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in: Game Gear games, Racing games, 1994, Sonic Drift
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Changes: Sonic Drift

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{{Tab
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|title1 = Main page
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|tab2 = Gallery
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|tab3 = Beta elements
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|bg = browntab
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}}
 
:''For the move, see [[Drift|Sonic Drift (move)]].''
  
:''For the move, see [[Drift|Sonic Drift (move)]].''
 
{{Infobox video game
  
{{Infobox video game
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|image = [[File:Sonic Drift (Game Gear).jpg|242px]]
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|image = Sonic Drift (Game Gear).jpg
 
|developer = [[Sega]]<ref group=note>Although the game's boxart features tagline "[[Sonic Team]] Presents", a line presented in many Japanese boxarts of early ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games, the game is known to be devolped by [[Sega|Sega of Japan]] and no sign about Sonic Team's involvement has never surfaced.</ref>
  
|developer = [[Sega]]<ref group=note>Although the game's boxart features tagline "[[Sonic Team]] Presents", a line presented in many Japanese boxarts of early ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games, the game is known to be devolped by [[Sega|Sega of Japan]] and no sign about Sonic Team's involvement has never surfaced.</ref>
 
|publisher = [[Sega]]
  
|publisher = [[Sega]]
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|genre = Racing
  
|genre = Racing
 
|modes = Single player, multiplayer
  
|modes = Single player, multiplayer
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|platforms = [[Game Gear]]
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|platforms =
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[[Game Gear]]
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'''Compilations''':
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'''Compilations:'''<br>
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*[[Nintendo GameCube]]
  
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[[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]], [[PC]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]]
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*[[PC]]
  
−
*[[PlayStation 2]]
  
−
*[[Xbox]]
  
 
| ratings = *[[Wikipedia:CERO|CERO]]: Free
  
| ratings = *[[Wikipedia:CERO|CERO]]: Free
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*[[Wikipedia:ESRB|ESRB]]: Everyone {{C|compilation}}
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*[[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: Everyone {{C|compilation}}
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*[[Wikipedia:PEGI|PEGI]]: 3+ {{C|compilation}}
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*[[Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 3+ {{C|compilation}}
 
*[[Wikipedia:Australian Classification Board|OFLC]]: G8 {{C|compilation}}
  
*[[Wikipedia:Australian Classification Board|OFLC]]: G8 {{C|compilation}}
 
|media = Cartridge, CD-ROM
  
|media = Cartridge, CD-ROM
 
|followed = ''[[Sonic Drift 2]]''
  
|followed = ''[[Sonic Drift 2]]''
 
}}
  
}}
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{{Nihongo|'''''Sonic Drift'''''|ソニックドリフト|Sonikku Dorifuto}} is a kart racing game in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]] for the [[Sega Game Gear]], developed and released by [[Sega]]. The game was released on 8 March 1994 and remained an exclusive game to Japan until its inclusion years later on several compilation titles. The racing game features [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], [[Miles "Tails" Prower]], [[Amy Rose]] and [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] in racing vehicles as rally contestants with basic gameplay derives from the standard 1990's racing games. The game got later a sequel, ''[[Sonic Drift 2]]'', which received an international release, unlike its prequel.
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{{Nihongo|'''''Sonic Drift'''''|ソニックドリフト|Sonikku Dorifuto}} is a kart racing game in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]] for the [[Sega Game Gear]], developed and released by [[Sega]]. Released on 8 March 1994, the game remained an exclusive title to Japan until it was included on compilation releases years later. The racing game features [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], [[Miles "Tails" Prower]], [[Amy Rose]] and [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] in racing vehicles as rally contestants with the basic gameplay deriving from standard, early 1990's racing games. The game also got a sequel, ''[[Sonic Drift 2]]'', which received an international release, unlike its prequel.
   
 
==Gameplay==
  
==Gameplay==
 
[[File:Sonic Drift.jpg|thumb|left|The title screen of ''Sonic Drift''.]]
  
