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Sonic the Hedgehog -- After the
real deal hit the shelves, Sega wasted no time in moving their new
mascot to all corners of their kingdom. While not as pretty or as
fast as its Genesis counterpart, the 8-bit build proves to be a
moderately enjoyable diversion. (Besides, that rockin' DJ Sonic in
the credits is just too cool!)
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Story -- All is not well on
South Island: Dr. Ivo Robotnik -- evil genius, freaky egg-shaped
dude, and all-round mean person -- has begun turning innocent
animals into robots to run his factories and help him take over the
world! At the center of Robotnik's takeover plot are the six Chaos
Emeralds, which hold legendary power. If he were to get those stones
in his oily hands, all hope would be lost! Not good. Only one
speedy, spiky, blue hedgehog has the moves and the wits to set the
Eggman straight: Sonic the Hedgehog!
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Gameplay Info -- The original
gameplay is, for the most part, well intact. The level designs are
much simpler, obviously, but the only place where it's really bad is
in Green Hill Act 1, which is almost nothing but a flat plane with a
couple hills and holes to jump over.
There are still six Chaos Emeralds to collect,
although you won't find them in the Special Stages...they're hidden
around the Zones, one in each. Spot it, get to it, grab it. What
could be easier? The real issue is that they're all the exact same
color...
If you've got 50 Rings when you reach the exit,
you'll spin an exclamation point on the Bonus Panel and be warped to
the Special Stage. It's a zany maze of bumpers and stuff filled with
Rings, One-Ups, Continues, and all sorts of goodies. The catch?
Don't make it to the exit in time, and you don't get to keep a dime
of your loot. So you'd better beat feet and cut cheese!
The Bonus Panels (the signs you spin at the end
of each non-boss Act) now have a number of different faces that pop
up, each having a different effect:
- Robotnik -- Nothing happens
- Ring -- You get 10 Rings
- Sonic -- You get an extra life
- Exclamation Point -- You're warped to the Special Stage
(provided you have 50 Rings)
Each of the seven Zones consists of three Acts,
but the third Act is nothing more than a short field with a couple
of obstacles and a boss slapped right on the end. The big problem is
that there are no Rings in boss Acts... The new levels are:
- Green Hill -- Similar in appearance to its Genesis
counterpart, but quite straightforward in design. Home to Moto Bug
(Motora) and Netwron (Mereon).
- Bridge -- A series of connecting bridges built over a mountain
lake. In Act 2, the level scrolls automatically and you've got to
keep up. Home to Chopper (Batabata), Yadrin, and Buzz Bomber
(Biiton).
- Jungle -- The first of only two jungle-themed Zones in all of
Sonic history. It's fast, wild, and pretty. The second Act scrolls
upward through a giant waterfall. Home to Caterkiller (Naaru),
Buzz Bomber (Biiton), and Newtron (Mereon).
- Labyrinth -- Similar in appearance and design to its Genesis
counterpart. Home to Burrobot (Ogurin) and Jaws (Pukupuku).
- Scrap Brain -- Similar in appearance to its Genesis
counterpart, only designed more like a massive metal labyrinth.
With teleports! Good, old-fashioned interdimensional fun! Home to
Caterkiller (Naaru) and Ball Hog (Tonton).
- Sky Base -- Big guns...REALLY big guns. And some electrical
conduits in the background that shock you in the foreground. Home
to Bomb.
And last but not least, here's a list of the
monitor items:
- Super Ring -- Worth 10 Rings
- Shield -- Protects you from one hit
- Power Sneakers -- Temporarily raises your speed
- One-Up -- Gives you an extra chance
- Invincible -- Makes you invinible for a short time
- Arrow -- Marks your position in the level
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Screenshots --
This page was written and designed by Jared "Green Gibbon!" Matte. Make
no mistake, this site is a part of SonicNEXT. All Sonic
related materials are copyright Sega
Enterprises. SonicNEXT is created by Zifei Wu. Space provided by
VGHQ.com. Hey, there's a blue speck on your Game Gear screen, man.
Oh wait, that's Sonic...so the red speck is Robotnik? Oh, it's
ketchup...
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