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[[File:16bS1 Giant Ring.PNG|thumb|320px|right|A Giant Ring at the end of [[Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 16-bit)|Green Hill Zone]] Act 1 in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)]]''.]]

'''Giant Rings''' transport the player to a [[Special Stage]] in early [[Sonic games]]. They have had other uses besides that as well.

==Game appearances==
===[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (16-bit)]]===
In the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' an '''Okina Ring''' (大きなリング{{fileref|Sonic1_MD_JP_manual.pdf|page=22}} ''ōkina ringu'') appears at the end of a Zone's Act 1 or Act 2 if the player has 50 or more [[Rings]]. Jumping into one will take the player to a [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 16-bit)|Special Stage]] for a chance to obtain a [[Chaos Emeralds|Chaos Emerald]]. They appear in all Zones except [[Scrap Brain Zone]] and [[Final Zone]].

Strangely, they aren't mentioned at all in the game's [[Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(16-bit)/Manuals|US manual]].

===''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]''===
The '''Okina Ring''' (大きなリング{{fileref|SonicCD_MCD_JP_manual.pdf|page=20}} ''ōkina ringu''), now known as a '''Special Ring'''{{fileref|SonicCD_MCD_US_manual.pdf|page=17}} in the US, returns in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'', serving the same function it did in ''Sonic the Hedgehog''. A Special Ring appears at the end of a Round's Zone 1 or Zone 2 if the player has 50 or more Rings. Jumping into one will take the player to a [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog CD)|Special Stage]] for a chance to obtain a [[Time Stones|Time Stone]].

===''[[Sonic Chaos]]''===
Not a transport feature, these oversized rings appear ''inside'' the first [[Special Stage (Sonic Chaos)|special stage]] and are worth 10 standard Rings each. A similar item crops up in the night levels of ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'', where larger, thicker rings are worth 10.

===''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''===
Now known as a '''Special Ring''' (スペシャルリング{{fileref|Sonic3_MD_JP_SonicJam_manual.pdf|page=9}} ''supesharu ringu'') in Japan and simply a '''giant Gold Ring'''{{fileref|Sonic3_MD_US_SonicJam_manual.pdf|page=9}} in the US, their function in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' differs slightly from previous games. This time Special Rings are hidden in secret rooms throughout the whole game, with no prerequisite to make them appear. Like before, touching one will take the player to the [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles)|Special Stage]] for a chance to obtain a Chaos Emerald. After collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds, touching a Special Ring will grant the player 50 Rings.

===''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''===
In ''Sonic & Knuckles'' the '''Special Ring''' (スペシャルリング{{fileref|S&K_MD_JP_SonicJam_manual.pdf|page=13}} ''supesharu ringu'') functions the same as in ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'', with multiple hidden throughout the first four Zones of the game. Touching one will transport the player to the [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles)|Special Stage]] for a chance to obtain a Chaos Emerald. There are no Special Rings to be found in [[Hidden Palace Zone]], [[Sky Sanctuary Zone]], [[Death Egg Zone]] or [[The Doomsday Zone]].

===''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]''===
In ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles'' the '''Special Rings''' function the same as in ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3''.

Exclusive to this version of the game is the '''Super Ring''' (スーパーリング{{fileref|S&K_MD_JP_SonicJam_manual.pdf|page=23}} ''sūpāringu''). Super Rings flash multiple different colors, but are otherwise identical to Special Rings. Touching one will transport the player to the Emerald altar of the [[Hidden Palace Zone|Hidden Palace]]. Once there, any Chaos Emeralds that the player has collected will be transformed into large gray Emeralds. If the player jumps onto one of these Emeralds, they will be transported to one of the Special Stages from ''Sonic & Knuckles'', for a chance to obtain a [[Super Emerald]]. If the player successfully completes a Special Stage, a short cutscene will play, in which color is restored to the gray Emerald, making it a Super Emerald.

The first Super Ring is found at the beginning of [[Mushroom Hill Zone]] Act 1, in an area not accessible in the stand-alone version of ''Sonic & Knuckles''. Further Super Rings only appear if the player has collected all seven Chaos Emeralds, after which they will replace Special Rings. If the player has collected all seven Super Emeralds, touching a Super Ring will grant them 50 Rings.

===''[[Chaotix]]''===
In ''[[Chaotix]]'' the '''Special Ring''' (スペシャルリング{{fileref|Chaotix_32X_JP_manual.pdf|page=28}} ''supesharu ringu''), simply called a '''giant Ring'''{{fileref|Chaotix_32X_US_manual.pdf|page=24}} in the US, has two different functions. There are several Special Rings hidden throughout each Level of the game, but they will only appear if the player has 20 or more Rings. Touching one of these Special Rings transports the player to the [[Bonus Stage (Chaotix)|Bonus Stage]]. Additionally, a Special Ring will appear at the end of each Attraction's Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 if the player has 50 or more Rings. Touching this type of Special Ring takes the player to the [[Special Stage (Chaotix)|Special Stage]] for a chance to obtain a [[Chaos Ring]].

