The Rank^[1] is a mechanic that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a grading system used to measure how well the player performed in a particular event of a game, the most common being completing a level or boss fight.

Description

In the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Ranks are represented as letter-grades. While the specific grade letters vary in range from game to game, they typically range from S or A to D or E. They are awarded based on how well the player performed after completing a particular event in a game. This can be something like completing a level or mission. Ranks are usually given alongside the score, and is often based on the player's score, which is influenced by common gameplay factors such as the number of Rings collected, time taken to finish the event, number of enemies defeated, the tricks pulled off, etc. Some games though have certain levels and missions where Ranks are not awarded based on score alone, and may only be based on one or more gameplay factors, such as the time taken to complete an event. In games where the playable characters are present on the result screen, they will strike a different pose and/or give a comment based on the Rank the player got.

Usually, the player has to attain the highest rank (usually an "A" or "S") for some or all level missions of a game in order to receive rewards (like Emblems) or special bonuses, unlock new gameplay features, or obtain game achievements.

Game appearances

Sonic Pocket Adventure

Ranks were first featured in Sonic Pocket Adventure. They are rewarded only in the game's trial modes, both "Time Trial" and "Advanced", and are based only on the player's clear time. The ranks are Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Sonic Adventure 2

Ranks made their console debut in Sonic Adventure 2, and later its Battle port, where they are given for Mission results. In this game, Ranks range from A to E. For Missions one, four, and five of every stage (except Route 101 and Route 280), the Rank is determined by the score, but if the player obtains every Ring in a stage and clears it, the player is always awarded an A-Rank. For Missions 2 and 3 of every stage, the Rank is based on the time taken to complete it.

The player is required to earn an A-Rank in every Mission in order to obtain all Emblems and unlocking extra bonuses for the 2P Battle mode. It also unlocks the "You Are The Legend" Achievement in the 2012 remaster.

Sonic Heroes

In Sonic Heroes, Ranks range from A to E. In this game, Ranks are given for mission results, with score-based Ranks being given for all teams' first Missions and all of Team Sonic and Team Chaotix's Extra Missions. On the other hand, time-based Ranks are given for boss fights and all of Team Dark and Team Rose's Extra Missions.

The player is required to obtain an A-Rank on every Mission in the game to unlock Super Hard Mode. Ranks are also not recorded for completing Sea Gate or Super Hard Mode. In addition, the game's save files display the number of Missions the player has an A Rank on.

Shadow the Hedgehog

In Shadow the Hedgehog, Ranks range from A to E. The Rank requirements vary depending on the stage and mission completed. In this game, there are three types of points that determine the final score for a Rank; "normal" points are obtained by collecting Rings and items; "Dark" points are gathered by defeating GUN troops (and Badniks in Dark missions) and destroying things in the environment; and "Hero" points are earned by killing Black Arms, healing innocents, and putting out fires. The game calculates the Rank obtained through the three types of points. The total score for Dark missions equals the player's Normal score, plus their Dark score, plus their Time Bonus, minus their Hero score, and vice-versa with Hero missions. Time-based Ranks are featured for every boss battle.

Getting an A-Rank for every stage is required for the player to unlock Expert Mode.

Sonic Rush series

Sonic Rush

In Sonic Rush, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after those events.

Sonic Rush Adventure

In Sonic Rush Adventure, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after those events. In addition, the better the Rank the player gets, the more Materials they will receive after clearing an Act or boss fight (not including Hidden Islands or Deep Core).

Sonic Riders series

Sonic Riders

In Sonic Riders, the Ranks include grades X, SS, S, AA, A, B, and C. In this game, Ranks are rewarded differently that in the previous Sonic games. Rather than being given when a player clears a level or mission, the player is given a Rank when the playable character pulls off a Trick Action after setting off from either a ramp or turbulence. The higher the Rank the playable character achieves, the more Air the player will be rewarded with. In this installment, the Rank is based on how many Trick Actions the player pulls off after being launched into midair. However, if the playable character makes a bad landing from the jump (e.g. landing while in the middle of performing a Trick Action), they will automatically get a C-Rank. The game also features the Legend Extreme Gear, which makes earning high Ranks easier.

Aside from the ranking of Trick Actions mentioned above, Sonic Riders also features Ranks in Mission Mode where the player is ranked based on how well they performed in a mission. Each mission has three different ranks: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The report of the Babylon Rogues member varies on the Rank the player receives. If the player gets the highest Rank in all the missions, they will earn the Chaos Emerald.

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity

In Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the Ranks include grades X, SS, S, AA, A, B, and C. In this game, Ranks are, much like in Sonic Riders, given when the playable character executes a Trick Action. The higher the Rank the playable character gets, the more Gravity Points the player will be rewarded with. In addition, attaining at least an S-Rank will always allow the player to reach higher routes. In this game though, the Rank is based on the timing of the jump prompt for the Trick Action at the moment the player launches themselves. The game also features the Legend Extreme Gear which makes earning high Ranks easier. In addition each Rank has its own animation when performing a trick and a unique sound effect is played whenever an X-Rank Trick is performed.

