Know something we don't about Sonic? Don't hesitate in signing up today! It's fast, free, and easy, and you will get a wealth of new abilities, and it also hides your IP address from public view. We are in need of content, and everyone has something to contribute!
In many earlier installments of the series, the player has to gain enough of speed and press down on the {{Directional Pad}} to perform the Spin Attack. After earlier installments for Sega Genesis, this simple button function is also used in all platformer titles where the ability has been featured. These include platform games for [[Master System]] and [[Game Gear]], ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' games, ''[[Sonic Rush]]'' games, all episodes of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4]]'' and [[Nintendo DS]] version of ''[[Sonic Colors]]''. In ''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'', the player has to gain running speed and press {{B Button (Sega Genesis)}} button to [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]] perform Spin Attack. In ''[[Sonic R]]'', the player has to press down on the {{Directional Pad}} to perform Spin Dash Roll as Sonic, Tails and [[Knuckles]]. In ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' Tails is the only character to perform Spin Attack, where he regularly curls into ball. After ''Sonic Adventure'', Spin Attack as separated movement is notably absent in 3D titles, but playable characters can perform it by doing Spin Jump and [[Spin Dash]] abilities. In these games, Sonic or any other playable character has given different colored aura around them during the ball mode. However to this point, Spin Attack has returned once as separated movement for Classic Sonic in all versions of ''[[Sonic Generations]]'' as it functions similarly as in many installments. It is also set to be featured in ''[[Sonic Runners]]''.
In many earlier installments of the series, the player has to gain enough of speed and press down on the {{Directional Pad}} to perform the Spin Attack. After earlier installments for Sega Genesis, this simple button function is also used in all platformer titles where the ability has been featured. These include platform games for [[Master System]] and [[Game Gear]], ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' games, ''[[Sonic Rush]]'' games, all episodes of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4]]'' and [[Nintendo DS]] version of ''[[Sonic Colors]]''. In ''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'', the player has to gain running speed and press {{B Button (Sega Genesis)}} button to [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]] perform Spin Attack. In ''[[Sonic R]]'', the player has to press down on the {{Directional Pad}} to perform Spin Dash Roll as Sonic, Tails and [[Knuckles]]. In ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' Tails is the only character to perform Spin Attack, where he regularly curls into ball. After ''Sonic Adventure'', Spin Attack as separated movement is notably absent in 3D titles, but playable characters can perform it by doing Spin Jump and [[Spin Dash]] abilities. In these games, Sonic or any other playable character has given different colored aura around them during the ball mode. However to this point, Spin Attack has returned once as separated movement for Classic Sonic in all versions of ''[[Sonic Generations]]'' as it functions similarly as in many installments. It is also set to be featured in ''[[Sonic Runners]]''.
−
==Name Variations==
+
==Name variations==
−
Spin Attack has multiple amount of names given in instruction manuals. In early installments of the series for the [[Sega Genesis]], ability is first called as '''Super Sonic Spin Attack''' and '''Super Spin Attack''' in North American instruction manuals. In Japan, Spin Attack is named simply as {{Nihongo|'''Spin'''|スピン|Supin}}. ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]'', Spin Attack is called {{Nihongo|'''Super Spin'''|回転|Kaiten|lit. "Rotation"}} and in ''[[Sonic R]]'' along with [[Spin Dash]], Spin Attack is called as '''Spin Dash Roll'''.
+
Spin Attack has multiple names given in instruction manuals. In early installments of the series for the [[Sega Genesis]], the ability is first called as the '''Super Sonic Spin Attack''' and '''Super Spin Attack''' in the North American instruction manuals. In Japan, the Spin Attack is named simply as {{Nihongo|'''Spin'''|スピン|Supin}}. In ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]'', the Spin Attack is called the {{Nihongo|'''Super Spin'''|回転|Kaiten|lit. "Rotation"}} and in ''[[Sonic R]]'' along with the [[Spin Dash]], the Spin Attack is called the '''Spin Dash Roll'''.
