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The Goal Ring[1][2][3] (ゴールリング[4] Gōru Ringu?), also known as the Goal Ring Emblem,[5] Goal Medal,[6] or Goal Marker,[7] is an object that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are giant Rings that mark the goal of the playable stages; touching them is often required to complete said Stages. They serve as a modern replacement for the Goal Plates. Since their introduction, the Goal Rings have appeared in nearly every following game since.

Description[]

The Goal Rings appear at the end of the playable stages, where they mark that the player has reached the end of the level. To complete or end the level the player is in, the player usually has to touch the Goal Ring with the playable character, which in turn will end the playthrough of the stage and rate the player's performance with a Rank. In most of their appearances, Goal Rings emit a high-frequency ringing sound whenever the player gets close to it.

In many Sonic games, such as Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, and Shadow the Hedgehog, the objective of most or all of the stages is to reach the Goal Ring.

Game appearances[]

Sonic Adventure 2[]

The Goal Ring first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2, and later in its enhanced port Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. In this game, the Goal Ring is exactly what the name implies: a giant Ring with the word "GOAL" written in the middle.

In gameplay, Goal Rings appear in the Action Stages for Sonic, Shadow, Tails, and Dr. Eggman. During the second or third missions of most Action Stages for the aforementioned characters, if the player heads to the Goal Ring and has not complete the requirement of the mission, the Goal Ring changes to having "BACK" written in the middle and will transport the player back to the beginning of the Action Stage so the player can complete the mission. In addition, all objects (such as Rings, Item Boxes and enemies) reappear at their original locations.

Sonic Heroes[]

In Sonic Heroes, the Goal Ring is known as both the Goal Ring[8] and the Goal Ring Emblem.[5] In this game, it was given a slight change in appearance; instead of having the word "GOAL" written in the center, it had a small revolving gold star floating in the center, with segments of a Red Ring surrounding it. All of Team Dark and Team Rose's Extra Missions that involve completing an objective that can be found in the Stage feature a Goal Ring at the end of the stage will transport the player back to the beginning of the level much like it did with the aforementioned Sonic Adventure 2 missions. If the player is using Team Dark and has frozen their surroundings with Chaos Inferno, the effect ends when touching these Goal Rings regardless of the amount of energy left in the Team Blast Gauge. For such missions, the Goal Ring has a back arrow in its center. In this game, it is the first and currently only time that the Goal Ring could be targeted onto with a Homing Attack to reach.

Many of Team Chaotix's missions do not feature a Goal Ring but instead utilize the Warp Flowers, which serve a similar purpose to that of the Goal Rings in the Extra Missions of the other teams.

Sonic Advance 3[]

In Sonic Advance 3, the Goal Ring is referred to as the Goal Medal.[6] In this game, it is a type of smaller ring with a star inside it. Upon touching the Goal Medal, it will turn gold, silver or bronze, depending on the player's clear time.

Shadow the Hedgehog[]

In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Goal Ring[9] appears as a simple, massive Ring. However, for any Action Stages that are not Lethal Highway, Cryptic Castle, Central City, The Doom, Sky Troops, Mad Matrix, Death Ruins, Iron Jungle, or Lost Impact, the Goal Ring will have a Chaos Emerald floating in the center.

Sonic Rush[]

In Sonic Rush, the Goal Ring is referred to as the Goal Marker[7] or simply the goal[10] and is identical to the ones found in Sonic Heroes. Once a player touches it, however, the Goal Ring will show a gloved hand inside it making the peace sign. Unlike the other games, it won't disappear once touched and will just continue to spin.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)[]

STH28016

A Goal Ring, from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).

In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the Goal Ring[11] appears identical to how it did in Sonic Heroes, except that the Goal Ring here has rainbow-colored sparkles inside it if looked close enough.

Sonic Rivals 2[]

In Sonic Rivals 2, the Goal Ring is featured in under the name Gold Medal. Its appearance is now a giant gold ring with a big blue star in the center. Like Sonic Rush, the Gold Medal will not disappear once touched and will spin around continuously in place.

