Somari

n/a

Somari
System(s): Famicom
Developer: Hummer Team Co.
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code Rating TW 1994  ? ? RU 1994  ? ? TH 199x  ? ?

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Somari or Somari the Adventurer is an unlicensed port of Sega's flagship Sega Mega Drive video game Sonic the Hedgehog for the Nintendo Famicom. It was released by Hummer Team in 1994.

Somari is notorious not for featuring Sonic the Hedgehog as its starring character, but Nintendo's mascot Mario, who in this game shares Sonic's abilities.

Gameplay

Somari is an attempt to bring the original Sonic the Hedgehog to the 8-bit Famicom. Mario (or "Somari") can run and jump like Sonic, spinning into enemies, collecting rings and running around loops, with the spin dash technique included from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for good measure. The game attempts to mimic the Mega Drive game as closely as possible, though its special stages are based on those found in the 8-bit version of the game (meaning there are no chaos emeralds), presumably due to hardware limitations. Scrap Brain Zone is also missing, though remnants of it exist in the ROM.

There is no ending sequence should the player manage to complete the game - just a single screen showing Dr. Eggman juggling chaos emeralds and some text claiming he will return.

As a very early attempt at getting Sonic to run on simpler hardware, Somari is riddled with issues, from poor collision detection and unresponsive controls to game-breaking glitches. Like many unlicensed titles of its kind, the game is very difficult to play, but is infamous, particularly after being rediscovered on the internet, for its low quality presentation and obvious novelty value.

History

Origins

The true history of Somari is not known, being first spotted by news outlets during the mid-1990s. Cover art seems to suggest a release date of 1994, though whether Somari was the first incarnation of the game is yet to be established.

As with most unlicensed Famicom titles, Somari can be traced back to mainland Asia, being initially spread across Taiwan, Hong Kong and presumably parts of China. It spread into regions that were known from high piracy level of Famicom consoles, that is most of the Asia, Former USSR, Eastern Europe, South America and Africa, though saw very limited distribution in more developed markets due to stricter copyright laws.

In addition to being released as a stand-alone product, Somari was included in many unlicensed Famicom multi-carts, a practise that continues with ever greater numbers of games to this day.

Legacy

Many years later, a hack which improves various aspects of the game was released to attempt to turn Somari into something more playable.

Screenshots

• 

  Green Hill Zone

• 

  Marble Zone

• 

  Spring Yard Zone

• 

  Labyrinth Zone

• 

  Star Light Zone

• 

  Final Zone

• 

  Special Stage

Hidden content

Main article: Somari/Hidden content

Magazine articles

Main article: Somari/Magazine articles

Physical scans

Famicom, TW, 1994
Cover
Cart

Famicom, RU, 1994 (Steepler)

Famicom, 1996 (NT-616)
Cart

Famicom, 1998 (VT2022)
Cart

Famicom, Hi-Game 1999 (KT-3049)
Cart

Famicom, RU, 1999 (1043)
Cart

Famicom, (N-S1)
Cart

Famicom, (K1249)
Cart

Famicom, (K01-015)
Cart

Famicom, RU
Cart

Famicom, ???
Cart

Famicom, ???
Cart

Famicom, ???
Cart

Famicom, ???
Cart

Famicom, ???
Cart

Multicarts

Famicom, AS†, 2 in 1, 1997 Super Hik Gold Gard (NT-803)
Cart

Famicom, AS†, 7 in 1
Cart

Famicom, RU, 360 in 1
Cart

Famicom, 1997, 3 in 1 (YH-308)
Cart

Famicom, 1997, 5 in 1 (YH-012)
Cart

Famicom, 2000, 4 in 1 (YH447)
Cart

Famicom, 2 in 1 Trum Golden Card (XC002)
Cart

Famicom, Super 3 in 1 (NT8003)
Cart

Famicom, Super 3 in 1 (NT8064)
Cart

Famicom, 4 in 1, Latest Wonderful Card (FY123)
Cart

Famicom, 5 in 1 (K5201)
Cart

Famicom, Super 5 in 1 (NT 8034)
Cart

Famicom, Golden 5 in 1 (ML300)
Cart

Famicom, Super Hik 6 in 1 (AR123)
Cart

Famicom, Gold 7 in 1 HK (AR466)
Cart

Variants

Somari has been released multiple times, often modified, under different titles:

Sonic & Knuckles 5

Title screen

Similar to the above but with a Sonic & Knuckles title screen and theme tune. Sonic is the only playable charater in this game (despite Knuckles is on the title screen). No evidence currently suggests the game was released before 1997.

