Dr. Crusher Presents: The 30 Days of Sonic the Hedgehog (sponsored by PowerVerte)-Fin, PAGE 150

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Hmm, this is going to be a tough one...

 

 

5: Sonic Heroes' Orb-tactular Pipe: I've always had a fondness for the pipe/half-pipe stages (even if they are overused) and Heroes has one of my favorite kinds. I love going through them, collecting the spheres and boosting through the stage. Fun.

 

4: Sonic Rush's 'Gonna Change My Ways' Half-Pipe: I'll just get one thing straight here; the music in these stages is awesome. Really, really awesome. And I love doing the tricks in these levels.

 

3: Sonic 3's Gumball Goodness Machine: Thanks Nepenthe for making me remember these existed. And for making me remember how awesome these were. I mean, free elemental shield? I'm game.

 

2: Sonic 2's Veteran Half-Pipe: The original half-pipe and still my favorite. Even if Tails does screw you over all the time. But man, that MUSIC. <3

 

1: Sonic 1's Acid Trip: Okay, I have to ask; SEGA, what was with the background? I mean, birds and fish? The hell? ;P But man if this stage isn't fun to play around in. These are also one of the only stages I've actually gotten all the emeralds from. So, yay.

[SlickEvan]

DAY 2: Top 5 special stages

 

Dun- dunnnn.

 

This will be tough but here we go!

 

1. Blue Spheres:  By far the easiest yet really fun special stages! I like the concept and more strategy based take on getting chaos emeralds. Though the half-pipe may be iconic but this stays fun and makes getting chaos emeralds still feel satisfying.

 

2. Heroes Full-pipe:  I really dig the concept and it didn't feel too bad to me. It was still bollocks, but I found it a really fun take especially since you get to like speed through it, literally trying to race to the emerald.

 

3. Generations 3DS:  I never played this one but by the looks of it, it makes the Heroes one much better and I loved the Heroes one in the first place so yeah this seems like it takes the cake.

 

4. Knuckles Lost World:  Lol, I really like this concept and even being a half-pipe iteration it stands out so good I had to like it. I have only barely touched it but it was still a seemingly fun thing!

 

5. Sonic 3D Blast Saturn:  I haven't played it but it looks so fun and it even has rolling and some slight traces of physics tat make it seem like you're on an adventure IN the stage. I know all my favorites have been half-pipe takes, but I really like the aesthetic and even the models look great!

 

I know it's only five so some others I like are:

Sonic 1 and Sonic Advance 2 and The Game Land from Colors, which are all good takes on emerald collecting but unfortunately couldn't make it onto my list.

 

Also this Omochao thing is actually really cool =P Should make it give more SSMB hints xD. He's ;ess annoying than when he first started showing up but why does he appear so often!

 

[Fletch]

Day 2: Top 5 Special Stages

Completed 1/30 Challenges

 

*Open the envelope* Number one favorite Special Stage is...not Blue Spheres?! PFT!!! Get out of here Blue Spheres!

1. Sonic CD Special Stages (UFO CHASE!)
I love you (please marry me someday?) but I love Sonic CD special stages the most. The Special Stages in Sonic CD are just another reason as to why I love this game to death. The Special Stages are so fun! I also love the music played for both soundtracks. The backgrounds are also quite nice. 

*Robotnik is ALWAYS watching you, blue hedgehog!* 
 

2. Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Blue Spheres, Baby!)

I still love you Blue Spheres. Even though I enjoy CD's more that certainly doesn't mean you aren't good! Blue Spheres, Blue Spheres, Blue Spheres... Something so simple as collecting the Blue Spheres can easily turn into an addicting challenge... Also, don't get me started on that glorious music. You're lying to me, the world, and yourself if you tell me you never start jamming and slamming to that music. 

 

So... Uhh... Those were the two Special Stages that I can hands down say I love and can place accordingly. The other three Special Stages I enjoy, but can't really place them in any spots. 

Sonic Lost World 3DS (Color Spheres...with Motion Controls!)

Yeah, I love these Special Stages. I'm sorry, but whenever I played them while standing up and moved around, I never got dizzy. Heck, I was at my college library standing up and turning around like a fool to try and complete them. (Yes, there was a kid who was standing in front of me trying to get pass me since I was blocking his way to get through. Yes, that was embarrassing). It would have been better if these were controlled with the circle pad, but for what it's worth in the end, I found the motion controls to be completely responsive. Also, the music. The music for these Special Stages is the absolute favorite song in Sonic Lost World. 

 

Sonic Advance 3 (We're Flying High!) 

I'll get it out the way. Yes, the music is fantastic and I love it. There. Anyways, I found this one to easily be the best Special Stages in the Advance trilogy. I just really didn't have much trouble trying to enter these and didn't have too much trouble getting the Chaos Emeralds. Though, I will admit that Special Stage 7 up'd the difficulty so much to the point where I just can't get that last Chaos Emerald. Hot diggity dog, what went wrong. 

 

Sonic The Hedgehog (Get Dizzy In 1991!)

