Sonic Chaos

Last updated

Sonic Chaos
Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos Coverart.png
Master System cover art
Developer(s) Aspect
Publisher(s) Sega
Series Sonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s) Master System, Game Gear
ReleaseMaster System
Game Gear
  • JP: November 19, 1993
  • WW: November 23, 1993 [2]
Genre(s) Platform game
Mode(s) Single-player

Sonic Chaos [lower-alpha 1] is a 1993 platform game published by Sega for the Master System and Game Gear. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog and his sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower in their quest to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds from Doctor Robotnik, who has stolen them to construct nuclear weapons. Gameplay involves running through stages, collecting rings, and defeating enemies. It is largely based on the Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , and is thus considered a follow-up to that game. Chaos is the first Sonic game for the Master System and Game Gear to feature Tails as a separate playable character with his own unique abilities.

Contents

Developed by Japanese studio Aspect Co., Chaos is the first original Sonic game made for a handheld, instead of a port or remake of an existing game. Aspect used the knowledge gained from its work on previous Sonic games while designing Chaos to make it more expansive and faster than its predecessors. Chaos received a generally positive reception initially, with its levels and gameplay being praised; however, in retrospect it has gained a more average response for its unimpressive presentation and levels being of lackluster quality, alongside its slow framerate. A direct sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble , was released in 1994.

Gameplay

Sonic in the game's final level, Electric Egg Zone GGSonicChaosSE.png
Sonic in the game's final level, Electric Egg Zone

In Sonic Chaos, players control one of two characters—Sonic the Hedgehog or his sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower—and must complete each of the game's eight worlds in a quest to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds from the evil scientist Dr. Robotnik, who plots to use them to rule the world. [3] Each world, referred to as "zones" in-game, is made up of three levels, called "acts", the third one consisting of a boss fight against one of Robotnik's henchbots, or Robotnik himself in the final zone. [3] Levels are designed to allow the player to move as quickly as possible, and are largely based on those in its precursor Sonic the Hedgehog 2 . The gameplay itself involves running through each level while collecting rings and defeating Robotnik's robotic minions; rings protect Sonic and Tails from being hit by an enemy or obstacle. [3] Levels also contain small television monitors that can be smashed to reveal a power-up icon, which grant Sonic and Tails with unique abilities, such as speed shoes, a one-hit shield, and extra lives. [3]

Chaos adds several new additions to the core Sonic gameplay. Both characters have their own unique characteristics; Sonic can perform a move called the "Super Peel-Out", originally in Sonic CD , that makes him move extra fast, while Tails is able to fly and can hover over traps and other obstacles. [3] Sonic can collect a new power-up called the "Rocket Shoes", which grant him the ability to fly for a short period of time; Tails is unable to use this, and will simply be granted extra rings if he were to smash a monitor containing Rocket Shoes. If Sonic collects 100 rings in a level, he will be teleported to a special stage, which, if completed, will award him with a Chaos Emerald. There are multiple endings that are based on the number of Chaos Emeralds collected. [4]

Development and release

Chaos was the first original Sonic game produced for a handheld, in this case the Game Gear. Game-Gear-Handheld.jpg
Chaos was the first original Sonic game produced for a handheld, in this case the Game Gear.

Sonic Chaos was developed by Japanese studio Aspect Co., being the third Sonic the Hedgehog game they produced, and published by Sega for the Master System and Game Gear. [5] Chaos is largely based on the Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , and is thus considered a follow-up or successor to that game. [6] Aspect used the experience it received for its work on previous Sonic games while designing Chaos to make it more expansive and faster than its predecessors, in addition to improving the quality of the visuals. [7] [8] For the same reason, they were also able to make the game run faster. [7] [8] Chaos is both the first portable Sonic game and the first to feature Tails as a separate playable character with his own unique abilities. [6]

Sonic Chaos was released for the Master System on November 23, 1993 exclusively to PAL regions, and for the Game Gear worldwide on the same day to coincide with the release of Sonic CD. [9] [10] In Japan, it was titled Sonic & Tails. [10] Chaos is included as an extra in the GameCube version of Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut (2003) as one of the eleven unlockable Sonic Game Gear games, and in Sonic Mega Collection Plus (2005) for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC. [11] In 2009, it was digitally released for the Wii Virtual Console in North America. [12] Sonic Chaos is also included in the blue-colored model of the Game Gear Micro in 2020, alongside Gunstar Heroes , Sylvan Tale , and Baku Baku Animal . [13]

Reception and legacy

In the United States, it was the top-selling Game Gear game in January 1994. [17]