Physical scans

Famicom, 1997, (NT-875)
Cart

Famicom, 1997 (NT 325)

Famicom, 1997, 3 in 1 (NT-946)
Cart

Famicom, RU, 3 in 1 (VT 114)
Cart

Famicom, Super 6 in 1 (NT8020)
Cart

Sonic 3D Blast 6

Title screen

Similar to above one, but with another different title screen and Marble Zone being set as the first level. This uses the Sonic & Knuckles theme and has an extra "start" screen similar to Sonic 3D. No evidence currently suggests the game was released before 1997.

Physical scans

Famicom, 1997 (NT 318)

Famicom, Hi-Game 1999

Famicom, Hi-Game 1999, 76 in 1 (PS5021)
Cart

Famicom, 7 in 1 (SA04)
Cart

Famicom, 8 in 1 (N34)
Cart

Sonic the Hedgehog/Sonic (3D Blast) 5

Title screen

A version of Somari that changes most of the graphics "back" to Sonic the Hedgehog. The player starts off in Spring Yard Zone rather than in Green Hill Zone, though users have created an IPS file to restore the original level order.

The game often refers to itself as Sonic 5 (音速小子5) on packaging. No evidence currently suggests the game was released before 1998.

• 

  Spring Yard Zone

Physical scans

Famicom, 1998, (VT2018B)
Cart

Famicom, 1998, (VT-515)
Cart

Famicom, 1999, (VT2018B)
Cart

Famicom, 1999, (BV2018)
Cart

Famicom, Hi-Game 1999, (KT2122)
Cart

Famicom, Hi-Game 1999, (KT2192)
Cart

Famicom, VE (Nintendo C.A)
Cover

Famicom, RU (TSC Dandyk)
Cart

Famicom, RU (K&S)
Cart

Famicom, RU (K&S; 8 Gamebit)
Cart

Famicom, RU (New Game)
Cart

Famicom, BG (Wen-BC)

Famicom, (K01-016)
Cart

Famicom,
Cart

Famicom,
Cart

Famicom,
Cart

Multicarts

Famicom, 1998, 2 in 1 (VT4066)
Cart

Famicom, 1998, 2 in 1 (VT4102)
Cart

Famicom, 1998, 2 in 1 (VT4111)
Cart

Famicom, 1998, 3 in 1 (VT4076)
Cart

Famicom, 1999, 6 in 1 (YH613)
Cart

Famicom, RU, 4 in 1 (KT-8136)
Cart

Famicom, 2 in 1 (VT4166)
Cart

Famicom, 2 in 1 (YH205)
Cart

Famicom, 3 in 1 (YH346)
Cart

Famicom, Super 3 in 1 (YH346)
Cart

Famicom, 3 in 1 (K3009)
Cart

Famicom, 4 in 1 (K4027)
Cart

Famicom, 6 in 1 (K6001)
Cart

Famicom, 178 in 1 (FK029)
Cart

Famicom, 178 in 1 (FK029), alt
Cart

Family Kid

Title screen

A version of Somari for Thai market, promoted by Family TSI Ltd., company known for releasing famiclones brand called "Family", which was very popular in the region. The starting level is Green Hill Zone, just like in Somari.

Physical scans

Famicom, TH
Cart

Famicom, 2 in 1

Doraemon

Title screen

A almost a complete graphical overhaul of Somari featuring the Japanese character Doraemon. It was made by "Waixing Computer Science & Technology Co, Ltd.". It introduces brand new levels and music though gameplay is identical.

Physical scans

Famicom, TW

Famicom, TW (970563)

Famicom, TW (newer)
Cart

The Hummer

Title screen

Part of a Super New Year Cart 15 in 1 multi-cart by Hummer Team. It was later insert to a 60 in 1 plug and play from Hummer Team.

Physical scans

Famicom, Super New Year 15 in 1

References

Unlicensed Sonic the Hedgehog games Somari (1994) | World Heroes 2 (1994) | Sonyc (1995) | Sonic Jam 6 (1998) | Sonic 3D Blast 5 (199x) | Chaoji Yinsu Xiaozi: Super Sonik II (200x) | Sonic 3 Fighter Sonic (200x) Ball Bearing (1993) | Jurassic Boy 2 (1994) | Sonic Dragon (1995) Unlicensed Sonic the Hedgehog hacks of licensed games Sonic | Super Mario & Sonic 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog (1996) | Sonic 6 (1998)