The Sonic Museum: Other Games

Other Games Although Sonic isn't the only game on earth, a series with this much muscle and such an imposing existence has got to have roots and branches all over the place. Here's a list of other games signficant to Sonic freaks, and their individual relations to the world's favorite blue hedgehog.

Dynamite Dux Title: Dynamite Dux
System: Arcade
Year: 1988
Gameplay Info: A side-scrolling action game in the vein of multi-player brawlers such as Streets of Rage, but much more animated. Players control either Bin or Pin, two bomb-hurling ducks who work their way through some mean city streets in order to rescue their cute anime owner, Lucy.
Relation to Sonic: Bean the Dynamite, the bomb-hurling lunatic duck who first appeared in AM2's Sonic the Fighters, was directly inspired by the characters in this game. Infact, Bean's alternate "costume" in AM2's Fighters Megamix is the original Bin.

Flicky Title: Flicky
System: Genesis/Mega Drive
Year: Around 1990
Gameplay Info: Players control Flicky, a bluebird out to rescue all his feathery friends from a bad-ass house cat. A puzzle game.
Relation to Sonic: Although Flicky never obtained his own mascothood, the Flicky species has gone on to play a major role in the Sonic series, Sonic 3D Blast inparticular.

Gale Racer / Rad Mobile Title: Gale Racer / Rad Mobile
System: Arcade
Year: 1991
Gameplay Info: An early Sega arcade racing title.
Relation to Sonic: Sonic's first ever cameo appearance! He can be found swinging over the track in certain places.

Crusader of Centy Title: Crusader of Centy
System: Genesis/Mega Drive
Year: Around 1993
Gameplay Info: It's up to Centy, a 14-year old boy, to save the world from the hands of darkness. An action-RPG...actually, it's a shameless Zelda rip-off. But atleast it was a good one. Unique to the game was the "animal pal" system, whereby players befriended a number of animals throughout the journey, each with their own special abilities to lend to Centy. Players can mix & match up to two animals at once.
Relation to Sonic: Sonic's first big cameo guest spot. Down one particular beach, players are pleasantly surprised to the sight of their favorite hedgehog tanning himself on a lounge chair! Talk to Sonic and he says: "Tsk, tsk. I'm a gallant hedgehog. Don't mess or you'll get burned." I don't think anyone ever actually figured out what that's supposed to mean, but atleast he talked...

Popful Mail Title: Popful Mail
System: Sega CD/Mega CD
Year: 1993
Gameplay Info: A side-scrolling action-RPG, from the creators of the Ys series (and pretty much identical in gameplay). Players control Mail, a super-sexy female elf bounty hunter; Tatto, a young & polite wizard-in-training; and Gaw, a big-mouthed baby dragon, through numerous levels of puzzles & action.
Relation to Sonic: As rumor has it, when Sega wanted to bring Falcom's Popful Mail (originally a PC game) to their Mega CD in Japan, the plan was to change the characters and art to the world of Sonic. The heroine would be Sonic's sister, hence the title "Sister Sonic". But fans of the series weren't too pleased with this plan, so Sega decided a direct port would be best. I don't know how much truth is behind this rumor...it seems a little far-out to me. But I figured I'd post it here anyway and let you draw your own conclusions. Even if this rumor isn't true, there is a small reference to Sonic early on in the game. On a bulletin board, a small child's drawing of Sonic is tacked up. Actually, it's colored pink, so it's probably Amy or something, I dunno...

Daytona USA Title: Daytona USA
System: Arcade/Saturn
Year: 1994
Gameplay Info: A new standard in classic arcade racing, and the second game to utilize Sega's then-revolutionary Model 2 board. Had great music, too...
Relation to Sonic: Perhaps the greatest tribute to the blue blur that has ever been. In the Three-Seven Speedway track, one point had racers passing by a large mountain. Carved right into the side of said mountain was none other than Sonic the Hedgehog. Immortalized in stone...well, polygon stone. Somewhat disturbingly, the recently-released Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge is devoid of said hedgehog landmark, even though the same course (Three-Seven Speedway) is present in the aforementioned sequel.

Tom & Jerry: The Movie Title: Tom & Jerry: The Movie
System: Game Gear
Year: 1994
Gameplay Info: Wacky platformer hijinks starring America's favorite cat & mouse duo, the irrepressible Tom and Jerry. As the title might suggest, this game was released right on the heels of the lame-ass movie.
Relation to Sonic: As depicted in the screenshot to the left, an ad for Sonic appears on the windows of a bookstore in the background. (Sonic in a bookstore?)

Wacky Worlds Title: Wacky Worlds
System: Genesis/Mega Drive
Year: Around 1994
Gameplay Info: Probably the last of gaming's "art" titles, Wacky Worlds closed the door on the popular genre that was doomed to die with 16-bit. Like similar games, players could draw pictures, color them in, and add various effects.
Relation to Sonic: Sonic and Tails grace the game's cover, and are also present within as "paste" items.

