Sonic 1 Megamix

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...gamixTitle.png

Being fellows of classic Sega dignity, surely you would know the wonders of homebrew, and reverse engineering your favorite classic games. Some choose Mario, some choose Pokémon, some choose Zelda... myself, I've always been a Sonic person. And we all love Sonic, right? :D (I mean, hell, he's in the logo =P)

Enter: Sonic 1 Megamix. Originally started as a solo project, simple palette hack, and small music edit, eventually transformed into something much more sophisticated over the last two years. From a solo project, to a huge group effort. Some have stayed on the project; others have left. But what remains is what a true collaborative effort between those with unique skills can accomplish.

But enough of the babble, yes?

Sonic 1 Megamix is a ROM hack of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game, for the Sega Megadrive (or Genesis, if you will). It aims to be both technically impressive, and fun to play, taking into account the elements that a Sonic game is known for. It incorporates elements from both old and new, trying to make a combination that can even prove that, indeed, even the newer Sonic games had some good ideas - ones that even work well in 2D.

Oh wait, I was done with the babble. Silly me! On to the facts...

THE TEAM:

-Tweaker (Music/Programming/Project Coordinator)
-Stealth (Programming)
-Cinossu (Music/Programming)
-Robjoe1107 (Level Layouts)
-StephenUK (Art/Programming)
-Yuski (Sprites)
-ChimpoMcCrazypants (Sprites/Art)
-jman2050 (Programming)
-Upthorn (Debugging/Programming)

THE GENERAL INFO:

NOTE: Following is mostly outdated, due to me being lazy and liking copy/paste. Read original thread here for past discussion and updates.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1built_000.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1built_001.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1built_002.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1built_003.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...gywebb/LZ1.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...MarbleZone.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...arbleZone2.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1built_078.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1BUILT_040.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...1BUILT_044.gif

Bugfixes in this release:
- Double Jump fixed for Shadow; Jump Dash added for Sonic
- Issue of life icons not loading while starting a game from the options screen fixed -- you'll like the new system better. =P
- Zone layouts for Sunset Hill (GHZ) and Starry Night (SLZ) are complete. New layouts thanks to Robjoe1107.
- Music playlist modified (and that damn Splash Down port fixed =P)
- Various bugs fixed (Like the starting position in LZ3)

Features include:
- Seperate music for each act

- S2 level select and options menus edited to fit with my hack (Stealth)

- Perfect Spindash for each character (Stealth)

- 3 Characters: Sonic, Mighty and Shadow -- Each later to have thier own special move and physics stats. Thanks to Yuski for Mighty sprites and JohnnyUK for Shadow sprites.

- Sonic 2 running physics -- Run down a slope in SLZ and you'll go as fast as you do in CPZ. AKA slope related acceleration. (Stealth)

...among other things.

Moves, and controls to use them:

Homing Attack - B/C near an enemy/monitor after a jump
Light Dash - A near a set of rings (Sonic only)
Jump Dash - B/C in air when no enemies/monitors are around (Sonic Only)
Double Jump - B/C in air when no enemies/monitors are around (Shadow only)
Light Speed Attack - Hold A and do a homing attack near multiple enemies/monitors. 5 ring cost for each additional target after the first.
Spindash - ...you'd better know this one.

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Further updates:

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-THF_wC00M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNjvhdm_GGg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZlvGbTL1Rs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dAF4p9nV0U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQpt8kYt8uA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UjxpMe56EM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s81bQ-Cpfw8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiZuZ-rkLa0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC0m-1eWqC0
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Download Link (Hacking Contest Build): http://www.fileden.com/files/15774/S...%20Megamix.bin

Download Link (Version 2.0): http://www.fileden.com/files/15774/S...0%28ROM%29.rar

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For some follow up, the music choices are extremely outdated, for the most part. I'd suggest taking a look at the videos for the most info - after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Imagine how many words are in a video! :D

With that said, enjoy - and comments, suggestions, and general discussion are welcome and encouraged. Please be aware, though, that we have our own ideas and direction with this hack, so don't be sad if your suggestions or requests aren't honored. :P

Holy...good hack, what's the code for stage selet

Music seems really slow. Is this the PAL version?

i can't get any of these to load in my emulator.. (Genesis Plus).. i just get stuck staring at a black screen...

Looks cool. How much MEGA POWER will it have?

looks awesome, would the rom for this be compatible with the tototek mega cart?

It wouldn't run in Genesis Plus but it did run in Generator. Try that, evildragon.

I couldn't even open the .rar-file. Said it was damaged.

I got it to run in Gen+

I'm not talking Gens+, im talking about Genesis Plus

it's not the remix Sonic..just the same levels right after the 1st ones...I want to play the one that pictured

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KnightWarrior

it's not the remix Sonic..just the same levels right after the 1st ones...I want to play the one that pictured

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That's an older release. The featured one isn't complete yet. (though it may be soon)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tweaker

That's an older release. The featured one isn't complete yet. (though it may be soon)

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Tease :(

Looks cool. Just downloaded, I'll give it a play later.

