Special Stage Key Locations Guide
Version 0.6
Sonic Heroes for Gamecube, Playstaion 2, and XBox
By timpkmn89 (GyroidFanatic@aol.com)

===============================================================================
                                  Introduction
===============================================================================

This is a guide for the locations of the Special Stage Keys in Sonic Heroes.
The guide currently shows the locations of at least 4 keys for each stage.

Version History:

2/9/04 - Version 0.6
Contains the locations of 74 keys

===============================================================================
                                      FAQ
===============================================================================

Q: How do I get to the Special Stage?
A: In each level for each team, there are cages with keys in them. Use your
power character to break them and get the key inside. In most stages there
are two cages, but some have one or three. If you pick up another key while
you already have one, nothing special will happen. The second key will just
disappear. Get to the end of the level while you have a key to go to the
Special Stage. It's easiest to get to a Special Stage as Team Rose, since
their levels are shorter and easier.

Q: I grabbed a key earlier in the level, but I don't have it anymore!
A: If you get hit, or die, you lose the key. If you die, the keys you picked
up reappear in their cages.

Q: Can I enter a Special Stage from Challenge Mode?
A: Yes and no. You can't enter it directly, but you can still get there by
getting a key in a stage.

Q: Why should I go to a Special Stage?
A: In odd-numbered levels, you can only get extra lives. In even-numbered
levels, however, you can get Chaos Emeralds which you need to beat the game
100%.

Q: What's this about Chaos Emeralds?
A: As explained above, you can get Chaos Emeralds from even-numbered levels
Special Stages. When you collect all 7, and beat all 4 stories, you unlock
"Last Story". You only need to get each emerald once, not once with each team.
===============================================================================
                               Key Location Guide
===============================================================================
# of Keys Listed: 74

Seaside Hill:     7
Ocean Palace:     4
Grand Metropolis: 4
Power Plant:      5
Casino Park:      9
BINGO Highway:    7
Rail Canyon:      4
Bullet Station:   6
Frog Forest:      4
Lost Jungle:      6
Hang Castle:      4
Mystic Mansion:   5
Egg Fleet:        5
Final Fortress:   4

Team Sonic:       13
Team Dark:        10
Team Rose:        30
Team Chaotix:     21
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Format:

All the levels, except one, in this guide use the same format. The level that
doesn't use it is BINGO Highway which uses a slightly different version because
of the similarity of the locations of the keys. Here is a sample of the format
used for the other 13 levels:

/----------\
|Level Name|
\----------/

----------
Team Name:
----------

Key Number:
Location of key based on the nearest checkpoint.
In-depth location of the key.

If a Key has ??? or nothing as a location, it means I have looked for the key,
but couldn't find it and that I'm pretty sure that it exists. Levels that only
have one(or in some rare cases, two) key(s) shown don't always mean that there
is only one(or two) key(s) in the level. The guide isn't complete, so not
everything is listed yet.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/---------------------\
|Level 1: SEASIDE HILL|
\---------------------/

-----------
Team Sonic:
-----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
The cage is before the first batch of four enemies.

Key 2:
After the third checkpoint.
After the first bobsled run, you'll come to a beach. Take the lower route
across and use Tails to fly across the water to the other part of the beach.
While on the platform in the middle, look to the left of the three pillars.
That's the cage with the key. Fly up to reach it.


Team Dark:
----------
Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
Near the beginning there is a point where you can choose to run down the hill
and back up, or fly across. It is right before this point.

Key 2:
After the second checkpoint.
After the first bobsled run, you'll come a group of falling ruins right before
a beach. Drop down where they did and you'll see the key on a pedestal after
dropping down a bit.


Team Rose:
----------
Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
At the far end of the first island, right after the start.

Key 2:
After the first checkpoint.
After the bobsled run, you'll come to a beach. Take the lower route across and
at the end you'll come to a cannon. Backtrack up the hill to the left. The cage
will be right before two giant pillars.


Team Chaotix:
-------------
Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
I mean RIGHT after the first checkpoint.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/---------------------\
|Level 2: OCEAN PALACE|
\---------------------/

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
After the path where you can go different ways with Cream or Amy, there is a
tunnel with two paths leading out, an upper path and a lower path. Fly up to
the upper path and you'll see the cage right away.

Key 2:
After the first checkpoint.
To the right of the huge staircase before the jump to the Turtle Islands.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
Right after the first fan, you should see a green flying enemy. Look below him
and you should see the cage.

Key 2:
After the third checkpoint.
Right after you use the flower, it should be on a pedestal on your path.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/-------------------------\
|Level 3: GRAND METROPOLIS|
\-------------------------/

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
The cage is after the first group of five enemies and before an acceleration
path up a slope.

Key 2:
After the second checkpoint.
After the door that requires you to push two switches to open is a long
hallway. At the end, there is a Cameron (turtle) guarding a switch. When you
reach that point, turn around and run the other way towards the cage.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
It should be in plain view in the narrow area after the area with the floating
blimp.

