Why does the originator of the idea have to be the only one who can answer the question? If someone has something to say about the idea that they think can improve it, then why shouldn't they answer? If they don't have anything constructive to say then it's simple - don't post anything at all! As for the dartboard idea: I see what you pointed out as a flaw with the idea that may be hard to work around; perhaps we can just keep improving the speed with each successive round? I honestly don't know.
When did Rave become the owner of the Plinko idea? I was the one that posted it, he just quoted it to comment on it. Now, about that idea. Sonic doesn't just fall randomly, the player has control over his momentum just the same as in Sonic 3's carnival zone, bouncing on things. He either falls in from a random spot at the top or lands in a rotating cannon that the player launches manually. Rave suggested that some of the areas not have goal spheres and let you fall into further Plinko boards, so that is how it will be, as well as each next board having less goals than the last.
Sorry, Ghost, my fault there. But wouldn't each Plinko board have more goals than the last? And for the dartboard idea, could the end be like Bullet Station, where you blow up one of Eggman's bases after being shot off for the last time, or would that be too much? I guess it does sound a little too "Fan-gamey", but it's an idea.
How about a ski jump based bonus stage (except without the snow or skis). You start off running down a hill and you have to hit boost pads to speed yourself up and hitting obsitcals slows you down, then depending on how fast you hit the ramp is how high you shoot into the air. Then sonic falls with his arms out streched to slow himself down and you have to move left and right avoiding more obsitcals but also collecting rings, power ups and extra lives, obviously the higer you get at the start the better the items and the longer you have to collect them.
This concept brings to my mind the skydiving level from Amazing Island (I think it was called Sky Shooter, but that's not important). I suppose we could use the Sonic 2 Special Stage as a base for this; we'd just remove the halfpipe and give Sonic a hill or mountain slope to run on. Then we could give Sonic a free-falling animation for the second half of the bonus stage. I can picture it: we could use the ring animations and the bomb animations from S2 Special Stage, and then create animations for the power-ups. Then again, animating active shields would be an interesting ordeal in making this stage, not to mention changing the motion paths for the rings and bombs. But overall, I kinda like this idea.
Now I come to think of it the only way it could really work is if you made it 3D as you suggest, although im no sure if thats such a good idea as the bonus stages were always 2D with the special stages 3D (I imagin they did that to create some kind of seperation between the two). Did give me an idea for a special stage though, you start of falling with the emerald falling someway below you. You have to fall after it avoiding things in order to catch up with it, if you get too far behind the emerald drops out of view and the Bi plane comes past and catches you and takes you back to the level. Could make for some interesting background designs as each level can have its own birds eye view depending on when you enter the special stage.
I would not be opposed to doing something like the skiboard level of Shinobi III if that's what you guys are suggesting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXRLksumb-s [The first part of this video is what I'm talking about.] And of course making this into a griding bonus stage may as well be done in conjunction just because it would keep things fresh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzVhvQGqgmc
Putting this here, where it belongs... This is a horrible illustration I know, but how about mini golf? The courses would be more complex and such but as far as interactivity in a Bonus Stage it seems perfect. Top down view, lots of bouncers, different terrains and inclines. Could be fun.
Probably too slow. If the bonus stages are to work like they did in Sonic 3/K then they should be fast and require little setup. Sonic should be moving almost all the time through them, too (slot machine stage be damned) as they are meant to be a diversion or break from normal gameplay as such.
Do you remember the bonus stages of the first Sonic of Master System? It was exciting and pleasant: speed, time limit, pinball like and platform like ... Something in that way would be rock and roll !
I always had an idea from when I was working on my hack, that maybe the Special Stages environments could differ depending on what zone you entered it from. Like a tropical theme special stage for the tropical zone... Another idea I had was something like a mini doomsday zone. Where Sonic is riding on the tornado chasing after robotnik, after 4 hits he drops an emerald. Kinda like a fast paced Sky chase zone. Kinda stupid ideas but I thought I would post them anyway...
I really like this idea! In fact I was always a little bit disapointed to don't see that in the old sonic games.
Sonic 3 came close. The special stage's color schemes matched the real level's color schemes, including one for Flying Battery. Problem with making the special stages match the real levels is that we'd probably end up "locking" them together, like they are in the Advance series and Heroes.