Sonic the Hedgehog
A playable speed-focused hero who attacks by jumping or rolling and can use the Spin Dash.
Documented for this version
D-pad | Move left or right; press down to crouch or use direction-sensitive movement. |
|---|---|
Button 1 | Jump; jumping onto an enemy performs a rolling attack. |
Button 2 | Use the Spin Dash when the character is crouching, where supported by the current character. |
Controls use the original Game Gear button labels.
Some actions vary between Sonic and Knuckles.
How it plays
The game uses a side-scrolling perspective across several zones divided into individual acts. Players run, jump, defeat enemies, collect Rings, activate checkpoints, and reach the goal while avoiding pits and environmental hazards.
Sonic relies on speed and a rolling attack, while Knuckles can glide and climb certain walls. Collecting Chaos Emeralds and finishing stages advances the campaign; losing all Rings leaves the character vulnerable to a single damaging hit.
Plan your run
Keep at least one Ring whenever possible, since it prevents most damage from causing an immediate life loss. Learn the safer route through each act before attempting to collect every Emerald.
Use Sonic's speed for open stretches, but slow down near spikes and pits. With Knuckles, test walls for climbable surfaces and use gliding to cross gaps rather than relying only on jumps.
Meet the cast
A playable speed-focused hero who attacks by jumping or rolling and can use the Spin Dash.
A playable character with a slower, stronger style, including gliding and wall-climbing abilities.
The antagonist who creates enemies and schemes to obtain the Chaos Emeralds.
Before you begin
Explore side paths for Rings, extra lives, and Chaos Emeralds.
Do not rush unfamiliar platforms; the Game Gear screen can hide hazards.
Knuckles can reach routes that Sonic cannot, so compare campaigns when learning a stage.
Sonic Blast is a 1996 side-scrolling platform game developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Game Gear. It stars Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna in separate playable campaigns, each with different movement abilities and level routes. The objective is to cross hazard-filled stages, collect Rings, defeat enemies, and stop Dr. Eggman from gathering the Chaos Emeralds. Its large character sprites and colorful, pre-rendered visual style distinguish it from earlier 8-bit Sonic releases. Reception was mixed: critics often appreciated the presentation and playable character differences, while some found the controls, collision detection, and level design less polished than other Sonic games.
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