History VideoGame / SonicTheHedgehogSpinball

* ReformulatedGame: The 8-bit version is largely this. It has only has one type of Bonus Round replacing the multiple minigames, and the level design has been truncated and rearranged -- the Toxic Caves and Showdown in particular have changed so much that they've been renamed Toxic Pools and the Final Showdown, complete with their bosses being replaced. For the most part, the game still plays like a downgraded port of the 16-bit version, unlike the wholly original [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog previous]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 titles.]]
* ReplacedTheThemeTune: Creator/SegaTechnicalInstitute, who developed the game, used a remix of the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' theme for the title screen, assuming it was owned by Creator/{{Sega}}. In reality, the first game's music was owned by the game's composer, Masato Nakamura, and the team likely would've been sued had they used it. The team found this out shortly before the game was scheduled to be shipped, so Howard Drossin quickly (as in, ''that night'') made a replacement tune and re-dumped the cart. However, this was done during the manufacturing process, resulting in the original version accidentally seeping into the North American market in ''very'' limited quantities.

* ReformulatedGame: The 8-bit version is largely this. It has only has one type of Bonus Round replacing the multiple minigames, and the level design has been truncated and rearranged -- the Toxic Caves and Showdown in particular have changed so much that they've been renamed Toxic Pools and the Final Showdown, complete with their bosses being replaced. For the most part, the game still plays like a downgraded port of the 16-bit version, unlike the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog previous]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 titles]] being wholly original.

** Assets from the infamous Hidden Palace Zone from ''Sonic 2'' were reused in Toxic Caves, [[http://www.randomsonicnet.org/srz/index.php?page=interviews/cs.htm according to this interview with Craig Stitt]], a level designer in both games. The [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xyhkJEasqGc/maxresdefault.jpg geometric rock pattern]] which makes up most of the structure of Hidden Palace is very similar to a [[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/8/89/Toxiccaves.png pattern of rock structures]] which appears in the background of Toxic Caves.

* ReplacedTheThemeTune: Creator/SegaTechnicalInstitute, who developed the game, used a remix of the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' theme for the title screen, assuming it was owned by Sega. In reality, the first game's music was owned by the game's composer, Masato Nakamura, and the team likely would've been sued had they used it. The team found this out shortly before the game was scheduled to be shipped, so Howard Drossin quickly (as in, ''that night'') made a replacement tune and re-dumped the cart. However, this was done during the manufacturing process, resulting in the original version accidentally seeping into the North American market in '''very''' limited quantities.

* ReplacedTheThemeTune: Before the game was even released. Creator/SegaTechnicalInstitute, who developed the game, used a remix of the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' theme for the title screen, assuming it was owned by Sega. In reality, the first game's music was owned by the game's composer, Masato Nakamura, and the team likely would've been sued had they used it. The team found this out shortly before the game was scheduled to be shipped, so Howard Drossin quickly (as in, ''that night'') made a replacement tune and re-dumped the cart. The original version can be heard on the beta version of the cartridge.

** The GBA port from Sega Smash Pack is almost exactly the same as the original version (the only difference is the sound). This means [[CameraScrew the levels have not been adjusted for the GBA's smaller screen resolution]]. Also, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the ending is slightly glitched]].

* AlternateContinuity: It's not clear at all if ''Spinball'' fits in with the continuity of any of the existing Sonic continuities. The Robotnik design of the games is used and the Veg-O-Fortress scheme is just like something he'd do in the games, but the characters and art direction feel like a weird mashup of the Genesis games and the [=SatAM=] Sonic and Adventures of Sonic cartoon, complete with characters from those cartoons making cameo appearances in the bonus pinball rounds. On top of that, there are 16 Chaos Emeralds instead of 7, and they look completely different than usual.

* AlternateContinuity: It's not clear at all if ''Spinball'' fits in with the continuity of any of the existing Sonic continuities. The Robotnik design of the games is used and the Veg-O-Fortress scheme is just like something he'd do in the games, but the characters and art direction feel like a weird mashup of the Genesis games and the Satam Sonic and Adventures of Sonic cartoon, complete with characters from those cartoons making cameo appearances in the bonus pinball rounds. On top of that, there are 16 Chaos Emeralds instead of 7, and they look completely different than usual.

** The [=SatAM=] episode "Friend or Foe" had a pinball-themed deathtrap with a one-way ticket to The Void. Sonic was put into a plastic ball, set onto the playfield, and told that hitting ''his'' bumpers would keep the Void sealed, but hitting the Robotnik bumpers would open it. Naturally, Robotnik himself took control of the flippers...

