Sonic Blast
{{Short description|1996 video game}}
{{Distinguish|Sonic 3D Blast|Sonic Blast Man}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Sonic Blast
| image = Sonic Blast cover art.jpg
| caption = North American Game Gear cover art
| alt = The North American Game Gear cover art of Sonic Blast. In it, Sonic, a cartoonish blue hedgehog with red shoes, runs through a desert-like environment. The game's logo is shown atop him, while the Game Gear banner is seen on the left-hand corner with the Sega brand logo and seal of quality. In the lower right hand corner, the rating label (K-A, meaning kids to adults) can be seen.
| developer = Aspect
| publisher = Sega
Tec Toy (Master System)
| director = Ryushin Hamada
| producer = Hiroshi Aso
| composer = Kojiro Mikusa
| programmer = Toshiaki Araki
Yoshiaki Makishima
| designer = Fumikazu Sugawara
Taro Murayama
| series = Sonic the Hedgehog
| platforms = Game Gear, Master System
| released = Game Gear{{vgrelease|NA|November 14, 1996|EU|November 1996|JP|December 13, 1996}}Master System{{vgrelease|BR|December 1997}}
| genre = Platform
| modes = Single-player
}}
Sonic Blast{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|G Sonic|Ｇソニック|Jī Sonikku}}}} is a 1996 platform game developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Game Gear. The player controls Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna, who venture through 15 levels to stop Doctor Robotnik from using Chaos Emerald shards to fortify his base. 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.
The game was the final Sonic the Hedgehog game for the system, utilizing pre-rendered visuals to maximize the graphical potential of the decreasingly popular handheld console. It was rereleased on the Master System exclusively in Brazil in 1997, various compilations in the series, and the Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console (2012). Despite their similar titles and coinciding releases, Sonic Blast and Sonic 3D Blast have little in common. Retrospective reviewers generally had little praise for Sonic Blast and have deemed it one of the series' worst games. Although some considered its graphics impressive when considering the technological restrictions of the Game Gear, most found its animations and colors mediocre. The level designs and slow gameplay were also criticized.
Gameplay
File:Sonic Blast Screenshot.png in the game's second level]]
Sonic Blast is a 2D side-scrolling platform game.{{cite web|last1=Massey|first1=Tom|title=A guide to gaming's most valuable treasures|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-02-super-bank-breakers|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 19, 2018|date=January 25, 2015}} Its story begins when Doctor Robotnik shatters a Chaos Emerald into five shards with a laser. One of the shards hits Sonic the Hedgehog, who, with the help of Knuckles the Echidna, sets out to prevent Robotnik from collecting the other shards and fortifying his island base.{{Cite book|title=Sonic Blast (U.S. instruction manual)|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/File:Sonic_Blast_GG_US_Manual.pdf|publisher=Sega|date=November 1996}} Sonic and Knuckles serve as the player-characters of the single-player game. Sonic, in addition to his spinning attacks from prior Sonic games, has a special double-jump that gives him a secondary jump in midair. Knuckles retains his abilities from Sonic & Knuckles: like Sonic, he can perform spin attacks, but can also glide through the air and climb up walls when he hits them in midair. The player travels through 15 levels (called "acts"), across five parts called zones. Every third act contains a boss fight against Robotnik and one of his larger robots. Zones range from the traditional Green Hill Zone to underwater ruins, and feature vertical loops, slides, and teleporters.
