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Difference between revisions of "Sonic R"

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(PC Version)
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{{Bob|bobscreen=Sonic r title.png|screenwidth=320|publisher=[[Sega]]|developer=[[Sonic Team]] / [[Traveller's Tales]]|system=[[Sega Saturn]] / PC|europe=Nov. 21, 1997|usa=Nov. 18, 1997|japan=Dec. 4, 1997|genre=Racing}}
 
{{Bob|bobscreen=Sonic r title.png|screenwidth=320|publisher=[[Sega]]|developer=[[Sonic Team]] / [[Traveller's Tales]]|system=[[Sega Saturn]] / PC|europe=Nov. 21, 1997|usa=Nov. 18, 1997|japan=Dec. 4, 1997|genre=Racing}}
  
'''''Sonic R''''' (the R stands for racing) is a racing game made by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega Saturn]] and PC. It features characters from the [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] series. The game is characterized by the same sense of environmental openness in the Sonic platformers. It contains colorful 3D graphics combined with a strong soundtrack by [[Richard Jacques]] (including songs performed by British singer [[T.J. Davis]]). Unusually for a Sonic game, it has a [[Sonic R: Trial Version|demo version]].
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'''''Sonic R''''' is a racing game, featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was developed by Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team for the Sega Saturn and PC. The PC version was ported to the GameCube and the PlayStation 2 in Sonic Gems Collection. The game is characterized by the same sense of environmental openness in the Sonic platformers. It contains colorful 3D graphics combined with a Powerpop soundtrack by Richard Jacques (including songs performed by British singer TJ Davis).
 
 
For some reason, every stage title begins with the letter R. The Saturn versions game disc can be placed into a CD player and the soundtrack can be listened to. This is due to the game's music being recorded on Red Book CD Audio. The main theme of the game was later used in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as one of the many possible background themes on Sonic's stage, Green Hill Zone. This game marks the only appearence by [[Tails Doll]].
 
  
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
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Aside from the main game, there are three special gameplay modes: reverse, in which racing occurs facing the opposite direction, break five balloons, and tag four players.
 
Aside from the main game, there are three special gameplay modes: reverse, in which racing occurs facing the opposite direction, break five balloons, and tag four players.
  
===Characters===
+
==Characters==
 
There are five racers in each race.  The four "best" racers that have been activated are automatically selected as computer opponents if a secret character is chosen. If one of the default characters is chosen, then the opponents with be the other default racers.
 
There are five racers in each race.  The four "best" racers that have been activated are automatically selected as computer opponents if a secret character is chosen. If one of the default characters is chosen, then the opponents with be the other default racers.
  
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* [[Super Sonic]] is the fastest racer, and also the hardest to unlock. He can double-jump and can run on water indefinitely, although at a reduced speed. By repeatedly jumping, it is possible to move across water at full speed. He is also the fastest racer. His only flaw is that he can be hard to control at times.
 
* [[Super Sonic]] is the fastest racer, and also the hardest to unlock. He can double-jump and can run on water indefinitely, although at a reduced speed. By repeatedly jumping, it is possible to move across water at full speed. He is also the fastest racer. His only flaw is that he can be hard to control at times.
  
==Differences between versions==
+
=Differences between versions=
{{cleanup}}
+
 
The Saturn version of ''Sonic R'' handles the game's signature fade-in differently. If the game is undergoing slowdown the fade-in will disappear, shortening the draw distance, in an attempt to keep the frame rate up. On the Saturn, polygons that are transparent do not have lighting applied. On the software rendered PC version, fade-in is fixed and can be changed in the options menu or in-game with the '''F1''' and '''F2''' keys. On the hardware rendered version, fade-in is displayed differently, calculated per pixel instead of per polygon. Also on the hardware rendered PC version, the lowest flat floor fades-in with the polygons. The Gems version has no fade-in.
+
 
 +
 
 +
==Fade-In==
 +
-The Saturn version of ''Sonic R'' handles the game's signature fade-in differently. If the game is undergoing slowdown the fade-in will disappear, shortening the draw distance, in an attempt to keep the frame rate up. Polygons that are transparent do not have lighting applied.  
 +
 
 +
-On the software rendered PC version, fade-in is fixed and can be changed in the options menu or in-game with the '''F1''' and '''F2''' keys. On the hardware rendered version, fade-in is displayed differently, calculated per pixel instead of per polygon. Also on the hardware rendered PC version, the lowest flat floor fades-in with the polygons.  
 +
 
