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The Red Star Ring[1] (レッドスターリング,Reddo Sutā Ringu?), originally known as the Special Ring[2][3] or Star Ring,[4] is an object that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a special type of Ring-like object that serves as a collectible in several Sonic games. By collecting them, the player can typically unlock special contents and features.
The Red Star Rings are based on the classic Ring. Unlike regular Rings however, the Red Star Rings are red and have a five-pointed star in the middle that connect to the inner rim of the rings. Nothing else is known about them. However, according to Blaze, there are objects like the Red Star Rings in her world as well.[5]
In gameplay, the Red Star Rings normally serve as collectibles for the player collect. In such games, there is a specific number of Red Star Rings that have been scattered across the games' respective levels. There is typically a set number of Red Star Rings to collect in each level; usually, that number is five, but it has been known to vary between games. Some Red Star Rings are located in easily accessible places, while others may require the usage of a special ability (like a Color Power or Parkour) to be reached. There are also those that lie in hard-to-reach locations that require extensive platforming or even revisiting the same level. In several games, collecting enough Red Star Rings will unlock extra content in their game, such as bonus artwork and/or hidden gameplay elements. To collect a Red Star Ring, the playable character just has to touch it.
In certain games, the Red Star Rings also serve as currency. In such installments, they are used as in-game payments to unlock extra game features, such as new playable characters. In such games, there are an infinite amount of Red Star Rings that can be acquired over the course of the games, like by collecting them from random levels, clearing missions, or paying microtransactions.
Game appearances
Sonic Colors
The Red Star Ring made its first appearance in both the Wii and Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors. In this game, it is referred to as the Special Ring[2][3] or Star Ring.[4] In both these games, they serve as collectibles used to unlock extra content.
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, every Act (except for the Boss Areas) in every Area (except Terminal Velocity) have five Special Rings hidden within them. All in all, there is a total of 180 Special Rings in the game. Upon collecting a Special Ring, the player will be rewarded with a "Special Bonus" worth 30,000 points. However, if the player collects a Special Rings but loses a try before reaching the next Checkpoint/Goal Ring/Prison Capsule or restart/exit the Act from the Pause Screen Menu, they will have to recollect it. Also, when playing an Act again after collecting a Special Ring, the Special Ring takes on a faded appearance but can still be collected like before for points. The Special Rings the player has collected in each Act can be viewed on both the Area Map and in the lower right corner of the HUD during Acts. By collecting Special Rings, the player will progressively unlock new Acts in the Sonic Simulator. Collecting all Special Rings will unlock all the Acts in the Sonic Simulator. By then completing all the Acts in the Sonic Simulator, the player will obtain all seven Chaos Emeralds, which will unlock the Super Sonic option in the Options Satellite, which allows Sonic to turn into Super Sonic in Acts.
In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, there are five Special Rings in every Act (not including the boss fights) and two in every Mission in every Area (not including Terminal Velocity). All in all, there is a total of 96 Special Rings in the game. Also, in this game, Special Rings sit on small pink pedestals that are located on the ground or in the air. Unlike their Wii counterparts though, the Special Rings here do not reappear in the Acts/Missions after they have been collected. The Special Rings the player has collected in each Act/Mission can be viewed both on the Area Map and in the lower left corner of the HUD during Acts/Missions. Every time the player collects all the Special Rings in an Act/mission, they will unlock a sound and/or illustration in the game's gallery. When all of the Special Rings have been collected, the player unlocks the Infinite Boost along with a Sonic Channel-esque artwork of Sonic and Yacker.
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the ring is referred to as the Red Star Ring.[6] In this game, they serve as collectibles used to unlock extra content.
In gameplay, both Acts for each of the nine Stages in Sonic Generations have five Red Star Rings hidden within them, giving a total of 90 Red Star Rings available in the game. The Red Star Rings the player has collected in the respective Acts are displayed above the Acts' Stage Entrances, with Classic Sonic being able to view the Red Star Rings collected in Act 1 and Modern Sonic being able to view the Red Star Rings collected in Act 2. Once all Red Star Rings in an Act have been found however, that Act's Red Star Rings at the Stage Entrance will be replaced with a single large Red Star Ring with red laurel wreaths on the sides. For each Red Star Ring collected, the player will unlock one piece of Artwork or a Song in the Collection Room. Collecting all five Red Star Rings in an Act will unlock a new Skill as well.
