Sonic the Hedgehog ------------------ Author: Brian McPhee (Kirby021591) E-mail: Kirby0215@aol.com Originally Created: July 12, 2003 Most Recent Update: April 28, 2007 Version 1.0 Copyright 2003-2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------Table of Contents-------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.0: Introduction 1.1: Special Thanks 1.2: Storyline 1.3: Characters 1.4: Controls 1.5: Enemies 1.6: Items 2.0: Level Walkthrough 2.1: Green Hill Zone 2.2: Marble Zone: Act 2.3: Spring Yard Zone 2.4: Labyrinth Zone 2.5: Star Light Zone 2.6: Scrap Brain Zone 2.7: The Final Zone 3.0: Bonus Levels 4.0: Legal Things -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ================================================================================ ===============================1.0: Introduction================================ ================================================================================ Note: This is my first walkthrough ever made. Originally, way back in 2003, I submitted this file with improper formatting and it was rejected. Now it is 2004. I have two walkthroughs out currently. They are for The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures and Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. Now that this guide is posted I know that it was the formatting, not the content, that prevented its postage. However, as of this June 2005 update, I will be the first to admit that this is not my best FAQ around. It was even before I thought up the brilliant asterisk system... Still, this isn’t about me. Sonic rules! Sonic the Hedgehog is the game that made Sega. Still today, new Sonic games are being made and Sonic is better than ever. Now that Sonic is being remade, I thought this would be a good time to write a walkthrough (And this is my first so keep with me). By the way, if you want to locate a certain section quickly, simply hold down the control (CTRL) button and press the F button on the keyboard. If you’re using a Mac, it’s Apple and F. In the Find What section, type in the section number and click Find/Search. It should take you to the Table of Contents; click Find/Search again and it will take you to the correct section. For instance, if you couldn’t find the Introduction you are now reading, simply press control and F at the same time and type in 1.0. It will take you to the Table of Contents and then here. See, simple! ================================================================================ ==============================1.1: Special Thanks=============================== ================================================================================ I thank Sega and the Sonic Team for making this classic and myself for writing, playing, replaying, and replaying (really it’s that hard.) the game. Also thanks to Nintendo for recreating Sonic the Hedgehog on the Game Cube as Sonic Mega Collection, which I used to write this guide. An excellent compilation it is. ================================================================================ =================================1.2: Storyline================================= ================================================================================ The evil scientist Dr. Robotnik, later known as Eggman, has been capturing the poor animals of South Island. The animals are forced to pilot Robotnik’s evil machines. However, there’s one thing he didn’t count on, and that’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic is a blue hedgehog than can outrun every creature he knows. Sonic lives on South Island, too. He hates injustice and will stand up against Dr. Robotnik and his mechanized armies. ================================================================================ ================================1.3: Characters================================= ================================================================================ +--------------------------+ | Sonic the Hedgehog | +--------------------------+ Sonic is the world’s fastest hedgehog and he’s out to stop Dr. Robotnik from enslaving the animal population of his home, South Island. While Sonic has many friends that would expand the characters sections of future games, he hasn’t met them yet. Sonic hates injustice and loves freedom. Robotnik better watch out, because Sonic is on his tail! +----------------------------------------------+ | Dr. Robotnik (Alternately, Dr. Eggman) | +----------------------------------------------+ Dr. Robotnik is a mechanical genius and the self-proclaimed greatest scientist in the world. Over the Sonic series he makes huge technological accomplishments, such as the Death Egg, the Egg Carrier, the Egg Carrier 2, Metal Sonic and the Decoy Sonics, as well as his most recent achievement, taking control of the Space Colony ARK. His arch nemesis can be found in Sonic, Tails, and even Knuckles, but of all his enemies, he dislikes Sonic the most. ================================================================================ ==================================1.4 Controls================================== ================================================================================ Note: Because this guide is for Sonic Mega Collection, all of the controls are for the Game Cube (GCN) Controllers. The entire game, you play as Sonic, so all of the controls are for Sonic. Use the Control Stick and/or the Control Pad to move left and right. The A, B, and X button are for jumping. While jumping, you are attacking and if you land on an enemy for the most part it will be destroyed unless it has spikes on top of it, is resistant, etc. While you are moving, hold down on the Control Stick and/or the Control Pad to roll. If you are hit while you hold rings, you will lose all of them. If you are hit when you have no rings, you lose a life. Keep rings with you at all times! ================================================================================ ==================================1.5: Enemies================================== ================================================================================ Dr. Robotnik: Sonic’s arch foe is the boss of every zone and is beaten in different ways each time. Buzzbomber: An aerial insect that shoots and then retreats. Newtron: A robotic chameleon that blends in with backgrounds and charges a blast. Motobug: A robot that moves back and forth; dodge it or jump on it. Crabmeat: A crab that shoots bullets out of its pincers. Chopper: A fish that jumps out of the water to bite you. Defeat by jumping beneath it. Batbot: A bat that attacks by touching you; simply jump to defeat. Caterkiller: A caterpillar that has spikes on its body, the only vulnerable spot is on the head and the sides of its body. Roller: A robotic duplicate of Sonic, they’re only vulnerable when not rolling and are very rare. Jaws: A robotic fish that swims after you. Jump to defeat it. Burrobot: A robot that hides in the ground and then ambushes you with a leaping assault. Orbinaut: Robots that fire the spikes orbiting their bodies at you. In the Star Light Zone they do not fire their spikes. Boombot: A kamikaze robot that explodes into four balls of fire. They detonate when you near them, so simply avoid the flames. Ballhog: A pig that shoots balls at you. Very few exist. ================================================================================ ===================================1.6: Items=================================== ================================================================================ Rings: Small golden ring-shaped objects. You should have some with you at all times, since if you’re hit when you have none, you will lose a life. Collect a hundred to gain a life. You’ll lose all your rings after being hit. Capsule: Okay, this is really a monitor, but it’s called a capsule in later games. It contains another item, which is displayed on its screen, and can be broken by jumping or rolling into it. Super Ring: A ring in a capsule worth ten rings. Power Sneakers: Shoes inside a capsule, they make you much faster than normal. 