There’s no denying thatSegamade a hit franchise when they releasedSonic the Hedgehog. Gamers around the world wanted to go fast and the series spawned a comic series, several animated television shows, and evena live-action movie.
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With over 100 games thatfeature the blue blur, it might come as a surprise that a few well-developed titles never hit store shelves. There are many mysterious games with Sonic that were canceled that fans of the franchise will find fascinating.
11SegaSonic Bros.
SegaSonic Bros. was afalling-block puzzle gamebeing designed by Fukio Mitsuji,the creator ofBubble Bobble. After the game had tested poorly in Japan, it was eventually shelved. A collector let the world know that he had found a copy of the game in 2016 and the game finally premiering unofficially to the public atCalifornia Extreme 2018. The game’s ROMhas been dumpedbut its distribution online has caused much controversy.
10Treasure Tails
Not to be confused with the cell phone game of the same name,Treasure Tailswas set to be an isometric puzzle platformer that would put Tails “Miles” Prower as the protagonist for the first time. The game never was officially announced bySegaand the only screenshots of the title come from a previousSonic Technical Institutemember’s old VHS resume. Some fans speculate this game inspiredTails' SkypatrolandTails Adventureto eventually be developed.
9Sister Sonic
Sonic fans were close to having their first RPG game in the franchise all the way back in 1995. Sister Sonic was supposed to be a reskin ofPopful Mailand released in the United States. It would have been similar tohowDr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machinewas a reskin ofPoyo Poyo.
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When learning about Sega’s plans, fans angrily wrote to the company requesting the game was released in its original unedited format instead of with a Sonic styled coat of paint. The company responded and Sonic didn’t have a chance to be in a full RPG untilSonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhoodwas released in 2008forNintendo DS.
8Sonic Ride
Not to be confusedwithSonic Free Riders, Sonic Ride was the name of an unreleased Arcade game about the blue blur. Fans of the series who have always wondered what it would be like to ride side-by-side with Sonic would have gotten that experience in 3D through the game. While the full experience of this game will never be the video of what would have been shown during the ridewas releasedas a bonus onSonic Jam.
7Untitled Sonic Game
No grumpy geese here, just a Sonic game without a title. The only information about this isometric game that exists is a single screenshot and that it was originally being worked on bySonic Technical Institutefor theSega 32X. The screenshot was created before the release ofSonic 3D Blastwhich shows this game might have been scrapped for theSega 32Xbut the ideas kept to eventuallyinspire the later title.
6Sonic-16
When the popularitySonic the Hedgehog the Animated Serieswasat an all-time highit almost received a full-blown spinoff game.Sonic-16was set to releasefor theSega Mega Driveand had a demo of the game out within the company in 1993. It’s speculated that the slower gameplay of the demo is what lead it to never being fully developed.
5Sonic DS
Sonic DSwas first shown off at E3 2004. The game was reported to have rather simplistic gameplay where players increased speed by scrolling a finger or the DS stylus faster. The game was released eventually being replaced on the consoleby Sonic Rush. Had Sonic DS been released it would have been the first portable 3D Sonic Game.
4Sonic’s Edusoft
Games like Sonic’s Schoolhouse helped bring Sonic into the edutainment market when it was all the rage but we still missed out on another one.Tiertexwas set to develop the game for theMaster Systemat the request of game publisherUS. Gold.
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The game had far more content than something like theMario’s Early Yearsseries. It had fifteen levels and three bonus minigames that players could go through. While it was never officially released thanks to a programmer who worked on the title a hacked ROM of the gameis available online.
3Sonic Crackers
Sonic Crackersisn’t just the demo forwhat would becomeKnuckles' Chaotix. While both games share similarities,Sonic Crackerswas advertised individually with screenshots in gaming magazines a while before the later title was fully announced and released. Sprites from Sonic Crackers were even found withinYu Yu Hakusho: Makyou Toitsusen’sprototype.This weird prototype that was possibly a game on its owndoes have a ROMwith earlier levels dumped.
2Sonic Sports
Sonic almost managed to beat Mario to the punch! Sonic Sports was being developed for the Sega 32X and if it had been released would have been out four years before Nintendo would take on the gaming franchisesports game idea withMario Golf. Little is known about the game except for Sonic, Tails, and Ristar being planned as playable characters, and that basketball, volleyball, and soccer would be featured.
