The Rank[1] is a mechanic that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a grading system used to measure how well the player performed in a particular event of a game, the most common being completing a level or boss fight.
Description
In the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Ranks are represented as letter-grades. While the specific grade letters vary in range from game to game, they typically range from S or A to D or E. They are awarded based on how well the player performed after completing a particular event in a game. This can be something like completing a level or mission. Ranks are usually given alongside the score, and is often based on the player's score, which is influenced by common gameplay factors such as the number of Rings collected, time taken to finish the event, number of enemies defeated, the tricks pulled off, etc.. Some games though have certain levels and missions where Ranks are not awarded based on score alone, and may only be based on one or more gameplay factors, such as the time taken to complete an event. In games where the playable characters are present on the result screen, they will strike a different pose and/or give a comment based on the Rank the player got.
Usually, the player has to attain the highest rank (usually an "A" or "S") for some or all level missions of a game in order to receive rewards (like Emblems) or special bonuses, unlock new gameplay features, or obtain game achievements/trophies.
Rank list (in order)
The following list of letter grades used in the Sonic the Hedgehog games, listed from highest to lowest. The most commonly used ranks are in bold.
X Rank: Violet colored/Yellow colored (Sonic Riders games only)
SS/S+ Rank: Brass colored (Sonic Riders games only)
S Rank: Aqua colored/Platinum colored/Gold colored
AA/A+ Rank: Cyan colored/Purple colored (Sonic Riders games only)
A Rank: Gold colored/Purple colored/Red colored
B Rank: Silver colored/Red colored/Green colored
C Rank: Bronze colored/Yellow colored/Blue colored
D Rank: Steel colored/Green colored/Light Blue colored
E Rank: Rusty metal colored/Blue colored
F Rank: Purple colored (This was supposed to appear in Sonic Heroes, but it later got scrapped, so the E Rank is currently the lowest of them all.)
Ranks were first featured in Sonic Adventure 2, and later its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, where they are given for Mission results. In this game, Ranks range from A to E. For Missions 1, 4 and 5 of every stage (except Route 101 and Route 280), the Rank is determined by the score, but if the player obtains every Ring in a stage and clears it, the player is awarded an automatic A-Rank. For Missions 2 and 3 of every stage, the Rank is based on the time taken to complete it.
The player is required to earn an A-Rank in every Mission in order to obtain all Emblems and unlocking extra bonuses for the 2P Battle mode. It also unlocks the "You Are The Legend" Achievement/Trophy in the 2012 HD port.
In Sonic Heroes, Ranks range from A to E. In this game, Ranks are given for stage/mission results. Score-based Ranks are given for all teams' first Missions and all of Team Sonic and Team Chaotix's Extra Missions while time-based Ranks are given for boss fights and all Extra Missions for Team Dark and Team Rose.
The player is required to obtain an A-Rank of every stage/Mission in the game to unlock Super Hard Mode. Ranks are also not recorded for completing the Sea Gate or the Super Hard Mode stages. In addition, the game's save files display the number of stages/Missions the player has an A Rank on.
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
E-Rank
Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, Ranks range from A to E. In this game, score-based Ranks are featured in every stage mission while time-based Ranks are featured for every boss battle. Scoring high for one alignment will reduce the Rank achieved for the other alignment (e.g. getting a high Hero score will result in an automatic E-Rank for the Dark mission and vice versa). The score for Neutral missions on the other hand will count to both alignments. If the player gets an A-Rank for every stage, Expert Mode will be unlocked.
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
E-Rank
Sonic Rush series
Sonic Rush
In Sonic Rush, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after those events.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
Sonic Rush Adventure
In Sonic Rush Adventure, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after those events. In addition, the better the Rank the player gets, the more Materials they will receive after clearing an Act or boss fight (not including Hidden Islands or Deep Core).
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
Sonic Riders series
Sonic Riders
In Sonic Riders, the Ranks include grades X, SS, S, AA, A, B, and C. In this game, Ranks are rewarded differently. Rather than being given when a player clears a level or mission, the player is given Ranks when the playable character pulls off a Trick Action after setting off from ramps. The higher the Rank the playable character gets, the more Air the player will be rewarded with. In this installment, the Rank is based on how many Trick Actions the player pulls off after being launched into midair. However, if the playable character makes a bad landing from the jump (eg. landing while in the middle of performing a Trick Action), they will automatically get a C-Rank. The game also features the LegendExtreme Gear which makes earning high Ranks easier.
X-Rank
SS-Rank
S-Rank
AA-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
Aside from the ranking of Trick Actions mentioned above, Sonic Riders also features Ranks in Mission Mode where the player is ranked based on how well they performed in a mission. Each mission has three different ranks: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The report of the Babylon Rogues member varies on the Rank the player receives. If the player gets the highest Rank in all the missions, they will earn the Chaos Emerald.
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
In Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the Ranks include grades X, SS, S, AA, A, B, and C. In this game, Ranks are, much like in Sonic Riders, given when the playable character executes a Trick Action. The higher the Rank the playable character gets, the more Gravity Points the player will be rewarded with. In addition, attaining at least an S-Rank will always allow the player to reach higher routes. In this game though, the Rank is based on the timing of the jump prompt for the Trick Action at the moment the player gets launched. The game also features the LegendExtreme Gear which makes earning high Ranks easier. In addition, a unique sound effect is played whenever an X-Rank Trick is performed.
X-Rank
SS-Rank
S-Rank
AA-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
Aside from the Ranking mentioned above, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity also features Missions and a ranking system similar to that of Mission Mode in the first Sonic Riders. Each mission has three different ranks: Normal, Super and Extreme. Eggman's comment for the mission varies on the Rank received. If the player gets the highest Rank in all the missions, they will earn the Chaos Emerald.
