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The Special Stages[1] (スペシャルステージ[2] Supesharu Sutēji?) are locations that appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are dimensions separate from Sonic's universe, where one can obtain the Chaos Emeralds or, in some cases, other mystical items. The Special Stages can be accessed via various means from the several dimensions in the multiverse.

Description[]

The Special Stages are a constantly changing dimension, meaning that there is no consistent layout. Universally, however, they appear to be empty voids featuring wacky features like alternating ambiences and flying animals like birds and fish. The Special Stages always possess some form of terrain, however, which can vary from flat, solid ground to rotating mazes and half pipes. Hidden somewhere around these voids is an artifact of great power, which is most commonly one of the Chaos Emeralds.

In gameplay, the Special Stages are accessed through a variety of means. Most commonly, a Giant Ring can warp the playable character to one of these worlds. Other gimmicks like the Star Posts and the Special Spring sometimes possess this feature instead. Another method is by simply beating the level, sometimes with a specific item like a number of Rings or a Special Stage Key in hand. Depending on the game, the player may be given a short amount of time to be able to enter the Special Stage, or be warped there automatically. Later games also ask them whether they want to enter the Special Stage or not.

Sonic 4 Episode II Sonic and Tails with Chaos Emerald

Sonic and Tails with a Chaos Emerald at the end of a Special Stage, from Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.

The Special Stages typically feature a gameplay that is totally different from that of the normal stages, but the controls are always simple enough to let the player get used to them regardless. The perspective here also varies, being either 2D or 3D. In some games with the latter view, the playable characters almost always run automatically forward, with the player having to control them to avoid obstacles. The main objective of the Special Stages is to obtain a certain item (such as a Chaos Emerald, a Time Stone, a Super Emerald, etc.) by fulfilling a certain task given by the game itself, commonly being collecting a certain number of Rings or simply reach the item in question. If the player does so successfully, their character will be warped out of the Special Stage with the object; if not, they will be expelled with no reward. Either way, they will be treated to the normal stages where they can continue with the game.

Game appearances[]

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)[]

Sonic Origins Sonic 1 Special Stage 2

Sonic in a Special Stage, from Sonic Origins.

In Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit), the Special Stages, also known as the Secret Zones,[3] are six somewhat psychedelic rotating mazes, with a Chaos Emerald ready to be collected in the center.

In gameplay, the Special Stages can be accessed through a Giant Ring, which appears at the end of most Acts if the player has fifty or more Rings by then. The Special Stages themselves feature several obstacles, such as Color Blocks, Up and Down switches, Reverses, and Goal blocks. Despite the name, Goals actually expel the player from the Special Stage, so they have to be avoided. At the end of these stages, there is a Chaos Emerald around several Color Blocks. The player has to collect the Emerald to leave the Special Stage.

Due to the Giant Rings not appearing in the third Acts of the Zones or from Scrap Brain Zone forwards, the player has a total of ten chances of entering the Special Stages to claim their respective Chaos Emeralds. While the Emeralds are not mandatory to reach the end, they do unlock the good ending. Once the player has collected the six gems, the Special Stages become inaccessible as Giant Rings no longer make an appearance.

In the 2013 remaster of Sonic the Hedgehog, two new, secret Special Stages appear. They are accessed from the Level Select in No Save mode. One of these is actually a "seventh" Special Stage that features the seventh Chaos Emerald, only accessible by changing the available number of Emeralds from the default six to seven. Successfully claiming this gem allows the player to turn into Super Sonic when playing as Sonic. The other Special Stage is entered by unlocking Debug Mode, playing the "07" sound in the Sound Test and then selecting the "Special Stage" option in the Level Select. This Special Stage is actually a custom stage which the player can build with Debug Mode.

Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)[]

S1SpecialZone

A Special Stage, from Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit).

In Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit), the Special Stages are optional stages that can be used to get Continues and 1-Ups. Unlike in the 16-bit version, these did not contain Chaos Emeralds; instead, the Emeralds are found hidden in the normal levels. This means that it is possible to get the good ending of this game without ever visiting any Special Stages.

