Sprint Shoes: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

An item, ability, or spell that enables the player character to move faster, possibly to the point of [[Super Speed]]. It can be anything from a device that allows the player to walk at an accelerated pace to an animal that can be ridden around—though, of course, some incarnations [[Improbable Accessory Effect|make more sense than others]]. This can be one of the most useful items in the game due to the fact that most game characters run at the pace of an arthritic slug, and certainly no players are going to complain at being given the ability to complete the latest [[Fetch Quest]] or [[Chain of Deals]] in a quicker fashion. Occasionally, it may be key to beating a [[Timed Mission]] that would otherwise be impossible.

 

{{examples}}

 

** There are also the rocket skates, but the difficulty in controlling them (and the possibility of inadvertently activating them if you're opening presents at random) makes it feel a lot more like a [[Power-Up Letdown]].

* ''[[Zombies Ate My Neighbors]]'' could also be considered the [[Trope Namer]], since there is an item called Sprint Shoes in the game. Naturally, they allow Zeke or Julie to run at full tilt for a short time. This is especially useful in getting to victims before a monster does.

 

* In ''[[The Goonies (video game)|The Goonies]] II'', Mikey can find Running Shoes and Spring Shoes. Running Shoes increase his movement speed to not-glacial, while the Spring Shoes increase his jumping ability dramatically. Notably, the effects cannot be combined.

* Scrolls in ''[[Legacy of the Wizard]]''. You can use as many as you can find.

* In ''[[Deadly Towers]]'', Hyper Boots will increase your speed, but not while walking in any non-diagonal direction.

 

* The Bunny Hood from ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' also makes an appearance as a usable item in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]] Melee'' and ''Brawl'', where it increases jumping ability as well as speed. Ironically, due to the game's gimmick of forfeiting players who fall off-screen, both the official website and in-game trophy room describe it as an occasional [[Power-Up Letdown]] in terms of maneuverability if worn by the fastest characters.

 

* The "Sports Boost" tonic in ''[[BioShock (series)]]'' increases your speed.

* ''[[Call of Duty]] - [[Modern Warfare]]'' and its sequel features this trope in multiplayer - your speed is based on what your primary weapon is for whatever class you select. (For instance, starting with a SMG gives you the fastest speed while a Riot Shield gives you the slowest speed.) Note that it's not affected by what weapon you're ''currently carrying'', but whatever weapon you ''started with''. Thus, you can ditch your MP5 for an M60 and still maintain breakneck speed.

** The Heavy also has the Buffalo Steak Sandvich, which boosts his speed even more than the Gloves when eaten, at the cost of only being able to use melee, and dealing and taking minicrits. Valve had to patch the game so that it wouldn't stack with the gloves' speed boost, mainly because it was a bit unfair for Heavies to be able to rush to the capture points as fast as Scouts.

 

* The "Stinger" move from ''[[Devil May Cry]]'', which sends Dante a distance forward in the process, would qualify, as would some of the variants found in his other weapons. The third title introduced dash moves, while the fourth finally allows the player character to sprint properly after a bit of sustained jogging - and buying the appropriate skill.

* ''[[Diablo]] II'' has quite a few things that qualify as this. The assassin has Burst of Speed. The barbarian has the Increased Speed passive as well as Frenzy. The druid gets a minor boost when in werewolf form. The paladin can use Charge for quick movement, or he can just switch to the Vigor aura and basically give his whole party the [[Bunny Hood]] effect. Characters lacking these, and many who DO, usually have some equipment that gives a speed boost.

* While ''[[No More Heroes]]'' starts out with Travis already owning a very cool motorcycle to get around in, he also has the ability to learn to dash short distances.

 

* In ''[[The Tower of Druaga]]'', Gilgamesh can obtain winged Jet Boots on the second level to move twice as fast.

 

* The MMORPG ''[[City of Heroes]]'' has "travel powers" (Super Speed, Super Jumping, Flight, and Teleportation) to this effect. They're considered so essential to getting around the city that it's a rare player indeed who doesn't acquire one as soon as it's available (or at all). Some power sets (best read: Kinetics, a buff set) also have various buff powers that can replicate Super Speed and Super Jumping for brief periods of time. Though this necessity has been somewhat alleviated by the addition of temporary travel powers in the form of jetpacks that can last a fairly significant portion of a character's career.

** The two epic heroic archetypes, Warshades and Peacebringers, each get built in travel powers at level one.

** Warcraft also features the Engineering ability Nitro Boosts, allow you to transform any pair of footwear into Sprint Shoes for a short period. Of course, as with most Warcraft Engineering abilities, there is always a chance [[Stuff Blowing Up|that they will simply explode instead]].

* ''[[EverQuest]]'' has the Journeyman's Boots, which allow the player to apply a run speed buff when equipped - very handy in a game where mounts are prohibitively expensive. The quest to get the boots is an ''utter'' pain in the ass, however, meaning the players who risk insanity trying to complete it usually do so for the bragging rights, rather than the reward itself. The [[Fan Nickname|Jboots]] return in [[EQ 2]] as an iconic item reward for what is one of the most [[Your Mileage May Vary|entertaining heritage quests in the game.]]

* ''[[Star Trek Online]]'' - in space missions, the player can set his ship to "Full Impulse" to travel at roughly twice the full speed otherwise. This has the rather dangerous side effect of draining power from other systems, so running into a battle zone at Full Impulse is generally not recommended. On ground missions, the player can run by simply hitting shift. Outside of combat, the running is a bit slower, but can be used for up to 30 seconds at a time with a short cooldown. In combat, the running is a bit faster, but only works for 5 seconds and has a similar length cooldown. Both of the aforementioned abilities, however, are available from the start - a straighter example would be the Slipstream Drive, which is available upon reaching Admiral. It doubles the travel speed in sector space, which is extremely handy.

