The Wonder from Down Under! SONIC CHAOS for SMS*56k Warning*

[MegaDrive20XX]

G'day mate...welcome to SMS Game Hunter...and I'm your host Ghouls 'N Ghosts!...but you can call me GEORGE LIQUIOR AMERICAN! :D

Today...on SMS Game Hunter...I have tracked down the rare and elusive Sonic Chaos for SMS...these little bugger comes allll the wayyy from Queensland, AUSTRALIA! Picked up this lil fella for $16 AUS shipped on Aus Ebay

So here it is....Sonic The Hedgehog Chaos..normally referred as "Sonic 3: Chaos" at times...and I must say unlike American or our European brotheren...this game was made differently in appearance and shows true "Sega of Australia" craftsmenship!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/SonicChaos2.jpg

Many are already fimilar with this box art cover, yet here it is..probably the only unique port of the bunch that has it's own style

To begin this comparison, I'm going to use Sonic the Hedgehog UK (Thank you Gunstar Hero UK for this experiment :))

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/woot2.jpg

Upon inspection, you can see the inserts look about the same, written in 7 languages as well on the back...yet, the Australian game is matched to fit in the center of the casing


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/GrainedCase.jpg

The first thing we noticed upon opening the case, is the fact that the plastic casing is actually textured over with a fine grained sandpaper look and feel, in the red traced out section, it proudly states "Made in Australia" which I have never seen many Sega Genesis and SMS boxes from UK, USA, or Japan to ever declare something like this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/SonicManuals.jpg

Next up, the instruction manuals, UK/USA Vs. Australia..they look about the same don't they?..Yet, a big surprise to me, due to the fact that once you open it up...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/Opened2.jpg

You get this, it actually folds out...not many game manuals were made like this as far as I know, plus it's written in english completely.

Yet this does not make much sense since the insert is in 7 langauges, but the instructions are in English? Odd indeed...


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/cartcompare2.jpg

Finally, the battle of the cartridge appearence, here we see that, the Australia cartridge brings in white stripes instead of black like our US and UK titles...and furthermore, the plastic on the cartridge is the exact same used for the plastic casing as well! We find the same grained-sandpaper like look and feel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/UKandAUS.jpg

On the back, we have another difference, Australia carts took away the black sticker...instead the same embrailed "SEGA" logo from most Genesis carts are used..and this one proudly states again "Made in Australia". Also notice the security bit bolts are gone and replaced with common bolts


On to part 2....

[MegaDrive20XX]

So after we have break down the differences in appearence...how does it play compared to the GameGear Version? Let's find out shall we?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/SonicChaosGGTitleScreen.jpg

GameGear

Versus


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/SonicChaosSMSTitleScreen.jpg

Sega Master System

Looks like Sonic and gang got a total make over when ported to the SMS when I show the title screens...

yet here are the major differences between both games..15 differences I have found

1) The two title screens are totally different. (Well dur, I just showed ya ;))

2) The Character Select is totally different.

3) The "Zone Title" (when the Title of the Zones Appear) is totally different.

4) The first two 'syllables' (or sounds) in the Music for "Turquoise Hill Zone" is different. In the SMS version, it seems more dragged on.

5) The name "Gigalopolis Zone" was changed to "Gigapolis Zone" in the GG version.

6) The music for Gigalopolis and Gigapolis are totally different.

7) During the little intro before the Title Screen, music from "Electric Egg
Zone Act 3" is playing..in the GG version it is a totally different song.

8) Zone 3 for "Aqua Planet Zone" and "Mecha Green Hill Zone" is different.

9) The arena for the boss in "Mecha Green Hill Zone Act 3" is different. In the GG version it is just a flat surface with no spikes.

10) The SMS version plays a little victory tune before calculating your score after you receive a Chaos Emerald.

11) In the SMS version for "Sonic's Ending Version 2", Sonic is chasing Robotnik while he is rolled up in a ball. In the GG version, Sonic is not a ball and trips and falls when Robotnik goes off screen.

12) In Electric Egg Zone Act 3, there are many more ring monitors. In the GG version, there is only one.

13) In the GG Manual, the badniks have names. In the SMS manual, they do not.

14) "Gigalopolis Zone Act 3" boss shoots a spiked ball out at you just before he blows up in the SMS version. In the GG version, he does not.

15) When getting "Power Sneakers" in the SMS version, the music does not change.In the GG version, there is music for the "Power Sneakers."

[GrayFox]

Ah, this speciman (spelling?) is rather strange. She seems to be a rather different one from the rest of the flock. But I must add, that is one fine lookin' Sonic Chaos. You sir, heh, have made me envious.

Hopefully some of our fellow Pal SMS experts will help us out :D

*glances at Raccoon Lad*


Edit: and after your second post GnG, that's a crapload of differences in the game itself. Rather strange.

[MegaDrive20XX]

When it comes to Sonic, we gotta be hardcore when it comes to collecting the odd titles that weren't released.