In gameplay, the player will be automatically warped to the Special Stage if they pass the Goal Post with at least fifty Rings. The Special Stages in this game are in a 2D perspective and play much like the normal game. The player's goal is to simply get to the Goal Post before time runs out while collecting as many Rings as possible. Traversing these worlds, however, can be tricky, since Sonic will be constantly be bouncing back and forth due to Springs and Bumpers planted everywhere. A Continue Item Box can be found somewhere in the stage. If the player gets to the Goal Post in time, they will be able to claim the collected loot; if not, they will be expelled from the Special Stage empty-handed.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2[]

Sonic Origins Sonic 2 Special Stage

Sonic and Tails in a Special Stage, from Sonic Origins.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, its various ports and remasters, and the lock-on game Knuckles in Sonic 2, the Special Stages take place in a curving half-pipe tube, where the player has to collect Rings.

In gameplay, the Special Stages are accessed by passing through a Star Post with at least fifty Rings in hand. A Star Circle will then appear, which the player can interact with to enter the secret stage. The Special Stages feature Rings and bombs, both of which are typically featured in groups, and are segmented in three parts. These segments require the player to get a certain number of Rings before proceeding to the next portion of the stage. Touching bombs causes the playable character to lose ten Rings. If the player successfully passes through all three segments with the requested number of Rings, they will get one of the Chaos Emeralds. If not, however, they will leave the stage empty-handed.

Due to the distribution of the Star Posts throughout the game, the player can enter the Special Stages up until Wing Fortress Zone, with Sky Chase Zone and Death Egg Zone being the only Zones that do not feature any Star Posts. Additionally, since Emerald Hill Zone has exactly seven Star Posts, the player can complete all seven Special Stages and collect their Chaos Emeralds before even facing the Egg Drillster.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD[]

Sonic Origins Sonic CD Special Stage 2

Sonic in a Special Stage, from Sonic Origins.

In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the Windows 95 version, and the 2011 remaster, the Special Stages take place in a flat terrain patrolled by UFOs.

In gameplay, the Special Stages, much like in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, are accessed through a Giant Ring, which appears at the end of most Zones when the player has collected fifty or more Rings by then. The Special Stages are in a 3D space, where the playable character automatically runs forward, with the player making them turn left or right and jump. The stages themselves are full of obstacles like Bumpers, Chopper Blocks, Fan Blocks, Dash Zones, Spring Blocks, and water. In addition, several UFOs fly around the terrain, the player's goal being to destroy all of these within a time limit. These machines can be destroyed by simply touching them, and the easiest method for doing so is by performing a Spin Jump. Upon destruction, the UFOs give the player either Super Rings or Sneakers. If the player is short on time, a special UFO appears at the center which can grant some extra time when destroyed. Once the player successfully destroys all of the UFOs, they will be granted the Special Stage's Time Stone and be taken to the next Zone. If they fail, they will be expelled out of the stage empty-handed.

Due to the fact that Giant Rings do not appear in the third Zones of any Round, the player is given a maximum of fourteen chances to clear the seven Special Stages and get their respective Time Stones. If the seven stages are successfully completed, all of the robot transporters in the subsequent and previous Zones will be automatically destroyed, guaranteeing a good ending. However, since the player can achieve the same outcome by destroying the transporters manually, it is actually possible to clear the game and get a good ending without ever visiting the Special Stages.

Sonic Chaos[]

Special-Stage-2-Sonic-Chaos

Sonic in a Special Stage, from Sonic Chaos.

In Sonic Chaos, the Special Stages are optional stages only accessed by Sonic. There are five Special Stages, with one Chaos Emerald each; the sixth Emerald is collected in normal gameplay.

In gameplay, the player will automatically enter the Special Stage if they collect a hundred Rings in any of the Zones' first two Acts. While designed with the standard 2D gameplay of the rest of Sonic Chaos, each Special Stage has a unique setpiece in an otherwise platform-based level. Said set pieces include using the Pogo Spring or the Rocket Shoes or traversing through a network of high-speed warp tubes. Regardless, the player's objective is to get the Chaos Emerald at the end of the Special Stages within a minute. In addition to the Emerald, items like Rings can be found as well.

If the player successfully obtains the Chaos Emerald in the Special Stage, they will stay with it and be able to continue with the game; if not, they will leave the stage empty-handed. Weirdly enough, the player will be taken to the next Act instead of continuing from where they left off, with no bonuses specifically from the end of the Act being earned this way.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles[]

Sonic Origins Sonic 3 & Knuckles Special Stage 1

Sonic and Tails in a Special Stage, from Sonic Origins.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, and the lock-on game Sonic 3 & Knuckles, the Special Stages are set on small planetoids full of spheres and similar objects. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles each feature seven unique Special Stages, while Sonic 3 & Knuckles has all fourteen of them.