''Sonic Spinball'', sometimes called ''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', is a [[DigitalPinballTable pinball game]] spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', and later also made for the UsefulNotes/GameGear (and UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem 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 Creator/SegaTechnicalInstitute (the same team that developed games such as ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', ''VideoGame/KidChameleon'', ''VideoGame/ComixZone'' and ''The Ooze'').

** ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: Are they pronounced with a soft 'g' or a hard 'g'?

* GottaCatchEmAll: The goal of each level is to collect all of the Chaos Emeralds. Doing so shuts down the factory's power.

''Sonic Spinball'', sometimes called ''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', is a [[DigitalPinballTable pinball game]] spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', and later also made for the UsefulNotes/GameGear (and UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem 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'').

* AlternateContinuity: It's not clear at all if ''Spinball'' fits in with the continuity of any of the existing Sonic continuities. The Robotnik design of the games is used and the Veg-O-Fortress scheme is just like something he'd do in the games, but the characters and art direction feel like a weird mashup of the Genesis games and the Satam Sonic and Adventures of Sonic cartoon, complete with characters from those cartoons making cameo appearances in the bonus pinball rounds.

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, plus Scratch from 'mAdventures of Sonic the Hedgehog'', 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 ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', which follows the canon of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'').

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 ''VideoGame/DoctorRobotniksMeanBeanMachine'', which follows the canon of ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'').

* AlternateContinuity: It's not clear at all if ''Spinball'' fits in with the continuity of any of the existing Sonic continuities. The Robotnik design of the games is used and the Veg-O-Fortress scheme is just like something he'd do in the games, but the characters and art direction feel like a weird mashup of the Genesis games and the Satam Sonic cartoon, complete with characters from that cartoon making cameo appearances in the bonus pinball rounds.

* BossArenaIdiocy: The ''entire game''. All those convenient pinball mechanisms? Part of Robotnik's Pinball Defense System, [[AllThereInTheManual as stated in the manual]]. Which he designed and built despite the fact that Sonic's signature ability has been curling into a ball since the very first game.

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a [[DigitalPinballTable pinball game]] spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', and later also made for the UsefulNotes/GameGear (and UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem 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'').

The plot involves Sonic and Tails on a mission to stop Eggman's volcano fortress. As per usual, Tails' plane is [[CaptainCrash shot down]], and Sonic is forced to go solo. There are four stages to the game, all reminiscent of giant multi-tiered pinball tables, with Sonic as the ball. The standard platforming action used in earlier Sonic games is limited here, as the blue hedgehog's movement is mainly controlled by flippers, although the player can still use his Spin Dash attack to reach some areas in a hurry. In each stage, Sonic must find all of the Chaos Emeralds in a level, which will give him access to the BossRoom.

* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: The opening level, Toxic Caves.
* AnimatedAdaptation: The ''WesternAnimation/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.

* CollapsingLair: The final stage, "Showdown".
* ComicBookAdaptation: In issue #6 of [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog 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 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.) And the animals being turned into robots is shown more explicitly here than any other game by far.

* DisneyVillainDeath: Both Sonic and Eggman end up free-falling through the sky at the end. Tails catches Sonic with his newly-repaired plane, leaving Eggman to plummet [[DeathByIrony into his exploding fortress.]] (Subverted, of course, since Eggman has famously [[JokerImmunity survived worse]].)

* EvilLaugh: Somewhere offscreen, Eggman emits a digitized, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Kefka]]-esque cackle whenever you lose a life.
* {{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 ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2.''

* LoadBearingBoss: Defeating each boss causes the Fortress to sink a bit further into the sea. At the game's conclusion, the entire volcano waits to explode until the ''exact moment'' Eggman falls into it.

* ScareChord: One plays when something disastrous happens, such as when the sewer monster in Toxic Caves is about to eat you, or when you fall down a death chute.

* VillainExitStageLeft: After the usual task of nabbing emeralds, the final objective of "Showdown" is to prevent Eggman's ship from escaping.

''Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball'', often shortened to ''Sonic Spinball'', is a [[DigitalPinballTable pinball game]] spinoff (no pun intended) of the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games. It was originally released for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis/[=Mega Drive=] in 1993 as a hold-over for ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', and later also made for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Game Gear]] (and UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem 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 [[DigitalPinballTable pinball game]] 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'').

* EvilLaugh: Somewhere offscreen, Eggman emits a digitized, [[FinalFantasyVI Kefka]]-esque cackle whenever you lose a life.

** The GBA port from Sega Smash Pack is almost exactly the same as the original version (the only difference is the sound). This means, [[CameraScrew the levels have not been adjusted for the GBA's smaller screen resolution]]. Also, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking the ending is slightly glitched]].