Key 2:
After the third checkpoint.
After you use the first flower, you'll be in a hallway with a blue path. At the
end, jump off it and turn around to find the cage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--------------------\
|Level 4: POWER PLANT|
\--------------------/

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
When the elevator at the beginning of the level stops, go to the group of
wooden boxes in the back of the room. It's in the middle of them.

Key 2:
After the first checkpoint.
When you finish going up the first automatic-upwards path, jump back over the
springs.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
Right after the start.
When you reach the first enemy, look left.

Key 2:
After the first checkpoint.
After running down the first energy path, you'll see a lone flying enemy. Kill
it to open a cage that contains a switch. Hit the switch to raise a pole. Go up
the pole and try to land on the giant platform instead of the rail. The key's
flying above the platform.

Key 3:
Right before the second checkpoint.
When you get to the checkpoint, turn around. Go up the rail there, and when
you're near the top, jump off and turn around again. The cage should be on a
ledge far up on the left side.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--------------------\
|Level 5: CASINO PARK|
\--------------------/

-----------
Team Sonic:
-----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
The cage is in the small hallway between the first pull/push switch and the
first breakable glass.

Key 2:
After going up the staircase to the VIP Room, the key is in a floating cage on
the left side of the room. Either knock it down with Thunder Shoot, or land on
it and use Fire Dunk. To get into the VIP Room, you have to hit a switch on
another Pinball Table.

----------
Team Dark:
----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
When you come to the first door with the first pull/push switch, look to the
left of the door for the cage.

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
When you come to the first door with the first pull/push switch, go to the
middle of the platform you're on for the cage.

Key 2:
Right after the first checkpoint.
The cage is behind the boxes in the wall right after the checkpoint.

Key 3:
Right before the goal.
When you reach the goal ring, go back to the platform with the enemies on it.
Turn the camera towards the wall to see a hole with the cage inside.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
After the series of springs, it should be in front of a staircase.

Key 2:
At the second checkpoint. When you get to it, turn around.

Key 3:
After the third checkpoint.
Sneak into the VIP room(the one with the lasers) with Espio. The key should be
on the back-left side of the room you first come to after the stairs/slope.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/----------------------\
|Level 6: BINGO HIGHWAY|
\----------------------/

Because the location of the keys for different teams in this level share
locations, I'm doing this one slightly different.

Key 1: (All Teams)
Before the first checkpoint.
After the first giant fan, you'll come to a piece of glass you can break
through. You should see the cage next to the wall behind it.

Key 2: (Team Rose)
Literally right before the second checkpoint.

Key 2: (Team Sonic, Team Dark)
Right before the second checkpoint.
When you come to the second checkpoint, you should be able to fall off the left
or right side of the skinny path to land on another one. The cage is right down
there. Use the bumpers to get back up.

Key 2: (Team Chaotix)
Doesn't exist.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--------------------\
|Level 7: RAIL CANYON|
\--------------------/

----------
Team Dark:
----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
At the part where you have to use a pulley to go up and hit a switch right after
the checkpoint, the cage is on the left side of the pillar(facing the pulley).

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
Right after the rail after the checkpoint, you'll arrive on a platform with a
pillar and enemies. Looking away from the rail, but towards the pillar, go one
side left. The cage should be in the middle of a few barrels.

Key 2:
After the third checkpoint.
This one is hard to describe. While on the rails, keep an eye out on the sides
of the rails. There should be a part where there are two platforms right next
to you, one to the left and one to the right. The cage is on the right one. To
help clear up the location, it is right before the part where the two rhino
trains are on rails next to you and before the part where rails are all over
the place.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
At the part where you have to fly up a pillar to hit a switch to change the
track right after the first checkpoint, the cage is in the bottom-middle of
where you fly from.

Key 2:
*I know the general location of this one, I'm just having trouble finding it.
It's near the puzzle near the end.*
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/-----------------------\
|Level 8: BULLET STATION|
\-----------------------/

----------
Team Dark:
----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
The cage is right before the first cannon.

Key 2:
After the ??? checkpoint.
Right before the second High Speed Transport Tunnel, there is a small hole in
the front of where you drop down. The cage is in this hole.

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
Walk into the cannon room. It should be right in front of you.

Key 2:
After the second checkpoint.
Right before the first High Speed Transport Tunnel, there should be three
breakable capsules on the ground, each one containing a switch. Activate all
three, and a door with the cage will open.

Key 3:
Right before the end.
When you get onto the platform with the Goal Ring, drop down to the level
below. Get in the cannon in Power Formation and shoot everybody at the default
target. You'll all hit a spring. Use this boost to go over the fence and you'll
see the cage.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
_Right_ after the first checkpoint.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/--------------------\
|Level 9: FROG FOREST|
\--------------------/

----------
Team Dark:
----------

Key 1:
Right before the first checkpoint.
The cage's in the middle of the pile of wooden boxes right before the
checkpoint.

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
Right before the first checkpoint.
See the hole right in front of the checkpoint? It's in there.

Key 2:
After the second checkpoint.
When you pass the checkpoint, look forward. There should be a ledge with the
cage on it. To get there, jump onto the giant yellow thing and get as close to
the cage as you can as Amy. Then jump as far as you can towards there, holding
down the A button. Once the Hammer Propeller is almost over, press A again to
Homing Attack over there. Do the same to get back to the yellow thing.