[[File:Sonic Drift.jpg|thumb|left|The title screen of ''Sonic Drift''.]]
−
''Sonic Drift'' is a racing game with the gameplay style and controls heavily based on [[Sega]]'s arcade game [[Wikipedia:Out Run|Out Run]] from 1986. The game's single player mode is [[Chaos GP]], where the player's goal is to win all three Chaos GPs (each one is named after a colored emerald: green, yellow and red) with six different circuits in each.
 +
''Sonic Drift'' is a racing game whose gameplay style and controls are heavily based on [[Sega]]'s arcade game ''[[Wikipedia:Out Run|Out Run]]''. Here, the players race around a race course against the other three characters for a top position in the race. The game's single player mode is [[Chaos GP]], where the player's goal is to win three different circuits (green, yellow and red). Each circuit is made of six different race courses that the player is taken through in succession.
   
  +
Each race course is composed of a circuit which needs to be completed thrice. The playable characters have rather simple controls, their basic actions being accelerating to move forward, breaking, and moving left or right on the tracks. In tight corners, the player can break while turning in a specific direction, allowing them to drift through the corners. If the player overuses this method though, the playable character starts spinning out of control. Should the player move outside the race tracks, the racer's acceleration will decreases noticeably on the rough terrain. The race track's sidelines also have obstacles that will stop the player altogether if the playable characters crash into them. The player can as well collect [[Ring]]s along the race tracks to perform special moves unique to each character.
⚫
[[File:Drift 03.gif|thumb|[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] racing in [[Spring Yard (Sonic Drift)|Spring Yard]] of the green [[Chaos GP]].]]
  
−
In each of six race circuits, the player races around a track against opponents for a top position on three laps. The player starts the first race from the fourth, lowest place, but will have from higher place later racing tracks depending the ranking the player has gotten from the previous race. The player has the simple control scheme, as pressing down {{2 Button (Game Gear)}} starts accelerating the racer and pressing left and right on {{Directional Pad}} moves him/her on the race track. On tight drift corners, the player has to press down the {{1 Button (Game Gear)}} to brake. Without braking, the player drifts off the racing track to the regular terrain, where the racer's acceleration decreases noticably. Also, if the player is overdriven braking too long, the playable character starts spinning out of control. Edges of racing track's sidelines have level obstacles, which can hit the racer by heading towards them at high speed. When having enough of collected [[Ring]]s, the player can press up on {{Directional Pad}} to activate the playable character's special move.
  
   
−
After clearing through each race circuit in a Chaos GP, all racers including the player are awarded with an amount of points based on his/hers finishing position in the previous race:
 +
At the beginning of a Chaos GP circuit, the player starts out from the fourth place (the lowest position). Upon completing a race course though, each racer is awarded with points based on their finishing positions, allowing the participants to improve their place:
   
 
*'''1st Place''': 3 points
  
*'''1st Place''': 3 points
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*'''4th Place''': 0 points
  
*'''4th Place''': 0 points
   
  ⚫
[[File:Drift 03.gif|thumb|[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] racing in [[Spring Yard (Sonic Drift)|Spring Yard]] in the green [[Chaos GP]].]]
−
After the six races in the chosen circuit has been completed, the racer who has amassed the most points wins the Chaos GP. If there is a tie for total points, the racer with the most first place finishes wins. When winning the Chaos GP, the player is awarded with a [[Chaos Emerald]]. The player can then choose the next Chaos GP. If the player does not receive the first place on one of Chaos GPs after completing all six race circuits, he/she has to try again. By completing red Chaos GPs in first place rewards the player with the small ending cutscene related to one of four playable characters and the game ends with the credits roll.
 +
At the end of a Chaos GP circuit, the racer with the most points wins. If there is a tie for total points, the racer with the most 1st-place finishes wins. When winning a Chaos GP, the player is awarded with a [[Chaos Emerald]]. If the player does not receive first place on one of Chaos GP circuits however, they have to start over. Completing the red Chaos GP in first place awards the player with a small ending cutscene related to one of the four playable characters, which is then followed by the game credits.
   
