Light switches hanging from the ceiling throughout the act can be used light the act back up to its fully illuminated state, which will repel the Hyudoros. This empowers Hyudoros which will attack the player once the Act is at its darkest state, once they are released from the Capsule they are imprisoned in which is unavoidable. In Act 2, the level darkens over time over four different states. Notable obstacles include quicksand pools that can either function as bottomless pits though some can lead to secret areas, the thick moving blocks that can act as crushers or have spikes on them, though they sometimes can serve as platforms (it is not possible for Knuckles to climb on these).
There are columns of sand that block the player's path but can be disintegrated by simply jumping at them. Notable gimmicks include sand blocks which the player can ride on once the block is pushed onto the black rails, long ropes which the player can jump on to its handle to descend safely, sand slides, and bead strings that catapult the player once the player stands at a certain spot. The loops here are different, as the player will circle through them twice before going upward.
Sandopolis Zone features small sand-falls allow the player to progress upwards by repeatedly jumping, while others will automatically carry them along their paths.
