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'''Sonic hacks''' are Sonic games which are usually edited through the process of [[Hacking|ROM Hacking]]. The Sonic hacking scene started in 1998, led by [[saxman]]. While the first hacks were very basic, such as minor [[palette]] changes, the hacks of today are very complex, usually featuring some combination of the following:
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[[File:s1k.png|thumb|320px|link=Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog|''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.]]
  
* Palette changes
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'''Sonic hacks''' are altered versions of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] games that have been edited through the process of [[sega:ROM Hacking|ROM Hacking]]. From the emergence of [[User:Cyan|Cyan Helkaraxe]]'s [[Sonic 1 Beta Hoax]] in 1999, the production of hacks has been a vital part of the ''Sonic'' research community and [[Sonic scene|scene]]. Starting with the early documents penned by Cyan and [[User:Saxman|saxman]], to the [[User:Nemesis|Nemesis]] [[SCHG:Sonic Community Hacking Guide#Nemesis' hacking guides|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 [[sega:palette|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:
* [[Sprite]] changes
 
* Major art (title screen, HUD, et al.) changes
 
* Level art changes and original level layouts
 
* Music and/or sound changes
 
* Importation of levels from other games
 
* Changes in movement engines or bosses
 
* Original ideas and concepts introduced, such as the ring counter in Sonic 2 Delta
 
  
Most hacks in the Sonic community are distributed as full ROMs today. In the past, [[IPS]] patches were used, because an IPS patch was usually much smaller than the source ROM and therefore easier to distribute when dial-up was widely used. It was also believed that since an IPS patch did not contain any copyrighted code, it was not illegal to distribute one. Many old hacks can still be found as IPS patches, but the format fell out of use when split [[disassembly|disassemblies]] came into use to edit game data. The massive shifts in the ROM that can result from reassembly made IPS patches very large, and they would often contain code anyway, thus eliminating the alleged legal advantage. Though the [[RXL Format]], developed by saxman, was meant to eventually replace IPS, it quickly faded into obscurity (and probably would have suffered from the same problems anyway).
+
* [[sega:palette|palette]] changes
 +
* [[sega:sprite|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 [[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 [[User:Saxman|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.)
 +
 
 +
==Hack list==
 +
{{Seealso|Sonic_hacks#Notable_hacks|Notable Sonic hacks}}
 +
===[[Sega Mega Drive]]===
 +
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.
 +
 
 +
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
 
 +
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit) hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
====''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic & Knuckles hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
 
 +
====''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic 3 & Knuckles hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
 
 +
====''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
 
 +
===[[sega:Sega Game Gear|Sega Game Gear]]===
 +
====''[[Sonic Drift 2]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic Drift 2 hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
====''[[Sonic Triple Trouble]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic Triple Trouble hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
 
 +
===[[sega:Sega Mega-CD|Sega Mega-CD]]===
 +
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]''====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic the Hedgehog CD hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
 
 +
===[[sega:Nintendo GameCube|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. [[User:Dude|Dude]], [[User:MainMemory|MainMemory]] and [[User:Endri|Endri]] are considered pioneers in modifying this game.
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
 
 +
===Other===
 +
====Unofficial ports====
 +
<DPL>
 +
category=Unofficial ports
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
  
 
==Notable hacks==
 
==Notable hacks==
 
''In alphabetical order''
 
''In alphabetical order''
  
===Megadrive/Genesis===
+
===[[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive / Genesis]]===
 
<!--- This is a list of notable or well-known hacks. If you add your hack to this list, it may be deleted. --->
 
<!--- This is a list of notable or well-known hacks. If you add your hack to this list, it may be deleted. --->
*''[[Eggman in Sonic 1]]'' (a.k.a. ''Eggman the Dictator'') by [[LOst]]
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*''[[Doctor Robotnik's Creature Capture]]'' by [[User:MarkeyJester|MarkeyJester]]
 +
*''[[Eggman in Sonic 1]]'' (a.k.a. ''Eggman the Dictator'') by [[User:LOst|LOst]]
 
*''[[Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' by [[Stealth]]
 
