This is a completely different game than the Genesis 16-bit counterpart, and was released on SEGA’s 8-bit consoles Master System & Game Gear originally.
To stop the evil Dr. Robotnik, Sonic must traverse six zones consisting of three levels each. Most of the zones are based on those in the original game, but some are entirely new, including a jungle environment and a huge airship. Other unique differences are one level that scrolls automatically and one that is aligned vertically instead of horizontally. Most of the enemies (mechanized animals, defeated by Sonic’s spikes when jumping or rolling) and power-ups (speed-ups, shields, extra lives) are the same as in the Genesis version as well. Sonic can pick up golden rings for protection (when hit, he simply loses all of his rings instead of a life) and bonuses: 100 rings gain Sonic an extra life, and 50 remaining rings at the end of a level allow access to pinball-themed special stages full of bumpers and springs. The final level of a zone is always a boss fight against Robotnik. Some of the boss fights differ in the Master System and Game Gear versions of the game, with special designs for the handheld version due to the smaller visible screen area.
Sonic should also collect the six Chaos Emeralds to keep them from falling into Robotnik’s hands. In a departure from the original game, these are not hidden in the special stages but somewhere in the regular levels.
| Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements | |
| CPU | Pentium 4 @ 3.2 GHz/Athlon 64 3000+ or Equivalent & above | Intel Core 2 DUO @ 2.4 GHz/Athlon 64 X2 4200+ & above |
| RAM | 1 GB (2 GB on Vista) GB RAM | 2 GB+ GB RAM |
| OS | Windows XP/Vista/Win7 | Windows XP/Vista/Win7 |
| Graphics Card | 256 MB (NVIDIA GeForce 7600/AT Radeon X1300) & above | 512 MB (NVIDIA GeForce 8800/ATI Radeon HD 3800) & above |
| Direct X | dx90a | dx50 |
| SOUND CARD | DirectX Compatible | DirectX Compatible |
| HDD Space | 500 MB HD space | 500 MB HD space |
- Soundtrack
- Final Zone looks cool
- Some stages are well-designed...
-...but most of them aren't
- Small screen on Game Gear
- Bosses aren't fun to battle against
So I’ve seen a lot of praising about this game online, saying it’s a must-play of the 8-bit games… Well I heavily disagree with that!
While some levels really feel right at home in a Sonic game like Green Hill Zone or Scrap Brain Zone… Most of them don’t and that’s this game’s biggest flaw. Some examples would be Bridge Zone which introduces side-scrolling with instant-death pits and moving enemies or Forest Zone where you have to climb the level vertically using very small moving platforms. No need to mention they feel very awkward with Sonic physics and aren’t fun to play in.
And when Zone 3 is over, the pain train is here in the form of bosses! Not only do you usually have no rings for those battles but the bosses are too simple in design and feel super boring but also very punishing since you must know when to attack as you can usually only land one shot before they attack again, usually with an annoying projectile.
While the music’s fine, it’s not enough for me to recommend this game. Really not a must-play, but it will make you appreciate the original Genesis game way more afterward, even Labyrinth Zone!