Besides unlocking game content, collecting Red Star Rings also unlocks achievements/trophies in the game.
If the player talks to one of Sonic's rescued friends in the White Space when they exhibit a speech balloon with a Red Star Ring icon in it above them, they will give the player a hint as to where their respective Acts' Red Star Rings can be found.
In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, the ring is known as the Red Star Ring once again.[7] In this game, they serve as collectibles once more.
In gameplay, each Act in the available Zones has one Red Star Ring hidden within it. All in all, there is a total of 13 Red Star Rings in the game. Like in the Wii version in Sonic Colors, when playing an Act again after collecting its Red Star Ring, the Red Star Ring takes on a faded appearance but can still be collected like before.
The only purposes obtaining the Red Star Rings serve in this game is for 100% completion and unlocking an achievement/trophy for collecting them all on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Steam and iOS version.
Sonic Jump series
Sonic Jump (2012)
In the 2012 remake of Sonic Jump, the ring is referred to as both the Red Star Ring and just Ring. In this game, the serve as collectibles.
In gameplay, every Act in the Zones (except for the Acts featuring boss battles) has three Red Star Rings hidden within them. Overall, there is a total of 150 Red Star Rings in the game. The Red Star Rings the player has collected in each Act can be viewed both on the Story menu and in the upper left corner of the HUD during Acts. In addition, after an Act has been concluded, the game will count the Red Star Rings the player has collected.
The only purpose obtaining the Red Star Rings serve in this game is for 100% completion, and nothing else.
Sonic Jump Fever
In Sonic Jump Fever, the ring is referred to as the Red Star Ring once again. In this game, they serve as one of the game's premium currencies.
In gameplay, Red Star Rings can be found in the Zones, although a limited number of them can only be found there per day. However, if the player equips themselves with the Hero Rare Chao or Hero S-Rare Chao, it can reveal hidden Red Star Rings in the Zones. Red Star Rings can also be obtained occasionally from Daily Rewards, by leveling up, by logging into Facebook, or from the Daily Spin. They can also be purchased through microtransactions.
Red Star Rings in Sonic Jump Fever are mainly used to purcase Gold Rings, unlock playable characters, buy certain Booster items, and befriend Chao. They can also be exchanged for usages of the Spin (when the free Daily Spin or video to obtain a free spin are both unavailable).
Sonic Dash
In Sonic Dash, the ring is known as the Red Star Ring once more. In this game, they serve as the game's premium currency.
In gameplay, Red Star Rings appear early along the first run in a Zone each day, but they can also be obtained by completing different missions, fulfilling the Daily Challenge for five days in a row, winning them from the Daily Spin, logging onto Facebook, or purchasing them via microtransactions.
Red Star Rings in Sonic Dash are used in to unlock new characters or to buy retries for whenever the player fails a run in a Zone.
Sonic Lost World
In Sonic Lost World, the Red Star Rings made a return appearance in both the Wii U/PC and Nintendo 3DS version of the game. In both these games, they serve as collectibles used to unlock extra content.
In the Wii U/PC version of the game, there are five Red Star Rings in every Zone in every World, except for Hidden World and the Zones available through DLCs. All in all, there is a total of 140 Red Star Rings in the game. This time around, in addition to some of the Red Star Rings requiring the use of Parkour or Color Powers to be reached, the game introduces the bound bell, an object that will turn into a Red Star Ring if rung enough times. Also, when playing a Zone again after collecting a Red Star Ring, the Red Star Ring takes on a faded appearance but can still be collected like before. The Red Star Rings the player has collected in each Zone can be viewed on both the World Map and on the left side of the HUD during Zones. Once all Red Star Rings in a Zone have been found however, that Zone's Red Star Rings at the Zone's entrance on the world map will be replaced with a single Red Star Ring with red laurel wreaths on the sides. Collecting all the Red Star Rings in a World will unlock that World's Chaos Emerald. Collect all seven Chaos Emeralds, and Sonic will be able to turn into Super Sonic in most Zones.
A Red Star Ring radar.
In the Wii U/PC version of Sonic Lost World, there is a feature that makes locating the Red Star Rings easier: a round yellow and green radar with a pink antenna on the top that can be earned by completing certain missions for Omochao. Once obtained, this radar will be stored away for the player to use later in the Zones. During these Zones, the player can look up the Item Bag and select the radar to activate it. It will then cause Sonic to emit red ripples when he gets close to a Red Star Ring.
