History VideoGame / SonicPocketAdventure

''Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure'', or just ''Sonic Pocket Adventure'', is a side-scrolling ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' [[PlatformGame platformer]] for the UsefulNotes/NeoGeoPocket Color, released late 1999-early 2000. The level art and setpieces are mostly based on the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Genesis]] version of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', the music is primarily taken from ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles]]'', and the art style is based off the then-new ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure''.

It was developed by Creator/{{SNK}} (who were also responsible for creating the Neo Geo Pocket Color itself), including people who would later establish the company Creator/{{Dimps}}. Dimps went on to develop games starring Creator/{{Sega}}'s prickly little mascot, such as the ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Advance]]'' trilogy (the first of which has several nods towards this game), ''VideoGame/SonicRush'' and ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushAdventure Rush Adventure]]'', the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=][[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]] versions of ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'', the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS version]] of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS versions]] of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.

Often considered one of the best Neo Geo Pocket titles, and to many fans, Sonic the Hedgehog's best handheld game of the 8-16 bit era, especially following the poor reception to ''VideoGame/SonicBlast'' and the UsefulNotes/GameCom version of ''VideoGame/SonicJam'' a few years prior. Despite this, ''Sonic Pocket Adventure'' has never seen an official re-release on newer platforms. Presumably since it was developed by a different company (the previously-mentioned SNK) and due to [[ScrewedByTheLawyers legal issues]].

Often considered one of the best Neo Geo Pocket titles, and to many fans, Sonic the Hedgehog's best handheld game of the 8-16 bit era, especially following the poor reception to ''VideoGame/SonicBlast'' and the UsefulNotes/GameCom version of ''VideoGame/SonicJam'' a few years prior. Despite this, ''Sonic Pocket Adventure'' has never seen an official re-release on newer platforms.

* CanonDiscontinuity: While it's certainly not the only ''Sonic'' game to be this, this seems to have been hit the hardest by this, since Creator/IanFlynn said he was barred from even ''mentioning'' the game in the official ''[[AllThereInTheManual Encylo-speed-ia]]'' for undisclosed legal reasons. To put this into perspective, even ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', itself removed from canon due to legal issues, still got mentioned in the book. Ian Flynn would eventually confirm that the game is non-canon on the Bumblekast (June 26, 2023), and mention it owes to legal issues on Twitter.

* ExcusePlot: There's no story given (not even in the manual) outside of "Dr. Robotnik is after the chaos emeralds again and Sonic has to stop him."

%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1599930511070599200

* CanonDiscontinuity: While it's certainly not the only ''Sonic'' game to be this, this seems to have been hit the hardest by this, since Creator/IanFlynn said he was barred from even ''mentioning'' the game in the official ''[[AllThereInTheManual Encylo-speed-ia]]'' for undisclosed legal reasons. To put this into perspective, even ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', itself removed from canon due to legal issues, still got mentioned in the book. Ian Flynn would eventually confirm that the game is non-canon on the Bumblekast (June 26, 2023).

It was developed by Creator/{{SNK}} (who were also responsible for creating the Neo Geo Pocket Color itself), including people who would later establish the company Creator/{{Dimps}}. Dimps went on to develop games starring Creator/{{Sega}}'s prickly little mascot, such as the ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Advance]]'' trilogy (the first of which has several nods towards this game), the ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Rush]]'' titles, the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=][[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]] versions of ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'', the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS version]] of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS versions]] of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.

* CanonDiscontinuity: While it's certainly not the only ''Sonic'' game to be this, this seems to have been hit the hardest by this, since Creator/IanFlynn said he was barred from even ''mentioning'' the game in the official ''[[AllThereInTheManual Encylo-speed-ia]]'' for undisclosed legal reasons. To put this into perspective, even ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', itself removed from canon due to legal issues, still got mentioned in the book.

* NostalgiaLevel: This game is made ''entirely'' of Nostalgia Levels with some new level design mixed in. Particularly interesting in this regard are Neo South Island Zone and Gigantic Angel Zone, which are pretending to be ''different'' Nostalgia Levels--Neo South Island is Emerald Hill disguised as Green Hill, and Gigantic Angel is Metropolis dressed up to resemble Scrap Brain. Apparently the former went over well, because [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations later]] [[VideoGame/SonicMania versions]] of Green Hill would incorporate Emerald Hill's distinctive corkscrew paths.