 
===Controls===
  
===Controls===
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===Items===
  
===Items===
−
In ''Sonic Drift'', there are few different items found on racing tracks, which the player can obtained or simply use. These items respawn in every time when the player has passed through a lap on each race circuit.
 +
In ''Sonic Drift'', different items and power-ups lie scattered across the racing tracks which the player can collect to help improve their performance during a race. These items respawn after each lap on a track.
   
 
{|class="wikitable" border="1"
  
{|class="wikitable" border="1"
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|[[File:Sonic-Drift-Ring.gif]]
  
|[[File:Sonic-Drift-Ring.gif]]
 
|[[Ring]]
  
|[[Ring]]
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|Rings are scattered all around race circuits, as collecting two of them activates the playable racer's special power. When the player gets hit by obstacle or the opponents's special power, the player loses all Rings and spins around for seconds.
 +
|The traditional golden Ring which can be collected over the course of a race. Giving up two of them activates the character's special power. When the player gets hit by obstacles or an opponent's special power, they lose all their Rings.
 
|-
  
|-
 
|[[File:Jump-Spring.png]]
  
|[[File:Jump-Spring.png]]
 
|[[Spring|Jump Spring]]
  
|[[Spring|Jump Spring]]
−
|Yellow [[Spring]]s, that will bounce the player into the mid-air.
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|Yellow [[Spring]]s that will bounce the player into the mid-air.
 
|-
  
|-
 
|[[File:High-Speed.png]]
  
|[[File:High-Speed.png]]
−
|[[Power Sneakers (power-up)|High Speed]]
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|[[Dash (power-up)|High Speed]]
−
|A red [[monitor]], that grants small burst of speed for the playable character.
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|A red [[monitor]] that grants a small burst of speed.
 
|-
  
|-
 
|[[File:Invincibility-Muteki.png]]
  
|[[File:Invincibility-Muteki.png]]
  +
|[[Invincible]]
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|[[Invincibility|Muteki]]
  
−
|A blue [[monitor]] with traditional [[Invincibility]] power-up for couple of seconds to obstacles and opponents' special powers (altough the racer will spin around without losing Rings). The melody heard while using the power-up is an faster, 8-bit variation of "[[Sonic - You Can Do Anything]]" from ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]''.
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|A blue [[monitor]] which makes the player invulnerable to obstacles and opponents' special powers for a few seconds.
 
|}
  
|}
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
−
''Sonic Drift'' features four playable characters. Each character plays similar to others and his/her own strengths and weaknesses. Each of four playable characters also has special power that can be utilized during the race by increasing the speed, flying or aiming exclusive obstacles to interfere other racers without getting hit by himself. After choosing the playable character, rest of the four become the player's racing opponents for the [[Chaos GP]].
 +
''Sonic Drift'' features four playable characters. Each character plays similar to each other, but also have their own strengths and weaknesses. Each of them has a special power that can be utilized during the race to improve their performances or hinter opponents. After choosing a character, the remainder become the opponents for the [[Chaos GP]].
   
 
{|class="wikitable" cellpadding="2" border="1"
  
{|class="wikitable" cellpadding="2" border="1"
 
!Icon
  
!Icon
 
!Character
  
!Character
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!Vehicle
−
!Vechile
  
 
!Special Power
  
!Special Power
 
!Despriction
  
!Despriction
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|}
  
|}
   
−
==Circuits==
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==Race courses==
−
The each six race circuits in ''Sonic Drift'' take place to many [[Zone]]s from [[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (1991)]]. Each Zone has three different versions, one each for the three different Chaos GPs. Each race circuit has certain amount of items and obstacles related to the Zone's theme.
 +
Each race course in ''Sonic Drift'' is based on a [[Zone]] from [[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (1991)]], and comes in three variants, one for each of the [[Chaos GP]] circuits. Each race course also features obstacles and other items related to their theme.
   