In the Nintendo 3DS version of the game, there are five Red Star Rings in every World's Zone, except for the boss battles, Windy Hill Tutorial, and all of Lava Mountain's Zones. All in all, there is a total of 120 Red Star Rings in the game. Unlike their Wii U/PC counterparts though, the Red Star Rings here do not reappear in the Zones after they have been collected. The Red Star Rings the player has collected in each Zone can be viewed on the touchscreen during Zones. Every time the player collects all the Red Star Rings in a World, they will unlock an Extra Zone in that World where the player can collect additional Red Star Rings. After collecting every Red Star Ring from each Extra Zone, Lava Mountain 's Extra Zone, which features a more difficult version of the game's final boss, will be unlocked.
Sonic Runners
A campaign in Sonic Runners giving away free Red Star Rings.
In Sonic Runners, the ring is named Red Star Ring once again. In this game, they serve as the premium currency in the game.
In gameplay, Red Star Rings can be earned in very small bathes during runs or boss fights. In the latter case, they will randomly fall out of Eggman's Egg Mobile during boss battles. The RC Battle Cruiser Buddy even makes more Red Star Rings appear during boss battles when equipped to the playable character. Mostly, however, they can be received through daily bonuses, completing episodes or microtransactions. Occasionally, the game also had campaigns, sometimes in acknowledgement of certain events, that offered the player additional Red Star Rings if they logged in on Sonic Runners within a certain time period or completed certain tasks.
Red Star Rings in Sonic Runners are spend on playing the Premium Roulette to earn Chao and RC Vehicle-based Buddies. They can also be exchanged for Rings. Also, during a run in a stage, the player can continue a run after losing once by paying five Red Star Rings.
Sonic Forces: Speed Battle
In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, the Red Star Rings make another return appearance. In this game, they serve as the game's premium currency.
In gameplay, Red Star Rings can be obtained from Free Chests, which reward three Red Star Rings each, and Season Chests, which reward different Red Star Ring amounts that depend on the Tier the player was in at the end of the season, or be earned by completing certain missions. They can also be purchased via microtransactions.
Red Star Rings in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle are used to purchase Gold Rings, Daily Deals and Loot Chests. They can also be spent to allow the player to change their in-game name or immediately unlock any acquired Victory Chests, bypassing the waiting period for unlocking them. The Red Star Rings cost of unlocking the Victory Chests depends on the type of Chest that is being unlocked:
Type
Red Star Rings required
Silver Chest
20
Gold Chest
40
Platinum Chest
80
Diamond Chest
120
As of version 0.0.4, if there is a Victory Chest currently being unlocked, the Red Star Rings cost required to immediately unlock it will decrease over time.
In Sonic Forces, the ring is once again called the Red Star Ring.[8] In this game, they serve as collectibles used to unlock extra content.
In gameplay, every stage have five Red Star Rings hidden within it, except for those featuring a boss battle. All in all, there is a total of 120 Red Star Rings in the game. Like in the Wii version in Sonic Colors, when playing a stage again after collecting its Red Star Ring, the Red Star Ring takes on a faded appearance but can still be collected like before. The Red Star Rings the player has collected in each stage can be viewed on both the World Map and on the right side of the HUD during stages. Once all Red Star Rings in a stage have been found, a Red Star Ring icon with golden wings will appear next to its stage's Stage Target on the World Map. Collecting specific amounts of Red Star Rings serve as some of the Challenge Missions' objectives; for each of these missions completed, the player will unlock an advanced stage. Also, after collecting all Red Star Rings in a stage, the Number Rings will appear in said stage during the next playthrough, which the player can then collect in order to unlock the Silver Moon Rings.
Unlike normal Power Rings, the Red Star Rings have much higher energy outputs, even allowing Nicole to transform into Overclocked Nicole. However, overusing them can overload machinery.
In the Sonic Boom franchise, Red Star Rings make an appearance in Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom. In this game, they serve as the game's premium currency, much like their mainstream counterparts.
Trivia
In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, when speaking to Rouge in the White Space after receiving a few Red Star Rings, she will say that she is looking for "Teal Star Rings," suggesting that the Red Star Rings may come in multiple colors.
↑Sonic Team (3 November 2011). Sonic Generations. PC. Sega. Area/level: White Space. "Blaze the Cat: A Red Star Ring? We have something like that back in my world, as well."
