Rings. (images spoilered because they are quite big, just to be safe) Spoiler A gameplay element in Sonic games that doesn't exactly convert %100 percent over to a show, where it doesn't make much sense to have rings scattered around everywhere. That's where Sonic X and SATAM come in. They both use rings in similar ways: A sort of power-up for Sonic that he can use in times of need. In SATAM and Sonic X, they gave him a power boost, and in Sonic X (in the first season anyway) it seemed he could not even do the spin attack without it. In both shows, they gave him a boost of speed and power when he needed it. Personally, I like how both shows utilize an iconic gameplay element of Sonic in a way that makes sense for a show (again, it would not make much sense to have rings scattered everywhere in a show). But my problem is that in both these shows, Sonic is kinda dependent on these rings (ESPECIALLY in X) to attack his enemies. In SATAM it's not as bad but it's really bad in Sonic X, where he can barely destroy Eggman robots without a ring, and he always wins/finishes off the threat/turns the tables with it. This was improved in later seasons but it was especially bad in Season 1. If there ever was to be a new Sonic show, I would want them to bring this concept back, but don't make Sonic dependent on it. Don't use it as the solution, or the finishing move, all the time. Thoughts? Discuss!
They are called power rings in the games implying that they give sonic his power. Sure he's fast without the rings but not powerful enough to destroy a 20 ft robot with just his body.
No, they aren't. Not in any manuals, not in any game. Ever. Any materiel they're called "power rings" in is likely US material and not canon. Anyway, I do like how they changed it to fit in with the series, but the rings in the series were always overpowered. They could at least have added a few more and made the user need a fair number to get any use out of them, and I disagree that they should give Sonic power- they should have just sped him up, like in Sonic Advance 2 & 3.
I completely agree on that with Sonic X, they used the rings A LOT in that show, I was really puzzled that Sonic could only Spin Attack when he had a ring, it was truly a strange thing of the show. Now SatAM on the other hand had a perfect balance with the ring, he's strong without it but with it just watch out! Come to think of it the Boost Attack in recent games starting with Rush is like how Sonic used rings in SatAM, he gets a ring (well rings, and sometimes just smashing stuff works too) and Sonic can Boost though enemies and go faster, if they do a new Sonic show (and I hope they do) they should have the Sonic Boost ability whenever Sonic gets enough rings, it can make him smash through enemies with just his speed and make his spin attacks stronger, I'd like to see that happen.
The problem is a paradox to me. If you watch the show first, you'll get a really screwed up idea of what the games are like. If you play the games first, you'll watch the show and be totally confused (I was). For good reason, TV Tropes refers to the satam series as "in name only". The only show ever made that was sensible and actually relate-able was the cancelled one that became Sonic the Movie. Not to say I didn't enjoy AoStH, and even satam. It was fun to watch. I honestly have a lot of contempt for Sonic X.
This is true. Only the SatAM / Archie canons call them this to my knowledge (I dunno anything about the Fleetway canon). The US manuals for the classic games sometimes call them Gold Rings, but never Power Rings. Could you provide evidence for this? I was under the impression it was never meant to be a series, it's just a two-part OVA - quite common practice in Japan.
I know this isn't exactly on topic, but was the ring usage in Sonic X even Power Rings? I think it was actually the same ring each time he did his super Speed Dash thing he often did. And if I remember right, it was called the Crystal Ring. Sadly, this was forever ago and I can't remember definitively... Google isn't helping either, and I've never read the Sonic X comics (if it's even in there). I'll edit in a link if I find anything. To be directly on topic, I became a Sonic fan through the games, and never saw the rings as a story-centric element. But recently, after catching up on the comics over the last month or so, I think it can be pretty cool in a few cases. Kahn's crown and Sonic's parents' wedding rings, for example. Just my opinion, of course. EDIT: Well, if the Archie wiki is anything to go by, apparently the Sonic X comic refers to it as an energy ring, and apparently it's a specific ring. I think.
I like the idea of "power rings," but I don't like the idea of Sonic needing them, if that makes any sense. It shouldnt be a necessity; it should be something saved for a truly desperate situation, not fighting Eggman's "mech of the week." Plus, using the rings as a form of currency makes much more sense overall. Yeah, they're scattered all over the zones, but it would take someone truly skilled to find and collect them all without losing them to some badnik. So they would be pretty valuable in that sense.
Then they must have some purpose that makes them useful if they are currency, other than saving you from a single hit. Unless you count them for being able to enter special zones.
I had always thought that the rings in the Sonic franchise were very useful inside the games; a single ring could let you survive death defying blows to the smallest love tap, and it was used as a form of currency, and there is the ability to power Super Sonic with the ring count slowly decreasing. In the very early north American canon, to even Sonic x, the rings either boost sonic's ability, or way overpower him to the max. But rings were often harder for sonic to find, or in scarce amounts, such as the lake of rings in satam, or Tails giving it to Sonic via his backpack in Sonic x. Honestly I like both usages, as this way in both canons, the rings are helpful. But that is just my opinion.
Maybe it was just me, but the way the ring/s were used in Sonic X seemed like more of an after thought. No explanation about their existence or anything. They're just there, even if it's just the 1 ring. SatAM was the only one that put some more emphasis on why the rings exist in that universe. I'm not saying I mind, but it's almost like you don't even need that element in Sonic X. The ring is only there as a fanservice at best.