The Start Line Boost,[1] also referred to as the Hi-Speed Start,[2] is a move that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series and its spin-offs. It is a technique that gives the user a sudden speed burst at the start of a race.
The Start Line Boost is a move that is performed with race cars. When performing this move, the user revs up their car just before a race starts. If done correctly, then the user's race car will take off at high speed when beginning the race. If done incorrectly however, the user will start off with a plodding disadvantage.
In gameplay, the Start Line Boost allows the playable character to charge up their race car with each count of the countdown timer, which appears at the beginning of each race. If the race car has been charged up properly, the playable character's race car will emit fire from its exhausts once the race begins, which automatically triggers an accelerating speed boost, thus giving the playable character a speed advantage early on in the race. The size of the Start Line Boost depends on how many times the player charges their car during the countdown, with three charges being the maximum. If the player mistimes their charge however, their Start Line Boost will reset. Also, if the player mistimes the charge on the final count of the countdown, their playable character will start off the race slowly momentarily, thereby putting them at a speed disadvantage.
To perform the Start Line Boost in gameplay, the player has to press and hold the Accelerate button at the correct timing. The timing for this varies between characters, but in short characters with high acceleration will need to hold the button down for a shorter amount of time compared to characters with lower acceleration whom will need to hold it down for much longer. If not held long enough, no boost will be granted, and if held for too long your character will stagger at the start of the race instead of boosting.
On the console/PC version of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, it is actually possible (with characters that have high acceleration) to charge this through multiple stages, similarly charging up a boost during a drift. However, charging any higher than 1 stage will cause your character to stagger, so this is relatively pointless.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
In Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, the Start Line Boost is not referred to by name. Noticeably, when revving up the Start Line Boost, the race cars' exhausts will glow with intensity that depends on the number of times the race car has been charge up; with the first charge, the glow will be red; with the second charge, the glow will be purple; and with the third charge, the glow will be blue.
To perform the Start Line Boost in gameplay, the player has to press and release the Accelerate button with each count of the countdown timer.
Team Sonic Racing
In Team Sonic Racing, this technique is referred to as the Start Line Boost for the first time.[1] Like in the previous game, when revving up the Start Line Boost, the race cars' exhausts will glow with intensity that depends on the number of times the race car has been charge up; with the first charge, the glow will be red; with the second charge, the glow will be purple; and with the third charge, the glow will be blue.
To perform the Start Line Boost in gameplay, the player has to press and release Accelerate button with each count of the countdown timer.
