Wide spring

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, Rongu Supuringu^?),^[2] is a gimmick 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 finner details of this gimmick has varied from game to game though.

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.

Games appearances

Sonic Adventure

The wide springs first appeared in Sonic Adventure and its remake 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 remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the wide spring is called the Long Spring (ロングスプリング, Rongu Supuringu^?).^[2] 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 Sonic Heroes, 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 lit up all three Bumper symbols on the wide spring, they will be rewarded with a special power-up, like an Invincibility, a Super Ring of random value, or a Power Core. Also, like in Sonic Adventure 2, when sent flying by the wide spring, the playable character will enter their spinball form.

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 both the Wii/PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 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, the playable character will, like in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), not enter his spinball form when sent flying. However, the playable character 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 strandard 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.

Sonic Colors

In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, the wide springs' design is identical to the one they had in Sonic Unleashed, being the standard-looking wide spring 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 the 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's, the Avatar's, and the 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.

Variants

Mobile spring

Main article: 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 higher 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

Gallery
Sonic Adventure Sonic Heroes Shadow the Hedgehog Sonic Colors Sonic Generations Add a photo to this gallery

Screenshots

Gallery
A wide spring in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut Wide springs in Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. A wide spring in Sonic Heroes. A wide spring in Shadow the Hedgehog. A pair of wide springs in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). A wide spring in Sonic Unleashed (Wii/PlayStation 2). Wide springs in Sonic Generations (console/PC). A wide spring in Sonic Forces. Add a photo to this gallery

References