Review: Sonic The Hedgehog Chaos (Sega Master System)

Every Week Or So I will Try and post a Sega review of some sort. I will start of with one of my favourites: Sonic Chaos. It is not the best game in the world. The only reason it is one of my most favourite games is that when I first played it, I actually managed to finish it!! Hey that is a big thing when you are 5.

Sonic The Hedgehog Chaos

• Genre: Platform
• Players: 1
• Developer: SEGA
• Publisher: SEGA

In 1993 the entire Sonic community was anticipating the next great hit to surpass the excellent Sonic 2. 1993 was also the year Sonic’s somewhat ‘Lacklustre’ gems Sonic spinball and Dr Robotniks Mean Bean machine were released. With Sonic CD announced, the world waited to see what Yuji Naka’s Sonic team would come up with for the master system. Enter Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos.


To the joy of the Not-yet-Upgraded Master System gamers and owners of the Game Gear. The first thing noticeable with Sonic Chaos was that the graphics were on par with their 16-Bit older brother. The graphics engine was completely redesigned, allowing for larger sprites, copious backgrounds, and smoother yet faster animations. Chaos was almost disguised as a Mega Drive game, with loops, corkscrews and spiral ramps. Tails also makes his first outing as a playable character, which brought another element to the game with his flying abilities. Allowing you to practically fly anywhere in the level, making easier to get rings and to secret areas. Sonic Chaos also gave us new moves such as the Dash attack and the unnecessary Peel Out move, which was the same as the Dash attack without Sonic curling into a ball. The bonus levels are introduced for the first time, where you have to acquire the chaos emeralds in order to defeat Dr Robotnik. But unlike the Mega Drive versions these are pretty substandard 2D creations that are neither exciting nor challenging.

The scenario is typical of the Sonic series: Move from left to right collecting rings as fast as possible. Once again the Evil Robotnik has stolen the red Chaos Emerald, and it is up to our Spiky blue haired hero to get it back. While the story is nothing ground breaking, the Zone concepts are extremely original. Mecha Green Hill and Sleeping Egg Zone, coupled with great catchy sound tracks are truly amazing for such aging hardware. Sonic Chaos was not only influenced by the Mega Drive as some truly original concepts were implemented. The rocket shoes and hop springs added a new facet to gameplay and allowed Sonic to explore the zones to a much larger degree.

So despite all this innovation, 16-Bit inspired graphics and truly original additions to the Sonic franchise, why is not an all time great? Well this game is just too easy, killing any chance of replay value. You may play through again as the alternative character. But even playing through with both characters and collecting all the gems it only adds up to around 5 hours of gameplay. In stark contrast to Sonic 2, Sonic Chaos has far too many lives (after the first level you are able to collect 7 extra lives by going to the bonus round), continue points, rings placed generously throughout zones and easy to defeat bosses. The only plus side to this extreme lack of difficulty is it's easy for younger children to get to grips with it.

Pros: Great Graphics and original concepts are truly stunning.

Cons: Next to no difficulty, which greatly reduces longevity

Final verdict: 7/10
Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos is really let down by its lack difficulty. But despite this it's original additions and new gameplay features should entice the Sonic fan to play through this game, even if it is only once.