 +
-The Gems version has no fade-in.
 +
 
 +
==Track Lighting==
 +
 
 +
-The Saturn and software rendered versions use addition to calculate lighting. This allows for much more dramatic lighting and changing to color of a texture. (Blue light on red shows blue.)The hardware rendered PC version and Gems version uses multiplication for calculating lighting. (Blue light on red shows black.) Since the game's lighting was designed for additive lighting, the track appears subdued on the hardware rendered and Gems versions.
 +
 
 +
-In the Saturn version, the Radiant Emerald track is transparent and has a transparent overlay to simulate multi-texturing. The fade-in found throughout the game is disabled, so the end of the track pops into view.
 +
 
 +
-In the PC and Gems versions, fade-in works normally, but the track is no longer transparent and there is no overlay. Instead, the coloring of the track pulsates with bright colors.
 +
 
 +
-On the hardware rendered PC version and Gems versions, the track is dark and unlit in places, but coloring does change.
 +
 
 +
==Backgrounds and Textures==
 +
-The Saturn version has a smaller background (mostly made from a tilemap) and is mirrored four times to wrap the screen (causing suns/moons to appear twice).
 +
 
 +
-The PC and Gems versions use a 1664*128 bitmap for the entire background.
 +
 
 +
-The water for the Saturn version appears different, with light shading on the wave reflection of the background (a palette effect) and a faintly visible water surface.
 +
 
 +
-The software rendered PC version has ripples done that same way as the Saturn version, but is missing the visible water surface and wave shading. The Gems Collection version animates water in a similar way.
 +
 
 +
-The hardware rendered PC version is missing the features that the software version misses, as well as the background reflecting by a slightly darkened, wobbling texture.
 +
 
 +
- The Saturn version uses 4-bit textures whereas the PC and Gems versions have 16-bit textures. Despite some tweaks, texture resolution is roughly the same. Some polygon models have changed, too. The changes on Knuckles are particularly noticeable between the Saturn and PC/Gems versions. Also, the software rendered PC version is the only version with texture alpha blending. (Per texel transparency, all other versions only do per polygon transparency.)
 +
 
 +
==Other Differences==
 +
-In some places collision detection has changed. For example, in the PC/Gems version, you can stand on the ropes in Reactive Factory; in the Saturn version you cannot.
 +
 
 +
-In the Saturn version, there is a slight delay between when a button is pushed and when a character responds.
 +
 
 +
-The PC/Gems version has time records for each character, mode, and track combination, and the Saturns' has records for each track, mode, and combination.
 +
 
 +
-The Saturn and Gems versions have ambient sound effects for torches, waterfalls, and seasides; the Gems version has volume issues (too loud) and is missing some of the sounds that the Saturn version has.
 +
 
 +
-Credits are different in the Saturn version in that there are no 3D characters.
 +
 
  
There are two versions of track lighting in the different versions of Sonic R. The Saturn and software rendered versions use addition to calculate lighting. This allows for much more dramatic lighting and changing to color of a texture. (Blue light on red shows blue.) The hardware rendered PC version and Gems version uses multiplication for calculating lighting. (Blue light on red shows black.) Since the game's lighting was designed for additive lighting, the track appears subdued on the hardware rendered and Gems versions.
+
-The balloons in the balloon mode are blue in the Saturn version, while other versions have randomly colored balloons.  
  
The appearance Radiant Emerald is quite different between versions. In the Saturn version, the track is transparent and has a transparent overlay to simulate multi-texturing. The fade-in found throughout the game is disabled, so the end of the track pops into view. On the PC and Gems versions, fade-in works normally, but the track is no longer transparent and there is no overlay. Instead, the coloring of the track pulsates with bright colors. On the hardware rendered PC version and Gems versions, the track is dark and unlit in places, but coloring does change.
+
-Items have different probabilities of being received in the Saturn version; shields and speed shoes are far more common for racers in top positions.  
  
Backgrounds are different in the Saturn and PC/Gems versions. The Saturn version has a smaller background (mostly made from a tilemap) and is mirrored four times to wrap the screen. (Likely size of the background is 416*128.) One problems with this, for example, is that suns/moons appear twice. The PC and Gems versions use a 1664*128 bitmap for the entire background. The water for the Saturn version appears different, with light shading on the wave reflection of the background (a palette effect) and a faintly visible water surface. The software rendered PC version has ripples done that same way as the Saturn version, but is missing the visible water surface and wave shading. The hardware rendered PC version is missing the features that the software version misses, as well as having a different method of the background reflecting, being reduced to a slightly darkened, wobbling texture. The Gems version has water similar to the software rendered PC version.
+
-In the PC and Gems versions, races occur in random weather conditions, either normal, rainy, or snowy, unless the default settings are altered.  
  
