- For the 16-bit version of this game, see Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball.
Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball also known as Sonic Spinball (ソニックスピンボール Sonikku Supinbōru?) is a 8-bit port of the original Sega Mega Drive game Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, released for the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear in 1994. Later, this game was also repackaged on a Two-in-one cartridge alongside the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
The game also appears as an unlockable minigame in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut for the GameCube and PC, as well as Sonic Gems Collection for the Nintendo GameCube and the PlayStation 2.
Gameplay
The title screen for the Master System version of the game
The general objectives of this pinball game remains the as the 16-bit version of the game as obstacles still need to be cleared, Chaos Emeralds must be collected, and bossess must be defeated. Enemies are the same as they do on the 16-bit version and the theme of the levels are also remains the same.
Although all the levels in this game carry the same theme as the 16-bit version of the game, the layout of the levels and the graphics are different. Due to the different level layout there are several more opportunities to travel on foot. The pace is also slower and causes the game to had a floaty physics. The bonus stages also different as they have the same objective level to level, and do not change to a first person perspective. There are also hiden rooms which contains cheat code bearing monitors, which when broken, will display a cheat code.
It is also possible to win a free ball after getting a Game Over. This can be done by stopping the on screen spinning roulette wheel that appears and matching four numbers with the last four numbers in the current score. If the four numbers are matched successfully, a free ball will be achieved.
Story
Dr. Robotnik has assumed control of Mt. Mobius on Planet Mobius and turned it into a mechanical base. Utilizing energy produced by the magma flowing under the volcano, this new monstrosity base (the Veg-O-Fortress) has the power to transform helpless animals into robot slaves at an astounding rate. Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower fly onto the scene to mount an aerial assault, but Sonic is knocked off the wings of Tails' airplane by a blast from the fortress. He falls into the water, but is rescued and taken to the subterranean levels of the Veg-O-Fortress. The fortress must be destroyed from the inside-out, and the only way to make that happen is to trigger an eruption in the volcano it's built on. Sonic knows this can be done by removing the Chaos Emeralds that keep the volcano stable. Dr. Robotnik, however, is also aware of the fragile relationship that exists between the Emeralds and the mountain, and he has established an elaborate Pinball Defense System to make sure the precious jewels don't go anywhere.
Trivia
- The game's artwork on both Game Gear and Master System version shows Dr. Robotnik from Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
- This game and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine are the only Sega Genesis games that have an actual counterpart on the Game Gear and Master System.
- They are also the only two games to use the term "Mobius" worldwide; the Japanese version of the storyline even mentions that Dr. Eggman already conquered the planet, putting Sonic and Tails in a "Freedom Fighter" role similar to that of early western depictions.