Insta-Shield
From Sonic Retro
| Insta-Shield |
|---|
| First seen: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) |
| User: Sonic the Hedgehog |
| Type: Attack |
The Insta-Shield[1], known as the Double Spin Attack (W回転アタック) in Japan[2] and the Twin Spin Attack in Sonic Generations, is a special move first used by Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Contents
Overview
Jumping then pressing the jump button again while in midair generates a brief flash that extends Sonic's attack radius and renders him temporarily invincible. This attack is useful for attacking bosses slightly out of range and spiked enemies, like Orbinauts. No character but Sonic is able to use this technique. In the classic Sonic games, if Sonic jumps from a roll, he'll be unable to change his jump direction and speed. Using the move, however, makes him regain control of the jump. This also happens with Super Sonic, despite the fact that the move itself doesn't actually trigger while Super.
The move reappeared in all three games in the Sonic Advance series, though it is called the Spin Attack in Sonic Advance[3], the Double Spin Attack in Sonic Advance 2[4] and the Wind Attack in Sonic Advance 3[5]. In these games, the move does not grant brief invincibility like it does in the classic games, making it less useful, and in Sonic Advance 2 attempting to use the move close to an enemy will make Sonic perform a Homing Attack instead. In Sonic Advance 3, the move is executed with the 
button rather than the 
button, and Sonic must have Knuckles as a partner to perform the move. Tails can perform a similar move known as the Tail Spin Attack[6] when he has Knuckles as a partner.
It is not used in any 3D games, due to the fact the "jump, then press jump again while in midair" move was changed to the Jump Dash, or if enemies/items are nearby, the Homing Attack. Sonic Generations brings the move back as an equippable Skill for Classic Sonic that is unlocked by collecting all of the Red Star Rings in Sky Sanctuary Act 1, costing 30 Skill Points to equip.
The move was retroactively added to the 2013 iOS/Android remasters of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as a hidden ability. To enable it, the player must enable the elemental Shields in the level select menu. It is also unlockable in Sonic Mania by getting at least six Medallions in the Blue Spheres Bonus Stage. It can be used in Mania Mode by toggling Sonic's ability in the Settings menu (Secrets menu pre-v1.04), replacing the Drop Dash.
Alternatives
In Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic Mania, performing the same button sequence while protected by a shield, or transformed into Super Sonic or Hyper Sonic, will cause Sonic to perform other maneuvers.
- With a Fire Shield, Sonic briefly turns into a fireball and flies across the screen at high speed.
- With a Water Shield, Sonic bounces in its bubble.
- With a Lightning Shield, Sonic performs an additional jump (with sparks flying from the shield, though these do nothing).
- While Hyper Sonic, it causes all Badniks on screen to be destroyed. Sonic is also propelled forwards much as he would be with a Fire Shield, but much faster and able to be directed with the D-Pad. (Also, if dashing to the left or right, Hyper Sonic can glitch through certain kinds of small walls.)
- With a standard shield (Mania only) or if invincible, nothing will occur.
In other media
Sonic the Comic
In the first part of the two-part Sonic the Comic story "Enter Knuckles" in issue #33, Sonic first uses the move to protect himself from a Pointdexter, to Tails' surprise. When he uses the move again to block Knuckles' attack in the second part of "Power of the Chaos Emeralds" in issue #36, he explains that he creates the Insta-Shield by vibrating the air molecules around him so quickly that it creates a static effect.
Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)
In Archie Comics' Sonic 3 special, Sonic only uses the move once, and does not know how he managed to do so. Much later, he remembers and perfects the technique.
Localised names
| Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Insta-Shield | Insta-Shield |
| Japanese | W回転アタック | Double Kaiten Attack |
| French | Bouclier Instantané[7] | Instant Shield |
| German | Insta-Schild[7] | Insta-Shield |
| Spanish | Escudo instantáneo[7] | Instant shield |
| Italian | Schermo istantaneo[8] | Instant screen |
| Dutch | Moment-Schild[8] | Moment-Shield |
| Swedish | Ögonblickssköld[8] | Shield of the moment |
References
- ↑ File:Sonic3 MD US SonicJam manual.pdf, page 6
- ↑ File:Sonic3 MD JP SonicJam manual.pdf, page 6
- ↑ File:SonicAdvance GBA US manual.pdf, page 12
- ↑ File:SonicAdvance2 GBA US manual.pdf, page 13
- ↑ File:SonicAdvance3 GBA US manual.pdf, page 11
- ↑ File:SonicAdvance3 GBA US manual.pdf, page 13
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 File:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf, page 26
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 File:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf, page 27