Actions

Trick Action

From Sonic Retro

Tricksadv3.png
Trick Action
First seen: Sonic Advance 2 (2002)
Users: Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Cream the Rabbit, Blaze the Cat
Type: Movement

The Trick ActionMedia:SonicAdvance2 GBA US manual.pdf[1] (トリックアクション Torikku Akushon)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[2], also known as the Mid-Air Trick ActionMedia:SonicAdvance3 GBA US manual.pdf[3], is a recurring technique in the Sonic the Hedgehog series that was first introduced in Sonic Advance 2. By inputting button commands in midair, the player can gain point bonuses, propel the player character in a given direction, or build up the player's Boost Gauge.

Game appearances

Sonic Advance series

Sonic Advance 2 is the first game to feature Trick Actions, and are usable by all characters except Super Sonic. Whenever a character is launched from a spring, ramp or other object, the player can press the R button along with one of four cardinal directions to perform a Trick Action that varies depending on the direction. These propel the character in the given direction, and may double as an attack. Usually, these are for accessing additional routes, but from Sky Canyon onwards it becomes necessary for the player to master them in order to progress.

Trick Action Sonic Cream Tails Knuckles Amy

Big AirMedia:SonicAdvance2 Prima digital guide.pdf[4] (Up + R)
Thrusts the user upward. Most of these tricks have no offensive traits.

Hop Jump
(ホップジャンプ)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[5]

Petit Step
(プチステップ)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[6]

Happy Spring
(ハッピースプリング)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[7]

Spiral Upper
(スパイラルアッパー)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[8]

Hop Jump
(ホップジャンプ)

Long Wind JumpMedia:SonicAdvance2 Prima digital guide.pdf[4] (Right + R facing right / Left + R facing left)
Thrusts the user forward. Most of these tricks double as an attack.

Humming Top
(ハミングトップ)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[5]

Sweet Roll
(スウィートロール)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[6]

Window Jump
(ウィンドウジャンプ)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[7]

Burning Straight
(バーニングストレート)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[8]

Humming Top
(ハミングトップ)

Quick ReverseMedia:SonicAdvance2 Prima digital guide.pdf[4] (Left + R facing right / Right + R facing left)
Thrusts the user backward. Most of these tricks have no offensive traits.

Back Star
(バックスター)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[5]

Milky Turn
(ミルキーターン)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[6]

Back Rotor
(バックローター)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[7]

Back Attack
(バックアタック)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[8]

Back Star
(バックスター)

Stop 'n' SlamMedia:SonicAdvance2 Prima digital guide.pdf[4] (Down + R)
Thrusts the user downward. Most of these tricks double as an attack.

Bound
(バウンド)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[5]

Soft Bomber
(ソフトボンバー)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[6]

Propeller Descent
(プロペラ下降 )Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[7]

Drill Claw
(ドリルクロー)Media:SonicAdvance2 GBA JP manual.pdf[8]

Mid-Air Hammer SwirlMedia:SonicAdvance2 GBA US manual.pdf[9]
(空中回転ハンマー)

Trick Actions also appear in Sonic Advance 3 and are usable by all characters except Knuckles and Super Sonic, but only with certain character combos, specifically the duo consisting of Sonic and Tails, and the duo consisting of Amy and Cream. The Trick Actions work exactly like in Sonic Advance 2 and include all the maneuvers for the characters except for the Quick Reverse. They are activated in the same way by pressing R and the D-Pad in certain directions when being launched by a gimmick, and just pressing R triggers the Long Wind Jump maneuver. Due to being mapped to the same button, Tag Actions cannot be charged while using Trick Actions.