Aside from the Ranking mentioned above, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity also features Missions and a ranking system similar to that of Mission Mode in the first Sonic Riders. Each mission has three different ranks: Normal, Super and Extreme. Eggman's comment for the mission varies on the Rank received. If the player gets the highest Rank in all the missions, they will earn the Chaos Emerald.

Sonic Free Riders

In Sonic Free Riders, the Ranks include grades X, S+, S, A+, A, B, and C. Like in earlier Sonic Riders installments, Ranks are given when the playable character executes a Trick. The higher the Rank the playable character gets, the more Air the player will be rewarded with. Like in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, the Rank is initially given based on the timing of the jump prompt for the Trick Action at the moment the player gets launched but can only range between C, B, A and S. However, similar to Sonic Riders, the rank can be increased by how good the landing is: a perfect landing increases the rank by 2 ranks (e.g. from S to X), and a good landing by 1 (e.g. from A to A+), while a poor landing doesn't change the rank whatsoever. Just like in previous games, this game also features the Legend Extreme Gear which makes earning high Ranks easier as well as a unique sound effect whenever an X-Rank Trick is performed.

Aside from the Ranking mentioned above, Sonic Free Riders also feature a mission-based gameplay which are required to be played as part of Grand Prix Mode, similar to the earlier Sonic Riders titles where the player is ranked based on how well they performed. Each mission has three different ranks: B, A and S. If the player gets the highest Rank in all the missions, they will earn the Chaos Emeralds.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Ranks range from S to D. In this game, Ranks are given for Action Stage, Boss, and Town Mission results, and are based on the player's score after those events. In the Story Mode, the player also earns additional Rings based on the Rank they receive. The player is required to obtain S-Ranks across all Missions (except for the Very Hard DLC, Boss Attack DLCs, and Team Attack Amigo DLC) to obtain every Gold Medal and unlock every achievement in the Xbox 360 version of the game.

Sonic Rivals series

Sonic Rivals

In Sonic Rivals, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for every Act and boss fight, and are based on the player's score after these events.

Sonic Rivals 2

In Sonic Rivals 2, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for every Act and boss fight, and are based on the player's score after these events. In addition, in order to earn some cards, it is required by the player to achieve an S-Rank in specific Acts and Act 2 Battle modes.

Sonic Unleashed

Wii/PlayStation 2

In the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of Sonic Unleashed, Ranks range from S to C. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for every level and boss fight, but not for any of the missions. They are awarded based on the player's clear time in daytime stages and boss battles (day and night), and on the player's time, Rings and amassed Dark Gaia Force in the nighttime stages. In the daytime stages in particular, the game's HUD displays the par time the player is required to finish the stage within to obtain a particular Rank starting with the S and if the time has elapsed beyond the threshold for S, the HUD will switch to display the par time for A and so on for the remaining Ranks. Notably, because of the way Sun Medals are collected in this version, it is possible to unlock everything and fully complete the game without having to get all the S-Ranks.

It is worth noting that during a boss fight, day or night, Sonic cannot earn Ranks A or B; instead, he will earn an S if he wins the battle within the par time, and a C if he takes longer.

In this version of the game, earning certain ranks is the main way to collect the main stages' Sun and Moon Medals, with the number depending on the rank itself. The player will earn three for an S Rank, two for an A Rank, one for a B Rank, and none for a C Rank.

Xbox 360/PlayStation 3

In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, Ranks range from S to E. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after these events. If the player gets an E rank, "Results Screen - E Rank", an intentionally bad rendition of the normal result screen music track, will play, while the letter E disintegrates. Getting S-Ranks are also needed to obtain a number of the game's trophies/achievements.

It is worth nothing that the final boss fight against Dark Gaia is the only level in this version of the game where Sonic does not earn a rank the first time he clears it.

Sonic and the Black Knight

In Sonic and the Black Knight, Ranks are present, but they do not use letter grades. Instead, they use a star rating, with the number of stars determining the rank (one being the lowest and five being the highest).

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

In the console and PC release of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Ranks only appear in the game's Mission mode, and range from a triple A to an E. In this game, the player receives a Mission rank depending on their overall performance. In order to go to the next mission, the player must get at least an A Rank or better. If the player completes every mission with the triple A Rank, they will complete a challenge.

In the Nintendo DS and mobile versions, the Ranks are instead replaced with stars. They function similarly to the Ranks in the console version, in which collecting a certain number allows the player to go to the next mission.