*''[[Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' by [[Stealth]]
*''[[Project Shadow 2]]'' by [[JohnnyUK]]
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*''[[Metal Sonic Hyperdrive]]'' by Darkon360
*''[[Robotnik's Revenge]]'' by [[ColinC10]]
+
*''[[Pana Der Hejhog]]'' by [[User:MarkeyJester|MarkeyJester]]
*''[[Sonic 1 Beta Remake]]'' by [[Mistergambit]]
+
*''[[Project Shadow 2]]'' by [[User:JohnnyUK|JohnnyUK]]
*''[[Sonic 1 Remastered]]'' by [[Puto]]
+
*''[[Robotnik's Revenge]]'' by [[User:ColinC10|ColinC10]]
*''[[Sonic 2 Remastered]]'' by [[Puto]]
+
*''[[Sonic 1 Beta Remake]]'' by [[User:Mistergambit|Mistergambit]]
 +
*''[[Sonic 1 Remastered (hack)]]'' by [[User:Puto|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 [[User:Rika Chou|Rika Chou]]
*''[[Sonic 2: Aluminum Edition]]'' by [[Dr. Eggfan]]
+
*''[[Sonic 2: Aluminium Edition]]'' by [[User:Doc eggfan|Dr. Eggfan]]
*''[[Sonic 2 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
+
*''[[Sonic 2 Delta]]'' by [[User:Esrael|Esrael]]
*''[[Sonic 2 Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
+
*''[[Sonic 2 Long Version]]'' by [[User:Sonic Hachelle-Bee|Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
*''[[Sonic 2 & Knuckles Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
+
*''[[Sonic 2 & Knuckles Long Version]]'' by [[User:Sonic Hachelle-Bee|Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
*''[[Sonic 2 SMTP]]'' by [[SMTP]]
+
*''[[Sonic 2 SMTP]]'' by [[User:SMTP|SMTP]]
*''[[Sonic 3 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
+
*''[[Sonic 3 Complete]]'' by [[User:Tiddles|Tiddles]]
*''[[Sonic Gaiden]]'' by [[Yuski the Dog]]
+
*''[[Sonic 3 Delta]]'' by [[User:Esrael|Esrael]]
*''[[Sonic in Chaotix]]'' by [[JJFTails]]
+
*''[[Sonic Boom (hack)|Sonic Boom]]'' by [[SÆGA]]
*''[[South Island Adventure]]'' by Hivebrain
+
*''[[Sonic Gaiden]]'' by [[User:Yuski|Yuski the Dog]]
*''[[Sonic - The Lost Land]]'' by [[Shadow Fire]]
+
*''[[Sonic in Chaotix]]'' by [[User:JJ-Fox|JJFTails]]
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Extended Edition]]'' by [[Cinossu]]
+
*''[[South Island Adventure]]'' by [[User:Hivebrain|Hivebrain]]
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Plus]]'' by [[Hivebrain]]
+
*''[[Sonic - The Lost Land]]'' by [[User:Shadow Fire|Shadow Fire]]
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (colourised ending hack)]]'' by [[Nemesis]]
+
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Extended Edition]]'' by [[User:Cinossu|Cinossu]]
*''[[Tails in Sonic 1]]'' by [[drx]]
+
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Plus]]'' by [[User:Hivebrain|Hivebrain]]
*''[[Tohaka]]'' by [[Ultima]]
+
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (colourised ending hack)]]'' by [[User:Nemesis|Nemesis]]
 +
*''[[Tails in Sonic 1]]'' by [[User:Drx|drx]]
 +
*''[[The S Factor: Sonia and Silver]]'' by [[Aquaslash & Pals]]
 +
*''[[Tohaka]]'' by [[User:Ultima|Ultima]]
  
=== Sega CD ===
+
===[[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]]
  
 
[[Category:Hacks| ]]
 
[[Category:Hacks| ]]
[[Category:Hacking Information]]
+
[[Category:Hacking information]]

Revision as of 15:33, 15 April 2018

File:S1k.png
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.)

Hack list

Sonic Retro emblem.svg See also: Notable Sonic hacks

Sega Mega Drive

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

Sonic 3 & Knuckles

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