Sonic Robo Blast 2

Last updated

Sonic Robo Blast 2
Srb2 22 title.png
Title screen
Developer(s) Sonic Team Junior
Series Sonic the Hedgehog (unofficial)
Engine Doom Legacy
Platform(s)
ReleaseNovember 2000 (Demo 1) [1]
July 24, 2009 (2.0) [2]

March 15, 2014 (2.1) [3]

December 7, 2019 (2.2) [4]
Genre(s) Platformer
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Sonic Robo Blast 2 (often abbreviated SRB2) is a platform game made within id Software's Doom engine. It is a free Sonic the Hedgehog fan game inspired by the original Sega Genesis games that "attempts to recreate their design in 3D", [5] and was the first fan-made 3D Sonic game created. [6] The game has received consistent support throughout its development of over 20 years, which has been attributed to a large modding community. [7] [6]

Contents

The game's predecessor, Sonic the Hedgehog Robo-blast!, bears little resemblance to Sonic Robo Blast 2, and was released on February 11, 1998. [8] Sonic Robo Blast 2 started development later on in 1998, [6] and has received updates since then, culminating in the release of version 2.2 in 2019. [9] As of November2024, its development is ongoing. [10] [11]

Gameplay

A video of Sonic Robo Blast 2 showing Sonic running in the first level of the game, Greenflower Zone Act 1.

Sonic Robo Blast 2 is a 3D platformer that makes use of the Doom Legacy engine's ability to implement floors over other floors, a feature not present in several contemporary Doom ports. [12] Players control one of several characters, Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Fang the Sniper, or Metal Sonic and aim to reach the end of each zone and defeat Doctor Eggman. Each zone, divided into two acts, requires the player to run and jump through obstacles, making use of the terrain and one's own momentum to reach the signpost at the end of the act. [9] Each character has unique abilities that allow them to fight Eggman's robots, and in contrast to contemporary 3D Sonic games, the design of each level encourages open-ended exploration and discovery. [7]

Multiplayer is made possible either via local area network or Internet connection, [13] with players either racing to the end of a stage or battling in a first-person shooter mode.

Development and releases

Sonic the Hedgehog Robo-blast!

Sonic Robo Blast 2 was preceded by Sonic the Hedgehog Robo-blast!, a 2D platforming game developed by Johnny “Sonikku” Wallbank in 1998. [6] It was initially created in Clickteam's Klik & Play program, but the final game was built with Clickteam's The Games Factory. The game was described as "glitchy and primitive", but provided a conceptual foundation for the sequel, Sonic Robo Blast 2. [14]

Sonic Robo Blast 2

The first versions of Sonic Robo Blast 2 were developed by Wallbank in April 1998 using The Games Factory, [1] which was quickly determined to be inadequate. Several years prior in 1996, Jeff Read, a Doom modder, had released Sonic the Hedgehog Doom, a mod that replaced the music and main character of Doom with Sonic. [15] Artist and programmer AJ "SSNTails" Freda would develop a modification building upon Read's release with Sonic Doom 2, which inspired the use of a Doom source port as the basis for Sonic Robo Blast 2. [16] Subsequent demos and releases were built off of the Doom Legacy engine, [17] the first of which was released in October 1999. [1] Parallels were drawn to the cancelled game Sonic X-treme due to the style of the 3D platformer and the time frame of the demo's release, which was shortly after the launch of the Dreamcast and Sonic Adventure . [14] [17]

Demo releases continued steadily throughout the 2000s, encouraged by an active modding community, some members of which would end up joining Sonic Team Junior. Among them was character animator Chrispy Pixels, who described the development process in 2007 as "cursed and rushed", though he continues to work on the game ever since, arguing that "[SRB2] represents an alternate path the Sonic series could've taken when transitioning to 3D that's more true to the classic Sonic formula." [7] Wallbank would eventually step down from the development team in 2002. [6] On July 25, 2009, a major update titled Version 2.0 was released, signifying the end of demo releases. [2] The release marked the official departure of Freda from the development team, though work on subsequent releases would be continued by the rest of Sonic Team Junior's staff. [6]

Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart

In 2018, a group of developers collaborating through the SRB2 Message Boards known as Kart Krew Dev released Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart, a kart racing game built off of the Sonic Robo Blast 2 engine, on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. The gameplay is similar to Mario Kart 64 and similar Nintendo 64 kart racing games such as Diddy Kong Racing , Lego Racers , and Mickey's Speedway USA . SRB2Kart has characters, powerups and maps based on Sonic the Hedgehog and other SEGA franchises. Additionally, players can create their own characters, maps and gametypes. [18]

A sequel, Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers, formerly known as "Version 2.0", [19] was released on April 24, 2024. [20] Treated as a separate game, it was positively received, [21] though the game's lengthy tutorial was criticized. [22] Changes from previous versions of Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart include a full single player grand prix campaign, the addition of new characters, stages, and items, [20] and game mechanics, notably "trick pads" that allow for the use of different boosts and rings as a currency used for boosts. [22]

Community

Sonic Robo Blast 2 is highly dependent on its community as a consistent source of feedback, and the development team of Sonic Team Junior is formed entirely from volunteers, many of whom were at one point part of the fanbase. [6] Members of the development team have hosted level design competitions, titled the "Official Level Design Contest", annually since 2003, with a break from 2015 to 2020; after this break, the title was changed from "contest" to "collab" to emphasize the collaborative aspect of the event. [23]

Reception

Sonic Robo Blast 2 has been the subject of multiple short-form reviews and received positive reception in various video game publications, including 1Up.com, Kombo, [14] Wireframe, [7] Retro Gamer, [17] PC Zone, [13] and Rock Paper Shotgun. [24] The game was covered most frequently as a novelty during its early stages of development, [25] though it drew additional attention after the release of 2.2 in 2019. [10] [9] The update was recognized by Doomworld with an award for the "released project with the longest "development time"". [26]

The game has been noted most prominently for its longevity, with Dominic Tarason of Rock Paper Shotgun calling it "A real slow-burning labour of love". [24] The slow, over 20-year development period has allowed for the growth of a community that has been described as "utopic", compared to those of other online gaming forums. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog 3</i> 1994 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a 1994 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. Like previous Sonic games, players traverse side-scrolling levels while collecting rings and defeating enemies. They control Sonic and Tails, who attempt to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds to stop Doctor Robotnik from relaunching his space station, the Death Egg, after it crash-lands on a mysterious floating island. Sonic 3 introduces Knuckles the Echidna, the island guardian, who lays traps for Sonic and Tails.

<i>Sonic Adventure</i> 1998 video game

Sonic Adventure is a 1998 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Dreamcast. It was the first main Sonic the Hedgehog game to feature 3D gameplay. It follows Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Amy Rose, Big the Cat, and E-102 Gamma in their quests to collect the Chaos Emeralds and stop Doctor Robotnik from unleashing Chaos, an ancient evil. Controlling one of the six characters—each with their own abilities—players complete levels to progress the story. Sonic Adventure retains many elements from prior Sonic games, such as power-ups and the ring-based health system. Players can play minigames such as racing and interact with Chao, a virtual pet.

<i>Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog</i> Animated series

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is an animated series based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, produced by Sega of America, DIC Animation City, Bohbot Entertainment and the Italian studio Reteitalia S.p.A. in association with Spanish network Telecinco. Airing during the fall of 1993, 65 episodes were produced. It was syndicated by Bohbot Entertainment in the United States.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> (1991 video game) 1991 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 1991 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Genesis/Mega Drive. It was released in North America on June 23 and in PAL regions and Japan the following month. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog, who can run at near supersonic speeds; Sonic sets out on a quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik, a scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and seeks the powerful Chaos Emeralds. The gameplay involves collecting rings as a form of health, and a simple control scheme, with jumping and attacking controlled by a single button.

<i>Sonic 3D Blast</i> 1996 video game

Sonic 3D Blast, known in PAL regions as Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island, is a 1996 platform game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series for the Sega Genesis and Sega Saturn. As Sonic the Hedgehog, the player embarks on a journey to save the Flickies, birds enslaved by Doctor Robotnik. The player must guide Sonic through a series of themed levels to collect Flickies and defeat Robotnik. Though it retains game mechanics from prior Sonic games, Sonic 3D Blast is differentiated by its 2D isometric perspective, with pre-rendered 3D models converted into sprites.

