User:TheJoebro64/drafts/SonicRemasters
The Sonic the Hedgehog Retro Engine remakes refer to video game remakes of three platform games in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise that were released between 2011 and 2013. The remakes—Sonic CD (1993), Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)—were developed by Christian Whitehead, an Australian video game programmer, using his custom game engine, the Retro Engine. Each remake is a faithful recreation that contains the original graphics, music, and level design intact. Changes include support for high-definition and widescreen displays, additional player characters, and new time attack and debug modes.
Overview[edit]
The video game remakes cover the first three installments of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise—Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), and Sonic CD (1993). The games are faithful remakes featuring the original premises and level designs intact. They are 2D side-scrolling platformers where the player controls the anthropomorphic blue hedgehog Sonic at high speeds through a series of themed levels to defeat the evil Doctor Eggman. The player runs through vertical loops, jumps off springs, avoids enemies and inanimate obstacles, and collects rings and power-ups such as shields. They also must traverse special stages to collect the Chaos Emeralds.
Sonic the Hedgehog follows Sonic as he attempts to save South Island from Eggman, who seeks to obtain the Chaos Emeralds and turn the land's animal population into aggressive robots. Sonic 2 sees Sonic joined by Miles "Tails" Prower in his attempt to stop Eggman from launching a space station, while Sonic CD recounts Sonic's efforts to prevent Eggman from conquering an extraterrestrial planet. Each game retains the same basic gameplay, though Sonic CD is distinguished by its time travel game mechanic that allows players to visit levels at different periods in time. Each game supports up to four save files.
The remakes update the games, which were originally released for the 16-bit Sega Genesis and its Sega CD add-on, to take advantage of modern technologies. Each runs at 60 frames per second and supports high-definition and widescreen displays. They also incorporate features and content from later games in the series. For instance, Tails is playable in all three (he was previously only playable in Sonic 2) with his abilities from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994), while Knuckles the Echidna is playable in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 2, and Sonic can use his abilities from Sonic 2 and 3 in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic CD. Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 2 also add time attack game modes. The Sonic 2 remake adds a new level, Hidden Palace Zone, that was scrapped from the original.