While we're still waiting for Sonic The Hedgehog 4 to arrive, there is plenty of Sonic action to be had on your Sega Megadrive. Hackers are keeping the blue hedgehog alive with their fantastic re-adaptations of the 16-bit classic.
RetroCollect has decided to take some time out it's usual news gathering time, to sit down with what it believes are the Top 5 Sonic The Hedgehog Hacks / Remixes. In no particular order, let's begin.
Sonic the Hedgehog 1 @ SAGE 2010
Had Sonic 1 been released today on a modern console, Sonic the Hedgehog 1 @ SAGE 2010 is what it would have been. Filled with achievements for the ring hunters, speed kings and badnik fighters, this re-adaptation records your best scores and achievements for beating later on.
But if local records of your achievements weren't enough, Sonic the Hedgehog 1 @ SAGE 2010 offers online scoreboards via Retro Channel, an emulator capable of communicating between the scoreboards and the ROM in play. To add to the already impressive features, this is one of the first hacks to include SonMP3 support, a MP3 music replacement soundtrack (currently including Sonic Adventure and Sonic CD audio tracks)
Sonic the Hedgehog 1 @ SAGE 2010 Gameplay Video
Link: Download Sonic the Hedgehog 1 @ SAGE 2010
The S Factor: Sonia and Silver
Sorry, who? Yeah, this is one of the many arriving hacks featuring a whole new cast of Sonic-free characters. The S Factor: Sonia and Silver features two brand new characters inside a new pixel-impressive vibrant world.
The game uses the original Sonic the Hedgehog engine and builds upon it offering new moves such as Sonia's Super Twirl, Power Axe, Silver's Levitation and many more offering a new dimension to the original 16-bit classic. Not only have the tilesets been improved, the entire worlds have been re-imagined and designed offering a completely new experience.
The S Factor offers such polish and could easily be mistaken for a brand new title on the Sega Megadrive. And like many of these, we are surprised that they haven't been mass produced into reproduction cartridges.
The S-Factor: Sonia and Silver Gameplay Video
Link: Download The S-Factor: Sonia and Silver
Sonic 2 Retro Remix
For those who believe Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was the best Sonic outing ever, this one is for you.
Sonic 2 Retro Remix has taken the core of Sonic 2 and created a deep game offering both classic Sonic gameplay and the newly added Adventure mode. This new addition makes for more exploration of it's large levels, holding the next level back until Sonic has hunted out the remaining chaos emeralds.
To add to the new game modes comes a fantastically constructed pallet of colours and level designs. Sonic 2 Retro Remix also features new moves (similar to those seen in The S-Factor), such as the ability to pull off homing attacks (as seen in Sonic Adventure on the Sega Dreamcast). And if you haven't already been wowed over by that, this game also features the ability to kick jump between walls (as seen in Super Mario 64!).
Sonic 2 Retro Remix Gameplay Video
Link: Download Sonic 2 Retro Remix
Sonic Boom
For those Nintendo fan boys reading, you can stop thinking to yourself about how Mario games offer more challenge compared to Sonic's easy speed gameplay. Sonic Boom is no easy ride and it's creators aren't going to let up too easily.
To jump straight into the extended difficulty of this title, the game almost mocks you with every level completed by replacing the 'Sonic cleared Act One' with 'Sonic survived Act One', making those unlimited lives very useful.
While it's similar to the hacks above offering new graphics, music, gameplay and moves, Sonic Boom set's itself aside from those above by offering new end of zone bosses. Robotnik isn't even present, instead a large blue orb by the name King Orbi is set to take you down as quickly as possible.
But don't think it's over yet, King Orbi sets the world alight and you have to escape at full speed before the flames catch up. This is no easy ride...
Sonic Boom Gameplay Video
Link: Download Sonic Boom Hack
Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix
What Sonic Hack list would be complete with the daddy of them all, Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix?
Sonic Megamix was first exploded onto the ROM hacking scene back in 2005, setting all new high standard for Sonic Hacks worldwide. It was the re-imagination of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, offering a much more vibrant style
Sonc Megamix was one of the first hacks to offer new characters, bringing into the mix Mighty and Shadow, alongside the trio that is Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. Each character was given an addition of new moves such as Sonic's Light Dash (as seen in Sonic Adventure, following a path of rings), double jumps and Sonic CD's famous Super Peel-Out, the alternate Spin Dash. Mighty holds the ability to swap between shields/power ups he is currently holding, while Shadow can get a quick speed boost at the cost of 5 rings.
To accompany the new and improved cast are 3 modes of play, 'normal' which features Megamix's newly designed levels, 'extra' a harder version of normal and the impressive 'original'. The later of these three has kept the design of the original levels of Sonic the Hedgehog 1 intact, allowing the original game to be played with the new characters.
Originally coded into a Sega Megadrive cartridge ROM, Sonic Megamix has now moved further ahead and is contained within a Sega Mega CD ISO. This CD can be easy burnt to a writable disc and played with a Sega Mega CD console.
As said before, this is yet another candidate of hacks worthy of being mass produced onto physical cartridges, something that might have already happened... As if this game needed any more praise, the Russian pirates have already created their own Sonic Megamix cartridge for their ever growing Sega Megadrive black market. (See cover scan left)
Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix Gameplay Video
Link: Download Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix
Sonic Hacks Summary
If these hacks / re-imaginations haven't already sparked you off to go visit the SonicRetro website, we highly recommend you do. These are only a small handful of what is currently on offer from their talented members. Such other worthy mentions feature a ROM hack combining Sonic 3 & Knuckles into one and the already mentioned on RetroCollect, but still just as amusing; Sonic 2 XL.
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