Somari

Somari
Somari title screen
Developer(s)	Someri Team
Publisher(s)	Ge De Industry Co./N.T. (re-release)
Engine	Proprietary
Platform(s)	Nintendo Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System
Release	and 1994
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single-player

Somari is a pirated hack of Sega's flagship video game Sonic the Hedgehog, produced for the Nintendo Family Computer and sold primarily around Hong Kong and USA in 1994. The game features a character named "Somari" - Nintendo mascot Mario wearing Miles "Tails" Prower's shoes. The character's name is a portmanteau of "SOnic" and "MARIo".

Somari's levels are based on the Mega Drive/Genesis version of the first Sonic game, with the exception of the Scrap Brain Zone (of which a semi-functional version is accessible if save state hacking is used), while the bonus stages are based on the Master System and Game Gear versions. The game features Sonic's Spin Dash, which was not actually introduced until Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The music of the game is similar to the original, but suffers from a poor conversion to the Family Computer's sound system.

Somari’s version of the Green Hill Zone.

Creation

It is unknown precisely how, when, or where the game was created. The cartridge bears the copyright notice "1994 Someri Team". What few other hints exist of the game's origin can only be traced through the game itself: Though its basic structure is an imperfect transfer of the original Sonic the Hedgehog game, the movement of Somari is based on the mechanics and physics of the Sonic character from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, possessing abilities exclusive to that game, dating Somari to 1992 or later. The actual sprite for Somari is based on sprites from Super Mario Bros. 3.

Variations

There are at least five other versions of the game:

• Sonic the Hedgehog: The same as Somari, but you play as Sonic, and the first level is Spring Yard Zone. Some retailers sold it as Sonic 3D Blast 5. Not to be confused with the Yong Yong Gameboy pirate of the same name (Sonic 3D Blast 5) which that particular pirate may have originated from.
• Sonic 3D Blast 6: The same as Sonic 3D Blast 5, but with a new title screen and the first level is Marble Zone.
• Family Kid: Same as Somari, but you play as an original character with the same name as the game itself. The main character has the features of a child and a superhero-like appearance. The mascot was likely ripped from a foreign advertisement.
• Sonic and Knuckles 5: Same as Sonic the Hedgehog, but with a new title screen and Sonic's colour palette is a darker blue. Knuckles does not appear anywhere in the game apart from the title screen. Some retailers sold it as Super Sonic 5.
• Doraemon: Same as Somari, but the title, sprites, sound effects, music and ring indicator were all changed. Unlike Somari, almost all text is in Chinese, including the 'act and zone' screen that appears before starting an act. A different code is used to unlock level select. Doraemon doesn't walk past a signpost to complete an act, but instead simply walks to the far right of the screen to advance to the next level. Not to be confused with the Doraemon game on the same system of the same name. Unlike Somari and its other hacks, this one has credits at the end and not a THE END screen, but you can't quit from there.

Level select

Like Sonic the Hedgehog, there are special options that can be accessed at the title screen by pressing Left, Down, B, A, Right, Up, A, B, Up, Down, Up, Down at the title screen. This code works for all variations of Somari, except Doraemon. If you enter A, B, Select, UP, Down, Left, Right, A on the title screen of Doraemon, you will gain access to the Level Select screen.

By doing this, it is possible to play Green Hill Zone in the hacks that feature Sonic, which would normally not be possible due to the game starting in either Marble Zone or Spring Yard Zone.

External links

• Somari the Adventurer at Secrets of Sonic Team
• Somari at MobyGames
• ClassicGaming.com's Game of the Week: Somari