1-Ups: Sonic’s face in a capsule, it gives you an extra life. If you lose all your lives, you get a Game Over and must start the game from the beginning. Shield: Protects you from harm until you’re hit. If you have rings when you are hit with this, you will not lose them. Found in capsules. Invincibility: For a short time you are invulnerable; it’s found in capsules. Checkpoint: Also called a “lamppost,” these are colorful poles whose tops sort of flip when you run through them. They mark your progress in a level so that, if you die, you start back at the checkpoint instead of at the beginning of the level. ================================================================================ =============================2.0: Level Walkthrough============================= ================================================================================ These are basically guides on how to beat each level that go into detail on specific parts. Note that there are multiple ways to beat most levels and I am only doing one way. Also, in some areas I’m somewhat vague because it is pretty straightforward. Each paragraph is divided by sections (the start to first checkpoint, first to second checkpoint, etc.) or to shorten the length of the paragraph. ================================================================================ ==============================2.1: Green Hill Zone============================== ================================================================================ A very easy beginner’s zone, it should be the perfect place for the unitiated to hone their skills. +-------------+ | Act 1 | +-------------+ As you start, jump into the air and collect the three rings, then jump onto the first ledge and jump onto the capsule to break it open. Get the Super Ring Capsule and avoid the enemy on the ground, the Motobug, as well as the aerial insect enemy, the Buzzbomber. As you keep going you’ll reach a bridge with a fish jumping up called a Chopper. Jump over it to avoid and keep going until you reach the second tree from the bridge. Jump up onto it and you’ll see an Invincibility Capsule. Get it and continue. You’ll reach an area with a group of rings and a half-loop. Collect the rings and either run up the half-loop or jump over it. Straight forward there is a ledge on which is a crab-like enemy called a Crabmeat. Jump on it before it fires its yellow bullets and dispose of the other Crabmeat on the higher ledge. A purple rock serves as a landmark on the top ledge and stands next to a bridge. Once again, jump to avoid the Choppers. Another purple rock stand at the end of the bridge. Collect the two rings atop the rock and jump up to the next ledge. Watch out for the Buzzbombers and then be on your way. Collect the rings leading up to a yellow spring. Jump on the spring to bounce up and while you are in the air, move to the right onto the ledge. Quickly jump off the hanging ledge onto the main ledge; the hanging ledge will crumble. There are two purple rocks here and a Buzzbomber. Avoid the Buzzbombers and jump from the lower purple rock to the right and beware, the ground you land on is not solid and will crumble. Climb up the ledges and you’ll reach a lamppost, better known as a checkpoint. Above the checkpoint are moving platforms, jump onto the lower one, and from there jump to the higher one, and from there the ledge with the Super Ring Capsule on it, avoiding the Buzzbomber. Break open the Super Ring Capsule and then jump onto the platform to the right and keep jumping onto the next platform, but quickly since the platforms fall. The platforms lead up to an Shield Capsule on it. If you fell, run forward at top speeds so that you can run onto the loop. From the ground or the top of the loop, jump onto a moving platform that moves upward. Jump onto another from there, and another from there until you reach a platform that moves to the right. Get on it, it leads to a ledge with a long row of rings on it. Once you have reached the end of the ledge, you’ll find more falling platforms that lead downward. At the end is a moving platform above tons of rings floating in the air, jump into the center to get the most rings and then land on a ledge, next to which are two more ledges you must jump onto. There is a purple rock next to Chopper Bridge that you must pass. Jump to avoid the Chopper than jump to the lower ledge and move forward. You’ll reach a ledge with a Super Ring Capsule on it, collect the rings and avoid a Buzzbomber. After you have collected the Super Ring, either jump down or take the moving platform. Make your way forward and you’ll see a sign with Robotnik’s face on it. A large gold ring may be hovering above it. If the huge gold ring is there, jump into it; if not, run past the sign. The large gold ring will take you to the Special Bonus Stage, and once that is completed, you will go to Act 2. If you hit the sign, you will go directly to Act 2 (it is like that for every Act ending except for the Scrap Brain Zone since the bonus stage is eliminated). For more information on the Special Stage, see section 3.0. +-------------+ | Act 2 | +-------------+ From the start there is a bridge with double Choppers. Jump to avoid them and continue. Below the ledge you are on is a purple stone on which is a yellow spring. Jump onto the spring to collect some rings and go forward. The next obstacle is a bridge with Choppers and a Buzzbomber shortly after. Ignore the rings on the surface of the bridge and jump over the bridge, try to land on the Buzzbomber. Fall downward to the purple stone and continue down the slope until you reach another purple stone. Stop and wait for a platform to reach you and quickly jump onto it. If you miss it or fall, simply run at top speeds up onto the half-loop. When you jump from the half-loop, watch out for the spikes, and when you land jump over them. You’ll reach another bridge with three Choppers jumping up, jump up yourself to avoid them and reach the other side. You’ll see rings leading downward, run toward it, and you will run through a series of loops that stops when you reach a purple stone next to a pair of a pit of spikes. There is a platform that moves up and down in the center of the spikes. Jump onto it, and then jump to the stationary ledge to the right. Once again, there is a platform in the center of a spike pit. The only difference is that there are two platforms next to each other and two Buzzbombers trying to hit you. Avoid the Buzzbombers and jump from platform to platform to the ledge. On the ledge is a checkpoint; hit it and continue. Yet another platform-spike combo. Pass it and jump onto the lower ledge. Avoid the Motobug and move forward. There is a Crabmeat and a Newtron, a lizard-like enemy that hides in the walls. Avoid the Newtron’s bullet and crush the Crabmeat. A purple stone and a bridge is your landmark here. Needless to say, there are Choppers under the bridge. Use the Jump-dodge tactic and then run downward with the rings into another half-loop. You’ll land on another crumbling platform. Let it crumble, you’ll reach a lower level of ground. There are spikes and a Newton ahead. Jump over the spikes and land on the upper level of a series of ledges. Jump onto a crumbling platform and quickly jump near the horizontal red spring. Don’t touch it, jump over the spring. There is a Super Ring Capsule ahead. After you collect the rings, jump up, onto the Upper Level. Run forward to reach the Robotnik sign and finish the level. +-------------+ | Act 3 | +-------------+ Immediately from the start in the second tree is an Invincibility Capsule. Jump up to get it and move jump onto the yellow spring directly in front of you. Bounce up onto another cliff with a spring on which should propel you to a ledge with a Shield Capsule on it. Once you have the shield, drop down and jump onto yet another yellow spring. So far, if you’ve been moving quickly you’ve been able to avoid most enemies, here, though, are a Motobug and a Buzzbomber on a crumbling ledge. Quickly jump off the ledge and if you time it right, you should land on the Buzzbomber then drop onto the Motobug. Drop down and collect your first rings, but be aware that the ledge the three rings to the right are on is a crumbling one. Leap onto the up/down moving platform, and then when it is at his highest point, jump onto the cliff to the right. There are a few scarce rings and a Buzzbomber that you should be able to get past fairly easily. Drop down and collect the rings over the bridge. Luckily, this is not a Chopper bridge. Move forward and pass the checkpoint. Instead of following the ring trail, jump onto the higher cliff behind the checkpoint. There are two moving platforms to the right that move horizontally. Jump onto the first, then to the second, and finally onto a ledge. There is a cliff above the ledge, jump onto it when you are more elevated and break the Super Ring Capsule there. Drop down below to a bridge, which has no Choppers on it. Collect the rings and jump onto a yellow spring hidden behind some totem pole scenery. It is furthest to the right from the bridge. Up above is the second checkpoint. The first tree behind the second checkpoint contains a Super Ring Capsule. Collect ten more rings there and then make your way forward until you reach the edge of the cliff and find a moving platform. Jump onto it, and from there onto a vertical moving platform below. There is another platform to the right that move up and down, and a falling platform below it. Let yourself fall onto the top of a loop, on which is an ever-so precious 1-UP. Get it and drop down. Ahead is a trail of rings, followed by the annoying red spring. Jump over the spring and pass through the third checkpoint. Almost done. Up next is a very easy part that looks difficult. The log with spikes on it that rotates has one simple flaw - a platform above it. Get onto the platform to pass over this obstacle, and follow the trail of rings on the other side. There are two Newtrons and two Buzzbombers up ahead concealed by a waterfall. Pass through the waterfall as quickly as