Sonic Colors

In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, along with in the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate, Ranks range from S to D. In these games, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after these events. Unlike previous games, clear time is not taken into account, as the player mainly has to worry about building up a high score, which is done by collecting Rings, utilizing certain moves, grabbing Special Rings, and making use of Color Powers and Super Sonic. Finishing with an A-Rank or higher will award one or three 1UPs respectively. Unlike previous entries, the player can control Sonic on the results screen for a short time until he strikes his Rank-dependent pose, and they can even jump onto and attack the score.

In Sonic Colors: Ultimate, lives are completely removed. As such, earning an A or S-Rank will instead net the player a Park Tokens or three. The results screen also features an added meter, signifying how long the player is able to control Sonic before he poses. It is also worth noting in this version that due to a glitch in the Tails Save system, the player will not lose the Rings they have collected before dying, and certain collectibles such as Red Star Rings and Park Tokens will respawn after each death. Thus, higher ranks are a lot easier to achieve due to it being easier to stockpile points.

Although the Wii version and Sonic Colors: Ultimate both contain a tally of how many S Ranks the player has earned, earning all of them will not net the player any rewards.

The sprites for the Ranks in the Wii version and Sonic Colors: Ultimate are edited versions of the ones from the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed.

In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results, and are based on the player's score after these events. The number of White Wisps and Sonic's pose on the result screen will be determined by the player's Rank.

Sonic X Shadow Generations

Sonic Generations

In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act and boss results. In stage Acts, ranks are based on the player's score, which is calculated based on clear time and Rings. Every Ring collected is 10x worth of score, with the Ring score maxes out at 5,000 points. Those alone however, will only give a Rank between A and D. Finishing an Act without losing a life will award a Perfect Clear bonus that raises the player's rank by one, which is the only way to get an S-Rank. In Challenge Acts on the other hand, Ranks are based on the player's clear time, and the Rank and its corresponding clear par time is displayed on the HUD. Getting S-Ranks are also needed to obtain a number of the game's trophies/achievements.

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, Ranks range from S to D. In this version of the game, Ranks are given for Act, boss and Special Stage results, and are based on the player's score after these events. Unlike the console/PC version of the game, there is no Perfect Clear bonus.

Shadow Generations

In Shadow Generations, the Rank system functions similarly like the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, with differences listed below:

• Perfect Bonus now absent. The player is able to get an S-Rank with sufficient score.
• Maximum Ring score drastically decreases, from 5,000 points to 1,000. In addition, Rings no longer participate in the score tally in all of the Boss battles.
• Score requirement for each Rank changes. Over 40,000 points are required for S-Rank, 38,000 points for A-Rank, 36,000 points for B-Rank, 33,000 for C-Rank, and less than 33,000 points for D-Rank.

Sonic Lost World

In the Wii U version and PC version of Sonic Lost World, Ranks range from S to D. In these versions of the game, Ranks are given for Zones. However, they only appear in Time Attack mode, where they are given based on the time taken to complete the Zone. During a playthrough of a Zone, the Rank is displayed alongside the par time the player needs to complete in order to obtain that Rank. Once the par time has being passed, the next lower Rank with its respective par time is shown in its place.

In the Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Lost World, Ranks are awarded by default, and range from S to D. In this game, Ranks are given for Zone, boss and Special Stage results, and are based on the player's score after those events. From Ranks A through D, Sonic spins around and gives a thumbs-up; S ranks get a unique pose, in which he performs a side-flip and points at the ranking. Unlike the Wii U/PC version, Sonic will provide a quip as soon as his Rank appears upon completing a level or boss fight. However, in the Special Stages, he is silent and his Rank animation shows him collecting the Chaos Emerald before holding it in his left hand, regardless of the Rank he received. In addition, the better the Rank the player gets, the more Materials they will receive after clearing a level or boss fight.

The score requirement for each rank is as follows: Finishing a stage with less than 20,000 points earns the player a D rank, finishing a stage with at least 20,000 points but less than 40,000 points earns them a C rank, finishing a stage with at least 40,000 points but less than 60,000 points earns them a B rank, finishing a stage with at least 60,000 points but less than 80,000 points earns them an A rank, and finishing a stage with at least 80,000 points earns them an S rank.

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, Ranks range from S to C. In this game, Ranks are given for stage results, and are based on the player's score after these events. Like in Sonic Generations, both Sonics strike different poses depending on the Rank received, but the Avatar's victory pose will always remain the same, depending on the one chosen in the customization menu. Modern Sonic's pose will also remain the same regardless of Rank, but only after the Tag Team stages. In addition, one can complete Daily Missions to activate a Daily Mission Boost that will temporarily boost the amount of points given at the end of a stage, making it easier to get higher ranks.

