Wind is an element that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It has acted as power ups and attacks for the player, as well as hazards common among sky-themed stages.

Description

While wind does not appear much as a hazard, it is still present in some aspects. More often than not, wind will not even harm the player, but will instead simply slow them down as they blow against the player. Such winds can also send the player on different paths.

Fans

Fans are machines used to blow air at particular direction to force players towards particular directions. Some fans are fitted vertically to cause updrafts.

Updrafts

Introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Powerful gusts of wind, usually from Bottomless pits that prevent falling. Players are unable to jump or attack when caught in updraft but are able to move in desired directions.

Paths and Grind Rails

Wind Paths are invisible paths that Sonic can run over at top speed, however stopping will cause Sonic to fall. In later games they are replaced with the Wind switch that create Grind Rails from wind.

Powers and abilities

In a number of games, Wind has been incorporated as a special power or gimmick that the player can use in conjunction with their attacks for more potency or as a separate power/power-up to enhance the player's performance. These sort of abilities are primarily seen being used by Sonic the Hedgehog, as he is often described being like the wind.

Game appearances

Tails Adventure

In Tails Adventure, there are various spots where wind blows. However, this wind is not in effect unless the player uses the Heli-Tails, whereupon various orange leaves will blow in the wind's direction. If the player enters in contact with the wind while flying, they will be blown in its direction, unable to go towards the desired direction. Nonetheless, they will be unaffected by wind if they are not in flight. Additionally, weirdly enough, the Remote Robot can fly in the wind without any problem.

Sonic Adventure

In Sonic Adventure, Windy Valley is full of various wind-based gimmicks such as Wind Paths and updrafts. A particular part of the stage is being sucked into a tornado and ascending to escape. Additionally, Sonic's version of the Sky Deck features a section in which the player has to deal with the occasional winds that appear when the Egg Carrier increases speed. In this section, wind is strong enough to send Sonic flying to the right side of the stage and into a bottomless pit. However, this can be counted with Spin Dashes.

Sonic Adventure 2

In Sonic Adventure 2, there is a section in Radical Highway where unseen winds will blow Shadow upwards constantly, preventing him from falling to his death. These winds can be used to get through the lower route of the unfinished bridge area.

Sonic Advance 2

In Sonic Advance 2, wind currents are seen in Sky Canyon, where they will send the player to higher grounds.

Sonic Heroes

In Sonic Heroes, each Speed Type character has a variation of the Tornado Jump where they can trap an enemy in a funnel of wind. It is from this ability they can blow enemies upwards and take fall damage or make them reveal their weaker areas. Can also be used to ascend poles or other certain wind powered obstacles.

Shadow the Hedgehog

In Shadow the Hedgehog, wind is present in stages such as Glyphic Canyon, where it levitates the player up in the air, preventing them from falling and allowing them to reach higher grounds. The tornado in the level also creates winds that will not only go against the player's motions, but also send rocks and debris hurling towards the player.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the player can purchase Gems which grant the Custom Shoes various abilities. The Green Gem grants the Tornado ability, to create a funnel of wind around Sonic to draw in and destroy destructible objects and enemies.

In Kingdom Valley, wind plays an important role in the stage in the form of rails generated by Wind switches, which can then be grinded along, similar to the Wind Paths in Sonic Adventure. Additionally, a object that generates wind in an updraft is present within the games files, and was used in early demos of the game in Kingdom Valley, but was left unused in the final.

Sonic Rivals series

In Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2, Wind is one of the elemental Power-Ups that is available to all playable characters. When used offensively, the wind attack will travel forward and trap the opponent in a tornado for a limited time. When used defensively, the result is the same, except that it is dropped on the floor and will only work if the opponent touches it.

Sonic and the Secret Rings

In Sonic and the Secret Rings, wind currents are seen in Levitated Ruin, where they push against the player, preventing them from running at top speed. The best way to battle these winds, the player can grind or use the homing attack on various targets.

Aside from such obstacles, Wind is also one of the elements utilized by Sonic, alongside Dark and Fire elements. It's primarily focused on increase the speed and maneuverability of Sonic.

