For other uses, see Star Post (disambiguation).

The Star Post,^[1] also known as the Point Marker (ポイントマーカー^[2], Pointo Mākā^?), Lamppost^[3][4] (再スタート・マーカー^[5][6], Sai Sutāto Mākā^?, lit. "Restart Marker"), Check Point or Save Point^[7] (セーブポイント^[8], Sēbu Pointo^?), is a gimmick that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It serves as the series' progress marker and is found exclusively in the Zones. When passing a Star Post, the players' progress up to that point in the Zone will be saved, so when the player loses a life, the playable character will start over from the last Star Post they passed.

Description[]

Star Posts are similar in design to, but smaller than, streetlights in real life, as the design of Star Posts has been simple and tends to be the same throughout the series: a yellow/red/blue post with a stretch rod and a bulb on the top. The way the rod spins has varied, but usually, in 2D games, it rotates 360 degrees twice and after that, it assumes the same vertical position it originally had while the bulb part changes its color or flickers. Star Posts have a different appearance in 3D titles from Sonic Adventure onward, as there are usually two posts on opposite ends of each other, creating a gate the player can pass through. When going through the Star Posts, both lamp parts start spinning above the posts twice until they get into a vertical position. In games such as Sonic Unleashed and the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the passage in-between two Star Posts is widened particularly in 3D areas to make it easier to pass through. Certain games in the series also do not use Star Posts' lamppost designs at all and instead make use pads or holographic markers.

In gameplay, Star Posts function as check points for each point of their respective levels that saves the player's character's time and position within said levels. If the playable character loses a life or gets timed out, the next life will start from the location of the last Star Post touched with the time that was logged when the Star Post was originally touched.^{[note 1]} This does not apply when the player gets Game Over for losing all their lives or loses a life before touching any Star Post. Also, when the player respawns at a Star Post, they will (usually) possess zero Rings.

Besides saving a player's progress, the Star Posts have served several other purposes as well. In earlier games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Star Posts served as entry points for the Special Stages, and in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles they can be used to enter the Bonus Stages. In 3D games, they can also give a time bonus between the earlier and latest Star Posts and can even level up the player in Sonic Heroes.

Game appearances[]

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)[]

The Star Post made its first appearance in the 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), where it was originally called the Lamppost^[3] (再スタート・マーカー^[5], Sai Sutāto Mākā^?, lit. "Restart Marker"). In this game, Lampposts have a simple design with a yellow and gray post, a gray stretch rod and a blue bulb on the top. When the playable character touches a Lamppost, the bulb changes color from blue to red. These posts were used as checkpoints, which started as a tradition in the series.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit), this object is referred to as the Star Post^[1] (ポイントマーカー^[2], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker") for the first time, and possesses a different design. In this game, the Star Posts have a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a black center with a white star in it. Star Posts are also featured in multiplayer Zones.

In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing red and yellow. In addition, if the playable character possesses at least fifty Rings when touching the Star Post, a Star Circle will appear above it. If the player jumps into the Star Circle, they will be transported to a Special Stage. If the player does not enter the Star Circle however, it will disappear after a few seconds. After leaving the Special Stage, the player will be transported back (with zero Rings) to the Star Post where the Star Circle was formed.

In the lock-on game Knuckles in Sonic 2, Knuckles retains the number of Rings he had at the last Star Post he passed when respawning in the Act at that point or after entering a Special Stage.

Sonic the Hedgehog CD[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the Star Post is referred to as the Lamppost^[4] (再スタート・マーカー^[6], Sai Sutāto Mākā^?, lit. "Restart Marker") once again. They also have a design similar to the one they had in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, possessing a yellow and gray cone-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a blue bulb on the top. When the playable characters touches a Lamppost, the bulb will flash yellow and red.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, its add-on continuation Sonic & Knuckles and the lock-on game Sonic 3 & Knuckles, the Star Post make a reappearance. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it is referred to as the Starpost^[9] (ポイントマーカー^[10], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker"), yet in Sonic & Knuckles it is spelled as Star Post^[11] (ポイントマーカー^[12], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker").

Starposts in this game have a design similar to the one they had in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As such, they have a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a black center with a white star in it. In gameplay, touching a Starpost will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing red and yellow.

The Star Circle, which appears over a Starpost when passing it with enough Rings, also returns, though it now takes the player to a Bonus Stage. If the player collects over fifty rings and enters the Star Circle in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the player will be sent to the Bonus Stage's Gumball Machine. Different-looking Starposts are also featured in the Competition Mode of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 which serve as the starting point and goal.

With Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles combined, the player is able to transport themselves into all three types of Bonus Stages after passing Starposts with certain amount of Rings. Passing a Starpost with 20-34 Rings will summon a yellow Star Circle that leads to the Slot Machine Stage; passing a Starpost with 35-49 Rings creates a red Star Circle that leads to the Glowing Sphere Stage; and passing a Starpost with 50-74 Rings will manifest a silver Star Circle that leads into the regular Gumball Machine-type Bonus Stage.

Sonic Adventure[]

In Sonic Adventure and its enhanced port Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, the Star Post is referred to as the Point Marker^[13] (ポイントマーカー^[14], Pointo Mākā^?). In this game, the Point Markers have red-colored posts with blue circles containing a yellow star around their lower halves, gray stretch rods and a blue lamp on the top of each of them.

In gameplay, Point Markers only appear in the Action Stages. Activating a Point Marker in this game will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to turn yellow. The game also introduces the concept of a two-post gate in an Action Stage, where the player can go through them to save their progress. It also gives a time bonus between the earlier Point Markers to the current ones. Also, the exact time at which the Point Marker was touched is displayed briefly at the bottom of the Action Stage display whenever a Point Marker is touched.

Sonic Adventure 2[]

In Sonic Adventure 2 and its enhanced port Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, the Star Post is referred to as the point marker^[15][16] (ポイントマーカー^[17], pointo mākā^?). In this game, the point markers consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, they possess the same look they had in Sonic Adventure, being red-colored posts with blue circles containing a yellow star around their lower halves, horizontally-aligned gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods.

In gameplay, activating a point marker will cause its post rods to change position from horizontal to vertical and their lamps to turn yellow. The point markers also only appear in the High-Speed Action and Lock-on Shooting Stages. The exact time at which the point markers was touched is likewise displayed briefly at the right bottom of the Action Stage screen display whenever a Star Post is touched. As well as saving the player's progress, the Star Posts can also grant the player items/power-ups depending on how many Rings the player has on them when they pass the point marker. The pattern follows:

• 20-39 Rings: 5 extra Rings
• 40-59 Rings: 10 extra Rings
• 60-79 Rings: 20 extra Rings
• 80-89 Rings: High-Speed Shoes
• 90+ Rings: Barrier/Magnetic Barrier (unless already using a Barrier)

Sonic Advance series[]

Sonic Advance[]

In Sonic Advance, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint^[18] (ポイントマーカー^[19], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker"). In this game, the Checkpoints consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Checkpoints are similar to how they looked in Sonic Adventure, possessing a red post with a blue circle containing a yellow star on it, a gray stretch rod and a blue lamp on the top.

In gameplay, activating a Checkpoint will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to flash white. There are also now only two Checkpoints in each Act of a Zone. In Egg Rocket Zone however, there are no Checkpoints at all. Instead, the game saves its progress a total of four times during certain sections as the Zone's rocket leaves its launch section and removes portions of itself during flight until its reaches the end of the planet's atmosphere.

Sonic Advance 2[]

In Sonic Advance 2, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint^[20] (ポイントマーカー^[21], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker"). Like in Sonic Advance, the Checkpoints here consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Checkpoints each have an orange and white-striped post, a gray stretch rod, and a blue lamp on the top with a rotating "C" inside the lamp.

In gameplay, activating a Checkpoint will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to turn yellow. There are also no more than two Checkpoints in each Act. Checkpoints also do not appear in the Boss Act of the Zones.

Sonic Advance 3[]

In Sonic Advance 3, the Star Post is once again referred to as the Checkpoint^[22] (ポイントマーカー^[23], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker"). Like in earlier Sonic Advance titles, the Checkpoints here consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, they look exactly like they did in Sonic Advance, possessing a red post with a blue circle containing a yellow star on it, a gray stretch rod and a blue lamp on the top.

In gameplay, activating a Checkpoint will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to flash white. Unlike in previous Sonic Advance titles however, there are now more than two Checkpoints in each Zone's Acts. Checkpoints also do not appear in the Boss Area of each Zone.