Textures have changes between versions. The Saturn version uses 4-bit textures whereas the PC and Gems versions have 16-bit textures. Despite some tweaks, texture resolution is roughly the same. Some polygon models have changed, too. The changes on Knuckles are particularly noticeable between the Saturn and PC/Gems versions. Also, the software rendered PC version is the only version with texture alpha blending. (Per texel transparency, all other versions only do per polygon transparency.)
+
-The Saturn version supports two players in split screen, while other versions support four players.  
  
There are several other small tweaks. In some places collision detection has changed. (In the PC/Gems version, you can stand on the ropes in Reactive Factory; in the Saturn you cannot.) The controls are less responsive on the Saturn version. (There is a slight delay between when a button is push and when a character responds.) There are fewer categories in the time records. (PC/Gems records for each character, mode, and track combination, Saturn records for each track and mode. combination) The Saturn and Gems versions have ambient sound effects for torches, waterfalls, and seasides; the Gems version has volume issues (too loud) and is missing some of the sounds that the Saturn version has. Credits are different in the Saturn version. (No 3D characters.) The balloons in the balloon mode are blue in the Saturn version, while other versions have randomly colored balloons. Items have different probabilities of being received in the Saturn version; shields and speed shoes are far more common for racers in top positions. In the PC and Gems versions, races occur in random weather conditions, either normal, rainy, or snowy, unless the default settings are altered. Snowy weather freezes the water so that racers can run across it without sinking. The Saturn version supports two players in split screen, while other versions support four players. The PC version has a networked mode, but has synchronization problems. It was re-released with Sonic 3D in the [[Twin Pack: Sonic 3D Blast & Sonic R]] bundle in 2002.
 
  
Overall, the best version of Sonic R is the PC version in software rendering mode, with best feature selection and graphics.
 
  
 
==Manuals==
 
==Manuals==

Revision as of 14:40, 8 February 2009

n/a

Sonic r title.png
Sonic R
System(s): Sega Saturn / PC
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Racing

Sonic R is a racing game, featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was developed by Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team for the Sega Saturn and PC. The PC version was ported to the GameCube and the PlayStation 2 in Sonic Gems Collection. The game is characterized by the same sense of environmental openness in the Sonic platformers. It contains colorful 3D graphics combined with a Powerpop soundtrack by Richard Jacques (including songs performed by British singer TJ Davis).

Gameplay

There are five racers in each race. The opponents selected depend on what character the player chooses. If the player chooses a secret character, the other secret characters that have been unlocked will be used. If the player chooses a starting character, he races against the other starting characters. For the purposes of selecting the racers, Dr. Robotnik is treated as a starting character.

There are several collectible rings across each of the five racetracks. Each ring regenerates after a short period of time. These rings can serve two purposes.

  • Stepping on a speed boost will consume all of a player's rings, to a maximum of 50, and boost the player ahead along a preset path. The boost is at a speed approximately three times the normal maximum speed of a character and lasts for a duration proportional to the number of rings deducted.
  • Using twenty or fifty rings will open one of many special doors. Twenty-ring doors frequently hide tokens, shortcuts, or both. Fifty-ring doors frequently hide Chaos Emeralds, shortcuts, or both. After being opened, the doors remain open for all players for the duration of the game. The number of rings required to open the door is displayed in the frame above it.

There are also inexhaustible emblem bonuses. Touching an emblem gives the racer one of multiple possible rewards, including a random number of rings and the water and lightning shields that first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The bubble shield allows the racer to walk on water once, after which it disappears. The lightning shield attracts rings to itself, but is eliminated over time or immediately upon touching water.

Aside from the main game, there are three special gameplay modes: reverse, in which racing occurs facing the opposite direction, break five balloons, and tag four players.

Characters

There are five racers in each race. The four "best" racers that have been activated are automatically selected as computer opponents if a secret character is chosen. If one of the default characters is chosen, then the opponents with be the other default racers.

