Editing Sonic Spinball (8-bit)

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|title1 = Main page
|tab2   = Staff     |title2 = Credits
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{{Infobox video game
|title        = ''Sonic Spinball''
|image        = <gallery>
Sonic Spinball Game Gear Cover.jpg|North America
Sonic-the-hedgehog-spinball-cover.jpg|Europe
</gallery>
|caption      = The [[Sega Game Gear]] cover of ''Sonic Spinball''.
|developer    = [[Sega|Sega Interactive]]
|publisher    = [[Sega]]
|genre        = 
*Action
*Pinball
|modes        = Single-player
|released     = 
'''[[Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]]''':<br/>{{vgrelease|EU=September 1994<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=[[Wikipedia:Mean Machines|Mean Machines Sega]]|issue=24|publisher=EMAP|date=August 1994|pages=90|title=Game Gear Review: Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball}}</ref>|NA=September 1994}}
'''[[Sega Master System|Master System]]''':<br/>{{vgrelease|EU=25 January 1995|AU=1995|SA=25 January 1995}}
|ratings      = {{Vgrating|VRC=GA|ESRB=E}}
|platforms    = 
*[[Sega Game Gear]]
*[[Sega Master System]]
*[[Nintendo Switch]]
|media        = ROM cartridge
|input        = Control pad
}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Sonic Spinball'''''|ソニックスピンボール|Sonikku Supinbōru}}, also known as '''''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball''''', is a pinball game released for the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]]. It is an 8-bit port of the [[Sega Mega Drive]] game ''[[Sonic Spinball]]'', and was released for the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]] in 1994.

==Plot==
{{Spoiler}}
[[File:Sonic Spinball Title 8-Bit.png|thumb|225px|left|The title screen of the [[Sega Game Gear]] version of ''Sonic Spinball''.]]
[[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] has assumed control of a volcanic mountain, where he has built the [[Veg-O-Fortress|Volcano Veg-O Fortress]] for his evil scheme of turning all the creatures on [[Planet Mobius (Sonic Spinball)|Mobius]] into robots. Harnessing energy from the molten lava in the volcano to power his fortress, Eggman has imprisoned thousands of [[Animals]] in the Veg-O Fortress, whom he plans to turn into robots using his [[Veg-O Machine]]. To fortify his fortress, Eggman has also installed a complex pinball system inside the Veg-O fortress.<ref name="Manual">''Sonic Spinball'' ([[Sega Game Gear]]) United States instruction booklet, pg. 3.</ref>

Eventually, [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] and [[Miles "Tails" Prower]] try to attack the Veg-O Fortress using an airplane. While Sonic falls off the plane, he manages to make his way into the [[Toxic Pools]], the lowest point of the Veg-O Fortress. From there, he scales the fortress from the inside, collecting the [[Chaos Emerald]]s stabilizing the volcanic activity inside the fortress along the way to ensure the Veg-O Fortress's destruction. He also destroys any [[Badnik]]s along the way, freeing the Animals inside them. Eventually, he arrives in [[The Machine]], where he frees the imprisoned Animals and destroys the Veg-O Machine. With the Veg-O Fortress just about finished, Sonic gets onboard Eggman's [[Final Showdown|escape ship]] as it takes off with Eggman inside and destroys it. Afterward, Eggman falls back into the Veg-O Fortress as it gets destroyed.
{{Endspoiler}}

==Gameplay==
[[File:Sonic Spinball 8-bit Toxic Pools Screenshot 1.png|thumb|225px|Pinball gameplay in ''Sonic Spinball''.]]
Like its [[Sonic Spinball|16-bit counterpart]], ''Sonic Spinball'' is a [[Wikipedia:Pinball|pinball]]-themed game where the player must guide [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], who assumes the role of the ball, through several levels. While Sonic is [[Spin Attack|curled into a ball]], the player can use [[Flipper]]s to launch him up and/or across the respective levels. When Sonic is not curled into a ball, his moveset resembles that from the main titles in the ''Sonic'' games; in addition to being able to walk around on the floors of the pinball table-based levels, Sonic can also [[Spin Jump|jump]], [[crouch]], and perform the [[Spin Dash|Super Spin Dash]].

Throughout the game, the player's objective is to collect [[Chaos Emerald]]s, which are hidden around the levels. Each level has a different amount of Emeralds to collect. Their collection is obligatory, as collecting them all lets the player fight the boss of the level and progress with the game. Each Emerald is required to be collected in different ways though.

''Sonic Spinball'' makes use of a variety of [[Item Box]]es, with there being three different types: the [[1-Up|extra life]], the [[Continue Monitor|Continue]], and a secret, unnamed Item Box type that contain hints to [[Debug Mode#Sonic Spinball (8-bit)|secret codes]] that can be used in the game.

Like other ''Sonic'' games, ''Sonic Spinball'' features a [[life]] system. As the player cannot take conventional damage throughout the game; Sonic can only die if he falls off a level's pinball table. Lives can be earned from the extra life Item Boxes. If Sonic dies, the player can resume gameplay at the cost of a life. Losing all lives will result in a [[Game Over]]. However, the player will be able to keep playing if they use a [[Continue]].

