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Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear)

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Title Screen

Sonic the Hedgehog

Developer: Ancient
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Game Gear
Released in JP: December 1991
Released in US: December 1991
Released in EU: December 28, 1991


CopyrightIcon.png This game has hidden developer credits.
DevTextIcon.png This game has hidden development-related text.
EnemyIcon.png This game has unused enemies.
GraphicsIcon.png This game has unused graphics.


The Game Gear version of Sonic the Hedgehog appears to have been a port of the Master System game, as it was not only released two months later but removes some unused sprites while adding others. The smaller screen also meant that things had to be scaled down, resulting in the Green Hill boss being laughably easy.

Unused Graphics

Level Art

Artwork Name Description
S1 Totem.png
Totem Pole Used in the Master System version, but not here.
Sonic1GGGreen.png
Other Green Hill Tiles A checkered spike (indicating that spikes may have been placed closer together earlier in development), and an unused corner piece.
Sonic1GGBridge.png
Bridge Zone Tiles A spring in front of checkerboard, and a pole in front of some sky tiles. The bridges in this zone are never high enough to hit sky level.
Sonic1GGJungle.png
Jungle Zone Spring A spring not set on grass. Probably intended for Act 2.
Sonic1GGLabyrinth.png
Labyrinth Pillars Some unused big and small pillar tiles! These were created specifically for the 8-bit versions, and they have no equivalent in the Genesis version.
Sonic1GGSkyBase.png
Sky Base Tiles A chain facing southeast, and an unused cannon facing northeast.
Sonic1GGFinal.png
Sky Base 3 Slopes Just some unused slope tiles.

Objects

Artwork Name Description
S1 BridgeLostObj.png
Ground Segment Appears amongst the object tiles for Bridge Zone. It almost looks like the top is melted.
S1 LabyrinthLostObj.png
Door? Appears amongst the object tiles for Labyrinth Zone. Perhaps it was intended to be a switch-operated door, like the ones in the Genesis version?
S1roundthingv1.png
Shield This may be a prototype shield animation.
S1Enemy3.png
Unused Enemy A Bat appears among the Green Hill objects, but isn't used. It was probably meant to be in the caves of Act 2. The Genesis version uses them in Marble Zone, not present in either 8-bit port.
(Source: Sonic Retro)

Ancient

S1ancient.png

Ancient handled the 8-bit ports of Sonic 1 and were evidently going to credit themselves on the title screen by way of something like "©SEGA/Ancient 1991". In the end, though, only Sega received credit.

(Source: Sonic Retro)

Unused Text

Developer Text

A copyright string starts at 0x0003B:

Developed by (C) 1991 Ancient - S Hayashi.

Filler Text

A text string (with minor variations) used as filler in the ROM banks.

'1991 (C)Ancient. (BANK0-4)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
 Master System & Game Gear Version.
'1991 (C)Ancient. (BANK8-11)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
 Master System & Game Gear Version.
'1991 (C)Ancient. (BANK12-15)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
 Master System & Game Gear Version.