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(List of hacks: Clarification: more notable hacks are listed separately)
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[[File:s1k.png|thumb|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 in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'']]
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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.]]
'''Sonic hacks''' are Sonic games which are usually edited through the process of [[Hacking|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. Starting with the early documents penned by Cyan and [[saxman]], to the [[Nemesis]] [[SCHG:Sonic Community Hacking Guide#Nemesis' hacking guides|guides]] and the [[Sonic Community Hacking Guide]], researchers have taken their understanding of the Sonic games and turned them into original creations. 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
+
'''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
+
* [[sega:palette|palette]] changes
 +
* [[sega:sprite|sprite]] changes
 +
* major art (title screen, [[HUD]], ''et al.'') changes
 
* level art changes and original level layouts
 
* level art changes and original level layouts
 
* music and sound changes
 
* music and sound changes
Line 9: Line 11:
 
* changes in movement engines or bosses
 
* changes in movement engines or bosses
 
* original concepts and gameplay styles
 
* original concepts and gameplay styles
Today, with the assistance of [[hex editor|hex editors]], [[disassemblies]] and specific [[Sonic Hacking Utilities]], fans have been creating more extensive modifications.
 
  
Hacks in the Sonic community are usually distributed as full ROMs today. In the past, [[IPS]] patches were used, since an IPS patch was usually much smaller than the source ROM and therefore easier to distribute in a time 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.  This format fell out of use when split [[disassembly|disassemblies]] came into use to edit game data, and when dial-up was losing popularity. 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 Format]] was meant to eventually replace IPS, it quickly faded into obscurity along with IPS patches.
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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.  
  
==List of hacks==
+
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.)
(The most notable hacks are listed separately below.)
 
  
 +
==Hack list==
 +
{{Seealso|Sonic_hacks#Notable_hacks|Notable Sonic hacks}}
 
===[[Sega Mega Drive]]===
 
===[[Sega Mega Drive]]===
The majority of Sonic ROM hacks done in the Sonic scene are modifications of Sega Genesis games, since such games 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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The majority of Sonic ROM hacks are modifications of [[sega:Sega Megadrive|Sega Mega Drive]] 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]]====
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====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) Hacks
+
category=Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
====[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]====
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====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit) Hacks
+
category=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit) hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
 
+
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''====
====[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]====
+
<DPL>
 +
category=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hacks
 +
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 +
columns=3
 +
</DPL>
 +
====''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Hacks
+
category=Sonic & Knuckles hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
====[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]====
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====''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic 3 {{amp}} Knuckles Hacks
+
category=Sonic 3 & Knuckles hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
====[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]====
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====''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island Hacks
+
category=Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
===[[Sega Game Gear]]===
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===[[sega:Sega Game Gear|Sega Game Gear]]===
====[[Sonic Drift 2]]====
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====''[[Sonic Drift 2]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic Drift 2 Hacks
+
category=Sonic Drift 2 hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
 
+
====''[[Sonic Triple Trouble]]''====
====[[Sonic Triple Trouble]]====
 
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic Triple Trouble Hacks
+
category=Sonic Triple Trouble hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
===[[Sega Mega CD]]===
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===[[sega:Sega Mega-CD|Sega Mega-CD]]===
====[[Sonic CD]]====
+
====''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]''====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic CD Hacks
+
category=Sonic the Hedgehog CD hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
===[[Nintendo GameCube]]===
+
===[[sega:Nintendo GameCube|Nintendo GameCube]]===
====[[Sonic Adventure DX]]====
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====''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]''====
Research and modifications of [[Sonic Adventure DX]] has been made much easier through the game's PC port. [[Dude]] and [[MainMemory]] are two of the pioneers in modifying this game.
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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>
 
<DPL>
category=Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut Hacks
+
category=Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut hacks
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
 
===Other===
 
===Other===
====Unofficial Ports====
+
====Unofficial ports====
 
<DPL>
 
<DPL>
category=Unofficial Ports
+
category=Unofficial ports
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
format = ,\n* [[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]],,
 
columns=3
 
columns=3
</DPl>
+
</DPL>
  
 
==Notable hacks==
 
==Notable hacks==
 
''In alphabetical order''
 
''In alphabetical order''
  
===Mega Drive/Genesis===
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===[[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive]]===
 
<!--- 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]]
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*''[[Pana Der Hejhog]]'' by [[User:MarkeyJester|MarkeyJester]]
*''[[Sonic 1 Beta Remake]]'' by [[Mistergambit]]
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*''[[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]]
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*''[[Sonic 2: Advanced Edit]]'' by [[User:Rika Chou|Rika Chou]]
*''[[Sonic 2: Aluminum Edition]]'' by [[Dr. Eggfan]]
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*''[[Sonic 2: Aluminium Edition]]'' by [[User:Doc eggfan|Dr. Eggfan]]
*''[[Sonic 2 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
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*''[[Sonic 2 Delta]]'' by [[User:Esrael|Esrael]]
*''[[Sonic 2 Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
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*''[[Sonic 2 Long Version]]'' by [[User:Sonic Hachelle-Bee|Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
*''[[Sonic 2 & Knuckles Long Version]]'' by [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
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*''[[Sonic 2 & Knuckles Long Version]]'' by [[User:Sonic Hachelle-Bee|Sonic Hachelle-Bee]]
*''[[Sonic 2 SMTP]]'' by [[SMTP]]
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*''[[Sonic 2 SMTP]]'' by [[User:SMTP|SMTP]]
*''[[Sonic 3 Delta]]'' by [[Esrael]]
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*''[[Sonic 3 Complete]]'' by [[User:Tiddles|Tiddles]]
 +
*''[[Sonic 3 Delta]]'' by [[User:Esrael|Esrael]]
 
*''[[Sonic Boom (hack)|Sonic Boom]]'' by [[SÆGA]]
 
*''[[Sonic Boom (hack)|Sonic Boom]]'' by [[SÆGA]]
*''[[Sonic Gaiden]]'' by [[Yuski the Dog]]
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*''[[Sonic Gaiden]]'' by [[User:Yuski|Yuski the Dog]]
*''[[Sonic in Chaotix]]'' by [[JJFTails]]
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*''[[Sonic in Chaotix]]'' by [[User:JJ-Fox|JJFTails]]
*''[[South Island Adventure]]'' by Hivebrain
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*''[[South Island Adventure]]'' by [[User:Hivebrain|Hivebrain]]
*''[[Sonic - The Lost Land]]'' by [[Shadow Fire]]
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*''[[Sonic - The Lost Land]]'' by [[User:Shadow Fire|Shadow Fire]]
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Extended Edition]]'' by [[Cinossu]]
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*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Extended Edition]]'' by [[User:Cinossu|Cinossu]]
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Plus]]'' by [[Hivebrain]]
+
*''[[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 [[User:Nemesis|Nemesis]]
*''[[Tails in Sonic 1]]'' by [[drx]]
+
*''[[Tails in Sonic 1]]'' by [[User:Drx|drx]]
*''[[Tohaka]]'' by [[Ultima]]
+
*''[[The S Factor: Sonia and Silver]]'' by [[Aquaslash & Pals]]
 +
*''[[Tohaka]]'' by [[User:Ultima|Ultima]]
  
===Mega 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 05:55, 30 June 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 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

Sega Mega-CD