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The Orange Rocket (オレンジ・ロケット,Orenji Roketto?), also known as the Rocket form, is a transformation that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is the Color Power gained by absorbing an Orange Wisp and its Hyper-go-on, which turns the user into a high-flying rocket.
When using the Orange Rocket, the user turns into a stubby orange rocket with six fins arranged in a regular hexagon on the rear. In Sonic's case, his version of the Orange Rocket has his eyes on the front and ears along the side, though his eyes do not have pupils and are yellow, and his ears do not have ear canals.
Game appearances[]
Sonic Colors[]
The Orange Rocket made its first appearance in both the Wii version and the Nintendo DSversion of Sonic Colors, and later in the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate. In the Wii version of the game, the Orange Rocket can first be used in Sweet Mountain Act 3. In the Nintendo DS version on the other hand, the Orange Rocket is the second Color Power introduced in the game (not including the White Wisps), and is unlocked in Starlight Carnival. In gameplay on both versions of the game, when transforming into the Orange Rocket, the player will be sent flying upward for as long as the transformation is active, and under normal circumstances, the player cannot change direction while flying. The Orange Rocket can likewise smash through any airborne enemy caught in its path and penetrate thin layers in the ceilings, thus allowing shortcuts through the Acts. In addition, on the Nintendo DS version, the Orange Rocket can utilize mechanical grabbers that can grab the Orange Rocket and change its trajectory when touched. However, if the Orange Rocket collides with an unbreakable surface, it will stay locked in that position until the transformation wears off. Also, when reverting back to normal from the Orange Rocket in both versions of the game while high up in the air, the playable character will start skydiving.
While changed into the Orange Rocket in the Wii version of the game, the player cannot lose a life due to damage, even if the player has no Rings at all, though the playable character can still lose Rings from damaging obstacles or enemy attacks. Additionally on the Wii version, the player can build up the Orange Rocket's charge to increase its ascension speed during take-off, but the transformation will wear off if the player charges for too long. Also on the Wii version, after utilizing the Orange Rocket for a few moments, the player will be awarded with 27,000 Color Bonus points for each second the Orange Rocket is active.
To use the Orange Rocket in gameplay on both versions of Sonic Colors, the player must possess an Orange Wisp. Once transformed into the Orange Rocket, the games' respective Wisp Gauge starts to deplete, and once it runs out, the playable character will revert back to normal. To extend its duration, the player has to collect more Orange Wisps.
In the Wii version of the game and Sonic Colors: Ultimate, if the player is in an area not suited for the Orange Rocket (namely a non-2.5D side-scrolling section), the Orange Wisp will go dormant (which is illustrated by its on-screen icon sleeping), thus preventing the player from becoming the Orange Rocket. When using the Orange Rocket in gameplay on the Wii version and in Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the player has the following controls:
In the 2 Player mode in Eggman's Sonic Simulator, two players are able to combine the Orange Rocket transformation with other Color Powers, by activating the Orange Rocket and the other Color Power at the same time when they are within a certain distance, to create a new Color Power:
Orange Rocket + Orange Rocket: Two Orange Rocket going skywards, spiraling around each other.
Orange Rocket + Cyan Laser: An Orange Rocket that can turn into a Cyan Laser before the Color Power ends.
Orange Rocket + Yellow Drill: A Yellow Drill that can rocket upward. This Color Power ends once above ground.
In the Nintendo DS version of the game, the Orange Rocket can be used in any area. To activate the Orange Rocket in gameplay on this version, the player has to press .
Sonic Generations[]
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, only Modern Sonic can use the Orange Rocket. In this game, the Orange Rocket can only be used in Planet Wisp Act 2 as the Orange Wisps can only be found there. In gameplay, when transforming into the Orange Rocket, the player will be sent flying upward for as long as the transformation is active. Also, while the player cannot change direction while flying, the Orange Rocket can be move slightly to the left or right side while ascending. In addition, while changed into the Orange Rocket, the player will be invulnerable to damage and can build up their charge to increase their ascension speed during take-off (though at the risk of making the Orange Rocket wear off faster). The Orange Rocket can likewise smash through any airborne enemy caught in its path and penetrate thin layers in the ceilings, thus allowing shortcuts through the Acts. However, if the Orange Rocket collides with an unbreakable surface, it will stay locked in that position until the transformation wears off.
