Cross-post from the SHC 2022 entry page: Neo Team Kyukyoku presents... Sonic the Hedgehog: Isle of Magnetic Artifacts! Sonic the Hedgehog: Isle of Magnetic Artifacts (SHIMA) is a hack which aims to overhaul Sonic 1 using a Japanese-inspired aesthetic. The main feature of this demo is Blossom Gardens Zone, the resting area of the isolated, star-god worshipping Kuratranos tribe. BGZ is a fast-paced experience littered with swift-acting enemies, height-granting gimmicks, driving music, and advanced graphical effects. This new zone can be traversed with three playable characters: Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Knuckles the Echidna. Sonic, in particular, features a set of unique sprites, the dropdash ability, and a new companion: Abbey the Flicky. Abbey can pick up nearby rings and circle potential targets for Sonic, including hidden monitors. Download the hack from the entry page here. Some things to note: There is an experimental parallax effect which suffers from minor graphical glitches. Don't forget to check out the sound test. While the soundtrack is far from complete, you can find several arrangements, remixes, and original compositions which we plan to utilize in later releases. We are aware that the SHC build has a bug where collecting a bubble doesn't reset your air, if you want a fixed build, then please click me Screenshots: Spoiler: Credits Neo Team Kyukyoku Members AngelKOR64: Character programming Chron D: Music arrangement DeltaWooloo: Co-leader, Level layouts, music arrangement, object ports, programming, sound effects Dio-ZX: Character art, object art Drag109: Level art fuzzy: Level art, programming iced t: Level art, object art Inferno: Level layouts Inktitious: Level art Jerry: Level layouts KatKuriN: Level art KGL: Level layouts Kurk: Co-team Leader, level layouts, music arrangement, music composition ManiacShard: Object art NaotoNTP: Object art ProjectFM: Co-team leader, creative direction, level art, music arrangement, music composition, programming, story planning Raendom: Programming Rivet: Programming two^: Concept art yami: Level layouts, music composition Former Members AmzroSevca: Concept art, story planning Gemini0: Former team leader, general art, level layouts, programming jrm1007: Concepts, object art Haz Rabbit: Concept art, programming lavagaming1: Programming NotQuiteHere: Music arrangement poly: Logo, music arrangement Mr. Gandy: Character art XGSOAP: Character art Playtesters Accel BladeOfChaos Certainly Glitchy Cosmic Eternity DaxKatter (also did the title screen theme and Super theme) fengish GGK912 Hooded Edge KCEXE KNIJohn Matty Meara Blanchette MCTravisYT Professor Renderer PX Sleekflash-16 Sr Paradoxo soapyy TheInvisibleSun UnusualSeeker Resources AsuharaMoon: Wind-Up Koi sprites AURORA☆FIELDS: SMPS2ASM and AMPS CartoonsAnimate22: Tails and Knuckles sprites Dolphman: Turtle badnik CuckyDev: GHZ ball base flamewing - Ultra DMA Queue + optimized Kosinski (improved by vladikcomper and MarkeyJester) and Enigma decompression code Lone Devil: Metal Sonic sprites MainMemory: SonLVL and Drop Dash programming guide MarkeyJester: DualPCM and sound test Mikel Nash: Sonic 3-style super sonic sprites panoramhusky and Leanie - Tails sprites Observer: Sprite rips ShibaMayo: ShibaSaturn sprites snkenjoi: Flex 2 The Eighth Bit: Space Queens MIDI TheOneMusaab: Sonic 2: The Alternative Sprites tildearrow: Furnace Teck: Super Mario Land - Ending Theme MIDI vladikcomper - optimized Nemesis decompression code ValleyBell: mid2smps, SMPS Converter, SMPS Research Pack VladislavSavvateev: DMF2AMPS Assets From: Capcom no Quiz Tonosama no Yabou Cave Story Freedom Planet High Seas Havoc Mega Man Series Michael Jackson's Moonwalker Ristar Sangokushi Retsuden: Ransei no Eiyuutachi Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers Shinobi III Sonic Series Touhou Project Series 12/10/2022 edit: Forgot to add the link to the hotfix build.
SHIMA has to be my single favorite ROM hack of this year's Sonic Hacking Contest, and one of my favorite ROM hacks ever. This hack features an incredibly high degree of quality, polish, talent and care in pretty much every single aspect the hack modifies. The presentation is stunning. I really like the large sprites of Sonic and Abbey on the title screen, and I also like how the descriptions for each option selected in the main menu appear. The artwork is great. I like the presence of falling leaves in the foreground. I like the designs for all of the characters (with Tails being my favorite overall), and I like the art direction taken for the level. Speaking of the level, the level design of SHIMA is fun to blast through, and I appreciate the new level gimmicks, though I did notice some object interaction quirks with Knuckles while he's climbing. The tiny wall springs (or whatever the small sticks that make you bounce are called) will cause some odd movement when Knuckles climbs against them. I also really enjoy the small tweaks to the character behavior. Abbey is a nice assistant. She may not affect the game much, but she's a nice companion to have on screen. I also really like Knuckles' new climbing behavior: momentum based gliding is not something I thought I'd wanted. The music I absolutely dig, with my favorite track overall being the invincibility theme. I also really dig a lot of the unused tracks in the ROM hack, and look forward to seeing them in use. In conclusion, I believe what I wrote expresses plain and simple my thoughts on this hack. I can't wait to see more of this ROM hack, I believe this might grow into something absolutely wonderful.
