out
Moves/ Techniques	NPCs	Ring Spark Field \| V. Maximum Overdrive Attack
Gimmicks and obstacles		Breakaway Bumper \| Bumper \| Chopper Block \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Dash Zone \| Electric Generator \| Electrical conduit \| Emerald Block \| Fan Block \| Flipper \| Flywheel \| Goal Plate \| High-speed warp tube \| Iron ball \| Rotating platform \| Seesaw \| Size Beam \| Snowblower \| Spring \| Spring Pole \| Switch \| Time Warp Plate
Objects		Air Bubble \| Capsule \| Lamppost \| Little Planet flowers \| Metal Sonic Projector \| Monitor (Extra Life, Invincible, Power Sneakers, Super Ring, Shield) \| Ring \| Robot transporter \| Super Ring \| Time Bonus \| Time Stone \| UFO
Music	Songs	Cosmic Eternity - Believe in Yourself \| Sonic - You Can Do Anything \| Sonic Boom
Music	Albums	Sonic the Hedgehog Boom \| Sonic the Hedgehog CD Original Soundtrack 20th Anniversary Edition \| Sonic CD (vinyl album)
Other		Debug Mode \| Freeze \| Little Planet \| Never Lake \| Shuttle loop \| Time Attack \| Winding Tunnel *Only included in the 2011 rerelease.

Sonic Generations

Playable characters		Modern Sonic (Modern Super Sonic) \| Classic Sonic (Classic Super Sonic)
Non-playable characters		Dr. Eggman \| Time Eater \| Tails \| Classic Tails \| Amy \| Knuckles \| Shadow \| Cream \| Cheese \| Silver \| Blaze \| Omochao \| Team Chaotix (Espio, Vector, Charmy) \| Orbot \| Cubot \| Animals (Flicky, Picky, Pecky, Cucky)
Wisps		Cyan** \| Orange* \| Pink* \| Red**
Stages	Console/PC*	Green Hill \| Chemical Plant \| Sky Sanctuary \| Speed Highway \| City Escape \| Seaside Hill \| Crisis City \| Rooftop Run \| Planet Wisp \| Casino Night
Stages	Nintendo 3DS**	Green Hill \| Casino Night \| Mushroom Hill \| Emerald Coast \| Radical Highway \| Water Palace \| Tropical Resort
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* \| Butterdroid** \| Buzz Bomber \| Buzzer \| Chopper \| Cop Speeder* \| Crabmeat \| Crawl \| Dragonfly \| Flapper** \| Egg Chaser* \| Egg Diver** \| Egg Fighter* \| Egg Fighter: Sword* \| Egg Launcher (H)* \| Egg Launcher (H+V)* \| Egg Launcher (V)* \| Egg Pawn \| Egg Pawn (spear) \| Eggrobo* \| Giant Chopper* \| Gold Beetle** \| Grabber* \| Gun Beetle* \| Gun Hunter \| Iblis's Minions (Iblis Biter, Iblis Taker, Iblis Worm)* \| Kiki \| Klagen \| Madmole \| Mono Beetle \| Moto Bug \| Mushmeanie \| Newtron \| Rhinotank** \| Sandworm* \| Spinner \| Spiny* \| Sprinkler* \| Sweeper** \| Thunder Spinner
Bosses	Console/PC*	Metal Sonic \| Death Egg Robot \| Shadow the Hedgehog \| Perfect Chaos \| Silver the Hedgehog \| Egg Dragoon \| Time Eater
Bosses	Nintendo 3DS**	Metal Sonic \| Big Arm \| Shadow the Hedgehog \| Biolizard \| Silver the Hedgehog \| Egg Emperor \| Time Eater
Moves/ Techniques	Playable characters	Air Boost \| Bound Jump* \| Crouch \| Double Jump* \| Drift* \| Freestyle Tricks* \| Grind Step \| Grinding \| Homing Attack \| Hop \| Jump Dash \| Kick boost \| Lightspeed Dash* \| Mid-Air Dash* \| Quick Step* \| Boost \| Slide \| Skydiving* \| Spin Dash \| Spin Jump \| Stomp \| Super Sonic Boost \| Super Sonic Missile \| Super Sonic Spinning \| Wall Jump
