Skydiving

For the Mini-Game in Sonic Shuffle, see Sky Diving.

Skydiving^[1] is a move that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a technique for controlling one's descent during a midair dive.

Description

As the name implies, the skydiving maneuver is for when the user is falling down from high up in the air. When using this maneuver, the user adjusts themselves while falling through midair so their body becomes either more or less aerodynamic. As a result, the user can control whether they will fall faster or slower through midair.

In gameplay, skydiving is only used during the sections in the games where the playable character enters an extensive free-fall that connects one section of the levels to the next, during which the player is able to navigate their descend. While the maneuver can be used to increase one's falling speed, it will also decrease the player's side movements. Oppositely, by slowing down while skydiving, the player is given better side movements.

Game appearances

Sonic Unleashed

Skydiving's first appearance was in the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed. In this game, it can only be used by Sonic the Hedgehog in the daytime stages. Skydiving also only occurs in the stages' 3D sections.

To increase one's falling speed while skydiving in gameplay, the player must press / during mid-fall. To steer Sonic, use the movement controls.

Sonic Colors

In both the Wii version and Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, and the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the skydiving maneuver is used by Sonic. On the Wii version and in Sonic Colors: Ultimate, it is also used by Super Sonic and the Virtual Hedgehogs. It is worth noting though that Super Sonic automatically accelerates when using skydiving. On some occasions, the player will also start using skydiving when the user is launched high up into the air.

On the Wii version and in Sonic Colors: Ultimate, skydiving occurs in both the 3D and 2.5D sections of the Acts. On the Nintendo DS version on the other hand, the skydiving sections only occur in the Acts' 2D sections.

When using skydiving in gameplay, the player has to use the following controls:

	Wii				DS	Xbox One	PS4	Switch	PC
	Wii Remote (sideways)	Wii Remote & Nunchunk	Classic Controller	GameCube Controller
Diving movement		Control Stick	L Stick	Control Stick
Diving descend

Sonic X Shadow Generations

Sonic Generations

In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the skydiving maneuver is used by Modern Sonic. In this game, the skydiving areas only appear in the stages' 3D sections.

During the boss battle against the Egg Dragoon, there will be occasionally be skydiving sections where the player must chase after the Egg Dragoon in midair.

To increase one's falling speed while skydiving in gameplay, the player must press / during mid-fall. To steer Sonic, use the movement controls.

Shadow Generations

This section requires an expansion.

Sonic Lost World

In Sonic Lost World, the skydiving maneuver is used by Sonic, Super Sonic and the Virtual Hedgehogs. In this game, skydiving does not occur too commonly, as it is only used whenever Sonic is flung high into the air. Like in Sonic Colors, Super Sonic accelerates automatically while skydiving.

When using skydiving in gameplay, the player has to use the following controls:

	Wii U	PC			3DS
		Keyboard	Xbox 360 controller	Xbox One controller
Diving movement	Control Stick				Circle pad/
Diving descent		[A]			//

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, the skydiving maneuver is used by Sonic, Super Sonic, the Avatar and Shadow. In this game, the skydiving areas mostly appear in the stages' 3D sections, although there is a brief 2.5D section with skydiving in Egg Gate. In addition, if the playable character is left idling long enough while skydiving, they will turn around and assume a more relaxed pose while looking at the player.

To increase one's falling speed while skydiving in gameplay, the player must press // during mid-fall. When doing this, wind currents can be seen on the edges of the screen. Lastly, to steer the playable characters, use the movement controls.

Sonic Frontiers

In Sonic Frontiers, skydiving is featured as a maneuver used by Sonic in Open Zone areas.^[2]

Trivia

• An early version of skydiving appeared as early as in Shadow the Hedgehog as a level mechanic in Westopolis, Space Gadget, and Cosmic Fall. Unlike skydiving though, the speed of the player's descent cannot be altered. Sonic and Vector, as partner characters, also make use of the technique.

Gallery

Screenshots

Sonic Forces

References