Rings score and Dry Lagoon

[zenna]

A few misc questions.

- Does anyone know if the total score at the end is calculated using the total number of rings you've picked up in the level, or the number you're holding when you reach the goal?

- In Rouge's Dry Lagoon there's a life bubble on a ledge right at the top of the second oasis area. I can't figure out how you're meant to reach it. Is there a hidden spring somewhere?

[Enigma]

Score is determined by how many rings you collect during the enitre level as well as how many enemies you kill (I believe). If you die, your score is reset to zero, and that works for all characters, not just Knuckles/Rouge. The exception to this are the "Collect 100 Rings!" stages, where you HAVE to get the 100 rings to finish the stage. With Knuckles/Rouges stages, if you get hit, where you started the level will be a "Restart" goal ring, you can ignore that though as most levels have pleanty of rings you can collect without restarting (but restarting is better if you are trying to A rank).

It takes a little practice, but you can get it. I've seen (and tried) just moving in a fast and tight circle, then there will be a prompt for the B button, press it and you will to an upper cut like spiral, which should get you that item box (if I am correct on where you are talking about).

There are many guides online on A ranking each stage if that is what you are going for, so I recommend looking into them. These guides will tell you the recommended score (which usually includes staying alive through one life so you retain your score and finishing within a certain time)

I used these guides to A rank my current run on Gamecube:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/gamecube/533012-sonic-adventure-2-battle/faqs/12764
http://www.ign.com/faqs/2006/sonic-adventure-2-lost-chao-faq-383179

[zenna]

Thank you! After much swivelling of joysticks I managed to get the life :) Dry Lagoon is great for stocking up on lives, four in a very small level. I'm working on improving my rankings but some levels are so difficult! I'm particularly bad at the Tails/Eggman ones, trying to line up all those multiple shots when all the targets are shooting at me, aaah!

[funewchie]

Originally posted by zenna:

I'm working on improving my rankings but some levels are so difficult! I'm particularly bad at the Tails/Eggman ones, trying to line up all those multiple shots when all the targets are shooting at me, aaah!

That gets way easier when you have the upgrade that causes Lock-On shots to take out surrounding enemies (so you can clear a bunch of them really quickly)
Furthermore, most of those enemies's shots are very slow-moving, so you usually have plenty of time to dodge them.

Finally, there's no point in locking onto more than 10 at a time (which gives the maximum 2,000 point "perfect" bonus), so just take your time and clear them out one section at a time.

(Now Sonic and Shadows's levels...yikes.)

[zenna]

Originally posted by funewchie:

(Now Sonic and Shadows's levels...yikes.)

Sonic and Shadow have some of the hardest levels (space rails *shudder*) but also the most fun. Crazy Gadget is one of my favourites. It's so over the top, you're zipping upside down along a ring trail over an acid pit trying to remember which way your joystick works and all the while the SA2 camera is swerving about as only it can - what drugs were they on when they made that level??