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[RK128]

This is an interesting title, as its the first for a few things. It was the official Sonic game that released on a non-SEGA system.....and it was during the era of the Dreamcast. It released on a interesting handheld called the Neo Geo Pocket Color and for some deal with SEGA.

But it was another first for the Sonic series; SNK developed the game but members that worked on the game moved on to form a company called Dimps.

They are known for helping out Capcom with fighting games like Street Fighter V recently but they never made platformers before. Sonic Pocket Adventure was one of their first projects before forming Dimps and it started a long string of co-productions with Sonic Team.

Their first game under the Dimps label was Sonic Advance, which I will be covering quite soon .

- - - - -

Okay, now lets talk about the game! This releases post Sonic Adventure, so the sprites are not completely classic like, but they are very close to the original Genesis games in look.

Sonic has his Adventure design and Eggman slowly gets his classic look as you progress further into the game.

What makes this game so interesting is that its less of a original game but more so a fun remix of the Classic series. You have Sonic 2 level tropes, music from Sonic 3/Sonic Jam and Sonic 2 special stages; a mis-mash of Sonic content!

It makes this stand out more with new level designs and an attempt to capture the Genesis physics on the Neo Geo Pocket hardware, which was very impressive. Though considering this is a 16-Bit handheld, it was likely a bit easier to migrate over compared to what developers on the Game Gear Sonic's did (as they worked with 8-Bit hardware).

- - - - - - - -

The level designs are fun, as they feel like they belong with a Classic Sonic game. It plays up the tropes from past Sonic's well (the Plant Zone having underwater sections, the Casino Zone having pinball, a Sky Chase stages where you move on-top of Tails' plane, ect). But the new level design elements make each retread 'different' then Sonic 2, making this game quite fun.

But I will comment on two issues I have with the game. One being how the special stages work. They are like Sonic 2 but you only have ONE shot. If you die, that's it, no extra tries in later levels. You only get six shots to get the Chaos Emerald and it really bites. Emulation makes this a non-issue (as you could make save states before each special stage) but still, doesn't get rid of the problem.

My second issue is that you cannot use Super Sonic in main-levels. That was the case too with the Game Gear games but here it is a bit head scratching. They are playing up this being a Classic Era homage, so why not give you something famous from that era of Sonic?

- - - - - - - -

The music in the game is remixes from a number of older games in the series, but the 8-Bit composition is really well done here .
Neo South Island Act 1 (Sonic World): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_4vnQqn3dY&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518&index=3
Neo South Island Act 2 (Angel Island Act 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VpticdI5RE&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518&index=4
Secret Plant Act 1 (Angel Island Act 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kehVC9vMISw&index=5&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518
Secret Plant Act 2 (Hydro City Act 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYqBY4etVYY&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518&index=6
Aquatic Reflex Act 1 (Mushroom Hill Act 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6EH8Aqug_8&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518&index=9
Sky Chase Zone (Sonic 3 MP Levels): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BKUNbX4WVA&index=11&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518
Areobase Zone (Death Egg - Sonic 3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U9YXiHcheY&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518&index=12
Chaotic Space (Sky Sanctuary Zone): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cLJwYjyGfA&list=PLC3ACD809AA5B1518&index=18

Some of the music choices were great picks, like Knuckles having a remix of Flying Battery play during his fight and Silver Sonic having the Doomsday theme play in his fight .

- - - - - - - -

Critics loved this game a lot and I gotta say, really enjoy this too . Sill have a lot to play of the title (have two more zones left to get through) but overall, this is a solid platformer. Dimps first shot with the series is a strong one and we will see them again with future handheld Sonic's .

 

[James Scott]

Not sure why, but I dig the look of the game. Not sure if it's any good, never got to play it (not sure if they ever re-released it)
The sprites you posted aren't the originals, btw

 

[Diablohead]

that sprite sheet is fan made i'm sure, the pocket adventure sprite has sharp pointy quills like sonic cd's artwork.

*edit* ok you changed it, good

Pocket Adventure is a game I have only tried a few times but I do remember it being on display to test and play in a store a long time ago, I could never afford the neogeo pocket so never played it.

 

[RK128]

Not sure why, but I dig the look of the game. Not sure if it's any good, never got to play it (not sure if they ever re-released it)
The sprites you posted aren't the originals, btw

That explains Blaze being present X(. Going to update the OP in a bit to correct that.

 

[RK128]

Not sure why, but I dig the look of the game. Not sure if it's any good, never got to play it (not sure if they ever re-released it)
The sprites you posted aren't the originals, btw

They never re-released it for some reason. I guess SNK owns complete rights to the game or SEGA never bothered to add it to one of the Sonic collections.

