Sonic The Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
Developer(s)	Dimps, Sonic Team (Co-Developer)
Publisher(s)	SNK, Sega (Co-Publisher)
Designer(s)	Yuji Naka (Supervisor/Producer) Hiroshi Matsumoto (Producer) Takeshi Nishiyama (Executive Producer)
Platform(s)	Neo Geo Pocket Color
Release date(s)	December 3, 1999 January 11, 2000
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone
Media	16-Megabit Cartridge

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, or just Sonic Pocket Adventure is a video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was released in 1999 for the Neo Geo Pocket Color handheld game console. The game is similar in level design and gameplay to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis but includes a few features from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as special features such as puzzles and multiplayer options. It was the second Sonic game to be released for a non-Sega console (the first was Sonic Jam for the Game.com). It was also the last game to feature Sonic as the only playable character until the release of Sonic and the Secret Rings in 2007.

[edit] Zones

As in other Sonic titles, the levels in Sonic Pocket Adventure are known as zones, with each zone containing two parts. The players must navigate through all the zones in order to beat the game, with the second level in each zone containing a boss. There are six regular zones in the game, as well as one secret zone that contains only one level. Below is the full list of zones in order of appearance in the single player mode.

• Neo South Island: A green island which is based on the stylings of Green Hill Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog. It is visually based on Green Hill Zone, but has the loops and corkscrews from Emerald Hill (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)and the vertical ramps from Palmtree Panic from Sonic CD. The music used here is from the Sonic World area in Sonic Jam, Act 2 takes Angel Island Act 1
• Secret Plant: Based on Chemical Plant Zone, another zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. There are purple chemical liquids found on Act 2 of this zone. The music used here is Angel Island Act 2, and Hydrocity Act 2
• Cosmic Casino: This zone is based on Casino Night Zone, also from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As Sonic, the player must navigate through a casino-themed area filled with bumpers and other various obstacles. Act 1's music is taken from the Gumball Bonus stage, Act 2's is the Slot Bonus stage
• Aquatic Relix: Based on Sonic the Hedgehog 2's Aquatic Ruin Zone. This zone, and Secret Plant, are the only levels in the game which feature underwater sections. Act 1's music is Mushroom Hill Act 1 and Act 2's theme is Hydrocity Act 1
• Sky Chase: Similar to the Sky Chase Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, here Sonic walks on the wings of Tails' plane, the Tornado. This theme is from Azure Lake in the two-player mode of Sonic 3
• Aerobase: Based on Sonic the Hedgehog 2's Wing Fortress Zone. This zone takes place on a very large flying warship in which Sonic must find a way to get inside. The stage's theme is Death Egg Act 1
• Gigantic Angel: This zone's background design has been taken from Scrap Brain Zone from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. This zone takes place in a large base full of traps and hazards, most of which are taken from Sonic the Hedgehog 2's Metropolis Zone. Act 1's theme is Desert Palace, Act 2's theme is Chrome Gadget (both from Sonic 3 two-player)
• Last Utopia: This is the last proper zone and is a stand-off between Sonic and Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik is in a large flying machine which has a chaos emerald powered cannon. Stage music is Death Egg Act 2 boss area
• Chaotic Space: A hidden bonus level that must be unlocked in order to play, this zone plays similarly to the Doomsday Zone from Sonic & Knuckles. Theme is Sky Sanctuary

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure title screen.

[edit] Multiplayer

In addition to the single player mode, Sonic Pocket Adventure allows multiplayer gaming for two players. In order to compete, both players are required to have a Neo Geo Pocket Color and a copy of the game, and one link cable. The multiplayer component is entitled 'Duel Mode' and features two modes of play; Sonic Rush and Get the Rings. 'Sonic Rush' has players competing to be the first to finish a zone and the objective of 'Get the Rings' is to collect the specified amount of rings before your rival. Player 1 is always Sonic, while player 2 is Tails. Incidentally, Sonic Rush is also the title of Sonic's first outing on the Nintendo DS.

[edit] Music

The music in Sonic Pocket Adventure is largely taken from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, with one track from Sonic Jam.

[edit] Extras

Tails is playable in the single player mode as a result of a glitch in some emulators causing debug to occur.

This game is also the only game to mix the current Sonic style with the classic one. For example, the in-game sprites very much look like it would be pre-Sonic Adventure, but close-up graphics show a closer resemblance to the post-Sonic Adventure style. Eggman himself wears his original red shirt and yellow cape for most of the game, but wears his newer outfit in his base, at the finale of the game.

[edit] External links

• Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure at MobyGames
• Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure review at IGN