Star Post

The Star Post (ポイントマーカー), also referred to as the Point Marker (ポイントマーカー), Lamppost (再スタート・マーカー), and Check Point, is a common object in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Star Posts serve as the series' progress markers, and are found exclusively in the Zones. When passing a Star Post, the players' progress up to that point in the Zone will be saved, so when the player loses a life, the playable character will start over from the last Star Post they passed.

Description
Star Posts are similar in design to, but smaller than, street lights in real life, as the design of Star Posts has been simple and tends to be the same throughout the series: a yellow/blue post and a stretch rod with a bulb on the top. The way the rod spins has varied, but usually, in 2D games, it rotates 360 degrees twice and after that, it assumes the same vertical position it originally had while the bulb part changes its color or flickers. Star Posts have a different appearance in 3D titles from Sonic Adventure onwards, as there are (typically) two posts on opposite ends of each other, creating a gate the player can pass through. When going through the Star Posts, both lamp parts start spinning above the posts twice until they get into a vertical position. In games such as Sonic Unleashed and the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the passage in-between two Star Posts is widened particularly in 3D areas to make it easier to pass through. Certain games in the series also do not use Star Posts' lamppost designs at all and instead use pads or holographic markers.

Star Posts function as check points for each point of their respective levels that saves the player's character's time and position within their level. If the playable character loses a life or gets time out, the next life will start from the location of the last Star Post touched with the time that was logged when the Star Post was originally touched. This does not apply when the player gets Game Over for losing all their lives or loses a life before touching any Star Post. Also, when the player respawns at a Star Post, they will (usually) possess zero Rings.

Besides saving a player's progress, the Star Posts have served for several other purposes as well. In earlier games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Star Posts also served as entry points for the Special Stages, and in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles they can be used to enter the Bonus Stages. In 3D games, they can also give a time bonus between the earlier and latest Star Posts and can even level up the player in Sonic Heroes.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The Star Post made its first appearance in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, where its was originally called the Lamppost (再スタート・マーカー). In this game, Lampposts have a simple design with a yellow post, a grey stretch rod and a blue bulb on the top. When the playable character touches a Lamppost, the bulb changes color from blue to red. These posts were used as checkpoints, which started as a tradition in the series.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, this object is referred to as the Star Post (ポイントマーカー) for the first time, and possesses a different design. In this game, the Star Posts have a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a black center with a white star in it. Star Posts are also featured in multiplayer Zones.

In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing red and yellow. In addition, if the playable character possesses at least fifty Rings when touching the Stae Post, a Star Circle will appear above it. If the player jumps into the Star Circle, they will be transported to a Special Stage. If the player does not enter the Star Circle however, it will disappear after a few seconds. After leaving the Special Stage, the player will be transported back (with zero Rings) to the Star Post where the Star Circle was formed.

In the locked-on game Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Knuckles retains the number of Rings he had at the last Star Post he passed when respawning in the Act at that point or after entering a Special Stage.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the Star Post is referred to as the Lamppost (再スタート・マーカー) once again. They also have a design similar to the one they had in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, with a yellow cone-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a blue bulb on the top. When the playable characters touches a Lamppost, the bulb will flash yellow and red.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, its add-on continuation Sonic & Knuckles and the lock-on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, the Star Post make a reappearance. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it is referred to as the Starpost (ポイントマーカー), yet in Sonic & Knuckles it is spelled as Star Post (ポイントマーカー).

Star Posts in this game have a design similar to the one they had in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As such, they have a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a black center with a white star in it. In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing red and yellow.

The Star Circle, which appears over a Star Post when passing it with enough Rings, also returns, though entering it now takes the player to a Bonus Stage. If the player collects over fifty rings and enters the Star Circle in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the player will be sent to the Bonus Stage's Gumball Machine. Different-looking Star Posts are also featured in the Competition Mode of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 which serve as the starting point and goal.

With Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles combined, the player is able to transport themselves into all three types of Bonus Stages after passing Star Posts with certain amount of Rings. Passing a Star Post with 20-34 Rings will summon a yellow Star Circle that leads to the Slot Machine Stage, passing a Star Post with 35-49 Rings creates a red Star Circle that leads to the Glowing Sphere Stage, and passing a Star Post with fifty or more Rings will manifest a silver Star Circle that leads into the regular Gumball Machine-type Bonus Stage.

Sonic's Schoolhouse
In Sonic's Schoolhouse, a Star Post with the lamppost design from the original Sonic the Hedgehog appears as a statue.

Sonic Jam
In Sonic Jam, Star Posts appear in Sonic World. These Star Posts each reassemble the Lamppost from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, possessing a gray and yellow post, a gray stretch rod, and a red bulb on top of the stretch rod. Activating a Star Post in this game will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to flash red and yellow.

Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, the Star Post is referred to as the Point Marker (ポイントマーカー). In this game, the Star Posts have red-colored posts with blue circles containing a yellow star around their lower halves, a gray stretch rod and a blue lamp on the top of each of them.

In gameplay, Star Posts only appear in the Action Stages. Activating a Star Post in this game will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to turn yellow. The game also introduces the concept of a two-post gate in an Action Stage, where the player can go through them to save their progress. It also gives a time bonus between the earlier Star Posts to the current ones. The exact time at which the Star Post was touched is displayed briefly at the bottom of the Action Stage display whenever a Star Post is touched.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, the gimmick is referred to as the Star Post (ポイントマーカー) and the point marker. In this game, the Star Posts' design is similar to the one it had in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As such, each Star Post has a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a black center with a white star in it. In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and start flashing red and yellow.

Sonic Adventure 2
In Sonic Adventure 2 and its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Star Post is referred to as the point marker (ポイントマーカー). In this game, the Star Posts consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, they possess the same look they had in Sonic Adventure, being red-colored posts with blue circles containing a yellow star around their lower halves, horizontally-aligned gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rods to change position from horizontal to vertical and their lamps to turn yellow. The Star Posts also only appear in the High-Speed Action and Lock-on Shooting Stages. The exact time at which the Star Post was touched is likewise displayed briefly at the right bottom of the Action Stage screen display whenever a Star Post is touched. As well as saving the player's progress, the Star Posts can also grant the player items/power-ups depending on how many Rings they have on them when they pass the Star Post. The pattern follows:


 * 20-39 Rings: 5 extra Rings
 * 40-59 Rings: 10 extra Rings
 * 60-79 Rings: 20 extra Rings
 * 80-89 Rings: Speed Shoes
 * 90+ Rings: Barrier/Magnetic Barrier (unless already using Barrier)

Sonic Advance
In Sonic Advance, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint (ポイントマーカー). In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts are similar to how they looked in Sonic Adventure, possessing a red post with a blue circle containing a yellow star on it, a gray stretch rod and a blue lamp on the top.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to flash white. There are also now only two Star Posts in each Act of a Zone. In Egg Rocket Zone however, there are no Star Posts at all. Instead, the game saves its progress a total of four times during certain sections as the Zone's rocket leaves its launch section and removes portions of itself during flight until its reaches the end of the planet's atmosphere.

Sonic Advance 2
In Sonic Advance 2, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint (ポイントマーカー). Like in Sonic Advance, the Star Posts here consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts have an orange and white-striped post, a gray stretch rod, and a blue lamp on the top with a rotating "C" inside the lamp.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to turn yellow. There are also no more that two Star Posts in each Act. Star Posts also do not appear in the Boss Act of the Zones.

Sonic Advance 3
In Sonic Advance 3, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint (ポイントマーカー). Like in earlier Sonic Advance titles, the Star Posts here consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, they look exactly like they did in Sonic Advance, possessing a red post with a blue circle containing a yellow star on it, a gray stretch rod and a blue lamp on the top.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to flash white. Unlike in previous Sonic Advance titles however, there are now more than two Star Posts in each Zone's Act. Star Posts also do not appear in the Boss Area of each Zone.

Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the Star Post is referred to as the Check Point (チェックポイント). In this game, the Star Posts also received a complete redesign. Rather than resembling lampposts, they resemble in this game circular high-tech plates with dark blue insides, a red and gray rim and four fasteners each. These plates sit on the ground and project a holographic marker through a blue glow they emit. The holographic markers themselves each resemble a segmented red ring with a yellow five-pointed star in the ring's center.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its holographic marker to disappear. Additionally, when saving a player's progress in this game, a Star Post will grant a Power Core to whichever character is in the lead. Another role that Star Posts in Sonic Heroes play is bringing back any crushed or contained character to the playable team during gameplay. This only happens, however, if the said character is still crushed under a Weight or captured by a Klagen or Gold Klagen.

Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Star Posts are referred to as Save Points. In this game, the Star Posts' design closely resemble the one they had in Sonic Heroes, making them look like circular plates with gray insides, back and orange rims, and four fasters each. In addition, they have some rusty details to them. However, they have no holographic marker.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its plate to glow green and blue. Also, besides saving the player's progress, the Star Posts allow the player to teleport between other Star Posts in a stage. To teleport, stand on the Checkpoint and press //. This will bring up a list of Star Posts in the stage. Once a Star Post has been chosen, press // to teleport to it. This can be very useful if the player needs to backtrack in a stage. In addition, like in Sonic Adventure 2, the Star Posts can also grant the player items depending on how many Rings they have on them when they pass the Star Post. The pattern follows:


 * 0-49 Rings: 10 extra Rings
 * 50-100 Rings: 20 extra Rings
 * 100+ Rings: One extra life

Sonic Rush
In Sonic Rush, the Star Post is called the Checkpoint Marker (ポイントマーカー), or just Checkpoint. In this game, the Star Posts' design is similar to the one they had in Sonic Heroes. As such, they each consist pf a blue and gray plate with three (perhaps four) orange and gray feet attached to it. Like in Sonic Heroes, they also each project a holographic marker in the form of a segmented red ring with a yellow star in the middle.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause the holographic marker to change to a blue five-pointed star. In addition, when saving the player's progress, the Star Posts will charge up a portion of the player's Tension Gauge.