In gameplay, the Special Stages can be entered through Giant Rings. However, in these games, the Giant Rings are scattered throughout the Acts rather than being left at the end, so a player can play multiple Special Stages in each Act. Additionally, there is no Ring requirement to enter the Special Stages. In the Special Stages themselves, the player now has to run along the surface of a checkered planetoid and collect all of the blue spheres while avoiding the red ones. The blue spheres turn into red ones, so they have to be careful. Bumpers push the playable character back, while yellow spheres (only found in the Sonic & Knuckles Special Stages) send the player forward five spheres. Rings, which can be collected to obtain certain awards, may be found in the open or can be made to appear by surrounding at least one blue sphere with a perimeter of red spheres. The speed of the stage will gradually increase the longer the player takes to complete it, making it easier to touch a red sphere by accident.

If the player successfully turns all of the blue spheres into red ones, the Special Stage will end and they will be able to get a Chaos Emerald. If they touch a red sphere, however, they will be warped out of the stage without the Emerald. Collecting all of the Rings in the Special Stage will give the player a "Perfect Bonus", where they will be granted 50,000 points regardless of whether or not they got the Chaos Emerald. Once all seven Chaos Emeralds are collected, the remaining Giant Rings will grant the player fifty Rings, allowing them to assume a Super State.

In Sonic 3 & Knuckles, the Special Stages themselves suffer no alterations, but the rules for accessing specific Special Stages have changed due to the new Super Emerald feature. At first, only the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Special Stages are accessible. From Mushroom Hill Zone (the first Zone of Sonic & Knuckles) onwards, there will be multicolored "Super Rings" which replace the standard Giant Rings and grant access to the Sonic & Knuckles Special Stages, up until Lava Reef Zone. The collected Chaos Emeralds will turn into gray Super Emeralds at the Master Emerald altar in Hidden Palace Zone. There, the player has to jump onto any of the deactivated Super Emeralds to enter a Special Stage in Sonic & Knuckles; clearing it will activate the Super Emerald. If the player does not have all of the Chaos Emeralds upon reaching Mushroom Hill Zone, they will be given the opportunity to acquire a Super Emerald. However, they will not be allowed to return to the Sonic & Knuckles Special Stages until they collect the remaining Chaos Emeralds. If the player visits Hidden Palace Zone via the said Super Rings without having a single Chaos Emerald, they will not be able to play any of the Sonic & Knuckles Special Stages until they collect the remaining Emeralds.

Blue Sphere[]

In Blue Sphere, the Special Stages from Sonic 3 & Knuckles serve as the main and only setting of the game.

Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble[]

STTSpecialStageNack

Sonic confronting Nack at the end of a Special Stage, from Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble.

In Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, there are five Special Stages, all of which house the first five Chaos Emeralds; the sixth one is obtained at the end of the game once the others were collected first. These stages are accessed by hitting a hidden Chaos Emerald Item Box whilst carrying at least fifty Rings and then entering the Star Circle that appeared above. Unlike in Sonic Chaos, Tails can also enter the Special Stages along with Sonic.

In gameplay, there are two unique types of Special Stages: the first, third, and fifth are 2D platformers where the player has to navigate a maze-like level in order to reach the Chaos Emerald within ninety seconds. The second and fourth Special Stages feature the playable character piloting the Tornado. Here, the player has to collect eighty Rings in a short flying course.

What sets Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble's Special Stages apart from all the others is the fact that at the end of all of them, the player encounters Nack the Weasel, who is a mini-boss from the second stage forward. The weasel attacks on his trademark Marvelous Queen, each time modified with a different weapon attachment. Amusingly, Nack rarely seemed to understand quite how to operate the weapons at his disposal.

Knuckles' Chaotix[]

Chaotix special stage4

Espio in a Special Stage, from Knuckles' Chaotix.

In Knuckles' Chaotix, the Special Stages have a similar formula as the ones from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, except that the player has to travel through obstacle courses consisting of hexagonal tubes and flat terrain to reach a Chaos Ring.