* CanonDiscontinuity: While it's certainly not the only ''Sonic'' game to be this, this seems to have been hit the hardest by this, since Creator/IanFlynn said he was barred from even ''mentioning'' the game in the official ''[[AllThereInTheManual Encylo-speed-ia]]'' for undisclosed legal reasons. To put this into perspective, even ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', itself no stranger to legal issues and itself removed from canon, still got mentioned in the book.

* SpeedRun: The game features not one but two time attack modes. The second one requires you collect and keep 50 rings before crossing the goal and has more strict platinum rank goals.

Often considered one of the best Neo Geo Pocket titles, and to many fans, Sonic the Hedgehog's best handheld game of the 8-16 bit era, especially following the poor reception to ''VideoGame/SonicBlast'' and the Game.com version of ''VideoGame/SonicJam'' a few years prior. Despite this, ''Sonic Pocket Adventure'' has never seen an official re-release on newer platforms.

JustForFun/TheOneWith the hardest time looking for an official copy.

TheOneWith the hardest time looking for an official copy.

TheOneWhere you need to look really hard to find an official copy.

''Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure'', or just ''Sonic Pocket Adventure'', is a side-scrolling ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' [[PlatformGame platformer]] for the UsefulNotes/NeoGeoPocket Color, released late 1999-early 2000. The level art and setpieces are mostly based on the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Genesis]] version of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', while the music is primarily taken from ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic & Knuckles]]''.

* DubNameChange: The BigBad is known here as Dr. Robotnik he had been in western releases of the classic series up to that point; however, this would be the very last game to do so, as later games and re-releases would enforce Dr. Eggman.[[note]]The in-universe explanation is that Robotnik is his real name while Eggman is a nickname.[[/note]]

[[quoteright:160:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sonic_pocket_adventure.jpg]]

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Knuckles refuses to let Sonic have the last Chaos Emerald for unexplained reasons, which leads to Dr. Eggman stealing it after the two fight.
* MegatonPunch: After Dr. Eggman gets away with the seventh Chaos Emerald, Knuckles punches Sonic alllll the way to Sky Chase Zone.

** Dr. Eggman in nearly every level, as usual.

Often considered one of the best Neo Geo Pocket titles, and to many fans, Sonic the Hedgehog's best handheld game of the 8-16 bit era, especially following the poor reception to 'VideoGame/SonicBlast'' and the Game.com version of 'VideoGame/SonicJam'' a few years prior. Despite this, ''Sonic Pocket Adventure'' has never seen an official re-release on newer platforms.

* SoundtrackDissonance: The musical choices start to get a little off in terms of appropriateness following Cosmic Casino Zone, such as placing the jumpy Mushroom Hill BGM (Act 1 to be precise) from ''S&K'' in act 1 of Aquatic Relix, which is modeled after the not so jumpy Aquatic Ruin Zone from ''Sonic 2''. The most {{egregious}} instance of this trope, however, must go to the last few final boss battles. The tense Doomsday Zone's theme goes for Silver Sonic who isn't even the semi-final boss of the game. The standard final battle gets the similarly menacing final boss theme from ''Sonic 3'', which leaves the epic special showdown with Dr. Robotnik with the hopeful theme from Sky Sanctuary of all things. It doesn't help that the true final boss is a spin on [[spoiler:the aforementioned The Doomsday Zone from ''S&K'' and Sky Sanctuary's theme is not what one would expect for a final struggle above the Earth's atmosphere]]).

It was developed by the SNK company (who were also responsible for creating the Neo Geo Pocket Color itself), including people who would later establish the Dimps company. Dimps went on to develop games starring Creator/{{Sega}}'s prickly little mascot, such as the ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Advance]]'' trilogy (the first of which has several nods towards this game), the ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Rush]]'' titles, the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=][[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]] versions of ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4'', the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DS version]] of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' and the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS versions]] of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' and ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld''.