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| bobscreen=Somari.png
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| bobscreen=Somari FC title.png
| system=Famicom
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| system=[[sega:Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]]
 
| developer=Hummer Team Co.
 
| developer=Hummer Team Co.
 
| genre=Action
 
| genre=Action
 +
| players=1
 
| releases=
 
| releases=
 
{{release|FC|TW|1994||}}
 
{{release|FC|TW|1994||}}
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'''Somari''' is a [[pirate]] version of [[Sega]]'s flagship video game ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' produced for the [[Famicom]] by Hummer Team in 1994. It was sold primarily around Hong Kong. The game is notable in the fact that it contains a vaguely accurate simulation of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', a 16-bit game produced for the [[Sega Mega Drive]], on an 8-bit cartridge - something thought impossible by many video game experts at the time. The game features a character named "Somari" - [[Nintendo]] mascot [[Mario]] wearing [[Miles "Tails" Prower]]'s trademark shoes, as well as possessing [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'s abilities.
+
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' or '''''Somari the Adventurer''''' is an unlicensed port of [[Sega]]'s flagship [[Sega Mega Drive]] video game ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for the [[sega:Nintendo Family Computer |Nintendo Family Computer]]. It was released by Hummer Team in 1994.
  
Video game enthusiasts have suggested the possibility of [[reverse engineering]] or the possession of ''Sonic the Hedgehog''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s source code in explaining ''Somari'''s creation. It is also estimated that the game devolopment started in late 1993 and came out in early 1994, as Somari has abilities only available in the game ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'', such as the [[Spin Dash]], opening possibility that it contains coding information from that game as well. However, these concepts are merely speculative, as it is unknown exactly how, when, or where this game was created.
+
''Somari'' is notorious not for featuring Sonic the Hedgehog as its starring character, but [[Nintendo]]'s mascot Mario, who in this game shares Sonic's abilities.
  
As with many independently produced pirated games, the coding is flawed. ''Somari'''s physics can make completing the game more of a challenge, certain areas have numerous glitches, and access to certain levels requires the use of special computer programs. There is no ending sequence of Somari running through a previous level, instead there is a single screen showing [[Dr. Eggman|Robotnik]] juggling the [[Chaos Emeralds]] with some text on the screen claiming Robotnik will return.
+
==Gameplay==
 +
''Somari'' is an attempt to bring the original ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' to the 8-bit Famicom. Mario (or "Somari") can run and jump like Sonic, spinning into enemies, collecting rings and running around loops, with the [[spin dash]] technique included from ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' for good measure. The game attempts to mimic the Mega Drive game as closely as possible, though its special stages are based on those found in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)|8-bit version of the game]] (meaning there are no [[chaos emeralds]]), presumably due to hardware limitations. [[Scrap Brain Zone]] is also missing, though remnants of it exist in the ROM.
  
Being a pirate game, it was probably released in fairly limited numbers, and only in Asian countries. The game has become more well known recently through the phenomenon of [[emulator|console emulation]].
+
There is no ending sequence should the player manage to complete the game - just a single screen showing [[Dr. Eggman]] juggling chaos emeralds and some text claiming he will return.  
  
There is also a hack of this version [[Sonic the Hedgehog (NES) - Improvement Plus Tracks|which improves various aspects of the game]] including gameplay, art and music.
+
As a very early attempt at getting ''Sonic'' to run on simpler hardware, ''Somari'' is riddled with issues, from poor collision detection and unresponsive controls to game-breaking glitches. Like many unlicensed titles of its kind, the game is very difficult to play, but is infamous, particularly after being rediscovered on the internet, for its low quality presentation and obvious novelty value.
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
===Origins===
 +
The true history of ''Somari'' is not known, being first spotted by news outlets during the mid-1990s. Cover art seems to suggest a release date of 1994, though whether ''Somari'' was the first incarnation of the game is yet to be established.
 +
 
 +
As with most unlicensed Famicom titles, ''Somari'' can be traced back to mainland Asia, being initially spread across Taiwan, Hong Kong and presumably parts of China. It spread north into Russia and East into South America, though saw very limited distribution in more developed markets due to stricter copyright laws.
 +
 
 +
In addition to being released as a stand-alone product, ''Somari'' was included in many unlicensed Famicom multi-carts, a practise that continues with ever greater numbers of games to this day.
 +
 
 +
==Legacy==
 +
Many years later, a hack [[Sonic the Hedgehog (NES) - Improvement Plus Tracks|which improves various aspects of the game]] was released to attempt to turn ''Somari'' into something more playable.
  
