Sonic Underground is an LCD game released by Tiger Electronics in 2000. It is based on the Sonic Underground television series and is one of the few games to be based on a Sonic cartoon series. The LCD unit is shaped like Sonic holding his guitar and features a marble which spins around it rim when the flywheel is activated.
Gameplay[]
Sonic Underground is split into two main modes, "Toy Mode" and the regular gameplay mode. The Toy Mode is only accessible when the unit is turned off and serves as a Sound Test for the game's music and effects.
The main focus, however, is the gameplay mode, which allows the player to choose from multiple different difficulty levels before beginning gameplay. Upon starting the game, a short "game opening" of Queen Aleena fleeing is played, before the player is given full control of Sonic. The objective for the player is to complete all six levels and find Queen Aleena, while avoiding attacks from enemies. Stages in Sonic Underground operate on a timer, with the player automatically finishing the stage once the time runs out.
In gameplay, Sonic starts with a set amount of energy which decreases upon taking damage. Losing all energy will result in a Game Over. Additionally, Sonic's speed starts at a set amount, and gradually decreases. The player can increase their speed by flipping the flywheel on the LCD unit. During gameplay, enemies such as Sleet, Dingo, and Swatbots will spawn, and attempt to attack the player. The player can defeat these using Spin Dashes. If the player uses the Spin Dash when at maximum speed, they will also ricochet in the opposite direction of the first enemy they hit. During gameplay, the player may also encounter Sonia and Manic, whom they can call to in order to receive temporary help against enemies. On intervals, the player can find the Hover Board, which can be collected by jumping into it. When collected, the player will ride the Hover Board, providing brief invincibility. Another collectable item is the guitar, which will drive Sleet and Dingo away upon collection. Musical notes will also spawn periodically, which the player can collect by jumping. Upon finishing any of the first five levels, Sonia and Manic will arrive, and play all the notes the player has collected in the stage, before advancing them on to the next stage.
After the notes are played on the sixth and final stage, however, Dr. Robotnik and Queen Aleena appear, the former of whom the player must defeat in order to progress. Robotnik can only be damaged using a powered-up Spin Dash and will attack the player if they prove too slow, or use the wrong maneuver against him. After dealing three hits on Robotnik, the hedgehogs will rescue Queen Aleena, and the game will be complete.
Scoring system[]
Controls[]
| Button formation | Movement |
|---|---|
 left/right
|
Walk/Run |
| up
|
Collect music notes/Jump |
| down
|
Call Manic/Sonia (when present) |
| "Jump/Select" button | Jump/Select game difficulty/Start stage |
| "Spin Dash" button | Spin Dash/Start stage |
| Flywheel | Increase speed |
| "On/Start" button | Turns on game/Exit pause/Start new game |
| "Sound" button | Toggle sound/Activate "Toy Mode" |
| "Pause/Max score" button | Pause/Determine maximum score |
| "Off" button | Turn the game off |
| "Reset" button | Reset the game |
Objects[]
Items[]
- Guitar
- Hover Board
- Musical note (only appearance)
Characters[]
Playable characters[]
Non-playable characters[]
Enemies[]
Bosses[]
Trivia[]
- The "story" section of the manual for Sonic Underground sports several inconsistences with the plot of the actual show (but still are present in early production documents). These include:
- Robotnik is referred to as "sheriff Robotnik" (as in the Sheriff of Nottingham) in one instance. Robotnik does not bear this title in the final show, but early online leaks on Sonic Underground's plot prior to the show's release also reference Robotnik's role as sheriff, implying this was a scrapped concept from early on in the show's development.[1]
- The Oracle of Delphius is stated to have been banished to the "Frozen Wastes" by Robotnik, before passing away from an unknown cause sometime after, telling Sonic how to reunite with his siblings in his dying breath. Although the oracle does take up residence in Ice Cap in the final show, he was not banished there, and does not die.
- The Medallions are stated to be "golden", despite their designs in the final show bearing a more silver coloration. They also are stated to each possesses three notes engraved into them, something not present in the final show.
- Robotnik's motive for finding Queen Aleena is stated to be that his believes that by marrying her and making her his consort, he can become the rightful ruler of Mobius. Although not his overall motive for finding the queen in the final show, this plot would apparently wind up adapted into a single episode, "Wedding Bell Blues".
- As the game ends upon finding Queen Aleena, this ironically marks the only official piece of Sonic Underground media where the Sonic Underground's vow to find and reunite with their mother was fulfilled to an extent, as they never find her in the actual show due to its cancellation.
- The Oracle of Delphius' voice sounds considerably different than the one that Maurice LaMarche provides in the final show.
- This is thus the first Sonic game to feature digitized speech.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ The Road to Sonic Underground. The Emerald Star Post. Retrieved on 20 June 2022.