Sonic Chaos
From Sonic Retro
- "Sonic & Tails" redirects here. For the Sonic Mania Adventures episode, see Sonic and Tails. For the fan game, see Sonic & Tails (fan game).
Sonic Chaos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Virtual Console | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega Majesco Sales (US; re-release) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Aspect M2[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Action[2][3][4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sonic Chaos, known as Sonic & Tails (ソニック&テイルス) in Japan, is a 2D Sonic the Hedgehog platform game released for the Sega Game Gear and Sega Master System in 1993, and developed by Aspect Co. Ltd, the same developer who worked on the 8-bit versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
This Sonic game is notable as being the first 8-bit title to feature Tails as a playable character. Not only is it the first game on any system to allow the player to control Tails' flight, it is also the first 8-bit title to introduce the Spin Dash and the Super Peel-Out (referred to as the Strike Dash). Also of note is that the game shares the same title music and death jingle as the 8-bit versions of Sonic 2, but in a higher key.
Contents
Story
In another bid to conquer the world, Dr. Eggman has taken the red Chaos Emerald, and he's hunting for more. Upon getting his hands on the red Emerald, the remaining five ended up losing their balance and scattered elsewhere, and without the power of the Chaos Emeralds to sustain it, South Island began to sink into the sea. Sonic and Tails are entrusted with saving South Island before it is too late.
Gameplay
Characters
The player has a choice between Sonic and Tails. Sonic comes equipped with two moves: the Spin Dash, which is performed by holding and tapping the
or
buttons. He curls into a ball and takes off at great speed, due to being in ball form he is protected from enemy collisions. He also has the Strike Dash, performed by holding
and tapping the jump button. This move is slightly faster, but since he is standing up he is vulnerable to enemy collisions. However, Sonic will quickly stop unless the D-Pad is held the opposite way he was going. Another disadvantage of this move is that Sonic is heavier while using this move so he slows down quicker. Rolling uphill is less difficult than running uphill. This means that the faster way to go downhill is the Strike Dash, but the faster way to go uphill is the Spin Dash.
Sonic also must collect five of the six Chaos Emeralds. Unlike the two previous 8-bit Sonic games, the Chaos Emeralds are located in Special Stages. To enter these Special Stages, 100 Rings must be collected in one Act. Eggman himself has the sixth Chaos Emerald; the player will get it back if he is defeated and the other five have been found.
Playing as Tails is slightly different but generally easier. Tails runs slower, but he starts the game with 5 lives and 3 Continues (Sonic starts with 3 lives and no Continues). He is also not required to collect the Chaos Emeralds, thus he cannot enter the Special Stage. He has the Spin Dash attack like Sonic, and the ability to fly by pressing and a jump button. Flying is handled differently than other games as it must be performed from a standing position and he hovers in position if the D-Pad is let go. He stops flying after a short amount of time or if he bumps into a ceiling.
Items
Sonic Chaos features two new items: The Pogo Spring item and the Rocket Shoes item monitor. The Rocket Shoes gave Sonic the ability of even more incredible speed and limited flight. Often, this was enough to blaze through the entire stage. When playing as Tails, the Rocket Shoes monitors are replaced by 10-Ring monitors. The Pogo Spring item also made a limited appearance here, which were basically springs strapped on to Sonic's (or Tails') shoes, and also lasted a limited time. It gave them an unprecedented jump that let them pass otherwise impossible obstacles. The other items are standard Sonic fare. (excluding Shield Monitors.)
Bonus Panel
At the end of Acts 1 and 2 of each Zone, a Bonus Panel is spun, with a reward given based on what it lands on:
Flicky: No prize is awarded. | |
Ring: 10 Rings are added to the player's final Ring tally. | |
Sonic: Sonic gets a 1-Up, Tails gets a Continue. | |
Tails: Tails gets a 1-Up, Sonic gets a Continue. | |
Back of Panel: The panel must be spun again. |
The prizes the player will get depends on the number of Rings collected at the end of an Act within a certain Zone (Zone 1, 3 & 5/or Zone 2, 4 & 6). The "extra life" bonus can be alternatively won by doing specific times. The player's speed will also be calculated and displayed above the Bonus Panel as a measurement of how quickly they got through the Act. If the calculated speed is exactly 777km/h, the player will receive an extra life.
Scoring
Enemies: 100 points each.
End Level Ring Bonus: 100 points for each Ring held at the end of an Act. Because the Ring counter resets past 99, the maximum possible bonus is 9,900.
End Level Speed Bonus: Points awarded based on the player's speed calculated after passing the Bonus Panel multiplied by 10. The maximum possible bonus is 9,990.
Zone Clear Bonus: Awarded after defeating the boss of each Zone, before Ring and Speed bonuses are calculated:
- Turquoise Hill Zone: 5,000 points
- Gigalopolis Zone: 10,000 points
- Sleeping Egg Zone: 15,000 points
- Mecha Green Hill Zone: 20,000 points
- Aqua Planet Zone: 25,000 points
Special Stage:
- Ring Bonus: 100 points for each Ring held at the end of an Act. Because the Ring counter resets past 99, the maximum possible bonus is 9,900.
