Sonic Blast

Sonic Blast

Overview & History

Released in late 1996 by Aspect and Sega, Sonic Blast (known in Japan as Sonic Galspan) arrived late in the Game Gear’s lifecycle, right as the Sega Saturn was dominating headlines. Serving as the final platforming adventure for Sega's 8-bit handheld in North America and Europe, the game attempted to push the hardware limits by utilizing pre-rendered 3D sprite models, similar to Donkey Kong Country. The storyline is relatively straightforward: Dr. Eggman has stolen the five pieces of the Chaos Emerald to power his latest doomsday device, scattering them across five distinct zones. It is up to Sonic the Hedgehog and his ally Knuckles the Echidna to navigate these mechanical hazards, defeat Eggman's robot minions, and reassemble the emeralds to save the day.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard 8-bit Sonic titles, Sonic Blast features a noticeably slower, more deliberate platforming pace due to its zoomed-in camera perspective. Players can choose between Sonic and Knuckles from the character select screen. Sonic retains his classic spin-dash, while Knuckles introduces unique traversal mechanics, including the ability to glide through the air and scale vertical walls to reach hidden areas. Each of the five zones—Green Hill, Yellow Desert, Red Volcano, Blue Marine, and Silver Castle—is split into two traditional acts followed by an intense boss encounter against one of Eggman's contraptions. Collecting 50 rings allows players to enter the special stage, a 3D tunnel-running minigame where they must dodge obstacles to secure a Chaos Emerald.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause