Sonic the Hedgehog (2013)

Sonic the Hedgehog
Developer: Christian Whitehead, Headcanon Publisher: Sega Platforms: iOS, Android Released internationally: May 16, 2013 This game has unused graphics. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a hidden level select.

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Finally, for once, a version of Sonic 1 that isn't a straight-up emulation, Sonic Jam and the really lackluster GBA version aside. Powered by the fan-made Retro Engine, this version features smoother animation, achievement/leaderboard support, and the ability to choose between three playable characters. Incidentally, this version of the game was released as an update to the existing iOS version, which was an emulator+ROM. But there's more...

Level Select

To access the level select, start a "No Save" game and choose a character. On the SEGA logo screen, tap the letters S-E-G-A in that order, once the entire word appears. If done correctly, you will hear the ring chime. Then hold two fingers on the bottom of the screen and wait. After the title screen appears, you'll be taken to a Sonic 2-style Level Select.

(Source: Sonic Retro)

The level select has several options aside from selecting levels and the sound test:

• Player: Allows the player to choose between Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or Sonic and Tails (like Sonic 2).
• Spindash: On or off, like the Settings menu.
• GND SPD Cap: Ground speed cap on/off. "On" simulates the original game.
• AIR SPD Cap: Air speed cap on/off. "On" simulates the original game.
• S1 Spikes: On/off. Toggles the infamous no-invincibility-frame spikes from the original game.
• Items: S1, S2, S1+3, S2+3. Seems to control what monitors appear. Selecting an option with "+3" gives Sonic the ability to use elemental shields and the insta-shield move from that game.
• Max Emeralds: 6 or 7 Chaos emeralds. Choosing 7 allows Sonic to transform into Sonic 2's Super Sonic once the player gets 50 rings and double-taps the screen. The 7th emerald is cyan in color.

Debug Mode

In the sound test, play sounds 01, 09, 09, 01, 00, 06, 02, 03 (the US/European release date of the original Genesis game). During gameplay, tap the upper-left corner of the screen to access the debug mode. To change the item you are placing, press the + or - on the top of the screen.

(Source: Sonic Retro)

Interestingly, the debug mode allows placement of many, many items that are not present in the main game. It seems the developers looked into the unused content from the original game, finished coding them, and left them unused. Possibly, this cut content was meant to be restored in this port, but cut at the request of Sega, as was the case with Sonic CD (2011).

General

• Unused monitors: Some present in the original game and finished here, but some new ones entirely...
  • "S" monitor: Works like in Sonic 3, gives Super Sonic.
  • Spike monitor: Shows an image of spikes. Breaking it plays the "hitting spikes" sound but doesn't do anything.
  • Robotnik monitor: Shows image of Robotnik. It's been completed and it hurts the player upon breaking it.
  • 3 Shields monitor: Shows an image of the 3 elemental shields from Sonic 3. It doesn't do anything when broken, and it doesn't appear to have a practical function.
  • Chaos emerald monitor: Maybe it's from Sonic Chaos? It doesn't do anything other than play the sparkle sound from Sonic 2 for Super Sonic.
  • Image of 4 Robotniks: Invisible platform of some sort. This image also shows up in many levels as part of the wall when debug mode is turned on.

Green Hill

• Rolling ball in Green Hill zone: It can crush enemies.
• Splats the Bunny: Jumps around near a set spot.

Marble

• • Sideways spikes
  • UFO: Placing it makes a bunch of UFO's show up in the sky. They fade in and out of sight.

Special Stage

• Prohibitory sign Can't be placed, purpose unknown.
• Extra life icon: From the original.
• Zone icons: Don't do anything. A blue "Zone 7" icon was added to the port and unused.
• "W" block: Doesn't do anything.
• 7th Chaos Emerald: Cyan, and it allows Sonic to transform into Super Sonic. However, there's no way to actually get it normally. It can be placed with debug mode in a special stage.

Unused Sprites

To do: Get graphic rips of the Zone 7 icon, prohibitory sign, the unused monitors and the re-added prototype features (i.e. Splats the bunny, MZ UFOs etc.)

Special Stage

All of these can be seen with Debug Mode.

Artwork	Name	Description
	"Zone" Icons	Present in the original game, these icons would have indicated which Special Stage you were in. Interestingly, a Zone 7 icon was added to this port.
	1-up Icon	Extra life icon for the Special Stages, listed in the original game's instruction manual but never actually appearing in any of them in any iteration of the game. It is still fully functional, and can be placed in any Special Stage. The icon disappears like a ring when touched.
	"W" Icon	A solid block. Its use is unknown and it has no function when placed in-game.
	Prohibitory Sign	A prohibitory sign can be found within the debug mode but can't be placed.