In gameplay, the player accesses the Special Stages by reaching the end of the level with at least fifty Rings and jumping into the Giant Ring that is summoned. The Special Stages themselves are, on paper, very similar to the ones in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with the playable character automatically running forward a hazardous terrain in a pseudo-3D perspective. Here, the player has to collect a certain number of blue spheres. The Rings the player had collected beforehand are used to measure time, with a single Ring being consumed every second; running out of Rings will expel the player from the Special Stage. Across the stages are also bombs and saws, which makes the player lose eight Rings upon contact. There are also Bumpers and "X" Bumper, which bounce the character backward a bit, though the latter disappear upon use. The terrain in the Special Stages is also full of bottomless pits, which the player has to avoid falling into, as they will lead them out of the stage. If the player successfully makes their way across the Special Stage with enough blue spheres, they will be able to claim one of the six Chaos Rings.

Sonic 3D Blast[]

In Sonic 3D Blast, there are three types of Special Stages, which depend on the console that the game is played on. Regardless of the version, these stages can be accessed by finding either Tails or Knuckles and giving them at least fifty Rings.

In the Special Stages, the player has to control Sonic while he is automatically running through a pseudo-3D terrain. Said terrain is a narrow, wooden bridge in the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive version, and a half-pipe similar to the Special Stages from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in the Saturn and PC versions. The player's goal is to collect a certain number of Rings before reaching the end. On their way are groups of Mines, which decrease their Ring counter by ten (five in the PC version). If the player successfully gets the requested number of Rings, they will be awarded one of the seven Chaos Emeralds. If not, they will leave the Special Stage empty-handed. Either way, they can continue the game as normal afterwards.

Knuckles and Tails both appear in the first two Acts of the first five Zones (Green Grove Zone to Volcano Valley Zone), meaning there are a maximum of twenty opportunities to clear all seven Special Stages and get their respective Chaos Emeralds.

Sonic Blast[]

Screen shot 2011-12-12 at 10.35

Special Stage (Sonic Blast)

Sonic Blast featured a rather horrid take on Sonic 2's Special Stages. Accessed by finding a giant ring hidden within the first and second acts of each zone (similar to Sonic 3 & Knuckles), the player had to navigate a short obstacle course, collecting 50 rings before reaching the end. Like Sonic Heroes, the first acts were for extra lives, while the second acts were for an Emerald. The problem with these stages lay in the awkward pseudo-3D perspective, and the fact that there were hardly enough Rings in the stage itself to meet the quota. As the game's character sprites appeared larger than the actual area of influence, jumping at Rings would often cause the character to simply pass through them. Also, you only got one shot at each stage, so if you messed up, you couldn't retry the stage.

Sonic Advance series[]

1[]

Advance special stage

Sonic Advance Special Stage

Sonic Advance used Special Stages where the player's character fell down an apparently infinitely deep hole while riding on a board. The player had to collect rings and avoid bombs much like in Sonic 2, and there were also special rings that could boost your speed. The player could perform tricks on the board to gather groups of rings or receive bonus rings when passing through a glowing section. The stages were accessed by finding a large hidden spring in certain stages and jumping on them.

2[]

Sonic advance 2 special stage-15749

Special Stage in Sonic Advance 2.

Sonic Advance 2 featured an odd take on Sonic CD's Special Stages. Taking place in the same Mode 7 style arenas as the aforementioned game, the player was required to collect 300 rings within 120 seconds. However, because each stage barely held that amount, the player was required to collect several rings in rapid succession; doing so would steadily raise a multiplier that would increase the worth of the collected rings (so a ring collected while the multiplier was at x4 would make that single ring worth 4). All the while, the player had to avoid the Robot Guard, who patrolled the stage and would cause the player to lose rings if he hit them. Touching him with no Rings will result in the player being booted from the Special Stage, leaving them empty-handed. To access these Special Stages, the player has to collect seven Special Rings hidden in each act.

3[]

Sonic Adv3 SP stage

Sonic Advance 3 Special Stage

Sonic Advance 3's Special Stages were very similar to the ones from Sonic Advance, and also to the biplane stages from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. In the stages, the character is standing on the wings of Tails' biplane, the Tornado 2, which has to be flown around while the character walks back and forth in order for the character to collect a number of rings while dodging enemies and obstacles. Like with Special Stages in the previous games, the player must collect a certain number of Rings upon reaching both checkpoints or be expelled from the stage empty-handed. There are also special rings that transform the plane into its speedy X-shape, boosting forward quickly while doubling the number of Rings the player can collect.

