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The Yellow Wisp says that with the Yellow Drill power, you can travel through soft ground or water. But don't go TOO slow and transform back while underground... That'll mean lights out for you, so be careful, okay?


Miles "Tails" Prower, Sonic Colors (Nintendo DS)

The Yellow Drill (イエロー・ドリル Ierō Doriru?), also known as the Drill form, is a transformation that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is the Color Power gained by absorbing a Yellow Wisp and its Hyper-go-on, which turns the user into a piercing drill.

Appearance[]

When using the Yellow Drill, the user turns into a yellow spiral drill. In Sonic's case, his entire body turns into a large version of his own head with no facial except his eyes. which do not have pupils and are pale yellow, and his ears, which do not have ear canals. He also gains a large, jagged drill-like appendage on the front of his face.

Game appearances[]

Sonic Colors[]

Screenshot 232974

The Yellow Drill drilling though the ground, from the Wii version of Sonic Colors.

The Yellow Drill made its first appearance in both the Wii version and Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, and later the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate. In the Wii version of the game, the Yellow Drill can first be used in Sweet Mountain Act 1. In the Nintendo DS version on the other hand, the Yellow is the third Color Power introduced (not including the White Wisps) and is unlocked in Planet Wisp. In gameplay on both versions of the game, using the Yellow Drill will transform the playable character into a drill that can either burrow through the ground (thereby allowing the player to proceed through the Acts or take alternate paths) or move around underwater at impressive speeds. While active, the Yellow Drill will also move forward on its own. However, the Yellow Drill can only burrow through spots that feature soft dirt. The Yellow Drill can as well destroy any enemy or destructible obstacle its drill touches (although it takes a few seconds to destroy a Chroma Cube). However, colliding with solid surfaces as the Yellow Drill on both versions of the game will make the playable character ricochet off them. Also, while using the Yellow Drill on both versions of the game, the player can make the Yellow Drill move faster, although doing so will make the Yellow Drill transformation wear off quicker, and breathe underwater, thus eliminating the need for air bubbles. As the Yellow Drill on both the Wii and Nintendo DS versions, the player also cannot lose a life due to damage, even if they have no Rings at all, though the playable character can still lose Rings due to damage. Also, if the playable character reverts back to normal while underground on both versions of the game, they will instantly lose a life. In addition, while moving around underground/underwater, the player can utilize underground pipes to travel between areas.

Yellow Drill Sonic Colors DS

The Yellow Drill drilling through the ground, from the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors.

To use the Yellow Drill in gameplay on both versions of Sonic Colors, the player must possess a Yellow Wisp and activate it while standing on/next to soft ground or underwater. Once transformed into the Yellow Drill, 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 Yellow Wisps. However, should the playable character emerge from underground/underwater as the Yellow Drill, the playable character will instantly revert back to normal, regardless of the Wisp Gauge's remaining energy.

In the Wii version of the game, if the player is in an area not suited for the Yellow Drill, the Yellow Wisp will go dormant (which is illustrated by its on-screen icon sleeping), thus preventing the player from becoming the Yellow Drill. Also, on the Wii version, after utilizing the Yellow Drill for a few moments, the player will be awarded with 4,000 Color Bonus points for each second the Yellow Drill is active.

When using the Yellow Drill in gameplay on the Wii version and in Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the player has the following controls:

Wii Xbox One PS4 Switch PC
Wii Remote
(sideways)
Wii Remote
& Nunchunk
Classic
Controller
GameCube
Controller
Activate Yellow Drill Shake Wii Remote Rgame Gamecube Z Button
Move Control Stick Controlpadds L Stick Control Stick
Speed Up WiiB Button1 Wii-classic b button SNNBGAMECUBEDISCO

In the 2 Player mode in Game Land, two players are able to combine the Yellow Drill transformation with other Color Powers, by activating the Yellow Drill and the other Color Power at the same time when they are within a certain distance, to create a new Color Power:

  • Yellow Drill + Yellow Drill: Two Yellow Drills that steer cooperatively, spiraling around one another with magnified power, while attracting Rings.
  • Yellow Drill + Cyan Laser: A Yellow Drill that can turn into a Cyan Laser before the Color Power ends (is only used underwater).
  • Yellow Drill + Green Hover: A Yellow Drill that can drill through air as well as it can in water, while attracting nearby Rings.
  • Yellow Drill + Orange Rocket: A Yellow Drill that can rocket upward. This Color Power ends once above ground.