Sonic Unleashed[]

In both the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version and the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, the Goal Ring has changed to a giant gold ring with a red star in the center surrounded by rainbow colors.

Sonic and the Black Knight[]

Goal Ring (SatBK)

A Goal Ring, from Sonic and the Black Knight.

In Sonic and the Black Knight, the Goal Ring has the same look as in Sonic Heroes. However, it only appears in the Legacy Mission where it marks the goal of the missions.

Sonic Colors[]

In both the Wii version and Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, and the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the Goal Ring's appearance is the same as in Sonic Unleashed. In the Wii version and Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the Goal Rings appear in all but a select few Acts, where they are instead replaced with Prison Capsules. Also, in Game Land, the Goal Ring will release Rings when touched before the Act ends. Additionally, in the third Act of all the Game Land sections, the Goal Ring is replaced with a Chaos Emerald, but only on the first playthrough of those Acts.

On the Nintendo DS version, the Goal Ring only appears during the first run of Tropical Resort Act 1 and in certain missions.

Sonic Generations[]

In the console/PC version and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations , the Goal Ring has the same appearance it had in Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colors. In both versions of the game, it only appears in Modern Sonic's stages and challenges.

Sonic Lost World[]

In Wii U version and PC version of Sonic Lost World, Goal Rings only appears in the game's multiplayer modes Speed Race and Expert Race. In this game, the Goal Rings replace Capsules at the end of the Zones as goals and they lack the shining effect from previous games.

Sonic Frontiers[]

In Sonic Frontiers, the Goal Ring was mentioned during Sage's interaction with Sonic, on Chaos Island. She asked him about what is his end goal, which she means about what does he want to accomplish. Sonic, looking slightly confused and misunderstood to question for "what is his literal end goal", responds that it changes time through time. He says that sometimes it's a Goal Plate, and other times it's a Goal Ring.[12]

Other game appearances[]

Sega Superstars[]

In Sega Superstars, the Goal Ring is featured at the end of full pipe Special Stages during the game's Sonic the Hedgehog mode.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[]

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Goal Ring's design is the same as the one it had in Sonic Unleashed. Upon completing Sonic's story, the Goal Ring will appear on the Sonic-themed Parade Float.

Trivia[]

References[]

  1. Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast) United States instruction booklet, pg. 15.
  2. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (Nintendo GameCube) United States instruction booklet, pg. 29.
  3. Sonic Generations (Xbox 360) United Kingdom instruction booklet, pg. 12.
  4. "System" (in Japanese). Sonic Adventure 2 Hero/Dark Manual. SoftBank. 16 July 2001. pp. 23. ISBN 978-4797317152.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Sonic Heroes (Nintendo GameCube) United States instruction booklet, pgs. 23-24.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sonic Advance 3 (Game Boy Advance) United Kingdom instruction booklet, pg. 19.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Sonic Rush (Nintendo DS) United States instruction booklet, pg. 19.
  8. Sonic Heroes (Nintendo GameCube) United States instruction booklet, pg. 25.
  9. Shadow the Hedgehog (Nintendo GameCube) United Kingdom instruction booklet, pg. 18.
  10. Sonic Rush (Nintendo DS) United Kingdom instruction booklet, pg. 19.
  11. Sonic the Hedgehog (Xbox 360) United States instruction booklet, pg. 10.
  12. Sonic Team (8 November 2022). Sonic Frontiers. PlayStation 5. Sega. Cutscene: Sonic and Sage's interaction about his "end goal", in Chaos Island. "Sage: What is your end goal? Sonic: It varies. Sometimes it's a spinning sign, sometimes it's a big ol' ring."
Navigation templates to Goal Ring


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Main article · Script · Staff · Glitches · Beta elements · Gallery · Re-releases (Sonic X Shadow)

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Main article · Script · Beta elements · Credits · Glitches · Gallery · Re-releases (PC)
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