Sonic Chaos initially received a positive response from publications. The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly commented that the Game Gear version retains all the elements that made the 16-bit Sonic games fun to play. They also praised the graphics and the ability to play as Tails. [14] Sonic Chaos was awarded Best Game Gear Game of 1993 by Electronic Gaming Monthly. [18] Entertainment Weekly gave the game an A− and wrote that the game may be enjoyable for younger children. [16] In their review for Sonic Mega Collection Plus, GameSpy felt that both it and the 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog were the only Game Gear games in the series that are worth playing. [19]

In later years, Chaos was met with a more average reception. Nintendo Life criticized the Master System version for being a generally uninspired game, criticizing its difficulty for being too easy and its level designs for being bland and mediocre. [15] Retrospectively in 2019, Hardcore Gaming 101 gave a rather mixed response to the game; they felt disappointed with the gameplay and stage designs for lacking the uniqueness and puzzle-solving in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and disliked its slow framerate. [4] They were also critical of the soundtrack for being generally lacking in quality and for the overall presentation being unimpressive. [4] Hardcore Gaming 101 said that Chaos was only worth checking out for dedicated Sonic fans writing: "Sonic Chaos is by no means a bad game, but it’s not a particularly great game either. It’s a functional platformer that’s only worth checking out if you’re really into 8-bit Sonic games, or have an interest in a traditional Sonic platformer with a bigger focus on exploration." [4]

A fan-made remake of Sonic Chaos was announced in 2018, and a demo was released in August 2018. It features 16-bit era-styled graphics, as well as new game mechanics and boss fights. VG247 described the project as "incredibly well produced" and wrote it could "pass for the next project from Sega after Sonic Mania ." [20]

Notes

  1. ↑ Released in Japan as Sonic & Tails (Japanese: ソニック&(アンド)テイルス, Hepburn: Sonikku ando Teirusu).

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 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knuckles the Echidna</span> Video game character

Knuckles the Echidna is a character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is a red anthropomorphic short-beaked echidna who is Sonic's secondary best friend and former rival. Determined and serious, but sometimes gullible, he fights his enemies using brute force and strength. His role is established as the guardian of the Master Emerald, a large gemstone which controls the series' integral Chaos Emeralds, and is the last living member of his tribe, the Knuckles clan.

<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.

Tails (<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i>) Video game character

Miles Prower, better known by his nickname Tails, is a character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. Tails also appears in several spin-off games in which he stars, comic books, cartoons, and films. He is the first character to consistently appear by Sonic's side in the series as his best friend, appearing in nearly every mainline and spin-off since his debut. The name "Miles Prower" is a pun on "miles per hour", a reference to the famed speed of Sonic the Hedgehog. Prower is a two-tailed anthropomorphic fox, hence the nickname.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> (1991 video game) Multidirectional scrolling platform 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 the Hedgehog</i> (8-bit video game) 1991 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 1991 platform game. It is a companion to the 16-bit Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog for the 8-bit Master System and Game Gear consoles. Ancient—a studio founded by composer Yuzo Koshiro for the project—developed the game and Sega published it to promote the handheld Game Gear. The 8-bit Sonic is a side-scrolling game similar in style to the 16-bit game, but reduced in complexity to fit the 8-bit systems.

<i>Sonic CD</i> 1993 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog CD is a 1993 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega CD. As Sonic the Hedgehog, the player attempts to protect an extraterrestrial body, Little Planet, from Doctor Robotnik. Like other Sonic games, Sonic runs through themed levels while collecting rings and defeating robots. Sonic CD introduces time travel as a game mechanic. By traveling through time, players can access different versions of stages, featuring alternative layouts, music, and graphics.

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

Sonic 3D Blast, known in Europe and Japan 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.

<i>Sonic Spinball</i> 1993 pinball video game

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, also known as Sonic Spinball, is a 1993 pinball video game developed by Sega Technical Institute and published by Sega. It is a spinoff of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog, who must stop Doctor Robotnik from enslaving the population in a giant pinball-like mechanism. The game is set in a series of pinball machine-like environments with Sonic acting as the pinball.

<i>Sonic Drift</i> 1994 racing game

Sonic Drift is a 1994 racing game based on Sonic the Hedgehog developed and published by Sega for the Game Gear. Players control one of four characters as they race to the finish line, with 18 tracks themed after levels in 1991's Sonic the Hedgehog.

