Wikipedia

Sonic Jam

Sonic Jam[a]is avideo game compilationdeveloped bySonic Teamand published bySegafor theSega Saturn.It was released in Japan in June 1997 and in North America and Europe the following August. It contains the four mainSonic the Hedgehoggames released on theSega Genesis:Sonic the Hedgehog(1991),Sonic the Hedgehog 2(1992),Sonic the Hedgehog 3(1994) andSonic & Knuckles(1994). It also features a 3D environment, "Sonic World", which doubles as an interactive museum ofSonic the Hedgehogcontent.

Sonic Jam
European cover art
Developer(s)Sonic Team
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Takashi Iizuka
Producer(s)Yuji Naka
Designer(s)Daisuke Mori
Programmer(s)Takahiro Hamano
Artist(s)Kazuyuki Hoshino
Yuji Uekawa
Composer(s)Masaru Setsumaru
Kenichi Tokoi
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)Sega Saturn
Game.com
ReleaseSega Saturn
Game.com
  • NA:10 July 1998
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer

Development began after the Japanese release ofNights into Dreamsin July 1996.Sonic Jamwas announced at the Spring 1997Tokyo Game Showas part of a project to increase market awareness of Sega and theSonicbrand. It received mostly positive reviews, and was praised for its value, though some criticized the exclusion ofSonic CDandSonic Spinball."Sonic World" was praised for its range of content, though its graphics gathered mixed responses. A version for the handheldGame.comconsole was released in 1998.

Gameplay

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Sonic Jamis acompilationwhich contains the four mainSonic the Hedgehoggames released on theSega Genesis:Sonic the Hedgehog(1991),Sonic the Hedgehog 2(1992),Sonic the Hedgehog 3(1994), andSonic & Knuckles(1994).[4]Unlike laterSoniccollections,Sonic Jamdoes not use a Genesisemulator;the games are trueports,and all are nearly identical to the original Genesis releases, with the exception of minorbugfixes.[5][6]Sonic JamemulatesSonic & Knuckles'"lock-on technology"—a special feature that allows the player to merge elements ofSonic & Knucklesinto previous games, with altered levels and the choice to play the combinedSonic 3 and Knucklesgame and play asKnuckles the EchidnainSonic the Hedgehog 2.[7][8][9][10]

The games can be played in three difficulty modes: normal, easy, and original.[5]Original mode is unchanged from the Genesis games, normal mode slightly alters the stage layouts to create a unique (often less difficult) experience, and easy mode adds platforms and removes many obstacles and some levels.[11][12]New features include the ability to spin dash (introduced inSonic 2) in the firstSonic the Hedgehog,playSpecial Stagesseparately, a "Time Attack"mode, and a" Time Out "option to disable time limits.[4][11][13][14]

In the Saturn version, the player can explore the 3D environment, "Sonic World", to viewSoniccontent such as TV commercials and artwork.

Sonic Jamalso includes a special 3D environment, "Sonic World", whereby the player can move around freely as Sonic and interact with various objects.[15]"Sonic World" acts as an interactive museum in which the player can access an array of information ofSonic the Hedgehog-related content, such as viewing concept artwork, manuals, character portfolios, music, and original Japanese advertisements.[8][15][16]To access these features, the player must guide Sonic into specific buildings.[15]"Sonic World" also features a "mission list" accessible via jumping on a trampoline.[17]Missions include collecting rings, reaching goalposts, and locatingTails;[11][14][16]if all the missions are completed, the player is given the opportunity to view the credits.[8][17]Sonic Jamis compatible with the Saturn's3D Control Pad.[18][19]

Development

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At theTokyo Game Showin early 1997, Sega announced Project Sonic, a promotional campaign aimed at increasing market awareness of theSonic the Hedgehogbrand.[6]Yuji Naka,the co-creator of Sonic, said that "phase one" would introduceSonic Jamas a compilation of games with several improvements rather than being direct ports. At the time of the show, the game was "88% complete".[20]According to Naka, the purpose of Project Sonic was not only to increase consumer awareness but also renew excitement for Sega, asSonic the Hedgehogwas only initially successful outside of Japan.[20]

