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[[Image:Sonic3kmonitors.png|frame|right|Various monitors in ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''.]]
 
[[Image:Sonic3kmonitors.png|frame|right|Various monitors in ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''.]]
'''Monitors''' (referred to in ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' and ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' as '''Item Boxes''') are staple objects in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] games. These breakable objects appear as small boxes resembling computer monitors/televisions, or bubbles, depending on the game's time. If the player breaks them open, they will receive a power-up or bonus, with a few exceptions.
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'''Item Boxes'''{{fileref|SonicAdventure DC US manual.pdf|page=13}} (アイテムボックス{{fileref|Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf|page=21}}), also called '''Item Capsules'''{{fileref|SonicUnleashed PS2 US manual.pdf|page=10}}, and known in Western releases of earlier games as '''Monitors'''{{fileref|Sonic1 MD US manual.pdf|page=8}}, are staple objects in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games, and are a means for the player to obtain a wide variety of items.
  
Monitors (like most [[badnik]]s) can be broken from directly above or from the sides, assuming that the character is performing either the jumping or rolling [[spin attack]]. When one is suspended in the air (e.g. hidden in a tree in [[Green Hill Zone]]) or stuck to the ceiling), striking it from below causes it to fall to the ground. When playing as [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]], they can also be broken by [[Power Glide|gliding]] into them.
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==Description==
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Item Boxes usually take the form of computer monitors or circular containers which are to be broken in-game, awarding the player their contents shortly afterwards. For the latter design, all regions tend to opt for the term "Item Box"{{fileref|SonicAdventure DC US manual.pdf|page=13}}, though this phrase has been consistently used in Japan since 1991{{fileref|Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf|page=21}}, and newer games that use the monitor design have used the term "Item Box"{{fileref|SM PC DIGITAL MANUAL UK V10 LR.pdf|page=17}} in place of "monitor".
  
The ''Advance'' series, and some 3D games have these powerups inside capsule-like objects. These can be broken by touching them, with the exception of ''Sonic Advance''.
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Traditionally Item Boxes are to be broken with some form of [[Spin Attack]], be it jumping, rolling or moves such as the [[Spin Dash]] or [[Homing Attack]], though in some later games, they break simply by walking into them. Item Boxes can usally be hit from all sides, though in the early 2D games, hitting one from below causes it to start falling until it hits solid ground. Once an Item Box is broken, it will remain as such until the player loses a life.
  
Monitors in more recent games (Besides ''[[Sonic 4]]'' and the Classic gameplay of ''[[Sonic Generations]]'') have become non-existent, with the last major 3D title to have any being ''[[Sonic 06]]'', in which they were removed entirely by the final game. ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' and ''[[Sonic Colors]]'' removed Monitors entirely, with the only remnants of any sort of monitor being the 1-Up Life icon, which is no longer ''in'' a monitor, and can be picked up like a ring. There are now slightly larger rings, which act as a Super Ring monitor. Speed Shoes are no longer needed, as Sonic can run as fast as them with the [[Sonic Boost]]. Invincibility and shields are also no longer needed, as the Sonic Boost acts as a ram-able shield, eliminating the need for either.
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Common Item Boxes include the Super Ring (which awards 10 [[Ring]]s), [[Shield]], [[Power Sneakers]], [[Invincibility]] and extra lives. They have also been used to denote [[checkpoint]]s, and some cases (with [[Eggman Mark]]s), even obstacles. In the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 game)|2006 release of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'']], [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] can [[Dummy Ring Bomb|throw Item Boxes]] as an attack.
  
==Recurring monitors==
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Almost all 2D ''Sonic'' platform games contain Item Boxes, though not all 3D games include them, as the gameplay styles seen in ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' (PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 version) and later ''[[Sonic Colours]]'' negated the need for them. Though items are contained in computer monitors in some later games like ''[[Sonic Generations]]'', ''[[Sonic Mania]]'' and ''[[Sonic Forces]]'', they are referred to as "Item Boxes" in all regions.
*'''Super ring''' gives the player 10 [[ring]]s in all games except the ''Advance'' and ''Adventure'' series, where the number of rings is specified (5, 10, 20 or 40) or randomised (1, 5, 10, 20 or 40).
 
*'''[[Speed Shoes]]''' increase the character's speed temporarily.
 
*'''[[Shield]]''' monitors grant the player a shield (available in various types since ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'') that protect them against one hit from an enemy or hazard.
 
*'''[[Invincibility]]''' monitors grant the player temporary invincibility.
 
*'''Extra life''' gives the player an extra life (1-up). The icon is usually the face of the character being played as. In ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s two-player competition mode, [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] and [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] have their own monitors that give them an extra life, regardless of who broke it. The game's scrapped [[Hidden Palace Zone]] features a Tails monitor, which functions like a normal 1-up monitor regardless of the character being played as.
 
*'''[[Dr. Eggman]]''' monitors cause one hit of damage to the player character. This is the only type of monitor that harms rather than rewards. It debuted in ''[[Sonic 2]]'', although graphics for it existed in ''[[Sonic 1]]''.
 