possible and dispose of the Crabmeat up ahead. After that, there is a slope followed by moving platforms. Don’t get on the platforms, instead, sprint down the slope and press down on the Control Stick or Pad to do the rolling attack, you should break through the wall here. Collect the three rings ahead and avoid Buzzbomber fire. Don’t step on the ledge, as it will crumble. Be very careful here, because the spike pit is an instant death obstacle. Jump onto the swinging platform and onto the cliff. Avoid the Buzzbombers or take them out; whatever you feel like. Drop down and run forward following more rings up to a half-loop. In the tree that seems to stand on the half-loop, there is a Super Ring Capsule, and an Invincibility Capsule in the last tall tree before the bridge. They seem to have done away with Choppers in this level, so just cross the bridge and pass through the fourth checkpoint. Up ahead is your first boss. This is a classic Sonic boss. In fact, it was intended to be an obstacle rather than a boss at first. So, hit Robotnik once or twice before he unleashes a huge ball on a chain that he swings around. When he swings the ball around, he hits every area of the lower arena except for the corners. Get in the corners when he swings it toward you, and jump up onto the platform when he swings it away. Jump up so that you hit the black underbelly of his ship to inflict damage to him, and then quickly hide in a corner. Repeat the process until victory is yours. After every boss battle, there is a capsule containing animals, jump on top of it and you win. You completed Green Hill Zone, the first Zone of the game. Good luck in Marble Zone! ================================================================================ ================================2.2: Marble Zone================================ ================================================================================ Personally, I hate this zone. Between the haunting background music to the evil fire obstacles, there isn’t much to like here. The action isn’t nearly as fast paced; prepare for a lot of slow movement. +-------------+ | Act 1 | +-------------+ Collect the three rings in the air at the start and move forward. Up ahead is a common hovering platform, and when it raises itself, you can see some red flowing stuff. Here you can tell that the main obstacle in the Marble Zone is lava, magma, and fireballs. Get ready. Collect the rings and watch out for a Buzzbomber up ahead. Here is an obstacle similar to one in Act 2 of the Green Hill Zone. A rising platform, and on either side is an instant death pit. Fall in the lava and die, but be careful, for up ahead is an evil enemy that is called a Caterkiller. Roll to defeat them; don’t jump because of their spikes. Ahead is a stairway (sort of) and on top is another Caterkiller. After him, are a Buzzbomber and the second sign of what is to come in this zone. Jump over the jumping fireballs on both sides. Wait until they are falling downward to jump. Up next is an evil part where it slopes downward, which makes you think a loop is ahead. Don’t rush or you’ll charge straight into a pit of lava. Ahead is a floating platform, and like the crumbling platforms, this one is destroyed to, but by means of fire. The lava here is not instant death lava, but it still makes you lose your rings. There are four fire platforms here in a row, so be quick. There is a Shield Capsule up ahead out in the open up next so you know it’s going to be difficult. Wait for the lowering platforms to go down and move into the underground cave. Up ahead is a big stomping obstacle that will be called Crushers from here on out. Don’t take these lightly; if you’re under one of these when it falls, you lose a life instantly. Wait until it’s rising for you to run under. There are three more after that, use the same strategy. Up ahead are bat-like enemies that shouldn’t give you much trouble. Now here is another slow part I have been talking about. There is a hanging spike thing with a block on it. Get on the left side of the block and push it to the left, onto a switch that lifts up the spike chandelier. Go down a series of stairs, and avoid the wall spikes that pop in and out of the wall when falling. There is a checkpoint to the left as well a Shield Capsule. Get it and move on to the new perils of Act 1. To the right is a crusher that crushes upward instead of downward. When it moves downward, cross over it and head down the stairs. Up above are falling blocks over a lava pit. When the blocks fall, jump onto them and make your way across. Ahead where you are meant to go up is another Spike Chandelier that has no restraints. The trouble is you can’t see it. Tap the jump button really fast to make it fall, and don’t hold it or you’ll be skewered. Luckily it isn’t an instant death obstacle. It slowly lifts itself upward, making a clanking noise. At this time jump to the side on the tiny ledge. When the Spike Chandelier falls again, jump on top of it and ride it up. Make sure you get off it in time or you’ll be crushed by it going up and the wall remaining there (that is an instant death obstacle). Green blocks extend outward from the walls, jump onto the first, and then to the second, but be careful getting onto the ledge because of another Spike Chandelier and more bats. As well as this, the weight on the chain that falls with the Chandelier is an instant death obstacle as well. When the Chandelier falls, get on top and ride it up. Once again be careful not to get crushed by the rising Chandelier; quickly make it to the outside via a passageway to the right. Avoid a Buzzbomber and jump from a rising platform to a stationary one to the right. Watch out for the Leaping Fireballs. Ahead is another Fire Platform, a Buzzbomber, a Caterkiller, and then another Fire Platform. Luckily, ahead is the Robotnik Sign, you passed Act 1, hoorah and hooray. +-------------+ | Act 2 | +-------------+ Floating Platforms galore at the start, followed by the popular Buzzbomber- Caterkiller combo. After that is a Fire Platform with Leaping Fireballs surrounding it. You enter the indoor area yet again here. Press the switch to lower the Crusher and fall down onto it and move to the left. The bats are difficult to defeat in this hallway, so try to roll under them. Up ahead is a block in front of a lava pit. Push the block into the pit and it will float along. Jump on it to cross. Avoid platforms in the way and cross the pit (watch out for the downpour of lava). There are three cannons ahead that fire Leaping Fireballs at you. Dodge them and fall down to the green block. Prepare yourself, because this part is EVIL, and somewhat fun for Marble Zone. Push in the green blocks so you can fall down into the hall below. You’ll fall into a hall where lava is pouring in, and my only advice is to run like you never have before, this is instant death to a new level. Jump over the ledges in the way and avoid the spikes at the end. When you reach the stairs and climb them, it will stop. You’re in a large room filled with bats, so be careful. Make your way to the end of the room and jump onto a swinging platform. They are just like the ones from Green Hill except they’re purple, so it should be easy. Jump from one to the other until you reach the end. You’ll enter a narrow hall filled with Caterkillers, rolling works, and something I forgot to mention is that you can jump on their heads, but not their spiky bodies. There is a red spring to avoid and a switch that lowers a Crusher. Press it and get up. There is a Shield Capsule to the right on a higher ledge that you’ll be wanting to get. Another green block lava pit is up ahead. Push the block in and cross the pit. Don’t freak out when you are sent upward by the lava, and as always jump onto the ledge when the block goes under it. When you’re sent up by the lava for the last time, jump into the new room. If you want a 1-Up and twenty rings, though, where the second block is at the end, you can walk into the wall. You’ll walk into a hall and then to the Capsule Room. Then take the block back to the other side, and push the green block into the lava to cross it again and then enter the higher room. There are three rings you’ll want, and a Caterkiller ahead. After that are green block rows coming out of the wall. Jump onto one, then the other and emerge into the light of day. Go to the left of the opening for a Super Ring Capsule and a Checkpoint. To the right is the platform with Leaping Fireballs around it. There is another right after that. Up next you’ll need to jump onto a stationary platform that is pretty high, while avoiding a Fireball. Watch out for a Buzzbomber with particularly good aim. Up ahead are a few enemies that you can pass and a collection of green bricks. Jump up to crush them when you fall. Back into the interior. There is another green brick collection, beneath which is a Shield Capsule. There is a Caterkiller below and to the left is a Lava Downpour, which drops tons of magma or lava on you (you may remember it from Act 1 during the lava pit crossing). Avoid