 
{|class="wikitable" border="1"
  
{|class="wikitable" border="1"
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==Other modes==
  
==Other modes==
 
===Free Run===
  
===Free Run===
−
[[File:Sonic-Drift-Menu.png|thumb|Main menu of the game.]]
 +
[[File:Sonic-Drift-Menu.png|thumb|The main menu of the game.]]
−
'''Free Run''' is the basic [[Time Attack]] mode of ''Sonic Drift'', that allows you to race against the clock to obtain the fastest time in any [[Chaos GP]]'s [[Zone]]. On the menu screen, the player can choose the circuit by going to the "Courses", the playable character by entering the "Drivers" and then starts the mode by choosing the "Run" option. By choosing the separated "Results" option shows the three best circuit times and the single best lap time, which are recorded to the game. During the game, if the player wants to exit from the mode, he/she has to pause the game by pressing the '''START''' and then press {{1 Button (Game Gear)}} and {{2 Button (Game Gear)}} simultaneously.
 +
'''Free Run''' is the basic [[Time Attack]] mode of ''Sonic Drift'' that allows the player to replay any of the race courses with goal of getting the fastest record possible. On the menu screen, the player can choose the race course and playable character and then start the race with the "Run" option. The separate "Results" option shows the three best circuit times and the single best lap time.
   
 
===Versus===
  
===Versus===
−
'''Versus''' mode is the multiplayer mode of ''Sonic Drift'' for two players. The game requires to have Gear-to-Gear Cable (called VS Cable in Japan), a spare [[Game Gear]] handheld units and an two copies of the game. The Versus mode consists similar gamplay like the [[Chaos GP]] mode with the same items and all [[Zone]]s available.
 +
'''Versus''' mode is the multiplayer mode of ''Sonic Drift'' for two players. To play, players has to connect two [[Game Gear]] handheld units with two ''Sonic Drift'' Paks using one Gear-to-Gear Cable (called VS Cable in Japan). The Versus mode consists of a gameplay similar to that in the [[Chaos GP]] which include the same features and has all the race courses available.
   
 
===Option===
  
===Option===
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==Reception==
  
==Reception==
  +
''Sonic Drift'' received mixed to negative reviews from critics. On its release, ''Famicom Tsūshin'' scored the game a 19 out of 40.<ref>NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ソニックドリフト2. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.327. Pg.41. 24 March 1995.</ref> When the game was included in ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'', ''Gamespy'' stated it being "almost unplayable",<ref name="Gamespy">{{Cite web|last=Baker |first=Chris |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/sonic-mega-collection-plus/562431p2.html |title=Sonic Mega Collection Plus|publisher=Gamespy|date= 1 November 2004 |accessdate= 4 December 2015}}</ref> while ''Eurogamer'' called it "terrible, terrible racing game whose flickering madness actually made me physically sick."<ref name="Eurogamer">{{Cite web|last=Bramwell |first=Tom |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_sonicmegacollectionplus_ps2 |title=Sonic Mega Collection Plus|publisher=Eurogamer |date= 8 February 2005 |accessdate= 4 December 2015}}</ref>
−
{{Expansion}}
  
  +
−
The game received poor reception. Many fans despise the controls and courses, while others complain about the small cast available.
  
  +
Despite its scores, ''Sonic Drift'' was commercially successful, receiving a sequel, ''[[Sonic Drift 2]]'', which, unlike this game, was released internationally.
   
