How Character Abilities Really Work in Co-Op
New players often assume every Sonic character has separate combat stats like Sonic Frontiers or Sonic Heroes. In reality, TECOPARK tuned SONIC PICO PARK around tight cooperative platforming: standard characters keep balanced physics while Flight, Glide, Stage Specials, and Large Swap-Door forms solve specific room layouts.
For 4 players, run 1 Sonic (Super Sonic stages), 1 Shadow (Chaos Control stages), 1 Tails or Cream (vertical rescue airlift), and 1 Knuckles (long shaft glide). In 8-player lobbies, double up on flyers (Tails, Cream, Rouge, Charmy) so nobody waits long on cliff ferries.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Availability: All Stages (Super transformation in specific stages)
Co-Op Ability: High-speed Spin Dash & Super Sonic Chaos Emerald transformation in featured late stages.
Player Tip: Hold Spin Dash carefully when stacked on ramps so you break cracked blue blocks without launching partners into pits.
Super Sonic
Availability: Specific Late / Climax Stages
Co-Op Ability: Golden high-speed invulnerable form revealed at launch (PICO MART Ep. 4) to surge through hazard gauntlets.
Player Tip: Wait until teammates position keys or clear switches before dashing through hazards so nobody is trapped behind.
Miles "Tails" Prower
Availability: Full Playable Roster
Co-Op Ability: Twin-tail hover flight that lifts and carries teammates across wide pits and vertical walls.
Player Tip: One flyer can ferry 1–2 riders cleanly; in 8-player lobbies, bring 3–4 flying teammates for ferry chains.
Knuckles the Echidna
Availability: Full Playable Roster
Co-Op Ability: Horizontal mid-air glide across long shafts and reliable heavy pushing power against puzzle blocks.
Player Tip: Essential for long horizontal button-hold puzzles where vertical flight drops too low or runs out of stamina.
Amy Rose
Availability: Full Playable Roster
Co-Op Ability: Consistent PICO PARK jump arc, universal Spin Dash, and compact hitbox ideal for staircase towers.
Player Tip: Reliable anchor in Chaotix tether rooms and bottom/middle slots of 8-character ladders.
Shadow the Hedgehog
Availability: Full Playable Roster (Chaos Control on Emerald pick-up)
Co-Op Ability: Grabs a Chaos Emerald in designated stages to trigger Chaos Control, freezing time briefly for the whole squad.
Player Tip: Call out on voice/signal right before grabbing the Chaos Emerald so teammates sprint through moving lasers before time resumes.
Cream & Cheese
Availability: Full Playable Roster (revealed TGS 2026)
Co-Op Ability: Flies with ear flaps alongside Cheese the Chao to ferry stranded teammates overhead.
Player Tip: Pairs naturally with Tails or Rouge in 6–8 player lobbies to keep both upper and lower routes supplied.
Rouge the Bat
Availability: Full Playable Roster (revealed PICO MART Ep. 1)
Co-Op Ability: Winged flight mechanics matching Tails and Charmy for overhead rescues and aerial switch activation.
Player Tip: Drop down onto allies slowly rather than Spin Dashing into flight paths, preventing accidental mid-air bumps.
Charmy Bee
Availability: Full Playable Roster (revealed PICO MART Ep. 2)
Co-Op Ability: Team Chaotix flyer capable of hovering across ceiling spikes and airlifting teammates to upper ledges.
Player Tip: Small visual silhouette helps players see tight spike clearances while ferrying teammates.
Blaze the Cat
Availability: Full Playable Roster (Silver & Blaze Trailer)
Co-Op Ability: Agile standard platformer physics with universal Spin Dash and expressive idle animations.
Player Tip: Solid all-rounder when teams already have 2+ flyers and Knuckles covered.
Silver the Hedgehog
Availability: Full Playable Roster (Silver & Blaze Trailer)
Co-Op Ability: Standard PICO PARK jump height and Spin Dash (retains balanced co-op physics rather than solo telekinesis shortcuts).
Player Tip: Work with flyers and stack partners cleanly rather than expecting automatic mid-air hover.
Espio the Chameleon
Availability: Full Playable Roster (Team Chaotix)
Co-Op Ability: Consistent cooperative jump and Spin Dash traversal across all regular stages.
