Sonic Blast
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Template:Main other{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | child = | subbox = | bodyclass = ib-video-game hproduct {{#ifeq:|yes|collapsible {{#if:|{{{state}}}|autocollapse}}}} | templatestyles = Infobox video game/styles.css | aboveclass = fn | italic title =
| above = Sonic Blast
| image = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image={{#invoke:WikidataIB |getValue|rank=best|P18 |name=image |qid= |suppressfields= |fetchwikidata=ALL |onlysourced=no |noicon=yes|Sonic Blast cover art.jpg}}|size=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|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.|border=|suppressplaceholder=yes}}
| caption = {{#if:Sonic Blast cover art.jpg|North American Game Gear cover art|North American Game Gear cover art}}
| label2 = Developer(s) | data2 = Aspect
| label3 = Publisher(s)
| data3 = Sega
Tec Toy (Master System)
| label4 = Director(s) | data4 = Ryushin Hamada
| label5 = Producer(s) | data5 = Hiroshi Aso
| label6 = Designer(s)
| data6 = Fumikazu Sugawara
Taro Murayama
| label7 = Programmer(s)
| data7 = Toshiaki Araki
Yoshiaki Makishima
| label8 = Artist(s) | data8 = Template:If first display both
| label9 = Writer(s) | data9 = Template:If first display both
| label10 = Composer(s) | data10 = Kojiro Mikusa
| label11 = Series | data11 = Sonic the Hedgehog
| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both
| label13 = Platform(s) | data13 = Game Gear, Master System
| label14 = Release | data14 = Game GearTemplate:VgreleaseMaster SystemTemplate:Vgrelease
| label15 = Genre(s) | data15 = Platform
| label16 = Mode(s) | data16 = Single-player
| label17 = Arcade system | data17 = Template:If first display both
| data30 =
| below = Template:EditOnWikidata
}}Template:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|ignoreblank=1|preview=Page using Template:Infobox video game with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"| alt | arcade system | artist | caption | border | child | collapsible | commons | composer | designer | developer | director | embedded | engine | fetchwikidata | genre | image | image_size | image_upright | italic title | modes | noicon | onlysourced | platform | platforms | producer | programmer | publisher | qid | refs | release | released | series | state | subbox | suppressfields | title | writer }}Template:Main other{{#if:Sonic Blast cover art.jpg|}} Sonic BlastTemplate:Efn 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.
GameplayEdit
Sonic Blast is a 2D side-scrolling platform game.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="eurogval">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="nwrreview" /> Sonic and Knuckles serve as the player-characters of the single-player game.<ref name="nlifereview" /> Sonic, in addition to his spinning attacks from prior Sonic games, has a special double-jump that gives him a secondary jump in midair.<ref name="jeuxvideorev" /> 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.<ref name="nlifereview" /> The player travels through 15 levels (called "acts"),<ref name=":1" /> across five parts called zones.<ref name="jeuxvideorev" /> Every third act contains a boss fight against Robotnik and one of his larger robots.<ref name="jeuxvideorev" /> Zones range from the traditional Green Hill Zone<ref name=":1" /> to underwater ruins,<ref name="nwrreview" /> and feature vertical loops, slides, and teleporters.<ref name=":1" />
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.<ref name="jeuxvideorev" /> 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.<ref name=":1" /> Losing all lives results in a game over, after which the player is returned to the title screen and must restart the game.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":1" /> At the end of an act, the player must hit a signpost to complete the level.<ref name=":1" /> The signpost will spin until it lands on an image; the image will grant the player a reward.<ref name=":1" />Template:Efn
Similar in fashion to Sonic the Hedgehog 3, giant rings leading to special stages are hidden around levels.<ref name="nlifereview" /> 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.<ref name="jeuxvideorev" /> They must avoid bombs, and sometimes will jump, run on boost panels, or hop on springs to get more rings.<ref name=":1" /> Successful completion of special stages will grant the characters extra lives, rings, or one of the Chaos Emerald shards.<ref name="jeuxvideorev" />
Development and releaseEdit
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.<ref name="gottagofast">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="virtualconsolenintendo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="14june">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Like the previous Game Gear titles, Sonic Blast was developed by Aspect and published by Sega.<ref name="bestsonicgames">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Key staff from Aspect's prior Sonic games did not work on Sonic Blast.<ref name="RGamerMaster">Template:Cite journal</ref> A prominent feature of the game is its pre-rendered visuals, which had been popularized by Donkey Kong Country.<ref name="grinding"/> 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.<ref name="gottagofast"/><ref name="jeuxvideorev"/> 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.