The finale of the recent movie Sonic the Hedgehog 2 must be seen to be believed, as Sonic finally utilizes one of his famous super forms from the game. After the first film, it’s nice to see video game movies bring in more from the games. And the super forms aren’t the only thing Sonic the Hedgehog has at his disposal either.
Power-ups are often seen as something Sonic’s rival, Super Mario, does. Sonic has plenty of power-ups of his own though. Like Mario’s power-ups, these are temporary but tend to be more useful as protections for Sonic’s fast gameplay. Whether modern or classic, these are important parts of Sonic’s kit.
Skateboard
Sonic is frequently seen with snowboards and other extreme sports paraphernalia. Sonic 2 even features a snowboarding Easter egg in the film. But skateboarding has been a rarer occurrence for the blue blur, although Sonic Generations does feature a board for a single level in one of the game's standout moments.
Classic Sonic can obtain a Skateboard power-up in the level based on City Escape. The original from Sonic Adventure 2 featured a makeshift snowboard, but a traditional skateboard works well. The skateboard keeps Classic Sonic's movement consistent. It also allows for grinds and sick tricks that help break the level up from the rest of the game.
Flame Shield
Sonic the Hedgehog's classic incarnations had power-ups, but they usually came in shield form. The shield was kind of basic though, only being a boring blue that protected Sonic for one hit. Sonic 3 & Knuckles varied it up with the elemental shields. One of the three shields it introduced was the bombastic Flame Shield.
The shield protects Sonic completely from fire damage. This not only includes flame jets but also lets him walk on lava. Some projectiles are considered fiery, so it may negate more than one attack. The most important use of the shield is that it gives characters like Sonic access to a fireball tackle attack called the Fireball Spin Dash.
Ring Time
Sonic Generations featured a lot of power-ups that wouldn't appear again. Although this one, in particular, would go on to appear in the mobile game Sonic Jump and its sequel. It's easy to see why. Ring Time is a very useful item that deserves more attention.
Ring Time has a simple function. It turns all enemies onscreen into Sonic's main collectible Rings. This is very helpful as Rings also make up Sonic's health pool and there are plenty of areas where Rings are scarce. This ability allows Sonic to pull a true reversal of fortune and turn his enemies into health items.
Cyan Wisp
Bouncing around is so fun as Sonic that it's kind of a trope in his games. Games like Sonic Spinball fully embraced the joy of Sonic as a pinball. It wasn't until 2010's Sonic Colors that the Blue Blur got a power-up that let him turn into a bouncing ball. That game introduced the Wisps, which are little aliens that grant Sonic new abilities.
There are quite a few good Wisps, like the Pink one that turns Sonic into a spiked roller. Cyan is probably the best when it comes to pure kinetic action. Grabbing it prompts the player to aim and then fire. Sonic will shoot out and ricochet off of enemies and walls in a way that's oh-so-satisfying to watch.
Power Sneakers
One of Sonic's most striking features is his shoes. These red sneakers are extremely iconic and stand out against his blue fur. The shoes have been sold as merchandise before since they're so desirable. They're also desirable in-game as the Power Sneakers.
Getting the Power Sneakers increases a character's acceleration speed. It also makes it harder for them to lose momentum. While this can make traversing some levels difficult, it's a fun bonus whenever the power-up is found. Whooshing through levels can be incredibly fun with this power-up.
Magnetic Shield
While they're among Sonic the Hedgehog's best games, the Sonic Adventure series had to make some changes for its 3D scope. The previous shields wouldn't work as well. The Magnetic Shield was created to replace the Thunder Shield in 3D. It's also called the Magnetic Barrier and Ring Magnet.
The shield is as useful as any other shield. It allows the user to take one point of damage before vanishing. It also has the added benefit of drawing any loose Rings scattered around the environment to the player. While this is especially helpful in 3D, another Shield can do this and more.
Aqua Shield
Sonic the Hedgehog has never been good around the water. He cannot swim and has a limited supply of air before he drowns accompanied by a haunting music tune. It's one of the most stressful things about the classic Genesis-era of gaming, but the Aqua Shield allows players to avoid all that.
In addition to absorbing one hit, it also allows Sonic to breathe underwater. That's not its only bonus since it has another new feature, as well. It allows Sonic to bounce his bubble on the ground to get to higher places. This unique move is called the Bound Jump, and it can be used to overcome level layouts.
Invincible
In a fast-paced game like Sonic, there's nothing like a break. So many things are bombarding the player that it can be nice to have any reprieve. Thankfully there's a power-up that does just that. The Invincible Monitor covers Sonic in sparkles that absolutely protect him from all harm.
This allows for shortcuts across hazardous substances like lava, which can make levels easier to travel. This ability has also made somewhat consistent appearances in both 2D and 3D games. It only lasts a limited time, unfortunately. Fortunately, the song that plays during it is a classically great Sonic the Hedgehog song.
Purple Wisp
Purple Wisps are a lot more wild than the other Wisps in Sonic Colors. They've had all of their energy drained by experiments that have driven them into a frenzy. They only seek now to satiate their wild hunger. When utilized by Sonic, they share their hunger with him in the Purple Frenzy.
It's a pretty standard attack, but the aesthetics make it worthwhile. The power surges over Sonic and drives him forward unflappably. This power can completely bypass and destroy enemies and elements normal Sonic can't. It's not the most complex ability, but this Nega Wisp gives Sonic a pressure few exciting moments to hulk out on his enemies.
Thunder Shield
The final of the elemental shields introduced in Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the Thunder Shield. It's also sometimes called the Electric Shield or Lightning Shield, but it has a multitude of uses. As expected of shields, it also takes a hit for Sonic. It also features the same utility as the Magnetic Shield, pulling Rings from far away.
The Rings can pass through objects to reach Sonic, giving it a very powerful feeling in a 2D plane. Also, the shield negates electric damage in a similar way to what the Flame shield does for fire. This can include enemy attacks. The final advantage it has that makes it the best Sonic power-up is its ability to give the user the Double Jump, which allows for new and exciting ways of traversing the stage layouts.