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Sonic Hacking Utilities

From Sonic Retro

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Hex Editors

Program Description Download
Hex Workshop The recommended hex editor. Has many handy features, and is generally used by most ROM hackers. It's shareware, but the smarter lot of you will find a way around that. None
XVI32 Freeware, simplistic hex editor with the basic needed features to do what you need. Supports wildcard value searching, which can come in handy. Download (info) (407 kB)

Assemblers/Disassemblers/Assembly Editors/Compilers

Program Description Download
SNASM68K Command-line assembler for the Motorola 68000 written by Cross Products. ASM68k is generally preferred. (Not compatible with 64-bit Operating Systems) Download (info) (145 kB)
ASM68k Command-line assembler for the Motorola 68000 written by Psy-Q. Used to make many official Mega Drive games. Download (info) (55 kB)
clownassembler Open-source, multiplatform clone of ASM68k. Can also be used as a library. Download
Sega Genesis C Compiler Allows for C code to be compiled and executed on the Sega Mega Drive. Download (info) (336 kB)
Esrael Neto Assembler Editor Motorola 68000 Editor written by Esrael. Download (info) (1.62 MB)
68kd Command-line 68000 disassembler. IDA Pro is generally preferred. Download (info) (42 kB)
IDA Pro Popular disassembler used in reverse engineering software. It works on code generated for a wide variety of processors, including the Motorola 68000 and Z80 processors used in the Mega Drive. Purchase
Ghidra Another popular, fully-featured disassembler. This one is open-source and free to use. Download
ConTeXT Highlighter A Motorola 68000 syntax highlighter for the ConTeXT text editor. Written by Ambil. Download (info) (2 kB)
GEdit Highlighter A Motorola 68000 syntax highlighter for the GEdit text editor. Written by SegaLoco. Download (info) (1 kB)
Notepad++ user-defined languages A Motorola 68000 syntax highlighter and a Zilog Z80 syntax highlighter for the Notepad++ text editor. Written by FraGag. Download (info) (2 kB)

Compressors/Decompressors

Program Description Download
The Sega Data Compressor A frontend for a batch of compression/decompression programs for the Nemesis (art), Kosinski (level art, mappings, etc.), Enigma (special stages, etc.), and Saxman (music in Sonic 2) compression formats. Download (info) (81 kB)
Sonic Data Compression Tool Alternative frontend to The Sega Data Compressor, with all four compression formats in one window. Download (info) (56 kB)
Nemesis MD Programs Primitive version of the above. A small feature worth noting though is the Nemesis art searcher, which allows you to search for Nemesis compressed data in other games that may use the compression format. Download (info) (133 kB)
Sega TSDC in command line form, now using the next generation portable KENS libraries. Download (info) (609 kB)
KENSSharp A cross-platform compressor/decompressor, written in C#. Similar in functionality to the Sonic Data Compression Tool. See page
MacENS A port of KENS to MacOS X. Download (32-Bit) (info) (268 kB)

Download (64-Bit) (info) (265 kB)

mdcomp Cross-platform compressor/decompressor for various formats. Offers optimal compression for LZSS formats and near-optimal compression for the Nemesis format. Also available as a Windows shell extension. See page

ROM File Editors

Program Description Download
Segatool DOS Utility that creates/applies IPS patches, fixes checksums and other miscellaneous ROM repair functions. Download (info) (8 kB)
StealthPatch Standard IPS patch creator/applicator. Recommended. Download (info) (22 kB)
ESE FixCheckSum Small utility to fix corrupt checksums in Mega Drive games. Download (info) (7 kB)
MD ROM Header Editor Editor for Mega Drive ROM headers. Download (info) (8 kB)
GG2MD Utility that converts Sega Game Gear ROMs for use on the Sega Mega Drive. Download (info) (5 kB)