Some racers can run on water for a while, and all characters can "swim" in it indefinitely, but the speed of movement will be greatly reduced. In addition, each of the ten playable characters has a different speed and a unique set of abilities. These abilities can give certain characters, even those which are initially playable, a clear edge over others. The four characters that are initially playable are Amy Rose, Tails, Knuckles, and Sonic. Below are the characters and their abilities, listed roughly from worst to best.

  • Amy Rose drives her car, which is similar to her cart in Sonic Drift, and can hover over water. She is slow but has the ablity to boost, giving her a high top speed.
  • Eggman, who races in a eggpod, can do a short-range heat-seeking attack at a cost of 10 rings. The attack will eliminate the target's shield if it has one and slow it down if it does not. He is also particularly slow but can hover over water.
  • Tails can fly at a fixed level for an limited period of time thus he can take shortcuts that others can not. He has good acceleration, but is difficult to turn with at high speeds.
  • Eggrobo is robot whose head and body are shaped like an egg, first seen in Sonic & Knuckles. Its abilities are similar to those of Robotnik, but it is slow compared to the other secret characters.
  • Knuckles can glide for an unlimited period of time, gradually losing height. He cannot latch onto or climb walls as in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. He is an all-round character, not having any major features and Speed and Control is even.
  • Sonic is the fastest of the characters that are initially playable. He can double jump. He has quick acceleration and high top speed, but has poor handling.
  • Tails Doll can hover on water. Additionally, he can hover indefinitely a certain distance above the ground or water.
  • Metal Knuckles is a robot version of Knuckles that is faster on the ground and while gliding.
  • Metal Sonic has a very high single jump and does not immediately fall into water, instead floating above it while losing speed, and then falling in after he has stopped completely.
  • Super Sonic is the fastest racer, and also the hardest to unlock. He can double-jump and can run on water indefinitely, although at a reduced speed. By repeatedly jumping, it is possible to move across water at full speed. He is also the fastest racer. His only flaw is that he can be hard to control at times.

Differences between versions

Fade-In

-The Saturn version of Sonic R handles the game's signature fade-in differently. If the game is undergoing slowdown the fade-in will disappear, shortening the draw distance, in an attempt to keep the frame rate up. Polygons that are transparent do not have lighting applied.

-On the software rendered PC version, fade-in is fixed and can be changed in the options menu or in-game with the F1 and F2 keys. On the hardware rendered version, fade-in is displayed differently, calculated per pixel instead of per polygon. Also on the hardware rendered PC version, the lowest flat floor fades-in with the polygons.

-The Gems version has no fade-in.

Track Lighting

-The Saturn and software rendered versions use addition to calculate lighting. This allows for much more dramatic lighting and changing to color of a texture. (Blue light on red shows blue.)The hardware rendered PC version and Gems version uses multiplication for calculating lighting. (Blue light on red shows black.) Since the game's lighting was designed for additive lighting, the track appears subdued on the hardware rendered and Gems versions.

-In the Saturn version, the Radiant Emerald track is transparent and has a transparent overlay to simulate multi-texturing. The fade-in found throughout the game is disabled, so the end of the track pops into view.

-In the PC and Gems versions, fade-in works normally, but the track is no longer transparent and there is no overlay. Instead, the coloring of the track pulsates with bright colors.

-On the hardware rendered PC version and Gems versions, the track is dark and unlit in places, but coloring does change.

Backgrounds and Textures

-The Saturn version has a smaller background (mostly made from a tilemap) and is mirrored four times to wrap the screen (causing suns/moons to appear twice).

-The PC and Gems versions use a 1664*128 bitmap for the entire background.

-The water for the Saturn version appears different, with light shading on the wave reflection of the background (a palette effect) and a faintly visible water surface.

-The software rendered PC version has ripples done that same way as the Saturn version, but is missing the visible water surface and wave shading. The Gems Collection version animates water in a similar way.

-The hardware rendered PC version is missing the features that the software version misses, as well as the background reflecting by a slightly darkened, wobbling texture.

- The Saturn version uses 4-bit textures whereas the PC and Gems versions have 16-bit textures. Despite some tweaks, texture resolution is roughly the same. Some polygon models have changed, too. The changes on Knuckles are particularly noticeable between the Saturn and PC/Gems versions. Also, the software rendered PC version is the only version with texture alpha blending. (Per texel transparency, all other versions only do per polygon transparency.)

Other Differences

-In some places collision detection has changed. For example, in the PC/Gems version, you can stand on the ropes in Reactive Factory; in the Saturn version you cannot.