Sometimes in Planet Wisp Act 2, there are weak spots in the ceiling that the Orange Rocket can break through to open up for new paths. These spots are marked with the Orange Rocket's icon and can be penetrated after the Orange Rocket has pushed against them for a few seconds. However, they will be sealed up almost instantly after being broken.
To use the Orange Rocket in gameplay, the player must possess an Orange Wisp. If the player is in an area not suited for the Orange Rocket however (namely a non-2.5D side-scrolling section), the Orange Rocket becomes unusable. Once transformed into the Orange Rocket, the player only has a varying time limit before Sonic reverts back to normal. To extend its duration, the player has to collect more Orange Wisps.
To activate the Orange Rocket in gameplay, the player must press /. Also, to build up charge for a faster boost of speed during take-off, the player has to hold down / for a while.
Sonic Lost World[]
In the Wii U version and PCversion of Sonic Lost World, the Orange Rocket makes a return. In this game, it is first used in Tropical Coast Zone 3. In gameplay, unlike in earlier games, the Orange Rocket is usable in 3D sections. When transforming into the Orange Rocket, the game switches to a first-person perspective, through which the player can aim where to fire the Orange Rocket using an orange target marker on the screen. After taking aim, the player is then sent flying upward for as long as the transformation is active, and under normal circumstances, the player cannot change direction while flying. Also, when reverting back to normal from the Orange Rocket while in midflight, the playable character will start skydiving. In addition, by flying into Cannons as the Orange Rocket, the player can change the Orange Rocket's trajectory by aiming it elsewhere.
To use the Orange Rocket in gameplay, the player must possess an Orange Wisp. If the player is in an area not suited for the Orange Rocket however, the Orange Wisp will go dormant (which is illustrated by its on-screen icon sleeping), thus preventing the player from becoming the Orange Rocket. Once taking off as the Orange Rocket, the player's Wisp Gauge starts to deplete, and once it runs out, the playable character will revert back to normal. To extend its duration, the player has to collect more Orange Wisps. Noticeably, flying into Cannons will fully charge the Wisp Gauge as well.
When using the Orange Rocket in gameplay, the player has the following controls:
Tap the Orange Wisp icon in the top right corner of the GamePad screen.
Aim
Tilt GamePad / Left Stick
Fire
Team Sonic Racing[]
In Team Sonic Racing, the Orange Rocket makes an appearance as a product of the Orange WispItem Box power-ups that can be obtained on the race tracks. In this game, rather than transforming the playable character when using the Orange Rocket, the game manifests the Orange Rocket form separately from the playable character.
To use the Orange Rocket in gameplay, the player has to press // while in possession of at least one Orange Wisp. This will make the playable character fire a manifestation of the Orange Rocket as a non-homing projectile, much like the Firework. This Orange Rocket-based projectile can be fired both forward and backwards from the playable character's car. Once fired, the projectile will travel in a straight line, damaging any enemy racer or destroying any obstacle it hits. If the projectile hits a wall, it will bounce off of it and keep going, easily knocking out rivals.
Powers and abilities[]
As the Orange Rocket, the user can create powerful jet propulsions from their back to launch themselves forward through midair at staggering speeds and with enough force to punch through robot armor and extremely thick layers of metal. The user is as well able to build up the charges of the propulsion to take off at even higher speed than normal.
Weaknesses[]
The Orange Rocket's only known weakness outside of only being usable for a few seconds and the requirement of more Hyper-go-on from Orange Wisps for the continued use of the form, colliding with any ceiling the form can't break (such as the thicker layers of various ceilings) mid-flight will instantly cancel out the transformation.
In the files for Sonic Generations, there is an unused Skill for the Orange Rocket that reads: "Turns Sonic into an Orange Rocket to fly up." This indicates that at some point, the Orange Rocket was going to be used in any Stage.
Originally, the Orange Rocket could only be controlled with the gyroscope controls in Sonic Lost World. However, a patch was later released which let players control it with the analog stick as well.