Time Stone

For other uses, see Time Stone (disambiguation).

The Time Stones^[2][3] (タイムストーン^[4], Taimu Sutōn^?) are objects that appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are seven gemstones that lie dormant on Little Planet, and have the power to control time.

Description

Appearance

Overall, the Time Stones are depicted as seven hexagonal stones that come in the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and cyan. Their size, however, has been rather inconsistent; when Sonic was obtaining them, they were shown to be about the size of the hedgehog's head, while in a possible event of the Little Planet incident, one of them as small enough to fit inside of Dr. Robotnik's palm.^[5]

Powers and abilities

The Time Stones have the power of freely controlling time to perform amazing wonders, like transforming a desert into a jungle, and turning a polluted lake into a beautiful one;^[4] just one Time Stone can be used to make impressing actions, like transporting entire planets across spacetime and restore the state they had at some point in the past.^[5] Additionally, with all seven Time Stones in hand, the user is able to command time itself^[3] in order to cause miracles to happen.^[1]

History

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, the Windows 95 version, and the 2011 remaster, Dr. Robotnik attempted to collect the Time Stones in order to take over Little Planet and the rest of the world. However, Sonic ended up finding them first instead.^[4]

In gameplay, Time Stones can be collected in seven different Special Stages. In order to enter a Special Stage, the player has to hold fifty or more Rings and jump into the Giant Ring at the end of a Zone. In a Special Stage, the player has to destroy all the UFOs to get a Time Stone. Collecting all seven Time Stones destroys every robot transporter automatically, thus always ensuring a good future for every Zone. Additionally, even if the player has finished at least one Zone with a bad future, they will get the good ending anyway.

Other game appearances

Sonic Speed Simulator

In Sonic Speed Simulator, Dr. Eggman successfully collected the Time Stones and used them in Green Hill to cause a dimensional merge between the present and past. This backfired, however, causing Classic Tails to be stuck between time, the sky above Green Hill Zone becoming distorted, and all seven Time Stones to shatter into thousands of shards. The player must then collect all 250,000 shards in the event, at which point the Time Stones will be remade, causing Classic Tails to be saved and being unlocked as a playable character.

Sonic X Shadow Generations

In Sonic X Shadow Generations, the Time Stones are mentioned by Modern Sonic, who is surprised that he, Classic Sonic, and Modern and Classic Tails are traveling through time without needing a Time Stone due to the Time Eater and its Time Holes.^[6]

In other media

Animation

Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)

Main article: Time Stone (SatAM)

In the Sonic the Hedgehog television series, there were two Time Stones. They were found on the Floating Island, safeguarded by several forces. Sonic and Sally tried using them to go back in time and prevent Dr. Robotnik's takeover of Mobotropolis, but the plan failed.

Books and comics

Archie Comics

Main articles: Time Stone (Archie) and Time Stone (Pre-Super Genesis Wave)

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, the Time Stones and their background borrowed elements from both the games and the Sonic the Hedgehog television series. In this media, they were hosted on the Little Planet, where they were rumored to be protected by Nicholas O'Tyme or the Knights of Kronos. One of them was used by Silver the Hedgehog and Mammoth Mogul to travel through time.

After the Super Genesis Wave reset the timeline, the Time Stones became nearly identical to their game counterpart.

Sonic the Comic

Main article: Time Stone (Sonic the Comic)

In the Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway Editions, there are only six Time Stones rather than seven (at the time, the series also included only six Chaos Emeralds). Their appearance was also somewhat inconsistent as they were both presented as gemstones and regular-looking oval rocks.

Hidden on the Miracle Planet, Dr. Robotnik eventually found a Time Stone and used it to cyberform all of Miracle Planet. As a part of a bizarre time paradox however, Sonic was able to use a Time Stone to undo Robotnik's work by changing history.

Gallery

Artwork

Sprites

Gallery
Sonic the Hedgehog CD Sonic Speed Simulator Sonic Speed Simulator Sonic Speed Simulator Sonic Speed Simulator Sonic Speed Simulator Sonic Speed Simulator Sonic Speed Simulator

Screenshots

References