-In the Saturn version, there is a slight delay between when a button is pushed and when a character responds.

-The PC/Gems version has time records for each character, mode, and track combination, and the Saturns' has records for each track, mode, and combination.

-The Saturn and Gems versions have ambient sound effects for torches, waterfalls, and seasides; the Gems version has volume issues (too loud) and is missing some of the sounds that the Saturn version has.

-Credits are different in the Saturn version in that there are no 3D characters.


-The balloons in the balloon mode are blue in the Saturn version, while other versions have randomly colored balloons.

-Items have different probabilities of being received in the Saturn version; shields and speed shoes are far more common for racers in top positions.

-In the PC and Gems versions, races occur in random weather conditions, either normal, rainy, or snowy, unless the default settings are altered.

-The Saturn version supports two players in split screen, while other versions support four players.


Manuals

Also Released On

Production Credits

Program Design & Implementation: Jon Burton (Traveller's Tales)
Head Artist: James Cunliffe (Traveller's Tales)
Lead Artist: David Burton (Traveller's Tales)
Game Design Director: Takashi Iizuka (Sega Enterprises Ltd.)
Map Design Director: Hirokazu Yasuhara (Sega of America Inc.)
Additional Artwork: Kazuyuki Hoshino (Sega Enterprises Ltd.)
Additional Artwork & Visual Advisor: Shigeru Okada (Sega Europe Ltd.)
Character Designer: Yuji Uekawa (Sega Enterprises Ltd.)
Music & Sound Producer: Richard Jacques (Sega Europe Ltd.)
Project Director: Kats Sato (Sega Europe Ltd.)
General Producer: Yuji Naka (Sega Enterprises Ltd.)

Traveller's Tales

Programmed By Jon Burton
Polygon Model Design and Implementation: Neil Allen, David Burton, James Cunliffe
Texture Map Design and Application: Neil Allen, James Cunliffe
Character Animations: David Burton
Artwotk: Bev Bush, Carleen Smith
Addtional Artwork: Leon Warren, Sean Maden, Jon Rashid, Will Thompson
Model and Animation Data Conversion: Andy Holdroyd
Terrain System Programming: John Hodskinson
Special Effects Programming: Jon Burton
Artificial Intelligence: Stephen Harding, Gary Vine
Texture Application Software: Andy Holdroyd
3D Engine And Porting: Steve Monks
Additional Programming: Stephen Harding, Gary Vine, John Hodskinson, Andy Holdroyd

Sega Enterprises Ltd.

General Producer: Yuji Naka
Producer: Tetsuo Shinyu
Director: Masamitsu Shiino
Game Design Director: Takashi Iizuka
Map Design Director: Hirokazu Yasuhara
Supervisor: Yuji Naka
Game Designer: Shun Nakamura
Game Advisors: Takao Miyoshi, Katsuhiro Hasegawa
Additional Artwork: Kazuyuki Hoshino
Additional Artwork & Visual Advisor: Shigeru Okada
Character Designers: Yuji Uekawa, Yoshitaka Miura
Graphic Advisors: Naoto Ohshima, Hiroshi Nishiyama
Sound Advisor: Naofumi Hataya
Music & Sound Effects: Richard Jacques
Vocals: T.J. Davis (courtesy of Freedom Management)
Engineered & Mixed By: Matt Howe
Digital Editing By: Neil Tucker
Recorded And Mixed At: SEGA DIGITAL STUDIO, Metropolis Studio
Product Manager: Toshinori Asai
Sega Europe Ltd. Director: Richard Lloyd
European Marketing Manager: Hitendra Maik
Assistant European Marketing Manager: Steve Wombwell
Locailzation: Roberto Parraga, Dave Thompson, Michael Wiessmuller
Packing And Software Manual(Japan): Kaoru Ichigozaki, Osamu Makazato, Hayato Takebayashi
Packing And Software Manual(America): France Tantiado
Packing And Software Manual(Europe): Paul Jeren
Special Thanks: Jin Shimazaki, Kazutoshi Miyake, Katsuhisa Sato, Scott Hawkins, Sonic Team

Resources

Original Sound Version Recordings

See Sonic R OST for a download page.

Scans

Saturn version

PC Version

Template:SonicRLevels

Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems
Sega Saturn
 1996  Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island     1997  Sonic Jam | Sonic R    
 Unreleased  Sonic X-treme | Sonic Saturn