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.

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 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)

There are several options aside from selecting levels and the Sound Test:

• Player - 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's initial release.
• Items - S1, S2, S1+3, or 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 Sonic 3.
• Max Emeralds - 6 or 7 Chaos Emeralds. Choosing 7 allows Sonic to transform into Super Sonic once the player gets 50 rings and double-taps the screen. The 7th Emerald is cyan in color.

Debug Mode

Play sounds 01, 09, 09, 01, 00, 06, 02, 03 (the US/European release date of the original Genesis game) in the Sound Test. 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. This cut content may have been meant to be restored in this port, but cut at the request of Sega as was the case with the 2011 Sonic CD.

General

To do: Confirm the function of the debug monitors.

• Unused monitors: Same as those present in the original game.
  • S: Works like in Sonic 3, giving Super Sonic.
  • Robotnik: Shows image of Robotnik. Like Sonic 2 and 3, it hurts the player upon breaking it.
• Debug monitors: Used for toggling new features on the fly.
  • Spikes: Shows an image of spikes. Breaking it plays the "hitting spikes" sound and toggles Sonic 1 spike behavior.
  • Three Shields: Shows an image of the elemental shields from Sonic 3. Assumed to toggle the Items option.
  • Chaos Emerald: Plays the sparkle sound from Sonic 2 for Super Sonic. Assumed to toggle the maximum emerald count.
• Image of 4 Robotniks: Also present in the original, adds collision to several platforms that don't have it normally. When placed it acts like an invisible platform. A variant with images of Tails exists in the Final Zone.

Several unused objects in Marble Zone.

Green Hill

• Rolling ball: Is now a functional object, unlike in the original game. It rolls down hills, can crush enemies, and can break through walls. You can push it to give it additional momentum and make it roll up hills.
• Splats the Bunny: Jumps around near a set spot.

Marble

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

Labyrinth

• Goggles monitor: Breaking it gives Sonic goggles which only appear when you're underwater. It increases the time period Sonic can spend in water without air, and it breaks off Sonic's head like a shield if hit.

Special Stage

• Prohibitory sign: Deletes items it's placed on.
• 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.

Invisible Credits

The hidden credits still are present in the game. To see them, start a "No Save" game and choose a character. On the SEGA logo screen, tap the letters A-G-E-S in that order, once the entire word appears. If done correctly, you will hear the ring chime and the credits will appear.

The credits translate to:

Position	Person
Program	Naka Yuuji
Plan	Yasuhara Hirokazu
Design	Ooshima Naoto Ishiwatari Jina Kataoka Rieko
Sound Produce	Nakamura Masato
Sound Program	Kubota Hiroshi Makino Yukifumi

(Source: Sonic Retro.)

Unused Sprites

To do: Get graphic rips of the Zone 7 icon, prohibitory sign, the unused monitors and the re-added prototype features (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.