The wide spring[1] (3連バネ 3-Ren?, lit. "triple spring"), also known as the Long Spring (ロングスプリング[2] Rongu Supuringu?), is a gimmick that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a variation of the regular Spring, but with three springs on one plate.
Description[]
The wide spring's standard appearance is a red oblong plate with three blue circles aligned on it, each containing a yellow five-pointed star. The finer details of this gimmick have varied from game to game.
In gameplay, the wide spring's primary function is to launch the playable character into the air when touched. Their wide surface makes it easier to make contact with them than normal Springs as well. Unlike the standard Spring however, the wide spring can only launch the playable character directly upward. It may also have additional functionalities in different games. The player can also use the Homing Attack to target the wide springs from a distance.
Game appearances[]
Sonic Adventure[]
The wide springs first appeared in Sonic Adventure, and later in its enhanced port Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut. In this game, the wide springs have their standard design, except that their red plates narrow in in-between their bumper symbols.
Wide springs only appear in the Action Stages. However, they do not appear often, being only found in specific Action Stages, such as Twinkle Park. Also, when sent flying by the wide spring, the playable character will enter their spinball form.
Sonic Adventure 2[]
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its enhanced port Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the wide spring is called the Long Spring (ロングスプリング Rongu Supuringu?). In this game, their appearance was slightly modified, their red plate being shaped more like a rectangle. They also received a blue line around their lower edge.
In gameplay, the wide springs only appear in the High-Speed Action and Hunting Stages. Also, when sent flying by the wide spring, the playable character will enter their spinball form.
In the multiplayer mode of Sonic Adventure 2, if Metal Sonic bounces off a wide spring while performing the Somersault at the same time, he will be propelled in his standing animation.
Sonic Heroes[]
In Sonic Heroes, the wide springs' appearance was slightly modified again; instead of being completely oblong, the wide springs have rounded ends. They also have a white line around their lower edge.
In this game, the wide spring is a common gimmick. In gameplay, after touching one of the Bumper symbols on the wide spring, said symbol will glow blue. Should the player light up all three Bumper symbols on the wide spring, they will be rewarded with a special power-up, like an Invincible, a Rings power-up of random value, or a Power Core. If the player leads with a Speed character and targets a wide spring with a Homing Attack, they will always hit (and light up) the middle Bumper symbol. Also, like in Sonic Adventure 2, when sent launched by the wide spring, the playable character will enter their spinball form, allowing them to use the appropriate mid-air actions that require the player to be in mid-Spin Jump.
Shadow the Hedgehog[]
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the wide spring's design was changed again. In this game, their red plates have scratched and rusty surfaces, and their Bumper symbols have been replaced with dark green circles.
When utilizing the wide springs in gameplay, they will make the playable character spin without an aura surrounding them. The playable characters can also still do the Homing Attack after being launched into the air by a wide spring.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)[]
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the wide springs possess their overall standard design, but with some extra details added to it. In addition to possessing a gray base on the bottom of their red plate, they also have a blue line along their sides.
When utilizing the wide springs in gameplay, the playable characters will be sent flying without entering their spinball form. However, the playable characters can still use the Homing Attack after being launched up by a wide spring.
In the Very Hard Mode Action Stages, a wide spring can sometimes appear out of nowhere if a group of enemies in an area is destroyed.
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity[]
In Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the wide springs retain their design from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), meaning they possess their standard design with a gray base and a blue line along their sides.
When interacting with a wide spring in gameplay, the player will be launched towards a series of smaller Springs or other gimmicks that lets them traverse along the course, usually as a form of shortcut. However, the playable characters cannot interact with the wide springs unless they are running along the course on-foot or are under the effects of the Attack power-up item.
Sonic Unleashed[]
In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version and Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, the wide springs possess their standard design, complete with a yellow line along their lower edge..
In Sonic Unleashed, the wide springs only appear in the daytime levels. When utilizing a wide spring in gameplay, Sonic will, like in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), not enter his spinball form when sent flying. However, he can still use the Homing Attack after being launched by a wide spring.
Sonic and the Black Knight[]
In Sonic and the Black Knight, the wide springs possess their standard design, although their colors have faded a little.
In this game, the wide springs only appear in the Legacy Missions. When utilizing a wide spring in gameplay, the player will be awarded with "Jump Bonus" points. The playable characters will also not enter their spinball form when sent flying by the wide springs. However, they can still launch the Homing Dash after using the wide spring.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[]
In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, the wide springs were given their design from Sonic Heroes.
In this game, the wide springs only appear in the Individual and Team versions of the Dream Snowboard Cross event. When utilizing a wide spring in gameplay, the playable character will not start spinning around like a ball. Instead, it just serves to grant the playable characters some elevation.
Sonic Colors[]
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, and the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the wide springs' design is identical to the one they had in Sonic Unleashed, being the standard-looking wide spring, but with a yellow line along their lower edge. In gameplay, wide springs appear more often than regular Springs. In addition, the playable characters will not enter their spinball form when bouncing off a wide spring, although they can still use the Homing Attack while launched into midair by a wide spring.
The game also introduces the mobile spring, a variant of the wide spring that can move around like a platform.
Sonic Generations[]
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the wide springs possess their standard design, except for the addition of a yellow line along their bottom edge, like in Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors.
In Sonic Generations, the wide springs only appear in the modern stage Acts and Challenge Acts. Like in previous games, when utilizing a wide spring in gameplay, the playable character will not enter their spinball form. However, the playable characters can still use the Homing Attack after being launched by a wide spring.
Sonic Forces[]
In Sonic Forces, the wide springs possess their standard design, this time without any alterations to it.,
In Sonic Forces, the wide springs only appear in Sonic, the Avatar and Tag Team stages. Like in several previous games, when utilizing a wide spring in gameplay, the playable character will not enter their spinball form. However, the playable characters can still use the Homing Attack/Wire Attack after being launched by a wide spring.
Team Sonic Racing[]
In Team Sonic Racing, the wide springs possess their standard design, except that they are completely flat this time around, akin to ramps.
In this game, the wide spring serves as a ramp that bounces any racers that make contact with them upwards a set distance into the air, similar to how they usually work in mainline Sonic games. These wide spring ramps are usually wide, so it is hard for a user to miss unless they fall off the track. These wide spring ramps have two giant red classic Springs on both sides of them, to indicate to any oncoming racers that the ramp will bounce them upwards and not just launch them forwards like normal ramps do.
Sonic Speed Simulator[]
In Sonic Speed Simulator, the wide springs are a common gimmick. In this game, they retain their standard design, complete with no finer details to their appearance.
In gameplay, when utilizing a wide spring, the playable character will not enter their spinball form, much like in previous games. They are typically found at the bottom of high ledges or right below points of interest, their purpose being to send the player up to the aforementioned locations. Notably, the wide springs in Chemical Plant that sit up along the side of walls have yellow arrow marks on said walls that indicate the direction they will take the playable character.
Sonic Frontiers[]
In Sonic Frontiers, the wide springs make an appearance alongside regular Springs. In this game, they possess an altered version of their modern design, which sports glowing blue triangles in place of stars, and a purple exterior. In Cyber Space stages though, their appearance remains identical to ones seen in previous mainline games.
Sonic Dream Team[]
Variants[]
Mobile spring[]
The mobile spring is a yellow variant of the wide spring. Like yellow Springs in the first Sonic games, the mobile springs bounce the player less high than the red ones. Also, after touching a mobile spring, it starts auto-scrolling, and the player usually has to balance on it. It only appears in the Wii version of Sonic Colors.
Trivia[]
- Wide springs also appear in Feel The Magic: XY/XX during the "Chaser" minigame. Both games were developed by Sonic Team.
Gallery[]
Models[]
Screenshots[]
References[]
- ↑ Sonic Team (27 January 2004). Sonic Heroes. PlayStation 2. Sega. "Amy: I betcha if you light up the three lights up on that wide spring, you'll get the item."
- ↑ "System" (in Japanese). Sonic Adventure 2 Hero/Dark Manual. SoftBank. 16 July 2001. pp. 23. ISBN 978-4797317152.