the Downpours, and get an Invincibility Capsule to the bottom left! And yes, you can walk on lava when invincible. There is a Spike Chandelier above a hallway of enemies you should have plowed through. Get on top via a ledge to the side and cross the room, watching out for the other three Spike Chandeliers. Here you exit to the outside and you’ll find the sign. Act 2, completed! Finally! +-------------+ | Act 3 | +-------------+ Move ahead and collect the two rings above the stationary platform. Avoid the Buzzbomber bullet and travel ahead. It’s blank for a little, but then two Buzzbombers appear with a Caterkiller. From there run straight forward and into the interior once more. However, to get a Super Ring Capsule, jump to the right from the interior. Inside there are cannons firing Fireballs furiously (alliteration). Pass them and you’ll see the ever-familiar dropping blocks to get across the lava pit. Only difference is a weight on a chain that will act as your platform when there are none to jump on. Wait for the weights to fall and then jump on them, and from there, jump onto the other dropping block. Repeat the process up until you reach the end. Ahead are green bricks. Break them and fall to the lower level of the interior. Go to the left and you’ll see a crusher. Use it as a stepping stool to press the switch above it. Go to the right and push the green block into the lava pit. Avoid the simple ledge obstacles until another lava outburst propels you upward. Jump onto the ledge to the left and use the green block that comes out of the wall to get on top of a platform in the middle of the room. From their jump into the hallway to the right, avoiding the Caterkiller and the spikes. There are two Spike Chandeliers ahead, dodge them and fall into an even lower passageway. There are cannons firing the Fireballs as you make your way down. After passing them, you’ll find an evil stairway with spikes coming out of the sides. There is a Caterkiller ahead as well a red spring. I suggest rolling to defeat this one. There will be a lot of swinging platforms here. Cross them and climb another set of stairs. Get on a ledge and jump to the left to reach a checkpoint. Directly left relative to the checkpoint there is a Shield Capsule. Get it and move to the right. Avoid hidden spikes and Crushers as you make your way to the right. You’ll find a green brick collection to break through and a Crusher that crushes upwards (like an Anti-Crusher). Cross over it and get on a green block and make it to the other side of the lava pit. Jump into the hallway and jump onto the ledge. A Spike Chandelier should fall. Get on top and move to the right. Another Spike Chandelier will fall and you will want to ride it up. There will be another stairway with spikes coming out of the side. Jump to the second step to the fourth and finally to the top to avoid the spikes. Move to the left, disposing of the Caterkillers and the bats, and reach yet another lava pit (Hope this the last!). Cross the pit, jumping on the ledges in the way and getting back onto the brick when it has emerged from under the ledge as usual. There are no strange obstacles in this pit. You’ll exit the pit with the bats and see a Spike Chandelier. Get on top so you can reach a spiky stairway. On top of the stairs is a Super Ring Capsule. GET IT! Rings are so scarce in this act! Anyway, above the spiky stairs are more stairs with Fireball Cannons. Pass them and avoid the hidden spikes at the top of the stairs. Ahead are weights around platforms. Jump from weight to platform to weight until you reach the end. Remember you will be crushed if you stay on the weight too long and some of the platforms have spikes hidden on them. At the end there are two weights in a row and then an exit leading outside! Watch out when exiting because of spikes in the wall. Ahead are Leaping Fireball pits to jump over and a mere three rings. You’re about to engage in battle. The checkpoint is right ahead. The boss battle arena is basically ground with a lava pit in the center. The pit spews out Jumping Fireballs. Robotnik ship does as well, but the flames spread all over the platform. An easy way to beat him is to hit him while he’s coming over toward you and then retreat to the other platform. Strangely, Leaping Fireballs only come out of the left side of the pit. Anyway, this is a pretty easy boss battle, and afterwards, press the button on the capsule to release the animals. ================================================================================ =============================2.3: Spring Yard Zone============================== ================================================================================ Well, I must say I’m glad to be out of the Marble Zone, but Spring Yard Zone isn’t much better. Other than okay music and fun scenery, as well as somewhat fast-paced action, this zone is just as bad as Marble Zone. +-------------+ | Act 1 | +-------------+ At the start there are three Crabmeats and two Buzzbombers, and no rings. Pass through them and you’ll reach a red spring. Spring up into a tiny alcove that leads to another spring. This is where you get your rings. You’ll start bouncing wildly on bouncer things, and if your goal is score this is where to be, but to continue bounce over to the ledge on which is a series of rings. A Buzzbomber will attack with a buddy, but they shouldn’t pose much of a threat. There are three levitating platforms here, the center one rises the most, so get onto the left or right platform and wait until the center rises and get under it. Repeat the process until you fall onto a slope. The instant you see a yellow spring, jump. You will be catapulted into an enemy if not. Race through the room and into a slope. Go slowly because there are two big chain balls and swinging smaller chain balls. Once you pass the two big balls, you’ll reach an area with an abundance of rings, but a mace-like thing is swinging through it. When the mace goes down, jump in, get some rings, and race out. Okay, more chain balls. There’s one floating in front of a passageway out of the slope of evil. Wait for it to move to the left, then jump in. There’s another guarding the exit of the passageway, wait for it to move to the right then fall out. There is another mace obstacle afterwards, once again, when the mace swings downward jump in, get the rings, and get out. Afterwards, the checkpoint! Run into the spring on the other side of the checkpoint to send you up the slope. At the end is another spring, this one vertical. Use it to spring yourself up onto a levitating platform. Like before, move to different platforms when it has risen. Move to the right and jump onto the ring-filled platform. Jump on top of the half-loop and continue to the right. Jump onto the platform the spike ball is orbiting to the right. From there jump onto the loop and hope you aren’t hit by the spike ball. If your timing is right, you’ll make it. In the lower area surrounded by red springs, jump on the rightmost spring and get on top of the building. There are two Crabmeat on top. Fall down into from the building into the center of all the red springs. Jump onto the switch next to the yellow spring to the right, then run into the spring. You’ll be sent flying straight into the sign, and you’ve completed Act 1. +-------------+ | Act 2 | +-------------+ Behind you is a red spring. Hit it and catapult yourself toward a bouncer. Fall down with the rings into a half-loop that exits into a slope. At the beginning is a chain ball. It is Like a Crusher, only much slower. Run under it and halt before you hit another Chain Ball. Stop and wait until you can pass under, then sprint downward. You’ll be stopped midway. Up ahead is a mace-ring combo, however one of the ring layers is missing. Gather some rings and continue. There is a passageway above blocked by a chain ball. Wait until the ball moves to the left, then enter the passageway. At the exit of the passageway there is another chain ball. Wait for it to move to the right and then drop out of the passageway. There is a red spring ahead. Use it to get to another spring slightly above you, and that one to get to some levitating platforms. Climb up as usual, then go the right onto a flat building. Jump across a pit to reach a sloping building and sprint down. You’ll exit on a series of bouncers. Use them to reach an elevating platform and from there get on top of a building to the right. A half-loop is coming up, but don’t run up it, instead jump on a platform before it and from there onto the top of the half-loop. There is another slope blocked by a chain ball. Pass under it, and then pass under the other one and pass through the checkpoint! Move straight forward into a pit, inside of which is a spring. There is a chain ball on top of the spring, so wait for it to move, then spring. While waiting for it to move, duck, because it might hit you. When you spring upward, go to the right. Ahead there are expanding platforms. Get in the center, and move from one to the other. You’ll reach a platform that