I love looking at those fishes and birds in the backgrounds. I never did mind going through a maze to get to the Chaos Emeralds. Yes, the music was great. Actually... The music really did fit the Special Stages. You're in some type of dizzy maze with crazy looking things and whatnot... 

 

Honorable Mention: Sonic Rush (It's A New Day!)

Throwing it out there, but Sonic Rush Special Stage music is fantastic. *Start singing the song*

Completed 2/30 Challenges 

[jords]

Hey, I missed day 1 question, I hope its not too late to join in this challenge.

Day 1: favorite Badnik.

If its not too late my favorite badnik is the Egg pawn. They are everywhere! There simple design was always nice to see. Them in sonic colors felt like it was actually run by eggman and his robots. You would see them in costumes or they are holding up signs.

Day 2: My Top 5 special stages (not in order)

1: Sonic heroes

These special stages were always a joy to play in. Yet it was crazy hard.(back when I was smaller) What made me like it was the fast pace action that you had to keep to reach the emerald by collecting the colorful balls, and I get that same good feeling as I was collecting rings. The music was so good, it had to be one of my favorite special stage theme. It was a bit frustrating trying to get the last emeralds because those levels was filled with bombs and you pretty much had to do a perfect run, but the controls felt okay to me at the time so I never think it was the controls which messed me up. Hopefully something like this will come again.

2: Sonic 2

I liked the looks of the stages, the music was great, and collecting the rings in these special stages was always fun. But the difficult stages you do not wanna have tails beside you. He will make you loose your rings. But after awhile It was not really a problem having tails behind you. Most of the time he barely collects any rings and usually I got sonic getting enough rings to pass on his own. Anyways its really cool, difficulty is not too harsh and it plays well.

3: Sonic 3 Collect the blue spheres.

I think this is my favorite classic special stage, but the way it plays works so well, and it always had me on the edge of my seat once your character gets faster and its much harder to react. I liked that when you get close to finishing collecting all blue sphere the game speeds up so its not easy throughout the level.

4: Sonic colors game land.

The game land had some good level design, even though most of it was pretty simple. I just play it by myself, 2 player was frustrating and annoying. Its never good to have two sonics in one screen. But it was pretty good. Using the color powers in different ways that was not in the original levels. Once you beat all the game land levels, you unlock super sonic and super sonic in sonic colors is super! So it was worth playing all the levels.

5: Sonic & knuckles the jack pot machine.

This one has you collecting rings until you hit an exit block. And the squares you touch will eventually turn into an exit block. I like the feeling of "survive as long as you can" it always makes me wanna go far and collect so many rings, well until it reaches 999, but I always like the jack pot machines in sonic games and this special stage fits perfect.

[JezMM]

Man I was mulling over Day 1 for so long it's Day 2 already.

 

 

Day 1: Favourite Badnik

 

I guess I'll have to go with the Egg Fighters.  I find their design more fun than Egg Pawns, dunno why.  I think their sturdier look makes them way more fun to smash down, whereas Egg Pawns always felt somehow softer and sturdier, probably due to the game feel of the games they appeared in.

 

A close second would be Silver Sonic from Sonic 2 8-bit.  He had such a neat "bleep blorp" robot design, a more fun kinda clunkiness as oppose to the 16-bit versions proper intimidating big, sturdy clunkiness.

 

 

Day 2: Top 5 Special Stages

 

5. Sonic 3 & Knuckles

I admit, a lot of my love for this one is aesthetics.  Just that music is so gorgeous.  I find them a little hard and eye-fucking at times though, the limited distance makes it quite tricky to learn the stages and keep your bearings when you're running around finding those last few you missed.  The difficulty of finding entrances in S&K is my main beef, as the designs in that half of Sonic 3 are pretty brutal to not let you attempt many times in a row and get the stage design down in your head.  Honestly this is SUPER closely tied with Sonic CD because I like that the latter doesn't really require much in the way of memorisation.

 

4. Sonic Chaos

Okay, they aren't particularly great but I like the idea of Special Stages using the main game engine but each one being a mini level focused on a particular gimmick you usually only interact with briefly in the main stage designs.  Like "hey you're already familiar with this concept, now we'll truly challenge you with it in a way that would seem over the top for a segment of a regular level".

 

3. Sonic 1

In relation to the above, I hold great respect for the originals because they're the only ones to use the regular game engine with a unique new spin (no pun intended) on it.  Every other game basically says "hey master this minigame that isn't related to the regular gameplay at all", but that isn't the case with Sonic 1.

 

2. Sonic Rush

Definitely the definitive version of ring collection tube special stage type.  The responsiveness of sliding Sonic around with the touch screen feels great and all the little extra challenges and gimmicks are fun.

 

1. Sonic Colours DS

Of course, since it uses the engine of Rush's Special Stages I'm happy already, but, I really dig the idea of doing laps around a course where your performance on one lap can affect another - learn the patterns and avoid doing stuff that'll make your subsequent laps harder.  I wish we could see this concept developed further, and I'm a little sad that these special stages were generally very easy, I only recall 6 and 7 testing me, and not much.

