Somari[a] is a side-scrollingplatform video game, originally released in 1994 for the Famicom. An unlicensed recreation of Sega's 1991 Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog, the game was sold primarily around Asia, Russia, Eastern Europe, and other regions where pirated NES cartridges were distributed. Like the original, players venture to defeat the mad scientist Doctor Robotnik, who plots to turn the animal population of the fictional South Island into evil robots. Unlike the original, the game features Nintendo's mascot Mario as the main character rather than Sonic. The title is a portmanteau of "Sonic" and "Mario".
Somari was developed by Hummer Team. The title caught the attention of contemporary video game journalists, who commented upon its accurate recreation of the original game.
A gameplay screenshot, showing Somari's version of Green Hill Zone, and Mario as the player instead of Sonic
The gameplay and plot of Somari is substantially similar to that of the original Sonic the Hedgehog. The game follows the player's quest to defeat Doctor Robotnik, who has converted all the animals of South Island into evil robots.[1] However, the game features Mario as the main character, rather than Sonic.[2] Mirroring Sonic's emphasis on speed, Mario can run at high speeds, although gameplay as a whole is slightly slower. Items, bosses, levels, and enemies are all identical to Sonic.[3] Somari must collect 100[4] golden rings in order to enter the bonus stage at the end of the level,[5] but being injured by enemies causes him to lose rings.[1]: 26 The game employs a timer as in Sonic, however regardless of what time is scored the player always gets a "Time Bonus" of 5000 points.[6] As in Sonic, each level is divided into three acts, and the third act ends with a boss fight with Robotnik.[5]
Although Somari borrows the concepts for its game dynamics from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, the implementation of them differs in many ways. Unlike the original Sonic the Hedgehog game, the player character can use the "spin-dash" feature first implemented in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992).[1]: 26 Other notable differences include the fact that whereas Sonic would lose all his collected rings after being injured by an enemy, Mario always loses a maximum of 3 rings even when carrying a single ring.[5][1]: 27 Each area in Somari is taken from the original Sonic the Hedgehog game, borrowing many elements from the original stages, but some level layouts are completely new. Significantly, elements of level design from the Mario series, such as off-screen secret areas high above the player's field of view, make appearances in certain areas.[7]
Development
Somari was developed by the homebrew developer Hummer Team,[8] though they are credited in-game as Somari Team.[6] The game's levels are based on the Sega Genesis version of the first Sonic game, with the exception of the Scrap Brain Zone, while the bonus stages are based on the Master System and Game Gear versions.[6] The game features Sonic's Spin Dash, which was not introduced until Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The audio of the game is similar to the original, but suffers from a poor conversion to the NES's sound system.[3] The word "Somari" is a portmanteau of "Sonic" and "Mario".[9]
It is unknown precisely how, when, or where the game was created,[3] though Asia is likely;[6] a Taiwanese trademark for "Somari" was registered on March 1, 1994.[10] In 1995, in an article regarding an editor visiting South Korea to try new games there, Game Urara Vol. 4 states that Somari has been introduced to Japan.[11] The movement of Mario is based on the mechanics and physics of the Sonic character from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.[3]
The game was marketed in gaming magazines in Hong Kong[6] and in Russia[12] during the late 1990s, and it can be found today in the United States in specialized gaming stores.[13] The game also remains a popular title for emulation.[3][14]
Reception
The concept of a crossover and/or mashup title bringing the popular video game characters Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog into one game had been a long-running dream in video game culture.[15] Although Somari does not feature both characters in the same game, the fact that Mario had been placed into the world of Sonic the Hedgehog was registered with astonishment.[12] Russian gaming magazine Great Drakon scored the game 4/10 (only 2/10 for sales volume)[5] and commented in a review that at last 8-bit console gamers could roughly gain the experience of 16-bit gaming as with Sonic.[1]: 26
Despite the similarities between Somari and the original game, reviewers were quick to point out the many differences between them.[12][6] Commentators on the Russian TV program Dendy: The New Reality stated that "Somari for Dendy is not the same as Sonic for SEGA. ... Everything's different".[12] Contemporary criticism of the game emphasized its difficulty relative to the original Sonic title,[16] and the game was characterized as having complex controls (although reviews claimed that these could be mastered in time).[1]: 26
GamesRadar listed Somari on their list of "Crazy ass rom hacks", calling it "Less mash-up and more train wreck" due to poor physics and unresponsive controls, and recommended that players instead purchase Super Smash Bros. Brawl if they wished for a crossover featuring Mario and Sonic.[2]GameSpy, however, described the game as "a remarkably good port/hack of Sonic to the NES,"[3] and Atari HQ described it as "amazing[ly] original" with "more than adequate[]" level-porting.[6]1UP.com considered it "excellently coded" for a homebrew NES game.[17]
Notes
^Russian: Сомари; also known as Somari the Adventurer
^ abChris Antista (2 April 2008). "Crazy ass rom hacks | GamesRadar". GamesRadar. from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
^ abcdefBowen, Kevin. "Classic Game of the Week – Somari". GameSpy. IGN. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
^Oren, Alexander and Perepelkin, Sergey. нет проблем No Problems – 8 бит: Somari. Velikij Drakon (Great Dragon). Issue 34. Pg.88. 1997. ISSN 0868-5967.
