Random

Random^[1] (ランダム, Randamu^?) known is also as Question Item (質問項目, Shitsumon kōmoku^?) item is a recurring Item Box power-up in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. When obtained, it gives a random power-up.

Description

Random's icon on the Item Boxes containing them differ between games, but otherwise depict a question mark on them.

When picking up a Random, the player obtains a randomly-selected power-up from those available in its game (excluding the Random power-up itself).

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Random first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as an unnamed Super item exclusive to the "2 Player VS" competition. In this game, the monitors containing them feature a flickering white screen with a red question mark on them. It is also the default and only monitor power-up encountered in the Zones in "2 Player VS".

After breaking a Random's monitor in this game, it gives either a Super Ring, Invincible, Shield, Power Sneakers, 1-Up, Eggman Mark or Teleporter.

In the 2013 enhanced port of the game, it is possible to use Random in a single player No Save mode by accessing the Level Select and can bring up a special menu by playing the specific tunes at Sound Test in the following order: 00, 00, 00. The player can toggle to one of the two options in the Items category which replaces all Monitors in the Acts with Random Monitor which will give a different range of Power-ups when broken depending on which option is selected; the first causes Random monitors to grant Super Ring, Invincible, Shield, Power Sneakers, 1-Up, Eggman Mark or Teleporter while the second grants either the Flame Shield, Bubble Shield and Lightning Shield in addition to the aforementioned items.

Sonic Blast

In Sonic Blast, Random is referred to as ??? in Japanese material^[2] and can be encountered in the Zones. In this game, the TVs containing them feature a black screen with a golden question mark on them.

After breaking a Random's monitor in this game, it gives either a Super Ring, Shield, Shoe, Invincible, Extra Life (either Sonic or Knuckles), Marker or Robotnik.

Sonic Riders

Sonic Riders

In Sonic Riders, Random is called Question Item^[3] (クエスチョン^[4], Kuesuchon^?, lit. "Question") and appears on all the available racetracks. In this game, the icon for Question Item is a square blue icon with a golden question mark on it.

In gameplay, Question Item is obtained at random from any Item Box. After breaking a Question Item Item Box in this game, players will receive either a Rings, Magnetic Shield, Explosion, Air, Invincible Barrier, High Speed or Speed Down.

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

In Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, Random is an unnamed power-up that is encountered on all the available racing courses. In this game, the icon for Random is a square blue icon with a golden question mark on it, much like in Sonic Riders.

In gameplay, Random is obtained at random from any Item Box. After breaking a Random Item Box in this game, players will receive either a Rings, Magnetic Shield, Explosion, GP Boost, High Speed, Speed Down, Attack, Parts Lock or Colorball.

Sonic Free Riders

In Sonic Free Riders, Random is called Question (クエスチョン^[5], Kuesuchon^?) and can be found on every racing track available. In this game, the icon for Question is identical to how it appeared in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity. As such, it resembles a square blue icon with a golden question mark on it.

In gameplay, Question is obtained at random from any Item Box.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, this power-up is referred to as Random for the first time.^[1] In these games, the monitors containing them feature a flickering white screen with a red question mark on them, like in their debut.

Much like in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Random is found first and foremost in the game's Competition mode. However, it only appears in this mode's Zones if the players enable the "Random" feature in the game rules before a match, which causes all monitor power-ups throughout the mode to be replaced with Random power-ups.

After breaking a Random's monitor in this game, it gives either a Super Ring, Hyper Ring, Invincible, Blue Shield, Power Sneakers, 1-Up, Eggman Mark, Bubble Shield, Fire Shield, Lightning Shield or Player Swap.

In Sonic Mania Plus's Encore Mode, Random functions differently in the regular Zones where instead of giving one of the other Item Box power-up items, it will shuffle the player's party randomly, potentially replacing the player's current characters.

References

Item Box power-ups

1-Up	Aqua Shield	Flame Shield
Invincible	Thunder Shield	Power Sneakers
Shield	Super Ring

5 Ring Bonus	20 Rings	Attract
Attack (Sonic Advance 2)	Attack (Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity)	Bashosen
Big 50 Ring	Blizzard Bomb	Blue Shield
Bomb	Booby Trap	Bowling Strike
Bubble Bomb	Bunny Boost	Captive Light
Chao Attack	Chao Chase	Chao Guardians
Chao-nado	Chaos Emerald	Change
Character	Chopper Chomp	Colorball
Combi Catcher	Combine Ring	Combination Dash
Combo Bonus	Confusion	Continue Monitor
Cyclone Charge	Damage Recover	Dead End
Drac-O'-Lantern	Dragon Dance	Eggman Mark
Electro Boost	EMP Boost	Explosion
Exploding Balloon	Explosive Mine	Festive Umbrella Boost
Fire Boost	Fire Whirl	Fireball

Firework Flurry	Flame Jump	Flue Shot
Fly Charge	Free Throw	Frozen Chopper Chomp
Gauge Up	Gold Shield	GP Boost
Grow	Harvest Time	Health
Heat Barrier	Hedge Maze	High Speed
Home Run	Hyper Heli-Tails	Ice Mine
Ice Wave	Illusion Boost	Illusion Mine
Jet Board	Jump	Lava Bomb
Lightning	Lilytrap	Magnet
Marker	Maximum Tension Bonus	Mine
Minus Ring	Mosaic	Moto-Bug
Octo-Boost	Octo-Ink	Player Swap
Pogo Spring	Power Core	Pyro-Mine
Random	Random Ring Bonus	Reaper
Red Shield	Ring Can	Rings

Ring Portal	Rocket Shoes	S
Propeller Shoes	Shrink	Skateboard
Slow	Soda Rocket	Speed Down
Stage Select	Star Trail	Steal
Steal Boost	Steal Wisp	Storm Cloud
Strike Out	Special Combination	Spring
Support Spring	Swap	Target Torpedo
Tee Shot	Team Blast Ring	Tension Bonus
Time Bonus	Time Stop	Tornado
Transparency	Trap Shot	Twister
Umbrella Boost	Warp	Whirlwind
Wind Boost	Wipeout	Wrench Rush
Zap Trap

Enerbeam	Magnet (Sonic Boom)	Score Doubler
Shield (Sonic Boom)	Super Ring (Sonic Boom)

Floating Item Box

Item Panel

Target Switch