• Charger Forward: Acceleration increases.
• All-Rounder: Reduces speed loss caused by rugged terrain.
• Quick Step: Ground movement to the left and right becomes smoother.
• Quick High Step: Allows you to move more smoothly than with Quick Step.
• Quick Mega Step: Allows you to move more smoothly than with Quick High-Step.
• Quick Air: Aerial movement to the left and right becomes smoother.
• Super Quick Air: Allows you to fly more smoothly than with Quick Air.
• Hyper Quick Air: Aerial you to fly more smoothly than with Super Quick Air.
• Turbo Boost: Acceleration rate to top speed increases.
• Rocket Boost: Acceleration increases more than with Turbo Boost
• Warp Boost: Acceleration increases more than with Rocket Boost.
• Sub W-Boost: Acceleration to top speed increases but defense is greatly reduced
• Speed-Up: Maximum speed increases.
• Super Speed-Up: Increases your maximum more than with Speed-Up.
• Hyper Speed-Up: Increases your maximum more than with Super Speed-Up.
• Sub HS-Up: Maximum speed increases but defense is greatly reduced.
• Landing Dash: Initial speed increases when landing.
• Landing Turbo: Initial speed increases more than with Landing Dash.
• Landing Boost: Initial speed increases more than with Landing Turbo.
• Cancel Dash: When landing off a Jump Cancel, your initial speed increases.
• Cancel Turbo: Initial speed increases after landing more than with Cancel Dash.
• Cancel Burst: Initial speed increases after landing more than with Cancel Turbo.
• Splash Jump: Allows you to jump when you strike an obstacle in midair.
• Quick Jump: Decreases charge time required for Charge Jump.
• Sub Q-Jump: Decreases time required for Charge Jump but defense is greatly reduced.
• Aegis Slider: Increases defense power while sliding.
• Quick Slide: Movement to the left and right during sliding is smoother.
• Quick High Slide: Makes right-left movement smoother than with Quick Slide.
• Quick Mega Slide: Makes right-left movement smoother than with Quick High Slide.
• Skimmer: Decreases drop in speed when sliding.
• Super Skimmer: Decreases your rate of deceleration more than with Skimmer.
• Hyper Skimmer: Decreases your rate of deceleration more than with Super Skimmer.
• Surge: Sonic's automatic acceleration during Time Break increases.
• Super Surge: Increases movement speed more than with Surge.
• Hyper Surge: Increases movement speed more than with Super Surge.
• Sub H Surge: Sonic's acceleration during Time Break increases but Soul use increases.
• Hard Break: Allows for more effective braking.
• Back Step: Press the 2 Button while moving back to Back Step.
• Balance: Automatic recovery after taking damage.
• Down Cancel: Press the 2 Button when taking damage to negate knockdown.
• Mini-Turbo: Quickly move the Wii Remote forward when countdown is at 1 for a boost.
• Rocket Start: Faster speed burst than Mini-Turbo.
• Warp Dash: Faster speed burst than Rocket Start.
• Quick Grind: Using Grind increases Grind speed.
• Fast Grind: Increases acceleration more than with Quick Grind.
• Mach Grind: Increases acceleration more than with Fast Grind.
• Sub M-Grind: Maximum grind speed increases but gradually consumes Rings when in use.
• Crest of Wind: Unlocks the power of wind if you equip 10 wind-based skills.

Sonic Generations

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, there are areas in Emerald Coast with air currents that lift Sonic up into the air in a manner similar to fans.

Sonic Mania

Sonic Superstars

Other game appearances

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

In Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Wind is one of the elements in the game's combat system. Some POW Moves such as the Triple Tornado and Tornado Kick deal Wind damage, although each character can utilize Wind in their basic attacks by equipping their characters with the Wind Ring. Airborne enemies, such as the N'rrgal and Kron, are weak to Wind attacks while the Voxai and other ground enemies resist Wind attacks.

The Chao Seeri, when bonded to a character, will provide said character with a Wind shield, providing them with better defenses.

Sonic Forces: Speed Battle

In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, Wind is one of the elemental effects which the Tornado, Whirlwind and Wind Boost Items use to hinder their opponents. When affected by the Wind effect, hit characters will float into the air and spin around helplessly while being slowed significantly. In addition, they will also have their Rings absorbed by the Wind Item's user.

See also

• Fan

References