Big Ring

A Big Ring at the end of Green Hill Zone Act 1 in Sonic the Hedgehog.

The first "Special Ring" in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, found in Angel Island Zone.

Big Rings are larger rings which typically transport the player to a Special Stage in Sonic the Hedgehog games. They were first introduced in the original Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991. The franchise has not used a consistent name for the object, using multiple names in Japan, and often being unnamed (or simply described as a "big" or "large" ring) in the West.

Two rules for Big Rings have been established by the 2D Sonic games; those which appear at the end of a level, after acquiring a number of "normal" Rings (usually 50), and those which are hidden throughout a level, theoretically allowing the player to access a Special Stage multiple times. For the former, Okina Ring (大きなリング) is often used, and for the latter, Special Ring (スペシャルリング), though this is not guaranteed for all games (such as Chaotix). More recent sources call the object Giant Ring, though this was not explicitly used in any contemporary game manuals or guides.

Not all Sonic games use Big Rings to access their Special Stages; most notably Sonic the Hedgehog 2 which uses Star Posts, and the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS handheld games (starting with Sonic Advance) which establish their own individual rules. Some games, starting with Sonic the Hedgehog 3, will award the player 50 rings instead of transporting to a Special Stage if the Chaos Emeralds have already been collected.

The 3D games, starting with Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001, often use Goal Rings. These too are placed at the end of a level, but as the name suggests, merely act as a means of finish the stage, rather than transporting the player somewhere else. "Big Rings" have also been used for other purposes, such as Chaos Rings in Chaotix or Dimension Rings in Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island, and many "bigger than normal" Rings (such as Red Star Rings) have been used by the series as collectables.

Appearances

Video games

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

In the original Sonic the Hedgehog an Okina Ring (大きなリングMedia:Sonic1_MD_JP_manual.pdf ōkina ringu) appears at the end of a Zone's Act 1 or Act 2 if the player has 50 or more Rings. Jumping into one will take the player to a Special Stage for a chance to obtain a Chaos Emerald. They appear in all Zones except Scrap Brain Zone and Final Zone.

Strangely, they aren't mentioned at all in the game's US manual.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

The Okina Ring (大きなリングMedia:SonicCD_MCD_JP_manual.pdf ōkina ringu), now known as a Special RingMedia:SonicCD_MCD_US_manual.pdf in the US, returns in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, serving the same function it did in Sonic the Hedgehog. A Special Ring appears at the end of a Round's Zone 1 or Zone 2 if the player has 50 or more Rings. Jumping into one will take the player to a Special Stage for a chance to obtain a Time Stone.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Now known as a Special Ring (スペシャルリングMedia:Sonic3 MD JP SonicJam manual.pdf supesharu ringu) in Japan and simply a giant Gold RingMedia:Sonic3 MD US SonicJam manual.pdf in the US, their function in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 differs slightly from previous games. This time Special Rings are hidden in secret rooms throughout the whole game, with no prerequisite to make them appear. Like before, touching one will take the player to the Special Stage for a chance to obtain a Chaos Emerald. After collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds, touching a Special Ring will grant the player 50 Rings.

Sonic & Knuckles

In Sonic & Knuckles the Special Ring (スペシャルリングMedia:S&K_MD_JP_SonicJam_manual.pdf supesharu ringu) functions the same as in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, with multiple hidden throughout the first four Zones of the game. Touching one will transport the player to the Special Stage for a chance to obtain a Chaos Emerald. There are no Special Rings to be found in Hidden Palace Zone, Sky Sanctuary Zone, Death Egg Zone or The Doomsday Zone.

When locked-on to Sonic 3, Super Rings (スーパーリングMedia:S&K_MD_JP_SonicJam_manual.pdf sūpāringu), flashing multiple different colors appear in place of Special Rings in the Sonic & Knuckles stages. This behave identically to Special Rings, but touching one will transport the player to the Emerald altar in Hidden Palace Zone. Once there, any Chaos Emeralds that the player has collected will be transformed into large gray Emeralds. If the player jumps onto one of these Emeralds, they will be transported to one of the Special Stages from Sonic & Knuckles, for a chance to obtain a Super Emerald. If the player successfully completes a Special Stage, a short cutscene will play, in which color is restored to the gray Emerald, making it a Super Emerald.