 

 

 

Honourable Mention to Sonic Lost World 3DS which I genuinely had fun with once I embraced the gyro and played standing in the middle of the room, swinging my whole person around.  Much like the touch screen controls of Rush and Colours, controlling a Sonic who is as fast and responsive as you are is very satisfying.  Shame they're so inconvenient and cumbersome to play sitting down.

[Mania Pipe]

Favorite Special Stage huh?

 

Well here goes...

 

Sonic 3&K:

I love the Blue Sphere Special Stage to death. Going through the map in a 3D plane to find the spheres to get the Chaos Emerald, Rings if you're going for a Perfect. The further Special Stages you enter,  the challenge begins to increase. I love playng it over and over just so I can experience the fun times I had during my youth. I also really love the Blue Spheres’ theme, can’t get enough of it!

 

Sonic the Hedgehog 1: 

The original Sonic 1’s labyrinth maze with the weird ass bird & fish in the background. I find the theme quite relaxing to listen while I’m frantically find the path to the area where the Chaos Emerald is at. I consider this one of the challenging Special Stages.

 

Sonic Heroes:

Some people might hate it, but I actually have fun with this special stage. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Special Stage in 3D (the first being Sonic 3&K, Sonic 3D Blast Saturn/Genesis and Knuckles Chaotix) Love dashing through the tubular stage collecting orbs to catch the Chaos Emerald. I also love the Special Stage music, both the Bonus and Emerald challenge.

 

Sonic Advance 1: 

Falling from the sky on a snowboard while collecting Rings to get the Chaos Emerald was an awesome Special Stage for me back in 2001 and it still is today. I do occasionally go back to replay it and see if I can do any better that what I did back then.

 

Sonic Advance 3:

This was another special stage in the Sonic Advance series that I actually liked playing through. Riding the Tornado through the stage, collecting rings with that awesome special stage theme rockin’ in the background as flying at high speed was just great.

[Splash the Otter]

Listed from least to most favorite, my Top 5 Special Stages are as follows:

 

Sonic 1's Warp of Confusion

Even though I'm terrible at them, these were always one of the prettiest stages in my opinion. The birds, the fish, the bright colors...oh, and the music really helped in giving it an "otherworldly" feel. And of course, how many stages can say they were inspired by food poisoning?

 

Sonic CD's UFO Fields

Another kind of special stage I'm not very good at, but it's definitely one of the more creative ones. I love how each stage has a unique background, making it look like you're actually somewhere on Miracle Planet.  I think these stages would be great in a 3d game.

 

Sonic 2's Half-Pipes (and derivatives)

I don't care if they're overused, or if Tails is known for being bad at them, the half-pipe stages in Sonic 2 have always been one of my favorites. I have this headcanon that they're actually used for travel, kind of like hyperspace. I count the tubes in Heroes and Generations (which I also really like) as a variation of this kind of stage.

 

Sonic Triple Trouble's Emerald Maze

What I love about these stages is the way they look like shrines of some sort, with the emeralds on a pedestal at the very end. And of course, these are the stages that introduced Fang, one of the coolest characters in the whole series!

 

Sonic Colors' Game Land

This is my absolute favorite type of special stage, because of how the basic gameplay doesn't change at all. It's essentially what you get when a special stage is an actual zone in the game, which I think is really cool. I wouldn't mind seeing something like this used in future games.

[SIXTH-RATE SOMA]

Day 2: Special Stages, Which Are the Best of, Five of Which Being

Well well well, now that I have a borrowed laptop I can finally dig into these.

What can one say about Special Stages? They're special. They're stages. Why they've even got Sonic on them occasionally! No doubt this is a bit much to take in, but don't worry. I've got some of Soma's pattened CGI state-of-art demonstration slides here with me as a guide for you on this magical journey. I realise this might be just as mind-blowing, but you can't scramble a few eggs under the bridge without a chicken crossing the road, as they say. Also, most of these are gonna read like first impressions, because geez I suck at Sonic games and Special Stages especially. Ahem. Now, without further ado, clocking in at #1 is:

#1: Sonic 2

Yeah, I know it's the standard. Yeah, I know other games ripped this off. Yeah I know Tails is a little jerkweed. But of all the special stages I've gotten th chance to play, this one feels this most Sonic, y'know? Just crusin through space with your pal, and nothing but the road ahead to care about. There's a reason most of the special stages that followed copied this template, because it was just so darn good geez gosh consarnit

Coming in at #2 is the ever illustrious...

Sonic 3&K

Blue Sphere is an easy second pick, largely because of just how right it gets things done. Fast-paced gamplay? Check. Tough, but without stooping to the faux "computer screwed me over" sort of difficulty? Check. Blue? Mostly check. Heck, Tails doesn't even interfere with this one if you take him along! He just shuts his mouth and follows orders on pain of death, like all good children. In fact, the only real problem with this one is that it gets really, really tough the further you go. Controller-throwing-at-your-brother-in-the-middle-of-him-saying-some-stupid-quip level tough.

Following that masterpiece at number #3 is...