To access the Special Stages in Sonic Advance 3, the player has to find all of the 10 hidden Chao scattered across each Zone's multiple stages and once all are found in a Zone, the player will need to collect a Special Stage Key that appears in any Act of the Zone. The keys, once found, are used to activate the Special Spring (returning from Sonic Advance 1) which transports the player to the Special Stage. After clearing all Special Stages, a hidden 'Special Stage Mode' is available, in which the player can play through all seven Special Stages consecutively to collect as many of the seven Emeralds as possible.

Sonic Heroes[]

SonicHeroesScreen1--article image

Sonic Heroes Special Stage

Sonic Heroes marked the return of the Special Stages in a 3D Sonic game. This version is fairly similar to the Sonic 2 and Knuckles' Chaotix Special Stages. The player needs to collect a Special Stage Key (which is lost if they take damage or lose a life) in a particular stage to enter a Special Stage. There are two types of Special Stages which varies on the stage being completed with a Special Stage Key in possession:

  • Odd-numbered stages (Stage 01: Seaside Hill, Stage 03: Grand Metropolis, etc) lead to Bonus Challenges, where the player tries to reach the goal at the end of the stage within a time limit.
  • Even-numbered stages (Stage 02: Ocean Palace, Stage 04: Power Plant, etc) lead to Emerald Challenges, where the player chases the Chaos Emerald before it reaches the end of the stage.

The player(s) has to run through a circular tube, whose scenery changes depending on the stage theme. The player can collect the numerous spheres in the stages which fills the Power Dash Meter, allowing the player to use the Power Dash to speed through the stages more quickly. In Bonus Challenge stages, collecting spheres also extends the timer. The player must also avoid bombs which slow them down. There are also gates that change formation in bonus odd-numbered stages.

Once 40 Emblems are collected, Emerald Challenge Special Stages can be played in 2-player mode. The player who reaches the Chaos Emerald first wins. If the Emerald reaches the end of the stage before either team reaches it, the team that was the closest to the Emerald (ahead in the stage) wins.

Sonic Rush[]

Sonic rush specialstage

Sonic Rush Special Stage

Sonic Rush has Special Stages similar to those in Sonic 2 where the player has to move the stylus across the touch screen to guide Sonic to collect Rings, avoid mines that would cause the player to lose 10 Rings and defeat enemies which gave a Ring bonus. Trick Springs can launch Sonic into the air and the player will have to touch the numbers in their respective order to get bonus Rings. To access a Special Stage, the player needs to use a Special Generator in any of the Zones. The player can replay the Special Stages as many times as they like, so long as they have enough Tension left. However, like the Sonic Advance series, the Special Stage accessed determines which Zone Sonic entered it from (for example, if the player enters a Special Stage in Altitude Limit, Sonic enters Special Stage 6). If the player got enough Rings before reaching the half-way point, they would be given a higher Ring count and would then have to collect that many by the end of the stage to obtain the Chaos Emerald. In order to keep the Emerald, the Act needs to be completed.

After Sonic collects all seven Chaos Emeralds, and both stories are completed, the Extra Zone Exception becomes available, where both Super Sonic and Burning Blaze fight both Dr. Eggman and Eggman Nega in the Egg Salamander.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4[]

Episode I[]

Special-Stage-Sonic-the-Hedgehog-4-Episode-1-I

Sonic 4s classic style special stage.

The Special Stage in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I is very similar to the Special Stage in Sonic 1; it is a rotating maze with bumpers and blocks and a Chaos Emerald hidden somewhere on each stage. However, it is not a direct copy. Instead of Sonic 1's gameplay, where the player moves in the maze, the player moves the maze itself, while Sonic falls constantly. A strict time limit is also enforced, which can only be extended through the collection of Time Bonus items throughout the stages. Also, there is an option in the Options menu to control the maze by tilting the Wii Remote, as well as the six-axis controllers for the PlayStation 3. The mobile versions allow either tilting or swiping to control. Swiping allows for much more precise control as the stage's rotation corresponds with the player's finger movement.

