Start the run by clearing the file through the Options. Timing starts when you hit Start on the title screen.

All cutscenes should be skipped using the start button.

[center]Map[/center]

Image above take from sonicretro.org

[center]Emerald Requirements[/center] Unlocking the Deep Core boss requires collecting all seven chaos and sol emeralds.

Each chaos emerald is collected by beating Johnny at the respective location. Use the above map to see where his locations are.

Each sol emerald is collected by meeting the emerald's unlock requirement, talking to Gardon at the Ocean Tornado's dock, then clearing its mission by talking to Marine. Each of the Sol Emerald missions and their unlock requirements are as follow:

Mission 4: Unlocked by clearing Coral Caves, and unlocking Blaze. This mission is hard mode of Ghost Pendulum with Blaze Mission 7: Unlocked by clearing Hidden Island 6. This mission is beating Hidden Island 6 with Blaze and one life. Note that you cannot find this Hidden Island until after you clear Haunted Ship. Mission 10: Unlocked by clearing Blizzard Peaks. This mission is hard mode of Ghost Kraken with Blaze Mission 13: Unlocked by clearing Hidden Island 12. This mission is beating Hidden Island 12 with Blaze and one life. Mission 17: Unlocked by clearing Hidden Island 8. This mission is beating Hidden Island 8 with Blaze and one life. Mission 86: Unlocked by beating the game. This mission is hard mode of Whiskers & Johnny with Blaze. Mission 88: Unlocked by beating the game. This mission is hard mode of Big Swell with Blaze.

[center]Resources[/center] Generally speaking, you don't have to worry much about ranks/resources as long as you're going sufficiently fast and following the route. Each S rank gets you 4 resources for a full act, but regardless you need one revisit for Plant Kingdom and Machine Labyrinth anyways, so you can afford a few A ranks here and there. The only requirement is to get at least one S rank for any level in Plant Kingdom / Machine Labyrinth; you can follow the route if you get A rank everywhere else.

[center]Route Outline[/center]

Tutorial Level Save when you gain control (Tails won't build the Wave Cyclone until you do) Talk to Tails to build the Wave Cyclone Tutorial for map navigation Skip Wave Cyclone tutorial Wave Cyclone Level Plant Kingdom 1+2+Boss Wave Cyclone to next flagged island west

Machine Labyrinth 1+2+Boss Talk to Tails to build the Ocean Tornado Redo Plant Kingdom 1 Redo Machine Labyrinth 1 Ocean Tornado to next flagged island west Beat Johnny for Red Chaos Emerald Hidden Island 1 Coral Cave 1+2+Boss

Blaze is now usable

Talk to Tails to build the Radio Tower Ocean Tornado path from Southern Island to Johnny to next flagged island east Beat Johnny for Blue Chaos emerald Wave Cyclone to next flagged island east Haunted Ship 1+2+Boss (Blaze)

Talk to Tails to build the Aqua Blast Aqua Blast to next flagged island north Blizzard Peaks 1+2+Boss (Sonic) Aqua Blast to next flagged island southeast Aqua Blast to next flagged island southeast Hidden Island 2 (Blaze) Sky Babylon 1+2+Boss (Blaze)

Talk to Tails to build Deep Typhoon Deep Typhoon to next flagged island northeast This unlocks the fetch quest Deep Typhoon from Blizzard Peaks to Hidden Island 3 Hidden Island 3 (Sonic) Aqua Blast from Sky Babylon to Hidden Island 4 Hidden Island 4 (Sonic) Deep Typhoon from Haunted Ship to Hidden Island 5 Hidden Island 5 (Blaze)

Sea Chart and jump to Pirates Island Solve puzzle Pirates Island 1+2+Boss (Sonic and Blaze are pretty similar, use whoever you're better with) Big Swell (Blaze) Speed through credits (hold A)

Aqua Blast from Coral Cave to Hidden Island 16 Hidden Island 16 (Sonic) Upgrade Wave Cyclone - you should have exactly enough blue/iron material Deep Typhoon from Hidden Island 16 to Johnny Beat Johnny for White Chaos Emerald Deep Typhoon from Machine Labyrinth to Johnny below to Hidden Island 6 Beat Johnny for Yellow Chaos Emerald Hidden Island 6 (Blaze) Deep Typhoon from Kyloks Island to Hidden Island 8 Hidden Island 8 (Sonic) Deep Typhoon from Kyloks Island to Johnny above Beat Johnny for Green Chaos Emerald, then quit Deep Typhoon from Pirates' Island to Johnny left to Hidden Island 12 Beat Johnny for Purple Chaos Emerald Hidden Island 12 (Blaze) Deep Typhoon from Sky Babylon to Johnny below Beat Johnny for Light Blue Chaos Emerald then Quit

Go to Ocean Tornado's dock, talk to Gardon 7 times to unlock all 7 Sol Emerald Missions Go to the main house and talk to Marine. Beat all 7 missions Leave and re-enter house to trigger cutscenes for Deep Core Finish Deep Core and end time when IGT ends.