  
==Rarer monitors==
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===In the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Bible]]''===
*'''Teleport''' (''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)]]'') - switches Sonic and Tails' positions in competition mode and debug mode
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According to [[Sega of America]]'s ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Bible]]'', monitors are in fact PCs placed around the planet [[Mobius]] by [[Dr. Ovi Kintobor]], in an attempt to locate the "Gray Emerald" (and thus control the [[Chaos Emeralds]]){{fileref|SonicBibleDraft2 Document.pdf|page=26}}. They are described as part of a bulletin board service, where users could document any Gray Emerald findings, but after the accident that turned Kintobor into [[Robotnik]], the information was wiped and their contents were replaced with "magical objects"{{fileref|SonicBibleDraft2 Document.pdf|page=33}}.
*'''Switch''' (''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]'') - switches the characters' positions for a certain amount of time
 
*'''Combine Ring''' (''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]'') - protects your rings so if the first player is hit, he only loses one ring. He has a few seconds to get that ring, otherwise it breaks into all the lost rings. Getting the single ring recovers all your lost rings. It is notable that a similar monitor exists in ''Sonic CD'' but has no use.
 
*'''Big''' and '''Small''' (''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]'') - resizes the character who breaks the monitor for a certain amount of time. Small characters have a limited range of motion, while big characters cannot be held.
 
*'''Change Character''' (''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]'') - This monitor cycles between faces of possible characters. When broken, the second player becomes whoever was pictured at the time for a certain amount of time.
 
*'''Emerald''' (''[[Sonic Triple Trouble]]''): transports the player to a [[special stage]].
 
*'''Stopwatch''' (''[[Sonic Chaos]] and [[Sonic Triple Trouble]]''): In ''Sonic Chaos'' this stops the special stage timer for a few seconds. In ''Sonic Triple Trouble'' it resets the special stage timer.
 
*'''Pogo''' (''[[Sonic Triple Trouble]]'') gives the player a small spring that sticks to their feet.
 
*'''Rocket shoes''' (''[[Sonic Chaos]] and [[Sonic Triple Trouble]]'') allow Sonic to fly around temporarily.
 
*'''Snowboard''' (''[[Sonic Triple Trouble]]'') monitors grant Sonic a snowboard that he can ride.
 
*'''Skateboard''' (''[[Sonic Generations]]'') monitors appear in Classic [[City Escape]], allowing Sonic to ride around loops and use Jump Pads to reach higher portions of the level.
 
  
==Unimplemented monitors==
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==List of Item Boxes==
*'''Blank''' ("[[Sonic the Hedgehog 1 (16-bit)]]") a monitor avaible only in  that game's [[sega:debug mode|debug mode]] and it does nothing.
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Due to the long list of games featuring Item Boxes, this list has been divided into two sub-pages:
*'''"S"''' (''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'') monitors are only available in that game's debug mode. They grant the character 50 rings and instantly transform them into their [[Super transformation|super form]], irrespective of how many emeralds they have. The "S" monitor was also hidden in ''Sonic 1'', and was only viewable via hacking; it did nothing. It exists in ''Sonic CD'', also in debug mode only, where it acts as a combination of [[Speed Shoes]], [[invincibility]], and a [[shield]].
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/List of Item Boxes (1991-2006)}}
*'''Goggles''' (''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 1 (16-bit)]]'') probably protected Sonic from drowning in the same way as a [[water shield]] does in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and later games. Their functionality was not programmed in the finished game; they can only be implemented through [[sega:ROM hacking|hacking]] and do nothing.
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/List of Item Boxes (2007-present)}}
*'''Pogo''' (''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)]]'') possibly going to have the same affects as the one from ''[[Sonic Triple Trouble]]''; only viewable through hacking and does nothing when broken.
 
*'''Stopwatch''' (''[[Sonic CD]]'') can be placed using debug mode, but has no effect other than to freezing certain level elements (animation, etc.)
 
  
==Gallery==
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==References==
<gallery widths="60px">
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<references/>
Image:Monitor_classic.png|Super [[Ring]] monitor from ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic 1]]'' and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic 2]]'' (16-bit editions)
 
Image:Monitor_Sonic_3.png|''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3|Sonic 3]]'' and ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''
 
Image:Monitor_Sonic_3D.png|''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]''
 
Image:Monitor_Knuckles_Chaotix.png|''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]''
 
Image:Monitor_Sonic_Adventure.png|''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' series
 
Image:Monitor_Sonic_Heroes.png|''[[Sonic Heroes]]''
 
Image:Monitor_Sonic_Advance.png|''[[Sonic Advance]]''
 
Image:Monitor_Sonic_Advance_2.png|''[[Sonic Advance 2]]'' and ''[[Sonic Advance 3]]''
 
Image:SplashHillMonitor.png|''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4]]''
 
</gallery>
 
 
 
==Trivia==
 
*The Item boxes appearance has changed with the times. ''Sonic 1'', ''2'', and ''CD'' all had CRT Monitors for their boxes. ''Sonic 3'' had monitors resembling Apple computers from around that time. ''Sonic 4'' has them resemble modern flat-panel LCD TVs, while ''Sonic Generations'' kept the retro CRT look updated for HD.
 
