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| Sonic Robo Blast 2 | |
|---|---|
 SRB2's Title Screen | |
| Developer(s) | Sonic Team Junior |
| Publisher(s) | Sonic Team Junior |
| Designer(s) | Sonic Team Junior |
| Engine | Doom Legacy |
| Latest version | Version 2.0.6 |
| Release date(s) | July 24, 2009 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer, FPS |
| Mode(s) | Single Player; Multiplayer |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows; Mac OS X; Linux; Solaris; Others |
| Media | 81.7 MB Download |
| System requirements | Intel Pentium II 400mhz or better; 64mb RAM; 200mb free disk space (2mb free during play); Direct X 3 or better compliant video; Direct X 3 compliant sound |
| Input | Keyboard; Mouse; Gamepad |
Sonic Robo Blast 2, abbreviated as SRB2, is a 3D computer fangame based on the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is developed by a group called Sonic Team Junior, using a modified version of the Doom Legacy source port of Doom, to allow for such things as optional analog control and true room-over-room (something not possible in the standard Doom engine), as well as the standard gameplay elements Sonic games are known for, such as collecting rings, dropping rings when damaged, running very fast, bouncing off springboards, etc. It has been in the works since 1998 and is currently nearing completion, though several parts of the game are still missing.
Sonic Robo Blast 2 is closely inspired by the original 2D Sonic games for the Sega Genesis and attempts to recreate a game with this style in 3D, though it also borrows elements from the current Sonic games, such as Sonic's signature Air Spin Attack. Entirely original to SRB2 is its Multiplayer mode, a variation of classic first-person shooter games with Sonic elements. Due to being built with a modified Doom Legacy engine, the game is also very easily customizable. Custom levels, characters and even source code modifications can be created with the help of external editors.
Contents |
Storyline
Months after Eggman's defeat in Sonic Robo Blast, Dr. Eggman took an interest in harnessing the Black Rock's energy. After claiming it as his own battleship, Eggman chose Greenflower City as his first target for obliteration.
Sonic was enjoying a long overdue vacation when he was suddenly alerted by the presence of Eggman's massive fleet. Sonic gazed at the giant battleship aimed toward Greenflower, and had already bolted towards it in a blink of an eye. Even though Sonic rushed to save Greenflower City as quickly as possible, it was already a pile of ashes by the time he arrived. Now, after a quick reunion with the evil doctor, Sonic and friends journey off onto another quest to save the world from Dr. Eggman.
Gameplay
Single Player
SRB2's main focus lies in its single player campaign. In its final state, it is supposed to span at least 8 zones, each consisting of three acts. Zones are organized similarly to Sonic Advance 2 and 3, with the first two acts being typical Sonic levels with a start, and end, and obstacles in-between, and Act 3 containing a boss. The levels are similar to the classic Sonic games, with each zone having its own theme, featuring distinct enemies and obstacles. Contrary to official 3D Sonic titles like Sonic Adventure, the levels feature multiple paths and are designed openly, with several hidden items encouraging exploration. Unlike official Sonic titles (past and present), SRB2 does not feature slopes or loops, due to engine limitations.
Aside from the main single player mode, there are various other gameplay modes that differ from the normal playing experience. These include Mario Mode, NiGHTS Mode, 2D Mode and Emerald Hunt.
Mario Mode introduces several gameplay elements known from the Super Mario series, including Coins instead of Rings, several Mario sound effects, and Mario-style enemies and power-ups. NiGHTS Mode replicates the SEGA game NiGHTS Into Dreams in a Sonic setting. The player flies along a 2D-esque track, collecting Rings and Wing Logos to destroy an Ideya Capture. 2D Mode puts the player on a 2D axis, akin to the classic Sonic games. Emerald Hunt works like Knuckles' levels in Sonic Adventure. The player has to search for three Emerald tokens to complete the level.
The single player levels can also be played in Time Attack mode. In this mode, the player must try to complete the levels as fast as possible. By typing ULTIMATE on the title screen, Ultimate Mode is activated. In this mode, all rings and most monitors (apart from Invincibility and Extra Lives) are removed, and the player starts with only one life.
Multiplayer
SRB2 features several multiplayer modes that can be played either via splitscreen or over network connection. Multiplayer modes include Co-Op (which is basically the single player campaign with multiple players allowed), Race and Classic Race, Match and Team Match, Capture The Flag, Tag and Hide & Seek.
Race is a simple race to the finish, either on the single player levels or on a set of ten Circuit levels, designed specifically for that gametype. These are short tracks with a circular layout, in which the player have to complete four rounds. Alternatively, Classic Race is available, in which points are awarded for collecting items as well as finishing quickly, á la Sonic 2. Here, the player with the most points wins.
Match is a variation of a typical first-person shooter Deathmatch game with Sonic elements. Match is played in first person on a set of nine maps designed specifically for that gametype. The players shoot rings at each other, and each shot removes one ring from the ring counter. Since rings fly considerably slower than projectiles, and players are much faster than in regular Match games, rings must be aimed ahead of the opponents to hit them. Hitting a player awards 50 points and drop all of their equipments, hitting an unequipped player awards 100 points and kills them.
