Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble



Released exclusively for the Sega Game Gear in 1994, Sonic Triple Trouble--or Sonic & Tails 2 as it is called in Japan--is the sequel to Sonic Chaos, and is considered one of the best Sonic the Hedgehog games to appear on the handheld, mostly due to it being the closest in feel to its 16-Bit brothers on the Sega Genesis. It features the debut of Fang The Sniper (or Nack The Weasel as he was called in the English versions).

Somehow finally collecting the six Chaos Emeralds without catching the attention of Sonic, Dr. Robotnik was testing his Atomic Destroyer weapon, when suddenly an accident scattered them once more. Robotnik was able to find one of them, but of course, Sonic and Tails learned about what happened, and now they're off to find the other five before Robotnik can. Expecting this would happen, Robotnik once again deceives Knuckles The Echidna into believing that Sonic and Tails are trying to steal the Emeralds. Thus, Knuckles becomes a nuisance that tries to inhibit the duo's progress. As all of this is happening, Fang The Sniper, a half-wolf-half-weasel obsessed with riches, has successfully collected the other five, and has hidden them in five Special Stages each. He's clueless about their power, but bets they'll make him filthy rich. Are you up to the challenge of thwarting this Triple Trouble?

In addition to the Pogo Spring and Rocket Shoes from Sonic Chaos, Triple Trouble also gives both playable characters (Sonic and Tails) their own special modes of travel. In Robotnik Winter Zone, Sonic can shred on a snowboard (far more flexible then in Ice Cap Zone in Sonic The Hedgehog 3), and in Tidal Plant Zone, he can equip himself with scuba jets, which actually allow the blue hedgehog, well known for his Super Drowning Skills, to swim, though for a limited time. Meanwhile, Tails--in Tidal Plant Zone--can pilot the Sea Fox submarine, which comes equipped with a torpedo launcher and easy up-and-down movement while underwater.

Amusingly, on the American and European boxarts, Robotnik is depicted in a slightly modified version of his Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog incarnation.

This game provides examples of:

 * Amusement Park of Doom: Sunset Park.
 * Comic Book Adaptation: A 48-page special by Archie Comics.
 * Cool Plane: The Tornado, which appears in some of the Special Stages.
 * Down the Drain: Tidal Plant Zone.
 * Eternal Engine: Atomic Destroyer Zone.
 * Evil Overlooker: Robotnik in the American and European box art.
 * Green Hill Zone: Great Turquoise Zone.
 * Slippy Slidey Ice World: Robotnik Winter Zone.
 * Terrible Trio: Robotnik, Knuckles (by virtue of his gullibility) and Nack the Weasel, hence the US title.
 * Turtle Power: The first boss of the game is a metallic flying turtle.
 * Underwater Base: Tidal Plant seems pretty industrial. It's effectively Labyrinth Zone but with even more water and more machines.
 * Underwater Boss Battle: Surprisingly, the first part of the first boss has you underwater, jumping out to hit a turtle robot. Tidal Plant's boss much later in the game is entirely underwater.
 * Warmup Boss: The first boss, a flying turtle, is actually incapable of directly harming you--the only way it can is for you to get knocked into it by a spring moto-bug while being out of your ball form.
 * Zero Effort Boss: Some of the boss encounters with Nack in the special stages.