For awhile, it has been assumed that the end-of-level rewards in Sonic 1 for the Game Gear are partially randomized, in comparison to their Master System counterparts. For those needing a quick reminder, the signposts are special in the 8-bit games since, unlike the rest of the series, they give out actual rewards based on certain circumstances and the image you ultimately get upon completing a level. The Retro page lists these as the requirements: However, the Game Gear version partially changes these, and for awhile it was assumed that the ring and Sonic monitors were completely random... except they aren't. It seems as if Ancient decided to change them from simple rewards to "pity prizes" (alliteration totally intended), earned for players who aren't doing great in a specific level. The requirements are below: Ring: dying twice in an Act Sonic: dying thrice in an Act Why they did this is unknown, given the Master System methods were already a bit obscure; Sonic 2 (MS AND GG) does this as well, with the player being given the Sonic goalpost if they die twice in an Act.
They might have changed it to make up for the smaller screen making the GG version slightly harder (aside from the GHZ boss).
