The last time I wrote about a Sonic fan game, I innocently and absentmindedly described it as “SNES-style.” This led to pile of dogs on social media with an intensity usually reserved for huge international banks that accidentally tweet rule34, a cry of derision This came back to me again and again as I rolled on the floor under my desk and screamed at Graham, asking him to delete the entire internet. I want to start all over again.
Let’s see if we can do better this time: Sonic Galactic is a ridiculously successful Sonic fan game from Starteam that, broadly speaking, imagines what Mega Drive and Genesis platformers might look and feel like if they were made for the Sega Saturn. If you feel like trying them out for yourself, there’s a up-to-date demo. Find it here on Itch.io. Perhaps if I had put the download link higher up the page in another article, people would have distracted themselves and refrained from giving me such a terrible handjob.
The basic determinant of the evaluation of any Sonic game created after Mega-Drive is: what sidekicks were retained? Because, after all, adding sidekicks went hand in hand with diluting Sonic from a cult platformer into a puddle of franchise goo. Step beyond the basic trinity of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and you add an array of, at best showy, at worst, actively poisonous, spices to a gourmet layer cake. However, there are circumstances where a little Amy Rose and a little Shadow can add spice and spice.
Sonic Galactic seems to have the right idea. In addition to Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, it adds Fang the Sniper (jerboa) from Sonic The Hedgehog Triple Trouble and a up-to-date character, Tunnel the Mole (mole). Each character has their own moves with which they can modulate Sonic’s classic pinball thrill through stunning, “hand-pixelated” arrangements of ring-decorated loops and ramps to collide with a few spikes when you’re 10 rings from 1- Up.
I’ve played a bit of the demo, which scares me a little because it has a tutorial level, with some rather long-winded text instructions that pop up with a clunk as you play on the platform. Other than that, the game fits my memories of Mega Drive games like a glove. It’s very reminiscent of the game Sonic Team might have created if they were asked to replicate Sonic 3’s visual design and abilities – it has the same set of basic TV upgrades, but adds a wall kick to Sonic and various clever water running techniques. So far, Galactic seems to be playing things simpler than the obvious comparison, Sonic Mania, which I think is more effective in its remixing of elements from older Sonic games.
In the 3D special stages you can best see the “power of Saturn”, a very good console that is currently remembered mainly for having it kicked in the ass by the PlayStation 1. Meanwhile, the chiptune soundtrack has that active longing that I associate with the series at its best.
Sonic Galactic was announced in 2020 and has no release date yet. Come on, take the spin attack demo.