 

[@MUWANdo]

There is an original element to this game that you didn't mention: each level contains several hidden puzzle pieces that form character portraits you can view in one of the menus, and collecting all the puzzle pieces in the game lets you play the special stages whenever you want.

There are also time trials for every stage in the game, plus a versus mode using the link cable which features Tails as the P2 character, who I don't think is playable in any other mode--I don't know why, the sprites are right there and he has an identical moveset to Sonic, so it's weird they didn't throw it in there as an easter egg somewhere.

 

[RK128]

There is an original element to this game that you didn't mention: each level contains several hidden puzzle pieces that form character portraits you can view in one of the menus, and collecting all the puzzle pieces in the game lets you play the special stages whenever you want.

There are also time trials for every stage in the game, plus a versus mode using the link cable which features Tails as the P2 character, who I don't think is playable in any other mode, which is kinda weird.

Knew I forgot something!

Tails can be played in Single Player via Debug, shown in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDvx28bDEW4

Odd he can't be played normally like Sonic. Never new about the Time Trials though.......thanks for the heads up . Mind if I put your post in the OP ? Really helpful information!

 

[IronicSonic]

This game belongs to my endless backlog.


Some day...

 

[Celine]

Number one issue is that Neo Geo Pocket Color screen can't keep up with the fast scrolling action, it's too blurry.
This is what really bother me about this game (not even the lower framerate bother me much).
Of course this is an issue only for those that play the real game, not through emulation.

Still in my top 3 for NGPC with Snk v Capcom MotM and Dark Arms.

 

[RK128]

Number one issue is that Neo Geo Pocket Color screen can't keep up with the fast action, it's too blurry.
This is what really bother me about this game (not even the lower framerate bother me much).
Of course this is an issue only for those that play the real game, not through emulation.

Still one in my top 3 for NGPC with SvCMotM and Dark Arms.

Was the Pocket Color a fun system? This being so high quality mush indicate that the system got some games .

The game pushing the Pocket Color (screen blur and framerate) is interesting, as I guess SNK/Dimps didn't optimize the game enough to run on the Neo Geo Pocket.

 

[Celine]

Was the Pocket Color a fun system? This being so high quality mush indicate that the system got some games .

The game pushing the Pocket Color (screen blur and framerate) is interesting, as I guess SNK/Dimps didn't optimize the game enough to run on the Neo Geo Pocket.

NGPC is a fun system, especially for SNK fans.

Sonic PA definitely pushed the system, for instance the console has a three color limitation for single sprite (just like the NES) but if you look at the Sonic sprite, it uses more colors (5 if I remember right) because Dimps got away from that constraint by using multiple sprites to compose Sonic.

 

[RK128]

NGPC is a fun system, especially for SNK fans.

Sonic PA definitely pushed the system, for instance the console has a three color limitation for single sprite (just like the NES) but if you look at the Sonic sprite, it uses more colors (5 if I remember right) because Dimps got away from that constraint by using multiple sprites to compose Sonic.

Cool, will look into more games on the system in the future then .

Doing what they did for Sonic is really cool! The specials stages are another example of them pushing the system, as I have no idea how they managed to port over the Sonic 2 specials stages into the game.....

 

[mrmickfran]

Here is the only Sonic game to ever get a 10 from IGN.

 

[Celine]

The specials stages are another example of them pushing the system, as I have no idea how they managed to port over the Sonic 2 specials stages into the game.....

What's so impressive?
The rotating special stage in Sonic 3 (?) would have been impressive.

 

[RK128]

Here is the only Sonic game to ever get a 10 from IGN.

Will never get over the low score they gave Unleashed HD and how the Wii version got higher scores............

 

[dlauv]

This game didn't use authentic Genesis physics, but it was designed around that weakness and made for a very convincing and, probably, the most fun handheld Sonic entry.

 

[RK128]

What's so impressive?
The rotating special stage in Sonic 3 (?) would have been impressive.

I thought it might of been a 3D object or something.....but you're right, if they ported the Sonic 3 special stages it would of been impressive.

Sorry for my mistake.

 

[RK128]

This game didn't use authentic Genesis physics, but it was designed around that weakness and made a very convincing and perhaps the most playable handheld Sonic entry.

Interesting......so the level design was built in mind for Genesis like physics and they made 'points' to trigger elements of the physics system. I think the Game Gear games did this too, but this does it more often.

Either way, thank you for the information!

 

[@MUWANdo]

I thought it might of been a 3D object or something.....but you're right, if they ported the Sonic 3 special stages it would of been impressive.

Sorry for my mistake.

