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The life,[2][3] also referred to as the try,[4] is a game mechanic that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a play-turn that playable characters have, defined as the period between start and end of play, and refer to a finite number of tries before the game ends with a Game Over. This game mechanic is present in almost every major game in the Sonic series.
Examples of head-up displays from Sonic games, which show the number of lives.
Lives is a term used in a multitude of video games. Much like in other video games, lives in the Sonic the Hedgehog series refer to the finite items that gives the number of tries that the player has to complete a level or boss fight with a playable character before being given a Game Over.
In most cases where the life system is incorporated, if a playable character gets hit and has one or more Rings in their possession, they will lose all of their Rings or some of them, but will not lose a life. If the playable character is hit when they have no Rings however, they will lose a life and return to the last checkpoint passed or the beginning of the level. There are other ways for the playable characters to lose lives as well, such as drowning, falling into a bottomless pit, being crushed, getting a Time Over, or having their Health Gauge depleted. In those cases, the playable character will lose a life regardless of how many Rings they have. If a playable character loses all their lives, it will result in a Game Over for the player, unless the player has Continues. Games or modes in certain games that do not incorporate the life system on the other hand basically just give the player unlimited tries to complete a level or boss with.
When beginning a game with the life system in the Sonic series, the player always starts out with a certain number of lives. Over the course of a game, the player can gather more lives. However, there is always a finite maximum of lives that the player can collect in each game. Throughout the Sonic series, there have been numerous ways to gain extra lives, but the most common methods are collecting 100 Rings in a regular Stage/Bonus Stage, scoring a certain amount of points, or obtaining 1-Ups. When the player gains a 1-Up in particular, a small fanfare or sample can be heard in the background while the in-game music stops, only to return to normal after it ends.
The HUD usually illustrates the number of lives in the player's possession with an icon of the playable character's face that the lives belong to and the amount of lives that the playable character has left next to it.
Game appearances
Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) and its 2013 remaster, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small white icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit), the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing Sonic's face. In gameplay, after clearing the game, each remaining life is worth 5,000 points on the final score tally. In addition, instead of the fanfare track heard in the game's 16-bit counterpart, the player will hear a short jingle when getting an extra life. The player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit), the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit), its 2013 remaster and the lock-on game, Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game in single player and 2 Player VS Competitive mode. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small white icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Getting every 50,000 points in Zones and Special Stages.
Worth noting is that the Mega-Tech version of the game does not feature the life system. Also, in the 2013 remaster of the game, the life system is disabled in the game's Time Attack mode.
Sonic the Hedgehog CD
In Sonic the Hedgehog CD and its 2011 remaster, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, instead of hearing the common fanfare music when obtaining an extra life, the player will hear Sonic yell "Yes!" in its place. The player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Getting every 50,000 points in Rounds and Special Stages.
Sonic Chaos
In Sonic Chaos, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game with Sonic as the chosen playable character. Beginning the game with Tails as the chosen playable character on the other hands lets the player start out with five lives and three Continues instead. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements, depending on if the player has chosen Sonic or Tails:
Collecting 100 Rings in Zones as Tails. Doing this also restarts the Ring count from zero.
Collecting 100 Rings in Special Stages as Sonic. Doing this also restarts the Ring count from zero.
Receiving a tallied speed (in kilometers per hour) with three of the same numerals in a row (for example 222 km/h) when clearing one of the two first Acts in a Zone.
Making the Bonus Panel display Sonic's face when playing as Sonic.
Making the Bonus Panel display Tails' face when playing as Tails.
Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
In Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives on the Status Strip at the top of the screen by default. No icons are used to illustrate lives in this game. In gameplay, after clearing the game, each remaining life is worth 5,000,000 points on the final score tally. The player will receive an extra life whenever they earn 20,000,000 points.[5]
Sonic Spinball (8-bit)
In Sonic Spinball (8-bit), the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game does not display the player's number of lives, nor does the game use any icons to illustrate lives. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles and the lock-on game, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small white icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, the save feature in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles does not record any extra lives and Continues collected by the player in the game's data if the games are restarted. The player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble. the player starts out with four lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small black icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Making the Bonus Panel display Sonic's face when playing as Sonic.
Making the Bonus Panel display Tails' face when playing as Tails.
Tails' Skypatrol
In Tails' Skypatrol, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small blue circle with a white "P" in its center. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic Labyrinth, the player starts out with three lives by default when beginning the game. However, the number of these lives can be adjusted to anything between one and ten from the Options menu before starting off the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the middle of the bottom of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small while frame with Sonic's face inside it. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic 3D Blast, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small white icon showcasing Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic Blast, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives on the introduction screen for each Act. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Breaking TVs containing Sonic icons when playing as Sonic.
Breaking TVs containing Knuckles icons when playing as Knuckles.