Sonic Rush series

In Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure, the maneuver is referred to as both Trick Actions and TricksMedia:SonicRush DS US manual.pdf[10], and can be performed by both Sonic and Blaze. When launching off a Spring or a Jump Panel, the player can perform the Big Air and Long Wind Jump tricks like those in the Sonic Advance series by pressing Up + R and Left/Right + R respectively, but they can also perform additional tricks to fill the Tension Gauge:

  • Basic Tricks/Advanced Trick:Media:SonicRush DS US manual.pdf[10] Tricks that can be performed by repeatedly tapping B while launched into the air by gimmicks. Pressing A after the third action or above makes Sonic or Blaze perform an awesome finish. If the player keeps doing the same individual trick, the point reward and Boost energy will be halved until both only increase by one. Getting hit will break these chains.
  • Grind Tricks:Media:SonicRush DS US manual.pdf[10] These tricks can be performed up to three times in succession by tapping R while grinding, earning up to 1,700 points and a little bit of acceleration. If the same rail is used repeatedly for these tricks, the rewards will be lowered drastically.
  • Just Trick:Media:SonicRush DS US manual.pdf[10] These tricks simply require the player to press A when they are about to take off from Jump Panels or the edge of a rail. This is the most efficient way to charge the Tension Gauge.

In Sonic Rush Adventure, the Basic/Advanced Tricks are renamed to Air TricksMedia:SonicRushAdventure DS US manual.pdf[11]. Performing tricks in regular stages is mostly the same as in Sonic Rush, only this time the player can earn the "Trick Bonus" for chaining multiple Trick Actions and get extra energy for the Tension Gauge.Media:SonicRushAdventure DS US manual.pdf[11] A counter is displayed in the corner of the screen when peforming Trick Actions, and can be raised by using more than one gimmick in a single flight.

When using the Wave Cyclone in Sea Stages, the player can perform Trick Actions when riding over ramps by tracing the Trick Marker on the Nintendo DS' Touch Screen to fill up the Boost Gauge.

Sonic Riders series

Throughout the Sonic Riders series, all playable characters can perform Trick Actions when launching off ramps or Trick Zones. For longer air time, the player must jump as soon as they launch. Once in the air, the player can then use the movement controls to perform a variety of tricks. After landing, they will be given a Rank based on how many tricks the player performed, awarding more Air (in the first game and Sonic Free Riders) or Gravity Points (in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity). If the player doesn't land straight after performing tricks, they will get an automatic C-Rank.

Sonic Colours

In the Wii version of Sonic Colours as well as Sonic Colours: Ultimate, Trick Actions are performed after the player launches off of a Trick Ramp, and simply require the player to press A up to five times. With each press, the announcer will shout "Good!", "Great!", "Awesome!", "Outstanding!" and "Amazing!" in that order. If the player is playing as Super Sonic, the player will only perform one trick with the announcer skipping straight to "Amazing!".

Sonic Generations

In Sonic Generations, Trick Actions are referred to as Freestyle TricksMedia:SonicGenerations 360 UK manual.pdf[12] or just tricks, and can only be used by Modern Sonic.

Whenever Sonic reaches a Trick Jump Panel or a Rainbow Ring, the player is prompted to perform tricks using the Left Stick, and performing strings of tricks to fill the Boost Gauge, then press Left Bumper + Right Bumper (360)/L1 + R1 (PS3) to end with a Finish Combo that grants extra Boost energy. The longer the combo, the more energy the Finish Combo will grant. However, if the player presses the same direction twice in a row, they will get diminishing returns. Performing tricks will also charge the Boost Gauge beyond its maximum capacity.

When the Trick Mastery Skill is equipped, the player can perform tricks at a faster rate. Becoming Super Sonic will also allow the player to perform tricks faster, though not as much as the Skill will.

Sonic Runners

In Sonic Runners, Trick Actions could be performed by all playable characters in the game. When launching off of a Jump Panel, the player would tap the screen to perform tricks. The more Trick Actions the player would pull off in one jump, the more points they would score.

Sonic Frontiers

The Trick Action is referred to as Air Trick (エアトリック) in Sonic Frontiers, and is a Skill that can be unlocked in the game's Skill menu for 5 Skill Points after unlocking the Phantom Rush. Whenever Sonic is launched in the air by a gimmick such as a Spring or Dash Ring, he will begin to sparkle, at which point the player can tilt the Left Stick in various directions to perform Air Tricks and acquire bonus Skill Pieces.

Air Tricks can be performed when sparks surround Sonic while he is in the air. Perform Air Tricks to earn Skill Pieces.

— In-game description

References