<i>Sonic Labyrinth</i> 1995 video game

Sonic Labyrinth is an action-puzzle game developed by Minato Giken and published by Sega for the Game Gear in 1995. The game features Sonic the Hedgehog exploring maze-like stages from an isometric perspective. Dr. Robotnik has robbed Sonic of his trademark speed, so Sonic walks slowly but can roll into a ball and dash across the stages.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble</i> 1994 platform game

Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble is a 1994 platform game developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Game Gear. It is the sequel to Sonic Chaos (1993) and features classic side-scrolling Sonic gameplay. The player controls either Sonic the Hedgehog or Miles "Tails" Prower as they venture to protect the powerful Chaos Emeralds from Doctor Robotnik, Knuckles the Echidna, and series newcomer Nack the Weasel. Sonic and Tails' unique abilities, as well as various power-ups, can assist the player in gameplay.

<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.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog 2</i> (8-bit video game) 1992 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 1992 platform game developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Master System and Game Gear. It is the sequel to the 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) and follows Sonic as he attempts to get the Chaos Emeralds back to rescue his friend Miles "Tails" Prower from Dr. Robotnik. Like the first Sonic the Hedgehog, players run through levels at high speeds while collecting rings and defeating enemies. Although it shares the same title with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Genesis and their releases coincided, the games have little in common and share no levels.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog 2</i> 1992 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 1992 platform game developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) for the Sega Genesis. Players control Sonic as he attempts to stop Doctor Robotnik from stealing the Chaos Emeralds to power his space station. Like the first Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), players traverse side-scrolling levels at high speeds while collecting rings, defeating enemies, and fighting bosses. Sonic 2 introduces Sonic's sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower and features faster gameplay, larger levels, a multiplayer mode, and special stages featuring pre-rendered 3D graphics.

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

Doctor Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik is the main antagonist of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Eggman was created and designed by Naoto Ohshima as part of many design choices for Sega's new mascot. After the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, Ohshima chose to use his previous egg-shaped character to create the antagonist of the 1991 video game Sonic the Hedgehog, making him the arch-nemesis of the series' eponymous main character.

References

  1. ↑ "Sega names the day". Evening Post . November 20, 1993. p. 13. Retrieved May 23, 2023. On November 23 Sega will be releasing their trio of Sonic titles. Sonic Three on One Day, as it will now be known sees the worldwide release of Sonic CD (Mega CD), Sonic Spinball (Mega Drive) and Sonic Chaos on Master System and Game Gear.
  2. ↑ "Sega names the day". Evening Post . November 20, 1993. p. 13. Retrieved May 23, 2023. On November 23 Sega will be releasing their trio of Sonic titles. Sonic Three on One Day, as it will now be known sees the worldwide release of Sonic CD (Mega CD), Sonic Spinball (Mega Drive) and Sonic Chaos on Master System and Game Gear.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos PAL Instruction Manual. Sega. 1993. pp. 8–10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Chungus, Apollo (18 July 2019). "Sonic Chaos". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (June 5, 2014). "Who Makes the Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games?". USgamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Thorpe, Nick (22 March 2014). "The History of Sonic on the Master System". Retro Gamer (179).
  7. 1 2 Ronaghan, Neal (June 21, 2013). "Grinding Game Gears: An Overview of Sonic's Portable Origins". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Sonic Chaos". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 52. November 1993. p. 148.
  9. ↑ "Sega names the day". Evening Post . November 20, 1993. p. 13. Retrieved May 23, 2023. On November 23 Sega will be releasing their trio of Sonic titles. Sonic Three on One Day, as it will now be known sees the worldwide release of Sonic CD (Mega CD), Sonic Spinball (Mega Drive) and Sonic Chaos on Master System and Game Gear.
  10. 1 2 "ゲームギア カートリッジ（セガ発売）" (in Japanese). Sega. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  11. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (11 May 2005). "Sonic Mega Collection Plus". Eurogamer . Gaming Network. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  12. ↑ Chester, Nick (2 February 2009). "Wii Shop Update: Snowboard Riot, LONPOS, and Sonic Chaos". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  13. ↑ Byford, Sam (October 16, 2020). "Game Gear Micro Review: Peak Sega". The Verge . Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Review Crew: Sonic Chaos". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 54. Sendai Publishing. January 1994. p. 52.
  15. 1 2 Nintendo Life Staff (3 February 2009). "Sonic Chaos Review (SMS)". NintendoLife . Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  16. 1 2 Strauss, Bob (February 11, 1994). "Sonic CD; Sonic Chaos; Sonic Spinball; Sonic 3 reviews". Entertainment Weekly . No. 209. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  17. ↑ "EGM Hot Top Tens" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . March 1994. p. 48.
  18. ↑ "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". 1994.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ↑ Baker, Chris (November 1, 2004). "GameSpy: Sonic Mega Collection Plus". GameSpy . p. 2. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  20. ↑ Donaldson, Alex (August 28, 2018). "The Sonic community just released a slew of amazing fangame demos". VG247 . Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
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.