Sonic 1

This one is uh, well. ...It's Sonic 1's special stage. Somewhere between skill-based and luck-based sits this little mini-game, and holy moly does the second part bring things down. It's a sort of jump-to-the-emerald rotating break-out thing, but that's not the main attraction. The main attraction is that bleepity bloop bugger casino slot. I get that it's a gamble, I get that it's there for fun. But it activates every time you go near the thing, and man if it cares whether you mean to or not! Lotsa rings lost just trying to get a feel for the stages, and the slots were basically an anti-incentive to get me to try again and improve. Good mini-game, but can be severely user-unfriendly.

Picking up the pace at #4, iiiiiit's...

Sonic CD

Holy crap was this one cool looking. Sonic in 3D! Space aliens!! Jumping!!! But where the other games were at least somewhat intuitive (grab enough rings to get the thing, find the emerald), this one was most certainly not. How do I go around? Do I want to hit the space aliens or am I trying to keep something from them or like make friends with them or what. For what it's worth it controls nicely enough, but honestly even the prospect of fighting space aliens from space wasn't doing it for me. Good game, even more user-unfriendly. Or at least the original was, dunno about the remake.

Last but certainly least is #5...

Sonic Heroes

Yeah I dunno I can't remember playing any other special stages

------------------

In conclusion, I know I've judge a few of these mini-games prematurely. Harshly even. But I think their context in the wider game is important, and I can only say what I know first-hand. Again, take these more as first impressions and less like absolute law.

[Dr. Crusher]

By the way guys, anyone else who talks shit about Tails is taking a trip to... Crushatraz. Yeah. There.

[redhellc]

Ok so top 5 specials stages...well I'm not a big fan of them overall but I can choose a top 5.

 

Number 5: Sonic 4 episode 2, yes I know it's a remake of the Sonic 2 one. But I like the concept of the tubes and I can actually see what's coming to me, unlike the one from 2. It also adds a new mechanic, that I think it works fine. Finally the pace of this one seems a little faster and the retry option gives it a boost.

 

Number 4: Sonic Advance, if there is something that the advance series did was different kinds of specials stages, that doesn't mean they were all good. But the first game one has a special place in my heart for being the first special stage I ever tried. Besides you are on a snowboard flying through the air, I just wish the controls weren't so finicky.

 

Number 3: Sonic CD, specially in the remastered version. It was one of the few that even being difficult I had fun playing it. I like how sonic controls and the new version makes it easier to hit the UFO's, which makes it even better. The scenarios are also cool and bizarre at the same time.   

 

Number 2: Sonic 3 and Knuckles, yup the only of the original trilogy that I actually like, since they are easy to pick up, are fun and have that same vibe of a special stage. The way that you get them is also cool, with various rings you can find on the stages.

 

Number 1: Sonic Rush, like I said I like the tubes ones, when they work. And for me the rush ones are better of them all. Easy to pick up, can actually see whats coming to you, are easily accessible, and the controls using the stylus, besides fitting the gameplay style, work really well. I really have fun when I'm playing these ones.

 

 

So yeah while I don't like special stages in general these are the few I can tolerate and like.  

[Aero]

So I'm a day late, but better late than never I suppose. I should post more anyway.

 

Nonetheless...

 

Day 1: Favorite Badnik

 

Yeah, I went there. Sure, slicers were the most annoying things ever, but I suppose that's the genius behind them. Eggman was actually pretty successful in, at the very least, annoying Sonic half to death. also they remind me of the Pokemon Snivy and Scyther

 

Day 2: Top 5 special stages

 

Well, I haven't played/completed a terrible amount of Sonic games (screw you Advance 3 and your tedious requirements), but at least I've played enough to make this list.

 

#5: Sonic Colors DS

Probably the easiest special stages in my opinion. Nonetheless, they're still pretty enjoyable to come back to every now and then.

 

#4: Sonic 2

Ah yes, the halfpipe special stage that started it all. Fun, if not frustrating. Tails, you may be my favorite Sonic character, but STOP RUNNING INTO THOSE BOMBS.

 

#3: Sonic Rush

Similar to the previous two I mentioned in terms of the running lel i made a pun halfpipe theme, Sonic Rush's special stages are entertaining. At least, up until about the last two Emeralds, but you gotta love that music!

 

#2: Blue Sphere

Easily one of the most memorable special stages next to the classic halfpipe, it's really fun when you get the hang of it. It gets more challenging as it speeds up, making for some precise jumps, but I'd consider it part of the fun. Also, Tails can follow you and not mess you up!

 

#1: Sonic Rush Adventure

A pretty original special stage concept, if I do say so myself. Racing a robot on a waterbike? Well, it works, and it really puts you on edge during the latter races, with Johnny constantly sending missiles your way to slow you down a lot. Almost gives me an adrenaline rush trying to catch up with him. Not to mention, Johnny has a pretty cool design.

[Dr. Crusher]

Tails, you may be my favorite Sonic character, but STOP RUNNING INTO THOSE BOMBS.

 

Also, Tails can follow you and not mess you up!

 

Looks like someone's on their way to Crushatraz.

[Aero]

Looks like someone's on their way to Crushatraz.

 

I'm scared. D: I said he was my favorite character.

