Collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds is a staple of Sonic games, and Sonic Heroes is no exception. To obtain a Chaos Emerald, you must first find a 'Special Key' within a stage and then successfully complete the 'Special Stage' that follows. There is one Special Key hidden in each of the 14 main stages across all four teams.
Finding Special Keys:
- Special Keys are often hidden off the main path, requiring careful exploration or specific character abilities to reach.
- They are usually found in Act 1 of each stage.
- Look for glowing, rainbow-colored keys. They are usually in a prominent but slightly out-of-the-way location.
- Once you collect a Special Key, you must reach the goal ring of that stage to access the Special Stage. If you lose a life after collecting the key, you'll have to find it again.
Special Stages:
- Special Stages are tube-like races where you must catch the Chaos Emerald before it escapes.
- You control your team in Speed formation, constantly boosting forward.
- Collect spheres to increase your speed and avoid obstacles that slow you down.
- The key to success is maintaining momentum and using the Light Dash (B button when near a trail of rings) to quickly traverse ring lines.
- Practice is essential, as these stages can be quite challenging, especially the later ones.
Collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds for a single team unlocks their respective 'Last Story' and the ability to transform into Super Sonic, Super Shadow, Super Amy, or Super Vector during the final boss fight.