Now that we drifted across the roads, we are taking a pit stop with our friends Sonic & Tails 
!
Otherwise called in NA and EU......
These two games are 2D platformers not unlike Sonic 1 & 2 Game Gear/Master System.....but what makes then unique is that they were built in mind for the Game Gear first. Why do I say that? Note how I didn't use a Master System Box Art for Triple Trouble; it got no Master System version (unlike Sonic Chaos/Sonic & Tails 1).
So lets get to the games!
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The stories for both are simple. Chaos has Sonic & Tails chasing after Eggman for the Chaos Emeralds! ......Thats it. Talk about a simple story! So with such a simple story, you wouldn't think you are in for a grand adventure, but that is wrong.
Sonic returns as a playable character but Tails has his first Game Gear playable role and he has a gimped flight. Unlike in Sonic 3 where you can mash the jump button to fly, Tails has to stand still, hold Up and hold the Jump button to hover for a limited time.
Sonic does have his super peel out move from CD and it gives him a huge burst of speed!
So now that we know how Sonic & Tails control here, how does the levels play out in Chaos? They are easy and enjoyable
. These are some of the easiest Sonic Stages I've dashed through and I honestly enjoyed this a lot.
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It focused on speed and while level design could of been more fleshed out, for what it is, I greatly enjoyed it.
The levels in Sonic Chaos are fun, with linear level design but with some enjoyable zones to dash through.
Aquatic Plant Zone was an enjoyable water zone due to the water skipping ability from Sonic 2 GG/MS returning (rolling allows you to hop across water if you keep moving).
I liked Gigapolis Zone, Mecha Green Hill Zone, and Turquoise Hill Zone due to the great themes all three have.
Level design as a whole isn't amazing, but its fun.
A fellow Gaffer Ferr986 shared some really great thoughts on Sonic Chaos so I wanted to share his post!
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Sonic Triple Trouble is more interesting to talk about, as it does a lot more then Sonic Chaos. The story has our boy Knuckles being tricked by Dr. Robotnik again and it forces Sonic & Tails to once again go on a hunt for the emeralds.....but we meet a new face!
Nack is a treasure hunter that can travel in-between the special stages....so that means we got some challenging special stages to fight. Between Dr. Robotnik, Nack, Knuckles and even Metal Sonic showing up.......we got quite some trouble on our hands
.
*Cough* Bad at the jokes guys :l. Anyway, the story is more interesting here, so what about the levels?
Triple Trouble has a large selection of stages that, unlike Sonic Chaos, are really memerable. Sunset Park is a great example, as it has you using Mine Carts to get through the level and the third act having you run across a moving train!
It was a nice set piece and it gets followed up with Robotnik Winter, with Sonic riding on a Snowboard across the level if you are skilled enough.
Even better is if you play the zone as Tails, as you can hit item boxes that allows you to fly really fast. I had fun with this zone quite a bit.
After this, we get Tidal Plant Zone and with Tails, you can ride in his Sea Fox Sub (which we will see very soon in his own game).
I am talking alot about the zones in Triple Trouble as, well, they are really interesting with set pieces and fun level designs. I will not say they are perfect though (Tidal Plant Zone as Sonic can be really annoying
) but I had a great time running through them.
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WARP ZONE!
*Cough* Now is the best time to start talking about special stages with Sonic. I touched upon this with Sonic 3&K but both of these games do it differently.
Sonic & Tails run through mini-levels in both Chaos and Triple Trouble, with Chaos focusing on gimmick powers (Rocket Shoes, which allows Sonic to fly and the Bounce Spring, which is a bounces until you jump of it). Note how I said Sonic, as Tails has no special stages in Chaos (he automatically gets the good ending).
With Triple Trouble, this concept is expanded upon, with both Sonic and Tails running through these levels. You have two types; a maze to run through or a 3D flying section with Sonic/Tails using a plane to collect X amount of rings. Both are quite fun and after special stage two, you start fighting Nack in boss fights. Yes, I say boss fights WITHIN special stages. That is impressive and it makes you on your edge during these levels.
Overall, they are enjoyable and add a bit to the game.
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And what is a RK128 Sonic Thread without me gushing about the music XD! Sonic always has great music and its great seeing both of these games keep that tradition up.