 
==Screenshots==
 
==Screenshots==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Image:SomariNES1.png|[[Green Hill Zone]].
+
SomariNES1.png|[[Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 16-bit)|Green Hill Zone]]
 +
Somari Famicom MZ.png|[[Marble Zone]]
 +
Somari Famicom SYZ.png|[[Spring Yard Zone]]
 +
Somari Famicom LZ.png|[[Labyrinth Zone]]
 +
Somari Famicom SLZ.png|[[Star Light Zone]]
 +
Somari Famicom FinalZone.png|Final Zone
 +
Somari Famicom SpecialStage.png|Special Stage
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
==Hidden content==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Hidden content}}
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==
Line 71: Line 93:
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Other versions==
+
==Variants==
*'''''Sonic the Hedgehog/Sonic 3D Blast 5''''' is identical to ''Somari'' except the sprite is changed to [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. The player starts off in Spring Yard Zone rather than in Green Hill Zone. There is an IPS file to restore Green Hill Zone as the first level - [http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/384/ Sonic Level Fix]
+
''Somari'' has been released multiple times, often modified, under different titles:
*'''''Sonic & Knuckles 5''''' is identical to Sonic 3D Blast 5 but with a downgraded [[Sonic & Knuckles]] title screen.
+
 
*'''''Sonic 3D Blast 6''''' is essentially the same as the above three, but with a different title screen and the starting level is Marble Zone.
+
===''Sonic the Hedgehog''/''Sonic (3D Blast) 5''===
*'''''Family Kid''''' is another hack in which the Somari sprite is replaced with an original character called Family Kid. The starting level is green hill zone, just like in ''Somari''.
+
A version of ''Somari'' that changes most of the graphics "back" to [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]. The player starts off in Spring Yard Zone rather than in Green Hill Zone, though users have created an IPS file to restore the original level order{{ref|http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/384/}}.
*'''''Doraemon''''' is almost a complete graphical overhaul of Somari replacing Sonic with the Japanese character Doraemon. It was made by "Waixing Computer Science & Technology Co, Ltd.". It introduces brand new levels and music though gameplay is identical.
+
 
*'''''The Hummer'''''  is from Super New Year Cart 15 in 1 by Hummer Team. It was later insert to a 60 in 1 plug and play from Hummer Team.
+
The game often refers to itself as '''''Sonic 5''''' (音速小子5) on packaging. No evidence currently suggests the game was released before 1996.
 +
 
 +
====Screenshots====
 +
<gallery>
 +
SonicNES0.png|Title screen
 +
SonicNES1.png|[[Spring Yard Zone]]
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
====Physical scans====
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Famicom
 +
| region=
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| cart=Sonic5 Famicom Cart.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Famicom
 +
| region=
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| cart=Sonic5 Famicom Cart VT2018B Alt.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Famicom
 +
| region=
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| cart=Sonic5 Famicom Cart VT2018B.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Famicom
 +
| region=
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| cart=Sonic3D Famicom Cart.jpg
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===''Sonic & Knuckles 5''===
 +
Similar to the above but with a downgraded ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' title screen and theme tune. Sonic is the only playable charater in this game(despite Knuckles is on the title screen).
  
There is a hack of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' titled {{LinkRetro|topic=9441|title=''Sonic 1 Somari''}}, this has not much relation to ''Somari'' itself and the name was mainly picked because the hack features Sonic in Mario levels. Sort of the reverse of what ''Somari'' is.
+
====Screenshots====
 +
<gallery>
 +
Sonic&Knuckles5 Famicom Title.png|Title screen
 +
</gallery>
  
 +
====Physical scans====
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Famicom
 +
| region=
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| cart=SuperSonic51997 Famicom Cart NT-875.jpg
 +
}}
 +
 +
===''Sonic 3D Blast 6''===
 +
Similar again, but with another different title screen and [[Marble Zone]] being set as the first level. This uses the ''Sonic & Knuckles'' theme and has an extra "start" screen similar to ''[[Sonic 3D]]''.
 +
 +
====Screenshots====
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Image:SonicNES0.png|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' title screen
+
Sonic3DBlast6 Famicom Title.png|Title screen
Image:SonicNES1.png|''Sonic the Hedgehog'', [[Spring Yard Zone]]
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Hidden content==
+
====Physical scans====
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Hidden content}}
+
 
 +
===''Family Kid''===
 +
A version in which the Somari sprite is replaced with an original character called Family Kid. The starting level is Green Hill Zone, just like in ''Somari''.
 +
 
 +
====Screenshots====
 +
<gallery>
 +
Family Famicom Title.png|Title screen
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
====Physical scans====
 +
 
 +
===''Doraemon''===
 +
A almost a complete graphical overhaul of Somari featuring the Japanese character Doraemon. It was made by "Waixing Computer Science & Technology Co, Ltd.". It introduces brand new levels and music though gameplay is identical.
 +
 
 +
====Physical scans====
 +
 
 +
===''The Hummer''===
 +
Part of a ''Super New Year Cart 15 in 1'' multi-cart by Hummer Team. It was later insert to a 60 in 1 plug and play from Hummer Team.
 +
 
 +
====Physical scans====
  
 
==Downloads==
 
==Downloads==
Line 112: Line 207:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
<references />
+
<references/>
  
 +
{{SomariOmni}}
 
[[Category:Unlicensed games]]
 
[[Category:Unlicensed games]]

Revision as of 04:12, 19 October 2022

n/a

Somari FC title.png
Somari
System(s): Family Computer
Developer:
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code Rating
Famicom
TW
1994  ? ?
Famicom
RU
1994[1]  ? ?
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Somari or Somari the Adventurer is an unlicensed port of Sega's flagship Sega Mega Drive video game Sonic the Hedgehog for the Nintendo Family Computer. It was released by Hummer Team in 1994.