Cover

Bug! Title: Bug!
System: Saturn
Year: 1995
Gameplay Info: The evil Queen Cadavra has laid the snatch on Bug's family! Now he must rescue them! Actually, it's just a movie and Bug is the star. In what can possibly be considered the world's true first 3D platformer, players are given the added luxuries of moving in and out as well as left and right. However, the game was still played entirely on tracks, and introduced nothing really new to the genre.
Relation to Sonic: One of the game's numerous bonus stages had our pal Bug racing against a very familiar blue hedgehog!

Metal Head Title: Metal Head
System: 32X
Year: 1995
Gameplay Info: Players take control of Metal Head, the ultimate cyborg warrior, patrolling the urban remains of the great war...a job made more difficult by the fact that a mecha-force is gunning for you... A heavy 3D shooter.
Relation to Sonic: The blue blur appears on a billboard in the scenery.

Virtua Fighter 2 Title: Virtua Fighter 2
System: Arcade/Saturn
Year: 1995
Gameplay Info: The fighter that re-defigned the genre and wrote the book on 3D fighting design. Realistic fighting styles introduce a new depth, and one which has only been surpassed by Virtua Fighter 3.
Relation to Sonic: I'm not sure if this was in the arcade version, but in the Saturn version, when you played Jacky Bryant against Sarah Bryant (or vice versa), you get a hidden stage called "Chicago". Looks like a city back alley. Anyway, there's a brick wall in the background with grafitti all over it...and you can about guess the rest from there. Wow, from an expertly-carved stone mountain to sloppily spray-painted grafitti. That can't be a good sign...

Clockwork Knight 2 Title: Clockwork Knight 2
System: Saturn
Year: 1996
Gameplay Info: Sir Tongara de Pepperouchau III (or just "Pepper" for short) returns to save the playroom once again in glorious 2D platforming action. Armed with nothing but a key for a weapon, Pepper's got until morning to rescue Clockwork Princess Chelsea from her mysterious captor, and if he doesn't succeed by dawn, the toys will fall into an eternal state of slumber without Chelsea's magical voice to awaken them.
Relation to Sonic: In one of the hidden movies, a Sonic toy of some sort can be seen sitting on a shelf.

Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition Title: Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition
System: Saturn
Year: 1996
Gameplay Info: A completely re-vamped version of the arcade original. Improved graphics & control, remixed music, and two new tracks.
Relation to Sonic: That same Sonic mountain, of course! Now much clearer due to the drastic distancing of the pop-on point!

Fighting Vipers Title: Fighting Vipers
System: Arcade/Saturn
Year: 1996
Gameplay Info: From the creators of the legendary Virtua Fighter series comes a rougher, more brutal, and faster-paced brawler.
Relation to Sonic: I don't know about the arcade, but in the Saturn intro, in Sanman's pile of toys you can see a model of the airship Tails built to reach the Death Egg II in Sonic the Fighters.

Christmas NiGHTS Title: Christmas NiGHTS
System: Saturn
Year: 1996
Gameplay Info: Basically a sampler of NiGHTS into Dreams..., Christmas NiGHTS contained one level from that game (Spring Valley) as well as a special track through it. The real treat were the time-sensitive features, which could only be unlocked on certain dates. Also, a number of "presents" to collect ensures hours of fun for NiGHTS fans...especially considering the game was free (with newsstand issues of "Next Generation" and the now out-of-publication "Ultra Game Players" magazines).
Relation to Sonic: One of the "presents" for players to uncover was the "Sonic into Dreams..." game, which put Sonic running through Spring Valley with speed that only a hedgehog can! The object was the same as the normal game...collect enough Blue Spheres to destroy the Ideya Capture, then fight the boss...who happened to be Dr. Robotnik in Puffy's stage...

Japanese Cover

Super GT Title: Super GT/Scud Race
System: Arcade
Year: 1996
Gameplay Info: One of the first titles to utilize Model 3 technology (the obvious successor to Model 2). Almost identical to Daytona USA, except with weirder courses and without the official Daytona license.
Relation to Sonic: Although not quite as grand as being carved into the side of a polygon mountain, the hedgehog with an attitude does appear on a polygon billboard down the Beginner track. It's better than nothing, ne?

6-Pak Title: 6-Pak
System: Genesis/Mega Drive
Year: 1997
Gameplay Info: Essentially a collection of six classic early Genesis titles all stuffed onto one cartridge. Includes: Golden Axe, Sonic the Hedgehog, Columns, Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage, and Super Hang-On.
Relation to Sonic: The original Genesis Sonic 1 was on the cartridge, of course!