is vertical, so get on top, and from there jump to a moving platform. From there jump onto another moving platform, and finally a stationary one. Jump off and into a yellow spring. You’ll hit a bouncer. Drop down and you’ll be sent under a building. Keep going and you’ll reach the Robotnik Sign. +-------------+ | Act 3 | +-------------+ Now here’s a beginning I like. Just run forward, you’ll be moving so fast you’ll avoid Buzzbomber shots and you’ll fall into a bouncer field. Let yourself pass through the bouncer field and down into a spring pit. In the center is a Shield Capsule. Once you have your shield, jump onto the red springs to the right. The building you land on has a Super Ring Capsule on it. Beginning over, evil slope time. There is a slope ahead, with a chain ball in front. Pass under it and the other chain ball further down. There is a mace-swinging part again, followed by a Crabmeat and then levitating platforms. Get to the top and then use the yellow spring to the left to bounce up to a moving platform. Jump onto the building to the right and press the switch before the door opening to enter the tunnel area. There are two Crabmeats at first, but then you enter a slope. Here, there are two chain balls orbiting the same platform very slowly. Jump to the other platform and then into another Crabmeat Tunnel. After the tunnel, there are more levitating platforms. Go up as usual and exit to a building to the left, on which are two Crabmeats. After destroying the Crabmeats, get on a moving platform and jump onto a building to the right. Keep moving to the right until you reach a checkpoint. Move to the right until you fall down a huge half-loop filled to the brim with bouncers. Bounce up to a moving platform, and from there to another evil slope. Make sure that the chain ball at the front is out of the way when you jump. The first chain ball is followed by a second, and then a switch. Press the switch, causing a large orange brick to move to the right. Make sure you make your way to the right most red spring before it does and bounce up to the outside world. There are three crabmeats in a row guarding a moving platform. Get on the platform, and the next after that, to get to a building with two Crabmeats on it. Keep going until you reach yet another orbital Chain Ball platform. The next platform you should jump to has two chain balls orbiting it. The last has but one, but it’s really fast; be careful. After the orbiters, there are more levitating platforms. These go down though, so watch yourself. Move to the right until you reach a red spring. Bounce on it and after a couple rings and a vertical half-loop, you’ll reach a halfway point and stand before the boss. To reach the boss, follow a series of vertical platforms that change shape, from stairs pointed to the right to stairs pointed to the left. The boss himself is fairly easy. The arena is made of stone blocks. His ship abducts one block and destroys as his attack. Soon the arena is destroyed, but you should be able to defeat him before then. Hit the black underbelly of his ship when he flies around searching for a new block to abduct. Don’t hit him when he has his spike out or you’ll take damage. When he plunges down, you can hit him at the top. Keep hitting him and you’ll win. After the battle, rescue the animals in the capsule. ================================================================================ ==============================2.4: Labyrinth Zone=============================== ================================================================================ Two of the most annoying zones out of the way, one more left! No, no, the Labyrinth Zone is not the annoying zone, Scrap Brain Zone is, and Star Light Zone rocks. Labyrinth Zone however, is the most EVIL, EVIL, EVIL, EVIL, etc. zone. I hate water zones, and this is no exception. Even the boss is evil. Don’t get me wrong, this zone is pretty easy, I just can’t stand water levels. I think this is where Sonic really started hating Robotnik. You know what I like about the future Sonic games? There is a shield you can get that allows you breathe underwater. How come Italian plumbers and apes wearing ties can breathe underwater and not Sonic? Anyway, I am rambling, so good luck, and keep in mind that if you have to replay all the zones I have talked about so far, the guide up there is staying up there. Good luck, you’ll need twenty of them for the boss. (By the way, this zone is not an annoying zone; it is a pure evil zone. Thanks! Good luck!) +-------------+ | Act 1 | +-------------+ Let me explain a few things. Since this an underwater zone for the most part, you’ll need air. To get air either jump out of the water (This is impossible in some areas) or touch small air bubbles that float up from the ground. Stop at every air bubble thing you find, trust me, you’ll want to refill your air. You can tell you’re drowning when you hear frantic music and there’s a five second countdown leading up to your demise. Now that you know, let’s get started. Starting off, to the right are three common enemies that are all over this zone. They are called Burrobots, and are quite simple to avoid. However, they hide, but you can see part of them. You come to an obstacle sort of like the ones from Spring Yard Zone. Remember the maces? If you want to risk it, on the ledge above it is a Shield Capsule (which I highly recommend getting). If you got it, avoid the swinging chain ball and make your way into the water. Prepare for pure horror. When you reach the ground-floor area of the water go left where you’ll find two more Burrobots, they shouldn’t pose much of a threat. They guard a Super Ring Capsule. After harvesting the rings, hit a switch that opens a door to the right, now move to the right. Upon finding the second switch, press it and get out of the water. Breathe! To the left is another Super Ring Capsule. Get it and head to your right. There will be a couple Burrobots that need dealing with. Take ‘em out as you find them. Take a deep breath and jump back into the depths. A new enemy appears. They sort of mimic Batbots from the Marble Zone. Except Batbots fly and the new Jaws swim. Keep going down until you can go no further. Here be careful, there is a platform here that will crush you against the spikes when you step on it. To the left is a switch that leads to a room with a Super Ring Capsule, press the switch, get the rings. When you head right, press the switch and prepare to enter tunnel that sucks you in. The switch is difficult to reach since it’s so high up, so get on the upper step of the stairs before jumping. Welcome to the next sector of the level. You will land on a crushing-spike platform, so jump instantly to avoid certain doom. There’s another to the left so do the instant jump there too. Go down. You’ll see a Chain Ball from the Spring Yard Zone, but it actually is on a chain. Jump when the coast is clear and then go right upon landing. After going through a room with a Jaws and four rings, you reach the stairs, reminding me of Marble Zone, only more evil. These are pretty hard to get onto because the step themselves aren’t as big as they should be. Jump from step to step while avoid the super-fast Chain Ball. I like this part, however, cause you’re finally out of the water! There will be a big factory like conveyor belt only it’s vertical (Robotnik has left his mark) on which are blocks. In the middle of the belt is a ledge. Get on. Climb the ledges to the right as they fall. A switch is on a small ledge beneath the spikes to the right. Tap the jump button to make a small jump and land on the switch, avoiding the spikes. Jump from there into the water and through the new area you just opened when you pressed the switch. Here you’ll find the checkpoint. Second part (The first was the longest paragraph ever) and it is no pushover. Basically, there are white pitchforks or tridents; whatever you call them, they are evil. They don’t seem to be much now, but just wait. Jump over them when they lower themselves. If you have a lot of rings if you lose them they’ll be easy to collect in a passageway with such a low ceiling. To make matters worse, there is no air in this place! Hurry through until you reach a red spring. Water levels will recede, and use this to your advantage. Quickly get on the spring and bounce yourself as far up the stairs as possible. The water will rise now (NOOOOOO!), be sure to get up quickly. On the surface is an unknown object, perhaps a platform, you decide, that floats up and down. When it moves down, jump onto it and from there move to the left and you will once again enter the water, how fun! Here is another Vertical Factory Conveyor Belt with bricks on it. Below it are spikes and one of my least favorite enemies, Orbinauts. They’ll fire the spiked balls that orbit it at you so watch out. Pick a brick, any brick and ride up. At the top, jump to the right, now be careful. Jump quickly to evade the stone statue (Cats?) that fires fireballs at you. Above the lower statue and further to the right is another, you want