Sonic Heroes[]

In Sonic Heroes, the Star Post is referred to as the Check Point^[24] (チェックポイント^[25], Chekku Pointo^?). In this game, the Check Points also received a complete redesign. Rather than resembling lampposts, they resemble circular high-tech plates with dark blue insides, a red and gray rim and four fasteners each. These plates sit on the ground and project a holographic marker through a blue glow they emit. The holographic markers themselves each resemble a segmented red ring with a yellow five-pointed star in the ring's center. The holographic bubble effect (when the marker fades) on the E3 build appears yellow instead of white.

In gameplay, activating a Check Point will cause its holographic marker to disappear. Additionally, when saving a player's progress in this game, a Check Point will grant a Power Core to whichever character is in the lead. Another role Check Points in Sonic Heroes play is bringing back any crushed or contained character to the playable team during gameplay. This only happens, however, if the said character is still crushed under a Weight or captured by a Klagen or Gold Klagen.

Shadow the Hedgehog[]

In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Star Post is referred to as the Save Point^[7] (セーブポイント^[8], Sēbu Pointo^?) In this game, the Save Points' design closely resembles the one they had in Sonic Heroes, making them look like circular plates with gray insides, back and orange rims, and four fasters each. In addition, they have some rusty details to them. However, they display no holographic marker.

In gameplay, activating a Save Point will cause its plate to glow green and blue. Also, besides saving the player's progress, the Star Posts allow the player to teleport between other Save Points in a stage. To teleport, stand on the Save Point and press //. This will bring up a list of Save Points in the stage. Once a Star Post has been chosen, press // to teleport to it. This can be very useful if the player needs to backtrack in a stage. In addition, much like in Sonic Adventure 2, the Save Point can also grant the player items depending on how many Rings they have on them when they pass the Save Point. The pattern is as follows:

• 0-49 Rings: 10 extra Rings
• 50-99 Rings: 20 extra Rings
• 100+ Rings: One extra life

Sonic Rush series[]

Sonic Rush[]

In Sonic Rush, the Star Post is called the Checkpoint Marker^[26] (ポイントマーカー^[27], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker"), or just Checkpoint.^[26] In this game, the Checkpoint Markers' design is similar to the one they had in Sonic Heroes. As such, they each consist of a blue and gray plate with three (perhaps four) orange and gray feet attached to it. Like in Sonic Heroes, they also each project a holographic marker in the form of a segmented red ring with a yellow star in the middle.

In gameplay, activating a Checkpoint Marker will cause the holographic marker to change to a blue five-pointed star. In addition, when saving the player's progress, the Checkpoint Markers will charge up a portion of the player's Tension Gauge.

Sonic Rush Adventure[]

In Sonic Rush Adventure, the Star Post is called the Checkpoint Marker^[28] or just Checkpoint^[28] again. In this game, each Checkpoint Marker resembles a red, blue and yellow chalice. This chalice projects a holographic marker in the form of a yellow five-pointed star that has a spinning white and blue ring around it.

In gameplay, activating a Checkpoint Marker will cause the holographic marker to change to a blue five-pointed star. In addition, when saving the player's progress, the Checkpoint Markers will charge up a portion of the player's Tension Gauge.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), the Star Post is referred to as the Point Marker^[29] (ポイントマーカー^[30], Pointo Mākā^?). In this game, the Point Markers consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, they resemble their Sonic Adventure counterparts. As such, the Point Markers have red-colored posts with a blue circle containing a yellow star on their lower halves, horizontally aligned gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods.

In gameplay, activating a Point Marker will cause its post rods to change position from horizontal to vertical and their lamps to turn yellow. The exact time at which the Point Marker was touched is likewise displayed briefly at the bottom of the screen display whenever one is touched.

Sonic Unleashed[]

In the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 version of Sonic Unleashed, the Star Posts make an appearance where they are called Check Points.^[31] In this game, they consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts consist of red posts with a turquoise laser grind between them. They also have blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, and gray stretch rods with blue lamps on their ends that are hidden.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rods and lamps to open up and its laser grid to disappear. The interval between the posts has also been expanded considerably so a player cannot miss the Star Post. Also, at the moment Sonic passes through a Star Post in the daytime stages, the Star Post will record Sonic's speed.

In the Wii/PlayStation 2 version of the game, Star Posts are not common objects. However, additional "Time Attack! Race for the Goal!" Missions do feature them as passing through one pair will record the time between them and previous Star Posts for the player.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4[]

Episode I[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I and its extension Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal, this gimmick is referred to as the Star Post once more. In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts have the same design they had in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, possessing a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a blue center with a white star in it. In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing white.