After clearing all special stages, Super Sonic is freely playable in regular stages, a feature returning from the video game Sonic & Knuckles.

Episode II[]

Sonic-4-Episode-2-Screenshots-10

Sonic and Tails in a special stage.

The Special Stage in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II is similar to the Special Stage in Sonic 2 and Sonic Colors (DS) special stage; as if the player reaches the right or left ends of the tube Sonic and Tails jump. It is entered the same way as in Episode I. It is a curving half pipe tube where rings must be collected in order to progress. Unlike Episode I, there is no time limit, but rather a time bonus is given at the end depending on speed. Obstacles include green, plasma bombs that slow the player down but do not take away rings, and red bombs that take away rings on contact. Pressing the secondary button allows Sonic and Tails to perform a gimped boost, which makes them move faster and does not have any limit. They can also attract rings in (like the Boost). There is also a special item that can be obtained only in the Special Stages which creates a rope between Sonic and Tails, allowing them to collect more rings. Other stage gimmicks include speed pads that boost the player along a set path, springs that take the player to a different half-pipe, and yellow arches. The yellow arches activate a mode where if Sonic collects enough rings, he will get a bonus. Unlike Sonic 2, Tails can collect rings but not lose them in single player.

Sonic Colors[]

Sonic Colors (DS) - Image - (1)

A Special Stage, from the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors.

In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, the player must have 50 Rings at the end of the stage to enter a Special Stage, where the player has to go through a track (similar to the ones in Sonic 2) 3 times to collect a Chaos Emerald. The player must collect Red Orbs in the first round, Blue Orbs in the second round and Yellow Orbs in the last round. When all emeralds are collected, the player unlocks the secret Final Boss, Mother Nega-Wisp. (Unlike the Wii version, the player cannot use Super Sonic in the regular stages.)

Sonic Generations[]

SpecialStageGenerations3DS

A Special Stage, from the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations.

Special Stages only appear in the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations. To unlock them, the player needs to complete both acts of a Zone. They use the same concept as the Special Stages in Sonic Heroes, but has better control than in the Special Stages from said game. Modern Sonic needs to use the Boost to catch up to the Emerald within one minute and thirty seconds. Like in Heroes, the player needs to collect Spheres to fill your Boost Gauge and avoid Bombs that slow the player down. There are Rainbow Spheres which completely refill the Boost Gauge if touched. The added spice to itself were Dash Panels that force Sonic into his Spin Mode (which prevents Sonic from boosting) and Electric Gates that need to be avoided. Sonic's Spin Jump and Jump Dash are almost never needed. Collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds unlocks the Time Eater fight at the end of the game.

Sonic Lost World[]

Special Stages in Sonic Lost World 3DS

A Special Stage, from the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World.

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, Special Stages take place in a void where the player has to collect all the Spheres to remove the electric barrier protecting the Chaos Emerald and collect it before the time runs out. Collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds allows Super Sonic in normal gameplay. Once the player completes the first Special Stage, they will unlock World S, allowing them to replay any completed Special Stages in order to try for higher ranks.

Sonic Mania[]

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A Special Stage, from Sonic Mania.

The Special Stages make an appearance in Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus. Here, the player character runs along a stretch of roadway suspended in a strange dimension. Ahead of them a UFO is attempting to distance itself while the player's time limit diminishes with each passing second. If the time limit hits zero, the stage ends. The objective is to catch the UFO and take the Chaos Emerald, which is accomplished by collecting blue spheres dotting the roadway. As spheres are collected, they increase the character's speed, which is rated by a meter next to the Ring counter that says "Mach", increasing the speed to a new level each time it is filled. Rings can be collected to extend the time limit for the stage.

Sonic Superstars[]

The Special Stages have appeared in Sonic Superstars. In these levels, players must swing through spheres in order to collect either an Emerald or a Medal before the time limit reaches zero. Players can pick up Rings to increase the time limit within a Special Stage, as well as use boost pads and spring cannons to assist themselves in catching up with the prize. There are also bombs and walls that the playable characters must avoid.

Other game appearances[]

Sonic Pocket Adventure[]

SPA SS

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure Special Stage

In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, the Special Stages are almost identical to that of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Mega Drive. However, there are only six, as Dr. Robotnik holds the last Emerald.