 

* ''[[Banjo-Kazooie]]'' and ''Banjo Tooie'' feature the Sprint shoes, which speed up your the duo's walk speed '''tremendously'''. Also, walking around with Kazooie carrying Banjo is faster than Banjo walking about with Kazooie in his pack.

** In Tooie the Sprint Shoes actually allow you to run on water as well, provided you don't stop at any point (you'll fall in).

* ''[[Mega Man X]]'' gains the ability to dash in his first game (it's built-in thereafter). Various other speed items are found throughout the franchise; one game even has an item that makes you ''climb ladders'' faster.

** The ''[[Mega Man Legends]]'' games let you build, refurbish, or otherwise find ancient boot attachments that serve this function while also serving as an [[Unexpected Gameplay Change]] and turning the dungeon navigation into a driving game. For your information, Mega Man steers like a brick.

* The Speed Booster in ''[[Metroid]]'' is one of the most powerful examples. Once up to full speed Samus becomes virtually invincible, destroying just about everything in her path as she plows through at breakneck speed. The player can also harness this energy to send Samus rocketing through the air in a straight line, again invincible and destroying everything in her path until she hits a solid wall. ''[[Super Metroid]]'' gave the latter ability a tradeoff by draining Samus' life in the process, but later games removed this restriction.

** However, in ''Super Metroid'', the shine spark ability had an effect of creating two damaging echoes perpendicular to Samus upon crashing that dealt a lot of damage. Later installments don't feature this, although ''Zero Mission'' lets the player spark in ball form.

* [[Powerup Mount|Yoshi]] already provides increased running speed in ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]'', but he can also ingest hot peppers that allow him to run at super-speed for a short time, making it possible to run up slopes, onto walls, and across water.

 

* ''[[Ancient Domains of Mystery]]'' has the Seven League Boots which greatly decrease the time it takes to move, especially on the [[World Map]] (unless they're cursed, in which case they slow you down and [[Clingy Costume|good luck taking them off]]).

* ''[[Nethack]]'' has several ways of becoming faster (some permanent, some not), including speed boots. As the game is turn based, this means you get an extra turn every so often.

 

* Rand from ''[[Breath of Fire]] 2'' works as your Sprint Shoes with his [[World Map]] ability. He rolls up and you steer a quick-moving ball around. You are free from [[Random Encounters]] while using this, but the moment you crash into something (trees, a cliff, a town) you get an encounter. And there really are a lot of trees...

** Also after {{spoiler|Mina}} turns into a giant bird. While flying on the bird you moved even faster than dashing and could move anywhere with no random encounters. {{spoiler|But alas, you can no longer use her after [[The Dragon|Habaruku]] pretending to be Father Hulk break the Gates unleashing demons preventing her from landing.}}

* Completing both of the "race the Gold Goblins!" quests in ''[[.hack GU]] Vol. 3: Redemption'' rewards you with an accessory called "Demon Safe Shoes". It comes with two abilities—one boosts the character's movement speed by 25% (in both towns and battle areas), and the other stops enemies from noticing the party, which makes it possible for the party to Surprise Attack the enemy mob all the time, so long as an active member is equipped with it. ''Extremely'' useful in the [[Bonus Dungeon|Forest of Pain]].

* The great sabrecat in ''[[Dragon Quest VIII]]''.

* The DS remake of ''[[Final Fantasy III]]'' borrowed the famous B Button Run.

* ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] III: Morrowind'' has the "Boots of Blinding Speed" which give you a huge boost to your movement at the cost of not being able to see where you're going. They're still fun though - and if you're immune to harmful magic, you don't get blinded.

** Unlike the Sprint Shoes though, Lloyd's Personal skill can react with his other three possible skills to create new ones that may or may not be useful to you.

* Somehow, in ''[[The Witcher]]'' running with your silver sword out in fast or group style will make you run faster. Additionally, running with ''any'' weapon out will make you move full speed when intoxicated.

 

== Sports Games ==

* In the Game Boy Color version of ''[[Mario Tennis]]'', you can unlock Light Shoes, which let you run faster but reduce your traction.

 

* [[Dead Rising]] has skateboards and a certain blend of drinks which boosts your movement temporarily.

* The Propulsion Boots {{spoiler|and the hoverbike}} from the freeware game ''Notrium''.

 

* The ''[[Metroid Prime]]'' subseries replaced the Speed Booster upgrade with one more manageable in 3D, the Boost Ball. It's weaker, but still gets you around fast and damages enemies.

 

* ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' and its sequel has shoes called...[[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|well what the trope name is.]] Sprint Shoes boosts your units' Move stat by 1. The upgraded version, the Ninja Tabi, lets you move up 2 extra spaces. In A2, there is a clan ability that boosts Move for the party by 1 and 2 and it does stack with the Sprint Shoes/Ninja Tabi. The Green Mage in A2 can learn Leap, which temporarily boosts a unit's Move by 1. Since the highest base stat for Move is 4, combine this with a Ninja Tabi, the clan ability ability Move +2, AND using the Green Mage's Leap ability, you can almost cover half the map by moving 9 spaces!

 

== [[Web Comics]] ==

 

== [[Web Original]] ==

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* ''[[Kim Possible]]'' featured an episode where Kim dons a pair of speed shoes in order to battle some super-fast robots. It not only makes her faster, but lets her break the laws of physics. (Not that realistic physics is a prime concern for the show).

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Videogame Effects and Spells]]

[[Category:Video Game Items and Inventory]]