Sonic 2: S3 Edition

Not sure if anyone else noticed, but there is a small glitch with the shields. If you get the lightning shield then another shield, like the fire shield... Rings still follow you.

I guess it is intentional, since it only attracts the ones that were already following you before you got the shield...

 

The game no longer crashes at ARZ1 on my PSP's Picodrive, which is nice.

However, the sound seems rather screwy. The extra life and Chaos Emerald jingles are corrupted, and I get a screechy constant background noise in Mystic Cave. Please tell me whether or not these issue appear to be exclusive to this particular emulator.

Aside from all that, I'm really liking how this is coming along.

 

I found a bug when using tails, when he is flying he can hit robots by flying down like using his tails to hit robots he can use his tails, and his hands and feet when flying.

 

Ok, so, found a bug. I beat CNZ2, and I hit the capsule, but after the score tally, Sonic sits there in his waiting animation.

 

I couldn't move Sonic.

 

THAT could've been it, I don't recall seeing Tails after the score tally

 

Hey, just tried the new release - much better, although my previous savestates seem to be broken. Due to a peculiarity in the Gens filenaming conventions there's not even any need to rename the SRAM file - excellent idea on that by the way, I only had to redo one act and I stll have all my emeralds :-) I notice you moved the transition point for ARZ higher up than it was before - what was the problem with it lower down?

 

I think I've figured out what triggers the CPZ act 2 transition glitch: standing on the capule during the scorecard. When I do this, without fail, Sonic just stands there in his victory animations looping, while a minute later (approximately) the scorecard loops back around and passes sonic.

 

I've just cleared this using the latest release - it deserves more attention, you've done a great job of expanding Sonic 2 without turning it into a different game, well done! Just a few things to tidy up, if you're so inclined. Don't take these the wrong way, they're little nitpicks in an excellent hack:

- Super Sonic's eyes are still missing
- It refused to bring up the score card for CNZ1 once, I think because Tails was miles away
- The CNZ2 crawlers seem to have changed colour
- Once you've cleared the game, the file select screen displays Sky Sanctuary's icon with a garbled zone number and selecting it crashes the game

Excellent job on the shields by the way - takes all the annoyance out of those octopus / seahorse / mantis badniks in OOZ/MZ. I LOLed at the blades of the latter bouncing off the shield, but I suppose they are projectiles :-)

 

I'm enjoying this hack. I can't wait to see more minibosses. Is the signpost going to have the same behavior as in Sonic 3? I saw it falling down, it just seemed bland without it bouncing around.

I have been having troubles with the MCZ transition, but I never had any problems with a cleared game messing up the game.

I love the elemental shields. Everything works perfectly, and those annoying exploding stars in MZ are no longer a problem. I can't believe I played Sonic 2 with out the features you put in.

 

I'm impressed overall from what the potential has for this hack. However, along with my great pleasure to say I enjoyed a quick play through of it, here's somethings I did notice / opinions:

1) The Transitions work. But the textures needing working around. Noticeable mention to the first transition, whilst the miniboss was great, afterwards the background simply changed from the bricks to bright sunshine hills again. This is also seen at the end with a waterfall from no where? Lands in Chemical Plant Zone? I'm all up for plot holes, but unless it's restricted to the same formulaes used within S3, it may be worth looking into developing it.

2) The transitions without minibosses felt like prolonged checkpoint markers. Chemical Plant Zone Act 1 all of sudden just stopped during a fast burst of speed. Was fairly annoying but put-up-able.

3) The Zone title cards only stay on show for the duration that nothing is pressed on the controller. This is contrasted with that of S3 which stays up whilst still moving about for a few milliseconds. Whilst not major, it was noticeable when the title card pops up and almost instantly vanishes due to gameplay starting up again.


Hope the advice / opinions have helped. Take them as a grain of salt or as bricks, just thought I'd say something considering the work and effort thats been put in so far.

 

Sonic stopped responding after the score tally of CPZ2. He won't move or jump; just stands there playing his 'waiting' animation. I got 6 emeralds in EHZ and my last emerald in CPZ2, if that's of any importance.

Anyway, I have some ideas for transitions:

EHZ --> CPZ: Sonic runs for a few seconds, fade to black. This is enough to suggest that he ran to the nearby Chemical Plant Zone.

CPZ --> ARZ: Sonic finds a pipe and travels to the bottom of the level. He falls into a room filled with pink powder. Water pours in, and the room fills with Mega Mack. Sonic jumps through one of the pipes and gets sucked up to the ruins from which the water is being pumped.

ARZ --> CPZ: Sonic runs for a few seconds as the sun sets, fade to black.

CPZ --> HTZ: The sun begins to rise. The player moves Sonic onto a diagonal pinball launcher which is colored blue instead of red. After the launcher is pulled back fully, it shoots Sonic into the sky. Sonic lands in Hill Top Zone.

HTZ --> MCZ: Sonic Spin Dashes through a loop and smashes through the ground. He falls into Mystic Cave Zone.

MCZ --> OOZ: A la Hydrocity to Marble Garden, oil gushes up from the cave (Robotnik struck oil!) and sends Sonic flying up to the oil rig at the surface.

OOZ --> MZ: Sonic jumps into a Oil Ocean cannon, which shoots him across the ocean. He lands on the Metropolis-themed platform at the other side and runs full speed into Metropolis.

MZ --> SCZ: Sonic runs outside, where Wing Fortress is launching. Tails urges Sonic to follow him. Cut to an Emerald Hill style area, where Tails hops into his Tornado. Sonic gets on, and the Tornado takes off.

The rest don't need added cinematics.

 

Any news on this hack? It definitely looks promising.

 

I'm pretty sure the OP will post when he has something new to show us on this hack.

+ - I HATE it when people do this...  

 

I just played it.

Got to SCZ before I got bored...

But this hack is sweet!

I noticed a few graphical errors in Hill Top (Like one seesaw was garbled) and some transitions could use some altering to fit the levels/themes...

But overall, this was a fun hack, and I can't wait to see what improvements it receives next!