Sonic Origins

In Sonic Origins, Ranks appear in the new Mission Mode, where they range from S to C. They are used to measure the player's performance in the game's different Missions. Furthermore, for each Rank the player acquires by completing each Mission, they will earn Coins, with the difficulty of each Mission determining the amount of Coins paid out with each Rank. The reward system is as follows:

Difficulty	Rank
	S	A	B	C
	5	3	2	1
	7	5	3	2
	10	7	5	3
	15	10	7	5
	20	15	10	7

Sonic Frontiers

In Sonic Frontiers, Ranks range from S to D. Ranks in the game are granted to the player solely based on their clear time for each Cyber Space stage. Getting an S-Rank is one of four missions present in Cyber Space stages (except for the stages present in The Final Horizon) and passing the requirement will net the player an extra Vault Key.

The song "Cyber Space: Result Screen" plays when Sonic fails to complete all four mission in a given stage, or when seeing a singular stage's Rank in the Battle Rush and Cyber Space Challenges, but "Cyber Space: Result Screen - Complete" will play when completing all four missions, or when seeing the overall Rank in the Battle Rush and Cyber Space Challenges.

Ranks are also present for Battle Rush and Cyber Space Challenges, where they are once again based on clear time, as well as for Action Chain Challenges, where ranking is determined on the score the player gets within the challenge's time limit.

Sonic Dream Team

In Sonic Dream Team, Ranks range from S to D. Ranks in the game are granted to the player solely based on their clear time for each stage. For the first mission of each Act, which is "Reach the Dream Portal" (except for Bittersweet Way in Sweet Dreams), as well as the initial untimed fight of each boss, ranks are never issued. Subsequent missions in each act are given ranks.

For "Collect the Dream Orb/Dream Moon", "Collect 6 Dream Shard", and Shadow's "Defeat the Nightmare" missions, a D-rank is given for the first clear of the mission, which is never timed. Only subsequent attempts after the first clear of those missions are timed and thus ranked.

For "Reach each checkpoint before time runs out", "Race to the Dream Portal", "Stay off the ground to collect the Dream Orb/Dream Moon", Tails' Challenges, and timed boss fights unlocked after defeating Nightmare Eggman, one may obtain higher ranks on the first clear.

Each stage has its own clear times for each rank.

Sonic Rumble Party

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

Rank comments

Sonic Adventure 2

Sonic Heroes

Shadow the Hedgehog

Rank	Transcript	Clip
	"Hmm. Perfect!"

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

Sonic and the Secret Rings

Rank	Transcript	Clip
	"That was tight!"
	"Too easy!"
	"Phew! Just made it!"
No Medal	"Huh, no problem."
Failed	"This just isn't my day."

Sonic Unleashed

Xbox 360/PlayStation 3

Wii/PlayStation 2

Sonic and the Black Knight

Sonic Colors (Nintendo DS)

Rank	Transcript	Clip
	"Amazing!"
	"Great!"
	"Very good!"
	"Good!"
	"Don't give up!"

Sonic Lost World (Nintendo 3DS)

Rank	Transcript	Clip
	"Yeah-ha, Aced it!"
	"Way to go!"
	"I can live with that!"
	"Not too shabby!"
	"Eh, we could do a little better."
	"Meh, average!"
	"Room for improvement!"
	"Hey! There's always next time."

Shadow Generations

Movie Shadow

Rank	Transcript	Clip
	"Perfect!"
	"Not a big deal."
	"Not bad."
	"I can do better."
	"I should have tried harder."

Trivia

• In Sonic Generations, almost the entire total score, and the Rank, are calculated by the time taken to complete the level. This means that, by completing an Act in a sufficiently fast time, it is almost always enough to earn an A or S Rank, assuming the player does not lose a life.
  • However, an orange bar counting as Rings (50 points per Ring, up to 5000) will extend off of the green bar representing time.
• In the Wii version of Sonic Colors and its remaster, since Sonic will only do a pose for the player after getting a Rank, but only when the time to interact with the results screen ends unlike Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Generations, where Sonic would always do a pose, perform a move or action, or just dance correspondent to on what rank the player receives after getting the score results and rank assignment, Sonic's rank animations can be completely skipped if the player exits the results screen while the player has control of Sonic.
• Rankings were supposed to be given in Sonic Adventure as well, but the concept was scrapped during development time for unknown reasons.^[2] However, the system was implemented into the next game, Sonic Adventure 2 and almost every other Sonic game released after.
• Unused voice clips for Kronos, Ares, and Chaos Islands within Sonic Frontiers has Sonic reciting his Sonic Adventure 2 to Sonic and the Black Knight rank quotes, despite rank quotes not being present. Their true purpose is unknown.
• The announcer voice clips in the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors seem to be reused from the E3 2010 build of the Wii version.
• Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Colors are the only games where the player character doesn't have a negative reaction when they get the lowest rank.

Notes

References

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