Sonic Rush Adventure
In Sonic Rush Adventure, the Star Post is called the Checkpoint Marker or just Checkpoint again. In this game, each Star Post resembles a red, blue and yellow chalice. This chalice projects a holographic marker in the form of a yellow five-pointed star that has a spinning white and blue ring around it.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause the holographic marker to change to a blue five-pointed star. In addition, when saving the player's progress, the Star Posts will charge up a portion of the player's Tension Gauge.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the Star Post is referred to as the Point Marker (ポイントマーカー). In this game, the Star Posts consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, they resemble their Sonic Adventure counterparts. As such, the Star Posts have red-colored posts with a blue circle containing a yellow star on their lower halves, horizontally-aligned gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rods to change position from horizontal to vertical and their lamps to turn yellow. The exact time at which the Star Post was touched is likewise displayed briefly at the bottom of the screen display whenever a Star Post is touched.

Sonic Unleashed
In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, the Star Posts make an appearance. Because the Wii/PlayStation 2 version Sonic Unleashed has mission-based levels however, the Star Posts do not appear at all in this version.

In Sonic Unleashed, the Star Posts are called Check Points. In this game, they consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts consist of red posts with a turquoise laser grind between them. They also have blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, and gray stretch rods with blue lamps on their ends that are hidden.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rods and lamps to open up and its laser grid to disappear. The interval between the posts has also been expanded considerably so a player can not miss the Star Post. Also, at the moment Sonic passes through a Star Post, the Star Post will record Sonic's speed at the time.

Episode I
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I (and its extension Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal), the savepoint object is referred to as the Star Post once more. In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts have the same design they had in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, possessing a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a blue center with a white star in it. In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing white.

Episode II
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, they look like they did in the previous title but more detailed, possessing a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a blue center with a white star in it. In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing yellow.

Sonic Colors
In the Wii and Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, the Star Posts make an appearance. However, design and functionalities differ slightly between the versions.

In the Wii version, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint. In this game, they consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, they possess the same look they had in Sonic Unleashed. As such, they consist of red posts with a turquoise laser grind between them. They also have blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, and gray stretch rods with blue lamps on their ends. Depending on the Act's perspective however, the post rods' position will vary: in the 3D sections, the post rods are hidden, and in the 2.5D sections, the post rods are aligned horizontally. Regardless of perspective, once a Star Post is activated, its post rods will twirl around and assume a vertical position. In addition, passing a Star Post grants a "Checkpoint Bonus" which is worth 2,500 points. Noticeably, for each consecutive Star Post the player passes, the Checkpoint Bonus will be doubled; passing two Star Posts consecutively for example gives 5,000 bonus points. This bonus can be doubled until it reaches a total of 640,000 points for the ninth Star Post and anyone after that. If the player respawns at a Star Post after losing a life, however, the Checkpoint Bonus will be reset to its original amount.

In the Nintendo DS version, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint Marker or just Checkpoint. In this game, they use their design from Sonic Rush. As such, they each consist pf a blue and gray plate with three (perhaps four) orange and gray feet attached to it. They also each project a holographic marker in the form of a segmented red ring with a yellow star in the middle. Once a Star Post is activated, its holographic marker will change to a blue five-pointed star. However, they display no other functionality beyond saving the player's progress.

Sonic Generations
In Sonic Generations, the checkpoint gimmick is called the Star Post once more. In both the console/PC and the Nintendo 3DS version this game, they consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts consist of red posts with a turquoise light between them. They also have blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, horizontally-aligned gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods.

Star Posts in this game appear in both the classic and modern Acts and several Challenge Acts. In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rods to change position from horizontal to vertical and their lamps to turn yellow. Also, when passing through a Star Post, a time is shown on the screen showing the time difference the player took to pass through it between their fastest run and the current run.

Sonic Lost World
In Sonic Lost World, the Star Posts have mostly the same look they had in Sonic Generations, being red posts with blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods. In the Wii U/PC version of the game, the Star Posts consist of one single post, whose post rod is vertically-aligned, in the 2.5D sections of the Zones, but in the 3D sections, they consist of two posts with horizontally aligned post rods and no turquoise light between them. However, the Nintendo 3DS version of the game uses two Star Posts with vertically aligned post rods as a gate in both the 3D and 2.5D sections. Also, unlike in previous games, there are Star Posts placed on Grind Rails too.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rod(s) to twirl around and assume a vertical position and its lamps to turn yellow.