<i>Sonic & Knuckles</i> 1994 video game

Sonic & Knuckles is a 1994 platform game developed and published by Sega. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog or Knuckles the Echidna in their quests to save Angel Island; Sonic tries to stop Doctor Robotnik from re-launching his orbital weapon, the Death Egg, while Knuckles scuffles with Robotnik's minion, EggRobo. Like previous Sonic games, players traverse side-scrolling levels at high speeds while collecting rings and defeating enemies.

<i>Sonic Blast</i> 1996 platform video game

Sonic Blast is a 1996 side-scrolling platform video game known for its use of pre-rendered visuals. To stop Doctor Robotnik from using Chaos Emerald shards to fortify his base, the player controls Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna through 15 levels. As a Sonic the Hedgehog series platformer, the characters run and jump to reach the end of a level while defeating enemy robots and collecting rings. In separate bonus stages, the player must run forward and collect rings to earn one of the Chaos Emerald shards.

<i>Dr. Robotniks Mean Bean Machine</i> 1993 video game

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a falling block puzzle game developed by Compile and published by Sega. It was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in North America and Europe in November 1993, and ported to the Game Gear in 1993 and Master System in 1994.

Doom WAD is the default format of package files for the video game Doom and its sequel Doom II: Hell on Earth, that contain sprites, levels, and game data. WAD stands for Where's All the Data?. Immediately after its release in 1993, Doom attracted a sizeable following of players who created their own mods for WAD files—packages containing new levels or graphics—and played a vital part in spawning the mod-making culture which is now commonplace for first-person shooter games. Thousands of WADs have been created for Doom, ranging from single custom levels to full original games; most of these can be freely downloaded over the Internet. Several WADs have also been released commercially, and for some people the WAD-making hobby became a gateway to a professional career as a level designer.

<i>Sonic X-treme</i> Canceled video game by Sega

Sonic X-treme was a platform game developed by Sega Technical Institute from 1994 until its cancellation in 1996. It was planned as the first fully 3D Sonic the Hedgehog game, taking Sonic into the 3D era of video games, and the first original Sonic game for the Sega Saturn. The storyline followed Sonic on his journey to stop Dr. Robotnik from stealing six magic rings from Tiara Boobowski and her father. X-treme featured open levels rotating around a fixed center of gravity and, like previous Sonic games, featured collectible rings and fast-paced gameplay.

<i>Sonic R</i> 1997 racing game

Sonic R is a 1997 racing game developed by Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn. It is the third racing game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, and the first to feature 3D computer graphics. The player races one of ten Sonic characters in various Sonic-themed race tracks as they attempt to stop Doctor Robotnik from stealing the Chaos Emeralds and enslaving the world. Sonic R features single-player and multiplayer game modes, and while similar to kart racing games such as Mario Kart, it places an emphasis on jumping and exploration. By collecting items and completing objectives, players can unlock secret characters.

<i>Shadow the Hedgehog</i> (video game) 2005 video game

Shadow the Hedgehog is a 2005 platform game developed by Sega Studios USA and published by Sega. It is a spin-off from the Sonic the Hedgehog series starring the character Shadow. It follows the amnesiac Shadow's attempts to learn about his past during an alien invasion. Gameplay is similar to previous Sonic games, featuring fast-paced platforming and ring collecting, but introduces third-person shooter and nonlinear elements. Shadow uses a variety of weapons to defeat enemies and complete missions that determine the plot and playable levels.

<i>Sonic Gems Collection</i> 2005 compilation video game by Sega

Sonic Gems Collection is a 2005 compilation of Sega video games, primarily those in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The emulated games span multiple genres and consoles—from the Sega Genesis to the Sega Saturn—and retain the features and errors of their initial releases with minimal edits. Player progress is rewarded with demos of other Sonic games, videos, and promotional artwork spanning the history of the Sonic franchise. While its 2002 predecessor, Sonic Mega Collection, comprises popular Sonic games, Gems Collection focuses on more obscure games, such as Sonic CD (1993) and Sonic the Fighters (1996). Other non-Sonic games are included, but some, such as the Streets of Rage trilogy, are omitted in the Western localization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Eggman</span> Video game character

Doctor Ivo"Eggman"Robotnik is a character created by the Japanese game designer Naoto Ohshima. He is the main antagonist of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Eggman is a mad scientist who seeks to steal the mystical Chaos Emeralds, defeat Sonic the Hedgehog, and conquer the world. Eggman and his "Badnik" brand of military robots serve as bosses and enemies in the Sonic platform games. His distinctive characteristics include his red-black-yellow clothing, baldness, pince-nez sunglasses, and large mustache.