Breaking TVs containing ???s. Doing so can bestow a Sonic/Knuckles icon at random.
Clearing the Special Stage in the first Act of each Zone.
Sonic Adventure
In Sonic Adventure, its enhanced port Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, and its 2010 remaster, the player starts out with four lives for each of the playable character when beginning their respective storylines.[note 1] The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small white icon showcasing the playable character's face:
It is worth noting that in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, Metal Sonic receives extra lives with his own icons after being unlocked in the game. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, the player starts out with three lives by default in single player mode when beginning the game. However, the number of these lives can be adjusted to anything between three and five from the Game Option menu before starting off the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic Adventure 2, its enhanced port Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, and its 2012 remaster, the player starts out with four lives when beginning either the Hero or Dark stories. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face. Worth noting though is that the life icons in Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2: Battle received an updated look in the 2012 remaster:
Sonic Adventure 2/Sonic Adventure 2: Battle:
Sonic Adventure 2 (2012):
In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic Advance, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game in single player mode. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face:
In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's Time Attack and multiplayer modes.
Sonic Advance 2
In Sonic Advance 2, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game in single player mode. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face:
In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's Time Attack and multiplayer modes.
Sonic Advance 3
In Sonic Advance 3, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game in single player mode. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face, although due to the game's partner-orientated gameplay, the life icons for each character in play will be displayed side-by-side:
In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Clearing Mini-Games (the player can earn up to five extra lives based on how well they perform).
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's Time Attack, Multi-Pak Battle, and Single Pak Battle modes.
Sonic Pinball Party
In Sonic Pinball Party, the player starts out with three balls when beginning the pinball match. In gameplay, the player will receive more balls when fulfilling the following requirements:
Shooting a ball through the center ramp lane twenty times in Normal Mode on the Sonic table.[6]
Shooting a ball through the Inside Ramp Lane ten times on the NiGHTS table when not in Normal Mode.
Sonic Heroes
In Sonic Heroes, the player starts out with three lives when beginning each team campaign. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the face of the current character leading the playable team:
In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Collecting 100 and 200 Rings in stages and during boss fights.
Clearing the Bonus Challenges or Emerald Challenges in Special Stages (the player can earn up to five extra lives based on their score, time and gauge bonuses).
Sonic Jump series
Sonic Jump
In Sonic Jump, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the face of Sonic. In gameplay, the player will receive an extra life every time they collect fifty Rings during an Act.
Sonic Jump 2
In Sonic Jump 2, which is essentially a re-release of Sonic Jump, the life system is the same as the one in its predecessor.
Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, the player starts out with five lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the face of Shadow. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Touching Save Points while holding 100 or more Rings.
Sonic Rush series
Sonic Rush
In Sonic Rush, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the game in single player mode. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen(s), right below the Tension Gauge. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing a simplified image of the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Worth noting is that if the game's Time Limit in Zones is enabled, and the player gets a Time Over, they will not lose a life.
Sonic Rush Adventure
In Sonic Rush Adventure, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the game in single player mode. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen(s), right below the Tension Gauge. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing an image of the playable character's face, except in Deep Core where Super Sonic and Burning Blaze's life icons are displayed side-by-side. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Worth noting is that if the game's Time Limit in Stages is enabled, and the player gets a Time Over, they will not lose a life.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the player starts out with five lives when beginning the game in each main character's story. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing an image of the playable character's face:
In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog (Didj), the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small white icon showcasing an image of Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when breaking TV Monitors containing One-Ups.
Sega Superstars Tennis
In Sega Superstars Tennis, there are a couple of Sonic the Hedgehog-themed missions involving clearing said mission with varying amounts of lives. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives in the Score Attack mini-game by collecting Life+1Item Boxes.
Sonic Unleashed
In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, the player starts out with five lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing a simplified image of the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In the Wii/PlayStation 2version of Sonic Unleashed, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the game. Like its counterpart, the HUD displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen and uses simple images of the playable characters' faces to illustrate them. In gameplay, the player's only way to receive extra lives is to open 1UP Item Boxes within the temple puzzles of each Gaia Gate.
Worth noting is that in both versions of the game, the life system is disabled when participating in Missions or Sub-Missions.
Sonic the Hedgehog Level Creator
In Sonic the Hedgehog Level Creator, the player starts out with three lives when beginning a playthrough. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the left left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small white icon showcasing an image of Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal to a certain extend, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the games, while the maximum number of obtainable lives is 999. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing an image of the playable character's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Getting 10,000 or more points on the Result Screen for Acts or Special Stages.
Getting a minimum set of three cards with Sonic's icons on one straight line in Casino Street Zone Act 2. This method is exclusive to the console/PC version of the games. However, it will not work if the playable character only has one or two cards in their possession and does not collect the third one within less than seven seconds (which is when the card set disappears).
