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Difference between revisions of "Sonic hacks"

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m (Undo revision 201674 by Darthsonic2 (talk) useless edit)
(→‎Notable hacks: Such a well-known hack and it's not listed here?)
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Today, with the assistance of [[sega:hex editor|hex editor]]s, [[disassemblies]] and specific [[Sonic Hacking Utilities]], fans have been creating more extensive modifications.  
 
Today, with the assistance of [[sega:hex editor|hex editor]]s, [[disassemblies]] and specific [[Sonic Hacking Utilities]], fans have been creating more extensive modifications.  
  
−
Hacks in the Sonic community are now usually distributed as full [[sega:ROM|ROM]]s. In the past, [[sega:IPS|IPS]] [[sega:patch|patch]]es were used, since these are usually much smaller than a full ROM and were therefore easier to distribute in a time when dial-up was widely used. It was also believed, that since patches do not contain any copyrighted code, it was not illegal to distribute one. This format fell out of use when split [[disassembly|disassemblies]] became available as a way to edit game data, and when dial-up was being replaced by faster broadband connections. The massive shifts in the ROM that can result from reassembly made IPS patches very large, and they would often contain a good volume of code anyway, thus eliminating the alleged legal advantage.  Though [[saxman]]'s [[sega:RXL|RXL]] patch format was designed to replace IPS, it quickly faded into obscurity along with its predecessor. Another format, [http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/598/ DeltaX] takes into account shifted data, resulting in much smaller patches.
+
Hacks in the Sonic community are now usually distributed as full [[sega:ROM|ROM]]s. In the past, [[sega:IPS|IPS]] [[sega:patch|patch]]es were used, since these are usually much smaller than a full ROM and were therefore easier to distribute in a time when dial-up was widely used. It was also believed, that since patches do not contain any copyrighted code, it was not illegal to distribute one. This format fell out of use when split [[disassembly|disassemblies]] became available as a way to edit game data, and when dial-up was being replaced by faster broadband connections. The massive shifts in the ROM that can result from reassembly made IPS patches very large, and they would often contain a good volume of code anyway, thus eliminating the alleged legal advantage.  Though [[saxman]]'s [[sega:RXL|RXL]] patch format was designed to replace IPS, it quickly faded into obscurity along with its predecessor. Another format, [http://xdelta.org/ xdelta], takes shifted data into account, resulting in much smaller patches. (Note that xdelta-1.x used the original format known as xdelta; xdelta-3.x uses the standard [[wikipedia:VCDIFF|VCDIFF]] format.)
  
 
==List of hacks==
 
==List of hacks==
 
{{Seealso|Sonic_hacks#Notable_hacks|Notable Sonic hacks}}
 
{{Seealso|Sonic_hacks#Notable_hacks|Notable Sonic hacks}}
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===[[Sega Mega Drive]]===
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===[[Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]]===
 
The majority of Sonic ROM hacks are modifications of [[sega:Sega Megadrive|Sega Mega Drive / Genesis]] games, since these are smaller and relatively simple compared to the games of later consoles. Also, many ROM hackers in the Sonic scene grew up with the Genesis and its games, so they hold fond memories of these games.
 
The majority of Sonic ROM hacks are modifications of [[sega:Sega Megadrive|Sega Mega Drive / Genesis]] games, since these are smaller and relatively simple compared to the games of later consoles. Also, many ROM hackers in the Sonic scene grew up with the Genesis and its games, so they hold fond memories of these games.
  
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columns=3
 
columns=3
 
</DPL>
 
</DPL>
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====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''====
 
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
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====''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''====
 
====''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
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category=Sonic 3 {{amp}} Knuckles hacks
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category=Sonic 3 & Knuckles hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
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</DPL>
 
</DPL>
  
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===[[sega:Sega Mega CD|Sega Mega CD]]===
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===[[sega:Sega Mega-CD|Sega Mega-CD]]===
 
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]''====
 
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
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*''[[Robotnik's Revenge]]'' by [[ColinC10]]
 
*''[[Robotnik's Revenge]]'' by [[ColinC10]]
 
*''[[Sonic 1 Beta Remake]]'' by [[Mistergambit]]
 
*''[[Sonic 1 Beta Remake]]'' by [[Mistergambit]]
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*''[[Sonic 1 Remastered]]'' by [[Puto]]
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*''[[Sonic 1 Remastered (hack)]]'' by [[Puto]]
 
*''[[Sonic 1 Return to the Origin]]''
 
*''[[Sonic 1 Return to the Origin]]''
 
*''[[Sonic 2: Advanced Edit]]'' by [[Rika Chou]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2: Advanced Edit]]'' by [[Rika Chou]]
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*''[[Sonic 2: Aluminum Edition]]'' by [[Dr. Eggfan]]
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*''[[Sonic 2: Aluminium Edition]]'' by [[Dr. Eggfan]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 & Knuckles Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 & Knuckles Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 SMTP]]'' by [[SMTP]]
 
*''[[Sonic 2 SMTP]]'' by [[SMTP]]
 +
*''[[Sonic 3 Complete]]'' by [[Tiddles]]
 
