The slot machine[1] (パチスロ, Pachisuro?) is a gimmick in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are large machines that appear as a part of casinos or similarly-themed Zones. By interacting with them, the player will either receive additional rewards or lose Rings.

Even since their debut, the slot machines have become a recurring gimmick in the Sonic games. The rules of slot machines have usually been the same, with some additions and changes having been added in different games.

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Description

The slot machines are large devices based on the real-life machine, although they typically only feature the slot machine's trademark reels within a device or a frame. They are commonly encountered within casinos or similarly-themed Zones. Because they appear in casino-themed Zones, they are usually featured above or in the middle of a pinball table.

Slot machines are usually activated when the playable character inserts themselves into the opening or ball slot on the slot machine. The reels on the slot machine will then begin to rotate, and it is the player's job to match the different symbols on the reels by stopping the reels at appropriate times, though the reels will stop automatically if the player does not input after a short time. Depending on whether the player gets double or triple matches of the pictures on the reels, the player can gain or lose Rings, receive additional rewards, or get nothing at all. Afterward, the player will be deposited from the slot machine.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The slot machines made their first appearance in the Casino Night Zone of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. In this game, they are seen as a part of the Zone's colorful pinball tables. The slot machines themselves are each presented as a row of three reels within a red frame with green details.

To activate the slot machine in gameplay, the player must jump into the three parallel bars that are positioned either above or below the slot machine (these parallel bars are identical to ones around the Zone). The player can then press , or to stop the reels.

In the 2013 re-release of the game, a slot machine is also present in the "Casino Night Zone" segment of Boss Attack Zone where it is the only source that can provide the player with Rings before fighting the Catcher Eggman.

The results from various combinations on the slot machines are listed below:

Formation Title Description 3x Sonic The player will be rewarded with thirty Rings to the score. 3x Tails The player will be rewarded with twenty five Rings.



3x Eggman,

Jackpot + 2x Eggman,

2x Jackpot + Eggman The player will lose a hundred Rings, or if the total is less, all Rings accumulated. 3x Jackpot The player will be rewarded with a hundred fifty Rings. Bar The player will be rewarded with two Rings if there is one, or four if there are two. 3x Bar The player will be rewarded with twenty Rings.



Jackpot + 2x Sonic,

Jackpot + 2x Tails,

Jackpot + 2x Bar Twice the original amount: Jackpot + 2x Sonic increases the count with sixty Rings.

Jackpot + 2x Tails increases the count with fifty Rings.

Jackpot + 2x Bar increases the count with forty Rings.



2x Jackpot + Sonic,

2x Jackpot + Tails,

2x Jackpot + Bar 4x the original amount: 2x Jackpot with Sonic increases the count with 120 Rings.

2x Jackpot with Tails increases the count with a hundred Rings.

2x Jackpot with Bar increases the count with eighty Rings.

Sonic & Knuckles

In Sonic & Knuckles (and its add-on extension Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles), a single slot machine appears in the Slot Machine-based Bonus Stage. In this game, the slot machine has a blue background frame that is shaped like a "+" and possesses a red and yellow outline. It also has the traditional row of three reels, along with golden arrows pointing toward the middle. It also has a glass dome with a red frame around it in its center.

The slot machine's Bonus Stage functions similarly to the Special Stages in Sonic the Hedgehog, as the camera rotates while the player navigates a large arena with the slot machine in the middle and several bumpers and Jump Stands set around the slot machine.

To activate the slot machine in gameplay, the player has to enter the glass dome in the center of the slot machine. From here on out, the slot machine functions the same way it did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, except the reel formations are somewhat different and expanded upon. The player can likewise press , or to stop the reels. Also, getting Rings from the slot machine makes the slot machine glow and spin around the arena faster.

The results from the various combinations on the slot machine are listed below:

Formation Title Description 3x Sonic The player will be rewarded with thirty Rings. 3x Tails The player will be rewarded with twenty Rings. 3x Knuckles The player will be rewarded with twenty five Rings.