 
==Re-releases==
  
==Re-releases==
−
In Japan, ''Sonic Drift'' was sold along with with the [[Game Gear]] on the same package. For many years, the game remained Japanese exclusive until it has been featured as unlockable game in ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' for the [[Gamecube]] and [[PC]], making the first international release for the game. For obtaining the game, the player must have collected 40 [[emblem]]s or completed 40 missions. It was later ported for few compilations such as ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' for the Gamecube, [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox]] and PC. ''Sonic Drift'' was also one of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games to be available in the online video game service "GameTap" up to 2009, as the service has been discontinued since.<ref name="Gametap">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gametap.com/play/gameDetails/120075050 |title= Sonic Drift |publisher= GameTap |accessdate= 4 December 2015 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090302072818/http://www.gametap.com/play/gameDetails/120075050 |archivedate= 30 May 2009}}</ref>
 +
In Japan, ''Sonic Drift'' was sold along with the [[Game Gear]] in the same package. For many years, the game remained Japanese exclusive until it was included as an unlockable game in ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' which marked the first international release of the game. To unlock it, the player must collect forty [[emblem]]s or complete forty missions. It was later ported for compilation games such as ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]''. ''Sonic Drift'' was also one of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games to be available on the online video game service "GameTap" up to 2009, but the service has since been discontinued.<ref name="Gametap">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gametap.com/play/gameDetails/120075050 |title= Sonic Drift |publisher= GameTap |accessdate= 4 December 2015 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090302072818/http://www.gametap.com/play/gameDetails/120075050 |archivedate= 30 May 2009}}</ref>
   
 
==Staff==
  
==Staff==
−
*Main programmer: Wa-Da
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*'''Main programmer''': Wa-Da
−
*Programmer: Shinchan
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*'''Programmer''': Shinchan
−
*Designer: Takako Kawaguchi ("Choko"), Gen Adachi ("Gen"), East
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*'''Designer''': Takako Kawaguchi ("Choko"), Gen Adachi ("Gen"), East
−
*Sound creator: [[Masayuki Nagao]] ("N.Gee")
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*'''Sound creator''': [[Masayuki Nagao]] ("N.Gee")
−
*Planner: K'
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*'''Planner''': K'
−
*Director: Katsuhiro Hasegawa ("Hase")
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*'''Director''': Katsuhiro Hasegawa ("Hase")
−
*Producer: Hiroshi Aso ("Asohy")
 +
*'''Producer''': Hiroshi Aso ("Asohy")
−
*Special thanks to..: Wahaha, T.D.H
 +
*'''Special thanks to..''': Wahaha, T.D.H
−
*Presented by: [[Sega]]
 +
*'''Presented by''': [[Sega]]
   
 
==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
−
*''Sonic Drift'' is the first 8-bit ''Sonic'' game to be released exclusively for [[Sega Game Gear]] without separate port for the [[Sega Master System]]. It is also the first ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' console/handheld game release to remain originally as exclusive in Japan, although the very first ''Sonic''-themed software product to remain Japanese exclusive is the arcade children ride ''[[Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car]]'' from 1991.
 +
*''Sonic Drift'' is the first 8-bit ''Sonic'' game to be released exclusively for [[Sega Game Gear]] without a separate port for the [[Sega Master System]]. It is also the first ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' console/handheld game release to remain originally as exclusive in Japan, although the very first ''Sonic''-themed software product to remain Japanese exclusive is the arcade children ride ''[[Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car]]'' from 1991.
−
*It is the first game title to feature [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] and [[Amy Rose|Amy]] as playable characters.
 +
*This game was the first game in the ''Sonic'' series to feature [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] and [[Amy Rose|Amy]] as playable characters.
 
*Since it was never released outside Japan, the digital instruction manual in ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' was in Japanese in all versions of the compilation release.
  
*Since it was never released outside Japan, the digital instruction manual in ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' was in Japanese in all versions of the compilation release.
 
*In [[:File:Amy_with_car.png|Amy's official artwork]], the words "Sonic Drift" is written on her umbrella.
  
*In [[:File:Amy_with_car.png|Amy's official artwork]], the words "Sonic Drift" is written on her umbrella.
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</tabber>
  
</tabber>
 
{{-}}
  
{{-}}
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==Gallery==
  
−
{{Gallery box}}
  
   
 
==Notes==
  
==Notes==
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{{Drift info}}
  
{{Drift info}}
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{{Sonic games (spin-off)}}
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{{Sonic games (handheld)}}
 
{{Italic title}}
  
{{Italic title}}
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[[es:Sonic Drift]]
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[[ru:Sonic Drift]]
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[[pl:Sonic Drift]]
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[[fr:Sonic Drift]]
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[[fr:Sonic Drift]]
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[[es:Sonic Drift]]
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[[Category:Game Gear games]]
  
[[Category:Game Gear games]]
 
[[Category:Racing games]]
  
[[Category:Racing games]]

Revision as of 18:45, 1 July 2019

For the move, see Sonic Drift (move).

