Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball

Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (also known as Sonic Spinball) is a pinball game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was originally released for the Sega Genesis in 1993 and later ported to the Game Gear system. It was also released in 1994 on the Master System in Europe by Sega Europe (which is one of the last games made for the system and is quite hard to find), this was later released in Brazil by TecToy and in Portugal by Ecofilmes in 1995. This version is a port of the Game Gear version. It is considered by some to be one of the more difficult Sonic games in the series.

Storyline

Dr. Robotnik has assumed control of Mt. Mobius and turned it into a mechanical base. Utilizing energy produced by the magma flowing under the volcano, this new monstrosity (the Veg-O-Fortress) has the power to transform helpless animals into robot slaves at an astounding rate. Sonic the Hedgehog and Tails fly onto the scene, but Sonic is knocked off the wings of the airplane by a blast from the fortress. He falls into the water, but is rescued and taken to the subterranean levels of the Veg-O-Fortress. The fortress must be destroyed from the inside-out, and the only way to make that happen is to trigger an eruption in the volcano it's built on. Sonic knows this can be done by removing the Chaos Emeralds that keep the volcano stable. Robotnik, however, is also aware of the fragile relationship that exists between the Emeralds and the mountain, and he's set up an elaborate Pinball Defense System to make sure the precious jewels don't go anywhere.

Gameplay

Sonic Spinball is essentially the logical continuation of a tradition of pinball themed levels that started with Spring Yard Zone on Sonic the Hedgehog. The game features four large pinball 'tables' - a sewer level, a geothermal power station, a robot factory, and a launchpad system. The player must guide Sonic through each of the four levels and collect the Chaos Emeralds to fight Dr. Robotnik.

The main difference between this game and an actual pinball game is the ability to control the "ball" (Sonic) while in motion. The D-pad is used to control the flippers within each zone. The A button raises left flippers, the B button raises right flippers, and the C button raises both at once. Classic platforming gameplay as in Sonic the Hedgehog is kept to a minimum.

Levels

Zones

Toxic Caves: Sonic washes up in a cavern full of sewage and mine carts. There are 3 Chaos Emeralds to collect here that must be obtained by hitting multiple switches.

Lava Powerhouse: Sonic ascends to the next level, a factory of sorts that uses steam energy to run various machines. There are 3 emeralds here.

The Machine: There are 5 emeralds here in this high-tech level. Sonic can also find a giant-sized animal prison in the very middle of this zone.

Showdown: Sonic has to find 5 Chaos Emeralds and reach the top of the Launch site to defeat Dr. Robotnik before he manages to escape.

Special stages

At the end of each of the first three stages, Sonic gets to play a bonus round. These bonus rounds are set up like real pinball machines, with Sonic at the controls. The player is given a task to complete and three balls to play with. Controls are the same as in the normal game. Completing the bonus stages is optional and serves only to increase the score total. The three bonus rounds, in corresponding order to the normal zones, are:

Trapped Alive: The object is to destroy all the robot machines and free the helpless animals trapped inside them.
Robo Smile: A grinning Robotnik face moves across the machine. The objective is to knock out all of Robotnik's teeth.
The March: Similar to Trapped Alive, the object is to destroy the capsule and free the animals within. The capsule is circled by a ring of chicken bots

Additionally, a hidden multi-ball bonus game, called The Clucker's Defense, can be played on any stage, but only if the player manages to collect every ring in the zone. Several star circles will appear in the stage, hidden at various points on the board. By leaping into them Sonic will be warped to this bonus round. The object is to destroy a crab who is protected by a pair of Cluckers.

Trivia

Sonic Spinball is noted for being the only Sonic game to include characters from both of the animated series at the time, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (AoStH) and Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM). Scratch from AoStH, and Princess Sally, Rotor, & Bunnie Rabbot from SatAM make cameo appearances in the bonus rounds.

The game was originally going to be released with a remix of the original Sonic the Hedgehog theme on the title screen. However, Sega of America were not aware that Dreams Come True had created the song, and they were not permitted to re-use it. The music was eventually rewritten in the 11th hour of development.

Both the 8- and 16-bit editions of Sonic Spinball have been re-released several times:
- The Game Boy Advance compilation called Sega Smash Pack (2000) includes a port of the Genesis version, along with Ecco the Dolphin and Golden Axe.
- The first Sega Smash Pack for PC contains Sonic Spinball along with seven other Genesis/Mega Drive games.
- The Game Gear version is playable through Sonic Adventure DX (Both GameCube and PC) and Sonic Gems Collection (both GameCube and PS2 versions).
- The GameCube's Sonic Mega Collection and the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of Sonic Mega Collection Plus include the Genesis version, which is often considered to be superior to its 8-bit counterpart.

Issue #6 (January 1994) of the Archie comic book features a cover story based on Sonic Spinball.
Robotnik's has his AoStH look in the Game Gear box art instead of the current Segasonic one at the time.

Credits

Director Sega Technical Institute: Roger Hector
Producer: Yukata Sugano
Art Director: John Duggan
Programming: Polygames Ltd., Steve Woita, Earl Stratton, Dave Sanner, Ken Rose, Jason Plumb, Scott Chandler
Concept Writer: Peter Morawiec
Game Design: Peter Morawiec, Hoyt Ng
Art: Craig Stitt, Kurt Peterson, Tom Payne, Brenda Ross, Katsuhiko Sato
Music and Sound Effects: Barry Blum, Howard Drossin, Brian Coburn, OUI Multimedia
Marketing: France Tantiado, Diane A. Fornasier, Thomas J. Abramson

External links

Sonic Spinball at Mobygames - contains info on the original release and the Game Gear version.
Sonic Spinball page at The GHZ - contains info, screenshots and a basic walkthrough.