In gameplay on the Nintendo DS version, the Yellow Drill is activated by pressing Snnwiidsxbuttondisco, and its movements can be controlled with Controlpadds. To accelerate as the Yellow Drill, the player has to press WiiDSA/DSB/Snnwiidsxbuttondisco/Snnwiidsybuttondisco.

Sonic Lost World[]

YellowDrillActionLostWorld

The Yellow Drill diving above ground, from the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.

In the Wii U version, PC version and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, the Yellow Drill makes an appearance. On the Wii U/PC version of the game, the Yellow Drill is first used in Desert Ruins Zone 1, and on the Nintendo 3DS version, the Yellow Drill is first used in Tropical Coast Zone 1. In gameplay on both versions of the game, using the Yellow Drill will transform the playable character into a drill that can either burrow through the ground (thereby allowing the player to proceed through the Acts or take alternate paths) or move around underwater at impressive speeds. While active, the Yellow Drill will also move forward on its own. However, the Yellow Drill can only burrow through spots that feature soft dirt. The Yellow Drill can as well damage any enemy its drill touches. However, colliding with solid surfaces as the Yellow Drill on both versions of the game will make the playable character ricochet off them. Also, while using the Yellow Drill on both versions of the game, the player can breathe underwater, thus eliminating the need for air bubbles. As the Yellow Drill on both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS version, the player is also still vulnerable to damage. Also, if the player reverts back to normal while underground on both versions of the game, the playable character will instantly lose a life. In addition, while moving around underground/underwater, the player can utilize underground pipes to travel between areas. Also, in the Wii U version of the game, the Yellow Drill can dive above ground while burrowing without causing the playable character to revert back to normal, thus allowing the player to jump between separate sections of diggable ground.

I want that Red Ring!

The Yellow Drill burrowing through the ground, from the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.

To use the Yellow Drill in gameplay on all versions of Sonic Lost World, the player must possess a Yellow Wisp and activate it while standing on/next to soft ground or residing underwater. If the player is in an area not suited for the Yellow Drill however, the Yellow Wisp will go dormant (which is illustrated by its on-screen icon sleeping), thus preventing the player from becoming the Yellow Drill. Once transformed into the Yellow Drill, 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 Yellow Wisps. However, should the playable character emerge from underground/underwater as the Yellow Drill on the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, Sonic will instantly revert back to normal, regardless of the Wisp Gauge's remaining energy. The playable character will similarly revert back to normal on the Wii U version of the game if they dive out of diggable ground and land on non-diggable ground.

When using the Yellow Drill in gameplay on the Wii U/PC version, the player has the following controls:

Wii U PC
Keyboard Xbox 360
controller
Xbox One
controller
Activate Yellow Drill Tap the Yellow Wisp icon in the top right corner of the GamePad screen.
Move Slide finger across the GamePad screen to navigate (underground) / Touch the intended direction on the GamePad touch screen (underwater) / Left Stick
Toggle depth Touch GamePad screen twice /WiiU-Button-ZR

To activate the Yellow Drill in gameplay on the Nintendo 3DS version, the player must touch the icon of the Yellow Wisp on the touchscreen. To move around as the Yellow Drill, the player must use the movement controls. Noticeably, when moving underwater as the Yellow Drill, the up/down controls will be reversed. By holding down the L Button however, the up/down controls will be set to normal.

Team Sonic Racing[]

TSR PromoScreenshot YellowDrill

The Yellow Drill in use, from Team Sonic Racing.