In the Japanese release, the Special Rings also play a large role in the game's [[Chaotix manuals#Translated_from_Japanese_manual|story]]. [[Dr. Eggman]] discovers a '''Super Ring''', an ancient '''Special Ring''', identical to those on the [[Angel Island|Floating Island]]. The Special Ring was supposed to lead to the Master Emerald, but the Emerald had already been relocated to the Floating Island since ancient times. However, the dimensional space created by the Special Ring was filled with Master Emerald Pillar energy, some of which had crystallized into six Chaos Rings. After studying the Special Ring, Eggman manages to crystallize the energy himself, creating the artificial [[Dark Ring|Dark Rings]], which he uses to power his machines. In a cutscene before the final boss, Eggman transforms his Special Ring into a giant Dark Ring and uses it to change Metal Sonic into a [[Chaotix final boss|powerful new form]].

===''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]''===
In ''Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island'', the '''Dimension Ring'''{{fileref|Sonic3D MD US manual.pdf|page=9}}, known as '''Big Ring''' (ビッグリング{{fileref|Sonic3D Sat JP manual.pdf|page=11}} ''biggu ringu'') in Japan, plays a role in the game's story. After seeing a flock of [[Flicky|Flickies]] travel dimensions using a Dimension Ring, Eggman creates a new device, the Dimension Ring Generator (Big Ring Hassei Machine, in Japan) in order to trap the Flickies and turn them into robots.

Dimension Rings are located over transport tubes and the goal. The player needs to transport all the Flickies in the area into the Dimension Ring to warp them to the [[Flicky Dimension]]. Once done, the Dimension Ring will disappear and the path will open.

===''[[Sonic Blast]]''===
In ''Sonic Blast'' the '''Special Ring''' (スペシャルリング{{fileref|SonicBlast_GG_JP_manual.pdf|page=15}} ''supesharu ringu''), or '''Big Ring'''{{fileref|Sonic_Blast_GG_US_Manual.pdf|page=9}} in the US, functions similarly to those in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', but is much smaller. There is one Special Ring hidden in Act 1 and Act 2 of every Zone. As with previous games, touching one will transport the player to a [[Special Stage (Sonic Blast)|Special Stage]]. Unlike ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', where Special Stages cycle in a set order, ''Sonic Blast''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Special Stages are specific to the Zone and Act they are entered. Successfully completing an Act 1 Special Stage rewards the player with a 1up, whilst successfully completing an Act 2 Special Stage rewards the player with a Chaos Emerald.

===''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure]]''===
In ''Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure'' the '''Okina Ring''' (大きなリング{{fileref|SPA NGPC JP manual.pdf|page=11}} ''ōkina ringu''), simply called a '''large ring'''{{fileref|SPA NGPC US manual.pdf|page=13}} in the US, acts similarly to those in ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' and ''Sonic the Hedgehog CD''. They appear at the end of a Zone's Act 1 if the player has 50 or more [[Rings]]. Jumping into one will take the player to a [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure)|Special Stage]] for a chance to obtain a [[Chaos Emeralds|Chaos Emerald]]. They appear in all Zones except [[Aerobase Zone]], [[Last Utopia Zone]] and [[Chaotic Space Zone]].

===''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4]]''===
''Sonic the Hedgehog 4'' takes a cue from Sonic 1 and Sonic CD. Giant Rings appear at the end of every Zone's first three Acts, allowing access to the [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 4)|Special Stage]] provided Sonic has at least 50 rings in hand. Unlike previous games however, when all the Chaos Emeralds are collected, they won't appear after collecting 50 rings, as they can be accessed from the Level Select screen.

===''[[Sonic Mania]]''===
In ''Sonic Mania'', the Kyodai Ring (巨大リング{{fileref|SonicMania consoles JP manual.pdf|page=16}} ''kyodai ringu'') behaves similarly to the ones in ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3''. They appear as three-dimensional, polygonal rotating Rings, as opposed to the sprite-based rings of the classics. They are found hidden throughout the Zones, and when entered, transport the player to a [[Special Stage (Sonic Mania)|Special Stage]] for a chance to obtain a [[Chaos Emeralds|Chaos Emerald]]. After the Special Stage is cleared, the Ring that was entered becomes wire-frame and can no longer be entered until the player completes the game and revisits the zone through a completed save file. In addition, the giant Ring cannot be entered in Time Attack mode or Competition mode. If all Chaos Emeralds are collected, the Kyodai Ring will give 50 Rings when collected.

===3D Sonic Games===
These games don't use them in the way the Mega Drive games do. Instead, they act as [[Signpost]]s in the form of [[Goal Ring]]s.

==In other media==
===''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]''===

===[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (Archie comics)]]===

===''[[Sonic the Comic]]''===

===[[Sonic the Hedgehog (film)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (film)]]===

==References==
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