Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog) (8-bit)

Despite the name, Special Stages in the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog are a series of special levels, which unlike the game's 16-bit counterpart, aren't featuring Chaos Emeralds (Six of them in this game are hidden in regular zones) as reward for the player after completing one of eight Special Stages. In this game, these Special Stages are for getting extra points and Continues for the player's score.
 * For Special Stages in general, see here.

To enter these Special Stages, the player must have over 50 rings on the hand before running past the signpost (after rotating it will have exclamation mark on yellow plate) at the end of each zone's act. However unlike many games, if the player gets more than 100 rings, the ring count will decrease back to zero while the player has earn extra life, but will not enter the Special Stage until another 50 rings are on the hand.