The Dark Ring[1] (ダークリング[2] Dāku Ringu?) is an object that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a type of synthesized Ring, used by Dr. Robotnik as a source of energy during the Newtrogic High Zone incident.
Description[]
Much like regular Rings, Dark Rings are solid brass rings with reddish-brown colors. Dark Rings in Knuckles' Chaotix come in three types:
- Badniks hold smaller, grayish Dark Rings as their power sources before being destroyed. These Rings cannot be collected and they quickly disintegrate into tiny pieces.
- Robotnik's vehicles at the end of each fifth stage hold medium-sized Dark Rings, which quickly disintegrate after popping out of their damaged machines.
- A Dark Ring slightly larger than the regular Giant Ring is seen in Robotnik's hideout deep within the Newtrogic High Zone prior to the Metal Sonic Kai battle.
History[]
Knuckles' Chaotix[]
A Dark Ring disintegrating after the defeat one of Dr. Robonik's vehicles, from Knuckles' Chaotix.
In Knuckles' Chaotix, Dr. Robotnik discovered a small Ring with ancient writing carved on it during his investigation on an island in the south sea. With the island revealed to be part of a lost civilization, Robotnik also discovered a Giant Ring similar to one seen previously on the Floating Island, which was revealed to have created a mysterious space filled with pillar energy, which had turned into ring-shaped crystalline objects called Chaos Rings. Robotnik thus attempted to figure out the secrets of the Rings used by Sonic and his friends to summon the Master Emerald to himself.[2] His experimentations eventually succeeded in crystallizing the energy into artificial Rings called "Dark Rings" before setting his resort city Newtrogic High Zone on the island.[3]
Around this time, Robotnik developed a "Ring Power" that could generate a space-time connection between the Rings.[2] He also implemented the Dark Ring energy for a new model of Metal Sonic.[4] Dark Rings in different sizes were also utilized as power sources for Robotnik's Badniks and vehicles. On Knuckles the Echidna, Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon, Charmy Bee, Mighty the Armadillo, Heavy, and Bomb's journey through the Newtrogic High Zone to halt Robotnik's plans,[3] they would encounter several Dark Rings when destroying Badniks and Robotnik's vehicles, only for the Dark Rings to disintegrate shortly thereafter.
Towards the end of the heroes' journey, Robotnik was experimenting on a single Giant Ring. After Metal Sonic was defeated by Knuckles and his allies, Robotnik crystallized the energy of the Giant Ring, thereby turning it into a large Dark Ring. With this Dark Ring, Metal Sonic was restored as Metal Sonic Kai.[1] Despite the doctor's efforts though, Metal Sonic Kai was defeated by Knuckles and his allies.
Trivia[]
- Later in Sonic Advance 3, regular golden Rings would be similarly implemented as Badnik's power sources without the need of being synthesized.
- Unused intro sprites found in the internal files of Knuckles' Chaotix appear to show Robotnik gazing upon a large Dark Ring.
References[]
|
