Signpost

The signpost is one of the staples of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Marking the end of a non-boss level in the 2D games, the mechanics for the sign differ slightly from title to title. In the modern 3D titles, Goal Rings or other similar indicators are used instead.

16-bit Titles

In the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog CD, at the end of the acts preceding the final a signpost sits to greet you, adorned with the image of Dr. Eggman. Once touched, the sign will begin to spin, resting on an image of the character you are playing as, signifying your victory over Eggman. Unique to Sonic CD is an additional sign signifying you are close to the end of the level, giving the player enough warning if they want to go back and explore the level before being locked onto the final screen.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, the signpost appears after defeating the first act's sub-boss, twirling as it falls from the sky. Jumping into the sign causes it to bounce back up into the air, adding 100 points to the score with each jump. If it happens to fall on the ground on one of three specific spots, it will cause a secret item box to appear, also causing the sign to bounce back up into the air. When it finally lands on solid ground, the face of the character being played will appear. Also, while it is possible to catch a glimpse of Dr. Eggman on the sign during this process, it is impossible to have the sign land on his visage.

Game	Dr. Eggman	Sonic	"Tails"	"Tails" Alternate	Knuckles	"Goal"
Sonic 1
Sonic 2 Beta
Sonic 2
Sonic CD Beta
Sonic CD
Sonic 3

8-bit Titles

In addition to marking the end of an act, the signposts in the Game Gear and (when applicable) their Master System counterparts have a reward system built in, giving the player a prize based on what image appears on the sign post. In the first two 8-bit games, the signpost Sonic spots begins with a question mark, touching it causing it to reveal its secrets. Common to both is an image of a ring (which gives Sonic an additional ten rings) and a portrait of Eggman, which offers no reward. In the first Sonic the Hedgehog, the only other image possible is an exclamation point, which allows Sonic to enter the Bonus Stage. In the numbered sequel, the exclamation point and bonus stage removed, being replaced with signs featuring Sonic and Tails, providing an extra life and a continue respectively.

In Sonic & Tails and Sonic & Tails 2, the question mark is replaced with Eggman, adhering to the tradition in the Mega Drive titles. However, the prize system remains, the standard image now being that of a Flicky. The images of Sonic, Tails, and (in the second game) Knuckles appears, the first two providing different results based on the character being used. G Sonic removes the Flicky, returning the Eggman sign to the "no-prize" status, the untouched sign being blank. The game also introduces a Super Sonic image to the mix, which gives the player an extra life and thirty rings.

Game	Question Mark	Dr. Eggman	Flicky	Sonic	"Tails"	Knuckles	Exclamation Mark	Ring	Emerald	Super Sonic	Back Panel
'Sonic (8-bit)	File:S18bitsign-qmark.png	File:S18bitsign-Eggman.png		File:S18bitsign-Sonic.png			File:S18bitsign-emark.png	File:S18bitsign-Ring.png
Sonic 2 (8-bit)	File:S28bitsign-qmark.png	File:S28bitsign-Eggman.png		File:S28bitsign-Sonic.png	File:S28bitsign-Tails.png			File:S28bitsign-ring.png
Sonic & Tails		File:STsign-Eggman.png	File:STsign-Flicky.png	File:STsign-Sonic.png	File:STsign-Tails.png			File:STsign-ring.png			File:STsign-back.png
Sonic & Tails 2		File:ST2sign-Eggman.png	File:ST2sign-Flicky.png	File:ST2sign-Sonic.png	File:ST2sign-Tails.png	File:ST2-Knuckles.png		File:ST2sign-ring.png	File:ST2sign-Emerald.png		File:ST2sign-back.png
G-Sonic		File:Gsign-Eggman.png		File:Gsign-Sonic.png		File:Gsign-Knuckles.png		File:Gsign-ring.png	File:Gsign-Emerald.png	File:Gsign-SuperSonic.png	File:Gsign-back.png

Other Titles

The Sega 32X title Chaotix, though using a sign to mark the end of a non-boss act, decided to simplify matters, using only a silhouette of Eggman on one side and the word "Clear" on the other, deciding against drawing up multiple signs for the seven playable characters in the game. The Neo Geo Pocket Color title Sonic Pocket Adventure gave a nod to the signposts from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 by having the sign fall from the sky, but in the processing removing the interactivity and making Sonic's face the only possible outcome. The Game Boy Advance titles make it even simpler, the sign at the end of Sonic Advance having only the Eggman logo on one side, the character running past and never seeing if anything else may come up. The classic style of the sign would not return until Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, which emulates the way the sign worked in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 2.

While most 3D games in the series have neglected the signpost, Sonic and the Black Knight decided to use one to mark the end of certain levels, though only providing the word "goal" at the end with no images of any of the characters adorning either side.

Game	Before	After
Chaotix
Sonic Pocket Adventure
Sonic Advance
Sonic 4