−
In ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' games, [[Spin Jump]] is miscalled Spin Attack in instruction manuals. In some handheld games, Spin Dash and Spin Attack have been connected as same movement in instruction manuals and guides.
+
In ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' and ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' games, the[[Spin Jump]] is miscalled Spin Attack in instruction manuals. In some handheld games, the Spin Dash and Spin Attack have been connected as the same move in instruction manuals and guides.
==Variants==
==Variants==
Revision as of 13:02, 24 February 2015
The Spin Attack (スピンアタック,Supin Atakku?), also called Rolling Attack (ローリングアタック,Roringu Atakku?), is an trademark move used in many games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, which first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), and serve notably as the basis of several attacks in the early main installments of the series, such as mid-air variation Spin Jump, Spin Dash and Homing Attack. It consists of the user curling into a ball while rolling along the ground. When used at a very high speed, the user is also able to mow down breakable obstacles and enemies.
Spin Attack is one of basic maneuvers in games, that the player can utilize after gaining enough of running speed. Once activating it, Sonic or any other playable character becomes tight rounded ball, that keeps moving forward and rotation speed increases depending how fast he/she is going. Some playable characters will have detailed Spin Attack animation such as Tails' tails and Cream's rabbit ears fluttering behind the curling ball. Characters like Espio whirls around like a tornado and Vector curls into a spiky wheel when they perform Spin Attack in Knuckles' Chaotix. Additionally, Blaze has her own variant of the Spin Attack called Burst Dash, where she becomes a tornado of flames.
The functionality of Spin Attack is variable despite its simplicity. In the motion, the playable character can smash through items like Item Boxes and break through obstacles such as rarefied walls. Spin Attack can be used to attack into enemies that move on the ground or float on the way. However enemies can damage or stop the player on Spin Attack mode, if they hold any shield, projectile shooting weapons or have damaging parts on their body such as spikes.
Depending the place or way how to player uses Spin Attack, it can make the playable character faster than in his/her running state. The player can utilize both game's level design and momentum physics by rolling down on hills or different type of ramps. With the high speed, Spin Attack would make easy rolling through shuttle loops, going up on steep hills or ceilings. However if the player does not have enough of speed, he/she will usually roll backwards and try again on gathering momentum. The player will lose rolling speed easily on the flat terrain without any slopes and hillocks. Certain Zone gimmicks can make playable characters into Spin Attack mode such as winding tunnels, transport tubes and high-speed elevators, as they may roll through sections where the gimmicks are utilized. Certain objects such as certain types of Dash Panels and Cannons can turn playable characters on curling mode.
By pressing to opposite direction on the , the rolling speed decreases to the point where the player stops moving. While in this curling mode, the player can jump to the air, However, the momentum will decrease drastically, if the player presses the forward during this. If the player tries to perform Spin Attack at one point standing, he/she will rather crouch. Spin Attack shares some of its attributes with mid-air variation Spin Jump, if the playable character rolls down from the cliff or being launched to the air, including the doing high bounce by pressing the jump button down. In Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Advance 3 games, .
In many earlier installments of the series, the player has to gain enough of speed and press down on the to perform the Spin Attack. After earlier installments for Sega Genesis, this simple button function is also used in all platformer titles where the ability has been featured. These include platform games for Master System and Game Gear, Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, Sonic Advance games, Sonic Rush games, all episodes of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors. In Sonic 3D Blast, the player has to gain running speed and press button to Sonic perform Spin Attack. In Sonic R, the player has to press down on the to perform Spin Dash Roll as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. In Sonic Adventure Tails is the only character to perform Spin Attack, where he regularly curls into ball. After Sonic Adventure, Spin Attack as separated movement is notably absent in 3D titles, but playable characters can perform it by doing Spin Jump and Spin Dash abilities. In these games, Sonic or any other playable character has given different colored aura around them during the ball mode. However to this point, Spin Attack has returned once as separated movement for Classic Sonic in all versions of Sonic Generations as it functions similarly as in many installments. It is also set to be featured in Sonic Runners.