Moves/ Techniques	NPCs	Chaos Spear \| 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		Cyan Laser** \| Orange Rocket* \| Pink Spikes* \| Red Burst**
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 \| Cart \| Cloud* \| Conveyor Belt** \| Crusher \| Dash Panel \| Dash Rail \| Dash Ring \| Dimensional Bomb \| Explosion Trap \| Fan \| Flipper \| Four-way Cannon* \| Gear Platform \| Gondola* \| GUN Military Truck* \| Hanging Bell* \| Heart bomb* \| Helicopter* \| High-speed warp tube \| Horizontal Bar \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel (plate) \| Jump Panel (ramp) \| Kao \| Laser field \| Meteorite \| Movable box \| Mushroom \| Pole Elevator \| Prism \| Propeller \| Propeller Spring \| Pulley \| Rainbow Ring \| Rocket \| Route Signal* \| Seed Propeller** \| Seesaw \| Slot machine \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Spring Pole \| Spike Trap \| Spinning Top \| Spinning Platform \| Spotlight \| Switch \| Trap Spring \| Wall Jump Block \| Warp Point \| Wide spring \| Zip Line
Objects		Air Bubble \| Boss Gate \| Boss Gate Key* \| Buoy \| Capsule \| Chaos Emerald \| Container (Case, Spike Block, Steel Container, Unbreakable Container, Wooden Container) \| Crank \| 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 \| Sphere \| Star Post \| Stomping Shoes \| Time Bonus \| Wisp Capsule
English voice actors		Roger Craig Smith (Sonic) \| Mike Pollock (Eggman) \| Kate Higgins (Tails) \| Travis Willingham (Knuckles) \| Cindy Robinson (Amy) \| Kirk Thornton (Shadow) \| Quinton Flynn (Silver) \| Laura Bailey (Omochao, Blaze) \| Karen Strassman (Rouge) \| Michelle Ruff (Cream) \| Keith Silverstein (Vector) \| Troy Baker (Espio) \| Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Charmy)
Japanese voice actors		Junichi Kanemaru (Sonic) \| Chikao Ōtsuka (Eggman) \| Ryo Hirohashi (Tails (Modern)) \| Takuto Yoshinaga (Tails (Classic)) \| Nobutoshi Canna (Knuckles) \| Taeko Kawata (Amy) \| Koji Yusa (Shadow) \| Rumi Ochiai (Rouge) \| Daisuke Ono (Silver) \| Nao Takamori (Blaze) \| Sayaka Aoki (Cream) \| Kenta Miyake (Vector) \| Yuuki Masuda (Espio) \| Youko Teppozuka (Charmy) \| Etsuko Kozakura (Omochao)
Music	Songs	Back 2 Back \| Escape from the City* \| Vengeance is Mine** \| You're My Hero
Music	Albums	Blue Blur: Sonic Generations Original Soundtrack \| Sonic Generations: 20 Years of Sonic Music \| History of the 1st Stage Original Soundtrack Blue Edition \| 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 Robot* \| Egg Dragoon* \| Egg Gun \| Egg Mobile \| Egg Spear \| Havok* \| Health Gauge** \| Lair of the Time Eater \| Miles Electric \| Orca \| Perfect Bonus \| Rank \| Skill Shop* \| Sonic Generations (manga) \| Sonic Generations of Skate \| Statue Room* \| Time Attack \| Tornado-1 \| Totem Pole \| White Space \| Winding Tunnel \| Wisp Gauge** Console/PC version only *Nintendo 3DS version only