In the Sonic series tradition, Sonic and Knuckles collect rings as a form of health. Rings serve as protection for the animals, defending them from the attacks of robot enemies. When taking damage, ten rings scatter across the stage and can be recollected before they disappear. The player starts the game with several lives, which are lost if the player is crushed, drowns, falls into a bottomless pit, or is hit with no rings in their possession. Losing all lives results in a game over, after which the player is returned to the title screen and must restart the game. Power-ups hidden in television monitors provide Sonic and Knuckles numerous boons, including more rings, a burst of speed, shields, invincibility, extra lives, and the ability to save progress in a level. Some monitors, however, contain Robotnik's face and do not grant the player anything. Others contain question marks, which grant any of the power-ups. At the end of an act, the player must hit a signpost to complete the level. The signpost will spin until it lands on an image; the image will grant the player a reward.{{efn|The signpost images are of Robotnik, a ring, Sonic, Knuckles, a Chaos Emerald, or Super Sonic.}}
Similar in fashion to Sonic the Hedgehog 3, giant rings leading to special stages are hidden around levels. The special stages follow the same basic format of those in Sonic the Hedgehog 2: the player-character runs forward and must collect rings to meet a required amount. They must avoid bombs, and sometimes will jump, run on boost panels, or hop on springs to get more rings. Successful completion of special stages will grant the characters extra lives, rings, or one of the Chaos Emerald shards.
Development and release
File:Game-Gear-Handheld.jpg game for the Game Gear (pictured).]]
Sonic Blast was the sixth and final Sonic the Hedgehog platformer released for the Game Gear. It was developed alongside other outsourced titles in the series, including Minato Gaiken's Sonic Labyrinth and Traveller's Tales' Sonic 3D Blast.{{cite web|author1=USgamer Team|title=Gotta Go Fast: Ranking All of The Sonic The Hedgehog Games|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/gotta-go-fast-ranking-all-of-the-sonic-the-hedgehog-games|website=USgamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=August 18, 2017|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825025119/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gotta-go-fast-ranking-all-of-the-sonic-the-hedgehog-games|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=G Sonic I Nintendo 3DS|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000009867|website=nintendo.co.jp|publisher=Nintendo|access-date=March 6, 2018|language=ja|date=April 18, 2012}}{{cite web|last1=Newton|first1=James|title=Nintendo Download: 14th June 2012 (Europe)|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/06/nintendo_download_14th_june_2012_europe|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=June 11, 2012}} Like the previous Game Gear titles, Sonic Blast was developed by Aspect and published by Sega.{{cite web|last1=Parish|first1=Jeremy|title=Who Makes the Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games?|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/who-makes-the-best-sonic-the-hedgehog-games|website=USgamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=June 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625104025/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/who-makes-the-best-sonic-the-hedgehog-games|archive-date=June 25, 2018}} Key staff from Aspect's prior Sonic games did not work on Sonic Blast.{{cite journal |last1=Thorpe |first1=Nick |title=The History of Sonic on the Master System |journal=Retro Gamer |date=March 22, 2014 |issue=179}} A prominent feature of the game is its pre-rendered visuals, which had been popularized by Donkey Kong Country. The graphics were rendered in 3D before being converted into sprites; the final result has been compared to that of Donkey Kong Country and Mortal Kombat. However, the visuals presented some limitations: Sonic and Knuckles have few animation frames, there is no timer, and the player only loses ten rings when hit.{{cite web|last1=A|first1=Clark|title=Review: Sonic Blast (3DS)|url=http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2013/08/review-sonic-blast-3ds.html#|website=Digitally Downloaded|access-date=March 7, 2018|date=August 14, 2013}} Several gameplay elements were reused from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, such as Sonic's double-jump{{efn|In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic can double-jump when he equips a certain shield; Sonic Blast included the double-jump as a standard ability.}} and the playable characters.{{cite web|last1=Godefroy|first1=Sire|title=Test Oldies : Sonic Blast, un épisode pas si indispensable que ça |url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/665289/sonic-blast.htm|website=Jeuxvideo.com |publisher=Webedia|language=fr|access-date=March 6, 2022 |date=June 11, 2017}}