Player Tip: Great contrast silhouette against sky-blue and red hazard backgrounds.
Big the Cat
Availability: Stage-Locked via Character Swap Doors (e.g., World 7)
Co-Op Ability: Smashes heavy cracked blue stone barriers via Spin Dash and serves as a giant mobile platform, though too tall for narrow tunnels.
Player Tip: Stay behind to flatten switches or carry smaller allies over lethal drops before reaching narrow exits.
E-123 Omega
Availability: Stage-Locked via Character Swap Doors (PICO MART Ep. 1)
Co-Op Ability: Heavy-class Team Dark robot for obstacle demolition in dedicated large-character stages.
Player Tip: Clear the heavy wall first while small characters wait safely behind cover from rebounding debris.
Vector the Crocodile
Availability: Stage-Locked via Character Swap Doors (PICO MART Ep. 2)
Co-Op Ability: Heavy-frame Team Chaotix powerhouse lifting smaller allies across pits and breaking blocked walls.
Player Tip: Position Vector beneath high key ledges so smaller characters bounce up off his wider hitbox.
PICO CAT (Color Variants)
Availability: Full Playable Roster
Co-Op Ability: Classic PICO PARK mascot in multiple vibrant colorways equipped with Sonic's Spin Dash.
Player Tip: Ideal for veteran PICO PARK groups who want classic clean hitboxes and color coding.
Sonic PICO CAT
Availability: Full Playable Roster
Co-Op Ability: PICO CAT dressed in iconic blue Sonic spines and shoes with full Spin Dash support.
Player Tip: Fan-favorite crossover skin revealed alongside Shadow during the 35th Anniversary stream.
Clarifying Silver, Blaze, Shadow & Super Sonic Mechanics
Players arriving from the reveal trailers frequently ask whether Silver uses telekinesis or Blaze ignites enemies. In actual gameplay, Silver the Hedgehog, Blaze the Cat, Amy Rose, Espio, and both PICO CAT skins use crisp standard jump arcs plus universal Spin Dash.
Meanwhile, Shadow's Chaos Control (time-slow) and Sonic's Super Sonic form only activate inside designated stage sequences—such as Chaos Emerald pickups in World 14 HERO PARK—to prevent early-game puzzle skipping.
Using Big, E-123 Omega & Vector via Swap Doors
Starting around World 7 LARGE PARK, you cannot simply spawn into every stage as Vector or Big the Cat. Instead, glowing Character Swap Doors transform designated teammates into Heavyweight Large characters inside the puzzle:
- Extra Crushing Power: Heavy forms break fortified cracked stone walls that standard characters bounce off.
- Living Step-Stool Platforms: Vector, Big, and Omega provide wide, tall hitboxes that smaller partners jump onto to reach ceiling Keys.
- Height Bottlenecks: Because Large bodies cannot squeeze through 1-block tunnels, never route all players through a Swap Door if a small character is needed on the other side of a low ceiling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can fly and carry teammates in SONIC PICO PARK?
Are there unlockable secret characters?
Does PICO CAT have Sonic's Spin Dash?
Continue Exploring Guides
Walkthrough
Master Spin Dash physics, Ring shields, Crane ferry puzzles, Shadow Chaos Control, and Super Sonic stages in our complete SONIC PICO PARK mechanics guide.
SONIC PICO PARK Walkthrough: Mechanics & Controls →Worlds 1–8
Stage-by-stage co-op strategies for SONIC PICO PARK Worlds 1 through 8: Hello Park, Sonic Park, Carry Park, Crane rooms, Underwater timing, and Large Park doors.
SONIC PICO PARK Worlds 1–8 Walkthrough & Clears →Worlds 9–15
Beat the hardest SONIC PICO PARK Worlds 9–15 stages: conquer World 10 GO! GO! GO!, Metal Sonic races, Dr. Eggman Egg Wrecker, Casino pinball, and Death Egg Robot.
SONIC PICO PARK Worlds 9–15 & Boss Fight Guide →Crossplay
Configure 2 to 8 player local couch, Steam Remote Play Together, Switch 2 GameShare, and full cross-platform online lobbies cleanly in SONIC PICO PARK.
SONIC PICO PARK Crossplay, Online & Local Co-Op →