Rainbow Ring

The Rainbow Ring^[1] (レインボーリング, Reinbōringu^?) is a gimmick that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a type of multi-colored Dash Ring that has special extra functions, like granting bonus points or enabling Trick Actions when used.

Description

The Rainbow Rings are basically large rainbow-colored rings, up to a couple of meters in diameter. Like Dash Rings, the Rainbow Rings can send the playable character flying through the air. In gameplay, as soon as the playable character enters the middle of a Rainbow Ring or touches its edges, they will be shot through midair with a short burst of speed, with the direction of the burst depending on the Rainbow Ring's angle. However, the Rainbow Rings can only launch the playable characters in one direction. Also, when utilized, the Rainbow Ring will typically grant the player an extra amount of points. They may also exhibit other mechanics, depending on the game.

Rainbow Rings can always be found floating in midair and serve primarily as a way for the player to move across gaps, get through small passages in the walls or even reach otherwise unreachable areas. As such, they are usually found at the edges of gaps, above Springs or platforms, or just beyond roads and Grind Rails that abruptly end.

Though Rainbow Rings can provide a necessary boost to proceed, they also serve to guide the player down certain pathways in automated sections of the levels, alongside Dash Rings. In rare cases, the Rainbow Rings are even aligned in tube-like formations, so when the player enters one of these Rainbow Rings, the playable character will automatically be guided through the Rainbow Rings one by one to the intended location.

Game appearances

Sonic Heroes

The Rainbow Rings made their first appearance in Sonic Heroes. In this game, they appear in groups of three and are either arranged in tube-like formations or side-by-side. The player typically encounters them after they are sent flying by a Jump Panel.

In gameplay, the playable characters will do a midair trick when passing through a Rainbow Ring. When the leading playable character on the player's team passes through a Rainbow Ring, they will earn one thousand bonus points and a Ring. Also, for each character on the player's team that follows the leading character through the Rainbow Ring(s), the player will earn another eight-hundred bonus points and an additional Ring. Lastly, if the player can make all three characters on the team jump into a Rainbow Ring, the player acquires a bonus of ten Rings alongside the other bonuses.

Sonic Rush series

Sonic Rush

In Sonic Rush, the Rainbow Ring is a common gimmick that appears in most Acts. They usually appear alongside regular Dash Rings, often as the last Ring the player passes through in a string of Dash Rings. However, they can also appear on their own.

In gameplay, passing through a Rainbow Ring does not only launch the playable character through midair, but also allows the player to execute Trick Actions that earn the player points and fill up the Tension Gauge. It also grants the player four-hundred bonus points.

Sonic Rush Adventure

In Sonic Rush Adventure, the Rainbow Rings work exactly like they did in Sonic Rush; they allow the player to pull off Trick Actions and will grant the player four-hundred bonus points when using them.

Besides regular encounters with Rainbow Rings, both Acts of Haunted Ship feature special sections with Rainbow Rings that the player can enter via Cannons. During these sections, the player passes through Rainbow Rings in a 3D perspective. Also, by completing the Real-Time Interactions that appear when the playable character passes through the Rainbow Rings, the player will increment a Trick Combo, which will award the player with points and energy for their Tension Gauge at the end of their sections. If the player does not press the correct button or misses with their timing when passing through a Rainbow Ring however, the Trick Combo is lost.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Rainbow Rings appear primarily in the Action Stages. When passing through them in gameplay, the player is awarded with one thousand bonus points.

Sonic Unleashed

In both the Wii/PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, the Rainbow Rings are common gimmicks only encountered in the daytime Stages. When using the Rainbow Rings in these games, they will briefly contract while emitting white sparkles.

In gameplay on the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, the Rainbow Rings can contribute to an active Action Chain when utilized to sent Sonic flying through the air, but they cannot start one. In gameplay on the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of the game, the Rainbow Rings instead grant the player one thousand bonus points when utilizing them.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, the Rainbow Rings appear in the Dream Figure Skating (Sonic) event. During this event, Dash Rings will appear that the playable characters will jump through (if they time their movements correct).

Sonic Colors

In both the Wii and Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, the Rainbow Rings are common gimmicks included in the majority of the Acts.

On the Wii version of the game, the Rainbow Rings briefly contract and emit rainbow-colored sparkles when the player utilizes them, much like in Sonic Unleashed. In gameplay on the same version, they grant five thousand points when the playable character uses them.

On the Nintendo DS version of the game, the Rainbow Rings look like they did in the Sonic Rush games. In gameplay on the same version however, they do nothing else besides launching Sonic through midair.

Sonic Generations

In both the console/PC version and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, the Rainbow Rings make an appearance as uncommon gimmicks.

In the console/PC version of the game, the Rainbow Rings shrink briefly while emitting white sparkles when used, like in Sonic Unleashed. Also, in gameplay on said version, passing through a Rainbow Rings will not award the player with bonus points. Instead, the player becomes able to perform Freestyle Tricks, which charge the Boost Gauge.

In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, the Rainbow Rings emit white sparkles when used, but they do not briefly shrink. Also, in gameplay on said version, the Rainbow Rings do nothing else besides launching the player through midair.

Sonic Lost World

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, the Rainbow Rings are uncommon gimmicks encountered exclusively in the Special Stages. In this game, they only serve to guide the player towards Orbs. When passing through them in gameplay, the player receives no points.

Sonic Runners series

Sonic Runners

In Sonic Runners, the Rainbow Ring is a rare gimmick encountered in the stages. When passing through a Rainbow Ring in gameplay, it will grant the player two thousand points in addition to the regular midair dash.

Sonic Runners Adventure

In Sonic Runners Adventure, the Rainbow Rings are uncommon gimmicks that are encountered in the levels. In gameplay, passing through a Rainbow Ring allows the playable characters to pull in nearby Rings and Super Rings during the midair dash.

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, the Rainbow Rings are gimmicks that only appear in Sonic and the Avatar's Stages. When using a Rainbow Ring in this game, it will briefly shrink and emit white sparkles, like in Sonic Unleashed. In gameplay, when sent flying by a Rainbow Ring, the player is awarded with ten thousand points.

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Artwork

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

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References