Sonic Drift (ソニックドリフト Sonikku Dorifuto?) is a kart racing game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series for the Sega Game Gear, developed and released by Sega. Released on 8 March 1994, the game remained an exclusive title to Japan until it was included on compilation releases years later. The racing game features Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Amy Rose and Dr. Eggman in racing vehicles as rally contestants with the basic gameplay deriving from standard, early 1990's racing games. The game also got a sequel, Sonic Drift 2, which received an international release, unlike its prequel.

Gameplay

File:Sonic Drift.jpg

The title screen of Sonic Drift.

Sonic Drift is a racing game whose gameplay style and controls are heavily based on Sega's arcade game Out Run. Here, the players race around a race course against the other three characters for a top position in the race. The game's single player mode is Chaos GP, where the player's goal is to win three different circuits (green, yellow and red). Each circuit is made of six different race courses that the player is taken through in succession.

Each race course is composed of a circuit which needs to be completed thrice. The playable characters have rather simple controls, their basic actions being accelerating to move forward, breaking, and moving left or right on the tracks. In tight corners, the player can break while turning in a specific direction, allowing them to drift through the corners. If the player overuses this method though, the playable character starts spinning out of control. Should the player move outside the race tracks, the racer's acceleration will decreases noticeably on the rough terrain. The race track's sidelines also have obstacles that will stop the player altogether if the playable characters crash into them. The player can as well collect Rings along the race tracks to perform special moves unique to each character.

At the beginning of a Chaos GP circuit, the player starts out from the fourth place (the lowest position). Upon completing a race course though, each racer is awarded with points based on their finishing positions, allowing the participants to improve their place:

  • 1st Place: 3 points
  • 2nd Place: 2 points
  • 3rd Place: 1 points
  • 4th Place: 0 points
Drift 03

Sonic racing in Spring Yard in the green Chaos GP.

At the end of a Chaos GP circuit, the racer with the most points wins. If there is a tie for total points, the racer with the most 1st-place finishes wins. When winning a Chaos GP, the player is awarded with a Chaos Emerald. If the player does not receive first place on one of Chaos GP circuits however, they have to start over. Completing the red Chaos GP in first place awards the player with a small ending cutscene related to one of the four playable characters, which is then followed by the game credits.

Controls

Button formation Action
Controlpadds left and right Moving the vechile
Game Gear II Button Accelerating the vechile
Game Gear I Button Braking the vechile
Controlpadds up Perform the Special Power
START button Pauses the game
START, Game Gear I Button + Game Gear II Button Pauses the game, exits the Free Run mode

Items

In Sonic Drift, different items and power-ups lie scattered across the racing tracks which the player can collect to help improve their performance during a race. These items respawn after each lap on a track.

Item Name Despriction
Sonic-Drift-Ring Ring The traditional golden Ring which can be collected over the course of a race. Giving up two of them activates the character's special power. When the player gets hit by obstacles or an opponent's special power, they lose all their Rings.
Jump-Spring Jump Spring Yellow Springs that will bounce the player into the mid-air.
High-Speed High Speed A red monitor that grants a small burst of speed.
Invincibility-Muteki Invincible A blue monitor which makes the player invulnerable to obstacles and opponents' special powers for a few seconds.

Characters

Sonic Drift features four playable characters. Each character plays similar to each other, but also have their own strengths and weaknesses. Each of them has a special power that can be utilized during the race to improve their performances or hinter opponents. After choosing a character, the remainder become the opponents for the Chaos GP.

