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Difference between revisions of "Sonic hacks"

From Sonic Retro

(Sega Mega Drive/Genesis)
m (Reverted edits by Sonicdaprohog3 (talk) to last revision by KirbyFaz98)
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</DPL>===Prior versions===
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* {{|Sonic3C 130602.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v130602}} (2.15MB, released 06/02/2013)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 130602 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v130602}} (388KB, released 06/02/2013)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 130601.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v130601}} (2.15MB, released 06/01/2013)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 130601 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v130601}} (380KB, released 06/01/2013)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 130531.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v130531}} (2.15MB, released 05/31/2013)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 130531 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v130531}} (380KB, released 05/31/2013)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 120402.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v120402}} (2.09MB, released 04/02/2012)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 120402 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v120402}} (184KB, released 04/02/2012)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 120324.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v120324}} (2.09MB, released 03/24/2012)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 120324 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v120324}} (184KB, released 03/24/2012)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 120304.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v120304}} (2.09MB, released 03/04/2012)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 120304 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v120304}} (170KB, released 03/04/2012)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 110706.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v110706}} (1.97MB, released 07/07/2011)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 110706 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v110706}} (9KB, released 07/07/2011)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 110623.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v110623}} (1.97MB, released 06/23/2011)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 110623 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v110623}} (9KB, released 06/23/2011)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 101226.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v101226}} (2.3MB, released 12/26/2010)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 101222.zip|Sonic 3 Complete v101222}} (2.3MB, released 12/25/2010)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 101222 ips.zip|Optional customisation patches for v101226 or v101222}} (11KB, released 12/25/2010)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 100404.7z|Sonic 3 Complete v100404}} (1.88MB, released 04/04/2010)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 100404 ips.7z|Optional customisation patches for v100404}} (7KB, released 04/04/2010)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 100404 customizer.7z|Windows command-line customiser for v100404}} (16KB, released 04/04/2010)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 091230.7z|Sonic 3 Complete v091230}} (1.88MB, released 12/31/2009)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 091230 ips.7z|Optional customisation patches for 091230}} (8KB, released 12/31/2009)
 
* {{file|Sonic3C 091224.7z|Sonic 3 Complete v091224}} (1.88MB, released 12/25/2009)
 
  
 
===[[sega:Sega Game Gear|Sega Game Gear]]===
 
===[[sega:Sega Game Gear|Sega Game Gear]]===

Revision as of 22:40, 6 August 2017

File:S1k.png
Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog is a hack that allows a player to play as Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog, a feature that Sega intended to be possible using Lock-On Technology, but ultimately removed due to technical problems.

Sonic hacks are altered versions of Sonic the Hedgehog games that have been edited through the process of ROM Hacking. From the emergence of Cyan Helkaraxe's Sonic 1 Beta Hoax in 1999, the production of hacks has been a vital part of the Sonic research community and scene. Starting with the early documents penned by Cyan and saxman, to the Nemesis guides, the Sonic Community Hacking Guide, and beyond, researchers have used their understanding of the Sonic games to alter them in various ways. While earlier hacks were simple, such as minor palette changes, a number of hacks today are very complex. Over time, as the scene learns more about the underlying code behind the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the extent of these modifications has expanded. Modifications now include:

  • palette changes
  • sprite changes
  • major art (title screen, HUD, et al.) changes
  • level art changes and original level layouts
  • music and sound changes
  • importation of levels from other games
  • changes in movement engines or bosses
  • original concepts and gameplay styles

Today, with the assistance of hex editors, disassemblies and specific Sonic Hacking Utilities, fans have been creating more extensive modifications.

Hacks in the Sonic community are now usually distributed as full ROMs. In the past, IPS patches were used, since these are usually much smaller than a full ROM and were therefore easier to distribute in a time when dial-up was widely used. It was also believed, that since patches do not contain any copyrighted code, it was not illegal to distribute one. This format fell out of use when split disassemblies became available as a way to edit game data, and when dial-up was being replaced by faster broadband connections. The massive shifts in the ROM that can result from reassembly made IPS patches very large, and they would often contain a good volume of code anyway, thus eliminating the alleged legal advantage. Though saxman's RXL patch format was designed to replace IPS, it quickly faded into obscurity along with its predecessor. Another format, xdelta, takes shifted data into account, resulting in much smaller patches. (Note that xdelta-1.x used the original format known as xdelta; xdelta-3.x uses the standard VCDIFF format.)

List of hacks

Sonic Retro emblem.svg See also: Notable Sonic hacks

Sega Mega Drive/Genesis

The majority of Sonic ROM hacks are modifications of Sega Mega Drive / Genesis games, since these are smaller and relatively simple compared to the games of later consoles. Also, many ROM hackers in the Sonic scene grew up with the Genesis and its games, so they hold fond memories of these games.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic & Knuckles

Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island

Sega Game Gear

Sonic Drift 2

Sonic Triple Trouble

Sega Mega-CD

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

Nintendo GameCube

Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut

Research and modifications of Sonic Adventure DX have been made much easier by the game's availability on PC. Dude, MainMemory and Endri are considered pioneers in modifying this game.

Other

Unofficial ports

Notable hacks

In alphabetical order

Sega Mega Drive / Genesis

Sega Mega-CD