In numerous games, however, the Loops do not have platforms above it to move on or are part of the ceiling of the level. Because the player cannot reach the flat tops of the loops by jumping, there are always moving platforms nearby the loops that can take the player to the top of them. On such platforms, there can usually be found a huge amount of Rings, Item Boxes with different power-ups or objects to be used, and even alternate pathways that the player can access. Loops have flat platforms above the Loop-de-Loop that the player can stand on. Most of the time, Loops have a certain amount of Rings set up in line on their Loop-de-Loops, which the player can collect by moving through them. Note the group of Rings and extra life monitor above it. Sonic running through a loop, from Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit). Numerous loops can also be differently formed with longer Loop-de-loops, which requires more momentum on the player's behalf to be gained before the player can get through it. Also, similar to the real-life phenomenon of moving downhills, the loop can give the playable character more momentum should the player perform a Spin Attack while moving through the Loop-de-Loop. When moving through a Loop, the player is able to either run or roll, if moving fast enough, through it.

If a playable character is not moving fast enough, the playable character will fall down out of the loop, or not be able to scale the slopes.

In order to pass through a Loop, a player must move at sufficient speeds in order to remain in contact with the surface of the Loop, and will then exit on the other side. The earlier games for the Sega Mega Drive featured a more developed game engine with momentum-based physics than any video game before. While not every level of each game has Loops, they are seen to be one of the most common elements in the series.

In the Sonic the Hedgehog series, loops are seen in almost every platform title and even in some spin-off games. Concept artwork from the early development of Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) showing the functionality of a loop.

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