While the NeoGeo Pocket Color (NGPC) faired quite well in Japan, the handheld did very little to appeal to American gamers. The system had no mascot and most of the titles came from SNK. However, SNK found some support by a few third party companies. Sega was one of the first companies to get on board the NGPC. There was no better way to get things started then by releasing one of their biggest franchises on the handheld. Sega released Sonic Pocket Adventure in December of 1999. What made the deal even bigger was that Sonic was also released as a bundle pack, and this was a perfect way for gamers to be introduced to the system.

Gameplay
So what’s Sonic all about? For those that don’t know, Sonic is a little blue hedgehog. His main objective is to stop Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik is turning all of Sonic’s furry little friends into robots, and he’s even taking some of them hostage. As Sonic, players must enter a level and reach the end of that level. Along the way, Sonic must pounce on enemies, jump on platforms, collect rings, and defeat bosses.

Each level or zone, is broken up into two acts. The only difference between Act 1 and Act 2, is that Act 2 has a boss you must defeat. But getting back to the levels, NGPC’s version uses upgraded levels from the Sega Genesis’ version of Sonic 2. Levels have many of the same elements but different obstacles and new surroundings have been included. All the classic levels have been included: Casino zone, Chemical zone, and Green Hill zone. There are six zones in all and two final boss zones. Each level offers something new and different than the last. The casino zone is filled with slot machines, spring catapults, and pinball machine components. Then other more challenging levels contain lava, moving spikes, and crushing devices.

Sonic offers bonus stages for players that want to fully complete the game. By finishing a level with 50 rings or more, players can choose to play a bonus stage. These are pseudo 3D levels in which Sonic must collect rings and dodge enemies. Another great feature is the Trial mode. The Trial mode allows players to enter whatever levels they have completed. They must then try to beat the fastest times and high scores. Sonic Pocket Adventure also includes a two player versus mode (via the link cable) where players can race against each other.

What sets this handheld version of Sonic from its Genesis predecessors is the new Puzzle Room. Scattered about every level are little gold diamond-shaped pieces. These are photo pieces. The photo pieces you collect in each level are added to the puzzle room. When you quit the game, you can enter the puzzle room and see what pieces you’ve collected. You then put the pieces on a separate page and arrange them so they form a picture. This really adds a new element to the whole game. Instead of the game playing like a pure action platformer, the search for photo pieces makes the game more of an exploration. Pieces are hidden in hard to reach places and other areas that you’d never expect them to be. Players must slowly search and explore every nook and cranny of each level if they want to collect them all.

What I like most about this handheld incarnation, and other Sonic titles, is the overall simplicity. The control scheme only requires you to use one button (jump). Who doesn't like a game where you can pick up and play right from the get go. The classic elements such as vertical ramps, loops, corkscrews, and springboards are still intact. And that’s what makes Sonic so fun to play. It’s simple, but it has all these obstacles and features that make the game interesting. However, the one thing that bothered me was that the game is too short. Veterans can work their way to the end in a few sittings. Luckily, the extra puzzle room and trial room modes gives the game many hours of extra play.

Graphics & Sound
Sonic Pocket Adventure’s graphics are some of the best on the system. Colors are bright and the game runs fairly smooth. Backgrounds have some cool details, and Sonic animations, as well as enemy animations, look good. Although the graphics are no where near the quality of the Sega Genesis version, it still gets the job done. The sound department also doesn’t let down. The soundtrack is filled with cheery and high tempo songs. Sound effects have remained untouched. The classic chimes when collecting rings and the tame explosion when jumping on an enemy are all here.

Overall
Sonic Pocket Adventure was the perfect way to get the ball rolling for the NGPC. Unfortunately, the system and many great games were overshadowed by Nintendo’s Gameboy Color. But Sega deserves credit for successfully putting their blue hero on the small screen. They made a great game that many people haven’t played.


Recommended: Yes