I hope you all enjoyed this interesting observation and to have learned something today

Upon my return from the jungles of Australia...a fearsome beast was found...but I arrived too late...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v129/Akumajo22/JayJayLovesSonic.jpg

A wild Tasmanian Devil-Like Cat by the name of Jay Jay took over...but alas...this animal kingdom is too fierce even for me....but it is Nature's way...

Until we meet again, this has been SMS Game Hunter! :)

[GrayFox]

When it comes to Sonic, we gotta be hardcore when it comes to collecting the odd titles that weren't released.

Ah, too true sir, too true. We must continue the search, for, the mission of the Sega Elite Task Force will never be complete unless we trudge on.

[anagrama]

It's common as muck in Europe and Australia.
Ozisoft (the Australian distributor) made their own packaging which, as you've noted, is generally shabbier than the Japan-made games released elsewhere (the insert is the same as Euro copies, though).

[RevQuixo]

Any chance that the game has a barcode sticker on the insert?

If so what is the barcode...

If not...what is the barcode?

[MegaDrive20XX]

Any chance that the game has a barcode sticker on the insert?

If so what is the barcode...

If not...what is the barcode?

yes it does have a bar code, what will the number tell?

[hydr0x]

eehh seriously, i don't get this topic at all, what are you trying to show us? you are comparing Sonic to Sonic Chaos and Game Gear to Master System?? please enlighten me....

[Falcon]

All Sega Master System games either have a four digit number on the spine of the case, or on the back of the cover, there will be a barcode. The last three numbers of the barcode is important info and if you tell us that I will be able to find out more about this title. Just today I have discovered that I have an Australian Space Harrier...

[MegaDrive20XX]

eehh seriously, i don't get this topic at all, what are you trying to show us? you are comparing Sonic to Sonic Chaos and Game Gear to Master System?? please enlighten me....

Part 1 explains Australian and European differences

Part 2 explains GameGear and SMS differences...

I'm sorry to confuse you

[MegaDrive20XX]

All Sega Master System games either have a four digit number on the spine of the case, or on the back of the cover, there will be a barcode. The last three numbers of the barcode is important info and if you tell us that I will be able to find out more about this title. Just today I have discovered that I have an Australian Space Harrier...

510 is the last three

[NeoZeedeater]

Wow, I didn't realize Sonic Chaos has so many differences between the SMS and GG versions. I always figured the post-Sonic 1 SMS/GG Sonics had the same release dates but your comparison post implies the SMS version is earlier. Did the different versions have different release dates?

[RevQuixo]

Any chance that the game has a barcode sticker on the insert?

If so what is the barcode...

If not...what is the barcode?

yes it does have a bar code, what will the number tell?

Actually the full barcode will tell me if Ozisoft created a new barcode for the game or just reused the European one.

http://vgrebirth.org/games/game.asp?id=7113

That is the European info. Typically Ozisoft would use a sticker barcode to differentiate the release. While it clearly is an Australian release based on the case, I am curious to know if there are any packaging variations.

[RevQuixo]

All Sega Master System games either have a four digit number on the spine of the case, or on the back of the cover, there will be a barcode. The last three numbers of the barcode is important info and if you tell us that I will be able to find out more about this title. Just today I have discovered that I have an Australian Space Harrier...

I'd be interested in knowing the full barcode of that Space Harrier. it's not really *just* certain digits of the barcode that help. The first half can tell us Region and Publisher. The last half sometimes can contain the item number.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Any chance that the game has a barcode sticker on the insert?

If so what is the barcode...

If not...what is the barcode?

yes it does have a bar code, what will the number tell?

Actually the full barcode will tell me if Ozisoft created a new barcode for the game or just reused the European one.

http://vgrebirth.org/games/game.asp?id=7113

That is the European info. Typically Ozisoft would use a sticker barcode to differentiate the release. While it clearly is an Australian release based on the case, I am curious to know if there are any packaging variations.

Judging the information you just gave me, the insert looks identical to mine

the full bar code is

4 974365 635510

Which the website shows the exact same number...hmm this is odd

[MegaDrive20XX]

Wow, I didn't realize Sonic Chaos has so many differences between the SMS and GG versions. I always figured the post-Sonic 1 SMS/GG Sonics had the same release dates but your comparison post implies the SMS version is earlier. Did the different versions have different release dates?

Well both say 1993...but honestly I feel the GameGear game arrived first

[NeoZeedeater]

Well both say 1993...but honestly I feel the GameGear game arrived first

I remember the GG version coming out in North America near the end of the 1993(probably November).

Do you prefer one version over the other?

[MegaDrive20XX]

I like the SMS version since the screen resolution has been fixed and I can see more below and above me.

Yet I did enjoy the GG one at first upon it's release

Now the SMS version does claim 1993..so I guess the only person to answer that question is a fellow UK or Aus member