Episode II[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, they look like they did in the previous title but more detailed, possessing a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a blue center with a yellow star in it. In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing yellow.

Sonic Colors[]

In Sonic Colors and the remaster Sonic Colors: Ultimate, the Star Posts make an appearance. However, their design and functionalities differ slightly between the games.

In the Wii version, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint.^[32] In this game, and Sonic Colors: Ultimate, they consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, they possess the same look they had in Sonic Unleashed. As such, they consist of red posts with a turquoise laser grind between them, blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, and gray stretch rods with blue lamps on their ends. Depending on the Act's perspective however, the post rods' position will vary: in the 3D sections, the post rods are hidden, and in the 2.5D sections, the post rods are aligned horizontally. Regardless of perspective, once a Checkpoint is activated, its post rods will twirl around and assume a vertical position. In addition, passing a Checkpoint grants a "Checkpoint Bonus" which is worth 2,500 points. Noticeably, for each consecutive Checkpoint the player passes, the Checkpoint Bonus will be doubled; passing two Checkpoints consecutively for example gives 5,000 bonus points. This bonus can be doubled until it reaches a total of 640,000 points for the ninth Star Post and anyone after that. If the player respawns at a Checkpoint after losing a life, however, the Checkpoint Bonus will be reset to its original amount.

In the Nintendo DS version, the Star Post is referred to as the Checkpoint Marker^[33] or just Checkpoint.^[33] In this game, they use their design from Sonic Rush. As such, they each consist of a blue and gray plate with three (perhaps four) orange and gray feet attached to it. They also each project a holographic marker in the form of a segmented red ring with a yellow star in the middle. Once a Checkpoint Marker is activated, its holographic marker will change to a blue five-pointed star. However, they display no other functionality beyond saving the player's progress.

Sonic X Shadow Generations[]

Sonic Generations[]

In the console/PC version and Nintendo 3DS version of Sonic Generations, the checkpoint gimmick is called the Star Post^[34][35] once more. In both versions of the game, they consist of a two-post gate that the player has to pass through to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts consist of red posts with a turquoise light between them. They also have blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, horizontally-aligned gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods.

Star Posts in this game appear in both the classic and modern Acts, and in several Challenge Acts. In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rods to change position from horizontal to vertical and their lamps to turn yellow. Also, when passing through a Star Post, a time is shown on the screen showing the time difference the player took to pass through it between their fastest run and the current run.

Shadow Generations[]

Sonic Lost World[]

In Sonic Lost World, the Star Posts have mostly the same look they had in Sonic Generations, being red posts with blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods. In the Wii U/PC version of the game, the Star Posts consist of one single post, whose post rod is vertically-aligned, in the 2.5D sections of the Zones, but in the 3D sections, they consist of two posts with horizontally aligned post rods that form a gate. However, the Nintendo 3DS version uses two Star Posts with vertically aligned post rods as a gate in both the 3D and 2.5D sections. Also, unlike in previous games, there are Star Posts placed on Grind Rails too.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rods to twirl around and assume a vertical position and its lamps to turn yellow.

On the Wii U/PC version, should the player lose five lives in a row before reaching the next Star Post, the "Warp" appears. Breaking the Warp's Item Box transports the player to the next Star Post, thus skipping that section of the Zone. Also, in the Nintendo 3DS version, a Special RC Vehicle will spawn alongside the playable character at a Star Post when the player has lost too many lives.

Sonic Mania[]

In Sonic Mania and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the checkpoint gimmick is called the Star Post^[36] (ポイントマーカー^[37], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker") again. In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, each Star Post sports a yellow hourglass-shaped post with a bumper symbol in the center, a gray-white stretch rod which possesses an extra component, and a large blue bulb on top of the stretch rod.

In gameplay, touching a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its bulb to change to red. In addition, much like in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, if the playable character possesses at least twenty-five Rings when touching a Star Post, its bulb will start flashing red and yellow and a Star Circle leading into the Bonus Stage will appear. In Sonic Mania Plus, the Star Posts can also open Star Circles into the Pinball Stage, though the ways of making that Star Circle appear varies: in Mania Mode, the player must obtain all thirty-two gold medallions from the Bonus Stages and pass a Star Post with at least twenty-five Rings in hand, and in Encore Mode the player must pass a Star Post while carrying at least fifty Rings. After leaving the Bonus Stage or Pinball Stage, the player will be transported back to the Star Post where the Star Circle was formed.

