In several games, fewer "recoverable" Rings are displayed on-screen when they are dropped than the number actually lost. However, the player will not usually lose Rings if the playable character possesses any type of Shield and/or invincibility. The Rings' scattering pattern also varies in many later games, like in Sonic Rush where they bounce farther away the more hits the player takes. In most cases, the player will drop all of them when taking damage, while in other games, only a portion of them will be dropped. The amount of Rings the player drops when taking damage varies between games. Also, upon taking damage and dropping the Rings, the player is given a momentary period of invulnerability (which is represented by the playable character rapidly flashing between visible and invisible). Taking damage without a Ring will result in the character's aforementioned defeat.ĭuring the brief period where the players drop their Rings after taking damage, there is a chance to collect the scattered Rings, but they will eventually all disappear after a while. In the pre-mentioned cases, the player's Ring count will reset to zero should they restart the level. However, there are certain dangers Rings cannot protect against, such as being crushed, falling into bottomless pits, failing missions with a time limit and drowning. If a ( unshielded or non- invulnerable) character takes damage while holding Rings, they drop their Rings which are then scattered in a circular pattern and bounce around the environment, while the player gets stunned and pushed backwards. In general, possessing even a single Ring prevents a character from losing a life upon taking damage from things such as impacts with enemies, enemy attacks or damage-inducing obstacles. The most recognizable and prevalent attribute of Rings is their function to prevent their holder from being defeated. Once hit, Rings will spread out from the playable character in a circular pattern. When this happens, they disappear, only leaving behind a small sparkle effect while a chime can be heard. In general gameplay, the player can collect Rings by simply touching them. Generally, they are arranged in large clusters or in strings along pathways, off ramps, above springs, around shuttle loops, along Grind Rails, or simply in midair. Often the most common item in the games, Rings can be found everywhere in the primary playable levels. Aside from the main setting on Earth, Rings are known to exist in underground caverns, on-board space stations, in outer space, on natural satellites and alien planets, inside cyberspace and even in alternate dimensions. It is not known where Rings come from and no backstory has been given for them, except that they are spread all over the world of Sonic the Hedgehog. Rings' unique properties also allow large amounts of them to carried at once, although it is not known where one puts them as they apparently disappear when picked up not even a genius like Tails knows for sure where they go. While appearing nothing out of the ordinary, Rings contain an unspecified form of energy referred to as " Ring Energy" which has energizing effects on machines, living beings and Super States. On their own, they spin around in one spot and either lie close to the ground or float in midair. The size of Rings varies in certain games in-game sprites and models show them being about half the size of the playable characters, while certain cutscenes or promotional material show them being small enough to be held in the palm of the hand.
The Rings' design is based on either the basic and round-edged wedding rings or solid brass round rings.