Icon Character Vehicle Special Power Despriction
Sonic-Drift-Sonic Sonic Cyclone Dash Good acceleration and speed, but poor cornering.
Sonic-Drift-Tails Tails MTP-01 Wheelwind Jump A solid racer with good cornering but low max speed.
Sonic-Drift-Eggman Dr. Eggman Egg Typhoon-gou Mine Poor acceleration, but high speed.
Sonic-Drift-Amy Amy Rose Breeze Heart Attack Good acceleration but low max speed.

Race courses

Each race course in Sonic Drift is based on a Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), and comes in three variants, one for each of the Chaos GP circuits. Each race course also features obstacles and other items related to their theme.

Chaos GP Green Hill Marble Spring Yard Labyrinth Star Light Scrap Brain
Green Green Hill Green Chaos GP Marble Green Chaos GP Spring Yard Green Ghaos GP Labyrinth Green Chaos GP Star Light Green Chaos GP Scrap Brain Green Chaos GP
Yellow Green Hill Yellow Ghaos GP Marble Yellow Chaos GP Spring Yard Yellow Ghaos GP Labyrinth Yellow Chaos GP Star Light Yellow Chaos GP Scrap Brain Yellow Chaos GP
Red Green Hill Red Chaos GP Marble Red Chaos GP Spring Yard Red Ghaos GP Labyrinth Red Chaos GP Star Light Red Chaos GP Scrap Brain Red Chaos GP

Other modes

Free Run

Sonic-Drift-Menu

The main menu of the game.

Free Run is the basic Time Attack mode of Sonic Drift that allows the player to replay any of the race courses with goal of getting the fastest record possible. On the menu screen, the player can choose the race course and playable character and then start the race with the "Run" option. The separate "Results" option shows the three best circuit times and the single best lap time.

Versus

Versus mode is the multiplayer mode of Sonic Drift for two players. To play, players has to connect two Game Gear handheld units with two Sonic Drift Paks using one Gear-to-Gear Cable (called VS Cable in Japan). The Versus mode consists of a gameplay similar to that in the Chaos GP which include the same features and has all the race courses available.

Option

Option menu consists Sound Test to listen music tracks from the game or change the difficulty setting to Normal or Hard (Hard mode increases opponent racers' acceleration).

Reception

Sonic Drift received mixed to negative reviews from critics. On its release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 19 out of 40.[1] When the game was included in Sonic Mega Collection Plus, Gamespy stated it being "almost unplayable",[2] while Eurogamer called it "terrible, terrible racing game whose flickering madness actually made me physically sick."[3]

Despite its scores, Sonic Drift was commercially successful, receiving a sequel, Sonic Drift 2, which, unlike this game, was released internationally.

Re-releases

In Japan, Sonic Drift was sold along with the Game Gear in the same package. For many years, the game remained Japanese exclusive until it was included as an unlockable game in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut which marked the first international release of the game. To unlock it, the player must collect forty emblems or complete forty missions. It was later ported for compilation games such as Sonic Mega Collection Plus. Sonic Drift was also one of Sonic the Hedgehog games to be available on the online video game service "GameTap" up to 2009, but the service has since been discontinued.[4]

Staff

  • Main programmer: Wa-Da
  • Programmer: Shinchan
  • Designer: Takako Kawaguchi ("Choko"), Gen Adachi ("Gen"), East
  • Sound creator: Masayuki Nagao ("N.Gee")
  • Planner: K'
  • Director: Katsuhiro Hasegawa ("Hase")
  • Producer: Hiroshi Aso ("Asohy")
  • Special thanks to..: Wahaha, T.D.H
  • Presented by: Sega

Trivia

  • Sonic Drift is the first 8-bit Sonic game to be released exclusively for Sega Game Gear without a separate port for the Sega Master System. It is also the first Sonic the Hedgehog console/handheld game release to remain originally as exclusive in Japan, although the very first Sonic-themed software product to remain Japanese exclusive is the arcade children ride Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car from 1991.
  • This game was the first game in the Sonic series to feature Dr. Eggman and Amy as playable characters.
  • Since it was never released outside Japan, the digital instruction manual in Sonic Mega Collection Plus was in Japanese in all versions of the compilation release.
  • In Amy's official artwork, the words "Sonic Drift" is written on her umbrella.
  • All of the racing vehicle names in Sonic Drift are related to wind.