 

no seriously i don't know what you're referencing

[The drunkard from space!]

Hmm... My top five Special Stages huh?

 

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. These special stages are my top favorite mostly because I can finish these the easiest. That and we've never quite had special stages like these since which is a shame because they're so unique!

2. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 & Knuckles/Sonic 3D Blast (Saturn)/Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II. These were bound to make it on my list regardless so might as well get them out of the way. They're so psychedelic and fast paced one can't help but enjoy them! 

3. Sonic CD. These special stages are trippy as HELL! Much more than Sonic 2's. Sonic smashing U.F.O's to constantly changing backgrounds with acid colors? Who thought up these stages! These are rather difficult sure but I've never felt cheated out of them if I lost.

 

4. Sonic the Hedgehog 1/Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. There's a pleasant, calming, tense atmosphere to these stages that I'll try my best to explain. You're bouncing around this simple maze with calming music along side it to try to keep you level headed but with all those annoying bouncing bumpers and clear bumpers all around you, keeping you from your goal (Chaos Emeralds obviously XD), things are bound to get quite stressful! Again I've never really feel like I've been cheated out of the Chaos Emerald despite how cheap the bouncing bumpers placement can be.

5. Sonic 3D Blast (Genesis). These are honestly rather boring but they're better than Sonic Heroes special stages. The reason I even included this one at all is because I had to include five special stages. I guess this one has a bit of a charm to them. The stages are all really simple and it's not like they're bad by any means. Fun fact: Did you know the music used for these special stages are remixed from another SEGA title? 

[Dr. Crusher]

no seriously i don't know what you're referencing

 

Check the previous page, son. Particularly near the bottom, son.

 

You will obey me, son. Yes you will, son.

[Shane]

My favourite special stages?

 

My top favourite is probably Blue Sphere, preferably the ones with fair difficulty. Next to that is Rush Adventure as I loved the way it was integrated into the game. After that, Sonic 1's, mostly due to the calming atmosphere. Sonic 3D Blast Saturn is fourth due to it being the best halfpipe special stage, and Sonic 2's comes in fifth due to nostalgia.

[Indigo Rush]

By the way guys, anyone else who talks shit about Tails is taking a trip to... Crushatraz. Yeah. There.

 

>:I  I'mma do it anyway.

 

Zone 2: Top 5 Special Stages

 

5. Sonic 1:

 

 

 

I don't expect to see too many people put this one in their top 5, but I have to give kudos to the original Special Stage from Sonic 1. Pitting you in a rotating maze of psychedelic wonder, you need to guide Sonic to the Chaos Emerald in one piece. Hitting those "R" orbs turn the stage the other way. Hitting the "Up" and "Down" orbs speeds up and slows down the rotation. Hitting the star orbs bounce you into the other direction. Hitting the colored crystals is necessary to progress. There are fish and birds in the background.

 

It's a trip, man. And the music is perfect for the situation.

 

The reason it's so low on the list though is because it can be frustrating to navigate. This is definitely not a beginner friendly gameplay mechanic, but once you get used to it it's a much better experience.

 

Also, it's low on the list because those red orbs that say "Goal" are clearly lying jerk-weasels who's only "goal" is to lure innocent beginners away from the Chaos Emeralds. Not cool, man.

 

4. Sonic 2:

 

 

Low on the list because of this crap. Otherwise, the Sonic 2 Special Stages are pretty fun, and emphasize memorization and cat-like reflexes. It's pretty straight forward: collect the rings and avoid the bombs. Get as many as you can and you earn the Chaos Emerald! Fun times.

 

There's a good sense of speed and in spite of the Tails jokes, it's not really his fault - he's just collecting the rings you missed anyway.

 

Moving on...

 

3. Knuckles Chaotix

 

 

Now here's a weird one.

 

I was able to play through Knuckles Chaotix thanks to the prompting of the Christmas/New Year badge contest, and I have to say that the best parts of Knuckles Chaotix come from the Special Stages.

 

The premise involves collecting blue spheres to progress rather than rings, which is different from what you usually see in the Special Stages, and the main trap in this aren't bombs or spikes, but bottomless pits. Collecting rings adds to your time, so there's a sense of urgency about it. The main draw though is how the walls and ceilings have their own center of gravity, and each time you complete a lap, you can ride on different sides to find the blue spheres you missed. You go around a hexagonal tube in a way that resembles Mario Galaxy or Sonic Lost World if they ran on Mode 7.

 

Once you get past the repetitive and grating music, the gameplay is actually very creative and trippy. Easily a hidden gem in the series.

 

2. Sonic Rush and Sonic Colors DS

 

 

The DS Sonic platformers are many things. Fast, furious and frustrating come to mind.

 

But the Special Stages for both? Fun.

 

I've grouped the two of them together because of their similarities. You can say that they ride off of the success of Sonic 2's half-pipe premise, but I think that does quite a disservice to them. For starters, you control Sonic with the touch screen, which in addition to being something new and innovative at the time (not so much for Colors DS, but bear with me), but the silky smooth sliding and how snappy Sonic reacts to it is a feeling that few Special Stages can properly convey.

