Sonic Robo Blast 2

Sonic Robo Blast 2 (or SRB2 for short) is a fan made, free Sonic-themed game using a modified version of the Doom engine, based on Doom Legacy. The game focuses on recreating the feel of the classic games, as opposed to the newer Sonic that Sega has been making games for now. So far, the current release version is version 2.0.7. It is not yet complete, as some acts of zones are missing, and Dark City is only at the conceptual stage.

Gameplay
In SRB2, players run at high speeds through generally light-hearted, happy levels (though some exceptions do exist, such as the Castle Eggman Zone), in comparison to the usually dark and dim battlefields of Doom levels. Players jump heights unprecedented in Doom, achieving heights of 124 fracunits. Players are additionally equipped with a spindash, which can be charged up using a spin button. Also, players encounter badniks in the field, that can be destroyed by jumping on them once, as opposed to the hellspawn of Doom which require several shots to be slaughtered. After two acts of gameplay, players encounter a third act of gameplay in which they find a boss, who must be completed to finish the level. In boss acts, an egg capsule rises out of the ground for the player to jump on, and finish the act. However, not all boss acts feature an egg capsule, and end the level shortly after defeated. The most current version of Sonic Robo Blast 2 has six different zones, some still not yet complete.

At the character select screen, players choose between one of three characters: Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles. While Tails and Knuckles have mid-air abilities that resemble their previous appearances (Flying and Climbing, respectively), Sonic has an ability not seen in previous Sonic games: the thok. When Sonic thoks, he shoots forward at high enough speeds to pass through one-sided linedefs. (Map designers have reacted by inventing the Thok Barrier, a dummy sector of height 0 which completely surrounds a level, permitting the boundary walls to be two-sided.) This gives Sonic a massive advantage in multiplayer modes such as race, and also in the single-player time attack.

Another feature of SRB2, special stages are included for the player to collect chaos emeralds. When the player finds an emerald token in the field, they will be taken to a special stage. In side a special stage, the player must collect a specified amount of rings. If the player succeeds, he will obtain a chaos emerald. Featured in the special stages are hazards such as time-draining water, lava that removes 10 rings, and other obstacles.

After collecting all the chaos emeralds, Sonic obtains the ability to turn into Super Sonic. Players turn into their super form by doing their mid-air action with 50 rings and no shield. When the player is in his Super form, he can jump higher than before, as well as run faster, and on water. Sonic has the ability to float in mid-air when the player presses and holds the spin button in air. While in Super Form, the player is constantly drained of rings. After the player loses all of their rings, the player turns back into their normal state, with normal jump height, speed, and loses the ability to run on water and float.

Levels
Here are the levels current as of v2.0

Single-Player
Greenflower Zone - A grassy area filled with rivers, small trees, and flowers. Act 1 is a rather short level which introduces the player to the basics of the game. Act 2 takes place at the bottom of large canyons, and also features large rivers, waterfalls, and caves. The boss of Greenflower Zone simply fires regularly-timed projectiles and charges at the player after hit six times.

Techno Hill Zone - Eggman's presence in this area has altered the landscape. Most noticeably, he's filled low lying areas with dangerous slime, which the player must take care not to fall into. Act 1 takes place outside and in the entrance to one of Eggman's factories. Act 2 takes place in the heart of the factory and has lasers, conveyor belts, crushers and turrents. The boss flies in a circular pattern while spewing small puddles of slime. After 6 hits, the boss bounces at the player and spews slime into a circular pattern with each bounce.

Deep Sea Zone - As the name would imply, this zone is set largely underwater. Remain there for 15 seconds, and the player will drown. However, the countdown can be reset by grabbing large air bubbles as they emerge from the ground. Other hazards include collasping ruins, waterslides, and underwater currents. In addition, there are puzzles involving pushable stone gargoyles, which often led to rewards. The boss here emerges from one of five chutes and tries to shoot the player. If the player falls into the water below, they'll be electrified a short time later. After six hits, the entire arena is filled with water, making the fight difficult to complete without the use of air bubbles.

Castle Eggman Zone - Takes place in the rather gloomy mideval fortress under Eggman's care. Swings will propel you ahead and above, but watch out for swirling maces, cannonballs, and flamethrowers. Act 1 takes place in the forests and gardens on the property, while Act 2 covers the chambers and grounds of the titular castle. Castle Eggman Zone doesn't have a boss.

Arid Canyon Zone - This rather scenic and rugged canyon is accented with cacti, tumbleweeds and the occasional oasis. Moving cables will give you a lift over precarious ground. Jump quickly to escape quicksand and pools of oil. Watch out for rockslides, open fissures, and slippery oil slicks. Arid Canyon Zone has one act and no boss.