Sonic Forces[]

In Sonic Forces, the save point gimmick is referred to as the Star Post^[38] once more. In Classic Sonic's stages, the Star Posts are identical to the Lamppost from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, which sports a yellow and gray post, a gray stretch rod and a blue bulb on the top. In the other stages, the Star Posts possess their modern design, complete with red posts, blue joints (each containing a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their posts, gray stretch rods and blue lamps at the end of the stretch rods. However, the modern Star Posts consist of only one post, whose post rod is vertically aligned, in the 2.5D sections of the stages, while in the 3D sections, they are a gate that consists of two posts with horizontally-aligned post rods and a turquoise laser grid between them.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rod(s) to twirl around and assume a vertical position. The bulbs on the Star Posts in Classic Sonic's stages will turn red as well. The Star Posts in the other stages on the other hand will lose the laser grid between them while their lamps turn yellow.

Team Sonic Racing[]

In Team Sonic Racing, the gimmick is again referred to as the Star Post. In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass. In terms of design, they each consist of a red post with a blue joint (which contains a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their post, a vertical gray stretch rods and a blue lamp at the end of the stretch rod. However, in Team Sonic Racing, they are several times larger than normal.

In gameplay, Star Posts appear during the Daredevil Events. They act as gates that the player needs to skim on the left or right by in order to get points. For this purpose, the Star Posts have a yellow and red arch on each side. The red side of the Star Posts both grants points and increases the score multiplier for a limited time while the yellow side just grants bonus points. The score multiplier the Star Posts grant in particular will increase by 0.1 each time the player skims past the red side of the Star Post before the previous point multiplier effect wears off. However, after the score multiplier reaches a 1.5 multiplier rate, any further attempts to raise the point multiplier will only maintain the 1.5 point multiplier. Also, should the point multiplier wear off, it will reset itself.

By drifting past a Star Post during Daredevil Events, the player will earn bonus points. Also, hitting the Star Posts does not grant any points.

Sonic Frontiers[]

A marker that tracks passers-by. If you fall after touching one, you can return to its location. — Fish-o-pedia description, Sonic Frontiers[39]

In Sonic Frontiers, Star Posts make an appearance as common objects in Cyber Space stages. Their appearance and functionality is closely the same as in previous mainline games. During The Final Horizon, no Star Posts are present in Cyber Space.

Additionally, classic Star Posts retaining their appearance from Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) are present as items to be hooked in Fishing Spots. In each Fishing Spot, Star Posts grant different amount of Treasure Tokens to purchase items in the "Trade Tokens" store: six tokens on Kronos Island and twelve on Ares Island.^[40][41]

Sonic Superstars[]

Other game appearances[]

Sonic's Schoolhouse[]

In Sonic's Schoolhouse, a Star Post with the lamppost design from the original Sonic the Hedgehog appears as a statue in the 3D Concentration recess mini game.

Sonic Jam[]

In Sonic Jam, Star Posts appear in Sonic World, where they are referred to as Red Points according to the Mission List. These Red Points resemble the Lampposts from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, each possessing a gray and yellow post, a gray stretch rod, and a red bulb on top of the stretch rod. There are also shorter Red Points called Blue Points, which have blue bulbs instead. Two different World Missions in Sonic World involve touching three Red Points and five Blue Points within a certain time limit. Activating a Red/Blue Point in this game will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to flash red/blue and yellow.

Sonic Pocket Adventure[]

In Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, the gimmick is referred to as both the Start Post^[42] (ポイントマーカー^[43], Pointo Mākā^?, lit. "Point Marker") and the point marker.^[42] In this game, the Start Posts' design is similar to the one it had in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As such, each Start Post has a yellow hourglass-shaped post, a gray stretch rod and a red lamp on the top which has a black center with a white star in it. In gameplay, touching a Start Post will cause the post rod to twirl once and its lamp to start flashing red and yellow.

Sonic Jump series[]

Sonic Jump[]

In Sonic Jump, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass to save their progress. In terms of design, the Star Posts are identical to how they appeared in Sonic Advance, possessing a red post with a blue circle containing a yellow star on it, a gray stretch rod and a blue lamp on the top.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause the post rod to twirl and its lamp to flash red and blue.

Sonic Jump 2[]

In Sonic Jump 2, which is essentially a remake of the original Sonic Jump, the Star Posts look and behave exactly like they did in the original Sonic Jump title.

