Part 33

Unlock the secrets to S-ranking missions in Sonic the Hedgehog's Part 33. Learn tips for points, rings, and finding Silver Medals.

Alright, let's dive into Part 33 of our Sonic the Hedgehog adventure! This section is all about understanding how those mission ranks and bonuses work, especially when it comes to snagging those precious Silver Medals. It might seem a bit dry at first, but trust me, getting a handle on these points and collectibles is key to those coveted Gold Medals later on.

Mission Ranks & Ring Bonuses:

You'll see different point thresholds for S, A, B, C, and D ranks in various missions, and each rank comes with a Ring Bonus. The higher your rank, the more bonus rings you'll get at the end of the Act. For example, in Sonic Town Mission #16, an S rank gets you a 3,000 Ring Bonus, while a D rank only nets you 500. Keep an eye on these targets as you play!

• Sonic Town Mission #16:
  • S rank: 40,000 points, 3,000 Ring Bonus
  • A rank: 37,500 points, 2,000 Ring Bonus
  • B rank: 35,000 points, 1,000 Ring Bonus
  • C rank: 32,500 points, 800 Ring Bonus
  • D rank: 0 points, 500 Ring Bonus
• Shadow Town Mission #6:
  • S rank: 40,000 points, 1,000 Ring Bonus
  • A rank: 37,500 points, 500 Ring Bonus
  • B rank: 35,000 points, 300 Ring Bonus
  • C rank: 32,500 points, 200 Ring Bonus
  • D rank: 0 points, 100 Ring Bonus
• Shadow Town Mission #8:
  • S rank: 50,000 points, 1,000 Ring Bonus
  • A rank: 45,000 points, 500 Ring Bonus
  • B rank: 25,000 points, 300 Ring Bonus
  • C rank: 5,000 points, 200 Ring Bonus
  • D rank: 0 points, 100 Ring Bonus

General Mission Tips:

• Don't Die! Seriously, this is huge. If you die, you lose ALL your points accumulated in that Act, and you'll restart from a checkpoint with zero. Everything you gained from attacking enemies, grabbing rings, or hitting Rainbow Hoops is gone. The only exception might be if you die very early on, but don't count on it.
• Multi-Enemy Bonuses: Try to take out groups of enemies at once. This can be done by targeting the lead enemy in a group or using environmental elements. Killing more than three enemies simultaneously, especially with a Fire Box, gives you a nice point boost. Experiment with Silver's psychic abilities or Shadow's Chaos Control to group enemies up before unleashing an attack.
• Time vs. Enemies vs. Rings: For some missions, especially Town Missions, a super-fast time is the main key to an S-rank. However, defeating enemies and collecting rings also contribute significantly to your score in Act Missions. Remember, rings are also crucial for some boss fights. It's usually a balance, but know what the mission prioritizes!
• Rings Matter: Rings count towards your score when you pick them up, and you also get a Ring Bonus at the end based on your rank.

Silver Medals Explained:

Silver Medals are scattered throughout the game's Acts and Town Areas. Collecting them is essential for earning Gold Medals. You need to grab all 10 Silver Medals in an Act or all of them for a specific character in the Town Stages to earn a Gold Medal. If you're playing on Xbox 360, collecting all 380 Silver Medals unlocks the 'Silver Medalist' Achievement, worth 50 Gamer Points.

Finding Silver Medals:

• In Acts: After completing an Episode, you can select the Act in Trial Select mode to find the Silver Medals. Just a heads-up, they don't appear in Hard Mode.
• In Town Areas: To find Silver Medals in Soleanna Town Areas after beating an Episode, you need to return to Episode Mode. Some gates might be closed, but you can still access all three areas. For Sonic and Shadow, you can travel between Castle Town and New City (but the Forest gate is closed). For Silver, you can go between Forest and New City (but the Castle Town gate is closed). You won't be able to access all Town Areas until you've completed the relevant Episode.
• Listen Up! If you hear the distinct Silver Medal noise, you're close! You can even turn off the level music in Extras/Sound to hear it better. However, some medals don't make a noise until you perform a specific action in-level.
• Don't Sweat Dying (Too Much): If you die after grabbing a Silver Medal, you'll keep it if you complete the Act with remaining lives. If you make it to the end of the Act and Save, you'll keep all picked-up medals. However, a Game Over will make you lose them. Dying specifically to grab a medal can be worth it, but be mindful if you lose track of which ones you've actually secured.
• Hidden Spots: Silver Medals love to hide behind pillars, in hard-to-reach areas, or inside breakable objects like boxes, vases, and statues. Look for a faint glow, or be prepared to smash things!
• Enemy Encounters: Some medals only appear after defeating specific groups of enemies, often ones you wouldn't normally have to fight. Stick around after clearing an area, and sometimes the medal will pop up behind you. Many of these are found in Shadow's Episode.
• Rooftops & High Places: In Castle Town, many Silver Medals are on rooftops. Look for springs to get up there. Sonic can use the Purple Gem for infinite jumps (except in specific sections), and Silver can use his psychokinesis to levitate to higher areas.

Silver Medal Totals:

• Sonic: 130
• Silver: 120
• Shadow: 120
• Last Episode: 10
• Total: 380