Name variations
Spin Attack has multiple names given in instruction manuals. In early installments of the series for the Sega Genesis, the ability is first called as the Super Sonic Spin Attack and Super Spin Attack in the North American instruction manuals. In Japan, the Spin Attack is named simply as Spin (スピン,Supin?). In Knuckles' Chaotix, the Spin Attack is called the Super Spin (回転,Kaiten?, lit. "Rotation") and in Sonic R along with the Spin Dash, the Spin Attack is called the Spin Dash Roll.
In Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Advance games, theSpin Jump is miscalled Spin Attack in instruction manuals. In some handheld games, the Spin Dash and Spin Attack have been connected as the same move in instruction manuals and guides.
The Spin Jump is probably the most commonly used variation of the Spin Attack. Also called the Rolling Jump, the Spin Jump enables the user to curl up into the Spin Attack while jumping to attack midair enemies on contact. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic does not use the Spin Jump merely by jumping, even though he curls up during the jump, but rather as one of his midair attacks.
The Spin Dash, also called Super Spin Dash, is Sonic's trademark move allows the user to instantly launch themselves forward into a high speed Spin Attack from a stationary position. The user crouches, performs an oval-shaped Spin Attack to charge (this part is dubbed the Spin Charge), then dashes off in a high speed rolling attack. The Spin Dash is used to attack enemies or break through walls, as well as dash up steep slopes without having to build up running momentum.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic has 3 variations of this move; his down special (the original attack), his forward special (a slower dash that does not need to charge and begins with a hop to aid in recovery), and his down smash (a rapid Spin Dash back and forth). This attack is also a frequently used one throughout the Sonic series.
Originating in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Insta-shield causes Sonic to rapidly spin in the air, fast enough to briefly generate a shield of wind. For the split second it lasts, it extends the range of his standard Spin Attack and grants him temporary invincibility. This attack was not seen again until Sonic Advance due to it being replaced by the Homing Attack in Sonic Adventure. In Sonic Advance 3, Tails could also perform the Insta-shield when he was partnered with Knuckles.
The Bounce Attack can only be used by Sonic. It sends the user downward rapidly in a Spin Attack, and then bounces him/her back up. It is used to attack enemies below the user, as well as gain extra height when used repeatedly. The user must have first obtained the Bounce Bracelet (or, in some games, the Aqua Shield) to perform this attack.
The Homing Attack debuted in Sonic Adventure. It does what the name implies; whilst in the air, the character performs a high-speed Spin Dash towards the nearest enemy or Item Box. If there is no target nearby, the character just dashes forward in the air (dubbed the Jump Dash). Although the Homing Attack debuted in Sonic Adventure, similar attacks could be performed in Sonic 3 and Sonic 3D Blast: Flickies' Island with the help of special power-ups. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic uses this as his standard special move, albeit with a brief pause to charge up the dash. This attack is probably the second most commonly used variation of the Spin Attack.
The Somersault attack is exclusive to Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog, Amy, and Metal Sonic. The user simply somersaults forward and attacks along the ground. It's not nearly as fast as the Spin Dash, but it's done as soon as you press the Melee Attack button, so it's ideal for close combat. It can be upgraded with the Flame Ring to become the Fire Somersault, which surrounds the user with fire while executing it. It is also commonly used to slide underneath hazards and into small openings in walls.
The Light Speed Dash also debuted in Sonic Adventure. It's exclusive to Speed-type characters. The move allows the user to perform a Spin Dash through a trail of Rings at the speed of light, and would also attack enemies in the line of Rings. In order to perform this move though, the user must have first obtained the Light Speed Shoes, which, according to Sonic Unleashed, are made from the same material from Rings themselves.
Depending on the game, the Light Speed Dash may not involve the Spin Attack.