Sonic Free Riders
In Sonic Free Riders, the Ranks include grades X, S+, S, A+, A, B, and C. Like in earlier Sonic Riders installments, Ranks are given when the playable character executes a Trick. The higher the Rank the playable character gets, the more Air the player will be rewarded with. Like in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the Rank is based on the timing of the jump prompt for the Trick Action at the moment the player gets launched. The game also features the LegendExtreme Gear which makes earning high Ranks easier. In addition, the game also feature a unique sound effect whenever an X-Rank Trick is performed.
X-Rank
S+-Rank
S-Rank
A+-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
Aside from the Ranking mentioned above, Sonic Free Riders also feature a mission-based gameplay which are required to be played as part of Grand Prix Mode, similar to the earlier Sonic Riders titles where the player is ranked based on how well they performed. Each mission has three different ranks: B, A and S. If the player gets the highest Rank in all the missions, they will earn the Chaos Emeralds.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Ranks range from S to D. In this game, Ranks are given for Action Stage, Boss, and Town Mission results, and are based on the player's score after those events. In the Story Mode, the player also earns additional Rings based on the Rank they receive. The player is required to obtain S-Ranks across all Mission to unlock achievements in the Xbox 360 version of the game.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
Sonic Rivals series
Sonic Rivals
In Sonic Rivals, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for every Act and boss fight, and are based on the player's score after these events.
Sonic Rivals 2
In Sonic Rivals 2, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for every Act and boss fight, and are based on the player's score after these events. In addition, in order to earn some cards, it is required by the player to achieve an S-Rank in specific Acts and Act 2 Battle modes.
Sonic Unleashed
In the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, Ranks range from S to C. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for every level and boss fight. They are awarded based on the player's clear time in daytime stages, and on the player's time, Rings and amassed Dark Gaia Force in the nighttime stages. In the daytime stages in particular, the game's HUD displays the par time the player is required to finish the stage within to obtain a particular Rank starting with the S and if the time has elapsed beyond the threshold for S, the HUD will switch to display the par time for A and so on for the remaining Ranks.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, Ranks range from S to E. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after these events. If the player gets an E rank, "Results Screen - E Rank", an intentionally bad rendition of the normal result screen music track, will play. Getting S-Ranks are also needed to obtain a number of the game's trophies/achievements.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
E-Rank
Sonic and the Black Knight
In Sonic and the Black Knight, Ranks are present, but they do not use letter grades. Instead, it uses a star rating, with the number of stars determining its rank (one being the lowest and five being the highest).
Sonic Colors
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after these events. Finishing with an A-Rank or higher will award one or three 1-Ups respectively.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after these events. The number of White Wisps and Sonic's pose on the result screen will be determined by the player's Rank.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
Sonic Generations
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results. In stage Acts, ranks are based on the player's score, which is calculated based on clear time and Rings. That alone however, will only give a Rank between A and D. Finishing an Act without losing a life will award a Perfect Clear bonus that raises the player's rank by one, which is the only way to get an S-Rank. In Challenge Acts on the other hand, Ranks are based on the player's clear time, and the Rank and its corresponding clear par time is displayed on the HUD. Getting S-Ranks are also needed to obtain a number of the game's trophies/achievements.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
In Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act, boss and Special Stage results, and are based on the player's score after these events. Unlike the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, there is no Perfect Clear bonus.
Sonic Lost World
In the Wii U/PC version of Sonic Lost World, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Zones. However, they only appear in Time Attack mode, where they are given based on the time taken to complete the Zone. During a playthrough of a Zone, the Rank is displayed alongside the par time the player needs to complete in order to obtain that Rank. Once the par time has being passed, the next lower Rank with its respective par time is shown in its place.
S-Rank
A-Rank
B-Rank
C-Rank
D-Rank
In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, Ranks range from S to D. In this game, Ranks are given for Zone, boss and Special Stage results, and are based on the player's score after those events. In addition, the better the Rank the player gets, the more Materials they will receive after clearing a level or boss fight.
Sonic Forces
The "S" Rank given to Classic Sonic after completing a stage.
In Sonic Forces, Ranks range from S to C. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for stage results, and are based on the player's score after these events. In addition, one can complete Daily Missions to activate a Daily Mission Boost that will temporarily boost the amount of points given at the end of a stage, making it easier to get higher ranks.
In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, Sonic does not add any comments to his Ranks; instead he spins around and gives a "Thumbs Up" depending on the Rank received. However, in the Special Stages, Sonic's Rank animation shows him collecting the Chaos Emerald of the respective Stage and holds it in his left hand. This is identical across all of the Ranks.
Trivia
In Sonic Generations, almost the entire total score (and Rank) is calculated by the time taken to complete the level. This means that, by completing an Act at a sufficiently fast time, it is almost always enough to earn an A or S Rank (assuming the player doesn't lose a life).
However, an orange bar counting as rings will extend off of the green bar representing time.
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), since Knuckles is the only character who cannot finish a stage under normal circumstances, his Rank comments cannot be heard unless the player performs gameplay glitches that allows them to finish a stage with Knuckles.
Since Sonic Colors, after getting any rank, Sonic will do a pose for the player, but only when the time to interact with the results screen ends. In Sonic Generations, after getting the score results and rank, Sonic will do a pose, perform a move or just dance (depending on what rank the player receives).
Rankings were supposed to be given in Sonic Adventure as well, but the concept was scrapped during development time for unknown reasons.[2] However, the system was implemented into the next game, Sonic Adventure 2 and almost every other Sonic game released after.
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