to jump between them. You’re going to reach a block after a bit of walking. Make sure your not on top of the blocks. The hallway will flood and you want to go to the right. There is a blocked area (press the switch) and a Super Ring Capsule. After two more horizontal Trident Attacks, you reach an exit to the water and the Robotnik sign. Ha! In your face, Robotnik, it is possible! Anyway, feel proud of yourself, you beat Act 1!!!!!! +-------------+ | Act 2 | +-------------+ This level is semi-not terrible. It is like a break between the two acts harder acts. To the right is a water slide that sends you into the water. Break open the Invincibility Capsule and make your way to the left. Take that Jaws down and fall down taking out two more. There are two Super Ring Capsules here and you’ll want to be going to the right. There are two rings and some Burrobots, and two chain balls - that’s where the invincibility wears off, and ahead is a current ride in a tunnel. Where you’re deposited, get a Shield from a Capsule. There are a few minor enemies in here. Step on a spring in the water to enter the dry upper part of the room. Beneath one of the Super Ring Capsules is a switch. Press it to unearth the next part of the level and open a door. Head right from the switch and you’ll reach a fire-firing statue. Jump into the passageway it is guarding and reach the only checkpoint. On a ledge to the right in an Invincibility Capsule. Charge! Sprint through the upcoming obstacles! Your invincibility will wear off around the cannon that shoots the Leaping Fireballs out (Remind you of Marble Zone?). After a Trident Set (arrgh!) you should defeat the enemies as you reach them, mostly easy ones. After the enemy encounters, you’ll reach a stairway. Climb it and take on the Orbinaut. You reach another Vertical Conveyor Belt to the right. Get on a brick and ride up. When you reach an overlapping part, jump onto a new brick, leap out of the water, and get to the Robotnik Sign (to the right)! +-------------+ | Act 3 | +-------------+ I have got nothing against this act or anything, but I hate the boss. Anyhow, quadruple Burrobots from the start, along with three rings. Ahead is a slippery slope (that look really fun!) that you’ll want to slide down. Note that those fire-spitting statues look just like the ones that release the water, only the water ones have horns. This is the Infinite Slide. For our younger audience, that means it never stops. As soon as you start to the slide turns left, jump to land on a ledge with a Shield Capsule on it. Get it and continue to slide. A tad lower is another ledge you have to jump to finish the level. Jump onto it and get the Super Ring Capsule to the left of the switch. You just lowered the slide so now jump to the right through the water trailing down and into a newly opened room behind the slide moving left. There is a switch to press, so press it and fall onto a stairway above the water. To get in, avoid the chain ball and take out the Jaws below. Drop to the staircase going down to the left and then into a hall of tridents. Now here, jump in the middle of the four tridents, you’ll find the floor drops into another room. Take this route and move to the right, taking out two Burrobots as you go. Further to the right is another Suction Tube/Tunnel. You’ll exit onto a pole you hang on to. Press the A button to let go. Move up or down on the pole so that you avoid spikes when you release. The current will stop when you are sent into a huge room. Get some air quick. From the bottom, climb the stairs and use them to jump off to reach a red spring to the left. Use the spring to reach a switch to the left a bit so that you open a door at the top of the stairs. Go in, fight off an Orbinaut, and climb to the top of a set of stairs at the end of the hall. At the top, there is a switch. Press it to gain entrance to the surface and climb out of the water. To the left is a checkpoint, get it and continue. To the right are three of those floating platforms. Get on the rightmost one and ride it up as the water level increases. Jump onto the ledge before you are crushed. You may have to get on one and jump to the other. If you miss one of them as the water rises, go back to the checkpoint; it should lower. Race the water up the stairs on the right side of the ledge until it stops (You’ll have to take down a few Burrobots on the way). Keep climbing the stairs. When you reach the top, go to the left to break a Shield Capsule and then watch as the water rises again. However, not all the way, for a time it stops because your fight with Robotnik is right here (and then rises). Apparently, Dr. Robotnik wasn’t prepared for Sonic and must withdraw. Chase Robotnik up a series of stairs and platforms. There are, of course, Tridents, Fireballs, and water racing up (hopefully below you). You can’t destroy him, but you can hit him for fun, but your real goal is to get to the top alive. A super hard boss, he’s the reason I don’t like this zone. There are no rings, so you can afford only one hit thanks to the Shield. There is no real advice I can give you. Just hope you’re lucky. I have got to hand it to you; you have done good to make it this far. ================================================================================ ==============================2.5: Star Light Zone============================== ================================================================================ I great zone if I do say so myself. Not too difficult, pretty fast-paced, good music, nice background, but most importantly, pretty easy. I mean, this zone is called the Star Light Zone, so how bad can it be? +-------------+ | Act 1 | +-------------+ Collect the six rings that group in three before the first higher ledge. On this ledge is an annoying enemy called a Boombot. Guess what they do. When you destroy these (or when you get close), they burst into four flames, so they’re best left untouched. Anyway, after him there is a yellow spring. Use it to get onto the higher ledge to the right. On this ledge is another Boombot. Jump over this one and continue down the Transforming Platform, their new name. These are a green version of those Spring Yard Zone platforms. If you’re quick, you can get the 1-UP beneath it. Run forward into a loop and onto a platform with a red spring on it. Bounce on the spring and enter a new half-loop. You’ll be deposited in front of a new enemy, the remade Orbinaut. It is a different color and doesn’t send the spikes at you. Pass it and keep going. You’ll reach a stairway soon, go down and head left. You’ll reach a series of stairways, a cannon spitting fireballs out on each level (Marble Zone anyone?). Head right at the end, avoid the indention in the path with the Fire Cannons and run forward until you reach a crumbling ledge. From there, jump to an elevating platform to the right to reach a new, higher level. Run to the right into a half-loop sequence. After two, stop and head left onto another half-loop. Bounce on the yellow spring on the right side of the platform to bounce up to a ledge with two Super Ring Capsules on it. Go back to the platform with the springs on it, and take the one to the left, the red spring. You’ll hit a Transforming Platform that will create a stairway for you. Use the yellow spring and bounce to the left this time onto it. Climb the stairs and go to the right. You’ll collect a few rings and start down a slope. Keep going until you reach a half-loop that deposits you onto a platform with a red spring on it. Bounce on it and you’ll go flying into the Robotnik sign. +-------------+ | Act 2 | +-------------+ Run into the spring behind you. A hint I never mentioned before, if you are holding forward when you are being bounced off a horizontal spring, it will slow you down. Let go of the Control Stick/Pad t go further and faster. Anyway, when you reach the upper level via the half-loop the spring sends you to. Jump over the Orbinaut and then run forward through two loops. After the second, stop, and walk forward onto some crumbling floor. Let it crumble so that you enter a lower level again. Dash forward, traveling through a loop and a half-loop, and jump onto the yellow spring at the end of the loops. There are a lot of rings above the half-loop, to get them, roll while you are going through the loop and half-loop. Spring yourself to the lower of the two platforms above; the upper is filled with Boombots. After passing an Orbinaut, run forward to pass through a loop and a half. From there, move left and onto the top of the loop. Run from the left side of the loop and jump to three falling platforms. Swiftly get up and onto the main platform. . Above it is a Bounce Platform. Bounce onto the left side, and then quickly move to the right. Make sure you are at the far end, if you are not, it will not send you nearly as high. Land on a platform with a yellow spring to the right. Bounce on the spring to the higher ledge. Jump to the right onto a platform that moves you up. From that one, keep jumping to the others. At the top, run straight down