Sonic Chaos

Sonic Chaos (known as Sonic & Tails in Japan and Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos on the Sega Master System) is a 1993 platform game developed by Aspect (the same people behind the 8-bit version of Sonic 2) and published by Sega.

Plot
While Sonic and Miles "Tails" Prower were gone on an adventure, Dr. Eggman managed to procure one of the Chaos Emeralds. As a result, the rest of the Emeralds scattered around South Island. Without the Emeralds' power, South Island began sinking into the sea. Hearing rumors of Eggman's plot, Sonic and Tails returned to South Island, only to find it in chaos. With no time to lose, the duo rushed off to stop Eggman's plan and save the island by regaining the Emeralds.

Why It's Anything But Chaos

 * 1) While not the best-looking Sonic game on the Master System/Game Gear, the graphics are very impressive for the hardware, almost looking like a 16-bit game at times.
 * 2) It is Tails' first playable appearance in an 8-bit game, and the first time the player can fly with him ever in a Sonic game.
 * 3) Sonic finally has the ability to do the Spin Dash in an 8-bit game, and he also has the Super Peel-out from Sonic CD, now called the Strike Dash.
 * 4) Rocket Shoes are introduced for Sonic, which allows him to fly really quickly in the sky.
 * 5) The Chaos Emeralds are not hidden in levels this time, but rather inside Special Stages that can be accessed once Sonic collects 100 rings in a level. These involve Sonic getting through an obstacle course within the time limit to collect the Chaos Emeralds.
 * 6) The bosses, while not very well executed, have great concepts.
 * 7) The level design is not extremely straight forward and compensates well timed jumps and back-tracking, it also has a lot of alternate routes just like the previous games.
 * 8) Really good music, as expected for a Sonic game and is extremely impressive for the standards of a Game Gear title.
 * 9) Unlike the first two games, the boss acts have rings which actually makes them more challenging to fight and defeat when compared to the Genesis titles and CD for that matter.
 * 10) Much like previous 8-bit titles, you can get different rewards at the end of a level, ranging from extra rings to a 1-up or a continue.
 * 11) It is remarkably speedrun-friendly, as it has a lot of alternate routes and has less trial-and-error than most Sonic games released in the early 90s.
 * 12) Score compensates speed, something that would get reused in Unleashed.
 * 13) It focuses more on substance than unnecessary gimmicks, which makes it a massive improvement over Aspect's 8-bit Sonic 2
 * 14) This Game is More enjoyable than Sonic 2 8 Bit because it's more easier

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Flying with Tails is somewhat awkward, as you have to press the jump button while holding up on the D-pad, as opposed to pressing the jump button in mid-air. Tails also lacks momentum when flying.
 * 2) On the subject of Tails, he doesn't have any unique power-ups, and he isn't allowed to go into Special Stages and collect Chaos Emeralds like Sonic.
 * 3) The collision detection can be spotty at best, especially where rings are concerned.
 * 4) Sometimes, the game may instantly kick the player out of a Special Stage if the player gathers 100 rings.
 * 5) The game can sometimes suffer from slowdown and input lag, even in the Game Gear version.
 * 6) Like the previous game, there are no checkpoints or shields.
 * 7) Poor boss fights with cheap patterns and basic attacks.
 * 8) The game is too easy, as the game showers you with extra lives and continues, especially when playing as Tails.

Trivia

 * The Master System version of Sonic Chaos was the final mainline Sonic game released for the Sega Master System in Europe.
 * The Bead Worm Boss' concept got re-used for the Uber Caterkiller mini-boss in Knuckles' version of Mirage Saloon Zone Act 1 in Sonic Mania.

Videos
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