*''[[Sonic 3 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
 
*''[[Sonic 3 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
 
*''[[Sonic Boom (hack)|Sonic Boom]]'' by [[SÆGA]]
 
*''[[Sonic Boom (hack)|Sonic Boom]]'' by [[SÆGA]]
 
*''[[Sonic Gaiden]]'' by [[Yuski the Dog]]
 
*''[[Sonic Gaiden]]'' by [[Yuski the Dog]]
 
*''[[Sonic in Chaotix]]'' by [[JJFTails]]
 
*''[[Sonic in Chaotix]]'' by [[JJFTails]]
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*''[[South Island Adventure]]'' by Hivebrain
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*''[[South Island Adventure]]'' by [[User:Hivebrain|Hivebrain]]
 
*''[[Sonic - The Lost Land]]'' by [[Shadow Fire]]
 
*''[[Sonic - The Lost Land]]'' by [[Shadow Fire]]
 
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Extended Edition]]'' by [[Cinossu]]
 
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Extended Edition]]'' by [[Cinossu]]
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*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Plus]]'' by [[Hivebrain]]
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*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Plus]]'' by [[User:Hivebrain|Hivebrain]]
 
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (colourised ending hack)]]'' by [[Nemesis]]
 
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (colourised ending hack)]]'' by [[Nemesis]]
 
*''[[Tails in Sonic 1]]'' by [[drx]]
 
*''[[Tails in Sonic 1]]'' by [[drx]]
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*''[[Tohaka]]'' by [[Ultima]]
 
*''[[Tohaka]]'' by [[Ultima]]
  
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===[[sega:Sega Mega CD|Sega Mega CD]]===
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===[[sega:Sega Mega-CD|Sega Mega-CD]]===
 
*''[[Sonic Megamix]]'' by [[Team Megamix]]
 
*''[[Sonic Megamix]]'' by [[Team Megamix]]
 
*''[[Sonic for MegaCD]]'' by [[Stealth]]
 
*''[[Sonic for MegaCD]]'' by [[Stealth]]

Revision as of 14:45, 16 September 2017

Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog is a hack that allows a player to play as Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog, a feature that Sega intended to be possible using Lock-On Technology, but ultimately removed due to technical problems.

Sonic hacks are altered versions of Sonic the Hedgehog games that have been edited through the process of ROM Hacking. From the emergence of Cyan Helkaraxe's Sonic 1 Beta Hoax in 1999, the production of hacks has been a vital part of the Sonic research community and scene. Starting with the early documents penned by Cyan and saxman, to the Nemesis guides, the Sonic Community Hacking Guide, and beyond, researchers have used their understanding of the Sonic games to alter them in various ways. While earlier hacks were simple, such as minor palette changes, a number of hacks today are very complex. Over time, as the scene learns more about the underlying code behind the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the extent of these modifications has expanded. Modifications now include:

  • palette changes
  • sprite changes
  • major art (title screen, HUD, et al.) changes
  • level art changes and original level layouts
  • music and sound changes
  • importation of levels from other games
  • changes in movement engines or bosses
  • original concepts and gameplay styles

Today, with the assistance of hex editors, disassemblies and specific Sonic Hacking Utilities, fans have been creating more extensive modifications.

Hacks in the Sonic community are now usually distributed as full ROMs. In the past, IPS patches were used, since these are usually much smaller than a full ROM and were therefore easier to distribute in a time when dial-up was widely used. It was also believed, that since patches do not contain any copyrighted code, it was not illegal to distribute one. This format fell out of use when split disassemblies became available as a way to edit game data, and when dial-up was being replaced by faster broadband connections. The massive shifts in the ROM that can result from reassembly made IPS patches very large, and they would often contain a good volume of code anyway, thus eliminating the alleged legal advantage. Though saxman's RXL patch format was designed to replace IPS, it quickly faded into obscurity along with its predecessor. Another format, xdelta, takes shifted data into account, resulting in much smaller patches. (Note that xdelta-1.x used the original format known as xdelta; xdelta-3.x uses the standard VCDIFF format.)

List of hacks

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis

The majority of Sonic ROM hacks are modifications of Sega Mega Drive / Genesis games, since these are smaller and relatively simple compared to the games of later consoles. Also, many ROM hackers in the Sonic scene grew up with the Genesis and its games, so they hold fond memories of these games.

Sonic the Hedgehog


Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic & Knuckles

Extension:DynamicPageList (DPL), version 3.1.3: Warning: No results.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Extension:DynamicPageList (DPL), version 3.1.3: Warning: No results.

Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island


Sega Game Gear

Sonic Drift 2

Sonic Triple Trouble


Sega Mega-CD

Sonic the Hedgehog CD


Nintendo GameCube

Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut

Research and modifications of Sonic Adventure DX have been made much easier by the game's availability on PC. Dude, MainMemory and Endri are considered pioneers in modifying this game.


Other

Unofficial ports


Notable hacks

In alphabetical order

Sega Mega Drive / Genesis

Sega Mega-CD

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