^ (in Chinese). Tmsearch.tipo.gov.tw. 29 February 2004. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
^"(Street Fighter II + DOOM) x (Mario + Sonic) = ???". Game Urara. Vol. 4. Core Magazine. 1995. p. 64.
^ abcdSuponev, Sergei. Dendy: The New Reality (Dendy Novaya Realnost). Season 1. Episode 11. 26 November 1994.
^Yip, Spencer (13 March 2007). "Piracy in San Francisco: Game Boy Advance multicart gallery". Siliconera. from the original on 17 August 2014.
^Niero, Papa (12 April 2006). "One part Sonic, One part Mario = Somari!". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
^Totilo, Stephen (28 March 2007). "Mario, Sonic Facing Off For Game Of Olympic Proportions". MTV News. from the original on 7 November 2012.
^Sergeyevich, Alexander. Игра на разных компьютерах: Итальянский сантехник японского происхождения – Налево от лифта. Velikij Drakon (Great Dragon). Issue 59. Pg.75.
^Blams, Blamo. . 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
Further reading
Kaluga, Craze Wolf. "нет проблем No Problems – MegaDrive: Somari". Velikij Drakon (Great Dragon). Issue 33. Pg.89. 1997. ISSN 0868-5967.
August 28, 2023
somari, side, scrolling, platform, video, game, originally, released, 1994, famicom, unlicensed, recreation, sega, 1991, sega, genesis, game, sonic, hedgehog, game, sold, primarily, around, asia, russia, eastern, europe, other, regions, where, pirated, cartrid. Somari a is a side scrolling platform video game originally released in 1994 for the Famicom An unlicensed recreation of Sega s 1991 Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog the game was sold primarily around Asia Russia Eastern Europe and other regions where pirated NES cartridges were distributed Like the original players venture to defeat the mad scientist Doctor Robotnik who plots to turn the animal population of the fictional South Island into evil robots Unlike the original the game features Nintendo s mascot Mario as the main character rather than Sonic The title is a portmanteau of Sonic and Mario SomariTitle screenDeveloper s Hummer TeamPublisher s Ge De Industry Co SeriesSonic the Hedgehog unofficially Platform s FamicomReleaseWW 1994Genre s PlatformMode s Single playerSomari was developed by Hummer Team The title caught the attention of contemporary video game journalists who commented upon its accurate recreation of the original game Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Development 3 Reception 4 Notes 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingGameplay EditSee also Gameplay of Sonic the Hedgehog A gameplay screenshot showing Somari s version of Green Hill Zone and Mario as the player instead of SonicThe gameplay and plot of Somari is substantially similar to that of the original Sonic the Hedgehog The game follows the player s quest to defeat Doctor Robotnik who has converted all the animals of South Island into evil robots 1 However the game features Mario as the main character rather than Sonic 2 Mirroring Sonic s emphasis on speed Mario can run at high speeds although gameplay as a whole is slightly slower Items bosses levels and enemies are all identical to Sonic 3 Somari must collect 100 4 golden rings in order to enter the bonus stage at the end of the level 5 but being injured by enemies causes him to lose rings 1 26 The game employs a timer as in Sonic however regardless of what time is scored the player always gets a Time Bonus of 5000 points 6 As in Sonic each level is divided into three acts and the third act ends with a boss fight with Robotnik 5 Although Somari borrows the concepts for its game dynamics from the original Sonic the Hedgehog the implementation of them differs in many ways Unlike the original Sonic the Hedgehog game the player character can use the spin dash feature first implemented in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1992 1 26 Other notable differences include the fact that whereas Sonic would lose all his collected rings after being injured by an enemy Mario always loses a maximum of 3 rings even when carrying a single ring 5 1 27 Each area in Somari is taken from the original Sonic the Hedgehog game borrowing many elements from the original stages but some level layouts are completely new Significantly elements of level design from the Mario series such as off screen secret areas high above the player s field of view make appearances in certain areas 7 Development EditSomari was developed by the homebrew developer Hummer Team 8 though they are credited in game as Somari Team 6 The game s levels are based on the Sega Genesis version of the first Sonic game with the exception of the Scrap Brain Zone while the bonus stages are based on the Master System and Game Gear versions 6 The game features Sonic s Spin Dash which was not introduced until Sonic the Hedgehog 2 The audio of the game is similar to the original but suffers from a poor conversion to the NES s sound system 3 