Somari is notorious not for featuring Sonic the Hedgehog as its starring character, but Nintendo's mascot Mario, who in this game shares Sonic's abilities.

Gameplay

Somari is an attempt to bring the original Sonic the Hedgehog to the 8-bit Famicom. Mario (or "Somari") can run and jump like Sonic, spinning into enemies, collecting rings and running around loops, with the spin dash technique included from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for good measure. The game attempts to mimic the Mega Drive game as closely as possible, though its special stages are based on those found in the 8-bit version of the game (meaning there are no chaos emeralds), presumably due to hardware limitations. Scrap Brain Zone is also missing, though remnants of it exist in the ROM.

There is no ending sequence should the player manage to complete the game - just a single screen showing Dr. Eggman juggling chaos emeralds and some text claiming he will return.

As a very early attempt at getting Sonic to run on simpler hardware, Somari is riddled with issues, from poor collision detection and unresponsive controls to game-breaking glitches. Like many unlicensed titles of its kind, the game is very difficult to play, but is infamous, particularly after being rediscovered on the internet, for its low quality presentation and obvious novelty value.

History

Origins

The true history of Somari is not known, being first spotted by news outlets during the mid-1990s. Cover art seems to suggest a release date of 1994, though whether Somari was the first incarnation of the game is yet to be established.

As with most unlicensed Famicom titles, Somari can be traced back to mainland Asia, being initially spread across Taiwan, Hong Kong and presumably parts of China. It spread north into Russia and East into South America, though saw very limited distribution in more developed markets due to stricter copyright laws.

In addition to being released as a stand-alone product, Somari was included in many unlicensed Famicom multi-carts, a practise that continues with ever greater numbers of games to this day.

Legacy

Many years later, a hack which improves various aspects of the game was released to attempt to turn Somari into something more playable.

Screenshots

Hidden content

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main article: Somari/Hidden content

Magazine articles

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main article: Somari/Magazine articles

Physical scans

Famicom, TW

Somaricart3.jpg
Cart
Famicom, TW

Somaricart1.jpg
Cart
Famicom, TW

Somaricart2.jpg
Cart
Famicom, TW

Somari cart.jpg
Cart
Famicom, TW

Somari Cart NT-616.jpg
Cart
Famicom, TW

Somari Famicom Cart 1.jpg
Cart

Variants

Somari has been released multiple times, often modified, under different titles:

Sonic the Hedgehog/Sonic (3D Blast) 5

A version of Somari that changes most of the graphics "back" to Sonic the Hedgehog. The player starts off in Spring Yard Zone rather than in Green Hill Zone, though users have created an IPS file to restore the original level order[2].

The game often refers to itself as Sonic 5 (音速小子5) on packaging. No evidence currently suggests the game was released before 1996.

Screenshots

Physical scans

Famicom,

Sonic5 Famicom Cart.jpg
Cart
Famicom,

Sonic5 Famicom Cart VT2018B Alt.jpg
Cart
Famicom,

Sonic5 Famicom Cart VT2018B.jpg
Cart
Famicom,

Sonic3D Famicom Cart.jpg
Cart

Sonic & Knuckles 5

Similar to the above but with a downgraded Sonic & Knuckles title screen and theme tune. Sonic is the only playable charater in this game(despite Knuckles is on the title screen).

Screenshots

Physical scans

Famicom,

SuperSonic51997 Famicom Cart NT-875.jpg
Cart

Sonic 3D Blast 6

Similar again, but with another different title screen and Marble Zone being set as the first level. This uses the Sonic & Knuckles theme and has an extra "start" screen similar to Sonic 3D.

Screenshots

Physical scans

Family Kid

A version in which the Somari sprite is replaced with an original character called Family Kid. The starting level is Green Hill Zone, just like in Somari.

Screenshots

Physical scans

Doraemon

A almost a complete graphical overhaul of Somari featuring the Japanese character Doraemon. It was made by "Waixing Computer Science & Technology Co, Ltd.". It introduces brand new levels and music though gameplay is identical.

Physical scans

The Hummer

Part of a Super New Year Cart 15 in 1 multi-cart by Hummer Team. It was later insert to a 60 in 1 plug and play from Hummer Team.

Physical scans

Downloads

Download.svg

Download Somari
Multiple downloads available

Somari (127 kB) (info)
Doraemon (120 kB) (info)

References


Somari
Somari FC title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage