Capsule

Knuckles breaking a capsule in IceCap Zone

Capsules, otherwise known as Prison EggsMedia:Sonic2 GG US manual.pdf^[1], are where Dr. Eggman stores animals that he's captured. The animals are usually freed by jumping on a button at the top of the capsule. Often found at the end of a Zone, these ubiquitous containers acts as a 'finish line' for the player in that once it is activated, the level ends and the player's score is tallied.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

Capsules appear at the end of each Zone's Act 3, after defeating the boss. They appear in all Zones except Scrap Brain Zone and Final Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)

Capsules appear at the end of each stage's Act 3, after defeating the boss. They appear in all stages except Scrap Brain and Sky Base.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)

In the Master System and Game Gear versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Prison Eggs appear as egg-shaped flying saucers that can be opened with a Spin Attack. Prison Eggs appear at the end of each Zone's Act 3, after defeating the boss. They appear in all Zones except Scrambled Egg Zone and Crystal Egg Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)

Capsules appear at the end of each Zone's Act 2 (or Act 3, for Metropolis Zone), after defeating the boss. They appear in all Zones except Sky Chase Zone, Wing Fortress Zone and Death Egg Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Capsules are shaped like flowers and contain flower seeds. Capsules appear at the end of each Round's Zone 3, after defeating the boss. They appear in all Rounds except Stardust Speedway and Metallic Madness.

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball

A Capsule appears in the Bonus Stage, The March, where it is being guarded by Scratch robots. To succeed, the player must hit the Capsule with the ball repeatedly, until it is completely destroyed, freeing Sonic's friends.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Capsules appear at the end of each Zone's Act 2, after defeating the boss. They appear in all Zones except Launch Base Zone. Some Capsules appear upside down, floating in the air aided by propellers, and the player must activate the release button from underneath.

Sonic & Knuckles

Capsules appear at the end of each Zone's Act 2, after defeating the boss. They appear in all Zones except Hidden Palace Zone, Sky Sanctuary Zone, Death Egg Zone and The Doomsday Zone. Lava Reef Zone's Capsules appears upside down, floating in the air aided by propellers, and the player must activate the release button from underneath.

In Flying Battery Zone, the Doctor's sky ship houses a great number of Capsules which can be popped open during the normal course of the level. As well as captured animals, these Capsules can also contain Rings, Badniks, or even a cunningly-disguised sub-boss. Other capsules are empty, or the button may act as a spring. Early in Sandopolis Zone Act 2 there's a Capsule that houses ghosts (if playing as Knuckles the Capsule has already been opened).

Sonic Adventure

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure

Capsules appear at the end of Act 2 of the first three Zones, after defeating the boss.

Sonic Advance

Capsules appear at the end of each Zone's Act 2, after defeating the boss. They appear in all Zones except Egg Rocket Zone, Cosmic Angel Zone, X-Zone and The Moon Zone.

Sonic Advance 2

Sonic Advance 3

Sonic Advance 3 features a giant Capsule in the Break the Capsule Bonus Stage. Here, the Capsule has multiple activation buttons arrayed over its surface, and pushing them quickly allows the player to score more points and bust open the capsule faster. Freeing the animals quickly rewards the player with a number of extra lives proportional to the speed of completion.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I

Sonic Colours

Capsules, referred to as Prison CapsulesMedia:SonicColours Wii US manual.pdf^[2] or Goal CapsulesMedia:Colours DS EU Manual.pdf^[3], take the appearance of larger, grounded versions of the Capsules used to contain Wisps, and are sometimes used as the goal alongside Goal Rings. Destroying the central part of the Capsule will free the captured Wisps and finish the Act.

Sonic Generations

In Sonic Generations, Capsules appear in two Challenge Acts: one in Seaside Hill and one in Planet Wisp, as part of the main mission where the player must collect a certain number of animals before the time runs out. The design of the Capsules in this game is similar to the original versions, but with an improved and more detailed look.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II

Sonic Lost World

In Sonic Lost World, in addition to Capsules being the goal of a Zone, smaller capsules appear scattered throughout the level, and Sonic can open them to release the animals inside.

Sonic Mania/Sonic Mania Plus

Capsules appear at the end of each Zone's Act 2, after defeating the boss. They appear in all Zones except Titanic Monarch Zone and Angel Island Zone. Some Capsules appear upside down, floating in the air aided by propellers, and the player must activate the release button from underneath.

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, Capsules do not appear in main stages, but only in blue SOS Missions of these same stages, in which the player must save a rental Avatar or animals from being imprisoned in them.

Sonic Superstars

Gallery

References

*Items in the Sonic the Hedgehog* Game Series**
Collectibles	Ring \| Super Ring \| Special Ring \| Rich Ring \| Heal Ring \| Red Star Ring \| Number Ring \| Silver Moon Ring \| Sonic Medal \| Sun Medal \| Moon Medal \| Sun Tablet \| Moon Tablet \| Planet Tablet \| Secret Item \| Red Orbs \| Blue Orbs \| Green Orbs \| Emblem \| Chaos Drives \| Special Stage Key \| Material \| Portal Gear \| Memory Token \| Vault Key \| Red Seed of Power \| Blue Seed of Defense \| Dream Orb
Power-ups	Shield (Water, Lightning, Fire, Gold, Magnetic) \| Invincibility \| Power Sneakers \| Rocket Shoes \| Propeller Shoes \| Hyper Heli-Tails \| Eggman Mark \| Super Ring \| Combine Ring \| Forcejewel \| Power Core \| Light Cores \| Special Combination
Level Objects	Item Box \| Item Panel \| Spring \| Spring Pole \| Crane Lift \| Dash Rail \| Spikes \| Checkpoint \| Time Warp Plate \| Signpost \| Goal Ring \| Hidden Treasure Ring \| Giant Ring \| Dash Ring \| Rainbow Ring \| Capsule \| Crate \| Water Barrel \| Button \| Dark Energy Key \| Bumper \| Speed Booster \| Air bubbles \| Chao container
Powerful Items	Chaos Emeralds \| Super Emeralds \| Master Emerald \| Time Stones \| Chaos Rings \| Precioustone \| Sol Emeralds \| Jeweled Scepter \| World Rings \| Excalibur \| Phantom Ruby \| Reverie \| Dream Core
Weapons	Piko Piko Hammer \| Chaos Energy Cannon \| Caliburn \| Wispon
Devices	Remote Robot \| Combi Confiner \| Mother Computer \| Nega's Camera \| Arks of the Cosmos \| Miles Electric
Other	Chili Dog \| Fortune Cards \| Speed Down Boots \| Chao Egg \| Scepter of Darkness \| Cacophonic Conch

[:File:Sonic2_GG_US_manual.pdf_p11-1] File:Sonic2 GG US manual.pdf, page 11

[:File:SonicColours_Wii_US_manual.pdf_p16-2] File:SonicColours Wii US manual.pdf, page 16

[:File:Colours_DS_EU_Manual.pdf_p14-3] File:Colours DS EU Manual.pdf, page 14

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