On top of the regular red rings, the are six weapon rings, each with different effects. To shoot a weapon ring, one must collect the corresponding panels and have enough ammunition for that weapon. Ammunition pickups are also scattered throughout the stage. Additionally, Chaos Emeralds spawn in Match games on random spots, and collecting all seven allows the player to become Super, which makes them invulnerable, faster, and gives them an additional special ability, depending on the chosen character. Rings are drained every second while being Super however, and getting hit makes a player lose 10 rings immediately.
Team Match is simply a Match game with two teams. The team that scores the most points win.
Capture The Flag works just like traditional CTF games in first-person shooters. The players are divided into two teams, and each team has a base that contains a flag. The players must try to steal the flag of the opposing team and bring it to their base to score a point (as long as their own flag is in their own base). Apart from that, the setup works like a regular Match game, but is played on its own set of six maps.
Tag and Hide & Seek are two closely related gametypes, both played on the Match maps. In Tag, one player is IT and much chases the other players. Once they hit another player, that player becomes IT as well. As long as a player is not IT, their score increases per second, and for every player that is tagged, the Tagger receives 100 points. Hide & Seek works similarly. At the beginning, the players who are not IT have time to hide. Once the hidetime is over, they can't move anymore, and the player who is IT must shoot them. Scoring works exactly like Tag.
Unlockable Content
- See also: Unlockables
SRB2 features a lot of additional content that can be unlocked by various means. To get a full list of unlockables, one must beat the single player campaign. Bonus content can be unlocked primarily by two things: Collecting either emblems or the Chaos Emeralds.
The seven Chaos Emeralds can be acquired by collecting Special Stage Tokens that are hidden in all non-boss acts. When the player exits a level after collecting these, they are sent to a Special Stage where they have to collect a certain number of rings in a certain time to collect an emerald. In later versions of the game, these special stages will be replaced with NiGHTS stages.
Also in every non-boss act, one emblem in the form of a Wing Logo is hidden for each character. Additionally, there are four extra emblems that can be unlocked by performing various tasks, which makes a total of 40 emblems. These are awarded for beating the game, collecting all emeralds, having a time under 23 minutes in Time Attack, and scoring a Perfect Bonus on any stage. Depending on the number of collected emblems, several bonus stages can be unlocked, while a total of 40 emblems unlocks Pandora's Box, a sort of God Menu that allows modifying various in-game settings without activating the cheat protection.
Characters
Three characters are available to play as, each having unique abilities: Sonic is the fastest character and is equipped with the Air Spin Attack, also known a "thok", which makes him shoot forward quickly. Sonic can also turn into Super Sonic in the regular levels by collecting the seven Chaos Emeralds. Knuckles is slightly slower than Sonic and has a lower jump height, but is able to climb walls and glide through the air. Tails is the slowest of the three characters, but has an useful flying ability, allowing him to reach almost any place on a map and skip difficult sections. All three characters have the signature Spin Dash ability that is characteristic for Sonic games.
Customization
- See also: Modifications
Due to being built on top of the Doom engine, SRB2 is easily customizable. It retains the WAD file format, which allows for custom levels and characters to be made with the help of a WAD Editor. With the use of SOCs, many settings of the game can be easily altered. Source Code Modifications can also easily be made by altering the openly distributed source code and compiling it.
Level Design
Level Design for SRB2 is similar to level design for Doom. A modified version of the Doom Builder, SRB2 Doom Builder, is the most commonly used tool for creating levels, though any WAD Editor can be used when supplied with the correct configuration file.
Two level editing concepts are unique to SRB2. The first is the Thok Barrier, an additional outer sector that has to be applied to every level. Due to the collision detection SRB2 uses, the player would be able to walk out of the level otherwise. The second is the concept of Linedef Executors. Instead of script lumps like ACS, SRB2 controls special effects with the use of additional control sectors that are placed outside of the main map and tagged to the in-level target sectors. Parameters are controlled by attributes like linedef length, sector floor and ceiling height, and texture offsets.
Character WADs
Custom characters can be created with a lump editor like XWE. It needs at least 173 sprites to be displayed correctly, as well as two text lumps: OBJCTCFG and S_SKIN1. OBJCTCFG controls how the character is shown in the select screen etc. while S_SKIN1 controls its attributes. There are eight different special abilities, though custom ones can be created with the use of SOCs. There are limits on several attributes like jump height and speed, to prevent the character from becoming overpowered.
Sonic Object Configuration
Sonic Object Configuration, or SOC, is a type of text file for SRB2 that changes many in-game variables and is used to supply the settings for major modifications. Additionally, it can be used to modify existing game Objects or create new ones. Cutscenes and custom unlockables for larger modifications can also be created this way. SOCs can be created with the SRB2 SOC Editor that comes with SRB2, and can also be integrated into WAD files if necessary.