Sonic Blast was released for Game Gear in conjunction with Sonic 3D Blast (aka Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island) for Genesis/MD and Saturn. It boasted similarly rendered character sprites and colorful backgrounds. The game was yet another addition to the series, plus Sega had hoped it would be a boost to the dying Game Gear's title selection at the time. Brazilian based TecToy re-released the game for Sega Master System in 1997, a year after the initial release (while many may think this is a pirated title, TecToy is indeed licensed to produce and release games under the Sega name).
Gameplay:
Unlike Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic Blast is a side-scrolling platform game. It was the last new Sonic the Hedgehog game released for the Game Gear, and had some of the most advanced features of the 8-bit series. Despite this, it was not well received.
Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna are the only two playable characters in the game. The object of the game is to collect five Chaos Emeralds that are in stages visually similar to the Sonic the Hedgehog 3's special stages, but instead require the player to collect rings as in Sonic the Hedgehog 2's special stages. Finishing a special stage in the first act will gain the player an extra life, because emeralds can only be obtained through the second act of each level. Special stages are entered through large rings hidden in the regular stages.
Much like Sonic Triple Trouble(another Game Gear Sonic title), when you get hit by enemies, you do not lose all of your rings (in this game, 10 rings per hit). Sonic's maneuvers are similar to those in other games, but he has a special double-jump ability that allows him to reach greater heights, like with the lightning shield in Sonic 3. Knuckles's abilities are his standard climbing and gliding, as seen in Sonic and Knuckles.
Story:
A mysterious island has surfaced near Sonic's home - an island with a revoltingly familiar shape....The bald dome and walrus shape moustache are a total giveaway: Robotnik has built another floating platform to carry on with his plan of total domination of Mobius! After his Flicky Island Snafu, Robotnik is at it again and his newest invention - The Silver Castle - has arisen!!!
Banding forces Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna decide there's only one thing to do: get to the platform, break inside, and do some serious property damage before thee Eggman can do his! Unfortunately, that is precisely what that eggheaded villain is counting on. You see Robotnik has set the whole thing up as a trap! Laying a laid series of traps he thinks are infallible. His plan is all too familiar: get rid of his nemesis Sonic for good, and once that's done, collect the Chaos Emeralds in order to gain the power he needs to take over the world!!!!!
Travel with Sonic the Hedgehog or Knuckles the Echidna through a maze of traps, evil robots and fearsome scenery, and prove to Dr. Robotnik that there's no trap made that a determined Sonic or Knuckles can't overcome! But watch out - His latest assortment of tricks and traps is even nastier than usual....
Screen Shots:
9:21 PM Jul 24