- Time Bonus: 100 points for each second remaining.
Comparisons
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Main article: Sonic Chaos/Comparisons |
Differences between the Master System and Game Gear versions
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The screen resolution difference is the most obvious change between the two versions, as expected. The title screen, menus and title cards were changed, partly to compensate for the limited colours on the Master System and partly because the higher resolution meant more space could be used on screen. The music is different for the intro and Gigalopolis Zone and the Master System version lacks Power Sneaker and Chaos Emerald victory music. Gigalopolis Zone is known as "Gigalopolis Zone" in the Master System version (which is also its name in the Japanese version) and there are act 3 layout differences in Aqua Planet Zone, Mecha Green Hill Zone and Electric Egg Zone between the two versions, and the Game Gear version has some (in some cases, most) of the rings removed from act 3 layout of every zone. The Gigalopolis Zone boss also shoots a spiked ball before he blows up in the Master System version. In the Master System version, Sonic's second good ending is different as he simply rolls up in a ball as opposed to tripping and falling when Robotnik goes off screen. In the credits of the Master System version, Miles "Tails" Prower's name is misspelled as "Miles Power", but this is corrected in the Game Gear version. Interestingly, there are differences between the English and Japanese Game Gear versions, too. The font used for title cards is different; the Japanese version uses the same font as the one used for the results screen, whereas the English version uses a different font. Dr. Robotnik is called "Eggman" in the credits of the Japanese version. Also, the Japanese version uses a combination of Master System and English Game Gear versions' act 3 layouts. It uses the Master System's layouts for Turquoise Hill Zone and Gigalopolis Zone, an altered version of Master System's layout for Sleeping Egg Zone, altered versions of English Game Gear's layouts for Mecha Green Hill Zone and Aqua Planet Zone, and the English Game Gear's layout for Electric Egg Zone.
Manuals
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Main article: Sonic Chaos/Manuals |
Also released on
- Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut for the GameCube and PC (2003-2004)
- Sonic Mega Collection Plus for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC (2004-2005)
- Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos & Spinball for the Techno Source Plug and play console (2005)
- Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Super Monkey Ball Deluxe for the Xbox (2005)
- Playpal Plug and Play for the Coleco Plug and play console (2006)
- Sega Fun Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Shadow the Hedgehog for the PlayStation 2 (2009)
- Virtual Console on Wii (Master System) (2009)
- Sonic PC Collection for the PC (2009)
- FunPlay 20-in-1 for the Plug and Play console (2009)
- Game Gear Micro, blue model (Game Gear) (2020)
Production credits
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Main article: sega:Sonic Chaos/Production credits |
Promotional material
Artwork
Physical scans
Game Gear version
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Game Gear, US (Majesco rerelease) |
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Master System version
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Technical information
ROM dump status
System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
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✔ |
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512kB | 1993-08-03[13] | Cartridge (EU) | Sonic Chaos v1.20 | |||||||||
? |
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512kB | 1993-06-30 | EPROMs[14] | 06-30 prototype v0.20 | ![]() |
Page | |||||||
? |
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512kB | 1993-07-13 | EPROMs[15] | 07-13 prototype | ![]() |
Page | |||||||
✔ |
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512kB | 1993-09-01[13] | Cartridge (US/EU) | Sonic Chaos v1.00 | |||||||||
✔ |
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512kB | 1993-09-07[13] | Cartridge (JP) | Sonic & Tails v1.01 | |||||||||
? |
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512kB | 1993-05-17 | EPROMs[16] | 05-17 prototype | ![]() |
Page | |||||||
? |
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512kB | 1993-09-14 | Cartridge (JP) | Jitsuenyou Sample v0.99 | ![]() |
Page |
External links
- Sega of Japan Virtual Console page (Japanese)
- Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU
References
- ↑ https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/#tab-2
- ↑ File:SonicChaos GG EU backcover.jpg
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)
- ↑ File:Schaosms-box-eu.jpg
- ↑ [segapower, issue 50, page 84 segapower, issue 50, page 84]
- ↑ [mz, issue 33, page 37 mz, issue 33, page 37]
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/09.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-01-28 13:27)
- ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_chaos (Wayback Machine: 2009-03-17 08:36)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/87SMuwEqsh4R46H8CAZrBHlOfACUC52U (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:50)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/mastersystem/sonic_chaos (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-04 15:56)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Sonic-Chaos--279074.html (archive.today)
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=42&prod_id=19902&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-03-28 01:18)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Sonic Chaos/Hidden content#Build date
Sonic Chaos | |
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Main page Manuals |
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Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems | |
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1991 Sonic the Hedgehog 1992 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1993 Sonic Chaos | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 1994 Sonic Drift | Sonic Spinball | Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble 1995 Sonic Drift 2 | Tails' Skypatrol | Tails Adventures | Sonic Labyrinth | Sonic 2 in 1 1996 Sonic Blast Prototypes Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear prototype) | Sonic Chaos prereleases | Sonic Spinball (8-bit) prereleases | Sonic Triple Trouble prereleases | Sonic Blast prereleases Unreleased Sonic's Edusoft
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