Source Patching Utilities

Program Description Download
WinDiff Windows utility for comparing files and folders and making patches to them. (just like the UNIX "diff" command just with a GUI) Download (info) (73 kB)
WinMerge Windows utility for comparing files and folders and making patches to them. This one even applies DIFF patches as well. Recomended for Windows Download (info) (3.34 MB)
Diffutils A cross platform set of tools for making .diff/.patch patches, very useful with disassemblies. Contains a win32 port of the UNIX diff command. Place all the dependancies in the System32 folder for anything above Windows ME, and the System folder for anything Windows ME and below. Tool is very good for making patches, but it is recommended that you also download Patch if you want to apply them too. Recommended for Linux, Mac, BSD, etc. Download - Programs (Windows) (info) (445 kB)

Download - Dependancies (win32 only) (info) (686 kB)
Download - Programs (source) (info) (762 kB)

Patch A cross platform set of tools for applying .diff/.patch patches, very useful with disassemblies. Contains a win32 port of the UNIX patch command. Tool is very good for applying patches, but it is recommended that you also download Diffutils if you want to make them too. Recommended for Linux, Mac, BSD, etc. Download - Programs (Windows) (info) (123 kB)

Download - Programs (source) (info) (182 kB)

Multi-purpose Editors

Program Description Download
SonED The last version of the original SonED. SonED is a level art, level mappings, level layout, level palette, as well as other level aspects, editor. This tool is a bit outdated, and is not recommended if you want to make something more advanced. Download (info) (405 kB)
SonED2 A newer, sleeker, more featured incarnation of SonED designed for editing split disassemblies of Sonic games via a unique "projects" system. Boasts a simplified art editor, as well as a new collision editor. If you learn to use this, it's definitely worth using over the original. Recommended. Download (info) (1.28 MB)
SonLVL An alternative to SonED2, for Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic & Knuckles Collection and Sonic CD for PC. Recommended. Downloads here
Flex 2 Art and mapping editor/importer for Sonic & custom game formats. Recommended. Downloads here
Esrael Sonic Editor A multi-purpose utility that supports a wide variety of editable aspects - Special stages, level layout/art/mappings, title cards, level select names, palettes, etc. Being an earlier, discontinued version of the program, it supports some things ESEII does not. It's best to have both. Download (info) (963 kB)
Esrael Sonic Editor II Enhanced version of the above, with newer features such as a level porter, a newer art editor, and a built in hex editor. This tool is outdated, and isn't really recommended. Download (info) (1.19 MB)
Chaos Level editor made by Brett Kosinski for Sonic 2. No longer supported. Download (info) (16 kB)
Chaotix CSE Edits character stats in Knuckles Chaotix. Download (info) (9 kB)
S.L.E.E.P. Primitive level editor for Sonic 2 savestates and the Sonic 2 ROM. No longer supported. Download (info) (43 kB)
ChaoSaX ROM hacking suite by Magus (formerly Chaos) and saxman. The entire suite is made up of multiple programs for modifying different aspects of Sonic ROMs. Its user-friendly GUI makes it very useful for beginning hackers. none
GerbilSoft ROM Hacking Studio Basic ROM editing utility by GerbilSoft which handles special stages, title cards, palettes, etc. Download (info) (294 kB)
Sonic HackingWiz Pro Older version of GerbilSoft ROM Hacking Studio. Capable of certain functions GSRHS is not. Download (info) (428 kB)
Sonic Tweaker Edits demos, water, text and palettes for Sonic 1, 2, 2b, 3K and Chaotix. Download (info) (263 kB)
Sonic Advance Editor Level editor and viewer for Sonic Advance. Download (info) (14 kB)
SADXTweaker Edits many different things in the PC version of Sonic Adventure DX. Download (info) (378 kB)
HeroesTweaker Edits some data in the executable for the PC version of Sonic Heroes. Get from igorseabra4's Github
SADXLVL Attempts to be the SonED or Lunar Magic of SADX hacking. Can move level parts, edit SET files, and change various other level-related things. Download (info) (2.24 MB)
SADXPCTools A new set of programs for the Sonic Adventure series of games. Download

