Is there any original Sonic the Hedgehog 1 version featuring unlimited continues or save/password system?

Question

Original Sonic the Hedgehog (the 1991 Mega Drive version) is a fun game, but it does have some significant design problems by modern standards. For me, a person with very mediocre platforming skills, a probably the biggest problem is the complete lack of any kind of save/password systems, while both the extra lives and the continues are quite rare power-ups I am not able to find often enough. As a result, I run into the Game Over screen pretty quickly, and the game itself isn't that much fun because of the challenge.

My question is - is there any version of the original Sonic the Hedgehog that features unlimited continues, flexible save/load system or level passwords feature? I know none of them are present in the original, but since the game appeared numerous times in various compilations and digital services for a range of platforms, maybe some of them possessed some newbie-friendly features?

Asked by sarmackie

Answer

You do not need save games. There is a cheat you can use to go to any level you want.

In the Mega Drive version it is:

Wait until the start/title screen (where Sonic shows up in the ring) and input this as fast as possible:

up, down, left, right, A + Start (at the same time)

Please look it up, as it might be different for the new XBox360 and PS3 versions, because of different buttons / button layout.

Then a menu opens and you can select a level.

Please remember: Super Mario Bros. also does not have a save mode. As already mentioned you do not need it, a "good" player can finish sonic in about one hour. I like to "speedrun" through all the levels as it is more fun.

Almost every level has secret lives, make a habit of checking all the walls, as they are not always solid (secret passage).

Answered by ayckoster

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What is the difference between Dr. Robotnik and Eggman?

Question

Are they the same, or alter egos? Does "Eggman" refer to a specific persona with unique characteristics compared to "Dr. Robotnik"? Does the name change based on between the 3D/2D game perspective, or the game's region (Japan vs. US)? Does he ever assert a name preference, and does he accept or reject the Eggman nickname? They look the same—is there a reason why the Sonic series uses both names simultaneously?

Asked by sean

Answer

They are different names for the same character. The Wikipedia article you linked has the explanation, sourced from the former head of Sonic Team, Yuji Naka:

"Robotnik" is the character's real name while "Eggman" is a "common name taken after his shape."

In various iterations of the franchise, they've chosen different names for him, with Robotnik being more of the English name, and Eggman the Japanese. However, since Sonic Adventure (1999) he tends to go by Doctor Eggman in both English and Japanese translations of his video game appearances.

As far as whether or not this is a preference, a teasing nickname, or just a localization hiccup, the character rarely remarks about his different names or his own preferences. However, as Jupotter points out, in Sonic Generations, Classic Tails refers to him as Dr. Robotnik, and he comments that nobody calls him that anymore. This would seem to indicate that he's at least aware of his different names.

Answered by agent86

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In Sonic, why aren't the Chaos *Emeralds* all green?

Question

I'm just curious because I always thought an "emerald" was green...

Asked by Aerodynamo

Answer

In real life, Emeralds run the gamut from the standard green (the color "emerald", even) to a bluer / yellowish in the extremes, but even then they don't reach the full spectrum of the chaos emeralds.

Putting aside the very nature of them being video game constructs, the fact that the number of emeralds have changed (from 6 to 7), and that their colors have varied, it's otherwise likely that the chaos emeralds aren't really "emeralds" at all, but rather take their name for their association with the Master Emerald, which has always been a large, green gem (and thus, a "real" emerald).

This theory of course falls flat when you consider that the Master Emerald debuted in Sonic & Knuckles, while the Chaos Emeralds have existed since Sonic the Hedgehog (the 1991 game).

Bottom line? Someone in marketing thought "Chaos Emeralds" sounded better than "Chaos Beryls" or "Chaos Diamonds" (which are known for their varied colors) and that choice has propagated ever since, geology be damned.

Answered by Raven Dreamer

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How could some classic Sonic zones be both wrap-around and partially underwater?

Question

In Sonic The Hedgehog, some levels wrapped around from top to bottom. Some levels also have water in them. What confuses me is that a few levels have both. The bottom wraps around to the top, so the notions of up and down become relative, yet part of the map is underwater.

For a good example of such a zone, consider Labyrinth Zone 3 from Sonic 1, which features both an infinite water slide at the beginning and an upward-climbing rising-water chase-scene doom gauntlet boss fight at the end, in which the water rises up about 1.5 times the actual height of the map.

Can anyone explain how they made this work? Is there a "bottom" to the underwater area somewhere, cleverly manipulated so that it is never visible on screen? Or is there something more interesting going on?

Answer

The level tiles vertically, that's why you fall through and come at the same spot again. You can clearly see this in your zone example that if you take the slide down and hit the bottom of the map that you will simply return at the top and go back. The water is programmed to just fall through, the engine just loads the upper and lower part each time you see the split.

As for the underwater zone, there is solid rock at the top causing the water to just stay in place.

Implementation wise, they insert a water flow(s) which cause a horizontal water line (limited by walls) and make those parts under it consist of water; the whole bottom of the level is not made of water.

In the following image, the red arrows are the water lines. Everything below it is water.

If you don't remember the level well, check this speed run which takes the slide and visits the bottom.

Note that it displays water across the walls, it's an animation as drawing it to the walls is too complex.

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Was there a code for “Hyper Sonic” in Sonic 2?

Question

I remember inputting cheat codes in the music test for Super Sonic anytime in Sonic 2 , but I remember there was either a way or a cheat code to get "Hyper Sonic". Does anyone remember?

Answer

From http://cheats.freeola.com/megadrive_i/sonic-2_910.html:

"Run forward in Oil Ocean, Act 2 until reaching the green jet springs. Jump on the very last spring and hold Right. Sonic will hit a group of spikes before becoming stuck in the side of the wall. Jump out to transform into Hyper Sonic. In this mode, Sonic can run faster and jump farther than Super Sonic, but is not invincible."

As I have never tested this cheat before, I cannot guarantee that it works.

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