Source code/Technical information

This page contains information about names and labels used in the original source code of the Mega Drive and Mega CD games.

Global variables

Name	Description
generate_flag	Zero if the robot transporter hasn't been destroyed (yet). 1 if it has been destroyed. Sonic CD only.
markerno	Marker numero. Stores the identifier of the last activated checkpoint.
pl_suu	Player lives. suu is the Japanese verb for breathing.
plpower_b	Player power baria. Baria is the Japanese word for barrier. Zero when the player character doesn't have a shield. 1 when the player character has a shield.
plpower_m	Player power muteki. Muteki is the Japanese word for invincible. Zero when not invincible. 1 when invincible.
plring	Player rings.
plring_s	Player rings save. Stores the number of rings at the time of the last checkpoint activation.
plscore	Player score.
pltime	Player time. The duration of time since starting the act. Stored as three bytes: 1/60 seconds, seconds,and minutes.
pltime_s	Player time save. The duration of time since starting the act at the time of the last checkpoint activation.
plxposi_s	Player x position save. Stores the x position of the last activated checkpoint.
plyposi_s	Player y position save. Stores the y position of the last activated checkpoint.
projector_flag	Zero if the Metal Sonic projector hasn't been destroyed (yet). 1 if it has been destroyed. Sonic CD only.
ta_flag	Time attack flag. Zero during regular play. Non-zero when in Time Attack mode. Sonic CD only.
time_flag	This flag is a combination of two values: the most significant bit stores the player currently has the power of time travel, and the rest of the byte stores a time period. If the player doesn't have the power of time travel, the time period is the current time period. If the player has the power of time travel, the time period is the one the player will travel to when time-traveling. The possible time period values are zero for past, 1 for present, and 2 for future.
time_item	Stores the value of the last activated Time Warp Plate. Possible values: 0 for none, 1 for future, and -1 for past. Sonic CD only.