Sonic Blast

Sonic Blast is an official Sega Game Gear platformer developed by Aspect and published by Sega in 1996. Released in Japan as G Sonic, it features Sonic and Knuckles in a side-scrolling adventure with character sprites created from pre-rendered 3D models. Despite the visual style, the game uses traditional 2D platforming rather than 3D movement.

Dr. Robotnik has taken five fragments of a Chaos Emerald, and Sonic and Knuckles must recover them while progressing toward his Silver Castle. The game is separate from Sonic 3D Blast, which was released for the Genesis and Saturn around the same period.

Gameplay and Objective

Choose Sonic or Knuckles and travel through five zones, each divided into three acts. The first two acts involve navigating platforms, enemies, and environmental obstacles, while the third act ends with a boss encounter.

Collect Rings to protect against damage, reach checkpoints, and search for Giant Rings that lead to Special Stages. The main campaign can be completed without every Emerald fragment, but collecting all five unlocks an additional final boss encounter and the good ending.

Taking damage removes ten Rings rather than the entire collection, and up to five lost Rings can be recovered before they disappear.

Sonic and Knuckles' Special Abilities

The two playable characters have different movement abilities that affect how they approach the stages.

• Sonic's Spin Dash: Charge while stationary to launch forward in a rolling attack, helping build speed without a running start.
• Sonic's Boost Jump: Press the jump button again while airborne to perform an additional upward jump. This is useful for reaching elevated platforms and adjusting movement in midair.
• Knuckles' Glide: Press the jump button again in midair to glide across gaps and extend horizontal travel.
• Knuckles' Wall Climbing: Glide into a suitable wall to grab onto it, then climb to reach higher areas.

Neither character has a playable Super transformation in Sonic Blast. Collecting the Emerald fragments instead affects the final boss encounter and ending.

The Five Zones

Sonic Blast contains five main areas with different environments and obstacles:

• Green Hill Zone: A grassy opening area with slopes, springs, enemies, and introductory platforming challenges.
• Yellow Desert Zone: A desert environment with sand-covered terrain, obstacles, and sections requiring careful movement.
• Red Volcano Zone: A volcanic area with dangerous terrain and hazards associated with the hot environment.
• Blue Marine Zone: An underwater setting where swimming passages and air management become important.
• Silver Castle Zone: Dr. Robotnik's mechanical fortress and the final main area of the adventure.

Each zone contains three acts, with the third act dedicated to a boss encounter. Sonic and Knuckles share the main campaign but can approach certain obstacles differently because of their abilities.

Finding the Special Stages

A hidden Giant Ring appears in Acts 1 and 2 of each zone. Touching it immediately transports the player to a Special Stage.

Special Stages use a forward-moving track with a checkered surface. The character runs automatically while the player moves sideways, jumps over hazards, and collects Rings.

Collect at least 50 Rings before reaching the end of the Special Stage to receive the reward. You do not need to collect 50 Rings before entering the Giant Ring in the main act.

• Act 1 Special Stages: Award an extra life when completed successfully.
• Act 2 Special Stages: Award one of the five Chaos Emerald fragments when completed successfully.

Collecting fewer than 50 Rings means the reward is lost, so avoiding spikes and using springs or dash panels effectively is important.

Chaos Emeralds and the Final Boss

There are five Chaos Emerald fragments to recover, one from the Act 2 Special Stage of each zone.

After defeating the main boss of Silver Castle Zone, collecting all five fragments unlocks an additional final encounter against Dr. Robotnik. Completing this encounter leads to the good ending.

The Emerald collection system does not unlock Super Sonic or Super Knuckles as playable transformations.

Game Gear vs. Master System

The Game Gear version is the original 1996 release of Sonic Blast. Tec Toy later converted the game to Sega Master System for the Brazilian market in 1997.

Both versions follow the same basic adventure, with Sonic and Knuckles, five zones, and the Special Stage system. The Master System conversion preserves much of the Game Gear game's presentation rather than creating a substantially different campaign.

Sonic Blast also differs from Sonic 3D Blast on Genesis. Despite their similar names and pre-rendered graphics, the two games have different gameplay structures, stages, and objectives.

Gameplay Tips

• Explore with Knuckles: Gliding and wall climbing can help reach elevated areas and cross difficult gaps.
• Use Sonic's Boost Jump: The additional jump provides extra height and helps adjust landings.
• Search Acts 1 and 2: Look for hidden Giant Rings leading to Special Stages.
• Collect at least 50 Rings: This total must be reached inside the Special Stage to earn its reward.
• Prioritize Act 2 Special Stages: These provide the five Chaos Emerald fragments required for the additional final boss.
• Recover scattered Rings: After taking damage, quickly retrieve some of the lost Rings to maintain protection.