===Controls===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!rowspan="2"|Button formation
!colspan="2"|Movement
|-
![[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]]
!Pinball
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} left/right
|colspan="2"|Move
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} up
|Look up
|rowspan="3"|N/A
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} down
|Look down/[[Crouch]]
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} down + {{1 Button (Game Gear)}}/{{2 Button (Game Gear)}}
|[[Spin Dash|Super Spin Dash]]
|-
|{{1 Button (Game Gear)}}/{{2 Button (Game Gear)}}
|[[Spin Jump|Jump]]
|Tilt left/right [[flipper]]s
|-
|'''START'''
|colspan="2"|Pause
|}

===Objects===
====Items====
*[[Chaos Emerald]]
*[[Drop Target]]
*[[Item Box]]
**[[Continue Monitor|Continue]]
**[[1-Up|Extra life]]
*[[Ring]]

====Gimmicks and obstacles====
*[[Bumper]]
*[[Sling Shot|Drain Bumper]]
*[[Flipper]]
*[[High-speed warp tube]]
*[[Sewer Warp]]
*[[Spring Catapult]]

==Characters==
===Playable characters===
*[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]

===Non-playable characters===
*[[Animals]]
**[[Flicky]]
**[[Cucky]]
*[[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]
*[[Hip and Hop]]
*[[Miles "Tails" Prower]]

===Enemies===
{|
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*[[Cluckbird|Cluck]]
*[[Ferron]]
*[[Buster|Forebot]]
*[[Magma Worm]]
|style="vertical-align: top;"|
*[[Rexxon]]
*[[Robohead]]
*[[Krondor|Vulture]]
*[[Buzz Bomber|Wasp]]
|}

===Bosses===
#[[Toxic Pools boss]]
#[[Roboiler]]
#[[Veg-O-Machine]]
#[[Final Showdown boss]]

==Levels==
''Sonic Spinball'' consists of four [[Zone|level]]s, in which the player must find a certain number of [[Chaos Emerald]]s in order to advance. Doing so will allow the player to enter a boss room where they will fight the boss of that level. The levels in order are:
*'''[[Toxic Pools]]''': A stinky cavern full of toxic sludge and mine carts where [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] dumps all his industrial waste. There are three Chaos Emeralds to collect here.
*'''[[Lava Powerhouse]]''': A power station of sorts that uses magma and steam energy to run various machines. There are three Chaos Emeralds here.
*'''[[The Machine]]''': A high-tech level where [[Animals]] are turned into [[Badnik]]s. There are five Chaos Emeralds to find here.
*'''[[Final Showdown]]''': A rocket ship that Dr. Eggman tries to escape in. There are five Chaos Emeralds here.

===Bonus Stages===
{{Main|Bonus Stage (Sonic Spinball) (8-bit)}}
[[File:SSpinballBonusStage.png|thumb|225px|[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] in a Bonus Stage.]]
In-between levels, the player has the opportunity to score [[point]]s and [[Continue]]s in a '''Bonus Stage'''. Here, [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] is dropped into a giant birdcage/fish tank, complete with [[Ring]]s, [[bumper]]s, treasure boxes, and mechanical birds/fish. The objective in these stages is to collect as much loot as possible within the time limit. Spin into a treasure box three times to open it and earn different loot. Also, collecting at least half of the Rings in the cage lets the player proceed to an adjoining cage. Each Bonus Stage consists of three cages, but if the player fails to make it to the exit within the time limit, they do not get to keep any of their loot.

==Other modes==
===Options===
'''Options''' is the setting menu for ''Sonic Spinball'' which contains the following prompts:
*'''Control''': Select which button is needed to tilt the [[Flipper]]s, featuring to different presets:
**Type 1: {{1 Button (Game Gear)}} controls the left Flippers and {{1 Button (Game Gear)}} controls the right ones.
**Type 2: Pressing {{Directional Pad}} down controls the left Flipper, {{2 Button (Game Gear)}} controls the right ones, and {{1 Button (Game Gear)}} controls both of them at the same time.
*'''Difficulty''': Change the difficulty level from "Easy" to "Normal". "Easy" will reduce the number of [[Drop Target|drop targets]] the player needs to hit.
*'''Continues''': Selects how many [[Continue]]s the player will get at the start of the game.
*'''Sound FX''': Play several in-game sounds.
*'''Music''': Turns the game's music ON and OFF. It also allows the player to listen to several tracks featured in the game.