 

In the Rush Special Stages, it's almost exactly the same as Sonic 2's, but with touch screens and some on-screen QTEs on occasion. These keep you on your toes and actually give you a bit of leeway in helping you make up for a trail of rings you may have missed or lost upon hitting a bomb. And they get much more brutal as the game goes on, which is just how a Special Stage should be.

 

Sonic Colors DS's Special Stages are kind of their own thing. Yes, you are on a half-pipe with touch controls as well, but there are no rings to collect, which breaks that age-old bonus level tradition in Sonic lore. Instead, you collect red, blue and yellow colored orbs. The challenge, however, is to only collect the color they tell you to collect. It's pretty easy and forgiving early on, but soon you'll realize that these levels can be just as brutal.

 

Sometimes you accidentally collect the wrong color, but you don't get penalized immediately. Instead, you face the consequences when you realize that you're suddenly low on the other color and won't have enough to progress to the next lap. It's like some weird psychological game where everything you collect is technically good, but you need to wait until the right time to grab it, otherwise you'll fail. In some cases, there are launchers that force you into a trail of orbs, but you darn well better watch which launcher you run into, otherwise it could royally screw up your next run! It's all about thinking ahead with Colors DS.

 

Honorable Mention:

 

Sonic 3D Blast (Saturn)

 

I'll be honest: the only reason I didn't put this at number 1 and knock Sonic 1 off of the list is because I've never owned the Saturn version of Sonic 3D Blast (much less the console itself, but I digress). 3D Blast is interesting with it's bonus stages, actually. The Genesis version has it's own crappy version, and even the PC version had it's own take on the half-pipe Special Stage!

 

But if you want reasons as to why the 3D Blast version is objectively the best thing ever, check Azoo's post.

 

So we've reached the last one! ...the winner is!

 

1. Sonic 3 & Knuckles

 

 

Pure fun.

Pure strategy.

Pure... pureness.

 

The Special Stages in Sonic 3 & Knuckles are Tetris-levels of addiction, and that's awesome. You collect the Blue Spheres, avoid the Red Spheres, bounce on the Yellow Spheres, and...

 

 

Those guys. But the strategy behind Blue Spheres is how you get the all coveted "PERFECT" rank:

 

Collect all of the rings. How? Make boxes outside of the Blue Spheres and collect the rings inside of them, take the risk and jump over Red Spheres while you're on a fixed forward motion. It was a mixture of strategy, memorization and skill if you wanted those Perfect ranks, and the 1ups that came with them. It's a very fun, very risky Special Stage.

 

Oh, and if that wasn't enough, the speed increases with each looping of the music track. That's brutal, man.

 

I love it.

 

Just another reason why Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the unquestionable KING of the Sonic series.

[Rusty Spy]

Day 2: Top 5 Special Stages

 

5) Sonic Advance: Fun theme, simple yet challenging design, and a frustrating, yet satisfying method of entry. But I can't imagine anyone playing this and finding the special spring in each stage without a guide. It was such a bitch finding them that I had to draw a map to figure out how to navigate to them. As for the actual special stage, they're fun enough that I don't mind replaying them over, but still hard enough that they continue to be a challenge after multiple playthroughs.

 

4) Sonic Rush: I haven't played Rush in a long time and can't remember them that much to make a proper judgement on which I like more, but I do remember them being very similar to Ep 2's, but the touchscreen controls made playing them so much more satisfying. It also has one of the few songs from that game I actually LIKE.

 

3) Sonic 4: Episode 2: When it comes to the special stages, I always like the half-pipe styled ones the most, and I enjoyed having Tails as a partner again in Ep. 2. While to others he's a complete nuisance, I've oddly grown fond of him for that wild card factor, though that doesn't stop him from pissing me off sometimes.

 

Truth betold I'd put this and Sonic Rush on the same number, but I couldn't think of any enough special stages I particularly enjoyed.

 

2) Sonic Rush Adventure: Probably the only Special Stages I ever returned to play when I was bored, simply because the waterbike sections were the most fun part of that game. Only thing that was bothersome was how you had to sail all the way out to sea to encounter Johnny; and in the less fun ships for the later, more far away challenges.

 

1) Sonic Colors (Wii): I nearly forgot about Sonic's Game Land, but when it comes to Special Stages, this game had the most enjoyable ones because they were more bonus stages that played the same as the regular game, and you could even play them in co-op. It's the most simple in execution but it's definitely the most appealing.

[T-Min]

Day 2: Top Five Favorite Special Stages

 

*ahem*

 

NUMBER FIVE!

SONIC HEROES

 

I may not be much a fan of this game, but I do enjoy these special stages...in theory, at least. Yes, this is indeed where the game's at times horrifyingly unpolished nature really shows. There are times that the physics can just completely bug out and leave you trapped at the top of the pipe. There are times that you can just get tripped up by some seemingly invisible speedbump and that can cost you some precious time. And yet...I dunno, I find these stages quite fun. I like the idea - it's like this really weird combination of the sphere collecting from S3&K and the half-pipe from Sonic 2, with a boost mechanic and level-up that can be pretty satisfying even if hard to use when you don't know what you're doing. I really like the aesthetics, too. I dunno, it just looks neat. It also stands out as being the only special stage in a 3-D Sonic game, so that's cool, too. Not much else to say. They're definitely flawed, but I enjoy these special stages.