Graphics Editors

Program Description Download
Sonik Sprite Paint-esque uncompressed sprite editor for Sonic 1, Sonic 2 (beta/final), and Sonic 3. Supports assembled versions of all sprites, making art editing jobs easier for you. Also supports a scripting system, so you can add your own sprite entries if they aren't currently supported (for ANY game, by the way). Download (info) (139 kB)
Tile Layer Pro General uncompressed art editor for multiple platforms, including Genesis. Works by browsing the ROM and editing the art in 8x8 blocks, which can be put together via the Tile Arranger for easier editing. Essential for editing compressed art (after being decompressed, of course). Download (info) (193 kB)
TilEd Tile Layer Pro alternative with many of the same features. Download (info) (237 kB)
Fatilety Another Tile Layer Pro alternative. Download (info) (200 kB)
Tile Molester Another Tile Layer Pro alternative. Written in java. Download (info) (448 kB)
Sonic Molester A modified version of Tile Molester, updated with features intended for Sonic rom hackers, by Sonic Hachelle-Bee [1]
ChaoSaX-Pal A palette editor for Sonic 1-3K. Supports, copying/pasting palettes as well as easy editing. Recommended for beginners and experienced hackers alike due to usefulness. Download (info) (11 kB)
Kraminator Graphics Pack Command line tools for converting between GIMP palette format (*.gpl) and raw Megadrive/Genesis format (*.bin). Now you can use the Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) to do color palette hacking and thus it has become way easier. If you know how to use gimp, then this is very highly recommended. Both 32 bit and 64 bit versions exist. Source code now available. You will need meson and ninja to build this package. The link in this description is for the Windows installer for both of them, but you can likely use your package manager on Linux and BSD, or brew on your Mac, or even pip if you already have python to install meson and ninja. Download (win32) (info) (1.02 MB) Download (win64) (info) (981 kB)

Download (source, needs meson and ninja) (info) (15 kB)

HivePal Another palette editor. Similar to ESE in appearance, but takes a more graphic approach to color matching and choosing. Also includes a palette browser, so you can easily find palettes in any ROM, and subsequentially edit them. Get at Sega Retro
PalEd Another palette editor for Sonic Sega Mega Drive ROMs. Download (info) (17 kB)
HBGDRGB2GBA32XCC Basic utility that converts RGB color values to the decimal format used by both the Sega 32X and the Game Boy Advance. Launch (info) (47 kB)
NineKolor Program that allows one to see the RGB values of each pixel in a specific image. It gives both decimal and hexadecimal values. Download (info) (6 kB)
PCXpal Utility that can load images, savestates and Paint Shop Pro palettes, then output as Tile Layer Pro, Paint Shop Pro or Mega Drive palette information. Get at Sega Retro
Palette Converter A small program to convert palettes Get at Sega Retro
Chaotix Art Editor Frontend for editing art in Chaotix. Download (info) (26 kB)
Gen-SMS DOS utility converting Genesis graphics to SMS format, so they can be edited with Tile Layer Pro. Download (info) (6 kB)
PalSwap Tool to swap around palette indexes in an uncompressed 8x8 tiles file. Download (info) (9 kB)
RotSprite Program that accurately rotates sprites at non-90 degree angles for use in games. Download (info) (42 kB)
Sonic Display Editor This program allows you to edit the on-screen display in Sonic 1 and Sonic 2. Download (info) (6 kB)
ImaGenesis Image to tile converter and manipulator. Works with a variety of formats. Get at Sega Retro
PlaneED An editor for Plane mappings. Download (info) (202 kB)
Align Sprite Utility that aligns a bitmap of a sprite up and blank out the empty tiles, making it suitable for importing to SonMapEd. Download (info) (8 kB)
SCDPCspr Edits sprites in Sonic CD PC. Download (info) (40 kB)
SCDPCscr Edits tiles in Sonic CD PC. Download (info) (39 kB)
GetArt Converts bitmap images to tiles and plane mappings. Download (info) (10 kB)
GetArt.NET Converts images to tiles and plane mappings. Download

Mappings Editors

Program Description Download
LOst Library Mappings editor for Sonic 1, 2, & 3K. Download (info) (104 kB)
Sonic Collision Viewer 16x16 collision block mappings viewer. Download (info) (13 kB)
Collsedit Collision editor for Sonic 2. Download (info) (472 kB)
SonMapEd Mappings editor for Sonic 1, 2, & 3K. Download (info) (156 kB)
Flex Web editor. Superceded by Flex 2 Visit URL
ClownMapEd Multiplatform clone of SonMapEd. GitHub releases

