As you finish Challenge Acts and collect Red Star Rings, you'll unlock various extras and goodies, which you can find in the room all the way to the left in the hub world. Once you finish a Challenge Act, you'll have to ring the bell and catch up with the note that plays in order to unlock it's prize.
There are a grand total of 130 pieces of art to unlock. Each Red Star Ring grants you either a piece of concept art or a music track. Unlike the concept art, there will be charts for the other sets of collectibles, since some might want certain music tracks or skills before others and will want to hunt those down first.
A noticeable step down in quantity from the artwork, there are 50 music tracks to be unlocked throughout normal gameplay. These tracks come from a variety of different games, and can also be used in levels by changing the music before you start any Act. To unlock music tracks, you need to complete a certain amount of Challenge Acts; the tracks aren't tied to a specific Challenge, so just keep completing them to get them all.
| Music | Unlock Method | Original Game |
| Green Hill Zone (Original) | 08/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) |
| Marble Zone | 40/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) |
| Star Light Zone | 58/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) |
| Emerald Hill Zone | 13/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) |
| Chemical Plant Zone (Original) | 38/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) |
| Special Stage | 60/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) |
| Angel Island Zone | 20/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) |
| Hydro City Zone | 36/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) |
| Marble Garden Zone | 63/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) |
| Mushroom Hill Zone | 27/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic & Knuckles (1994) |
| Flying Battery Zone | 75/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic & Knuckles (1994) |
| Death Egg Zone | 34/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic & Knuckles (1994) |
| Open Your Heart | 72/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Adventure (1998) |
| It Doesn't Matter | 30/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic Adventure (1998) |
| Emerald Coast | 30/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Adventure (1998) |
| Live and Learn | 56/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) |
| Green Forest | 35/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) |
| Metal Harbor | 28/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) |
| Sonic Heroes | 42/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Heroes (2003) |
| What I'm Made Of | 47/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic Heroes (2003) |
| Special Stage - Bonus Challenge | 26/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Heroes (2003) |
| His World | 32/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) |
| Wave Ocean | 65/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) |
| Kingdom Valley | 14/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) |
| Endless Possibility | 18/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Unleashed (2008) |
| Windmill Isle (Day) | 77/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic Unleashed (2008) |
| Savannah Citadel (Day) | 12/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Unleashed (2008) |
| Reach For the Stars | 90/90 Red Star Rings | Sonic Colors (2010) |
| Tropical Resort | 87/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Colors (2010) |
| Sweet Mountain | 10/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Colors (2010) |
| Toxic Caves | 04/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Spinball (1993) |
| Palmtree Panic | 06/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog CD (JP) (1993) |
| Sonic Boom | 08/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993) |
| Stardust Speedway Zone | 16/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog CD (US) (1993) |
| Diamond Dust | 90/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic 3D Blast (1996) |
| Super Sonic Racing | 20/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic R (1997) |
| Neo Green Hill Zone | 22/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Advance (2001) |
| Leaf Forest | 24/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Advance 2 (2002) |
| Route 99 | 44/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Advance 3 (2004) |
| Right There, Ride On | 46/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Rush (2005) |
| A New Venture | 48/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Rush Adventure (2007) |
| High Flying Groove | 50/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Riders (2006) |
| Un-Gravitify | 52/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008) |
| Free | 54/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Free Riders (2010) |
| Quick Trip to Paradise | 66/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Rivals (2006) |
| Race to Win | 69/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic Rivals 2 (2007) |
| I Am... All of Me | 78/90 Challenge Act Notes | Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) |
| Let the Speed Mend It | 81/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007) |
| Knight of the Wind | 84/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic and the Black Knight (2009) |
| Splash Hill Zone | 02/90 Challenge Act Notes | Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (2010) |
A bit less important are the character descriptions, which you should unlock just by playing the game and rescuing Sonic's friends.
| Characters | Unlock Method | Original Game |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Restore Green Hill Zone | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) |
| Miles "Tails" Prower | Restore Green Hill Zone | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) |
| Knuckles the Echidna | Restore Sky Sanctuary Zone | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) |
| Amy Rose | Restore Chemical Plant Zone | Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993) |
| Shadow the Hedgehog | Defeat Shadow the Hedgehog | Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) |
| Rouge the Bat | Restore City Escape Zone | Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) |
| Cream the Rabbit | Restore Speed Highway Zone | Sonic Advance 2 (2002) |
| Silver the Hedgehog | Defeat Silver the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) |
| Blaze the Cat | Restore Crisis City Zone | Sonic Rush (2005) |
| Espio the Chameleon | Restore Seaside Hill Zone | Knuckles' Chaotix (1995) |
| Charmy Bee | Restore Planet Wisp Zone | Knuckles' Chaotix (1995) |
| Vector the Crocodile | Restore Rooftop Run Zone | Knuckles' Chaotix (1995) |
| Dr. Eggman | Defeat Time Eater | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) |
| Metal Sonic | Defeat Metal Sonic | Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993) |
After finishing Green Hill Zone's two Acts for the first time, you'll be able to check out the Skill Shop, run by none other than Omochao. The points you earn by playing levels depends on how well you perform, so you'll just want to be good at the game to buy all of the various skills he offers. You can create up to five different sets of skills to use in levels, with a maximum of 100 Skill Points available in each one. With each skill ranging in the amount of Skill Points required to use it, you'll want to plan out good combinations. Some skills can only be used by one of the two Sonics, while others can be used by both.
