Spin Attack

The Spin Attack is a move used in many games in the Sonic series. The move involves the character curling up into a ball like a hedgehog. It first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog.

What it does

The attack's signature move involves the character leaping into the air and rolling. It remains virtually unchanged in all games excluding SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, in which the move does not attack enemies.

Variants

Super Sonic Spin Attack

In most 2-D Sonic games, Sonic Heroes, and Unleashed, characters could curl up into a ball while moving. It increased the player's speed and destroyed all enemies in the way. In the Wii version of Unleashed, Sonic had to use the Sonic Boost on a Dash Panel in order to perform it. In Smash Bros. Brawl this is Sonic's dash attack.

Somersault

Only performable in Sonic Adventure 2 and the Sonic Advance games, Sonic/Shadow could somersault (and, by pressing the Attack button again, slide). The attack is similar to the Super Sonic Spin Attack, but it does not increase the player's speed nor does the player have to be moving to perform it (and is somewhat stronger), making the attack ideal for close combat.

Spin Dash

Main Article: Spin Dash

Performable in almost all 2-D Sonic games and very few 3-D games, the attack involves the character crouching, spinning in a ball while remaining immobile to charge, and letting go of the crouch button to spin rapidly in the direction the character is facing. It is very useful for completing levels quickly. However many times you tap the attack button determines how fast you go. In the Wii version of Unleashed, Sonic could charge the attack when the screen had "2" and release when he said "GO!" at the beginning of a level. In Smash Bros. Brawl this is Sonic's ↓+Special move.

Amy Dash

This is basically a version of the Spin Dash exclusive to Amy Rose. You perform the move exactly like the Spin Dash. However, Amy's charging pose is different as she runs in place rather than spinning. Amy can only use the move in Sonic Advance 2 and Advance 3. In Sonic Advance 3, Amy can choose either Sonic or Knuckles to perform this move. With Knuckles, however, Amy does not spin rapidly in the direction she's facing, but runs rapidly instead, similar to the Super Sonic Peel Out.

Double Spin Attack

Originating in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Double Spin Attack causes Sonic to rapidly spin in the air; fast enough that he is covered in a shield of wind. The shield grants Sonic a split-second of invincibility and attacks enemies nearby. This attack was not seen again until Sonic Advance due to it being replaced by the Jump Dash/Homing Attack in Sonic Adventure. The attack was originally known as the "Insta-Shield".

Lightspeed Dash

Exclusive to Sonic and Shadow, the player must hold down the attack button until Sonic says "READY?". After he says "READY?", when Sonic approaches a trail of Rings, the player must let go of the button (which causes Sonic to say "GO!"). Sonic will then travel through the trail of Rings at the speed of light. In all games following Sonic Adventure, the player does not need to charge the attack in order to perform it. This move is known as "Ring Tunnel" in the anime.

Article is incomplete.