Development began after the Japanese release ofNights into Dreamsin July 1996, afterSonic Teamreceived letters from fans asking who Sonic was. The Sonic creators, Naka andNaoto Ohshima,thought it was important to introduce people to Sonic.[21]Sonic Team had not worked on aSonicgame sinceSonic & Knucklesin 1994;[21]otherSonicgames had been developed by teams includingSega Technical Institute(STI)[22]andTraveller's Tales.[23]Naka thought Sonic Team needed a period to "recharge our batteries" and had new ideas.[21]

"Sonic World" was part of an experiment to see how aSonic the Hedgehoggame would work in full 3D.[24]It served as a prototype for the first fully 3DSonicgame,Sonic Adventure,which began development for the Saturn but was released on its successor, theDreamcast,in 1998.[22]"Sonic World" uses the same engine asNights.Naka's refusal to share theNightsengine with the STI team developingSonic X-treme—a factor in that game's cancellation—may have been motivated by his preference for Sonic Team to create an original 3DSonicgame. Naka later expressed relief thatX-tremewas cancelled.[22][24]Naka and Ohshima said the most difficult process was gathering information to include in "Sonic World", as there were manySonicgames they had never heard of.[25]

Game.com version

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Sonic 3on the Game.com version ofSonic Jam

A version ofSonic Jamwas released for theGame.comhandheld console in 1998, with scaled-down versions ofSonic the Hedgehog 2,Sonic the Hedgehog 3,andSonic & Knuckles.Unlike it's Saturn counterpart, this version did not includeSonic the Hedgehog.Pocket Gamerdescribed it as "so far removed from the original releases that the game practically qualifies as an all-newSonicadventure ", criticizing themotion blur,looping music andcollision detection.[26]

Reception

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Sonic Jamreceived mostly positive reviews. It holds an average score of 77% atGameRankings,based on an aggregate of four reviews.[27]

The 3D environment, "Sonic World", received generally positive reviews. Lee Nutter ofSega Saturn Magazinesaid that it featured "some of the most astounding graphics witnessed on the Saturn", rivaling those ofSuper Mario 64.He praised the lack ofclippingor glitching, and commended the 3D engine as "truly remarkable".[29]Glenn RubensteinfromGameSpot,however, was not impressed, feeling it did not look as smooth asSuper Mario 64orCrash Bandicoot.Rubenstein praised the unlockable content, in particular the ability to view Japanese versions ofSonic the Hedgehogcartoons and adverts.[9]Electronic Gaming Monthlydescribed the 3D world as innovative and fun, but too small to serve as anything more than a preview. The lead reviewer called it "the best Game Select screen ever created" and emphasized that no one should buy the compilation for the 3D world alone.[28]

GameRevolutionfound the 3D graphics of the interactive museum impressive but the setup mundane. They commended the inclusion ofSonic the Hedgehogcommercials.[8]Colin Williamson ofAllGamesaid the 3D presentation was "gorgeous", but felt the overall experience was not as fun compared toSuper Mario 64andCrash Bandicoot.[5]Special K fromGameProfeltSonic Jamserved as a "great permanent record" of the originalSonicgames.[30]Steve O'Learly fromHyperpraised the detailed graphics of "Sonic World", saying that it showed the Saturn did perform well if programmed correctly, although he thought that it did not appear as polished asSuper Mario 64.[14]

