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Name:
Sonic Blast - North America and Europe
G Sonic - Japan
Other Names (Nicknames): N/A
Release Dates:
November, 1996 - North America
November, 1996 - Europe
December, 1996 - Japan
Quality: 8-Bit , Side-Scrolling Platformer
Game System(s): Sega Game
Gear
Also released on:
Sega Master System - Sonic Blast
Gamecube - Sonic Adventure DX
PC - Sonic Adventure DX
Playstation 2/X-Box - Sonic Mega Collection PLUS
Developer(s): Sega of
Japan
Character Introductions: N/A
Region Game Takes Place On: An
island in the shape of Eggman's face.
Concept Introductions: Sonic
Blast is your average traditional Sonic Game Gear sidescroller in terms
of ideas and gameplay. The only new thing in this game is actually not
all that new, but hand-me-downed from Sonic Triple Trouble, and that's
that you don't lose all of your rings when you get hit, but instead
just ten at a time, giving you a much higher survival rate. Even though
it doesn't really help, since the extra boss if you collect all of the
Chaos Emeralds is ridiculously hard. It's also one of the few Game Gear
sidescrollers where there is a bubble shield item. Special Stage access
is like Sonic 3 and Knuckles, since the ring portals to the Special
Stages are hidden in caves. However, only the ones in the second act
of each Zone lead you to the Special Stage that gets you the Chaos Emerald.
The 1st act's Special Stage just gives you an extra Sonic.
Concept Deductions: There are only 5 Chaos Emeralds
to collect in this game, and the checkpoints, like in many other Game
Gear Titles are replaced by arrow powerup monitors.
Storyline(s)
Shortly after
the incident on Flicky Island, a most unusual island has risen out of
nowhere in the ocean. Its shape, however, was all too familiar: Eggman's
filthy mug! And standing tall upon this newly arisen island is Eggman's
Silver Castle, with which he is planning to continue his quest for global
domination. Sonic & Knuckles band together to put this island back
into the murky depths where it belongs, but unfortunately for them,
Eggman saw their arrival coming, so he rigged his new base of goodies
with some extra-dangerous traps…
Personal Criticism/Opinion:
We all
know that the Sega Game Gear was Sega's opportunity to promote Sonic
spin-off games. So for the few traditional Sonic sidescroller platformers
there were, Sonic Blast was definitely the least known of them. Even
today, it's pretty much a cult favorite, and for good reason. Sonic
Blast is by far the slowest-moving, most depressing and boring traditional
Sonic sidescroller of them all.
I can't even
begin to explain how slow the gameplay was for Sonic Blast. Sonic Chaos
and Triple Trouble look like freakin' Sonic Advance 2 Hot Crater Zone
Act 2 compared to Sonic Blast, and trust me, that's saying a lot. The
graphics were generally bland and lacked depth or complexity. It was
all a result of another attempt of Sega to throw Sonic's games into
the trend, since by then, video games were going for the rendered look.
Unfortunately, Sonic Blast failed to live up to the fad, ESPECIALLY
its crapola Sega Master System port.
But even then,
Sonic Blast has its ups. If you want a truly challenging traditional
Sonic sidescroller, then here you go. Out of its five zones: Green Hill,
Yellow Desert, Red Volcano, Blue Marine, and Silver Castle, Blue Marine
has got to be, by far, the most annoying level in any Sonic game. The
currents push you around, you move slow as hell, and there is a veritable
maze of pipelines; most of which take you to places that only make your
voyage all the more difficult and brain-rotting. And all the while,
you need to watch how long you've gone without air, or you'll drown!
Luckily, collecting the emeralds isn't tough, mostly since only 5 are
collectable in this game; but once you do, don't expect to have an easy
time with the extra boss.
Sonic Blast is
only a somewhat respectable title these days because of its seniority
and like most old Sonic games, it still managed to give you somewhat
of a Sonic feel; albeit, not as much of one as maybe Sonic the Hedgehog
2 or 3 on the Genesis would, but hey, it'll fare.
Let's see some GAMER'S PERSPECTIVE:
Replay value? Meh, so-so. It's hard to find a traditional Sonic
sidescroller with bad replay value, but then again, Sonic Blast isn't
your regular traditional sidescroller. I'd suggest just playing it and
beating it out of obligation, and then putting it down until you're
real bored and the game is on your mind.
Graphics and Layout? The graphics are probably what make Sonic
Blast so disliked among the fanbase. Sega tried to pull off a 3D rendered
look for the sprites to match the trend that was rising at the time.
Unfortunately, it didn't mesh well with the Game Gear's limited color
bit rate. So much effort was put into the character sprites (and even
they don't look all that fabulous) that the level design is just all
out depressing. If you are a masochist and you like torturing yourself,
then get the Master System port of this game, as that is where the POS
graphics are pushed into your sight most severely. Mark my words, if
you later begin to develop symptoms of a severe eye infection, take
a trip to your optometrist. He'll tell you that you got Sonicblastitus.
Music & Sound Effects? The music in this game is the only
thing that is average. It's your typical Sonic Gamegear sidescroller
music. It sounds a lot more 8-bittish in this game, though. Probably
because the beats are much, much slower to accomodate the slow-ass gameplay.
Storyline? Storyline
is pretty much average for a Sonic game. So average I really can't count
it for the game or against it.
OVERALL RATING? I rate Sonic Blast a 4.6/10
