Sonic Heroes employs a ranking system at the end of each stage, from 'E' (lowest) to 'A' (highest). Achieving 'A' ranks is crucial for unlocking certain content and demonstrating mastery. Your rank is determined by several factors:
- Time: The faster you complete a stage, the better your time bonus. Speed is paramount in Sonic games.
- Rings: The more rings you collect and retain at the end of the stage, the higher your ring bonus. Aim for 100+ rings consistently.
- Enemies Defeated: Destroying all enemies in a stage contributes to your score. Don't just run past them!
- Power-Ups Used: Using fewer power-ups (like invincibility or speed shoes) can sometimes contribute to a higher rank, though this is less impactful than time and rings.
- Team Blasts Used: While Team Blasts are powerful, using them excessively might slightly reduce your score if not strategically applied.
To consistently achieve 'A' ranks, focus on speedrunning the stage while collecting as many rings as possible and defeating enemies efficiently. Learn the optimal paths and practice your formation changes to minimize downtime. Replaying stages is often necessary to perfect your run.