So... what exactly IS it? Am I correct in understanding you've taken the Sonic 1 engine, created new levels and pulled the music from various other Sonic games? Or is some of the music new and original? And are the levels just the original levels, re-dressed? I'm confused. I watched one of the YouTube vids and it looks like you've taken Sonic's movements from Sonic CD, as well (good move).

So what's new and original and what's cut and pasted from other games? I'm too lazy to read through 43 pages of conversation on that other message board fishing for answers.

The 2.0 version that's posted is basically Sonic 1 with repaletted levels, added the spin dash and jump dash / homing attack moves, music / sound replacements, and a few level redesigns. It's definitely worth a look but isn't as advanced as what's in those Youtube videos.

One thing I noticed, when I was running it on my Megacart, was that the levels don't really seem to load by themselves. As in, when you start the game or select a level from the level select, the screen goes black and will stay that way until you press buttons on the controller. Once it does load, it works just fine, though.

I'm really interested to see the finished version. I was amazed at how much the jump dash adds to the game. I think it's kind of ironic that one of the best Sonic games released recently is a hack of Sonic 1. :lawl:

Does anyone know where the music in the 2.0 version's Starry Night Act 1 came from? I found it in Sonic 3's sound test (#23) but haven't played through it or Sonic & Knuckles recently enough to remember where it came from (unless it's one of the unused ones).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 0x15e

Does anyone know where the music in the 2.0 version's Starry Night Act 1 came from? I found it in Sonic 3's sound test (#23) but haven't played through it or Sonic & Knuckles recently enough to remember where it came from (unless it's one of the unused ones).

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It's one of the two-player musics, Desert Palace I think.

Quote:

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One thing I noticed, when I was running it on my Megacart, was that the levels don't really seem to load by themselves. As in, when you start the game or select a level from the level select, the screen goes black and will stay that way until you press buttons on the controller. Once it does load, it works just fine, though.

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Yeah, that's due to the way I handled SRAM in the last release. It should be fixed now... but if it isn't, then I'm not sure what to tell you. XD; SRAM can be pretty bitchy.

Quote:

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It's one of the two-player musics, Desert Palace I think.

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Chrome Gadget, actually.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tweaker

Yeah, that's due to the way I handled SRAM in the last release. It should be fixed now... but if it isn't, then I'm not sure what to tell you. XD; SRAM can be pretty bitchy.

Chrome Gadget, actually.

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Yeah, I can see where if it's expecting SRAM to be there and it isn't that it would have problems. :)

Thanks for pointing out the music. I always hate when I can recognize something but can't remember where it came from ... :cool:

Dude. That is FREAKING AWESOME!!! :cool:

Sorry for the lack of updates; I've been without a PC for a while. Should be getting back to work now, though...

I've played this a pretty lot on my Mega Cart now and can say it is a very nice alternative version of Sonic 1. I'd like to see some more remixes of the original tunes rather than just replacing them with others from for example Sonic 3 (especially the awful Marble Garden tunes come to mind, they are extremely inferior to the classic Marble Zone).

I wonder what origins the Misty Maze Act 1 and City Outskirts Act 3 tunes have.

Well, I haven't made any updates in a while. Here's a vid of Starry Night, act 1.

Also, as a teaser, I've ripped a VGM of the speed shoes music, for those interested. You can get that here.

By the way - Megamix is VERY close to release. Keep your eyes peeled for the next public release!

Cool. Looking forward to it. :cool:

HOLY FUNKIN SH!T man.

Just as a side I don't know if you have contacted them already, But I swear Sega (especially aif any old skool Sonic Team guys that worked on the MD - or just old skool MD developers / managers) would put their name to this to "endorse" it. Not saying you'd want to do that, but that's just how good I see it! - A nice touch it would add too.

With all that aside, I love the music and backgrounds to this. Fooking awesome m8.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tweaker

Well, I haven't made any updates in a while. Here's a vid of Starry Night, act 1.

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Oh god, that's hot. I especially like the extended high-speed looping near the end. This is what Sonic the Hedgehog is really all about, IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mooияakeя™

HJust as a side I don't know if you have contacted them already, But I swear Sega (especially aif any old skool Sonic Team guys that worked on the MD - or just old skool MD developers / managers) would put their name to this to "endorse" it. Not saying you'd want to do that, but that's just how good I see it! - A nice touch it would add too.

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Maybe, but asking would also give them the opportunity to explicitly say "no." It could be that it's just on the down-low, they can let it slide by claiming ignorance. The best I could see coming from asking them would be them killing the project, taking ownership, and selling it on every Sega compilation ever made (with no chance of ever playing it on a real Genesis/MD and no compensation to the people that actually did the work). At worst, they could just kill / bury it outright.