Sonic Blast was released worldwide in November 1996,{{cite magazine|title=Return of the Scream|magazine=GamePro|date=November 1996|issue=88|page=60|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_088_November_1996/page/n61/mode/2up|access-date=March 11, 2018|publisher=International Data Group}}{{cite web|last1=Phillips|first1=Tom|title=Sonic Blast on Nintendo 3DS eShop this week|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-06-11-sonic-blast-on-nintendo-3ds-eshop-this-week|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=June 11, 2012}} and in Japan as part of the Kid's Gear brand on December 13, 1996, retitled G Sonic.{{cite web|url=http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/gg/soft.html |title=[セガハード大百科] ゲームギア対応ソフトウェア（セガ発売） |publisher=Sega |access-date=2015-06-04 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601115130/http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/gg/soft.html |archive-date=June 1, 2012 }} Worldwide, it was the last Sega-published Game Gear game;{{cite web|last1=Roberts|first1=Dave|last2=Agnello|first2=Anthony John|title=59 Sonic games, explained in 10 words or less|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/59-sonic-games-explained-in-10-words-or-less/|website=GamesRadar|publisher=Future plc|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=August 10, 2016}} it was the system's final game outright in Japan.{{cite web|last1=Newton|first1=James|title=Donkey Kong Jr. and Sonic Blast Head to Japan 3DS VC|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/04/donkey_kong_jr_and_sonic_blast_head_to_japan_3ds_vc|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=April 11, 2012}} Though they have similar titles and were released around the same time, Sonic Blast and Sonic 3D Blast have little in common.{{cite web|last1=Bonds|first1=Curtis|title=Sonic Blast Review Mini|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/34796/sonic-blast-nintendo-3ds-vc-gg|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=June 27, 2013}} The game is fairly common in North America, but G Sonic is extremely rare, costing almost {{USD}}350.{{cite web|last1=Kohler|first1=Chris|title=The Rarest Stuff We Found In Akihabara's Game Shops|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/09/the-rarest-stuff-we-found-in-akihabaras-game-shops/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313153257/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/09/the-rarest-stuff-we-found-in-akihabaras-game-shops/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2018|website=Kotaku|publisher=Allure Media|access-date=March 6, 2018|date=September 27, 2017}} A port of the game was released for the Master System exclusively in Brazil in December 1997, distributed by Tec Toy.{{cite web|title=Jogo Rápido|url=https://archive.org/details/acao-games/A%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20Games%20%23122%20%28Dezembro%201997%29/page/n9/mode/1up|work=Ação Games|publisher=Editora Abril|accessdate=24 September 2024 |date=December 1997 |page=10}} The game had to be simplified to run on the Master System because of its lower graphical quality. Like G Sonic, the Master System version of Sonic Blast is rare.
The game has been rereleased in emulated form several times. Sonic Blast, as well as the other 11 Game Gear Sonic games, is an unlockable bonus in the 2003 GameCube game Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut.{{cite web|last1=Ronaghan|first1=Neal|title=Grinding Game Gears: An Overview of Sonic's Portable Origins|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/34741/grinding-game-gears-an-overview-of-sonics-portable-origins|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=March 7, 2018|date=June 21, 2013}} The game is also available in the compilation Sonic Mega Collection Plus for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.{{cite web|last1=Goldstein|first1=Hilary|title=Sonic Mega Collection Plus|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/04/sonic-mega-collection-plus|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=March 7, 2018|date=November 3, 2004}} Sonic Blast received a wide release in 2012 on the Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console service. New features in the 3DS rerelease include the ability to save player progress and choose between the 3DS's normal screen resolution or the Game Gear's original resolution.{{cite web|last1=Newton|first1=James|title=Sonic Blast Review|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/eshop/sonic_blast_gamegear|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 7, 2018|date=June 25, 2012}} The release came as part of a campaign by Nintendo to release 8-bit games on the 3DS eShop following a drought of releases on the distribution service.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/22/nintendos-8-bit-summer-announced-for-the-3ds-eshop|title=Nintendo's "8-Bit Summer" Announced for the 3DS eShop|last=Thomas|first=Lucas M.|date=June 21, 2012|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=August 9, 2018}} It was released along with the other 11 Game Gear Sonic games on Sonic Origins Plus in 2023.{{cite web|last=Shanklin|first=Will|title='Sonic Origins Plus' brings the hedgehog's Game Gear entries to modern consoles|url=https://www.engadget.com/sonic-origins-plus-brings-the-hedgehogs-game-gear-entries-to-modern-consoles-160043311.html|work=Engadget|date=March 23, 2023|access-date=March 30, 2024}}
Reception and legacy
{{video game reviews
|title = Reception (3DS)
|rev1 = Digitally Downloaded
}}
Retrospective reviewers did not remember Sonic Blast fondly. Nintendo World Report (NWR) summarized the game as "a step back" from the other Game Gear Sonic titles, due to what they called "the attempt at aping Donkey Kong Country{{'}}s pre-rendered sprites on a handheld".
