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From Sonic Retro

This article is about the Sonic Labyrinth game. For the Sonic 1 zone with a similar name, see Labyrinth Zone instead

Fast Facts on Sonic Labyrinth
Publisher: Sega Developer: Minato Giken System(s): Sega Game Gear Released in US: November 1995 Released in EU: October 1995 Released in JP: November 17, 1995 Genre: Puzzle ESRB PEGI USK OFLC CERO GRB

Sonic Labyrinth is an isometric puzzle/platformer for the Sega Game Gear. Sonic must move around a pinball-like arena, using his power to roll into a ball to defeat badniks and pick up keys in order to exit through the Goal door and clear the stage. The only move Sonic can use in the game is the Spin Dash, because Doctor Ivo Robotnik secretly replaced his famous red shoes with another pair that took away his ability to run fast or jump.

Gameplay

The game uses a 3D isometric overhead view similar to that of Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island. However, gameplay is restricted to a single button which is the Spin Dash (the arrows overhead determine the strength). There is no jump button whatsoever and the only way to make a character airborne is through the use of obstacles. The objective of each level is to collect 3 keys in order to be able to exit through the door which leads to the next level.

The power-ups are also not contained in monitors but are found inside colored triangles instead. Their formation, which constantly shifts to another formation, determines which power-up is given. These power-ups can increase time (yellow), destroy onscreen enemies (green), grant lives (pink), increase movement speed (blue), or grant invincibility (red). Interestingly, these triangles cannot be found in the third act of Labyrinth of the Sea, but there are oil slick-spitting octupus robots that have two colored diamonds that cycle through the colors of the triangles. Rings can only be found in the Scroll Zones which precede the boss encounters and these will increase lives, not health. Instead, health is determined by amount of time available and each hit will shave 10 seconds off the clock. When time runs out Sonic will lose a life. Fortunately, seconds can be added to the clock by collecting keys or by destroying enemies. Boss levels lack a timer so these can be tackled at the players leisure.

The boss levels are different as they lack a timer. Sonic can use the rings collected in the preceding Scroll Zone as protection from hits, as in most Sonic games, but rings lost cannot be collected again. After defeating the Boss a Chaos Emerald is awarded, meaning there are a total of 5 Emeralds which can be earned without any extra effort. The sixth Emerald is hidden in a Special Stage found in act 3 of the Labyrinth of the Sea. All Emeralds are needed to attain the good ending of the game.

The time attack mode allows players to race to achieve best times. When completed a best time and score are given. In addition to that there is a 5-digit password which has no actual use in the game. The password was for use in a contest held in Japan where one hundred players with the best times would be awarded prizes. The contest was only held from November 17-December 31st in 1995.

Production Credits

Directors: Noboru Machida, Hideki Katagiri
Planner: Kazuhiro Tanaka
Programmers: Kenichi Iwanaga, Y. Kataoka, Akira Inoue, Takashi Ueshima
Designers: Keiko Kayajima, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Keiko Tamura
Sound Programmer: Atsuko Iwanaga
Special Thanks: Nobuo Matsushima, S. Yoshihara, Kenichi Kumakura, Noriyuki Tabata, Masako Araki, Naoki Gotou, Youko Yanagisawa, Akemi Matsumoto, Michiyo Morohoshi, Nobuhiko Honda, Kaori Hijiya, Masayuki Oota, Kouhei Mine, H. Ozaki, Takashi Takinoue

Manuals

• Sonic Labyrinth US Manual
• Sonic Labyrinth EU Manual
• Sonic Labyrinth JP Manual

Also Released On

• Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut for the GameCube (2003)
• Sonic Mega Collection Plus for the Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox (2004)
• Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Super Monkey Ball Deluxe for the Microsoft Xbox (2005)
• Playpal Plug and Play for the Coleco Plug and play console (2006)
• Sega Fun Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Shadow the Hedgehog for the Sony PlayStation 2 (2009)
• Sonic PC Collection for the PC (2009)

Physical Scans

US cover

US cart

EU cover

EU cart

JP front cover

JP back cover

JP cart

Sonic Labyrinth
Sonic labyrinth Main Article Badniks Bosses Bugs Cheat Codes Game Development Game Secrets Music Commercials SCHG	Levels: Labyrinth of the Sky Labyrinth of the Sea Bonus Stage Labyrinth of the Factory Labyrinth of the Castle