The first Super Ring is found at the beginning of Mushroom Hill Zone Act 1, in an area not accessible in the stand-alone version of Sonic & Knuckles. Further Super Rings only appear if the player has collected all seven Chaos Emeralds, after which they will replace Special Rings. If the player has collected all seven Super Emeralds, touching a Super Ring will grant them 50 Rings.

Chaotix

In Chaotix the Special Ring (スペシャルリングMedia:Chaotix_32X_JP_manual.pdf supesharu ringu), simply called a giant RingMedia:Chaotix_32X_US_manual.pdf in the US, has two different functions. There are several Special Rings hidden throughout each Level of the game, but they will only appear if the player has 20 or more Rings. Touching one of these Special Rings transports the player to the Bonus Stage. Additionally, a Special Ring will appear at the end of each Attraction's Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 if the player has 50 or more Rings. Touching this type of Special Ring takes the player to the Special Stage for a chance to obtain a Chaos Ring.

In the Japanese release, the Special Rings also play a large role in the game's story. Dr. Eggman discovers a Super Ring, an ancient Special Ring, identical to those on the Floating Island. The Special Ring was supposed to lead to the Master Emerald, but the Emerald had already been relocated to the Floating Island since ancient times. However, the dimensional space created by the Special Ring was filled with Master Emerald Pillar energy, some of which had crystallized into six Chaos Rings. After studying the Special Ring, Eggman manages to crystallize the energy himself, creating the artificial Dark Rings, which he uses to power his machines. In a cutscene before the final boss, Eggman transforms his Special Ring into a giant Dark Ring and uses it to change Metal Sonic into a powerful new form.

Sonic Blast

In Sonic Blast the Special Ring (スペシャルリングMedia:SonicBlast_GG_JP_manual.pdf supesharu ringu), or Big RingMedia:Sonic_Blast_GG_US_Manual.pdf in the US, functions similarly to those in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but is much smaller. There is one Special Ring hidden in Act 1 and Act 2 of every Zone. As with previous games, touching one will transport the player to a Special Stage. Unlike Sonic the Hedgehog 3, where Special Stages cycle in a set order, Sonic Blast's Special Stages are specific to the Zone and Act they are entered. Successfully completing an Act 1 Special Stage rewards the player with a 1up, whilst successfully completing an Act 2 Special Stage rewards the player with a Chaos Emerald.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure

In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure the Okina Ring (大きなリングMedia:SPA NGPC JP manual.pdf ōkina ringu), simply called a large ringMedia:SPA NGPC US manual.pdf in the US, acts similarly to those in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog CD. They appear at the end of a Zone's Act 1 if the player has 50 or more Rings. Jumping into one will take the player to a Special Stage for a chance to obtain a Chaos Emerald. They appear in all Zones except Aerobase Zone, Last Utopia Zone and Chaotic Space Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Both Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II use the same system as Sonic 1 and Sonic CD, with Big Rings appearing at the end of every Zone's first three Acts, allowing access to the Special Stage provided Sonic has at least 50 rings in hand. Unlike previous games however, when all the Chaos Emeralds are collected, they won't appear after collecting 50 rings, as they can be accessed from the Level Select screen.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, the Kyodai Ring (巨大リングMedia:SonicMania consoles JP manual.pdf kyodai ringu) behaves similarly to the ones in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. They appear as three-dimensional, polygonal rotating Rings, as opposed to the sprite-based rings of the classics. They are found hidden throughout the Zones, and when entered, transport the player to a Special Stage for a chance to obtain a Chaos Emerald. After the Special Stage is cleared, the Ring that was entered becomes a wireframe and can no longer be entered until the player completes the game and revisits the zone through a completed save file.

Kyodai Rings cannot be entered in Time Attack mode or Competition mode. If all Chaos Emeralds are collected, the Kyodai Ring will give 50 Rings when collected.

Sonic Superstars

Superstars sees its "giant Rings"Media:Sonic Superstars Web Manual EN.pdf again follow similar tules to Sonic 3, by being hidden throughout stages.