Orb switches^[1] are objects that appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are a mystical variant of Switches which are only encountered in the haunted areas of the game.

Overview[]

Orb switches are found exclusively in Hang Castle and Mystic Mansion and perform one of two functions: In Hang Castle, an orb switch will flip the level upside down, and in Mystic Mansion it will teleport the team to other locations in the mansion or make minor changes to a room (including spawning enemies). Orb switches may appear on their own or in a group up to three. When touched, they will release symbol particles from the pad and a bright light which will permeate from the middle of the screen. Once triggered, the switch becomes inactive and teams cannot return to where they came from using that switch.

Trivia[]

• In the PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Heroes, the codes to the orb switch's light effect has errors caused by the glitched water texture effect in some areas, the alpha blending will change to use the same mixing method as the warp light mostly for Team Chaotix's Warp Flower or Detonator Switch causing them to release a neon light that brightens the screen (except for the HUD interface) in the middle of the screen instead or possibly revert back or ignore the model's transparency leaving black on the edges and making it not see through. If they restart from the specific checkpoint after the part the glitch occurred or if Leaf Swirl has been used, the light's blend mode will be reverted. The bug can also be indicated when Charmy's wings are additive. This PS2 bug can also be usable in the GameCube version using the additive switch effect fix Action Replay code. With that used, the light will pop in the screen bright regardless of any glitches in the game.
• If the player uses the Tornado Jump on an orb switch, a small sphere of the same color of the user's aura will be created near the orb. When the engulfing light effect appears brighter, the sphere highlights will lighten within the whitepoints.
• If a player uses Leaf Swirl to make either Charmy and/or Vector stay within the orb without touching it and change formations at another position without using the technique first, the switch will trigger at any position during the transportation proccess.
• A bug on the prototype (10.8) release causes the Power character to gradually fly up after using Body Press on two switches in the statue room. This was due to how the collisions for the object were programmed. It was fixed in later releases of the game.
• When using Team Blast while on top of the Orb Switch's cage with either Team Rose or Team Chaotix in Power formation to destroy surrounding enemies, the warp effect will permeate before being taken outside the castle.

Gallery[]

Sprites[]

Screenshots[]

Gallery

A non-activated orb switch. An activated orb switch. An orb switch being activated. An orb switch engulfing the screen in light. An orb switch's effects receding. The orb switch's effects receding with strange black on the edges. This occured on the PlayStation 2 version of the game. A small sphere created after using Tornado Jump on the orb switch. After changing formations while Vector or Charmy is left with the orb switch by Espio's invisibility, the light teleports Team Chaotix somewhere else. A hint ring by the orb switch in the beta version of Robot Storm. The warp effect appearing when using Flower Festival on an Orb Switch's cage, which opens after the enemies are destroyed. The warp effect appearing when using Chaotix Recital on an Orb Switch's cage, which opens after the enemies are destroyed. A collision glitch where symbols emit after using Body Press on two orb switches at the same time. Present only on the prototype (10.8) version of Sonic Heroes on the GameCube. The team gradually flies up in the air after performing a glitch on the 10.8 release.

Textures/Rips[]

Gallery

The pad the orb switch rests on or floats above (Depending on what state the switch is in) A set of 3 warp lights used for the warp effect, but the middle one is unused. The Orb switch uses the third one on the right. Flash effect when the orb switch has been activated. The effect in additive appearance by graphical defects on the PlayStation 2 console release. An opaque switch effect rendered by graphical defects on the PlayStation 2 console release. The original HQ texture of the particles located in the stage's texture file, but is not used. duplicate of the other texture file, but a little soft. The glowing symbols on the switch.

References[]