3x Eggman,

Jackpot + 2x Eggman,

2x Jackpot + Eggman The player will lose a hundred Rings, or if the total is less, all Rings accumulated. 3x Ring The player will be rewarded with ten Rings. 1x Bar, 2x Bar, 3x Bar If the player gets only one Bar, the player gets two Rings. With two Bars the player gets four Rings and with triple Bars the player gets eight Rings. 3x Jackpot The player will be rewarded with one hundred Rings.







Jackpot + 2x Sonic,

Jackpot + 2x Tails,

Jackpot + 2x Knuckles,

Jackpot + 2x Ring,

Jackpot + 2x Bar Twice the original amount: Jackpot + 2x Sonic increases the count with sixty Rings.

Jackpot + 2x Tails increases the count with forty Rings.

Jackpot + 2x Knuckles increases the count with forty-five Rings.

Jackpot + 2x Ring increases the count with twenty Rings.

Jackpot + 2x Bar increases the count with eight Rings.







2x Jackpot + Sonic,

2x Jackpot + Tails,

2x Jackpot + Knuckles,

2x Jackpot + Ring,

2x Jackpot + Bar 4x the original amount: 2x Jackpot + Sonic increases the count with hundred twenty Rings.

2x Jackpot + Tails increases the count with eighty Rings.

2x Jackpot + Knuckles increases the count with a hundred Rings.

2x Jackpot + Ring increases the count with forty Rings.

2x Jackpot + Bar increases the count with eight Rings.

Sonic Adventure

In Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, the slot machines are only featured in Casinopolis. There are also smaller ones in the main hall that the player cannot enter. However, the player can jump or do a Homing Attack on one of these slot machines, which will reward the player with five Rings once.

There is also a traditional slot machine featured in the middle of the Sonic-themed 777 Slots Pinball table, which the player can activate in gameplay by hopping into the middle right pipe in the upper section of the pinball table. This particular slot machine's only visible features are its reels in the middle of the pinball table. In gameplay, this slot machine functions differently from those in previous Sonic games. While the player can get triples on the straight line, they can also get a diagonal match, if the player can arrange the pictures on the reels in that formation. Some formations can affect the pinball table as well. The player can press / to make the reels stop spinning from left to the right. The light from the side triangles on both sides can also help the player time the stopping of the reels.

The results from various combinations on the slot machines are listed below:

Formation Title Description Ring 3K The player will be rewarded with fifteen Rings and thirty second multiplier. Speed Star The player will be rewarded with fifty Rings and ninety nine second multiplier. T-Kickback The player will be rewarded with fifteen Rings, while this also blocks the hole between flippers for forty five seconds until it opens again. Shining "K" The player will be rewarded with thirty Rings and eighty second multiplier. Blue Rose The player will be rewarded with fifty Rings and sixty second multiplier. Final Eggman The player will lose a hundred Rings, or if the total is less, all Rings accumulated. This also makes the pipe of the slot machine blocked for about sixty seconds.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure

In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, slot machines are featured in Cosmic Casino Zone. In this game, they are a part of the Zone's pinball tables. The slot machines themselves look identical to those seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

To activate the slot machine in gameplay, the player must jump into the three parallel bars either above or below the slot machine. The player can then press / to stop the reels one by one. The slot machines also have results and rewards similar to those seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic Heroes

In Sonic Heroes, the traditional slot machines appear in Casino Park and BINGO Highway, along with giant slot machines seen in the background of both Stages.

In this game, there are two variations of the slot machine: a small one and a large one. Both machines however, are light-green boxes with entry hatches on the top and bottom. The center of these boxes show the traditional slot machine reels, and their sides have yellow arrow-markings that point towards the center. The large slot machines also have extra details and the words "BET" and "JACKPOT" depicted on them just over the reel field. Both types of slot machines can also only be found on the pinball table sections in both Stages.

