Difference between revisions of "Sonic hacks"
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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: | |
| − | '''Sonic hacks''' are Sonic games which are usually edited through the process of [[Hacking|ROM Hacking]]. | ||
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| − | + | * Palette changes | |
| + | * [[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). | |
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==Notable hacks== | ==Notable hacks== | ||
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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]] | *''[[Sonic 1 Remastered]]'' by [[Puto]] | ||
*''[[Sonic 2 Remastered]]'' by [[Puto]] | *''[[Sonic 2 Remastered]]'' by [[Puto]] | ||
Revision as of 20:57, 20 November 2009
Sonic hacks are Sonic games which are usually edited through the process of 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:
- Palette changes
- 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 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).
Notable hacks
In alphabetical order
Mega Drive/Genesis
- Eggman in Sonic 1 (a.k.a. Eggman the Dictator) by LOst
- Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog by Stealth
- Project Shadow 2 by JohnnyUK
- Robotnik's Revenge by ColinC10
- Sonic 1 Beta Remake by Mistergambit
- Sonic 1 Remastered by Puto
- Sonic 2 Remastered by Puto
- Sonic 1 Return to the Origin
- Sonic 2: Advanced Edit by Rika Chou
- Sonic 2: Aluminum Edition by Dr. Eggfan
- Sonic 2 Delta by Esrael
- Sonic 2 Long Version by Sonic Hachelle-Bee
- Sonic 2 & Knuckles Long Version by Sonic Hachelle-Bee
- Sonic 2 SMTP by SMTP
- Sonic 3 Delta by Esrael
- Sonic Boom by SÆGA
- Sonic Gaiden by Yuski the Dog
- Sonic in Chaotix by JJFTails
- South Island Adventure by Hivebrain
- Sonic - The Lost Land by Shadow Fire
- Sonic the Hedgehog Extended Edition by Cinossu
- Sonic the Hedgehog Plus by Hivebrain
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (colourised ending hack) by Nemesis
- Tails in Sonic 1 by drx
- Tohaka by Ultima