Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble

About Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble

Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble (1994) is Aspect's Game Gear sequel to Sonic Chaos, in which Sonic and Tails race Robotnik, Knuckles and newcomer Fang the Sniper for the Chaos Emeralds.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble in Depth

Sonic and Tails try to stop the powerful Chaos Emeralds falling into the hands of Doctor Robotnik, who has tricked Knuckles the Echidna into helping him, while treasure hunter Fang the Sniper, Nack the Weasel abroad, also hunts the Emeralds. Players choose Sonic or Tails across six themed zones of three levels each, the third ending in a boss. Both can spin dash; Sonic also has the peel-out from Sonic CD, while Tails can fly briefly. Many power-ups belong to one character, such as Sonic's jet board and Tails' Sea Fox, so routes through levels can differ slightly between them.

Rings are collected along the way; an enemy hit costs 30 and a spike 50, and 100 earns an extra life. Breaking a box with a Chaos Emerald icon while holding at least 50 rings sends the player to a special stage to win one of five Emeralds, some of them maze-like platforming levels and others flying a plane to collect rings. Critics enjoyed it and praised its graphics, but felt it lacked challenge and originality beyond its vehicles; Mean Machines Sega's Steve Merrett said it lacked "surprises and gameplay innovation". It has since been regarded as one of the best 8-bit Sonic games, closest to the quality of the 16-bit ones.

Making Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble

Aspect developed it and Sega published it for the Game Gear in November 1994 in the West and on 11 November in Japan, as the sequel to 1993's Sonic Chaos. It has been re-released in Sonic compilations, on the Coleco Sonic handheld and on the Nintendo 3DS.