Vine

The Vine^[1] is a gimmick in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a type of plant vines that the player can use to swing through the air.

Description

The Vine is presented as a sturdy rope of green plant vines that hang from nearby trees or other forms of vegetation. They always appear in levels with forest themes.

In gameplay, the Vine serves as an option to traverse the Stages. When using the Vine, the playable character grabs onto it bottom by touching it. The Vine can then be swung, either automatically or manually. Releasing the Vine while swinging causes the playable character to be thrown to far-away locations, usually across bottomless pits. To maximize the length of the jump, it is advised the player releases the Vine at its apex. Releasing the vine too early will reduce the throwing distance.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

The vines made their first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and its lock-on continuation Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In this game, the vine is a thin plant string with a pole for grabbing onto attached at the end and appear only in Angel Island Zone. In gameplay, they swing back and fourth automatically. The player can grab onto it by simply touching it and get off by pressing the jump button.

Sonic Heroes

In Sonic Heroes, the Vine hangs between two floating ball-like yellow plants, making it look like a swing. They exclusively appear in Frog Forest and Lost Jungle. When using the Vine, the character currently leading the playable team will grab onto the Vine while the rest of the team hangs onto the leader's feet

To use the Vine in gameplay, the player just has to make contact with it and it will start swing automatically. To release the Vine, the player has to press //.

Shadow the Hedgehog

In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Vine resembles a swing between two floating rocks, like in Sonic Heroes. However, it is instead orange and flatten out on the bottom. It is only found in Death Ruins, where it automatically transports the player to the needed area when encountered.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the Vines are long, dangling ropes with a purple flower bulb at the end, which the playable characters hold onto. They can only be encountered in Tropical Jungle.

When using the Vine in this game, its flower bulb will glow when it is at the ideal swinging height. Additionally, every Vine has a different launching range. To use the Vine in gameplay, the player has to swing the Vine down and up with the Control Stick and press / to jump from it.

Sonic and the Secret Rings

In Sonic and the Secret Rings, the Vines are identified as ivy by Shahra. In this game, they resemble brown, segmented threads. They are only encountered in Levitated Ruin.

In gameplay, a Vine can be targeted with a Homing Attack. When using a Vine in gameplay, the player can press the jump button to release their grip on the Vine.

Sonic Rush Adventure

In Sonic Rush Adventure, Vines look like a string of spheres attached together and sprout from orange bulbs in the ceiling. They can only be encountered in Plant Kingdom. To use a Vine in gameplay, the player has to swing left and right using and press / to release.

Sonic Unleashed

In the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, Vines are called hanging vine.^[2] In this game, they have their appearance from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) but without the flower bulb. They are only encountered in Jungle Joyride.

A Vine can be target with the Homing Attack, but does not have a very long launching range. To use it in gameplay, the player has to swing left and right using the Control Stick and then press the jump button to release.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, Vines look much like green variants of their real-life counterparts, and grow from small floating blocks. They can only be encountered in Splash Hill Zone.

In gameplay, a Vine can be targeted with a Homing Attack. To use a Vine in gameplay, the player has to swing left and right using the Control Stick and then press the jump button to release.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Vines look and work exactly like the Vines in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. In this game, they appear in Knuckles' edition of Mirage Saloon Zone Act 1 in Mania Mode. They also appear in everyone's version of Mirage Saloon Zone Act 1 in the Sonic Mania Plus-exclusive Encore Mode

Variants

Swing Vine

The Swing Vine^[3] is a Vine gimmick that only appears in Green Forest and White Jungle in Sonic Adventure 2. These Vines are extremely long and serve as the player's transportation between sections of the Stages. When the playable characters touches them, they will grab hold of them and instantly be pulled with them as they swirl around massive trees at incredible speed, before being thrown off them and fall through the air to another area.

Bungie Vine

Main article: Bungie Vine

The Bungie Vine is a Vine gimmick that only appears in Green Forest and White Jungle in Sonic Adventure 2. These Vines resemble bungee cords which, when interacted with, will retract and fling the playable character through the air to another location.

References

1. ↑ Kaizen Media Group (1 June 2004). "Training". Sonic Heroes: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. p. 7. ISBN 978-0761544494.
2. ↑ Off Base Productions (18 November 2008). "Gather Rings At Top Speed!". Sonic Unleashed: Prima Official Game Guide. Prima Games. p. 85. ISBN 978-0761560005.
3. ↑ Prima Development (20 June 2001). "Specific objects for Sonic and Shadow". Sonic Adventure 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. p. 13. ISBN 978-0761536147.