Wisp Gauge

The Wisp Gauge,^[1] also called the Boost Gauge,^[2][3] is a game mechanic that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a variant of the standard Boost Gauge which measures the remaining time for a Color Power.

Description

The Wisp Gauge is a bar that appears on the heads-up-display in the respective games that will be instantly filled when utilizing a Color Power. For as long as the Color Power is active, the Wisp Gauge will deplete and when it is empties, the Color Power ends. However, not all Color Powers drain the Wisp Gauge at the same rate: the Cyan Laser and Orange Rocket drain it almost immediately while the Yellow Drill, Pink Wisp and Blue Cube drain it much slower.

When a Color Power is in effect, the player can collect Wisps of the same type that is currently used to replenish the Wisp Gauge and extend the Color Power's duration, though certain Color Powers lets the player replenish it in other ways. Certain elements for different Color Powers can also freeze the Wisp Gauge's capacity temporarily, like destroying enemies or gimmicks such as the Underground Pipes, optical cable, Cannons and Ring Dash.

Game appearances

Sonic Colors

In both versions of Sonic Colors, the Wisp Gauge doubles as both itself and the Boost Gauge since the Boost is considered a Color Power too. However, its design differs between the versions of the game.

In the Wii version of the game, the Wisp Gauge is a horizontal blue bar in the lower left corner of the screen with a stylized circulator on the left that displays the Wisp in the player's possession. In the Nintendo DS version, the Wisp Gauge look like the Tension Gauge, resembling a vertical stack of arrows on the left side of the screen with a blue bar on the left side and the "Wisp Icon"^[3] on top.

Sonic Generations

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, the Wisp Gauge appears only in Tropical Resort. It also replaces the Boost Gauge in Act 2 whenever the player uses a Color Power and will disappear once it wears off.

In this game, the Wisp Gauge looks like it did in the Wii version of Sonic Colors, except its blue bar is thicker and its stylized circulator is smaller.

Sonic Lost World

In both versions of Sonic Lost World, like in Sonic Generations, the Wisp Gauge appears whenever the player uses a Color Power and disappears once it wears off. Once again though, it is given a different design for each version.

In the Wii U version of the game, the Wisp Gauge is a round circle in the upper right corner of the screen with a yellow bar inside it that occupy most of it, except in the center. In the Nintendo 3DS version, the Wisp Gauge is very similar to the one in the Wii version except that it is located in the lower left corner of the screen, has a icon in the middle for displaying the Wisp in the player's possession, and its bar is segmented.

Sonic Runners

In Sonic Runners, the Wisp Gauge looks exactly as it did in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World. The Wisp Gauge appears next to the playable character on the screen when using a Color Power and will disappear once it wears off.

Sonic Forces

References