Super Smash Bros. series[]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl. the Star Posts appear as a part of the Green Hill Zone arena, and act as obstacles rather than checkpoints. In this game, they possess a yellow and gray post, a gray stretch rod and a blue bulb on top of the stretch rod, like in the original Sonic the Hedgehog.

In gameplay, Star Posts will randomly spring out of the ground. When attacking a Stat Post however, its bulb will turn red and start spinning: in this state the Star Posts are able to hurt players other than the original attacker. They only deal 10% damage, but cause decent knockback with KO capabilities. After a few seconds, the Star Post will stop spinning and can be attacked again. They disappear on their own after a while however.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[]

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the Star Posts again serve as obstacles in the Green Hill Zone arena. They also have the same design they had in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, possessing a yellow and gray post, a gray stretch rod and a blue bulb on top of the stretch rod. In gameplay, they exhibit the same behavior and mechanics they had in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Star Posts appear as Green Hill Zone-exclusive obstacles once more. Also, once again, they possess the design they had in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, being yellow and gray posts with gray stretch rods and a blue bulb on top of their stretch rods. In gameplay, they exhibit the same behavior and mechanics they had in previous Super Smash Bros. installments.

Sonic Runners[]

In Sonic Runners, the gimmick is referred to as the Star Post once again.^[44] In this game, the Star Posts consist of a single Star Post that the player has to pass. In terms of design, they are each made up of a red post with a blue joint (which contains a five-pointed yellow star) on top of their post, a vertical gray stretch rods and a blue lamp at the end of the stretch rod.

In gameplay, activating a Star Post will cause its post rod to twirl around. However, instead of saving the player's progress so that the player will respawn at the Star Post after failing a run, the Star Post will bank all the Rings the player has in their possession at that point. Also, in this game, there are only a single Star Post in each section either after beating Dr. Eggman and speeding up the running pace or at the middle-point of the stage (usually at the higher pathways).

Sonic Speed Simulator[]

In Sonic Speed Simulator, Star Posts appear as objects found during Time Trials. When beginning a trial, multiple Star Posts will spawn across the map, which the player has to pass through in order so as to complete the challenge. These Star Posts will disappear once the trial is finished. In-game, their design is mostly the same as their one from Sonic Generations, albeit with the color of the spheres being changed from dark blue to cyan.

Variants[]

Bell[]

Main article: Bell (Tails' Skypatrol)

Bells (ベル, Beru^?) are replacements of Star Posts that only appear in Tails' Skypatrol. The yellow bell floats in the air, and when the player touches it as Tails, it will save the player's progress. The player will also start from the last Bell after losing a life.

Giant Ring[]

Main article: Giant Ring

Star Posts are replaced by Giant Rings as check points in Sonic 3D Blast, which are actually used to lead Flickies of Flicky Island into it. If the player loses a life, they will restart at the point where the Giant Ring was located.

Marker[]

Main article: Marker

Markers are the replacement of Star Posts in several Sega Game Gear and Master System Sonic games. By breaking the Marker's monitor, it will save the player's progress.

In other media[]

TV shows[]

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog[]

Main article: Star Post (Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog)

In the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog television series, the Star Posts have a more simplistic design and allow access to the Special Zones. During a race, Sonic and his allies used a Star Post to take a shortcut.

Knuckles[]

Books and comics[]

Sonic the Comic[]

Main article: Star Post (Sonic the Comic)

In the Sonic the Comic series and its spin-offs published by Fleetway Editions, Star Posts initially existed all over Mobius. They can only be activated by Sonic the Hedgehog when he charges them with Sonic Speed Energy. This way, the Star Posts allowed instantaneous travel to any other Star Post and the Special Zone. Most of the Star Posts were destroyed by Dr. Ivo Robotnik though.

Archie Comics[]

Main articles: Star Posts (Archie) and Star Posts (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Star Posts are a technology invented by Tails and Rotor Walrus to allow travel to other Zones. They were originally only meant to allow access to the Special Zone, but were later upgraded to access other dimensions like Moebius.

Following the events of Worlds Collide, which led to a rebooting of the timeline, the Star Posts became a technology that was used by Dr. Eggman during the Eggman Invasion.

Trivia[]

• In order to access the Bonus Stages in Sonic Mania, the player needs twenty-five Rings when passing a Star Post. This is a reference to Sonic Mania celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Sonic series.

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