The Sonic 2 special stages are pre-rendered background tiles that constantly refresh t o create the illusion of movement. It's a clever technique but it's not mindblowingly complex or anything.

 

[RK128]

The Sonic 2 special stages are pre-rendered background tiles that constantly refresh t o create the illusion of movement. It's a clever technique but it's not mindblowingly complex or anything.

Thank you for the correction! Really clever solution to making that work on the Genesis.

 

[flak57]

For some reason, hunting for the hidden puzzle pieces in all the nooks and crannies of the Casino levels is one of my fondest gaming memories.

 

[G0523]

The Neo Geo Pocket Color was actually a 16-bit system, not an 8-bit like you said in the OP.

I still have mine and Sonic but I never bothered to get past the second level for some reason. Maybe I just got them too late? I got them in 2006 and it's really hard to go back to a screen with no backlight after all these years.

 

[Tizoc]

One of my fav 2d sonic games loved the sonic 2 vbe it gave me and its soundtrack was ace

 

[The Xtortionist]

Secret Plant's Act 1's theme is Angel Island Act 2, and Act 2's theme is Hydrocity Act 1

 

[RK128]

Secret Plant's Act 1's theme is Angel Island Act 2, and Act 2's theme is Hydrocity Act 1

Another mistake on my part XD. Will edit the OP now, thank you for the correction .

 

[goldenpp72]

I own every US ngpc game and this is my favorite. Very cool game.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

One of my favorite NGPC games and among my favorite Sonic entries as well.

 

[Psyrgery ES]

I never got to play this game on an actual NGPC, but what I got to play was amazing. A very solid an fun game, I found the selection of stages to be quite balanced and well chosen.

It was one of the best Sonic handheld games I've ever played

 

[Aaron Strife]

I hate how the DIMPS games adhered so strictly to the "seven levels, seven Chaos Emeralds, Super Sonic saved for the final boss" formula. Although here that was just the six.

 

[@MUWANdo]

I hate how the DIMPS games adhered so strictly to the "seven levels, seven Chaos Emeralds, Super Sonic saved for the final boss" formula. Although here that was just the six.

People complain about Super Sonic being too fast and difficult to control in the classic games, so imagine how much worse that'd be on a handheld.

It also doesn't help that you're constantly going at full speed with partial invulnerability in a lot of Dimps games anyway, so it wouldn't really change much.

 

[Plasma]

This game didn't use authentic Genesis physics, but it was designed around that weakness and made for a very convincing and, probably, the most fun handheld Sonic entry.

I still think the first advance game was the best handheld one though some of the later levels on the airship where you could just fall out of the sky at a moments notice were a bit rough.

 

[Ferr986]

This is IMO the best DIMPS Sonic game, atleast level design wise (sucks that it reused so much art and music wise from Sonic 2 and 3).

 

[Mr. Virus]

This is IMO the best DIMPS Sonic game, atleast level design wise (sucks that it reused so much art and music wise from Sonic 2 and 3).

I quite like the re-mixes, they're well done!

Had a lot of fun playing through this when I picked it up a few weeks ago, though Sonic 2 is probably my favourite console Sonic game ha ha.. Only real sticking point was the Aerobase level and the lack of screen space meaning there were some pretty nasty blind jumps.

 

[Lights and Waves]

My friend had this game, I always thought Sonic's redesign was the bee's knees. I wanted a NGPC so bad!

 

[Jonneh3003]

This is one favourite classic Sonic games and its also one of the best games I've played on the NGPC. Its a total throw back to Sonic 2 with some influences from Sonic 3 and CD but it plays so well, the NGP's thumbstick is so precise.

 

[Lord British]

Great game. I only wish there was a) a way to delete save data, and b) a way to know which stages still have puzzle pieces in them.

 

[War Raichu]

Will never get over the low score they gave Unleashed HD and how the Wii version got higher scores............

b-b-but the Werehog was sooooooo awful though!

It was so awful that we gave a higher score to the version with even worse controls!

 

[Marow]

I'd love to play this. It looks super fun and I oddly love the graphics.

Seems like Advance took many cues from this game.

 

[RK128]

I'd love to play this. It looks super fun and I oddly love the graphics.

Seems like Advance took many cues from this game.

It really does, going so far to include similar sounding Zone names (Neo Green Hill (Advance) - Neo South Island (Pocket Adventure)) for example. Will be touching on Advance today, so will be comparing this with that game .

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Any Sonic game where at the title screen Sonic is wagging the entire hand instead of a finger is bad in my books.

 

[RK128]

Any Sonic game where at the title screen Sonic is wagging the entire hand instead of a finger is bad in my books.