Asking could be a really quick way to get this shut down, IMO. Besides, it's always easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

I say get it done, release it, and see what happens. If Sega doesn't like it at that point, I'm sure we'll hear about it.

OK OK, calm down. Not every place in the world do people rule with "ownerships" etc. Jeez, you can get sued for saying someone's name wrong in the US, so I can understand you panicking I guess...

It was just me saying how good it was and that I think it would be worthy of that. I'm sure the whole world and his wife aren't as stupid as to not release it at all. What can they do? Once it is out on the net, it's gone anyway. It's not like it's profitable to salvage the Megadrive.

You really think SEGA care about some edited ROM of a Sonic game? Bloomsbury doesn't publish Harry Potter fanfiction.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mooияakeя™

OK OK, calm down. *snip* It was just me saying how good it was and that I think it would be worthy of that.

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I'm calm and hell yes, I think it's worthy of that too. :) America is just too sue-happy to risk it, though. I've seen far too many fan projects get shut down and it would be a real shame for it to happen here.

Nah, release it first! - If they had brains at Sega, they'd at least reply "Nice work".

But they don't have brains!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mooияakeя™

Nah, release it first! - If they had brains at Sega, they'd at least reply "Nice work".

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I have one thing to say, and that's "Sonic the Hedgehog for Xbox 360."

Oh man, I want to play the level w/ the Sonic CD background so bad. This can't possibly be done soon enough. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 0x15e

Oh man, I want to play the level w/ the Sonic CD background so bad. This can't possibly be done soon enough. :)

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Take deep breaths, go for a walk, generally calm down!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 0x15e

I have one thing to say, and that's "Sonic the Hedgehog for Xbox 360."

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I don't get it.

edit: ^^ oh hi Mr. Smith

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elusive

I don't get it.

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I probably could've trimmed the quote down a bit. I was using the very existence of the abortion that is Sonic 360 to illustrate the significant lack of brains at Sega.

Well, until I get my Sega CD, AND my MegaCart, I'll have to try this on the PicoDrive DS emulator, or the Gens emulator.

Works in both, except with PicoDrive DS the sound doesn't work, and it's a little too slow, but then again, all games that are run by PicoDriveDS run slow and have no sound.

It runs almost flawlessly, good job guys!

Okay, so there haven't been any updates in a while. So here's a new video!

Fast Shadow is faaaaaaaaaast.

Very cool video! Level design is top notch. Where does the transformation music come from?

Words just can't do it justice, hence:

http://forum.thesanatorium.org/image...es/SHOCKED.gif

Right, the next release is ready!

Some highlights from version 3.0:

- All level layouts edited (some complete; others pending)
- Each character now has a unique set of moves (though Sonic and Shadow share homing attack)
- Most levels (not all) have a small intro, ala S3K, where they perform some sort of action when starting the level. i.e, running in from the left.
- Shitload of music edits
- There is now a "preferences" screen, where you can customize certain aspects of the game (suggestions are welcome)
- Cheat codes have been changed - figuring them out will grant you access to a new, special level select (which is a bit buggy - just don't hit left/right on zone selections =P)
- "Original Mode" allows you to play the original levels from Sonic the Hedgehog, using all of the additions from Sonic Megamix (such as bugfixes, moves, preferences, etc). There is also a seperate save slot for a character's original mode.
- Title screen demos have been edited. Credits demos have not.
- Super forms have been added.
- Elemental shields, ala S3K, have been added.
- Credits have been edited; each character has a unique end pose on the ending sequence.
- Various other changes. See the Wiki page for more info.

This is, pending future changes, considered a "complete" release. Future changes are planned, but not assured. More information can be found on the Manual/Wiki page, located here: http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_1_Megamix

Comments and suggestions are entirely welcome. Bugfix releases are entirely possible, so if you find what could be considered a vital "bug" (and not, say, an error from using debug mode), it may be fixed in a future bugfix release (though personally I'd like to avoid making too many of these).

So, without further delay, the download link: http://www.fileden.com/files/15774/S...mix%20v3.0.zip

Enjoy!

Tried it out with my Mega Cart with all three characters. It's awesome! Here's just some minor notes I wanted to mention thus far:

- Soundtest should have all tracks in it. Also a credit list which tells where the they are taken from/or remixed by who.
- A huge bug forced me to reset the game when trying Soundtest 5B.
- Those Goal thingys next to the emeralds are ANNOYING :p.
- Shadow looks slightly retarded when he's running.
- Level design is superb. But there are too many enemies sometimes.

That was all I could think of for now. Thanks a lot for making this remix of the original Sonic. It is clearly visible that you have put loads of hard work and care into this. Sega-16 must show its support with a Hacks & Homebrews feature about this one.