Sonic Chaos has a great soundtrack and I really love a lot of its themes:
Gigapolis Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzo0HnUiE3U&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI&index=14
Mecha Green Hill Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1LJPaYA60Y&index=20&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI
Sleeping Egg Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxnzJGixQiE&index=25&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI
Turquoise Hill Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm6JbG5PAW8&index=36&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI
Sonic Triple Trouble has a great soundtrack as well, with some really iconic themes being made here:
3D Special Stage:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV3lnNCzKWs&index=2&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
Dr. Robotnik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0uVBBwx3bE&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=7
Metal Sonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijnzqcpyfJ8&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=21
Nack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlCVvUOrAKE&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=22
Robotnik Winter Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWMepd-8VnU&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=25
Sunset Park Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF1dWbIVAn0&index=28&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
Sunset Park Zone Act 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrna1ioqlU0&index=29&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
Extra: Genesis Cover Version of Sunset Park Zone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zm5ofDEIJY&index=30&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
I love both soundtracks, as they really make great use of the Game Gear's sound quality.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
So, what are my overall thoughts on this pair of games? Good titles that offer some great 2D Sonic goodness. They have some issues (Special Stages being annoying at points in Triple Trouble (the maze ones mainly) and Chaos being too easy) but overall, they are great platformers.
Triple Trouble is playable on the 3DS via E-Shop and Chaos can be played in a number of ways (Sonic Adventure DX GameCube, PS2/Xbox Mega Collection Plus, ect).
I have a fun story with Chaos, as I got a retail cart of the game to play on a Game Gear I got from a family member years ago.....lost both sadly but still, nice owing the retail version of Chaos.
I liked both of these games a lot and highly recommend you give them a shot. Easily some of Sonic's finest work on the handheld space (next to Advance 1, Rush/Rush Adventure and Colors DS).
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Next up for the retrospective is.....some of the more 'mixed' handheld adventures for the Blue Blur. Lets spin our way into a labyrinth of frustration and see what kind of blast we can get.
!
Otherwise called in NA and EU......
These two games are 2D platformers not unlike Sonic 1 & 2 Game Gear/Master System.....but what makes then unique is that they were built in mind for the Game Gear first. Why do I say that? Note how I didn't use a Master System Box Art for Triple Trouble; it got no Master System version (unlike Sonic Chaos/Sonic & Tails 1).
So lets get to the games!
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The stories for both are simple. Chaos has Sonic & Tails chasing after Eggman for the Chaos Emeralds! ......Thats it. Talk about a simple story! So with such a simple story, you wouldn't think you are in for a grand adventure, but that is wrong.
Sonic returns as a playable character but Tails has his first Game Gear playable role and he has a gimped flight. Unlike in Sonic 3 where you can mash the jump button to fly, Tails has to stand still, hold Up and hold the Jump button to hover for a limited time.
Sonic does have his super peel out move from CD and it gives him a huge burst of speed!
So now that we know how Sonic & Tails control here, how does the levels play out in Chaos? They are easy and enjoyable
. These are some of the easiest Sonic Stages I've dashed through and I honestly enjoyed this a lot.
It focused on speed and while level design could of been more fleshed out, for what it is, I greatly enjoyed it.
The levels in Sonic Chaos are fun, with linear level design but with some enjoyable zones to dash through.
Aquatic Plant Zone was an enjoyable water zone due to the water skipping ability from Sonic 2 GG/MS returning (rolling allows you to hop across water if you keep moving).
I liked Gigapolis Zone, Mecha Green Hill Zone, and Turquoise Hill Zone due to the great themes all three have.
Level design as a whole isn't amazing, but its fun.
A fellow Gaffer Ferr986 shared some really great thoughts on Sonic Chaos so I wanted to share his post!
Triple Trouble SMS doesn't exist even in Brail. The SMS is a hack/fanmade port.
Sonic Chaos feels like an 8-bit version of Sonic CD level design wise for me. The stages are short but have a lot of verticallity, with diferent paths spreading through the level. Problem is that they are so short and easy, even more than in CD. It also had the usual diferences between the SMS and GG version , different title screen, different music in Gigalopolis , different background colour in mecha Green Hill, and some differences in Aqua Planet music (that I did mashup long time ago lol)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz_sSTfHSZ8
T.T. feels more like an usual Sonic game, and it's probably the biggest one and the closest to the 16-bit Sonic experience.
Btw I still like Sonic's sprite in Chaos the most of all the 8-bits games.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sonic Triple Trouble is more interesting to talk about, as it does a lot more then Sonic Chaos. The story has our boy Knuckles being tricked by Dr. Robotnik again and it forces Sonic & Tails to once again go on a hunt for the emeralds.....but we meet a new face!