.

I enjoyed parts of Episode I, but it really isn't that great (though it has its moments).

 

[Robin64]

There was a cable that linked the Neo Geo Pocket Color to a Dreamcast, as I recall, and I always thought Sonic Pocket Adventure used it. But apparently not! Must be thinking Cube/GBA I guess.

 

[RK128]

There was a cable that linked the Neo Geo Pocket Color to a Dreamcast, as I recall, and I always thought Sonic Pocket Adventure used it. But apparently not! Must be thinking Cube/GBA I guess.

The GameCube and GBA connected with the Sonic games to unlock content for the Tiny Chao Guardian in Sonic Adventure DX/Adventure 2. They had it for Sonic Advance 1 & 2 but they removed it for Sonic Advance 3 (replacing it with a 'Chao Guardian' that is liked to a BS why of accessing special stages).

 

[BlazeHedgehog]

Pocket Adventure is more true to the Genesis games than either of the Sonic 4 episodes, and also the Sonic Advance games.

It's a shame it has never been officially re-released by Sega anywhere, but maybe there are licensing shenanigans with SNK they aren't willing to sort out. It would have made a great 3DS virtual console game.

 

[GabeTheGrouch76]

Pocket Adventure is more true to the Genesis games than either of the Sonic 4 episodes, and also the Sonic Advance games.

It's a shame it has never been officially re-released by Sega anywhere, but maybe there are licensing shenanigans with SNK they aren't willing to sort out. It would have made a great 3DS virtual console game.

Mostly agreed, though I think the first Advance game is also on the same ballpark as Pocket Adventure in terms of faithfulness to the Genesis games. Maybe less so, but not as significantly than the Advance sequels.

Pocket Adventure is in a sense Sonic 4 done right--that's to say, it's a rehash of the Genesis games but it doesn't have the cojones to bill itself up as a direct sequel, and also provides a fairly accurate recreation of the Genesis gameplay.

I also do agree its a bit of a shame its never been re-released, though I have a feeling that's more on the basis that it's a obscure title that I bet most of the current Sega staff don't even know about, rather than it being considered for a port but held up due to legal issues. I'm sure it probably could had secured a spot on the Gems Collection compilation if it had the chance.

 

[The Broken Ska Record]

I wish I had a Neo Geo Pocket for this game.

 

[RK128]

Mostly agreed, though I think the first Advance game is also on the same ballpark as Pocket Adventure in terms of faithfulness to the Genesis games. Maybe less so, but not as significantly than the Advance sequels.

Pocket Adventure is in a sense Sonic 4 done right--that's to say, it's a rehash of the Genesis games but it doesn't have the cojones to bill itself up as a direct sequel, and also provides a fairly accurate recreation of the Genesis gameplay.

I also do agree its a bit of a shame its never been re-released, though I have a feeling that's more on the basis that it's a obscure title that I bet most of the current Sega staff don't even know about, rather than it being considered for a port but held up due to legal issues. I'm sure it probably could had secured a spot on the Gems Collection compilation if it had the chance.

In many ways, Pocket Adventure is a nice Sonic 4 while Advance is Sonic 5. The latter Advance games are 'new' games shifting focus away from the style of the Genesis games with the Rush series fully embracing this new direction for 2D Sonic.

I also agree with you about how this should of been included in the Gems Collection but I wouldn't be surprised if Sonic Team/Dimps forgot about the title.

 

[Celine]

I also do agree its a bit of a shame its never been re-released, though I have a feeling that's more on the basis that it's a obscure title that I bet most of the current Sega staff don't even know about, rather than it being considered for a port but held up due to legal issues. I'm sure it probably could had secured a spot on the Gems Collection compilation if it had the chance.

None of the other NGPC games were ever re-released.
Unless SNK Playmore or another company who successfully get the license to emulate NGPC decide to render NGPC emulation legally available you are unlikely to get them on digital stores.
There is also the problem that I believe the game code is at least co-owned by SNK.

 

[RagnarokX]

Ah, Dimps. They got worse and worse as they went. Ironic thread title considering Dimps' involvement in removing/marginalizing rolling from the games ;P

I never played pocket adventure, but Advance 1 was as close as they got to classic gameplay from their games I played. Still didn't have very good level design, though :/

 

[RK128]

Ah, Dimps. They got worse and worse as they went. Ironic thread title considering Dimps' involvement in removing/marginalizing rolling from the games ;P

I never played pocket adventure, but Advance 1 was as close as they got to classic gameplay from their games I played. Still didn't have very good level design, though :/

......... XD!

I never thought about that when making the thread title, such a good point :'). Thank you for the laugh man .