Videos

File:Sonic Drift (Sega Game Gear Commercial Japan)

File:ゲームギア ♫プラスワン！ソニックドリフト CM


Notes

  1. ↑ Although the game's boxart features tagline "Sonic Team Presents", a line presented in many Japanese boxarts of early Sonic the Hedgehog games, the game is known to be devolped by Sega of Japan and no sign about Sonic Team's involvement has never surfaced.

References

  1. ↑ NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ソニックドリフト2. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.327. Pg.41. 24 March 1995.
  2. ↑ Baker, Chris (1 November 2004). Sonic Mega Collection Plus. Gamespy. Retrieved on 4 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (8 February 2005). Sonic Mega Collection Plus. Eurogamer. Retrieved on 4 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Sonic Drift. GameTap. Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved on 4 December 2015.

External links

Sonic Drift
Main article · Beta elements · Gallery
Playable characters Sonic · Tails · Amy · Eggman
Courses Green Hill · Marble · Spring Yard · Labyrinth · Star Light · Scrap Brain
Vehicles Breeze · Cyclone · Egg Typhoon · MTP-01 Whirlwind
Gimmicks and obstacles Heart Attack · Mine · Spring
Items Item Box (High Speed, Invincible) · Ring
Other Chaos Emerald · Chaos GP · Egg Mobile · "Sonic - You Can Do Anything" · Sound Test
V·T·E · {{Drift 2 info}} · Category
Sonic the Hedgehog handheld games
Sega Game Gear Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) · Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) · Sonic Chaos (1993) · Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (1993) · Sonic Drift (1994) · Sonic Spinball (1994) · Sonic Triple Trouble (1994) · Sonic Drift 2 (1995) · Tails' Skypatrol (1995) · Tails Adventure (1995) · Sonic Labyrinth (1995) · Sonic Blast (1996)
Game Boy Advance Sonic Advance (2001) · Sonic Advance 2 (2002) · Sonic Pinball Party (2003) · Sonic Battle (2003) · Sonic Advance 3 (2004) · Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis (2006)
Nintendo DS Sonic Rush (2005) · Sonic Rush Adventure (2007) · Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2008) · Sega Superstars Tennis (2008) · Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008) · Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009) · Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010) · Sonic Classic Collection (2010) · Sonic Colors (2010)
PlayStation Portable Sega Genesis Collection (2006) · Sonic Rivals (2006) · Sonic Rivals 2 (2007)
Nintendo 3DS Sonic Generations (2011) · Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (2012) · Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012) · 3D Sonic the Hedgehog (2013) · Sonic Lost World (2013) · Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (2014) · Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (2014) · 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2015) · Sega 3D Classics Collection (2015) · Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016) · Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice (2016) · Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 3: Final Stage (2016)
Nintendo Switch Sonic Mania (2017) · Sonic Forces (2017) · Sonic Mania Plus (2018) · Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog (2018) · Sega Mega Drive Classics (2018) · Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) · Team Sonic Racing (2019) · Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019) · Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2020) · Sonic Colors: Ultimate (2021) · Sonic Origins (2022) · Sonic Frontiers (2022) · Sonic Origins Plus (2023) · Sonic Superstars (2023) · Sonic X Shadow Generations (2024)
Other Sonic Jam (1997, Game.com) · Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure (1999, Neo Geo Pocket Color) · SonicN (2003, N-Gage) · Sonic X (2007, Leapster) · Sonic the Hedgehog (2008, LeapFrog Didj)
V·T·E | {{Mainline}}, {{compilation}}, {{mobile}}, {{browser}}, {{spin-off games}}, {{scrapped}}
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