Artigo
10 of the most unique Game Gear levels in Sonic Origins Plus
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Paul Cecchini
Bridge Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Ever wander across a bridge in a Sonic level and think, “I could go for more of this”? Bridge Zone, a level exclusive to the Game Gear version of Sonic the Hedgehog, has exactly what you’re looking for.
Being only the second zone in the game, there’s not much here in the way of challenge, but honestly, therein lies part of its charm. It’s a fairly easygoing stroll through a rarely used level trope, coupled with a delightfully whimsical soundtrack that’s become a bit of a fan favorite over the years. Fun fact: Bridge Zone also has the distinction of being one of only two Sonic levels in the franchise’s 30-plus-year history to feature an auto-scrolling segment. (Not to say that’s a good thing, but this list is technically about unique levels, not necessarily the best.)
Sky Base Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Unlike its 16-bit counterpart, the Game Gear version of the original Sonic the Hedgehog goes hard for its final level, taking Sonic to Dr. Eggman’s flying fortress in the middle of a deadly thunderstorm.
Naturally, Dr. Eggman is taking full advantage of the hazardous weather conditions, harnessing the lightning’s power to create a network of deadly electric traps that snake throughout the level. Trying to carefully navigate your way to the end without getting zapped while also avoiding a seemingly endless barrage of laser cannons makes for a hard-as-heck final level to cap off Sonic’s first portable adventure, but I’ll still gladly take it over a reskinned Labyrinth Zone any day of the week (looking at you, Scrap Brain Zone Act 3 from 16-bit Sonic the Hedgehog).
Underground Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Considering Sonic is a burrowing animal, it’s surprising how few Sonic levels actually take place underground. Even today, the vast majority of first levels in Sonic games are verdant, Green Hill-esque landscapes, which makes Underground Zone particularly unique as the first level in the Game Gear version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
It’s also infamous for featuring what many consider to be among the hardest Sonic bosses ever, mostly due to the Game Gear’s small screen size, limiting the player’s ability to see incoming bombs until it’s too late. Unfortunately, that isn’t rectified in this collection, but hey, if I was able to beat it when I was six years old, I’m sure you can do it now. I believe in you!
Scrambled Egg Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Caves are far from an uncommon setting in Sonic games, but what makes Scrambled Egg Zone stand out is the extensive network of tubing that runs throughout. These aren’t your typical Sonic game tubes that you simply hop into before being safely delivered to your destination.
Each tube has multiple branching pathways for you to navigate as you travel along, many of which will quickly deposit you into a bottomless pit or onto a bed of spikes if you choose incorrectly. The energetic, almost chaotic music further fuels your adrenaline as you make split-second, life-or-death directional decisions. But trust me, when you pop out of that last tube and hit the end-of-level marker, you’ll feel like an absolute gaming champ.
Crystal Egg Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
Dr. Eggman has had a lot of evil bases in his decades of supervillain antics, but nothing stands out quite like this one. Here, he forgoes his typical metallic fortress for something a bit more colorful and translucent.
Everything from the rings to the spikes glows in a rainbow of colors, something not seen in any other Sonic level, much less a final zone. But don’t let the bright colors and chipper music lull you into a false sense of security: This crystalline wonderland is every bit as deadly as it is pretty. We mentioned spikes for a reason; there are a lot of them here, and it’s not uncommon to blast through a wall only to find yourself careening straight down into a spike bed. Pretty or not, this zone earns its final level distinction.
Mecha Green Hill Zone (Sonic Chaos)
The iconic first level of the original Sonic the Hedgehog has seen many, many iterations over the years, but frankly, most of them have been pretty same-y.
Mecha Green Hill Zone, the fourth level in Sonic Chaos, gives the zone the most drastic makeover it’s ever seen. Somehow, Dr. Eggman has managed to mechanize virtually every square inch of the place, from the flora to the fauna, turning Sonic’s favorite hangout into a steel death trap. At least, that was undoubtedly his intention. The mechanical veneer is mostly cosmetic; the level itself is actually pretty easygoing when it comes to hazards. Just be sure to steer clear of the coconuts in the trees. They tend to be a tad explosive. You won’t find a Green Hill like this anywhere else in the series.
Sleeping Egg Zone (Sonic Chaos)
At first glance, you’ll likely have the same question I did since I was a kid: Why is this level called Sleeping Egg Zone? As it turns out, there’s much more to these seemingly normal ruins than meets the eye.
The game’s Japanese instruction booklet indicates that this entire zone is actually a “fantasy world” in the sky created by Dr. Eggman. Is Sonic dreaming this level? Does it not exist in his realm of reality? How did Dr. Eggman develop such advanced technology? Mind-bending implications aside, the zone makes extensive use of a power-up introduced with Sonic Chaos: a Pogo Spring that attaches to the bottom of Sonic’s feet, allowing him to traverse the terrain by bouncing to heights that are impossible to reach with normal jumping. It’s a surprisingly fun gameplay mechanic that, sadly, has only been featured in one game since.
Aqua Planet Zone (Sonic Chaos)
Move over, Aquarium Park from Sonic Colors: Ultimate (also available on Epic Games Store). Aqua Planet did the water planet trope first.
What makes this one particularly unique among Sonic levels is that Aqua Planet is located in an entirely different dimension. How Sonic got there, who knows, but I told you the Game Gear Sonic games played fast and loose with their level concepts. Probably the best aspect of this level is that, if you play it well enough and manage to stick to the upper pathways, you can keep yourself dry for the most part. The best Sonic water levels are the ones where you can bypass the water entirely.
Sunset Park Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble)
Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble’s manual refers to this level as an abandoned amusement park, but honestly, to me, it always gave off more of an industrial park vibe with its dark color scheme and dangerous level hazards. Runaway mine carts and explosive footholds litter the deadly terrain, capped off by a boss fight atop—and against—a high-speed bullet train, which features what many fans consider to be one of the best pieces of music in Sonic’s entire Game Gear library.
Robotnik Winter Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble)
This level is obviously meant to be a portable counterpart to Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s iconic Ice Cap Zone, and in some cases, it actually manages to surpass its 16-bit cousin.
For example, Ice Cap Zone begins with a scripted snowboarding segment that acts as a neat spectacle, but it doesn’t require any player input and ends as quickly as it begins. Robotnik Winter Zone takes the snowboarding concept one step further, turning the snowboard into a power-up that you can access throughout the level. You have free control over it and can plow through enemies and obstacles at your leisure. Is it practical when you’re a character that can simply jump and roll around? Not a bit. Is it still cool to do? You better believe it. The kicker here is the fact that the snow isn’t even naturally occurring. Rather, it’s a direct result of Dr. Eggman’s vile experiments, which have cast the entire island into a permanent deep freeze. If you were ever wondering why the level was called Robotnik Winter Zone, well, now you know.