The small variant of the slot machine only has one slot reel. In turn, once the player stops this one reel, the player will be given a reward according to the symbol in the center of the reel. If a teammate who is not the selected leader is currently inside these small slot machines, the player can stop the reels no matter how far they are from their teammate. The large variation of the slot machine is a more traditional three slot-reel machine. However, it is only the reels' central row of symbols that count when determining this slot machine's reward. When using the large slot machines, the player must stop the reels three times. They also include more symbols than the one slot-reel machines.

In gameplay, the player can activate both types of slot machines by entering them via the entry hatches on the top or bottom of them. To stop a rolling reel on either slot machine type, the player needs to press / / . Both variations of the slot machine will grant the player Rings depending on the combination of symbols. Note though that the large slot machines can hold up to a maximum of the player's entire team (three characters), which in turn can multiply the result based on the number of characters (balls) inside the slot machine.[2]

The results from various combinations on the slot machines are listed below:

One-slot slot machine Symbol Effect Grants 10 Rings. Grants 20 Rings. Nothing

Three-slot slot machine Formation Results

(one ball) Results

(two balls) Results

(three balls) Grants 50 Rings Grants 100 Rings Grants 150 Rings, one blue Power Core Grants 20 Rings Grants 40 Rings Grants 60 Rings, one yellow Power Core Grants 30 Rings Grants 60 Rings Grants 90 Rings, one red Power Core Grants 10 Rings Grants 20 Rings Grants 30 Rings



Takes 50 Rings away, or if the total is less, all Rings accumulated Takes 100 Rings away, or if the total is less, all Rings accumulated Takes 200 Rings away, or if the total is less, all Rings accumulated Grants 100 Rings Grants 200 Rings Grants 300 Rings Grants 200 Rings Grants 400 Rings Grants 600 Rings

Shadow the Hedgehog

Main article: Egg Dealer

In Shadow the Hedgehog, the typical slot machine does not appear. However, there is a boss called the Egg Dealer, which has a slot machine-like mechanism on the front. All of the Egg Dealer's attacks are determined by the results on the slot machine's reels. The player can also interact with the Egg Dealer in order to influence its slot machine's outcome and trigger effects beneficial to the player.

Sonic Rivals 2

In Sonic Rivals 2, the slot machine only appears in Neon Palace Zone Act 1. These slot machines' appearance differs significantly from their designs in previous games; they feature a blue-checkerboard surface with several green, blue and yellow triangles, and with a red outline on top. They also have three pentagonal red/orange striped attachments each and their six reels are surrounded by a green outline.

Much like in previous games, the slot machines in Sonic Rivals 2 provide various rewards based on how the three icons on the top row are matched. In addition, the outcome of the three reels on the top row decide which direction the player exits the slot machine from; if any of the reels stops at an icon of Eggman's face, the slot machine will immediately drop the playable character down to the lower route; otherwise the playable character will be launched to the right, along the upper route. To use the slot machine in gameplay, the playable character must enter the slot machines via the entrance hatches on the sides. Also, to stop each reel from spinning, press .

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, slot machines appear exclusively in Casino Street Zone. They are only seen in the Zone's first Act and also in the second Act in the mobile phone versions of the game. In this game, they are a part of the pinball tables, similar to the ones in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. In terms of design, they look like a row of three reels with a decorative frame around them.

To activate the slot machine in gameplay, the player must jump into the three parallel bars that are positioned above the slot machine. After the reels have been put into motion, the player can stop them by pressing / / / / . All the slot results are also identical to those in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with the exception of the Tails icons which have been replaced with a Ring icon. If the player is Super Sonic when using the slot machine, the outcome will always be three Jackpots.

In Casino Street Act 2 (mobile phone versions), using the slot machine is a major means of scoring a lot of points for the Act objective (earn 100,000 points) based on the outcome of the slot machine.

The results from the various combinations on the slot machine are listed below:

Formation Description The player will be rewarded with 10 Rings. The player will be rewarded with 20 Rings. The player will be rewarded with 30 Rings. The player will lose 100 Rings, or if the total is less, all Rings accumulated. The player will be rewarded with 150 Rings.







The player will be rewarded with two Rings. The player will be rewarded with nothing.