Sonic Mania

Playable characters		Sonic the Hedgehog (Super Sonic) \| Miles "Tails" Prower (Super Tails) \| Knuckles the Echidna (Super Knuckles) \| Mighty the Armadillo* (Super Mighty)* \| Ray the Flying Squirrel* (Super Ray)*
Non-playable characters		Dr. Eggman \| Hard Boiled Heavies (Heavy King, Heavy Gunner, Heavy Shinobi, Heavy Magician, Heavy Rider) \| Phantom Heavies (Phantom King, Phantom Gunner, Phantom Shinobi, Phantom Magician, Phantom Rider) \| Metal Sonic (Giga Metal) \| Animals (Becky, Cucky, Flicky, Locky, Micky, Pecky, Picky, Pocky, Ricky, Rocky, Tocky, Wocky) \| Jimmy
Zones		Angel Island Zone* \| Green Hill Zone \| Chemical Plant Zone \| Studiopolis Zone \| Flying Battery Zone \| Press Garden Zone \| Stardust Speedway Zone \| Hydrocity Zone \| Mirage Saloon Zone \| Oil Ocean Zone \| Lava Reef Zone \| Metallic Madness Zone \| Titanic Monarch Zone \| Egg Reverie Zone \| Special Stage \| Bonus Stage \| Pinball Stage*
Enemies		Armadiloid \| Aquis \| Asteron \| Ball Hog \| Batbrain \| Blaster \| Blastoid \| Bloominator* \| Bugernaut \| Bumpalo \| Buzz Bomber \| Cactula \| Catakiller, Jr. \| Chopper \| Clucker \| Crabmeat \| Dango \| Dragonfly \| Eggrobo \| Fireworm \| Flasher mk.II \| Gohla \| Grabber \| Hotaru \| IceBomba \| Iwamodoki \| Jawz \| Jellygnite \| Juggle Saw \| Kabasira \| Kanabun \| Madmole \| Matryoshka-Bom \| Mega Chopper \| Mic Drop \| Monkey Dude* \| Moto Bug \| Newtron \| Octus \| Pointdexter \| Rattlekiller \| Rexon \| RhinoBot* \| Robot Bee \| Robot Beetle \| Roller mk.II \| Scarab \| Sentry Bug \| Shutterbug \| Silver Sonic \| Spiny \| Splats \| Sweep \| Technosqueek \| Toxomister \| Tubinaut \| Turbo Spiker \| Turbo Turtle \| Vultron \| Wall Crawl \| Woodrow
Bosses	Mini-bosses	DD Wrecker \| Amoeba Droid \| Heavy Gunner \| Big Squeeze \| Shiversaw \| Hotaru Hi-Watt \| Dive Eggman \| Uber Caterkiller \| Meter Droid \| Drillerdroid \| Egg Pistons mk.II \| Crimson Eye
Bosses	Zone bosses	Death Egg Robot \| Mean Bean Machine \| Weather Globe \| Spider Mobile \| Heavy Shinobi \| Metal Sonic \| Laundro-Mobile \| Heavy Magician \| Mega Octus \| Heavy Rider \| Heavy King \| Gachapandora \| Phantom Egg \| Phantom King and Klepto Mobile
Moves/Techniques		Air Glide* \| Bounce Jump \| Climb \| Double Jump \| Drop Dash \| Fireball Spin Dash \| Glide \| Hammer Drop* \| Insta-Shield \| Propeller Flying \| Ring Spark Field \| Spin Attack \| Spin Dash \| Spin Jump \| Super Peel Out \| V. Maximum Overdrive Attack
Gimmicks and obstacles		Beanstalk \| Bomb \| Bumper \| Bungee Rope \| Bumper wall \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Dash Panel \| Electrical conduit \| Fan \| Fireball Cannon \| Flipper \| Flywheel \| Goal Plate \| High-speed warp tube \| Ice Spring \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel \| Platform-raising Wheel \| Pulley \| Ruby Mist \| Seesaw \| Size Beam \| Snowblower \| Spikes \| Spring \| Switch \| Transport \| Vine \| Zip Line
Objects		Air Bubble \| Capsule \| Chaos Emerald \| Giant Ring \| Giant spear \| Item Box (1-UP, Blue Shield, Bubble Shield, Character, Hyper Ring, Eggman Mark, Fire Shield, Invincible, Lightning Shield, Player Swap, Power Sneakers, Random, S, Super Ring) \| Little Planet flowers \| Master Emerald \| Metal Sonic Projector \| Medallion \| Ring \| Robot transporter \| Schrodinger's Capsule \| Sphere \| Star Circle \| Star Post \| Time Warp Plate \| UFO \| Warp Point
Music		Sonic Mania (vinyl album) \| Sonic Mania Original Soundtrack (Selected Edition) \| Sonic Mania Plus Original Soundtrack
Other		Angel Island \| Auto Running \| Continue \| Death Egg Robot \| Debug Mode \| Egg Mobile \| Freeze \| Hang Glider \| Klepto Mobile \| Level Select \| Little Planet \| Mega Mack \| Perfect Bonus \| Phantom Ruby \| Rock Drill \| Shuttle loop \| Sonic Mania Adventures (Sonic Returns, Sonic and Tails, & Knuckles, Mighty and Ray, Metal Mayhem, From: A. Rose, The Complete Mini-Series) \| Time Attack \| Time Over \| Tornado \| Winding Tunnel Appears in Sonic Mania Plus* only

[racing-0] Sumo Digital, Feral Interactive (26 February 2010). Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (PlayStation 3). Sege, Feral Interactive. "Metal Sonic's character profile: He can mimic Sonic's spin dash and homing attack, and thanks to the jet engine in his torso, he can beat Sonic's acceleration and equal Sonic's speed! He has extra abilities however, due to his mechanoid form. These include his Ring Spark Field, telescopic limbs, and a forcefield known as the Black Shield."

[Magazin-1] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 "El arma secreta de Dr. Robotnik" (in Spanish). Hobby Consolas magazine. August 1993. p. 21. "Another powerful attack Metal Sonic has is the "Ring Spark Field", a radioactive force that also has its disadvantages: the speed and energy of the robot decreases considerably."

[Metal_Sonic_12-2] 3.0 ^3.1 Very Crazy Penguin (21 May 2007). Metal Sonic profile. Very Crazy Penguin.

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[2]

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