Game hacks take
a
commercial
game and change
it around in such
a way that it can
become a new
game that happens to use the original game engine,
graphics and sounds. Some of the better game hacks are
called “total conversions”, a term popularized by First
Person Shooter game edits. Total Conversions change
everything effectively creating a new game. We have two
examples of both types of game hacks in this issue. On
these two pages is a new version of Sonic the Hedgehog
on Sega Genesis called Sonic Winter Adventures. On
page 32 and 33 we have Pro Wrestling and Rygar hacks
for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Sonic 4 Episode I and II have a homing attack that is
pretty handy, that move is available to you in Sonic
Winter Adventures along with a jump dash and super peel
out. These moves compliment the normal jump attack
and Spin Dash that Sonic received in later Genesis Sonic
games.
Since vladikcomper is Russian, it is only fitting that there
be a Russian language option in Sonic Winter Adventures. You can switch between English and Russian in
the Options menu. Maybe in a future update additional
languages will be made available.
Sonic Winter Adventures
It is no secret that Sonic was Sega’s attempt at taking on
Nintendo’s mascot, Mario. Sonic did a fairly good job
with marketing Sonic and to that effect, Sega was able to
maintain at least a marginal lead on the Super Nintendo
for the mid part of the 16-Bit console war.
Eventually the Super Nintendo and Mario did edge out a
win in this battle, partly because the SNES was supported
for many years longer than the Genesis (Sega had other
things to focus on).
The levels in Sonic Winter Adventures are expansive but
still offer plenty of room for speed demons to just go nuts.
Those that want to take their time and collect rings can do
so along with many powerups that are hidden around the
level such as speed boots, force field and of course,
invulnerability to name a few.
Russian rom hacker, vladikcomper, has taken the original
Sonic the Hedgehog and added many things to it creating
nearly a new game. Some of the basic moves from later
Sonic games are included in this hack and in other cases,
brand new moves have been added.
This could have almost been an official game, almost.
30