On the Wii U version, should the player lose five lives in a row before reaching the next Star Post, the "Warp" appears. Breaking the Warp's Item Box transports the player to the next Star Post, thus skipping that section of the Zone. In the 3DS version, a Special RC Vehicle will spawn alongside the playable character at a Star Post when the player has lost too many lives.

Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, the save point gimmick is referred to as the Star Post again. In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass. In terms of design, they are each made up of a red post with a blue joint (which contains a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their post, a vertical gray stretch rods and a blue lamp at the end of the stretch rod.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rod to twirl around. However, instead of saving the player's progress so that the player will respawn at the Star Post after failing a run, the Star Post will bank all the Rings the player has in their possession at that point. Also, in this game, there are only a single Star Post in each section either after beating Dr. Eggman and speeding up the running pace or at the middle-point of the stage (usually at the higher pathways).

Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the checkpoint gimmick is called the Star Post (ポイントマーカー) again. In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts each sports a yellow hourglass-shaped post with a bumper symbol in the center, a gray-white stretch rod which possesses an extra component, and a large blue bulb on top of the stretch rod.

In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its bulb to change to red. In addition, much like in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, if the playable character possesses at least twenty-five Rings when touching a Star Post, its bulb will start flashing red and yellow and a Star Circle leading into the Bonus Stage will appear. Also, in Sonic Mania Plus, the Star Posts can open Star Circles into the Pinball Stage, though the ways of making that Star Circle appear varies: in Mania Mode, the player must obtain all thirty-two gold medallions from the Bonus Stages and pass a Star Post with at least twenty-five Rings in hand, and in Encore Mode the player must pass a Star Post while carrying at least fifty Rings. After leaving the Bonus Stage or Pinball Stage, the player will be transported back to the Star Post where the Star Circle was formed.

Sonic Forces
In Sonic Forces, the save point gimmick is referred to as the Star Post once more. In Classic Sonic's stages, the Star Posts are idental to the Lamppost from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, which sports a yellow and gray post, a grey stretch rod and a blue bulb on the top. In the other stages, the Star Posts possess their modern design, complete with red posts, blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods. However, the modern Star Posts consist of only one post, whose post rod is vertically aligned, in the 2.5D sections of the stages, while in the 3D sections, they consist of two posts with horizontally-aligned post rods and a turquoise laser grid between them.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rod(s) to twirl around and assume a vertical position. The bulbs on the Star Posts in Classic Sonic's stages will turn red as well. The the Star Posts in the other stages will lose the laser grid between them while their lamps turn yellow when the player activates them.

Other game appearances
A single Lamppost appears Sonic Jam, having the same design from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. A lamppost with the design from the original Sonic the Hedgehog appears as a statue in Sonic's Schoolhouse. A single Lamppost also appears as part of Green Hill Zone in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and returns along with the stage in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. If the player punches it, the round lamp part starts spinning and can damage players if it is touched again. Checkpoints also appear in both Sonic Jump and Sonic Jump 2.

Bell
Bells (ベル) are replacements of Star Posts that only appear in Tails Skypatrol. The yellow bell floats in the air, and when the player touches it as Tails, it will save the player's progress. The player also starts from the last bell after losing a life.

Giant Ring
Star Posts are replaced by Giant Rings as check points in Sonic 3D Blast, which are actually used to lead Flickies of Flicky Island into it. If the player loses a life, they will restart at the point where the Giant Ring was located.

Marker
Markers are the replacement of Star Posts in several Sega Game Gear and Sega Master System Sonic games. By breaking the Marker's monitor, it will save the player's progress.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series, the Star Posts have a more simplistic design and allow access to the Special Zones. During a race, Sonic and his allies used a Star Post to take a shortcut.

Sonic the Comic
In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, Star Posts initially existed all over planet Mobius. They can only be activated by Sonic the Hedgehog when he charges with Sonic Speed Energy. This way, the Star Posts allowed instantaneous travel to any other Star Post and the Special Zone. Most of the Star Posts were destroyed by Dr. Ivo Robotnik though.

Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Star Posts are a technology invented by Tails and Rotor Walrus to allow travel to other Zones. They were originally only meant to allow access to the Special Zone, but were later upgraded to access other dimensions like Moebius.

Following the events of Worlds Collide which lead to a rebooting of the timeline, the Star Posts became a technology that was used by Dr. Eggman during the Eggman Invasion.

Trivia

 * In order to access the Bonus Stages in Sonic Mania, the player needs 25 Rings. This is a reference to Sonic Mania celebrating the 25th anniversary of the series.