What does the S in "S-Rank" stand for?

[Johnny Novgorod]

You know how some games grade your performance in a fight/mission and an S-Rank is awarded for a flawless execution (sometimes even an SS)? What's the S supposed to stand for and how did the practice come to be? I've been looking around the internet for a while and can't seem to find a definitive explanation.

Even if you don't know for sure your theories would be much appreciated.

 

[leberkaese]

I think it stands for something like superlative, because it stands above the normal ranking system

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

It's different for different games. In Devil May Cry it stands for "Stylish" in other games I've seen it stand for "Spectacular" or "Sensational" and in other games I've seen it stand for absolutely nothing. It stands for whatever the developer wants it to stand for.

Not sure how the practice came about.

 

[LAGG]

Japanese school rankings has S above A, where S means 10/10. I believe it stands for Superior, as some countries use some variation of an I-M-S (Inferior, Medium, Superior) grading system. Example: Brazil uses II-MI-MM-MS-SS (so SS kinda means "Superior-Superior").

That's why Japanese games use the S-A-B-C-D scale.

It's not anything new or video-games exclusive, the Yu Yu Hakusho anime, aired from 1990 to 1994, commonly mentioned the Rank A and S monsters are the biggest threat in existence.

Note: those "High Spectations Asian Father" memes are wrong because "A" in Japan is less than excelent.

 

[mizushinzui]

I always thought it stood for special.... not sure what that says about me

 

[Sean Hollyman]

I always thought it stood for 'Super'

 

[Barbas]

Nonsense, there is clearly only one thing it could possibly stand for.

Spoiler

[HEADING=2]Smashing.[/HEADING]​

Well, either that or "Smurftastic".

 

[Elfgore]

My best guess is Japan, with S being a high ranking. Like in Rosario+Vampire there is S-class monsters and they're the highest. A few other anime do it as well. Asura's Wrath has S as the highest ranking for missions. I really have no clue, but I do know S sounds better than A+ as a ranking. Maybe supreme or superior like others have said.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I dunno? I thought the S in S Rank stand for Supreme or Superior?

 

[Isalan]

SADISTIC!

Well, according to the new DMC, though that might be for the SS rank. Not sure, haven't played the game in a while. Completed it though, not a bad game, though I only played the original DMC and that was AGES ago, so I don't have much comparison to make with the more recent DMC games.

I presume its for Sandwich, cos who doesn't like sandwiches?

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

For the record the Japanese seem to have fun with the strangeness of the concept. One of the PS3 Trophies in No More Heroes, which unlocks after getting an S-Rank in every boss battle, is called "The S Stands for Sylvia. Did you know that?".

(Sylvia's a character in the game)

 

[Auberon]

Smokin' Sick Style. Wiki-diving pays off, finally after all these few years.

 

[Matthew Jabour]

Snape. If you get a double S, it means Severus Snape. SSS stands for Super Severus Snape.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Japanese school rankings has S above A, where S means 10/10. I believe it stands for Superior, as some countries use some variation of an I-M-S (Inferior, Medium, Superior) grading system. Example: Brazil uses II-MI-MM-MS-SS (so SS kinda means "Superior-Superior").

That's why Japanese games use the S-A-B-C-D scale.

It's not anything new or video-games exclusive, the Yu Yu Hakusho anime, aired from 1990 to 1994, commonly mentioned the Rank A and S monsters are the biggest threat in existence.

Note: those "High Spectations Asian Father" memes are wrong because "A" in Japan is less than excelent.

I looked up the Japanese grading system in www.classbase.com (you can check out the granding systems of each country there) and S is symbolized by the kanji 秀, which apparently translates to "Exemplary" and is rarely given. I looked up the kanji on Google and according to that it translates to "Beautiful" though.

 

[go-10]

it stand for supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, obviously

 

[PsychicTaco115]

It obviously has to stand for Senpai

As in "I hope s-senpai notices me doing well in combat!"

 

[Rabbitboy]

S= Stylish, Super, Special, Super Special Awesome?
SS= Schutzstaffel that I know for sure.