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's Time Attack mode.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the game, while the maximum number of obtainable lives is 999. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing an image of Sonic and Tails' faces. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Getting 10,000 or more points on the Result Screen for Acts or Special Stages.
Worth noting is that Metal Sonic in the playthrough for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal will retain all the lives the player has accumulated if they have previously played through the Single Player campaign in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II prior to the episode. Also, in the multiplayer mode for Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, two players share their total lives, meaning the player will lose a life when both playable characters are defeated. In addition, the life system is disabled in the game's Time Attack mode.
Sonic Colors
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, the player starts out with four lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing an image of Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Getting an A-Rank or higher on the Result Screen. Doing so will reward one or three 1UPs.
Breaking the writing on the Result Screen with the Stomp, Spin Attack or Jump Dash. Doing so will randomly cause 1UPs to pop out from the broken letters and numbers.
Breaking the interactive end credits with the Stomp, Spin Attack, Jump Dash or Color Powers. Doing so will reward the player with up to six 1UPs based on how actively the player tried to break the end credit letters.
Collecting 100 and 200 Rings in Acts and Boss Acts.
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's Time Attack mode. Also, in the game's remaster, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the life system has been completely removed in favor of the Tails Save system.
In the Nintendo DSversion of Sonic Colors, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen(s). Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing an image of Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Getting an A-Rank or higher for Acts and Special Stages. Doing so will reward one or three extra lives.
Collecting 100 Rings in Acts.
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's Missions, Versus mode, and Time Attack mode.
Sonic Generations
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the player starts out with five lives when beginning the game. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper right corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing a simplified image of Classic Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Collecting 100 Rings in stages and during boss fights
Purchasing a "Life +1" from the Skill Shop for 500 Skill Points.
Worth noting is the Last ChanceSkill. This Skill allows Classic Sonic/Modern Sonic to receive one extra life in case the player runs out of them during an Act. In addition, the life system is disabled in the game's Challenge Acts, 30-second Trial mode and Time Attack mode.
In the Nintendo 3DSversion of Sonic Generations, the player starts out with two lives when beginning the game. This game displays the player's number of lives in the upper half of the Nintendo 3DS's bottom screen. Here, the icon used to illustrate lives is the same as its console/PC counterpart. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's Missions, Versus Mode and Time Attack modes.
Sonic Lost World
In the Wii U version and PCversion of Sonic Lost World, the player originally started out with five lives when beginning the game. However, if the save file had less than four lives, and the game was closed, the life counter would reset to four when the game was booted up again. After the release of the version 3.0.0 patch however, the restarting lives were changed to nine after receiving a Game Over.[7] Also, pre-ordering Sonic Lost World via Amazon in the United States would include free downloadable content featuring twenty-five extra lives for the player at the beginning of the game.[8] The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the upper left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing a simplified image of Classic Sonic's face. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the game's multiplayer and Time Attack mode.
In the Nintendo 3DSversion of Sonic Lost World, the player starts out with ten lives when beginning the game. This game displays the player's number of lives in the middle of the Nintendo 3DS's bottom screen. Here, the icon used to illustrate lives is the same as its Wii U/PC counterpart. In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Like its Wii U/PC counterpart, the life system is disabled in the game's multiplayer and Time Attack mode.
Sonic Mania
In Sonic Mania and its expansion, Sonic Mania Plus, the player starts out with three lives when beginning the game in Mania Mode. The HUD in this game displays the player's number of lives in the lower left corner of the screen. Here, lives are illustrated by a small icon showcasing a simplified image of the playable character's face:
In gameplay, the player will receive more lives when fulfilling the following requirements:
Catching 1UP items in the Mania Mode's Pinball Stage.
Worth noting is that the life system is disabled in the Encore Mode of Sonic Mania Plus. In this mode, it has been replaced with a system that centers around the Character power-up, which adds another party member to the player's roster, serving as the player's "lives".
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the life system itself does not appear as a gameplay mechanic for Sonic. However, it does make a small cameo in the form of Sonic's stock sprite, which uses the Sonic series' icon for lives instead of the format for most other characters in the game.
Trivia
In Launch Base Zone of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, there is a trick to earn an infinite number of lives. By standing on one of the alarms and revving up a Spin Dash without releasing, a Flybot767 will fly over at the playable character. Because they will be spinning, the Flybot767 will get destroyed and give points. The player can thus just simply keep revving the Spin Dash for more Flybot767s to appear and be destroyed granting them a higher amount of points which will eventually turn into lives.
Notes
↑The life counter in Sonic Adventure displays four lives at the beginning of the game, while the number 0 is considered the last remaining life in the counter. Starting with Sonic Adventure and Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, other games since then have followed this structure with the exception of Sonic Mania and Sonic Mania Plus.