Sonic Boom

Woohoo! This is a very unexpected birthday present!

There's a lot of stuff in there that's "love it or hate it", which is to be expected for a hack that's so different to what we've seen before. For example, I don't like Sonic's movement. It's very well implemented, but I just personally don't like it. The same goes for the art style - brilliant and unique, but not to my taste. So even though it's definitely worthy of the top spot in the contest, it's not my favourite Sonic hack.

It is, however, the most professional, the most technically brilliant, and the most EYE-BLEEDINGLY EPIC one I've ever played. Seriously, what's the most jaw-dropping moment from the 16-bit Sonic games? Angel Island catching on fire? The final battle on Death Egg? The Doomsday Zone? They all look tame compared with King Orbi and Act 3. And then you go and add that soundtrack...

I'm eagerly awaiting what you're going to throw at us in the next instalment. I just have one request: make a couple of minor difficulty tweaks so I don't have to map Quick Save and Quick Load TO THE SHOULDER BUTTONS ON MY FUCKING CONTROLLER!

 

I havent played it yet, but I watched Tweaker's playthrough on YouTube.

Technically this is an amazing hack! I even thought it was a hack of Sonic 1 at first! Otherwise though, I feel that the graphics look bland and lifeless in a way that reminds me of '06, loops are way too overused (although there was a particularly amazing one!) and it looks way too hard! It may be better if you are a fan of hard games like Megaman though.

I was amazed when Act 3 started however! I certainly didn't expect that!

 

This hack...

is...

FANTASTIC. So amazing and full of win, it is indescribable.

For those who have yet to try it...DO IT. NOW.

This hack was amazing! The last boss and the zone made my jaw drop.

I haven't felt so accomplished for beating a boss in a LONG TIME. There are patterns, you just have to know which ones go where.

And that cutscene? EXCELLENT. One of the best 2D Sonic cutscenes I have ever seen.

A FREAKIN MAZING Job!

 

Anybody got any idea why this won't run in Gens+ under Wine in Kubuntu Jaunty?

 

None at all, but I figured out the problem, anyway - the file is there on the file system, but it's empty, since I didn't care to check if the download was finished - in fact, the download didn't even START yet. It's just... not connecting at all. D: Mirror, please?

 

The one on the article?

 

I know I'm brash at times, and I said things last night that weren't appropriate. I wasn't keeping the PEACE like I should have. I LOVE this community and the UNITY we find in the game featuring our favourite little blue hedgehog. Everyone's entitled to their opinion and I RESPECT that.

So I'm a sycophant now. Trying to kiss ass? I'll admit, I'm not a straight gamer. I don't like a lot of the new stuff save a couple oddities here and there like Katamari, Myst, Fallout, etc. For gameplay / replayability (The Crystal Meth Trophy) I gave it to Retro Remix. Boom won because of sheer technical prowess, epic boss fights, varied level layouts (yah, you get going pretty fast at times, but I always take levels slow at first to learn the mechanics and layouts before trying to burst straight in there. Any time you do that, you're in for disappointment) which were different, but imo close to on par with Retro Remix (which also won the trophy for level layout). Boom won because of the boss fights and Act 3. There. I said it -- but it's not because I'm a sycophant. I voted for S2: AE last time over Megamix. What kind of sycophant makes that move? As for getting more hardcore gamers as judges, I'll take that as constructive criticism.

^ This, but I already said along those lines anyway. I believe I was the first one to say I felt this was going to be a game people loved or hated.

That's what won it for me. Honestly, I think it was the HPZ cutscene and Doomsday's chase that was the most epic moment in Sonic for me. Sonic Boom turned up the heat (pun intended) and created an epic finale that NO hack has come close (even started, really) to touching.

On that note, I'm tired of justifying my actions. If you liked it as much as me, great. If not, move on to the next hack that you find enjoyment in.

PLUR and pz out

 

After watching Tweaker's play through, I find it bewildering that he does not agree with me.

 

Heh, I seem to be the only one, who doesn't really (no offense) like this game.
Technically it's awesome at all, but when you get up to these loop-thingys where these elecitry chargers are, there's a very high chance you can get hit by them and lose rings. That is quite unfair. And so are the bosses. The Orbinauts were OK.
The first boss took me 22 tries. I couldn't defeat the second boss, because he was so hard.

Sorry.

 

Another thing I almost forgot to say: I don't like the name. Sonic Boom can refer to MANY different things, making it damn hard to find stuff on YouTube etc. Sonic Boom is a hack, Sonic Boom is a song of Sonic CD, Sonic Boom is what happens if the sound barrier crashes. Seriosuly, you should rename the project to something more unique. The only bad thing about the hack at all. :P

 

I like Sonic Boom, as a name.

The title screen, though? I hope that's a placeholder. Very dull. Needs an actual background and some better art of Sonic.

 

One of the best hacks I've played in quite a while. I agree with changing the name and the title page though, very bland and generic.

 

Well I've been playing this, and I'm going to categorize my views into "Pros" and "Cons"


Pros:
- To start off, this is a huge step forward in ROM hacking; we're finally hitting the border between "hack" and "original game." I think that's enough of a credit.
- This game has a whole new zone designed, and some amazingly challenging bosses.
- New Sonic sprites too with a fresh new engine feeling. I remember these Sonic sprites were done by t0ms0nic (ironically those were his first Sonic sprites, which he despises the most compared to his newer works; I had these in a hack at one point).
- New title screen, new original act ends, this hack has the smell of beautiful fresh originality.

Cons:
- Level layouts: For a demo this was fun, but for an actual zone, this is insane. Both Acts are. There's a lot of alternate routes, to the point of a maze even, but most are unfortunately littered with death traps. Sometimes it's hard to avoid badniks, or sometimes spring to spike traps. The zone also relies -too much- on speed. Chemical Plant relied on speed, but to me it had a smoother flow than "OMFG RUN FAST JUMP RIGHT DO RIGHT ATTACK OR BE SCREWED." Personally this is why I didn't like Sonic Advance 2 and 3. Similar things could be said about Sonic Rush.
- Graphics for the most part were amazing, but something about the background seemed too familiar, and dark compared to the very bright colored foreground.
- One nitpick I have is that Sonic speeds up too quickly, even for who he is. Usually with the "slow walk sprite," I would expect a speed gain more like in Advance 2 and 3 (kind of ironic to say after just bashing it a minute ago). However this didn't make me enjoy the game any less, just something to consider.

Overall, I give this an 8 out of 10. This hack is definitely a sign of the future for ROM hacks to come, but since this is so early in development, I don't think this deserves the title of "Best Hack Ever," yet.

 

I'm waiting until this sinks in more for me until I give a proper review but one thing I'd like to suggest off the bat. ( and I can't believe it hasn't being said yet )

Difficulty settings!

I've read through the topic and have seen people whining ' This is too hard! ' This would be one way to solve the problem without compromising the game too much. It could work like this;

Easy - Lose only 25 rings per hit and a slower flame in act 3.
Normal - The game as it is
Hard - Same as Normal, only that you lose ALL your rings when you get hit, just like in classic Sonic Games. Hardcore players only need apply!

 

Man up! =P

 

God, I'm such an IDIOT. :v:

 

Damn, I can't stop to play and replay the third act, I've always dream of such thing in a 2D Sonic!