Red Volcano Zone - The lava in this expansive subterrian cavern is prone to rising without warning, so watch out. Other things to be wary of include series of collapsing platforms and jumping fireballs. Red Volcano Zone has one act and no boss.

Egg Rock Zone - The player finally makes it to Eggman's extraterrestrial headquarters planted firmly on the energy-filled Black Rock. This zone features many of the previous levels' hazards and gimmicks, and adds inverted gravity (which can be triggered by the player sometimes, and sometimes not), air locks, and short romps through airless vacuums. Remain oxygen-free for too long, and you'll suffocate. Act 2 is also features brief 2D sections. The boss of Egg Rock Zone is a towering robotic monstrosity that cannot be attacked directly. Sprint over his head to cause him to smack himself, or jump onto one of his missles to redirect back at him. Avoid his cannonballs and sticky goop. After 6 hits, the middle platform is destroyed, making it much harder for the boss to self-inflict damage.

Neo Aerial Garden Zone - A hidden level set on a picturesque floating temple. The name of the game here is risky platforming over an unforgiveable and vast bottomless pit. Activate panels (some of which must be warped to) to open doors and progress further. Neo Aerial Garden Zone has one long act and no boss.

Mario Koopa Blast Zone - A tribute to the original Super Mario Brothers, with 8-bit Goombas, Koopa shells, coins, and item-filled boxes. Act 1 takes place (mostly) in the overworld and through systems of pipes. Act 2 is a rough recreation of World 1-2. Act 3 is a dangerous excursion through Bowser's Castle, with no coins (rings) and slamming Thromps. Mario Koopa Blast Zone has no boss.

Spring Hill Zone - A delightfully abstact landscape with reduced gravity. The main attraction here is Super Sonic. Touch him and you'll be set along a 2D-oriented flight path a la NiGHTS into Dreams..., with the ability to paraloop objects, rings and enemies, and drill dash to boost ahead. Spring Hill Zone has one act and no boss.

SRB1 Remake - A remake of the original Sonic Robo Blast using new graphics, but orginal enemy sprites and music. Bosses are not yet playable, and not all of the levels have been remade.

Later editions of Sonic Robo Blast 2 will feature additional levels, bosses, and other content.

Multiplayer

SRB2 supports numerous multiplayer modes, some of them sporting first-person gameplay, while others featuring more Sonic-like gameplay.

Co-op
SRB2 supports a Cooperative mode, in which many players can complete a level together. The levels proceed normally, and after one player completes the level, the stage ends (unless you set the netgame to wait for all players at the exit).

Race
There are two types of race mode: Classic Race, and Race. Classic Race mode gives the winner based upon who has the most points at the end of the level, alike Sonic 2's multiplayer feature. Time only race is just that: the winner is based upon who finishes first, or Time is the only factor counted for the winner, as opposed to the points system installed in Race. 60 seconds after the first player finishes, all players that have not finished run out of time and die. As for completing the levels, two systems exist: normal and circuit. The normal racing method simply consists of racing through Co-Op levels that have an exit. The circuit racing method gears toward completing multiple laps of a track, the number of which is defined by the server.

Match
Players chuck rings at each other. Rings draw ammo from the player's ring count, and thus the player must conserve ammunition. Also, an interesting twist is that a player loses all of his rings (which are also ammo) after being hit. The player is given invincible time to collect spilled rings, or just plain rings. When the match ends, the player with the most points wins. As of version 2.0, a new Match system has been coded, along with Tails and Knuckles' super form, only available in Match or CTF.

Tag / Hide and Seek
These two similar game modes both feature tagging other players, wether it be firing rings at the untagged players, or even touching another player, should Touch Tag be turned on. While untagged, players will be awarded score at a constant rate per second as a reward for remaining untagged, but will no longer gain this upon being tagged. Tagged players will gain 100 points for tagging another player, as well. The main difference between Tag and Hide and Seek is that in Tag, players will become IT once they get tagged, with the round ending once every player is tagged, while in Hide and Seek, players are not given the IT status, and cannot move once being found, with the game ending once all players are found. The game may also end if the time limit or point limit is reached first.

Capture the flag
In Capture the Flag, players attempt to capture the opponent team's flag. Players choose teams by selecting a team in the menu screen, or by entering Changeteam "Red", "Blue" or "Spectator" in the console. The both flags must be at base to score a point. Also notable, the player loses use of his mid-air ability when carrying the flag.

How to load add-ons
New characters and levels can be added by entering the console (by pressing the key ¬ or `) and typing the following without the quotes: "ADDFILE NAME.WAD". Then simply press enter to execute the command, or add the WADs via the Launcher by going to the WAD files section and adding them there.