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The Drop Target[1] (ドロップターゲット[2] Doroppu Tāgetto?) is a gimmick that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Commonly found in casino-themed stages, they are small floating platforms that are usually placed across wide gaps or inside passages.

Description[]

Based on the pinball feature of the same name, the Drop Target's appearance consists of a green top and bottom plate connected to each other by a black center base with small lights surrounding it. In the majority of their appearances, Drop Targets are positioned so that they point in either a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction. In gameplay, when the player comes into contact with a Drop Target from above or below it, the playable character is bounced off its surface. Each time Drop Targets are hit however, the color of their plates changes, usually in the following order: green, yellow and red. In addition, after the third hit, the Drop Target disappears completely. Hitting a Drop Target may also grant different amount of points or Rings.

Game appearances[]

Sonic the Hedgehog 2[]

Drop-Targets-Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, its various ports and remasters, and the lock-on game Knuckles in Sonic 2, the Drop Targets are one of gimmicks found in Casino Night Zone. In this game, their color changes from green to yellow and to red, based on the number of hits they receive.

In gameplay, the placement of Drop Targets varies across their Zone, as many of them are aligned either vertically or diagonally on pinball tables, or are simply floating above floors or walls. Some lines of Drop Targets have also been placed above wide gaps, turning them into small platforms for the player to bounce across to reach the other side of their gaps. Then there are Drop Targets that are blocking smaller gaps, which the player is required to clear out in order to progress with the Zone.

When the playable character hits a Drop Target, the player receives ten points each time, even during the third, final hit before it disappears. However, if the player finds a cluster of Drop Targets and clear them all out, hitting the third Drop Target for the final time will award the player 500 extra points. This also applies to other subsequent Drop Targets in the cluster afterwards.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure[]

Drop-Targets-Sonic-Pocket-Adventure

In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, Drop Targets are featured in Cosmic Casino Zone. Here, they depicted as orange platforms aligned either vertically or diagonally. Unlike in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit) though, Drop Targets must be hit five times before they disappear and their color scheme does not change until the fourth hit is landed, upon where they will turn green. The player also earns 100 points for each hit.

Sonic Heroes[]

Sonic Heroes Casino Park 10

Drop Targets in Casino Park, from Sonic Heroes.

In Sonic Heroes, Drop Targets are present in Casino Park and BINGO Highway, as well as in the 2P Stage, Pinball Match. Here, they are referred to as either blocks,[3] barriers[4] or simply platforms.[5] In terms of appearance, Drop Targets are simple, semi-transparent square plates with star symbols on them.

In gameplay, the Drop Targets are scattered around the pinball tables, and usually placed in lines on sidewalls and in corners, or blocking pathways by themselves or as a stack of successive Drop Targets. The playable characters, who will be in their Spin Attack on the pinball tables, have to hit these Drop Targets three times, thus causing them to change color from light green to yellow and then to red, before they will disappear completely. There are also one-hit Drop Targets that can be recognized by their red color scheme. Some Drop Targets on the pinball tables also have Egg Pawns standing on them. While rolling around on pinball tables, Drop Targets can also be found blocking routes, chutes, corners containing Item Boxes, or sometimes even holes leading to bottomless pits.

Outside of pinball tables, Drop Targets are generally aligned vertically so the player can use them as platforms to bounce above large gaps to reach floating Item Boxes, flying Cages or casino chips in mid-air. Drop Targets in this game do not grant any points when hit. However, in Pinball Match, they reward Rings power-ups worth ten Rings after hitting them three times.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I and its extension Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal, Drop Targets appear in Casino Street Zone. In this game, the Drop Targets function like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit), with the color of Drop Target changing to light green to yellow and then to orange each time when they are hit.

In gameplay, their mechanics remain much like they were in previous games. Much like in Sonic Heroes, there are also Drop Targets found in the Zone, which are already colored orange. Also, on one occasion in Casino Street Zone Act 2, horizontally-aligned orange Drop Targets can be found blocking the routes, which have to be clear out by using the Flippers to launch the playable character towards them. Each hit landed on a Drop Target provides the player with ten points.

Sonic Generations[]

Drop-Targets-Modern-Sonic-Generations-3DS

Modern Sonic hitting Drop Targets, from the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations.

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, Drop Targets appear in Casino Night. Instead of granting points when hit however, the playable character is granted one Ring each time they hit a Drop Target. Much like in Sonic Heroes, one-hit Drop Targets with red color schemes also appear, scattered around Casino Night Act 2. Also, one of Modern Sonic's Special Trial Missions in the game involves completing Casino Night Act 2 by clearing out fifteen Drop Targets in six minutes.[1][2]

Sonic Lost World[]

In the Wii U version and PC version of Sonic Lost World, Drop Targets appear in Frozen Factory Zone 3. Here, they look much like they did in previous games, but with the addition of the front plates of the Drop Targets being colored cyan from the start. After getting hit the first time, these front plates will turn light yellow, while the second hit changes their color to pink. As always though, the third hit will make them disappear completely.

In gameplay, Drop Targets are scattered around two different pinball tables. Here, they are placed either by themselves on side routes on the table in other to block said routes, or are set in clusters close to the walls or ceilings. Each hit landed on the Drop Targets with Sonic while in his Spin Attack form awards the player with 100 points.

In Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, Drop Targets are featured alongside other Casino-themed gimmicks in Sky Road Zone 1. Here, they look much like they did in the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations. Drop Targets in this Zone are commonly found in large halls with Bingo boards, where the player can use them alongside Flippers to reach the large tiles on the board at the top of the hall. Drop Targets in this version of the game do not give any points when hit or cleared out.

Sonic Forces[]

In Sonic Forces, Drop Targets appear in Casino Forest, where they retain their appearance and mechanics from previous games. Here, they are placed in clusters or around slot machines. Hitting a Drop Target in this game grants 5,000 points.

Gallery[]

Sprites[]

Screenshots[]

Gallery

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sonic Team, Dimps (22 November 2011). Sonic Generations. Nintendo 3DS. Sega. Area/level: Missions Menu. "025 Special Trial: Clear 15 Drop Targets in Casino Night ACT 2 in 6:00.00!"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Sonic Team, Dimps (22 November 2011). Sonic Generations: Ao no Bouken. Nintendo 3DS. Sega. Area/level: Missions Menu. "025 スペシャル・トライアル: カジノナイト ACT2で 6:00.00以内にドロップターゲットを15コ消せ!"
  3. "Stage 06 - Bingo Highway". Sonic Heroes: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. 6 January 2004. p. 49. ISBN 978-0761544494. "At the end of the green blocks that disappear, drop down to land on the ledge below. Underneath the falling weight is a switch. Touch it, then fly on top of it. Fly up from there and pull the switch at the top. This opens a door above."
  4. "Stage 06 - Bingo Highway". Sonic Heroes: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. 6 January 2004. p. 21. ISBN 978-0761544494. "Break through the three barriers to get up the ramp leading to the center."
  5. "Stage 06 - Bingo Highway". Sonic Heroes: Prima's Official Strategy Guide. Prima Games. 6 January 2004. p. 114. ISBN 978-0761544494. "Bounce across the green platforms to get the chip."
Navigation templates to Drop Target


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