Reviewers largely praised the inclusion of the fourSonic the HedgehogGenesis/Mega Drive games. Nutter acknowledged that the compilation "may not be everyone's cup of tea" and recommended thatSonic Jamwas not worth purchasing if the player already owned the included games, although he praised its value for money.[16]Rubenstein criticized the lack ofSonic CDorSonic Spinball,stating that "Sega could have made a far more complete Sonic collection". He summarized thatSonic Jamwas not a definitiveSonicexperience, asserting that it had only been six years since the originalSonic the Hedgehogwas released and "perhaps most of us aren't quite nostalgic about it yet".[9]Game Revolution's reviewer echoed that the compilation was merely a "solid set of games that we've seen before", saying that the game was not recommended if the consumer was "tired of rehashes", but "well worth thirty or forty bucks."[8]TheElectronic Gaming Monthlyteam described the games as old and outdated, but still fun.[28]Although Williamson noted that there was a lot of exploring for the player to do inSonic Jam,he expressed skepticism that the majority of the game was from "yesterday" and there were not enough new innovations.[5]O'Learly praised the faithful and accurate replication of the original games, though he felt they were "dated".[12]By contrast, Ed Lomas ofComputer and Video Gamesconsidered it "amazing how well the games have aged".[11]In a 2014 retrospective, the staff ofGamesRadarpraisedSonic Jam's "loving" presentation, noting "this was back before classicSonicgames appeared on every device known to man ".[31]

Notes

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  1. ^Sonic Jam(Japanese:ソニックジャム,Hepburn:Sonikku Jamu)

References

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Citations

  1. ^"SONIC JAM: SOMETHING OLD, NEW AND VERY BLUE".Sega Central.Sega of America. August 20, 1997. Archived fromthe originalon February 2, 1998.RetrievedDecember 14,2020.
  2. ^SONIC JAM ソニック・ジャム(in Japanese).Sega.Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2000.Retrieved30 May2015.
  3. ^"Sonic Jam Details Confirmed!".Sega Saturn Magazine.No. 21.Emap International Limited.July 1997. p. 6.
  4. ^abNutter 1997,pp. 68–69.
  5. ^abcdeWilliamson, Colin (14 November 2014)."Sonic Jam overview".AllGame.All Media Network.Archived fromthe originalon 14 November 2014.Retrieved14 November2016.
  6. ^abCVG Staff 1997,p. 20.
  7. ^Sonic Team 1997,p. 7.
  8. ^abcdef"Sonic Jam review: Where's the Sonic Peanut Butter?".Game Revolution.CraveOnline.6 June 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 17 November 2015.Retrieved11 November2016.
  9. ^abcdRubenstein, Glenn(10 July 1997)."Sonic Jam review".GameSpot.CBS Interactive Inc.Archived fromthe originalon 13 January 2016.Retrieved11 November2016.
  10. ^Sonic Team 1994,pp. 22–24.
  11. ^abcdeLomas, Ed (September 1997). "Sonic Jam".Computer and Video Games(190):66–68.
  12. ^abO'Leary 1997,p. 72.
  13. ^Sonic Team 1997,pp. 6–7.
  14. ^abcdO'Leary 1997,p. 73.
  15. ^abcSonic Team 1997,pp. 8–10.
  16. ^abcdNutter 1997,p. 69.
  17. ^abSonic Team 1997,p. 10.
  18. ^Sonic Team 1997,p. 4.
  19. ^"TGS 1997 Spring".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 95.Ziff Davis.June 1997. p. 60.
  20. ^abCVG Staff 1997,p. 21.
  21. ^abcNaka and Ohshima 1997,p. 17.
  22. ^abc"Nights Adventure".Retro Gamer(45). December 2007.
  23. ^"Sonic 3D".Previews.Mean Machines Sega.No. 52.EMAP.February 1997. pp. 84, 85.ISSN0967-9014.
  24. ^abTowell, Justin (27 June 2011)."Super-rare 1990 Sonic The Hedgehog prototype is missing".Games Radar.Future plc. Archived fromthe originalon 24 March 2016.Retrieved19 November2016.
  25. ^Naka and Ohshima 1997,p. 18.
  26. ^McFerran, Damien (11 June 2009)."Portable Pedigree: The handheld history of Sonic The Hedgehog - part two".Pocket Gamer.Retrieved27 November2020.
  27. ^ab"Sonic Jam for Saturn".GameRankings.CBS Interactive Inc.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved11 November2016.
  28. ^abc"Review Crew: Sonic Jam".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 99.Ziff Davis.October 1997. p. 52.
  29. ^Nutter 1997,p. 68.
  30. ^Special K 1997,p. 153.
  31. ^"Best Saturn games of all time".GamesRadar.6 March 2014.Retrieved20 November2016.

Bibliography

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