<ref name="digitally">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Several gameplay elements were reused from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, such as Sonic's double-jumpTemplate:Efn and the playable characters.<ref name="nlifereview"/><ref name="jeuxvideorev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sonic Blast was released worldwide in November 1996,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="eurogrerelease">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in Japan as part of the Kid's Gear brand on December 13, 1996, retitled G Sonic.<ref name="nlifererelease"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Worldwide, it was the last Sega-published Game Gear game;<ref name="59games">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> it was the system's final game outright in Japan.<ref name="nlifererelease">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Though they have similar titles and were released around the same time, Sonic Blast and Sonic 3D Blast have little in common.<ref name="nwrreview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The game is fairly common in North America, but G Sonic is extremely rare, costing almost Template:USD350.<ref name="rareststuff">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A port of the game was released for the Master System exclusively in Brazil in December 1997, distributed by Tec Toy.<ref name="jeuxvideorev"/><ref name="RGamerMaster"/><ref name="Ação Games122">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="RGamerMaster"/>
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.<ref name="grinding">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The game is also available in the compilation Sonic Mega Collection Plus for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.<ref name="ignmega">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sonic Blast received a wide release in 2012 on the Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console service.<ref name="nlifererelease"/> 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.<ref name="nlifereview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was released along with the other 11 Game Gear Sonic games on Sonic Origins Plus in 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Reception and legacyEdit
Template:Video game reviews Retrospective reviewers did not remember Sonic Blast fondly.<ref name="jeuxvideorev"/><ref name="grinding"/><ref name="digitally"/> 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 CountryTemplate:'s pre-rendered sprites on a handheld".<ref name="grinding"/>
Most critics disliked the graphics, some claiming they ruined the game.<ref name="jeuxvideorev"/><ref name="digitally"/> Digitally Downloaded called the visuals more distracting than impressive—hampering the fluidity of the gameplay and preventing the use of integral series elements<ref name="digitally"/>—while Nintendo Life thought the game aged badly when compared to the other Sonic Game Gear games with its "muddy colours and shaky animation".<ref name="nlifereview"/> Some, such as writers from USgamer and NWR, complained the character graphics were too big for the Game Gear's small screen.<ref name="nwrreview" /><ref name="gottagofast"/> Jeuxvideo.com found the character animations poor and said they caused gameplay limitations.<ref name="jeuxvideorev"/> Although they were mostly critical of the graphics, reviewers did acknowledge the visuals were impressive when considering the limitations of the Game Gear.<ref name="jeuxvideorev"/><ref name="digitally"/> 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.<ref name="pocketgamer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The gameplay was also criticized.<ref name="nwrreview"/><ref name="retrogamer"/> 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.<ref name="nwrreview"/> Nintendo Life held considerable grievances against the inconsistent and random level designs,<ref name="nlifereview"/> 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's concerns about the level designs, and argued the boss fights lacked difficulty.<ref name="jeuxvideorev"/> Digitally Downloaded said the game lacked polish: "were you to convert Sonic Blast into the engine of one of the other Game Gear games, its shortcomings would still be prevalent."<ref name="digitally"/> However, Pocket Gamer praised the game's take on the traditional Sonic formula, calling it "a strong choice for anyone who's enjoyed any other 2D [Sonic game]".<ref name="pocketgamer"/> Digitally Downloaded, although overall critical, praised the game for its elements of exploration.<ref name="digitally"/>
Sonic Blast has been called one of the worst games in the Sonic series.<ref name="nwrreview"/><ref name="gottagofast"/><ref name="complex"/> NWR exclaimed the game "should be avoided at all costs",<ref name="nwrreview"/> and Retro Gamer said its title screen was the only redeeming quality.<ref name="retrogamer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> USgamer wrote it was "an unpleasant end to the Game Gear" and attributed its shortcomings to the system's discontinuation.<ref name="gottagofast"/> 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".<ref name="complex">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some reviewers noted Sonic Blast was the first game to give Sonic the standard ability to double-jump,<ref name="digitally"/><ref name="nlifereview"/> which would be used in later games such as Sonic Colors (2010).<ref name="colorseuro">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>