Most critics disliked the graphics, some claiming they ruined the game. Digitally Downloaded called the visuals more distracting than impressive—hampering the fluidity of the gameplay and preventing the use of integral series elements—while Nintendo Life thought the game aged badly when compared to the other Sonic Game Gear games with its "muddy colours and shaky animation". Some, such as writers from USgamer and NWR, complained the character graphics were too big for the Game Gear's small screen. Jeuxvideo.com found the character animations poor and said they caused gameplay limitations. Although they were mostly critical of the graphics, reviewers did acknowledge the visuals were impressive when considering the limitations of the Game Gear. Pocket Gamer noted that prior to the game's release, "the capabilities of [the Game Gear] had seemingly been fully explored", writing while they offered some compromises, the visuals made Sonic Blast stand out.{{cite web|last1=Willington|first1=Peter|title=Sonic Blast review - 3DS reviews|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/3DS/Sonic+Blast/review.asp?c=42089|website=Pocket Gamer|publisher=Steel Media Limited|access-date=March 11, 2018|date=June 18, 2012}}
The gameplay was also criticized. NWR wrote that the characters' abilities were difficult to use properly since the screen was zoomed so close to them and particularly disliked the water-based levels, calling them nearly unplayable due to sluggish controls. Nintendo Life held considerable grievances against the inconsistent and random level designs, while Jeuxvideo.com lamented the game lacked the speed previous Sonic games offered, and said the playable characters' abilities, as well as losing only ten rings when hit, made an already-easy game easier. They shared Nintendo Life
Sonic Blast has been called one of the worst games in the Sonic series. NWR exclaimed the game "should be avoided at all costs", and Retro Gamer said its title screen was the only redeeming quality.{{cite web|last1=Delaney|first1=John|title=Sonic Blast|url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/sonic-blast/|website=Retro Gamer|publisher=Future plc|access-date=March 12, 2018|date=July 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518100802/https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/sonic-blast/|archive-date=May 18, 2021}} USgamer wrote it was "an unpleasant end to the Game Gear" and attributed its shortcomings to the system's discontinuation. Complex declared it "the worst handheld Sonic game ever" and said "thank God they didn't attempt the '3D' aspect of its 16-bit older brother".{{cite web|last1=Knight|first1=Rich|title=Ranking Every "Sonic the Hedgehog" Platformer|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/07/every-sonic-hedgehog-platformer-from-worst-best/|website=Complex|access-date=March 12, 2018|date=July 16, 2013}} Some reviewers noted Sonic Blast was the first game to give Sonic the standard ability to double-jump, which would be used in later games such as Sonic Colors (2010).{{cite web|last1=Bickam|first1=Al|title=Sonic Colours Review|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-11-11-sonic-colours-review|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 12, 2018|date=November 11, 2010}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Video games|1990s}}
- [https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/YlqRZdPPY_N0dnOGmxsp9TWHUbGPOhZt Official Nintendo Minisite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231082554/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/YlqRZdPPY_N0dnOGmxsp9TWHUbGPOhZt |date=December 31, 2014 }}
- {{moby game|id=/sonic-blast|name=Sonic Blast}}
{{Sonic the Hedgehog}}
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Category:Side-scrolling video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games with pre-rendered 3D graphics