The word Somari is a portmanteau of Sonic and Mario 9 It is unknown precisely how when or where the game was created 3 though Asia is likely 6 a Taiwanese trademark for Somari was registered on March 1 1994 10 In 1995 in an article regarding an editor visiting South Korea to try new games there Game Urara Vol 4 states that Somari has been introduced to Japan 11 The movement of Mario is based on the mechanics and physics of the Sonic character from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 3 The game was marketed in gaming magazines in Hong Kong 6 and in Russia 12 during the late 1990s and it can be found today in the United States in specialized gaming stores 13 The game also remains a popular title for emulation 3 14 Reception EditThe concept of a crossover and or mashup title bringing the popular video game characters Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog into one game had been a long running dream in video game culture 15 Although Somari does not feature both characters in the same game the fact that Mario had been placed into the world of Sonic the Hedgehog was registered with astonishment 12 Russian gaming magazine Great Drakon scored the game 4 10 only 2 10 for sales volume 5 and commented in a review that at last 8 bit console gamers could roughly gain the experience of 16 bit gaming as with Sonic 1 26 Despite the similarities between Somari and the original game reviewers were quick to point out the many differences between them 12 6 Commentators on the Russian TV program Dendy The New Reality stated that Somari for Dendy is not the same as Sonic for SEGA Everything s different 12 Contemporary criticism of the game emphasized its difficulty relative to the original Sonic title 16 and the game was characterized as having complex controls although reviews claimed that these could be mastered in time 1 26 GamesRadar listed Somari on their list of Crazy ass rom hacks calling it Less mash up and more train wreck due to poor physics and unresponsive controls and recommended that players instead purchase Super Smash Bros Brawl if they wished for a crossover featuring Mario and Sonic 2 GameSpy however described the game as a remarkably good port hack of Sonic to the NES 3 and Atari HQ described it as amazing ly original with more than adequate level porting 6 1UP com considered it excellently coded for a homebrew NES game 17 Notes Edit Russian Somari also known as Somari the AdventurerSee also Edit Video games portalKart Fighter another unlicensed Hummer Team game featuring MarioReferences Edit a b c d e f Eremin Roman HIT PARAD 8 bit SOMARI Video Ass Velikij Drakon Great Dragon Issue 20 Pp 24 27 10 October 1995 ISSN 0868 5967 a b Chris Antista 2 April 2008 Crazy ass rom hacks GamesRadar GamesRadar Archived from the original on 11 October 2012 Retrieved 14 April 2011 a b c d e f Bowen Kevin Classic Game of the Week Somari GameSpy IGN Archived from the original on 24 January 2013 Retrieved 27 August 2017 Oren Alexander and Perepelkin Sergey net problem No Problems 8 bit Somari Velikij Drakon Great Dragon Issue 34 Pg 88 1997 ISSN 0868 5967 a b c d Kollekciya Krutogo Gejmera Somari No 10 Pg 248 Dendy Moscow 2003 ISBN 5 7542 0109 5 a b c d e f g Zenjirou Jinnai Somari Atari HQ Archived from the original on 20 May 2011 Retrieved 22 April 2011 Moscow Vovchan net problem No Problems 8 bit Somari Velikij Drakon Great Dragon Issue 32 Pg 88 September 1997 ISSN 0868 5967 Somari the Adventurer GameRankings CBS Interactive Archived from the original on 28 August 2017 Retrieved 27 August 2017 Enarsson Anna New Blends in the English Language Karlstad University 2006 審定號 in Chinese Tmsearch tipo gov tw 29 February 2004 Archived from the original on 1 January 2014 Retrieved 2 January 2013 Street Fighter II DOOM x Mario Sonic Game Urara Vol 4 Core Magazine 1995 p 64 a b c d Suponev Sergei Dendy The New Reality Dendy Novaya Realnost Season 1 Episode 11 26 November 1994 Yip Spencer 13 March 2007 Piracy in San Francisco Game Boy Advance multicart gallery Siliconera Archived from the original on 17 August 2014 Niero Papa 12 April 2006 One part Sonic One part Mario Somari Destructoid Enthusiast Gaming Archived from the original on 17 February 2011 Retrieved 27 August 2017 Totilo Stephen 28 March 2007 Mario Sonic Facing Off For Game Of Olympic Proportions MTV News Archived from the original on 7 November 2012 Sergeyevich Alexander Igra na raznyh kompyuterah Italyanskij santehnik yaponskogo proishozhdeniya Nalevo ot lifta Velikij Drakon Great Dragon Issue 59 Pg 75 Blams Blamo NES Famicom Piracy 1UP com Archived from the original on 18 October 2012 Retrieved 31 October 2017 Further reading EditKaluga Craze Wolf net problem No Problems MegaDrive Somari Velikij Drakon Great Dragon Issue 33 Pg 89 1997 ISSN 0868 5967 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Somari amp oldid 1159182967, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