Cover

Fighters Megamix Title: Fighters Megamix
System: Saturn
Year: 1997
Gameplay Info: A fighting fan's dream, Virtua Fighter characters going up against Fighting Vipers characters in the same game. Aside from AM2's two key fighting series, many cameos from their older arcade games were sprinkled in. Guests included: Bark the Polarbear & Bean the Dynamite (from Sonic the Fighters), Janet Marshall (from Virtua Cop), Siba (a rejected VF character), Kids Akira & Kids Sarah (from Virtua Fighter Kids), Rent-A-Hero (from Rent-A-Hero, an early Genesis RPG), and even the Hornet (from Daytona USA).
Relation to Sonic: The presence of Bark and Bean, as well as the South Island and Aurora Icefield arenas from AM2's Sonic the Fighters.

Last Bronx Title: Last Bronx
System: Arcade, Saturn
Year: 1997
Gameplay Info: AM3 takes a shot at AM2's crown: 3D fighting. It's no Virtua Fighter, but the weapons-based Last Bronx successfully combines intense fighting gameplay, brilliant character design, great music, crisp graphics, and a remarkably original and fitting story into a more than worthy competitor.
Relation to Sonic: In Tommy's stage (Cross Street), you can see a poster of Sonic on one of the buildings in the background. Also, it's difficult to notice, but there is a sticker of Sonic on Tommy's outfit.

Waverunner Title: Waverunner
System: Arcade
Year: 1997
Gameplay Info: One of the last games made for the Model 2 board, although it never came home. As the name might imply, it's a jetski racing game and that's all I know.
Relation to Sonic: Sonic graces the back of the racer's lifejacket.

Virtua Striker 2 Title: Virtua Striker 2
System: Arcade
Year: 1997
Gameplay Info: Sequel to the popular Virtua Striker, arcade soccer at its finest. Among the first slew of games to utilize the Model 3 board.
Relation to Sonic: Through a secret code, players can access a special team consisting of a cast of totally whacked-out characters. One of these is none other than our very own Bean the Dynamite! Now that's one explosive game of soccer...

Saturn Tamagotchi Title: Saturn Tamagotchi
System: Saturn
Year: 1998
Gameplay Info: It's like a Bandai Tamagotchi, except you can do all sorts of other stuff, like take your Tamagotchi to a theme park, or even have it fall in love. I don't know too much about this game (which wasn't released outside of Japan)...I'm not even certain "Saturn Tamagotchi" is the actual title. Relation to Sonic: Treat your Tamagotchi just right, and it grows up intooo...the super secret Sonagotchi (pictured left)! Kawaii, ne?

Burning Rangers Title: Burning Rangers
System: Saturn
Year: 1998
Gameplay Info: Sonic Team paints a vivid picture of imagination, based on the concept of rescue teams of the future. Players control Shou Amabane or Tillis, two rookie "Burning Rangers", as they dash through four levels of frantic action, putting out fires, and saving victims.
Relation to Sonic: Two area names in "Gravity Zero"...the "Greenhill Caf�" and the "Starlight Lounge". Also, after rescuing game director Naoto Ohshima, he sends you a letter with an attached picture of Sonic.

Spikeout Title: Spikeout
System: Arcade
Year: 1998
Gameplay Info: The classic side-scrolling multi-player brawler is finally brought to the current generation. Up to four players at once control fighters Spike, White, Linda, or Tenshin through numerous stages of mean street brawling.
Relation to Sonic: Sonic Team's flagship creation makes yet another stop in AM2 offices for cameo work. Look for Sonic standing near an elevator in one of the levels.

Le Mans 24 Title: Le Mans 24
System: Arcade
Year: 1998
Gameplay Info: Based on the real-life 24-hour endurance race in France.
Relation to Sonic: Via a secret code, Sonic becomes playable in a unique off-road vehicle. Pull into the pit, however, and he's switched for a strange dog character...

Sonic & Garfield Pack Title: Sonic & Garfield Pack
System: PC
Year: 1998
Gameplay Info: A classics collection containing: Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Garfield: Caught in the Act, and Baku-Baku. Sonic and Garfield in the same game...can you smell the attitude?
Relation to Sonic: The original Sonic 3 & Knuckles is in the collection, of course!

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Sega Smash Pack Title: Sega Smash Pack
System: PC
Year: 1999
Gameplay Info: A classics collection containing: Altered Beast, Columns, Golden Axe, Outrun, Phantasy Star 2, Sonic Spinball, Super Shinobi and Vectorman.
Relation to Sonic: The original Sonic Spinball is in the collection, of course!

Cover

Sega Puzzle Pack Title: Sega Puzzle Pack
System: PC
Year: 1999
Gameplay Info: A classics collection containing: Columns III, Lose Your Marbles, and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. Relation to Sonic: The original Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is in the collection, of course!

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Wacky Worlds & 6-Pak covers thanks to "SonicBlu". Christmas NiGHTS cover thanks to Heidi "Zero-chan" Kemps. Additional info thanks to Helen Stansfeld, "Rlan", and "Kulock". Page layout & design � Jared "Green Gibbon!" Matte.