Key 3:
After the second checkpoint.
When you finish with the only propeller in the stage, you'll land on an ivy
vine. While riding this, keep looking down for a platform. Near the end of the
vine, jump down onto the first platform you see. The cage is in the middle. If
you land on the second platform, the one with the booster ramp, jump off the
left side to reach the cage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/---------------------\
|Level 10: LOST JUNGLE|
\---------------------/

-----------
Team Sonic:
-----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
The cage is right next to the first spiked flying enemy.

Key 2:
After the third checkpoint.
After the first flying flower thingy, it should be to the left of the first
flying enemy you see.(The one that drops bombs)

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
This one is right on the path after the first series of platforms.

Key 2:
After the first checkpoint.
After you ride the flower, the cage is on the right side of the area, below a
balloon.

Key 3:
After the second checkpoint.
This key is so close to the second, it isn't even funny. When you hit the
second checkpoint, fly up and land on the roof of the area in front of you. The
key's right there. To get down, look for the dome-like structure and fly
towards it.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:


Key 2:
After the second checkpoint.
When you get to the laser fence, instead of going through it, go to the left of
it to find the cage and a Chao.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/---------------------\
|Level 11: HANG CASTLE|
\---------------------/

-----------
Team Sonic:
-----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
Right after the castle flips over the second time(when it returns to normal),
the cage is next to a wooden box to the left of the door.

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
After the loop and spring at the very beginning, you'll come to a solo search
light robot. To the left of him is the cage.

Key 2:
Before the goal.
When you come to the five enemies right before the goal, the cage is on an
upside down platform above them. Use Thunder Shoot to bring it down.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
When you come to the first Silver Key, the cage will be to the left of it.

Key 2:

???
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/------------------------\
|Level 12: MYSTIC MANSION|
\------------------------/

----------
Team Dark:
----------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
After the room with the door, just keep following the path and you should see
it between two pillars.

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
Right after the second checkpoint.
In front of the doorway after the checkpoint are two ledges on the wall with
boxes on them. Jump on one of the boxes, then fly up. There's another ledge
above the doorway with the cage on it.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
Before the first checkpoint.
After the room with the door, just keep following the path and you should see
it on a ledge in front of the weight.

Key 2:
Right after the second checkpoint.
After the checkpoint, break the set of boxes on the right. The cage is in the
middle of them.

Key 3:
After the third checkpoint.
After you use the flower that sends you to the round room with no apparent
exit, destroy all the weak walls. The cage is behind one of them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/-------------------\
|Level 13: EGG FLEET|
\-------------------/

-----------
Team Sonic:
-----------

Key 1:
After the second checkpoint.
A while after you destroy the first battleship and cross the series of fans,
you'll come to a big ship with a lot of cannons, 2 big fans, and the 4th
checkpoint on it. On the right side, there should be a pillar with a caged 1-Up
on it. From there, look towards the end of the ship and you should see the
Special Key cage.

Key 2:
After the fifth checkpoint.
When you reach the inside part of the battleship, the cage will be in the
middle, at the very bottom after you enter the area. Be careful, once you jump
down there lasers will activate above you. Break the cage to turn them off.

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
After the second checkpoint.
Right when you come to the first ride able propeller, go the other way on the
platform you're on. There should be a small pathway to a fan. The cage is on
this pathway.

-------------
Team Chaotix:
-------------

Key 1:
Right before the second checkpoint.
When you reach the checkpoint, jump down to the platform you were just on. To
the right of the spring is the cage.

Key 2:
After the third checkpoint.
When you reach the part with two flowers, take the right one. When you
reappear, use Vector's bubble and the fan to fly up, and land on the platform
to the right of the fan. The cage is here.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/------------------------\
|Level 14: FINAL FORTRESS|
\------------------------/

-----------
Team Sonic:
-----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
After grinding the first circular rail, you'll see a pole you have to Blue
Tornado up. The cage is next to the base of the pole.

Key 2:
Above the second checkpoint.
As you arrive to the second checkpoint, you have to fly over a laser field. As
you're flying, you may see the cage flying over the checkpoint. Use Thunder
Shoot to knock it out of the sky.

----------
Team Rose:
----------

Key 1:
After the first checkpoint.
After the checkpoint, you'll enter a small area in the middle of the ship. At
the end of this area, there is a spring to help you get up and out. After you
take this spring, it should be right in front of you.

Key 2:
After the second checkpoint.
When you're in another of those small areas listed above, you'll come to a
giant red robot with a door that you need to go through underneath. When you
fall through this door, turn around. The cage is right there. Also, it's
possible to fly underneath the giant stack of metal and cannons to reach a
spring to the cage.

===============================================================================
                              Credits and Copyright
===============================================================================

Credits:

Prima Games's Sonic Heroes Strategy Guide - Various general locations

Copyright 2004

This FAQ may not be copied or republished on any other site other the ones
allowed without the author's permission. Currently the only site with
permission to use this FAQ is www.gamefaqs.com . If you would like to
permission to use this on your site, e-mail me at the e-mail address listed at
the top of the FAQ.