Extreme Gear (エクストリームギアMedia:Sonic Riders GC JP Manual.pdf[1]), sometimes referred to as just Gear, are the modes of transportation used for races in the Sonic Riders series and referenced in Archie and IDW Sonic comic books. Extreme Gear can refer to hover boards, mechanized footwear, bikes, and several other things. In the original Sonic Riders, there were several Extreme Gears available. Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity adds the ability to upgrade gears mid-level for ability enhancement. When collecting the upgrades the appearance of the gear changes and parts are added.
History
Extreme Gear was first created long ago by the ancient Babylonians. They were avian aliens that crash landed on Earth in the past.[2] Stuck on this planet, the Babylon Rogues created a Magic Carpet, which became known as their secret treasure in Babylon Garden. This carpet was not real magic, but advanced technology that could fly using the rules of the Kutta-Joukowski Lift Theorem. The Babylon Rogues became famous thieves using their ancient Extreme Gear. Overtime, the technology of the treasure went on to be used when creating all Extreme Gear models to this day.[3]
Air system
Extreme Gear technology is fueled by Air stored in the Air Tanks. The boards are always loosing air in races and required to be filled back up by performing Trick Actions, by picking up Air power-ups, rotating on Automatic Trails, or by visiting an Air Pit. Air can be consumed by the board much faster from using Air Slide and Air Boost.Media:SonicRiders_GC_US_manual.pdf[4] The Extreme Gear user can even create a mini tornado to halt other racers.Media:SonicRiders_GC_US_manual.pdf[5] Once the Air Tank is empty, the user must run on foot.
In Sonic Free Riders, the Air Tank is less punishing. The user no longer has to run on foot when running out of air, but can no longer get an Air Boost when preforming a Kick Dash. By collecting rings, the Kick Dash can be improved.Media:SFR_US_Manual.pdf[6]
List of Extreme Gear
There are three types of Extreme Gear in the game: Boards which are available by default and are the only gear used in Story mode. Skates usually have slightly lower performance than boards, but burn less air. Bikes, which resemble floating mopeds, have higher performance but burn more air. Most gear must be purchased from the shop or unlocked in story mode. There are 54 Extreme Gear vehicles in total.
Boards
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Blue Star: Sonic's default gear. The game information state that the board was built by Robotnik Corp., but a story mode cutscene shows Tails building it.
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Blue Star II: Similar to Blue Star but has better speed and poor cornering. The game information state that the board was built by Robotnik Corp., but a story mode cutscene shows Tails building it.
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Yellow Tail: Tails' default gear.
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Red Rock: Knuckles' default gear.
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Type J: Jet's default gear.
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Type W: Wave's default gear.
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Type S: Storm's default gear.
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Pink Rose: Amy's default gear.
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Smile: Cream's default gear.
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Temptation: Rouge's default gear.
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E-GearG: E-10000G's default gear.
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E-GearR: E-10000R's default gear.
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Channel 5: Ulala's default gear.
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Night Sky: NiGHTS' default gear.
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Banana: AiAi's default gear.
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High Booster: Has better Air Boosts but than normal but consumes more air. The pattern on the board is similar to the Shadow the Hedgehog symbol.
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Auto Slider: Auto air-slides when turning.
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Beginner: A board for beginners that uses little air.
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Speed Balancer: Performs well on straight roads, but has poor turning and endurance abilities.
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Access: Allows its user to fly. Fly types can't use this board since they can already fly.
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Accelerator: Increases the speed of boosts.
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Trap Gear: Tornadoes use up no air and using it makes you faster rather than slowing you down. Boosts cannot be used.
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Light Board: The lightest board available. Tricks can be performed easier and boosts won't be slowed down unless the player is attacked.
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Slide Booster: Air Slides don't burn air and the player can boost from an Air Slides. Boosts cannot be used, however.
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The Crazy: This uses rings instead of air to race. The use of rings, maybe a reference to paying a fare as this gear is similar to the taxi featured in Crazy Taxi.
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Opa Opa: Level 3 attacks will always be used. This board is a reference to the classic Sega game Fantasy Zone.
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Powerful Gear: Has the highest endurance. Rough roads do not slow the player down.
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Power Gear: Endurance enhanced.
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Turbo Star: High acceleration but low top speed. The name "Turbo Star" is also the name of a vehicle found in Kirby Air Ride, which is a game Sonic Riders is often compared to.
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Fastest: Has the highest top speed but bad cornering. Don't tricks won't replenish the air gauge.
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Legend: Jumps will reach maximum height but the air gauge won't be replenished by performing tricks.
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Faster: High top speed.
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Gambler: When in first place the player will be awarded double rings. Abilities cannot be used whatsoever.
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Berserker: Automatically attack opponents. Air can only be gained after level ups or by attacking an opponent.
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Magic Carpet: Similar to the Access gear as it allows characters to fly.
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Air Broom: Allows all characters to grind.
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Hovercraft: This is the worst gear in the game. Even though the attributes are high the controls become over-sensitive, thus racing becomes more difficult. The cloud belongs to The Legend of the Monkey King.
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Chaos Emerald: A board that only Sonic can use. When equipped he will turn into Super Sonic and gain all abilities. Rings will be consumed instead of the air gauge.
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Skates
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Description
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Darkness: Shadow's default gear.
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Grinder: Simiilar to the Air broom as it allows all characters to grind.
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Advantage-F: Fly characters have better acceleration.
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Advantage-S: Speed characters get a higher top speed and better acceleration.
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Advantage-P: Power characters get higher endurance and better power abilities.
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Cannonball: Consecutive boosts which don't burn air can be performed. Attacks are not possible and the air guage can't be replenished by performing tricks and abilities.
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Bikes
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Description
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E-Rider: Dr. Eggman's default gear.
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Destroyer: Allows any character to use Power shortcuts.
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Air Tank: Poor attributes but better air.
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Omnipotence: This grants your character all abilities but the air gauge won't be replenished by using them.
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Cover-S: Speed characters have higher acceleration and better endurance.
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Cover-F: Fly characters have higher acceleration and better endurance.
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Cover-P: Power characters have higher acceleration and better endurance.
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Heavy Gear: The heaviest of all gears. Speed and endurance are good and there's no slowdown when charging for a jump. It can't ride turbulences. A picture of the USA flag can be found on the back. The design is similar to that of a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
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Hang On: The main theme for the Sega arcade game Hang-On will be played.
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Super Hang On: "Outride a Crisis" from the Sega arcade game Super Hang-On will be played.
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Gear Parts
In Sonic Free Riders, Extreme Gear can be customized with different Gear Parts. Board Gear have two slots for different Gear Parts, while Bike Gear only have one slot.
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Description
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Max Speed Up:
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Cornering Up:
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Start Speed Up:
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Power Up:
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Air Saver:
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Trick Boost:
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Rapid Stream:
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Rapid Dash:
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Extra Air:
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Air Plus:
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Grind Skill:
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Air Ride Skill:
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Power Skill:
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Big Air:
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Ring Eater:
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Invisible:
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Item Lock (Air):
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Item Lock (Ring):
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Music Change 1:
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Music Change 2:
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In other media
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This short section needs expansion. You can help Sonic Retro by adding to it.
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References