<i>Sonics Ultimate Genesis Collection</i> 2009 video game collection

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection is a compilation of video games developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Sega for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The compilation features 48 Sega games which were previously released for the Sega Genesis, arcades and the Master System. It is the sequel to the Sega Genesis Collection released previously for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, but contains 16 more games.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog 2</i> (film) 2022 film by Jeff Fowler

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 2022 action-adventure comedy film based on the video game series published by Sega. The sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), it was directed by Jeff Fowler from a screenplay by Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington, based on a story by Casey and Miller. Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, and Jim Carrey reprise their roles, with Idris Elba joining the cast. In the film, Sonic and Tails must find the Master Emerald before their nemesis Dr. Robotnik (Eggman) and his partner Knuckles the Echidna.

<i>Spark the Electric Jester 2</i> 2019 video game

Spark the Electric Jester 2 is a 2019 platform game created by Brazilian indie developer Felipe Daneluz. It is a 3D sequel to Daneluz's previous 2D game Spark the Electric Jester, released in 2017. The player controls Spark's robotic counterpart, Fark, on his quest to find Doctor Armstrong. Fark must be guided through various levels and may engage enemies in combat. While fast-paced platforming is emphasized, levels are approachable in multiple ways.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Archived Versions". srb2.org. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 SSNTails (July 25, 2009). "SRB2 v2.0 is now available!". srb2.org. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Version 2.1". March 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Version 2.2". December 7, 2019.
  5. ↑ "About". srb2.org. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Menegus, Bryan (July 22, 2016). "The Fan-Made Sonic Game That Won't Die". Gizmodo . Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Hansford, Amelia (December 2, 2021). "Sonic's Amateur Hour". Wireframe . No. 57. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ Johnathon "Sonikku" Wallbank (1998-02-11). "Finally! Sonic Robo Blast hits the streets!". Archived from the original on 2024-02-03. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 Moyer, Phillip (December 9, 2019). "Sonic Robo Blast 2 Gets A Major Update". thegamer.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Dawe, Liam (8 March 2022). "Fan game Sonic Robo Blast 2 gets a new tutorial, various improvements". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Sonic Robo Blast 2 Public". January 22, 2024. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ "THE LEGACY OF DOOM". Doom Legacy. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Hogarty, Steve (September 2006). "Tastes Like Hedgehog" (PDF). PC Zone . p. 110. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 DeWoody, Lucas (December 5, 2008). "8 Fan-made Sonic Games You Should See". Kombo. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009.
  15. ↑ "SONIC THE HEDGEHOG DOOM". Doomworld. October 3, 1996. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  16. ↑ SSNTails (May 2, 2013). "Sonic Doom 2 v4.1 Released!". srb2.org. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 Henderson, Tim (June 16, 2009). "For the people, by the people". Retro Gamer. No. 65. p. 70. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  18. ↑ Tarason, Dominic (November 19, 2018). "Free fan-racer Sonic Robo Blast 2 Kart is brilliant knockabout fun". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers Version 2.0". 24 April 2024.
  20. 1 2 Yarwood, Jack (April 25, 2024). "Dr. Robotnik's Ring Racers Is A New Sonic Kart Racer Built Using Doom Legacy". TimeExtension.
  21. ↑ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (April 25, 2024). "Dr Robotnik's Ring Racers is a gorgeous free SNES-style arcade racer, built using Doom Legacy". Rock Paper Shotgun.
  22. 1 2 Bailey, Dustin (April 25, 2024). "The wildest kart racer I've ever played might just be this Sonic fan game so mechanically dense it opens with a 45-minute tutorial". GamesRadar.
  23. ↑ "Official Level Design Collab". srb2.org. 11 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  24. 1 2 Tarason, Dominic (April 1, 2019). "Modder Superior: The many free descendants of Doom". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  25. ↑ Houghton, David (December 10, 2013). "The 10 coolest and weirdest Doom mods ever - from Ghostbusters to Batman, Super Mario to Tomb Raider..." Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  26. ↑ "2019 Cacowards - Other Awards". Doomworld. 2019. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.