Nack is a treasure hunter that can travel in-between the special stages....so that means we got some challenging special stages to fight. Between Dr. Robotnik, Nack, Knuckles and even Metal Sonic showing up.......we got quite some trouble on our hands
.
*Cough* Bad at the jokes guys :l. Anyway, the story is more interesting here, so what about the levels?
Triple Trouble has a large selection of stages that, unlike Sonic Chaos, are really memerable. Sunset Park is a great example, as it has you using Mine Carts to get through the level and the third act having you run across a moving train!
It was a nice set piece and it gets followed up with Robotnik Winter, with Sonic riding on a Snowboard across the level if you are skilled enough.
Even better is if you play the zone as Tails, as you can hit item boxes that allows you to fly really fast. I had fun with this zone quite a bit.
After this, we get Tidal Plant Zone and with Tails, you can ride in his Sea Fox Sub (which we will see very soon in his own game
).
I am talking alot about the zones in Triple Trouble as, well, they are really interesting with set pieces and fun level designs. I will not say they are perfect though (Tidal Plant Zone as Sonic can be really annoying
) but I had a great time running through them. - - - - - - - - - - - -
WARP ZONE!
*Cough* Now is the best time to start talking about special stages with Sonic
. I touched upon this with Sonic 3&K but both of these games do it differently. Sonic & Tails run through mini-levels in both Chaos and Triple Trouble, with Chaos focusing on gimmick powers (Rocket Shoes, which allows Sonic to fly and the Bounce Spring, which is a bounces until you jump of it). Note how I said Sonic, as Tails has no special stages in Chaos (he automatically gets the good ending).
With Triple Trouble, this concept is expanded upon, with both Sonic and Tails running through these levels. You have two types; a maze to run through or a 3D flying section with Sonic/Tails using a plane to collect X amount of rings. Both are quite fun and after special stage two, you start fighting Nack in boss fights. Yes, I say boss fights WITHIN special stages. That is impressive and it makes you on your edge during these levels.
Overall, they are enjoyable and add a bit to the game
. - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
And what is a RK128 Sonic Thread without me gushing about the music XD! Sonic always has great music and its great seeing both of these games keep that tradition up
.Sonic Chaos has a great soundtrack and I really love a lot of its themes:
Gigapolis Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzo0HnUiE3U&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI&index=14
Mecha Green Hill Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1LJPaYA60Y&index=20&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI
Sleeping Egg Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxnzJGixQiE&index=25&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI
Turquoise Hill Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm6JbG5PAW8&index=36&list=PL6akIKaXBeU38u5wik6bN9O7-ue9kmKlI
Sonic Triple Trouble has a great soundtrack as well, with some really iconic themes being made here:
3D Special Stage:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV3lnNCzKWs&index=2&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
Dr. Robotnik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0uVBBwx3bE&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=7
Metal Sonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijnzqcpyfJ8&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=21
Nack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlCVvUOrAKE&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=22
Robotnik Winter Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWMepd-8VnU&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej&index=25
Sunset Park Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF1dWbIVAn0&index=28&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
Sunset Park Zone Act 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrna1ioqlU0&index=29&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
Extra: Genesis Cover Version of Sunset Park Zone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zm5ofDEIJY&index=30&list=PL6akIKaXBeU3P_iBp3aySaV4zqe2hbgej
I love both soundtracks, as they really make great use of the Game Gear's sound quality
.- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
So, what are my overall thoughts on this pair of games? Good titles that offer some great 2D Sonic goodness. They have some issues (Special Stages being annoying at points in Triple Trouble (the maze ones mainly) and Chaos being too easy) but overall, they are great platformers.
Triple Trouble is playable on the 3DS via E-Shop and Chaos can be played in a number of ways (Sonic Adventure DX GameCube, PS2/Xbox Mega Collection Plus, ect).
I have a fun story with Chaos, as I got a retail cart of the game to play on a Game Gear I got from a family member years ago.....lost both sadly but still, nice owing the retail version of Chaos
. I liked both of these games a lot and highly recommend you give them a shot. Easily some of Sonic's finest work on the handheld space (next to Advance 1, Rush/Rush Adventure and Colors DS).
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Next up for the retrospective is.....some of the more 'mixed' handheld adventures for the Blue Blur. Lets spin our way into a labyrinth of frustration and see what kind of blast we can get
.