and forward to reach the Robotnik Sign. +-------------+ | Act 3 | +-------------+ Unlike Act 2, we’ll be stopping at some checkpoints so don’t worry. Collect the three rings in the air and then avoid the Orbinaut guarding the rings ahead. Run downward into a half-loop filled with rings and exit onto the ledge. Ahead is a crumbling platform, guarded by an Orbinaut. The Orbinaut in on the left side, so jump over it and fall through the right side. There is a Boombot where you land and four Boombots ahead. Jump them, pass over the spring area and out to a Bounce Platform. The platform you land on, unfortunately, is filled with Boombots. Jump onto the Orbital Platforms to the right before they explode and from there to the other one. A Transforming Platform will morph into a stairway, however, there are fire cannons shooting fireballs ahead, so be careful. When you reach the end, more Boombots. Avoid them and run forward. There are two crumbling platform ahead, so be quick. You’ll reach a half-loop; run up it. Jump over one of those Rising Platforms and onto the Transforming Platform. From there, move to onto the sloping half-loop entrance and make it up the half-loop. To the right is a “Large Swinging Half Of A Chain Ball On A Chain”. Get on top and jump to the left onto a platform when it swings left. There are Three Super Ring Capsules as well as a Shield Capsule, so you want them. Get them and go right, past the Boombots and falling platforms into a half-loop. To the right of the half-loop is a Super Ring Capsule. Get it and go left. There is a Bounce Platform after two Orbinauts. Bounce up to a higher platform. On the roof are Hanging Boombots. They walk on the roof and the explosions are just as bad. Avoid them and jump over the red spring. There is a Fire Cannon above you, but how do you get up there? Hit the side of the roof to activate a Transforming Platform that becomes a Staircase. Run up, run to the left up a half-loop, run to the right up a half-loop and right again to reach the checkpoint. Robotnik picks the worst spots to fight, for him that is. There are three Bounce Platforms here that are empty. Robotnik drops the chain balls that bounce you onto them. Only difference is that they explode. Either send the chain balls at Robotnik, or bounce up yourself, you’ll hit him. There is but one problem, the chain balls explode like Boombots. Not too big of a problem, I suppose. Anyway, after beating him, press the button and save the animals! Only one more zone left, and it is a real pain! ================================================================================ =============================2.6: Scrap Brain Zone============================== ================================================================================ This place scares me. It has okay music, but in the background, there are tons of buildings. Well what does Robotnik need them for anyway? I don’t know but this Zone is hard. It even has a scary name. Plus, the boss is super hard. Well I’ll let you decide. +-------------+ | Act 1 | +-------------+ Start by collection the five rings at the start. As you continue you see what would be a falling or crumbling platform. I’ll call them Opening Platforms. Well don’t risk it on these; they open instantaneously. Just jump over them. After another one of those, you’ll find Fire Valves, they act just like Tridents from the Labyrinth Zone, rising and lowering. Pass the first, take out a Caterkiller (Long time no see!) and then avoid another one. There is a spinning ball with a hole in it. Press the switch to the left of it and enter it. Move forward pass a Fire Valve and a Caterkiller into a. You’ll enter the underground part of his lair. You’ll be on a metal rectangle that moves down, pushes in, moves up and comes out. Basically, when it lowers, there will be a small gap. Run through it the very end of the opening to avoid being crushed, and when it rises, another gap will appear, run through it. Repeat the process twice more and you’ll enter a hallway with two Caterkillers and a new obstacle. I call it the Electrocuting Machine. On either sides of the machine, a bolt of electricity is released. Roll under them and take out a Caterkiller. You’ll enter a pit that looks impossible to get out of. Jump, and a platform will appear out of thin air. Jump again and another will appear. Keep doing this until you reach the top. At the top, to the left is a Shield Capsule. Make sure you get it. Go to the right and you’ll find, between two Electrocuting Machines, is the checkpoint. Jump over the Machines and down the steps. You’ll find a Conveyor Belt like the ones from The Labyrinth Zone. Jump on a brick and at the top, jump forward; a platform will appear. Two more will appear after that. After the Appearing Platforms, you reach a ledge. To the right is an Opening Platform and a Caterkiller, avoid both and enter a tube (Like the ones from the Green Hill Zone.). This next part is tricky. There is a low roof and two Opening Platforms. When they open, jump onto them (they should close before you land on them) and quick jump to the next platform. Ahead is a switch, press it, then quickly jump up onto the two Removing Platforms (A lot of weird platform names in this game huh? Wait, those are mine) and through the barrier before your time runs out. Go right and you’ll see a part that looks hard. Well, it isn’t. Just fall through by walking on it; don’t try to get past it. Drop down onto another Conveyor Belt. At the top of first one, jump to reach the second and from there, jump onto the crumbling platform and quickly get on the stable ledge. Above you is a weird enemy called a Ballhog. It is a robotic pig that spews out balls that hurt you. Take it out, then go to the right to get three Super Ring Capsules! Jump to where the Ballhog was and run up. Jump again to the higher ledge and you’ll find another Ballhog. Take him out and keep going up. You’ll find another two next to a Fire Valve at the end. Destroy the hogs and jump over the Valve. Keep going and you’ll reach the Robotnik Sign. By the way, even if by some miracle you do have fifty rings, there are no special stages in the Scrap Brain Zone. Good luck in the next Act. +-------------+ | Act 2 | +-------------+ Notice that there is a different background from before and that this Act seems to be set indoors. Anyway, collect the six rings at the start. There is a Fire Valve blocking an Appearing Platform. Jump onto the Platform before the fire starts up and from there jump onto the spinning wheel. You’ll spin with it until you jump, even upside-down. Jump from one wheel to the other. When you reach the very top, jump onto a switch to activate a small platform. Jump on it and into the hallway. Go quickly; the platform eventually disappears. Up next there is an Opening Platform with a low ceiling. Jump when it’s open and land when it’s not. Cross it and avoid the red spring at the end. On the roof there are Electrocuting Machines. Tap the jump button to get on the higher step, then tap it again. If hold it, you’ll be electrocuted. Walk forward and avoid the Fire Valves. On the ceiling are Hanging Boombots. Wait until they explode to get on the spinning wheel to the right. In the bottom left hand corner is a Super Ring Capsule and in the upper right hand corner you’ll find a Shield Capsule. Also in the upper right hand corner is the hallway exit you’ll be taking. Inside there are conveyor belts with no bricks on them. Get on one of the treads and avoid the swinging chain ball obstacle above. It is easy to avoid. The Chain Ball only hits on the ends of the tread and does not touch the center. Get to the center, watch out while exiting, and get onto the next. The next moves you back with quite a force. Jump to get into the center, and then jump to get out. Time it right when you jump; the next conveyor belt zips you forward, and with good timing and landing skills, you’ll make it through easy. Ahead of that you’ll find three rings and a tube. Enter the tube and start the ride. You’ll go down a level and start going left. Escape a Fire Valve and start on the treads of the Conveyor Belt. This time you have to worry about being crushed. These are Crushers only faster. Simple to avoid, depending on which Conveyor Belt. After that, you’ll find some rings and an Electrocuting Machine, as well another tube. Get in and lower yourself even further. Avoid a Fire Valve and a Caterkiller from the start, and get the five rings hovering above you. After that is an Appearing Platform series over a pit. To the right is a Slicing Mechanism. They are pretty slow, fortunately. At the end one is fired at you from the ground. It is a pretty cheap move, but then again, we’re playing Sonic the Hedgehog. Get in the tube and go up for a change. A big Chain Ball is swinging above you, so wait a little, and then jump over the Fire Valve. Up next, go down the lower path. You’ll want to avoid an Anti-Fire Valve (One that comes from the roof) and a Caterkiller. Keep going down, avoid the three Chain Balls swinging overhead, and get to the Robotnik Sign! One act before your encounter with Robotnik! You’ll see a small cinema where Robotnik presses a switch and sends you to the third act. +-------------+ | Act 3 | +-------------+ For the final act of the Scrap Brain Zone, this isn’t too hard. There is a major short cut. I hate this act; it is like a polluted version of the Labyrinth Zone. Anyway, press the switch and quickly get under the platform before it stops. This is a major shortcut. Press the switch to the left and jump into the water (Note that the water is purple, Robotnik must be a pig!). Avoid the Tridents as you go down and the Chain Balls swinging when you go to the right. Jump on top of the floating stairway and to the passageway to the right. Climb the stairs and avoid the statue’s fireballs. Get out of the water and go right. Don’t stop at the first water entrance; go to the second. Avoid a ton of chain balls and climb the stairs. At the top is a Burrobot and a red spring. Defeat the Burrobot and jump on the spring to enter the Final Zone. ================================================================================ ==============================2.7: The Final Zone=============================== ================================================================================ This is a really short zone. It is the boss, and the final level of Robotnik’s base. Feel proud, you’ve reached the Final Zone. +----------------------+ | The Final Zone | +----------------------+ There are no acts. It is just the zone. Run forward and fight the final boss, which is sort of a let down. He is not really hard even though there are no rings, but I thought there would be more. Hit Robotnik when he emerges from the ground. After that he’ll activate a few energy balls to chase you. Avoid them by running around; they lock onto your position at the time and do not home. Robotnik may also emerge from the roof and crush you (he’ll do the same thing on the floor if you’re on him.). I would stay on the right side and attack him from there. He gets faster each time. You cannot afford a single hit because you have no rings. He’ll retreat into his smaller ship when you beat him. Hit it once and you’ve won. After seeing a short cinema with Sonic playing with the animals he freed, the credits will roll and they’ll show how expert players completed certain parts of the beta game levels. There is an alternate ending if you beat every special stage and got the Chaos Emerald, so see section 3.0 if you want to truly beat the game. At the end of the credits, if you beat the game without the emeralds, you’ll see Robotnik tossing them from one hand to the other. Robotnik still has the Chaos Emeralds, so why not play again and try to get them? Congratulations! You beat Sonic the Hedgehog. Try your luck with the next game, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. That will be my next walkthrough. Until then... ================================================================================ ==============================3.0: Special Stages=============================== ================================================================================ In the first five zones, if you collect fifty rings on Act 1 or 2, a large ring will be hovering above the Robotnik Sign at the end of the level. Jump into it and you’ll enter into a Special Stage. The goal in this stage is to get the Chaos Emerald. Collecting all of them will activate an alternate ending when you beat the game. I won’t tell you what that is, but I will tell you how to beat the Special Stages. There are six versions of the Special Stage. Each is harder than the previous. There are special obstacles to get by in each. The advantages to getting the emeralds are not only an alternate ending, but you can get a Continue too! This means when you get a Game Over, you can restart at the Act you were on before you died, so you don’t have to return to the Green Hill Zone every time. This also adds to your score, for bragging rights. +----------------+ | Controls | +----------------+ A/B/X to Jump Control Stick/Pad to Move +---------------------------+ | Items and Obstacles | +---------------------------+ Chaos Emeralds: Your goal in the Special Stage. Collect them all to activate an alternate ending. These look like gems and come in a variety of colors. Goal Balls: When you touch these, you exit the Special Stage. These are to be avoided at all costs. They flash blue and red and have Goal written on them. Bouncers: Red balls with stars on them; they send you flying when you touch them. Blocks: These simply are the boundaries of the maze; they may change color. R Balls: These balls have yellow outlines with the letter R on them. These reverse the direction the maze rotates in. Red and White Balls: Once again, these are only boundaries. The ball has red and white stripes that spin rapidly. Rings: Look just like they always have, but collecting enough of these will also get you a Continue. Up/Down Balls: They look like Red and White Balls but have “Up” or “Down” written on them. Press these to tilt the maze slower of faster. Emerald Barricades: These look like diamonds. At first they are blue, touch them to turn them green, then yellow, then purple. Touch them again to make them disappear. These are usually found blocking the Chaos Emerald in the maze. Invisible Balls: These are not really invisible; they are Red and White Balls in the background. Pass through them and they become solid. These often close off another part of the maze. 1-UP Balls: These are balls with a picture of Sonic’s face on them; use them to gain an extra life. Now that you know what too expect, you can beat it, but this is a Walkthrough! I’ll explain how to beat each stage, but I won’t explain how to get 1-Ups or rings unless they are conveniently located. +-----------------------+ | Special Stage 1 | +-----------------------+ You get the Blue Chaos Emerald here and this one is pretty easy. You start in your own little branch. Fall down and get some rings and hit the R Button from the start. Jump over the Bouncer and have it hit you at an angle bounce you through the Invisible Balls. You’ll see some Emerald Barricades in front of you. Wait until the maze rotates so that you are on them, and then roll around until you break through and get the Chaos Emerald. +-----------------------+ | Special Stage 2 | +-----------------------+ This one is pretty hard, I think. Drop into the main chamber from your little hallway. To the lower right (relative to where you started and the angle it was at) is a hallway. Go through it and enter another main chamber. Keep looking around until you find two hallways with a bumper in the center. They lead into some Invisible Balls. Pass through and you’ll find some Emerald Barricades on either side of the Red and White Balls ahead. Break through, and then enter the Main Emerald Chamber. Break through those Barricades and get the Chaos Emerald, this one yellow. +-----------------------+ | Special Stage 3 | +-----------------------+ You know, why have a hallway to pass through at the beginning? They just drop you this time. This is pretty easy and I like it. Drop down and avoid the Bouncers below. You’ll drop directly to the Emerald Barricades. Break through them and get the Purple Chaos Emerald. +-----------------------+ | Special Stage 4 | +-----------------------+ You do start in hallway this time (they’re making a comeback!) and you’ll want to get out. This whole thing is a hallway, and the exit is to the Chaos Emerald. I really can’t explain how to do this, except follow the arrows of rings. The arrows direct you to the chamber. When inside, break through the Emerald Barricades and get the Green Chaos Emerald. +-----------------------+ | Special Stage 5 | +-----------------------+ Well, basically, just go straight forward. Don’t go into the sides and you’ll reach the red emerald. +-----------------------+ | Special Stage 6 | +-----------------------+ This is so easy. You fall down onto the Emerald Barricades! Break through and get the final emerald, the gray. Now, just beat the game and you’ll see the alternate ending. If you lost on a particular stage, simply access them from a different level to replay those you have lost on. Congrats! ================================================================================ ===============================4.0: Legal Things================================ ================================================================================ First off, I’d like to say that I had no part in the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog or any related characters, ideas, concepts, etc. Sega created Sonic, and not me, just to straighten that up. This document is my own and is Copyright 2003-2007 Brian McPhee. This document may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission from myself, Brian McPhee. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. This guide is exclusive to www.gamefaqs.com and its affiliates. Until next time... Or as I’ve come to say in my more recent guides... See ya later.