In Team Sonic Racing, the Yellow Drill make an appearance as a product of the Yellow Wisp Item Box power-ups that can be obtained on the racetracks.

To use the Yellow Drill in gameplay, the player has to press Cross/A button/Switch b while in possession of a Yellow Wisp. This particular Wisp is awarded to racers who have fallen behind the other racers. Once activated, the player will transform into the Yellow Drill, giving them a massive speed boost. In addition, the Yellow Drill automatically follows the road and will trample over any obstruction in its path, allowing the user to make opposing racers that touch them spin out and ignore obstacles. The user also becomes invulnerable to damage.[1] This makes it a great comeback item. The duration of the Yellow Drill depends on the user's current placement in the race; the further away the other racers are in comparison to the Drill's user, the longer it will last.

Other game appearances[]

Sonic Runners[]

YellowDrillActionRunners

The Yellow Drill in action, from Sonic Runners.

In Sonic Runners, the Yellow Drill is an Equipable Item which the player can use during runs. In this game, using the Yellow Drill will transform the playable character into a drill that can burrow through the ground. While active, the Yellow Drill will also move forward on its own. The Yellow Drill can as well destroy any enemy or destructible obstacle its drill touches and dive above ground for a brief moment without causing the playable character to revert back to normal. Also, if the player reverts back to normal while underground, the playable character will return to the surface route.

In order to use the Yellow Drill, the player has two options: they can either equip the Yellow Drill before a run and then activate it manually while running by pressing the Yellow Wisp icon on the screen, or they can obtain the Yellow Drill from an Item Box in the stage, which will then immediately activate. Once transformed into the Yellow Drill, 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 Yellow Drill Item Boxes. The player can also make the Yellow Drill take a dive above ground by tapping the screen.

Powers and abilities[]

Change forms with a Yellow Wisp into Drill Form to drill through soft ground and Chroma Cubes! You can boost in Drill Form to go faster. But your power gauge will drain quicker.

Miles "Tails" Prower, Sonic Colors Ultimate

As the Yellow Drill, the user can burrow and tunnel underground at remarkable high speeds, and can even accelerate to dig even faster. The Yellow Drill's burrowing abilities can also be applied when underwater, allowing the user to move through water like a living torpedo. Curiously, the user does not need air to breathe air as the Yellow Drill.

In their drilling state, the user can apply enough force to drill through durable substances, such as robot armor and Chroma Cubes, though not through enforced metal and bedrock.

Weakness[]

The Yellow Drill's main weakness is that it can only be used for a few seconds and requires more Hyper-go-on from Yellow Wisps to be maintained. Also, reverting back to normal while underground can prove fatal, as it would cause the user to be buried alive.

Jingles[]

Game Name Artist(s) Length Music track
Sonic Colors "Color Power - Yellow Drill" Tomoya Ohtani 0:12
"Color Power - Yellow Drill Underwater ver." Tomoya Ohtani 0:27
Sonic Lost World/Sonic Runners/Sonic Colors: Ultimate "Color Power - Yellow Drill" Tomoya Ohtani 0:23
"Color Power - Yellow Drill (Submarine ver.)" Tomoya Ohtani 1:03

Trivia[]

  • In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, the Yellow Drill can be used to damage Master Zik.
  • Originally, the Yellow Drill could only be controlled with the touchpad controls in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World. However, a patch was later released which let players control it with the analog stick and buttons too.
  • The jingle possibly uses a pitched down sample of the song "Mayhem" by The Scotchman.[2]
  • In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, according to Yacker, "Yellow Drill" in the Wisps' native tongue is translated as "BG51?&F%87".

References[]

  1. Team Sonic Racing - TGS 2018 Demo Gameplay [HD 1080P]. YouTube. GamersPrey (20 September 2018). Retrieved on 22 September 2018.
  2. The Scotchman - Mayhem. YouTube. Early Hardcore Vibes (25 March 2016). Retrieved on 17 February 2020.

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