You can also buy extra lives for 500 points each, but you shouldn't really do that until after you have all the skills in the game. Some skills are given to you for collecting all the Red Star Rings in an Act, while others will become available in the shop after finishing a certain Challenge Act. You can play the original Sonic the Hedgehog, located above Green Hill Zone, using the SEGA Genesis Controller for sale. Once you buy the controller, you can then buy an infinite lives "cheat" for the game, if you're actually planning on playing it.
| Skill | Point Cost | Skill Points | Acts | Unlock Method | Description |
| Power Brake | --- | 10 | 1&2 | Default | Stop on a dime, regardless of your speed. |
| Sure-Footed | 500 | 20 | 1&2 | Default | Land on your feet after getting damaged. |
| Safety Net | 1000 | 40 | 1&2 | Default | Begin with 10 Rings after a restart. |
| Last Chance | 2000 | 50 | 1&2 | Default | Get an extra life when you're out of lives. |
| 10-Second Rings | 1500 | 30 | 1&2 | Default | Dropped Rings take 10 seconds to disappear. |
| Athleticism | 200 | 20 | 1&2 | Default | Lose less speed moving uphill and in water. |
| Time Brake | 5000 | 80 | 1&2 | Defeat Time Eater | Slows down time temporarily. |
| Super Sonic | --- | 100 | 1&2 | Defeat Time Eater | Collect 50 Rings to become Super Sonic. |
| Flame Shield | 4500 | 70 | 1 | Crisis City Zone (Challenge 4-1) | A shield that enables midair dashes. |
| Aqua Shield | 2500 | 70 | 1 | Chemical Plant Zone (Challenge 3-1) | Enables Bound Jumps and eliminates the need to get air. |
| Thunder Shield | 4000 | 70 | 1 | City Escape Zone (Challenge 2-1) | Enables double jumps. |
| Twin Spin Attack | --- | 30 | 1 | All RSR's (Sky Sanctuary Zone Act 1) | Allows you to attack in mid-jump. |
| Invincible Start | --- | 40 | 1 | All RSR's (Seaside Hill Zone Act 1) | Start the stage with temporary invincibility. |
| Shield | 1200 | 60 | 1 | Default | A Shield protects you from a single hit. |
| Power Sneakers | --- | 60 | 1 | All RSR's (Speed Highway Zone Act 1) | Run faster, plain and simple. |
| Long Spin Dash | --- | 30 | 1 | All RSR's (Rooftop Run Zone Act 1) | Your Spin Dash will carry you further. |
| Treasure Scanner | --- | 40 | 1 | All RSR's (Green Hill Zone Act 1) | Allows you to see hidden items and Springs. |
| Homing Attack | --- | 100 | 1 | All RSR's (Planet Wisp Zone Act 1) | Enables the use of Homing Attacks. |
| Hercules Muscles | --- | 10 | 1 | All RSR's Crisis City Zone Act 1) | Push movable objects faster. |
| Breath Holder | --- | 20 | 1 | All RSR's (Chemical Plant Zone Act 1) | Stay underwater longer. |
| Boardmaster | --- | 70 | 1 | All RSR's (City Escape Zone Act 1) | Hop on a skateboard whenever you want. |
| Ring Time | 3500 | 60 | 1 | Sky Sanctuary Zone (Challenge 4-1)
Crisis City Zone (Challenge 5-1) | Turns enemies into Rings for a short time. |
| Blast Off | 100 | 10 | 2 | Default | Press A when GO! appears to get a free Boost. |
| Speed Up | 300 | 20 | 2 | Default | Increases Sonic's Speed. |
| Direct Jump | --- | 30 | 2 | All RSR's (Seaside Hill Zone Act 2) | Increase the speed of your Wall Jumps. |
| Power Stomp | 800 | 30 | 2 | Crisis City Zone (Challenge 1-2) | Creates a shockwave when Stomp is used. |
| Quick Slide | --- | 30 | 2 | All RSR's (City Escape Zone Act 2) | Enables Quick Step when on a skateboard. |
| Acceleration | --- | 10 | 2 | All RSR's (Green Hill Zone Act 2) | Increases Speed when starting to run. |
| Smasher Bonus | --- | 30 | 2 | All RSR's (Chemical Plant Zone Act 2) | Breaking enemies, etc. fills Boost Gauge. |
| Ring Energy Bonus | --- | 40 | 2 | All RSR's (Planet Wisp Zone Act 2) | Collecting Rings fill the gauge faster. |
| Boost Gauge Up | 2200 | 60 | 2 | Green Hill Zone (Challenge 5-2) | Extends the length of your Boost Gauge. |
| Serial Homing | --- | 40 | 2 | All RSR's (Crisis City Zone Act 2) | Perform sequential Homing Attacks faster. |
| Auto-Gauge | --- | 30 | 2 | All RSR's (Speed Highway Zone Act 2) | Boost Gauge fills automatically over time. |
| Gauge Rebooter | --- | 30 | 2 | All RSR's (Sky Sanctuary Act 2) | Begin will a full Boost Gauge upon restart. |
| Trick Mastery | --- | 60 | 2 | All RSR's (Rooftop Run Act 2) | Perform tricks faster. |
| Endless Boost | 3000 | 70 | 2 | Rooftop Run Zone (Challenge 4-2) | The Boost Gauge stays full but you can't get Rings. |
Find anything you think is wrong with this walkthrough? Help us fix it by posting in its
Walkthrough Thread.
This walkthrough is the property of TrueSteamAchievements.com. This walkthrough and any content included may not be reproduced without written permission. TrueSteamAchievements.com and its users have no affiliation with any of this game's creators or copyright holders and any trademarks used herein belong to their respective owners.