Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
European cover
Developer(s)	SNK
Publisher(s)	Sega
Distributor(s)	SNK Corporation[*]
Producer(s)	Yuji Naka Hiroshi Matsumoto
Designer(s)	Yuji Naka
Series	Sonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)	Neo Geo Pocket Color
Release date(s)	NA: November 30, 1999 JP: January 11, 2000 EU: December 3, 1999
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグポケットアドベンチャー, Sonikku za Hejjihoggu Poketto Adobenchā), or Sonic Pocket Adventure for short, is a 1999 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by SNK. It was released in December 1999 in North America, and May 2000 in Japan, exclusively for the Neo Geo Pocket Color handheld game console.^[1][2] It is also only the second game of the Sonic series ever to be released on a non-Sega video game console, the first being Sonic Jam on the Game.com. The game was praised by critics, receiving perfect scores from multiple reviews.

Gameplay

Main game

The game is similar in level design and gameplay to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, but with mostly new bosses. It also includes a few graphics from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as music from Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic Jam. A new game mode called Trial Room allows players to replay previously cleared levels with the aim of beating their record. Two modes are available: Time Trial and Advanced. Advanced is the same as Time Trial but must be cleared with 50 rings or more in order for the time to be recorded.^[3] A rankings option is available to view the best time records for both Time Trial and Advanced. A Top 5 Update feature is available to connect with other players and exchange or combine each other's rankings.^[4]

Puzzle pieces can be collected throughout the game and be made available in Puzzle Room. Puzzle Room features three modes: Build Puzzle, View Puzzle, and Puzzle Initialize. In Build Puzzle players can build the puzzle by using the pieces the player found throughout the game. View Puzzle allows players to view puzzles they have completed. Puzzle Initialize allows the player to release all puzzle pieces back to be found again.^[5]

Multiplayer

In addition to the single player mode, Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure allows multiplayer gaming for two players. In order to compete, both players are required to have a Neo Geo Pocket Color and a copy of the game, and one link cable. Player 1 is always Sonic, while player 2 is Tails "Miles" Prower. Unlike other Sonic games Tails could not fly using his tails in this game. The multiplayer component is entitled 'Duel Room' and features two modes: Sonic Rush and Get the Rings. The objective of Sonic Rush is for players to compete to finish a zone first. The objective of Get the Rings is to compete in collecting a specified amount of rings. If one of the players has obtained the specified rings first, they are declared the victor and the other automatically loses. Players are also able to lose if they lose too many rings to the point that the zone has insufficient amount of rings or for basics impossible.^[6]

Reception and legacy

Sonic Pocket Adventure received very positive reviews. IGN gave the game a perfect 10 out of 10 score.^[7] Pocket Magazine gave the game 5 stars.^[8] Dean Scott of Computer and Video Games Magazine also gave the game 5 stars, praising the single player mode being familiar to the original 3 16-bit games.^[9] GameSpot gave the game an 8.3 out of 10, praising the game's graphics, sound, and gameplay, but criticizing the game's short length and its lack of difficulty.^[10] Chris Murphy of Retro Gamer gave the game 4.67 out of 5.^[11]

Sonic Pocket Adventure was one of the games from the Neo Geo Pocket Color to be included in IGN's DSi Virtual Console Wishlist.^[12]

References