Being that this is a traditional Sonic game, you'll be performing all the same tricks: running, collecting Rings, bouncing off Springs, blablabla. One new feature is the addition of Pogo Springs. Jump on one and they stick right to Sonic's feet, so you can go hopping about until you take a hit or jump off. Sonic retains both the Spin Dash and Peel Out (although the Peel Out loses the cool figure eight thing), while Tails' flying maneuver has been made playable. Under these circumstances, Tails gets the easy trip as he can just fly right over obstacles Sonic would have to face. Unfortunately, Tails cannot enter the Special Stages so the full ending is out of the question.

   Forget the giant Rings and Star Circles...all you need to do to warp off to the Special Stages in Sonic Chaos is collect 100 Rings in any Act. Each of the five stages offers a different course to finish in a time limit. The first, which is almost impossible to lose unless you really suck, finds Sonic strapped onto a pair of Rocket Shoes. Fly through the Ring formations (little Rings are worth 1 point a piece, the big ones are worth 10) to reach the Chaos Emerald at the end. The direction to head in the second stage is up, via the Pogo Springs littered about. (Bust open clock monitors to temporarily freeze the timer.) The third is a maze of pipes, and the fourth is a looong plane with some hills and pits. At the end of it is the Chaos Emerald up on a hill (too high to reach with a jump). I never did get that godforsaken Emerald, and consequently never got to play the fifth and final Special Stage...

   Prepare to zip through these Zones:

• Turquoise Hill -- Your standard tropical paradise, and probably the easiest Zone in Sonic history. If you have trouble here, you'd better revert to Sonic's Schoolhouse.
• Gigapolis -- The whole "city at night" thing. This time you're not above the cityscape on some aerial highway, but down in the nitty-gritty.
• Sleeping Egg -- Remember Crystal Egg? It's alot like that in terms of illusion: what you see might not be, and what you don't might. Ooh...
• Mecha Green Hill -- It's just like all those tropical Zones, except...it's all metal, man! Not a friendly place...even the coconuts are out to get you.
• Aqua Planet -- Latest of the contingent water Zones. It's some ancient ruins under stormy skies, and the waters are mean and turbulent. Bring a life jacket.
• Electric Egg -- You're in the dark interior of one of Robotnik's factories, except it's lit up by flashing lights and other cool electrical doo-dads.

   We've also got the classic five-flavor assortment of items, including a newbie:

• Rocket Shoes -- Send Sonic on a high-speed (albeit very short) flight. As Tails, monitors containing Rocket Shoes are replaced with Super Rings.
• Power Shoes -- Temporarily raises Sonic's speed
• Super Ring -- Worth 10 Rings
• Invincible -- Makes you invincible for a short time
• Extra Life -- Gives you an extra chance

   Like its two predecessors, you'll get a different result depending on what picture you spin at the end of each Act:

• Flicky -- Nothing happens
• Sonic -- You get an extra chance (only as Sonic)
• Tails -- You get an extra chance (only as Tails)
• Ring -- You get 10 Rings
• Chaos Emerald -- You get a continue

-- Master System Version --

Level-Select: (Game Gear version) When "Press Start" begins flashing on the title screen, press: Up, Up, Down, Down, Right, Left, Right, Left, START. (Master System version) At the title screen, press: Up, Up, Down, Down, Right, Left, Right, Left, 1 or 2, START.

Ryu-Sonic: (Game Gear version) Input the Sound Test code. During the sound test, move the D-pad in a quarter circle and press 1 or 2. Sonic will shoot a "Hadoken" fireball.

• Sonic Chaos was the first 8-meg Game Gear cart.