The Light Speed Attack is exclusive to Sonic and Shadow. This move allows the user to use the Light Speed Dash on enemies, and works best when a lot of enemies are around the user. The user must have fully charged a Spin Dash before being able to perform the move, as a lot of energy is used when executing it. The user must have also obtained the Ancient Light power-up to perform the move or using Sonic Overdrive in Sonic Heroes.
More of a variant of Spin Attack and Spin Dash, the Burst Dash is a move used by Blaze the Cat. When performing this moves, Blaze stands on her feet and charges up fire below them. She then moves forward while spinning on the tip of his toes like a top, diagonally pivoted, and enveloping herself in a cloak of flames, turning her into a fire tornado.
The Rolling Attack is a move in the mobile game, Sonic Dash. The move is similar to the Spin Attack, however you can keep it moving for as long as you want by just repeatedly sliding the touch screen down.
The Spin Attack has also made several appearances in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs, published by Archie Comics. In this media, it is one of Sonic the Hedgehog's signature attacks and is sometimes called the Sonic Spin.
In the comic series' earlier issues, the Spin Attack was only used by Sonic and was one of his most defined maneuvers. Over time though, the Spin Attack continued to evolve as Sonic used it to develop the Spin Dash and for other applications. It was eventually used by others charactersas well, such as Shadow the Hedgehog, Scourge the Hedgehog and even Tails. Following the Super Genesis Wave, the Spin Attack has become a common maneuver that is performed by several characters, such as Knuckles the Echidna, Big the Cat and Antoine D'Coolette.
The Spin Attack is seen several times in Sonic X. In this media, it is one of the more powerful attacks used by both Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog and the X Robot, but also rarely by other characters in certain situations. The users are also shown performing what resemble variants of the Spin Attack, including the Spin Dash and the Homing Attack.
In the beginning of the series, Sonic could only perform the Spin Attack whenever he used a Ring. At the beginning of the second season (second half of the first series) however, he became able to use the Spin Attack at will.
Spin Attack is also used in the Sonic Boom franchise by Sonic. When using it, Sonic rolls into a ball and surrounds himself into a blue aura that he uses to attack his enemies at high speed. Like in the games, he leaves a small light in his wake when using it for a short time.
Trivia
Certain characters are not able to perform the Spin Attack, most likely due the lack of agile. Notably, Amy Rose has been able to evolve to perform Spin Attack first time in Sonic Advance 2. Before that, she wasn't able to do that.
Spin Attack in Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors and console versions of Sonic Generations, has a strange phenomenon, that effect to player's momentum. The player's speed notably decreases if the player let go the after performing the Spin Attack. The playable character would not normally curl down on hills or through the loops. Even in some previous mentioned games, the player can't roll on certain ramps on the medium speed and may stop rolling at the mid-point of it. This may depend on how the game's momentum physics are constructed in these games and it is somewhat fixed in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.
As mentioned in the article, Tails' tails are seen swinging behind his curlind ball mode, but in games such as Sonic Chaos, Sonic Triple Trouble and Sonic Adventure, Tails' Spin Attack is the same as Sonic with his tails completely missing possibly due the technical limitations or unknown reasons.
Notes
↑ 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6Certain characters aren't able to perform Spin Attack as separated move, but they can curl into ball mode by doing any other variation of the move such as Spin Jump, Spin Dash or Homing Attack.
, the rolling speed decreases to the point where the player stops moving. While in this curling mode, the player can jump to the air, However, the momentum will decrease drastically, if the player presses the 
button to Sonic perform Spin Attack. In Sonic R, the player has to press down on the 
.jpg){kind=link}
after performing the Spin Attack. The playable character would not normally curl down on hills or through the loops. Even in some previous mentioned games, the player can't roll on certain ramps on the medium speed and may stop rolling at the mid-point of it. This may depend on how the game's momentum physics are constructed in these games and it is somewhat fixed in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.