Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Master System, Game Gear)/Version Differences

This is a sub-page of Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Master System, Game Gear).

To do: The Master System to Game Gear section is WIP: add more detail, elaboration, screenshots, etc. Refer to Greenalink's extremely long and in-depth video and the Sonic Retro comparison pages. Add a comparison of the strobing effects on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console version

Master System to Game Gear

The 8-bit versions of Sonic the Hedgehog for the Master System and Game Gear feature several differences, besides the obvious resolution differences.

Master System	Game Gear

A white Sega splash screen with an animated Sonic and the trademark "Sega!" voice clip was added. This was done as the Game Gear doesn't incorporate the Sega logo into the BIOS, unlike the Master System. "Press Button" in the Master System version was changed to "Press Start Button" in the Game Gear version.

Master System	Game Gear

The smog clouds above Scrap Brain on the map screen were redrawn.

Master System	Game Gear

• The sprites for Sonic, invincibility, and shields were all redrawn to be smaller, to account for the reduced screen size.
• Most stages have altered layouts, from simply moving a few rings around to completely removing or replacing entire chunks of levels.
• Warning signs were added near spike pits and cliffs in Green Hill in the Game Gear version. Various background elements were altered as well, such as the color of the mountains and the flower animations (which are closer to the Genesis version).
• The Special Stages have different layouts in the Game Gear version. On the first "loop", the stages have a time limit of 2 minutes rather than 1.
• Due to the smaller screen, the Green Hill boss flies much lower and can be reached from the ground, making it a complete joke for some, maybe most.
• On the other hand, the Bridge Zone boss is trickier, taking place on an actual bridge rather than an island.
• Fruit appears in the background of Jungle Zone.
• In the Master System version of Jungle Zone Act 2, the screen continuously locks as Sonic travels upwards through the stage, with the bottom of the screen acting as a bottomless pit. This would naturally have been completely unfair on the Game Gear, so it was removed.
• Jungle Zone's boss takes place in a steeper arena in the Game Gear version, making the bombs harder to avoid.
• The first two Acts of Labyrinth Zone have radically different layouts between versions. Most notably, the Chaos Emerald is much easier to get:
  • In the Master System version, the Emerald is sitting in the middle of a spike pit. To get it, the player must collect an invincibility power-up a few screens below, run through a lengthy obstacle course to get to the spike pit, jump in, grab the Emerald, and jump out before the invincibility wears off.
  • In the Game Gear version, it's just... sitting there, out in the open, very near the end signpost.
• The final boss no longer enters a second phase, and attacks with three floor-mounted flamethrowers rather than a moving electric wall. The homing device was also moved from above Robotnik to the middle of the ceiling.
• The credits text has been updated to reflect the hardware.
• The end-of-Act panel prize mechanics are different between versions:
  • In the Master System version, Sonic panels are obtained by finishing an Act with a specific amount of rings, and ring panels are obtained by having a multiple of 10 rings.
  • In the Game Gear version, panel prizes appear to be random and do not seem to be influenced by the amount of rings you have. The Game Gear version also adds point bonuses to end-of-Act panels.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Master System II BIOS

To promote the Master System II in Europe, certain releases of the system came with Sonic 1 included in the BIOS, accessed by turning on the system without a cartridge inserted.

Due to space limitations in order to fit the basic BIOS functions in, the credits sequence is removed, with the game instead hanging on the final results screen with Green Hill Zone's theme playing.

3DS Virtual Console

The version of the Game Gear ROM released for the 3DS eShop dims the lighting effects present in Sky Base Zone Act 1, likely to lessen the chance of inducing epilepsy.

Sonic Origins Plus

The version of the Game Gear ROM included in Sonic Origins Plus heavily slows all lighting effects present in Sky Base Act 1, likely to further lessen the chance of inducing epilepsy.