Sonic Jam (Game.com)[]

The Game.com version of Sonic Jam featured its own special stage, based on the Sonic 3 & Knuckles Special Stages. Due to the black and white screen on the Game.com, the player must collect black balls and avoid white ones. Outlining an area of black balls turns them to rings. There are no Chaos Emeralds in this game, so the Special Stages only serve to give the player extra points.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[]

In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, the Dream Bobsleigh event is based on the Special Stages of Sonic Heroes, despite taking place in the Nocturnus Gate. The objective is to reach the goal in 1st place. Players can increase their speed by collecting the spheres scattered throughout the stage while bombs will slow down the player. Item boxes are also found throughout the stage and can be used increase speed and attack opponents. Unlike Sonic games, star points are awarded instead of Chaos Emeralds. They can be used to buy items in the shops.

Minecraft Sonic the Hedgehog[]

In other media[]

Sonic the Comic[]

In a rare departure from early Sonic canon's back-story, Fleetway's Sonic the Comic grouped the Special Stages into a single "Special Zone", depicted as a complete parallel universe, complete with planets and cities, although the bizarre cosmology of the games was adhered to. This Special Zone resembled Sonic's home planet of Mobius, even with similar anthropomorphic animal inhabitants, and the two planes had a great deal of communication due to the Star Posts and the intervention of the Omni-Viewer. The Special Zone's largest city was called New Tek City, capital of Planet Meridian, and it was protected by the Chaotix crew. Sonic was trapped in the Special Zone for an extended run after traveling there to stop the demonic Super Sonic, who had at this time been given independent existence.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog[]

In Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, several areas appear that are based on the Special Stages of the games.

In the episode "The Mobius 5000", Sonic and his friends access an area called the Special Zone via a post in the Casino Zone, where they had to collect enough rings in order to escape the Special Zone and get to the finish line. This area appears in its curving half-pipe design from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

In the episode "Fast and Easy", an area called the Secret Zone is similar to the design from the first Sonic the Hedgehog with an altar for the Chaos Emerald Ring, which allows anyone to sink sections of Mobius into the sea.

In the episode "Robotnik's Pyramid Scheme", in order for Dr. Robotnik's ancestor to access the tomb of Robotnikhotep, who had the Chaos Emerald of Immortality, just like in the Special Stage of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Scratch and Grounder had to grab enough rings to get to the tomb, or deal with spikes at the bottom of the pit.

The episode "Trail of the Missing Tails" introduces the Warp of Confusion, an alternate dimension apparently filled with fish. This is a reference to the fish background of the Special Stages in Sonic the Hedgehog (1991). The name "Warp of Confusion" is also a reference to one of the names of the Special Stages in the early Sonic canon, which was used in documents such as the Sonic Bible, promotional comic and UK 1991 Yearbook.

Archie Comics[]

The first instance of a "Special Stage" happened in issue #4, where Sonic enters the Special Zone to become Super Sonic to stop the robotic Universalamander. It's more of a passing glance at the Special Stage than a huge plot point, but the scene resembled the Special Stages from Sonic 2.

In the Archie comics, there were many Chaos Emeralds, until Tails and Shadow created the Great Harmony, causing the Emeralds to be sent to the Zone of Silence. An inhabitant, named Feist, recreated the Zone using the Emeralds to create the Special Zone.

Early Sonic canon[]

The early Sonic canon developed by Sega of America (and depicted in the Sonic Bible and publications such as the 1991 edition of The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Yearbook and other UK books) referred to the Special Stages of the first Sonic game as "Warps of Confusion". These areas (referred to as "sub-orbital space warps") were regions of space in orbit around Mobius that contained the Chaos Emeralds. They either formed naturally around the Chaos Emeralds after the explosion of the Retro-Orbital Chaos Compressor expelled the gems into space, or they were created by Dr. Robotnik specifically to keep the Emeralds out of Sonic's hands.

The Sonic the Hedgehog promotional comic does not explain the nature of the Warps of Confusion, but does depict them without gravity, leading Sonic to become disoriented and nauseous when he enters one.

Trivia[]

References[]

  1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Mega Drive) United States instruction booklet, pg. 17.
  2. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Mega Drive) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 21.
  3. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Genesis) United States instruction booklet, pg. 8.
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