 

NUMBER FOUR!

SONIC 2

 

Easily the most iconic of the series, these special stages are pretty great. While I'm getting pretty tired of seeing them cloned everywhere, the burden of blame does not lie in their original appearance. Reflex-based, super challenging, and overall just plain fun, there's not really much else to say. Only problem is that Tails is awful and he sucks here.

 

NUMBER THREE!

KNUCKLES CHAOTIX

 

Bit of a unique one here. Knuckles Chaotix may have been pretty...well...bad, but I've always thought the special stages were so...original. They just stand out so much out of all of the games. I called the special stages of Sonic Heroes kind of a combination of the spheres of Sonic 3 and the half-pipe of Sonic 2, but that actually describes this game a lot more accurately. Except it's not a half-pipe, more like a hexagon whose gravity shifts with your position while you collect Blue Spheres and the rings increase your time. They get quite challenging towards the end, too. The only problem I can think of is that they're a bit slower than might be ideal, but still, they're really good and I wouldn't mind seeing them show up again, for however likely that might be. Then again, Honeycomb Highway is a thing, I suppose.

 

NUMBER TWO!

SONIC RUSH

 

Mm-mm-mmm. Always loved these. Basically the half-pipe stages in theory, but you control Sonic with the touch screen and it works a lot better than you would expect. Not sure what else to say. It's awesome stuff.

 

NUMBER ONE!

SONIC 3 & KNUCKLES

 

Generic answer, I know, but man, I love these stages. It's...not even something I can really place, they're just...perfect somehow. I know that sounds like a cop-out, so I guess I'll try to describe what makes them awesome. They're so simple and accessible, challenging but never frustrating, and the constantly increasing speed makes the tension mount constantly, combined with the music. And that music's good, too. Either way, it's the icing on the cake of one of the best Sonic games of all time.

[Sean]

Top 5 favorite special stages? I only have one.

 

 

Sonic 1's special stages are honestly the only ones I can find consistently fun and almost always attempt, despite there being no tangible reward. Unlike most others, they don't throw an entirely new game at your face but provide a twist on the existing one. They're the right balance between simple and challenging.

 

For the sake of completion I'll list a few other special stages that I don't find to be complete bullshit, but honestly no other one in the series matches up to the enjoyment I find in the first game.

 

2. Sonic 3/Sonic & Knuckles: I find blue spheres really easy and altogether boring these days, but I'll admit the endless version can be a blast to play with the right mindset and a good playlist.

 

3. Sonic Rush Adventure: I really don't like the Johnny races at all, I just like the waterbike itself.

 

4. Knuckles' Chaotix: They're pretty neat looking I'll give them that. Too bad it's next to impossible to correctly gauge jumps.

 

5. Sonic CD: Holy shit the hitboxes for the UFOs are fucking atrocious. At least the US special stage music soothes the pain.

 

fuck the halfpipes

[Spin Attaxx]

Favourite Special Stages? I suppose the closest one to that would be the first one. It looks pretty and really gets the point across that reality is out for lunch and won't be back until you get that Emerald or hit the not-atually GOAL blocks. Runner up would be Sonic CD because of it's visual design (dem backgrounds man) and unique concept. Even if the UFOs are a pain in the arse to hit.

[Tori Himemiya]

PRESIDENT CROW'S DAY 2 OF SEEKING EMERALDS!

Eh. To be honest, I can barely remember any of the special stages and I don't particularly like them. With that said I'll just mention my favorite special stage then.

Sonic Advance 3!

This is the one I can remember pretty well. I guess I did like it for the sheer crazy that Sonic and friends will do for Chaos Emeralds. If I remember right it gets pretty hard but I just like it just because Sonic or whoever is stuck outside the Tornado 2 to get rings. Its nice I suppose and its my personal favorite.

[RustyRick]

My top 5 special stages? I have very few that I like consistently, but I'll try listing them.


#5: Fish 'n Birds from Sonic 1: Sean gets another supporter! Yeah, I kind of find Sonic 1's special stages enjoyable, but only when you really focus on getting the Chaos Emerald and booking it.  I always find that when I try to be a showoff and go for those rings, I end up hitting those bumpers, and bounce around into the goal sphere. Oh whoopee! I won! I reached the goal--huh? Where's my Chaos Emerald?!

(I bet this was everyone's reaction when they first played the special stage in their lives)

Oh yeah and the nice soothing music was also a plus.

 #4:  Chaotic Corners from Sonic 2:  Okay, well uh...I take a corner and--oh come on, how was I supposed to know those bombs or rings are there when I take the corner? It pops up too quickly for me to react. Screw this.  Sonic 2's special stages were pure framerate frustration.


