Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
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Sonic the Hedgehog | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Ancient | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: 2D Platform | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sonic the Hedgehog (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ) is an 8-bit game based on the Mega Drive game of the same name. It was released for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear. The Master System was thriving in Brazil at the time of its launch on October 23, 1991. The Game Gear version was released in Japan on December 28, 1991 and was also released in North America and Europe in that same month.
Contents
Plot
As was the norm with the early Sonic games, the plot is simple. Dr. Eggman is menacing South Island and imprisoning animals in badniks; the heroic hedgehog sets out to defeat him, potentially collecting 6 Chaos Emeralds along the way. After Sonic fights his way to Scrap Brain Zone, Eggman's factory-city on South Island's summit, the Doctor escapes to an airship (Sky Base Zone), where Sonic finally defeats him in the last boss fight. Eggman escapes by teleporter; Sonic jumps in after him and is transported back to Green Hill Zone. If the 6 Chaos Emeralds have been collected, the gems then spiral up into the air and cleanse the black smog and pollution off the island.
Gameplay
The gameplay is similar to that of the Sega Genesis version. The Sonic's abilities and the items available are the same. Although the gameplay is similar, it is slower than its 16-bit counterpart. There are some differences however: Checkpoints take the form of point arrow monitors rather than posts. Chaos Emeralds aren't found in special stages; rather, one is hidden in each of the six regular zones. The Special Stages exist merely as a bonus stage where players can collect Continues and Extra Lives, and no additional reward is given for collecting all items.
Three of the zones came from the Genesis version of the game. Bridge Zone and Jungle Zone are considered unusual today for Sonic the Hedgehog zones. However, this was Sonic's second game, so such norms hadn't been established yet. Each zone has three acts. The first two acts were standard levels, but the third act was merely a short run up to the boss and contained no rings. Trial and error were required for the player to defeat the bosses. The three zones titled after their Genesis counterparts featured 8-bit renditions of the scenery, but had unique level layouts.
Rings
Like in the Genesis version, the player can collect 100 rings to earn an extra life; but in the 8-bit version, the ring counter resets to 00 rather than increasing past 99. Additionally, rings dropped after taking a hit cannot be re-collected.
End Level Panel
At the end of Acts 1 and 2 of each level, the player has to spin a panel to continue, with a reward given based on what it lands on:
- Eggman: No prize. This panel comes up most often in the game, provided the player's ring count is below 50.
- Ring: 10 rings added to final ring tally. Only awarded if you end the act with 0, 10, 20, 30 or 40 rings. You can't get this panel in Scrap Brain Zone, nor in Sky Base Zone act 1. However, it always appears in Sky Base Zone act 2.
- Sonic: Extra life. Comes up rarely, only if you end the act with an amount of rings that varies from act to act. Unlike in Sonic Chaos, beating an act with no hits taken doesn't trigger it.
- Exclamation Point: Special Stage. Appears if 50 or more rings are on hand when passing the sign. You can't get this panel in Scrap Brain Zone nor in Sky Base Zone.
Differences between the Master System and Game Gear versions
The Game Gear version has a smaller screen resolution, but a higher color palette. Sonic's sprite is smaller and the control feels lighter. In the first zone of the Game Gear version, warning signs had been placed because the high speed combined with the narrow screen could present problems. Jungle Zone Act 2 allowed for vertical descent without losing a life in the Game Gear version, which made this stage easier. Labyrinth Zone's level design was different in this version as well, and the Chaos Emerald is in a new location. Several bosses, including the final, were modified or even replaced. The bonus stages were also redesigned. The Game Gear version uses a Sega splash screen with a jumping Sonic sprite, whereas the Master System version lacks a Sega splash screen as one is provided by the machine's BIOS. In the Master System version, the levels (and in some cases, the bosses) were generally more difficult due to the expanded screen size.
Manuals
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System) US Manual
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System) EU Manual
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear) US Manual
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear) JP Manual
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear) JP Manual (pdf)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear) EU Manual (partial scan)
Also Released On
- Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut for the GameCube (Game Gear) (2003)
- Sonic Mega Collection Plus for the Sony PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC (Game Gear) (2004)
- Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Super Monkey Ball Deluxe for the Xbox (Game Gear) (2005)
- Virtual Console on Nintendo Wii (Master System) (2008)
- Tectoy Master System 3 for the Tectoy Plug and play console (2008)
- Sega Fun Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Shadow the Hedgehog for the Sony PlayStation 2 (2009)
- Sonic PC Collection for the PC (2009)
- Virtual Console for the Nintendo 3DS (Game Gear) (2013)
Production Credits
Master System Version
Sonic the Hedgehog Original Character Design: ©Sega
~Staff~
Game Program: Shinobu Hayashi
Graphic Design: Ayano Koshiro, Takefuni Yunoue
Sound Produce: Masato Nakamura
Rearrange and Original Music: Yuzo Koshiro
Special Thanks: Yoshio Y, Lunarian SG
Presented by: Sega
Game Gear Version
Game Programmer: Shinobu "Machine" Hayashi
Graphic Designers: Ayano Koshiro, Takefuni Yunoue
Sound Producer: Masato Nakamura
Re-Arranging and Original Music: Yuzo Koshiro
Special Thanks: Yoshio Y, Lunarian SG
Presented by: Sega
Resources
Original Sound Version Recordings
See Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear Version) OSV for a download page.
Physcial Scans
Game Gear version
91 | Sonic Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Based on 6 reviews | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Game Gear, JP (Meisaku Collection) |
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Master System version
94 | Sonic Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Based on 7 reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Master System, KR |
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Artwork
External links
Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit) | |
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Manuals |
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Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems | |
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2006 Sonic the Hedgehog | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 2007 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic Spinball | Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island 2008 Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit) | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) 2009 Sonic Chaos | Sonic & Knuckles 2010 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I |