Specials, Technology, and the Future

It's a key factor to almost every Sonic game. A few exceptions like the "Adventure " games and Game Gear titles such as "Sonic 2" are few and far between. The Sonic games have always been about speed. Both the game play and the technological base for creating/playing the games yell it out. But one factor remains in most of these games that doesn't necessarily follow with this.

The most powerful component of any Sonic game. The key to victory or defeat. Evils such as Chaos and Dr. Robotnik/Eggman have used it. The one factor of the Sonic franchise that has met with considerable change both in style and story. One thing has remained the same, truly the same, about them. They are "A jewel containing the ultimate power." Chaos emeralds. They may be the single most important item, aside from rings, in any Sonic game. They have probably undergone the most changes out of any item in the series. Going from a base of 6 chaos emeralds to 7. Different versions have arisen such as the "Time Stones." To make things more interesting, "Super Emeralds" were introduced when Sonic 3 was combined with Sonic & Knuckles. Changing from just a powerful jewel to a keystone that is fueled by and channels the energy of one's own self, that is their heart. But what about the acquisition of Chaos emeralds?

Despite the changes in story style for these mystic tools another factor is the point of this article. They're never in the same place. For almost 15 years, Sonic games have continued growing. Changing into ever more colorful and dynamic challenges of speed and coordination. Little kids who bumped their heads on a bunk bed following Sonic as they made him jump have either moved on or gotten more interested (people like myself); while new children gain an interest in the Sonic games one thing stays the same. The emerald challenges cause lasting intrigue and a complex play style that usually differs from the actual game. True "Special Stages" themselves, such as the ones in S3&K, seem to be gone for now.

Sonic 1 used a special stage that hasn't truly been used since. The crazy maze-map of tossing and turning walls with flashing lights first grabbed people's attention. From there they moved onto the half-pipe speed challenge in Sonic 2. Sonic 3 & Knuckles had one of the most interesting play styles. A massive world that you speed over, avoiding obstacles in order to grab a specific number of rings. It was from these three basic styles that others would shoot off. Most of the off-shoots sprang from Sonic 2 and S3&K. The Sonic 1 style special stages were mainly lost. On occasion, new styles were added. Sonic 2 on Game Gear merely had the emeralds lying around. Sonic Triple Trouble used a different system with different challenges for each emerald. Slightly confusing but one of these challenges can still be seen today. The bi-plane mode where Sonic scrambles into the sky to nab rings and, hopefully, a chaos emerald. This style has been used in all three Sonic Advance games. Sonic Team has indeed tried to come up with original stages each time. The Adventure games as well as "Sonic Battle" merely had them acquired through the storyline. This removed the special stages completely. Sonic R merely included the emeralds in the levels.

Sonic Team has had a knack for reconfiguring previous styles. The most used form has been that of Sonic 2. Sonic 3D blast used a very basic form for the Genesis version. The computer version actually included the half-pipe scheme. Sonic Heroes leapt back towards the roots of Sonic 2 with their speed race special stage. Although the goal to win was different, the basic idea was still there. Sonic Rush chose the half-pipe form as well. To add intrigue, the use of the touchpad and certain other factors such as badniks in the special stage created different challenges. The changes in special stages are now a must for Sonic games. The fact that the emerald stages are usually different, with some exceptions like Sonic 3 matching Sonic & Knuckles, has become incorporated with the gaming style that is Sonic. These special stages, or emerald stages, have been maintained throughout the 15 years "Sonic" has existed. They are as commonplace as super sneakers, rings, lives and everything in a Sonic game.

With this said it's interesting to attempt to see the future. The advent of the much celebrated 15^th anniversary game may introduce a new format of special stage. One idea is that, since it is a re-establishment of the Sonic franchise, it will return to its roots and hide the emeralds within a rotating maze. This is unlikely as such a thing in 3D would be a major headache. To recreate or merely return to the basic world in S3&K would be interesting. Especially since those levels were already in isometric 3D. The most likely event, of course, is another return to the most successful format so far. The behind view half-pipe race so far holds the most likely option. However it is done this will be a major factor, although less noticeable, to the newest addition to the Sonic game series.

New games will come. "Sonic Riders," "Sonic Riders 2" and "Sonic the Hedgehog" will currently control the fate of the post next-gen series. At the moment, only one of these titles will most likely contain emerald stages the emeralds themselves will more than likely be a factor for all of them. The stages will continue to grow and change. Hopefully a new myriad array of colors, lights, challenges, and intense game play will be backed up by special stages that reflect what they accompany. These stages are the single most customizable thing aside from the levels themselves. Careful creation and planning can aid or inhibit the future of what some believe to be the best video game series currently being produced.