New #4 spot: Spinning Snowboards from Sonic Advance 1:

Yeah call me a weirdo, but I liked Sonic Advance 1's take on the whole 'collect rings while you move forward constantly in a circular area' much better in that you can move freely all over the area as opposed to the ground, and you have to time your button inputs to get those extra rings at certain spots. Also I liked that touch with the Chao in some special stages that give you a continue if you go out of your way to rescue the little fella.

#3: Random methods from Sonic Chaos (Sonic & Tails)

Okay, I know these aren't really special stages in the sense that it doesn't stick to a unique challenge for getting all the Chaos Emeralds, but I gotta credit Sonic Chaos for at least trying to make every Chaos Emerald challenge actually different all the way through, and they can range from easy to pretty difficult, and I liked that approach for once in a Sonic game where it's not the same kind of special stage but with different layout/more hazards more higher you climb up, but actually something different altogether for every one.

#2: Obligatory Blue Balls madness from Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Yeah yeah you all saw this coming. 'Sonic 3 & Knuckles is already been featured on everybody's top special stage list'.  True, but like Indigo said, I love the sense of strategy and increasing difficulty the longer you stay on the stage. I always love to impede a challenge on myself when playing Blue Sphere to go for the rings when I can still afford going into some giant rings later on because I don't bother going super in most games anyway, and go for that perfect rank, even if I screw up royally, I can deal with it. The game developers must have liked this special stage so much they even made a whole entire mini-game marathon out of it with the lock-on cartridge and Mega Collection-included Blue Sphere sub-game where if you scored perfect on it, you got to move several levels up. It's THE game to play if you want to really keep challenging yourself!

And when I play it when at home, I like to put this music on for added joy:

And the final #1:  Sonic Heroes' special stages.

Okay, controversy abound, but I'll say it up front: Sonic Heroes' 2 versions of the Special Stage idea were pretty creative, even if the controls were sorta wonky.

Act 1: Okay, first off it starts a bit slow, but the gimmicks build up more and more with each special stage in later stages, in that you hit spheres to bounce around, zoom through dash rings, and hit dash panels, and later on you got to move yourself in a circle motion based on momentum to grab the spheres. It was completely optional for extra lives, but it was challenge-inducing and I simply love the music in this. I always fondly remember Sonic Heroes for the Act 1 Special Stage music, and I was glad when it came back in Mario & Sonic for the Olympic games 2010 iteration with Dream Bobsleigh!

As for Act 2, I'll leave you all with this:

Only time Big has proven being useful to the fandom. (Seriously folks, stick to power character instead of speed one, and you're fine.)
 

[Celestia]

Day 2: What are your favourite Emerald Hunting But Not That Emerald Hunting Stages?

 

I don't think I can have a top five Special Stages, since I'm neutral to most of them. But my top two are...
 
1) Blue Spheres in Sonic 3 & Knuckles & Knuckles & Knuckles & Knuckles! This one is one of the few special stages I can say "I'm good at this" instead of "wow, I got really lucky there", which is part of the reason I like it so much. But also, it's pretty fun to me! Also despite being pretty good at it, they can get tough, especially if you let Sonic & friends accelerate for too long...
 
2) Well, I agree with Crusher regarding the half-pipe special stages. The variation in Colours DS is my favourite of the ones based on Sonic 2. It's not as memorization-based as the original, or...whatever words can be used to describe the one in Heroes. It's super fun! And yea, that music. Actually I can't really think of a special stage where I don't like the music, so there ya go.

 

3) Sonic Rush Adventure's Johnny races. They're very unique compared to other Special Stages and they're fun. Even better, it uses an alternative gameplay style that the game already introduced to you that you use to travel the game's world, which is nice. I'd like to see that more often.

 

4) Game Land. Not quite Special Stages by definition, but you complete them to get Chaos Emeralds, so there you go. They're a fun thing on the side and more "Special Stages" that use the game's normal gameplay style could be cool in the future. Also, the music.

 

That's about it. The rest I've played, I just feel neutral about. Except Heroes which is uh...well they're easy, so there's that, but they're so broken that I count 'em as my least favourite. Yeah. Oh, and CD's are just confusing and I can never beat them all, but I find them strangely charming.

[Faseeh]

1. SONIC RUSH ADVENTURE

 

The water bike was especially fun, I just loved playing that minigame and it really made my experience a lot more 'Adventure'y. Now add to that fact that you have a rival, that just becomes insanely cooler. It adds to the pirate and carribean concept too. The gameplay flowed and I loved the interactions with Johnny.

 

2. SONIC RUSH

 

Call me biased but damn the music in this special stage just earns it a place in this list. It's so oozing. The whole gameplay and flow in this special stage just spells out cool to me and I love how the whole trick system in the game takes full form in the special stage.

 

3. SONIC 3 AND KNUCKLES

 

This is just uber fun, I mean this is one of the only special stages from the Classics I've seen any hate for. EVEN I managed to complete them haha. It's quite tricky but it's harmless (...or harmful maybe) fun! I've spent a lot of times on this ball collecting mazes.

 

4. SONIC HEROES

 

Yup, I don't think people expect this. I really loved the music, design and art on this stage. The gameplay too wasn't as bad as people make it out to be and it was never too difficult. Props on this one to Sonic Team!