Sound Editors

Program Description Download
Sonic QX Music editor for Sonic 2 Beta. Boasts features such as a MIDI importer, voice editor, sample exporter, among other things. The documentation is of particular interest, as it contains a lot of useful info about the YM2612. Download (info) (500 kB)
Sonic One Music Editor (SOME) Basic music editor for Sonic 1. Supports voice editing as well as channel editor editing, and also includes a voice preview button, so you can hear your changes before you apply them. Very handy. Recommended. Download (info) (3.51 MB)
xm2smps Program created by nineko that converts songs from the XM (eXtended Module) format to the SMPS (Sample Music Playback System) format hence allowing hackers to easily put custom music in their hacks. Download (info) (44 kB)
xm3smps Graphical interface and update of xm2smps system. Download (info) (60 kB)
xm4smps XM to SMPS convertor by Puto. Exports raw ASM files. Recommended. Download Win32 (info) (1.98 MB)

Download Win64 (info) (2.47 MB)
Download Mac OS X (info) (6.16 MB)

S1SMPS2ASM Converts SMPS music files into raw ASM for more precise editing. Download (info) (57 kB)
GEMS Development kit for GEMS sound driver. Download (info) (324 kB)
ESEII Sound Importer Utility for porting songs between different Sonic Mega Drive games. Download (info) (182 kB)
Music Pointer Fixer Program that helps music porting between two Sonic games by fixing pointers from coordination flags. Download (info) (26 kB)
ahX2wav Mod Edit of ahx2wav that allows for voice files from Sonic Adventure 2 to be playable. Download (info) (76 kB)
SADXsndSharp Replaces sound effects in the PC version of Sonic Adventure DX Download (info) (139 kB)
SKCsnd Replaces sound effects in Sonic & Knuckles Collection. Download (info) (166 kB)
SCDPCsnd Replaces sound effects in the PC version of Sonic CD Download (info) (162 kB)
SKC-Midi Replaces MIDI music in Sonic & Knuckles Collection Download (info) (42 kB)
SMPS2ASM Converts SMPS music into raw ASM for more precise editing. Works with all three SMPS versions used in the main Sonic games.
Sonic Retro
Forum topic
radx An adx/ahx encoder/decoder for music and voiceline modification in various Sonic games, including Sonic Adventure 2. Get from OnVar's github

Miscellaneous Editors

Program Description Download
Diet Sprite Hex-based object position editor for Sonic 1. Download (info) (49 kB)
Sonic 1 Maze-o-matic Special stage editor for Sonic 1 savestates. Download (info) (208 kB)
STE Text editor for games in the Sonic series, along with others. Download (info) (322 kB)
Sonic 1 - Text Code Generator Generator for Sprite mappings in Sonic 1 for Title Cards and other text related formats. Download (info) (99 kB)
Sonic 2 - Text Code Generator Sequel of Sonic 1 - Text Code Generator for Sonic 2 supporting Title Cards and End of Act Results. Download (info) (36 kB)
Sonic Extractor CD Mix A tool for viewing Zone layouts from Gens+ savestates of Sonic CD none
Sonic Extractor 3&K Mix A tool for viewing Zone layouts from Gens+ savestates of Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles none
SETedit Allows you to edit object layouts (SET files) from the Dreamcast and PC versions of Sonic Adventure. Download (info) (192 kB)
Sonic 1 Level Order Parser A lightweight Python script to parse level order for Sonic 1. Download (info) (1 kB)
Blue Balls Special stage editor for Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Download (info) (26 kB)
Sonic 1 Special Stage Editor Special stage editor for Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) Download (info) (1.72 MB)
Sonic 2 Special Stage Editor Special stage editor for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit) Download (info) (4.16 MB)
SADXMDL Model editor for the Dreamcast and PC versions of Sonic Adventure. Download (info) (189 kB)
LevelConverter Converts levels between Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic & Knuckles Collection, and Sonic CD PC. Download
SCDPCSSEd Special Stage editor for the PC version of Sonic CD. Download (info) (37 kB)
SASave Save file editor for Sonic Adventure. Download (info) (130 kB)