==Development==
{{Expansion}}

==Reception==
{{Expansion}}
{{Video game reviews
|EGM = 4.25/10&nbsp;{{C|[[Sega Game Gear|GG]]}}<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Review Crew: Sonic Spinball|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/66/EGM_US_061.pdf#page=36|journal=[[Wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|pages=36|issue=61|date=August 1994}}</ref>
|MMS = 90%&nbsp;{{C|[[Sega Game Gear|GG]]}}<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Game Gear Review: Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c1/MeanMachinesSega24UK.pdf#page=90|journal=[[Wikipedia:Mean Machines|Mean Machines Sega]]|pages=90-91|issue=24|date=October 1994}}</ref>
|SPower = 82%&nbsp;{{C|[[Sega Game Gear|GG]]}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Crook|first=Simon|title=Sonic Spinball|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bc/SegaPower_UK_58.pdf#page=64|journal=Sega Power|pages=64|issue=58|date=September 1994}}</ref>
|SPro = 59%&nbsp;{{C|[[Sega Master System|SMS]]}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hill|first=Mark|title=Review: Sonic Spinball|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bc/SegaPro_UK_41.pdf#page=48|journal=[[wikipedia:Sega Pro|Sega Pro]]|pages=48|issue=41|date=February 1995}}</ref><br/>60%&nbsp;{{C|[[Sega Game Gear|GG]]}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hill|first=Mark|title=Review: Sonic Spinball|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/34/SegaPro_UK_36.pdf#page=50|journal=[[wikipedia:Sega Pro|Sega Pro]]|pages=50-51|issue=36|date=September 1994}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''Super GamePower''
|rev1Score = 3.2/5&nbsp;{{C|[[Sega Master System|SMS]]}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bros|first=Marjorie|title=Master: Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/6b/SuperGamePower_BR_014.pdf#page=47|journal=Super GamePower|pages=47|issue=14|date=May 1995}}</ref>
}}

==Re-releases==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Image
!Game
!Platform
!Description
|-
|[[file:Sonic 2 in 1 Game Gear.jpg|70px]]
|''[[Sonic 2 in 1]]''
|[[Sega Game Gear]]
|Released in a compilation with [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)|''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' (8-bit)]] in 1995.
|-
|[[File:Sonic adventure dx.jpg|70px]]
|''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]''
|[[Nintendo GameCube]]<br/>[[PC]]
|Featured as an unlockable mini-game in ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' in 2003. To unlock it, the player must collect 80 [[Emblem]]s.
|-
|[[File:SonicAdventure2-Pack US Cover.jpg|70px]]
|''[[Sonic Adventure 2-Pack]]''
|[[Nintendo GameCube]]
|Featured as an unlockable mini-game in ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]''.
|-
|[[File:Gc sonic gems collection p o5pa9w.jpg|70px]]
|''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]''
|[[Nintendo GameCube]]<br/>[[PlayStation 2]]
|Released in a compilation with several other ''Sonic'' games in 2005.
|-
|[[File:SonicChaosSpinballBox.jpg|70px]]
|''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (TV Play System)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
|Plug-and-play console
|Released by [[Techno Source]] in a compilation with ''[[Sonic Chaos]]'' in 2005.
|-
|[[File:PlayPal Plug & Play.jpeg|70px]]
|''[[PlayPal Plug & Play]]''
|Plug and Play console
|Released in a compilation with several other games in 2006.
|-
|[[File:SonicPCCollection.jpg|70px]]
|''[[Sonic PC Collection]]''
|[[PC]]
|Featured as an unlockable mini-game in ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' in 2009.
|-
|[[File:Fun Play 20-in-1.jpeg|70px]]
|''[[FunPlay 20-in-1]]''
|Plug and Play console
|Released in a compilation with several other games in 2009.
|-
|[[File:Sonic Origins Plus.png|frameless|91x91px]]
|''[[Sonic Origins Plus]]''
|[[PlayStation 4]][[Xbox One]][[Nintendo Switch]][[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]][[PlayStation 5]][[Personal computer|PC]] ([[Steam]], [[Epic Games Store]])
|The [[Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]] version was added to this re-release of ''[[Sonic Origins]]'', which released on June 23, 2023.
|}

==Trivia==
*The game's artwork shows [[Doctor Ivo Robotnik (Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog)|Dr. Ivo Robotnik]] from the ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' television series. Similarly, the doctor's [[Final Showdown Boss|in-game sprite]] during the final battle also resembles his latter depiction. Although, the doctor exclusively wears a bodysuit and gauntlets that appears to be slightly based off the ones from his said design in the [[Sonic Spinball|16-bit version]] of the game, the latter depicts his head for the character that is more similar to his regular main series design in both the cover and game.
**The ''Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog'' design was likely used as it was the same design used in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog Official Stylebook & Character Manual|official series stylebook]] at the time.
*The total [[Chaos Emerald]] count in ''Sonic Spinball'' is sixteen, as opposed to the standard set of seven, and they are all blue-colored.
*This was the final ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]]'' title released for the Sega Master System.
**However, in Brazil a port of ''[[Sonic Blast]]'' was later released for that console as well.

==See also==
*[[Sonic Spinball (disambiguation)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Spinball (8-bit) info}}
{{Sonic games (spin-off)}}
{{Sonic games (handheld)}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Sonic Spinball'' (8-bit)}}
[[es:Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (8 bits)]]
[[Category:Sonic Spinball (8-bit)|*]]
[[Category:Sega Master System games]]
[[Category:Sega Game Gear games]]
[[Category:Rated E games]]
[[Category:1994]]
[[Category:Alternate versions and ports]]
[[Category:Spin-offs]]