History VideoGame / SonicTheHedgehogSpinball

* DarkerAndEdgier: Noticably darker than the main series games at the time, even bordering on nightmare-inducing at times (like Scorpius, the first stage boss that's a giant robot scorpion with Robotnik's head, that lets out inhuman screams as you hit it.)

* NintendoHard

* HaveANiceDeath: "TOO BAAAD"

---> '''Lava Powerhouse:''' "Bogus dude..." \\

* TotallyRadical: The top banner's lines, like "BOGUS DUDE", "BIG MISTAKE", AND "READY TO FRY?"

* HaveANiceDeath: Not only does the game give you the standard "TOO BAAAD" message for dying, the game also ''knows'' when you've fallen down a death chute ("BOGUS DUDE..." "BIG MISTAKE" "READY TO FRY?").

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', and later also made for the [[OtherSegaSystems Game Gear]] (and Sega Master System in Europe). Its gameplay is derived from the requisite [[PinballZone pinball-themed level]] found in most ''Sonic'' titles. Notably, this spin-off was not produced by SonicTeam, but rather by Sega's America-based Sega Technical Institute (the same team that developed games such as ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', ''VideoGame/KidChameleon'', ''VideoGame/ComixZone'' and ''The Ooze'').

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''SonicTheHedgehog3'', and later also made for the [[OtherSegaSystems Game Gear]] (and Sega Master System in Europe). Its gameplay is derived from the requisite [[PinballZone pinball-themed level]] found in most ''Sonic'' titles. Notably, this spin-off was not produced by SonicTeam, but rather by Sega's America-based Sega Technical Institute (the same team that developed games such as ''SonicTheHedgehog2'', ''VideoGame/KidChameleon'', ''VideoGame/ComixZone'' and ''The Ooze'').

Incidentally, this is the closest fans of ''WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM'' ever got to a licensed game based on the cartoon: Princess Sally and the other Freedom Fighters make brief cameos during ''Spinball'''s {{Bonus Stage}}s. It is also one of few ''Sonic'' games to feature characters from an animated adaptation (the other being ''DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', which follows the canon of ''AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'').

* ComicBookAdaptation: In issue #6 of [[Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehog the Archie comic]]. The Kangaroo Twins (featured in the Lava Powerhouse) reappeared in a later issue as a literal KangarooCourt.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Noticably darker than the main series games at the time, even having a level that shows up Robotnik's roboticization process for the animals he captures. And then there's Sonic's death cry...

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''SonicTheHedgehog3'', and later also made for the [[OtherSegaSystems Game Gear]] (and Sega Master System in Europe). Its gameplay is derived from the requisite [[PinballZone pinball-themed level]] found in most ''Sonic'' titles. Notably, this spin-off was not produced by SonicTeam, but rather by Sega's America-based Sega Technical Institute (the same team that developed games such as ''VideoGame/KidChameleon'', ''VideoGame/ComixZone'' and ''The Ooze'').

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''SonicTheHedgehog3'', and later also made for the [[OtherSegaSystems Game Gear]] (and Sega Master System in Europe). Its gameplay is derived from the requisite [[PinballZone pinball-themed level]] found in most ''Sonic'' titles. Notably, this spin-off was not produced by SonicTeam, but rather by Sega's america-based Sega Technical Institute.

* LethalLavaLand: The Lava Powerhouse, the second level.

* WidgetSeries: The game is arguably among the weirdest (and creepiest) games in the overbearingly Japanese ''Sonic'' franchise, but it was actually put together by an American team - hence the ''[[SonicSatAM SatAM]]'' influences and the dark vibe. This WHAT status was actually used in the game's marketing in Japan; ''Spinball'' was [[GratuitousEnglish heralded]] as "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3fjPux-86o AMERIKKANO FANKAY AKSHON!]]" "[[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/5/5d/Spinball-box-jap.jpg from U.S.A.]]"

Incidentally, this is the closest fans of ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic SatAM]]'' ever got to a licensed game based on the cartoon: Princess Sally and the other Freedom Fighters make brief cameos during ''Spinball'''s {{Bonus Stage}}s. It is also one of few ''Sonic'' games to feature characters from an animated adaptation (the other being ''DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', which follows the canon of ''AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'').

* {{Expy}}: The Machine stage was created based on concept art for Cyber City Zone (or more famously Genocide City Zone) a zone cut from the development of ''SonicTheHedgehog2.''

! Tropes used in ''Sonic Spinball'':

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: Some of the stuff that comes up on the banner at the top, particularly if you read it aloud in a LargeHam manner, can sound pretty inspiring, particularly "BOTH TUBES BUSTED... ALL ANIMALS FREED! NOW, SHOOT INSIDE!!!" from the third boss. It helps that the "NOW, SHOOT INSIDE!!!" flashes brightly with multiple colours.
** The intro banner to Showdown: "ROBOTNIK'S GETTING AWAY! GO GET HIM!"
** [[StopHelpingMe BUST DOOR/CORK/BLOCKS FIRST!]]
** [[OhCrap READY TO FRY?]]

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''SonicTheHedgehog3'', and later also made for the [[OtherSegaSystems Game Gear]] (and Sega Master System in Europe). Its gameplay is derived from the requisite [[PinballZone pinball-themed level]] found in most ''Sonic'' titles.

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 and later also made for the [[OtherSegaSystems Game Gear]] (and Sega Master System in Europe). Its gameplay is derived from the requisite [[PinballZone pinball-themed level]] found in most ''Sonic'' titles.

* PinballProtagonist: [[VisualPun In the literal sense.]]

* BreatherLevel: The Machine, ironically. It's big and labyrinthene, but there are only two places to die (the twin drains at the bottom), so you can more or less relax and take your time. The Veg-O-Machine itself also turns out to be a BreatherBoss... followed right thereafter by a DifficultySpike up the butt called "The Showdown".

* WidgetSeries: The game is arguably among the weirdest (and [[AccidentalNightmareFuel creepiest]]) games in the overbearingly Japanese ''Sonic'' franchise, but it was actually put together by an American team - hence the ''[[SonicSatAM SatAM]]'' influences and the dark vibe. This WHAT status was actually used in the game's marketing in Japan; ''Spinball'' was [[GratuitousEnglish heralded]] as "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3fjPux-86o AMERIKKANO FANKAY AKSHON!]]" "[[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/5/5d/Spinball-box-jap.jpg from U.S.A.]]"

Ironically, this is the closest fans of ''[[Series/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic SatAM]]'' ever got to a licensed game based on the cartoon: Princess Sally and the other Freedom Fighters make brief cameos during ''Spinball'''s {{Bonus Stage}}s. It is also one of few ''Sonic'' games to feature characters from an animated adaptation (the other being ''DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', which follows the canon of ''AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'').

* AnimatedAdaptation: The ''AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' episode "Attack on Pinball Fortress", in which Sonic, Wes Weasley, and Sergeant Doberman break into Robotnik's fortress to get their hands on Robotnik's stupidity ray gun. Plotwise, it actually isn't anything like the game, but they do include a boss fight with Scorpius from the game's first level.
** Also goes in reverse: Scratch from AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog makes a cameo in one of the bonus stages.