- Back to: Sonic Chaos.
Master System/Game Gear version comparisons
Unlike the previous two 8-bit Sonic games, the Master System version of Sonic Chaos has a title screen that better fits the expanded resolution, but has a plain colour for a background instead of a checkered pattern.
The player select screen is different. The Game Gear has dedicated portraits of Sonic and Tails, while the Master System just uses their walking sprites on a loop.
The title cards are also optimised for the different resolutions.
As are the score cards, although the lack of space means "Continue" is reduced to "Conti'" and multiplier info is cut in the Game Gear version. Collected Chaos Emeralds are displayed on all score cards in the Master System version, whereas the Game Gear version relegates them to Special Stage score cards. The maximum number of Continues the game can display is also halved from eight to four.
The Continue screen, in addition to the different font, adds an exclamation mark to "CONTINUE". The countdown removes the stars and displays as a single-digit number.
Bad ending
The bad ending plays out with some differences. Firstly, Sonic rolls in his chase after Dr. Eggman in the Master System version, whereas he walks after him in the Game Gear version.
After Eggman flies away, Sonic stops rolling and slows down to a stop in the Master System version, whereas the Game Gear version has him pick up speed, only to trip.
Like all other screens in the game, the "Try Again" text uses a different font.
Audio comparisons
The Master System version uses the song played in Electric Egg Zone Act 3 for the opening intro. The Game Gear version was instead given a unique song for the intro.
The music for the Player Select screen was reworked to have a pitch shift for the second half of the melody, along with some instrumental changes.
The intro and backing melody in Turquoise Hill Zone's theme were reworked.
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| Game Gear version (unused)
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Gigalopolis Zone's theme in the Master System version is very similar to "Oh Yes!1 (SONG 0)", a demo tune from the KORG M1 synthesizer, very probably used to compose the rest of the music in Sonic Chaos. In the Game Gear version, it was replaced with a different theme entirely. The original theme remains unused in the sound test (sound code 83H), and plays at a lower pitch.
Certain sections of Sleeping Egg Zone's theme were reworked in a similar case to Turquoise Hill's.
The main melody at the start of Aqua Planet Zone's theme was reworked.
In the Master System version, all Special Stages use the same song. The Game Gear version adds a second song that plays on outdoor-themed Special Stages, while the original song is still used for the crystal-themed ones.
Additionally, the jingle played on the Special Stage results after acquiring a Chaos Emerald does not play in the Game Gear version for some reason, going unused.
Level comparisons
Game Gear localisation comparisons
The Japanese version drops the ™ symbol from the Sega logo.
In Japan, Sonic Chaos is known as Sonic & Tails. As a result, the two have slightly different title screens.
For reasons unknown, the Western versions of Sonic Chaos use a different font for the title cards (similar in design to Sonic the Hedgehog 2), and do not show the Act number. The Japanese font is still used for the score card.
The decision to change the title card comes with consequences. In the West, Gigalopolis Zone becomes "Gigapolis Zone".
The change in Gigalopolis Zone's name is also reflected on the Zone Select screen.
Dr. Eggman's name is localised accordingly in the credits: "Eggman" in the Japanese version, and "Robotnik" in the West.
References