  
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{{Items}}
 
[[Category:Level objects]]
 
[[Category:Level objects]]

Latest revision as of 16:12, 18 October 2024

Various monitors in Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Item BoxesMedia:SonicAdventure DC US manual.pdf[1] (アイテムボックスMedia:Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf[2]), also called Item CapsulesMedia:SonicUnleashed PS2 US manual.pdf[3], and known in Western releases of earlier games as MonitorsMedia:Sonic1 MD US manual.pdf[4], are staple objects in Sonic the Hedgehog games, and are a means for the player to obtain a wide variety of items.

Description

Item Boxes usually take the form of computer monitors or circular containers which are to be broken in-game, awarding the player their contents shortly afterwards. For the latter design, all regions tend to opt for the term "Item Box"Media:SonicAdventure DC US manual.pdf[1], though this phrase has been consistently used in Japan since 1991Media:Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf[2], and newer games that use the monitor design have used the term "Item Box"Media:SM PC DIGITAL MANUAL UK V10 LR.pdf[5] in place of "monitor".

Traditionally Item Boxes are to be broken with some form of Spin Attack, be it jumping, rolling or moves such as the Spin Dash or Homing Attack, though in some later games, they break simply by walking into them. Item Boxes can usally be hit from all sides, though in the early 2D games, hitting one from below causes it to start falling until it hits solid ground. Once an Item Box is broken, it will remain as such until the player loses a life.

Common Item Boxes include the Super Ring (which awards 10 Rings), Shield, Power Sneakers, Invincibility and extra lives. They have also been used to denote checkpoints, and some cases (with Eggman Marks), even obstacles. In the 2006 release of Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails can throw Item Boxes as an attack.

Almost all 2D Sonic platform games contain Item Boxes, though not all 3D games include them, as the gameplay styles seen in Sonic Unleashed (PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 version) and later Sonic Colours negated the need for them. Though items are contained in computer monitors in some later games like Sonic Generations, Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces, they are referred to as "Item Boxes" in all regions.

In the Sonic the Hedgehog Bible

According to Sega of America's Sonic the Hedgehog Bible, monitors are in fact PCs placed around the planet Mobius by Dr. Ovi Kintobor, in an attempt to locate the "Gray Emerald" (and thus control the Chaos Emeralds)Media:SonicBibleDraft2 Document.pdf[6]. They are described as part of a bulletin board service, where users could document any Gray Emerald findings, but after the accident that turned Kintobor into Robotnik, the information was wiped and their contents were replaced with "magical objects"Media:SonicBibleDraft2 Document.pdf[7].

List of Item Boxes

Due to the long list of games featuring Item Boxes, this list has been divided into two sub-pages:

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main article: Item Box/List of Item Boxes (1991-2006)
Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main article: Item Box/List of Item Boxes (2007-present)

References

Items in the Sonic the Hedgehog Game Series
Collectibles   Ring | Super Ring | Special Ring | Rich Ring | Heal Ring | Red Star Ring | Number Ring | Silver Moon Ring | Sonic Medal | Sun Medal | Moon Medal | Sun Tablet | Moon Tablet | Planet Tablet | Secret Item | Red Orbs | Blue Orbs | Green Orbs | Emblem | Chaos Drives | Special Stage Key | Material | Portal Gear | Memory Token | Vault Key | Red Seed of Power | Blue Seed of Defense | Dream Orb
Power-ups   Shield (Water, Lightning, Fire, Gold, Magnetic) | Invincibility | Power Sneakers | Rocket Shoes | Propeller Shoes | Hyper Heli-Tails | Eggman Mark | Super Ring | Combine Ring | Forcejewel | Power Core | Light Cores | Special Combination
Level Objects   Item Box | Item Panel | Spring | Spring Pole | Crane Lift | Accelerator Gun | Rocket | Bobsled | Buggy | Dash Rail | Spikes | Checkpoint | Time Warp Plate | Signpost | Goal Ring | Hidden Treasure Ring | Giant Ring | Dash Ring | Rainbow Ring | Capsule | Water Barrel | Ice Generator | Fire Generator | Crate | Door | Button | Dark Energy Key | Bumper | Speed Booster | Air bubbles | Chao container | Exploding Balloon
Powerful Items   Chaos Emeralds | Super Emeralds | Master Emerald | Time Stones | Chaos Rings | Precioustone | Sol Emeralds | Jeweled Scepter | World Rings | Excalibur | Phantom Ruby | Reverie | Dream Core
Weapons   Piko Piko Hammer | Chaos Energy Cannon | Caliburn | Wispon
Devices   Remote Robot | Combi Confiner | Mother Computer | Nega's Camera | Arks of the Cosmos | Miles Electric
Other   Chili Dog | Fortune Cards | Speed Down Boots | Chao Egg | Scepter of Darkness | Cacophonic Conch