Sonic Colors

In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, slot machines are gimmicks that appear only in the Sonic Simulator. In this game, they are floating golden boxes with a purple lever on the left side and a row of three reels lined up on the front. They also have a golden arch on top of them, which is decorated with a golden and red crown. They are also decorated with multicolored -symbols, and have writing just above the reels on their front. They also each have a blue deposit hatch with arrow-markings on the bottom.

In gameplay, the slot machines work differently from those in other Sonic games. To activate a slot machine, instead of inserting the playable character into the slot machine, the player has to Homing Attack or Spin Jump into the slot machine's lever. Afterward, the slot machine will automatically stop its own reels, and then deposit its reward from its deposit hatch. If the slot machine gets a line-up of symbols beneficial to the player, it will release Rings, but if it gets a non-beneficial line-up of symbols, it will release iron balls instead.

Sonic Generations

In Sonic Generations, the slot machines appear in both the console/PC version and the Nintendo 3DS version of the aforementioned game.

In the Nintendo 3DS version, the slot machines only appears in Casino Night. In this version of Sonic Generations, the slot machines are a part of the pinball areas in the Stage. In terms of design, they look similar to how they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, except these slot machines have more green details, extra lights on the sides, a downard-pointing arrow on top, and a yellow frame between their red frame and reels. To activate these slot machines in gameplay, the player has to jump into the three parallel bars positioned either above or below the slot machines. The player can then press / to stop their reels. It is also worth noting that the slot machines in the Casino Night Act 1 are placed in the exact same locations as they were in the original Casino Night Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, a single slot machine is located on the Casino Night DLC pinball table. In this version of Sonic Generations, the slot machine is a giant glass sphere with Rings inside it and a blue slide on the bottom up front. It also has a plate on the front that resemble the slot machine from the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, but expanded so that the reels show a nine-section grid. This front plate also has colored hexagons with numbers on the sides. Lastly, it has three parallel bars on the bottom of the front plate where the playable character is to be inserted into. To activate this slot machine in gameplay, the player has to proceed to the higher levels of the pinball table. If the player gets matching symbols on the slot machine (either horizontally on any of the reel grid's three rows or diagonally), Rings will rain down on the pinball table which the player can collect for extra points. Also, the more Jackpot Medals the player is in possession of when using the slot machine, the easier it will be to get a jackpot on it.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

In Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, slot machines appear on the loading screen before each race. If the player has at least five All-Star coins, they are able to spin the slot machine. Should the three slots match, a new item is obtained. The player can win an item at the start of every lap or start with an item at the start of the race. If the pictures do not match, the player does not earn anything, but they can be spun once more if they have the required number of coins.

Slot Machines are also available in selected chapters of the game's World Tour, where they can be accessed any time on the map. On this map, they are depicted as stereotypical slot machines.

Sonic Lost World

In the Wii U/PC version of Sonic Lost World, slot machines are featured on the second, hidden pinball table section in Frozen Factory Zone 3. The player can enter this pinball table by finding the hidden yellow Spring on the top of the left chip stack near end of second part of the Zone. The slot machines themselves look identical to those seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

On the pinball table, there are three slot machines, one for each of the pinball table's three sections. To activate a slot machine in gameplay, the player must jump into the three parallel bars that are above each slot machine. To stop the reels from spinning, the player then has to press / . All the slot machine results are the same as those in Sonic Generations.

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, the slot machines only appears in Casino Forest. In this game, they serve as parts of the Stage's pinball sections. In terms of design, each slot machine consists of three reel slots set up in a row, with a stone frame that is decorated with neon symbols and golden outlines surrounding them. In addition, they have a green arrow symbol on top of them that points into three glowing parallel bars just above the reels (these parallel bars are identical to ones around the Stage).

In gameplay, the slot machines function like they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. To activate a slot machine, the playable character must be inserted into the parallel bars on the slot machine.

Trivia

According to Yuji Naka, slot machines are based on Sonic Team's experiences at casinos while they were working in America.[3]