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The Yellow Drill (イエロー・ドリル Ierō doriru?), also known as the Drill form, is a transformation used by Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic Colors and Sonic Lost World. It is the Color Power Sonic gains when absorbing a Yellow Wisp and its Hyper-go-on. While in this form, Sonic can turn himself into a piercing drill.
Appearance
As the Yellow Drill, Sonic's entire body turns into a large version of his own head, which is arguably not much larger than Sonic's full height, that is covered entirely in yellow skin. However, the version of Sonic's head that he turns into has nearly no facial features, such as Sonic's muzzle, ear canals or nose, except for his eyes, which have lost their pupils and have turned pale yellow. Also, on the front of his face, covering most of it, Sonic gains a jagged drill-like appendage that is almost as large as the Yellow Drill's head.
Powers and abilities
As the Yellow Drill, Sonic is able to use his drill-like appendage to quickly drill through soft dirt, allowing him to burrow and tunneling underground at remarkable high speeds, and can even accelerate while underground to dig even faster. Additionally, the Yellow Drill's drill-like appendage can be used offensively as well by using it to drill through enemies and has proven to have enough power to break through any type of robot armor possessed by Eggman's robots and reinforced crates that even Sonic cannot break normally (with some effort). It is, however, not strong enough to penetrate things such as pure bedrock or enforced metal.
The Yellow Drill's abilities to burrow underground can also be applied when underwater, allowing the Yellow Drill to move through water like a living torpedo, while still having the same movements and skills as if Sonic was still underground. This is especially useful for Sonic, as it negates his inability to swim. Curiously, Sonic apparently does not need air to breathe when transformed into the Yellow Wisp.
The Yellow Drill's foremost weakness is that this form can only be maintained for a short time, before Sonic will revert back to normal, and requires more Hyper-go-on from Yellow Wisps to be maintained. Also, should Sonic revert back to normal while underground, it would be fatal to him, as it would cause him to be buried alive.
Gameplay
Sonic Colors
In both versions of Sonic Colors, the player can only use the Yellow Drill while Sonic is in possession of a Yellow Wisp. Transforming into the Yellow Drill will cause the Wisp/Boost Gauge to start depleting, and once it runs out, Sonic will revert back to normal.
In order to use the Yellow Drill, Sonic must be standing on or next to soft ground, or underwater, so that once the Yellow Drill is activated, it can be deployed. When activated, the Yellow Drill moves forward on his own. While underwater/underground, the Yellow Drill can make use of underground pipes to pass between the area he is located to a new area underwater/underground that would otherwise be sealed off.
While as the Yellow Drill, the player cannot lose a life due to damage. Hitting damaging obstacles or being attacked by enemies will still cause the player to lose Rings, but Sonic cannot be killed due to damage from obstacles or enemies and cannot lose a life while as the Yellow Drill, even if the player does not have any Rings at all. Colliding with wall underground, however, will cause the Yellow Drill to briefly ricochet off in another direction.
Should Sonic return to the surface while transformed into the Yellow Drill, he will instantly revert back to normal, regardless of how much energy he has in his Wisp/Boost Gauge, as the Yellow Drill can only be maintain while under the surface.. However, if the player's Wisp/Boost Gauge run out of energy while drilling underground as the Yellow Drill, Sonic will instantly die once he revert back to normal, and the player will lose a life.
Wii
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, the Yellow Drill can first be used in Sweet Mountain Act 1. However, the Yellow Drill can only be activated in the 2D side-scrolling sections of the Acts, as entering 3D sections with a Yellow Wisp will cause the Yellow Wisp to go dormant. After utilizing a Yellow Drill transformation for a few moments, the player will be awarded with 4,000 Color Bonus points each second when the Yellow Drill is active.
Controls
| Wii Remote with Nunchunk | Wii Remote Sideways | Classic Style | GameCube Controller | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activate Yellow Drill | Shake Wii Remote | Shake Wii Remote | R Button | Z Button |
| Move Yellow Drill | Control Stick | 
|
L Stick | Control Stick |
| Speed Up | 
|
|
b Button | 
|
Combined Form
In the 2 Player mode in the Wii version of Sonic Colors in Eggman's Sonic Simulator, 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.
Nintendo DS
In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, the Yellow Drill is the third Color Power introduced in the game (not including the White Wisps), and is unlocked on Planet Wisp. It is activated by the player by pressing 
. While underground/underwater, the Yellow Drill's directions can be controlled with control pad. To accelerate as the Yellow Drill, the player has to press either 
, 
, or 
.
Sonic Lost World
Jingles
Trivia
- In Sonic Colors, the Yellow Drill can be used to deal extra damage against Captain Jelly and Admiral Jelly (Wii version) and the Drillinator (DS version).
- In Sonic Lost World, it can be used to damage Master Zik (3DS version).
- As the Yellow Drill, Sonic often encounters Moles and Burrobots.
- As the Yellow Drill, Sonic controls exactly like NiGHTS does while speeding up.
Gallery
Artwork
| Gallery |
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Screenshots
| Gallery |
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 Sonic transforming into the Yellow Drill in the opening of Sonic Colors.  Sonic as the Yellow Drill in the opening of Sonic Colors.  The Yellow Dril digging underground in Sweet Mountain in the Wii version of Sonic Colors. The Yellow Drill at Sweet Mountain in the Wii version of Sonic Colors. .jpg "Sonic Colors Game Land (50).jpg (249 KB)") The Yellow Drill in the Sonic Simulator. .jpg "Sonic Colors Game Land (49).jpg (202 KB)") The Yellow Drill in the Sonic Simulator. .jpg "Sonic Colors Game Land (27).jpg (320 KB)") The Yellow Drill underwater in the Sonic Simulator. .jpg "Sonic Colors Game Land (25).jpg (287 KB)") The Yellow Drill underwater in the Sonic Simulator.  The Yellow Drill in the DS version of Sonic Colors. .png "Screenshot (21).png (698 KB)") The Yellow Drill in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.  The Yellow Drill in the 3DS version of Sonic Lost World. |
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