SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
                    For the Master System/Game Gear

FAQ by GavLuvsGA@aol.com

Copyright notice: The contents of this FAQ are the property of the author. 
Copying of any part of this without including my name is basically not 
allowed.

Contents
1 The Story
2 Items
3 The sign
4 Baddies
5 Levels
6 How to beat Robotnik
7 Bonus stages
8 1 up locations
9 Chaos Emerald locations

1 The Story

I'm sure you all know it; Dr. Robotnik has taken over the planet Mobius and 
is turning animals into robots. This version is similar to the mega drive 
version, but not quite as good as the first few levels are very similar to 
eachother. Each level has a chaos emerald hidden on. Unlike Sonic 2, you can 
complete the game without them, but having them is more satisfying. I have 
included a separate section for them at the end.

2 Items

Rings

Pick these up and you'll get one hit point. If you get 100, you'll get an 
extra life, but the counter will go back to zero, i.e. you lose the rings. 
Also, being hit causes you to lose ALL of your rings and there's nothing you 
can do about it.

Chaos Emeralds

There is one on each zone; most are in act 2, but not always.

Item Boxes

These look like TV sets and can include:

Restart Points

Most acts have one of these. They have an arrow on the box. Break it open to 
restart from that point.

Rings

You get ten rings 

Sonic

You get an extra life

Shield

You get an extra hit point; if you get hit, you'll lose the shield, but not 
your rings. Getting two shields does not get you two extra hit points. 
They'll count as one.

3 The sign

At the end of each act (apart from boss levels) there is a sign. Run past it 
and one of the following will appear.

Robotnik: This is the most common. You get nothing whatsoever!

Exclamation Mark

This appears if you have 50 rings or more. You get to go into the special 
stage (unless you're on one of the last two levels).

Ring

This will only appear if you have a ring total divisible by 10, AND you're 
not going into the special stage. You get 10 rings.

Sonic

If you lost a life during a level, and you're not eligible for the special 
stage, this is likely to appear. You get an extra life.

4 Baddies

Crabmeat (Green Hill Zone, Bridge Zone, Jungle Zone)

This is fairly easy to kill, as long as you avoid the bullets he fires from 
his claws.

Buzz Bomber (Green Hill Zone, Bridge Zone)

Flies overhead and tries to shoot you. 

Chopper (Bridge Zone, Jungle Zone)

Jumps up from under bridges to snap at you.

Spikes (Bridge Zone)

This is dangerous; spin attack this bad guy, by running and pressing down. 
Don't touch the spikes on his shell!

Chop Chop (Labyrinth Zone)

Just swims through the water. These fish are easy to kill (I think they 
appear on this version).

Orbinaut (Labyrinth Zone, Sky Base Zone)

This bad guy is guarded by four spike balls. The ones in the labyrinth zone 
throw theirs, leaving them vulnerable to attack. The other don't, so avoid 
them.

Caterkiller (Scrap Brain Zone)

Be careful only to hit this bad guy's head, and not the spikes on his back!

Ballhog (Scrap Brain Zone)

These pigs have plenty of ammunition, but are easy to kill as you approach 
them from above. There are only six in the entire game!

Bomb Bot (Sky Base Zone)

Go near these and they'll explode, firing shrapnel into the air. When they 
begin to do so, quickly run out of the way. 

5 Levels

Level 1: Green Hill Zone

This is fairly simple, with the same music, incidentally, as the mega drive 
version. Whenever you see a sign with a ! on it, it means you're coming to a 
pit so watch out. There's one at the beginning of act 2, warning you of the 
hidden hole (which you have to jump down anyway.) Other than that, its a 
fairly straightforward level.

Level 2: Bridge Zone

Perhaps the most boring zone in the game. All you do is cross a bridge. There 
is very little upward or downward scrolling. Fall off the bridge and you die 
and beware as some of the bridge boards collapse under your feet. The scales 
- like contraptions are used to catapult Sonic over some gaps and up cliffs; 
stand on the left side and the weight will fly up into the air. When it 
lands, you will go flying.
Act 2 scrolls along by itself so be careful. Don't get too near to the right 
of the screen so you can see what's coming. Unlike on Asterix, the back of 
the screen doesn't kill you, it merely pushes you. When you reach the scales, 
try and catapult yourself up the cliff as there is a restart point there. 
This is the only way it can be reached.

Level 3: Jungle Zone

This is like a mixture of the previous two zones. Watch out for the spikes 
carved into the rocks. The best features here are the log rolling sections. 
Jump on the log (well, you can only see the end of it...) and push left or 
right to move across the water. 
Act two goes vertically upwards and its advisable to try and have a shield as 
you exit (there's one available). I recommend you don't activate the restart 
point so if you die you can go back and get the shield again (its before the 
restart point). Also, be careful of the last item box. It has a horizonal 
spring behind it which could catapult you down to the floor again.

Level 4: Labyrinth Zone

While the Mega Drive version of this had me frustrated for ages, this version 
is fairly simple. Most Sonic games have a main "water stage" and this is it. 
If you stay under water for a certain amount of time a countdown will begin 
from 5 and when it reaches zero, you drown. Grab the bubbles that are located 
along the way. Be careful of the platforms that rise. Jump off them as soon 
as you can or you'll be impaled on a bed of spikes! You have to fight 
Robotnik underwater too, but - curiously - you cannot drown on the last act!

Level 5: Scrap Brain Zone

Wow! This is MUCH easier than the Mega Drive Version. Act 1 is the shortest 
act in the game. Act 2 is more complex, with several teleports. To get past 
this section, go along to the point where the path forks (just after you 
enter the factory) and go down and through the door. Go down the passage, 
killing the ballhogs and jump over the gap at the bottom. Jump in the 
teleport and then go left. You will be in - between two gates; the one on the 
left is closed and the one on the right open. Run right and step on the 
switch; the right door will close, and the left one will open. Run right and 
down, and make your way over the gaps with the flame throwers above and you 
will find yourself at the fork in the path. Go down again and kill the 
ballhogs, which will have come back to life. Get back to the doors and 
continue to the left and make your way to the exit. Be warned, however, that 
you automatically restart at the point where you entered the factory when you 
die and cannot leave. There are no rings in this section!
Act three has no boss; simply make your way through the maze and get to the 
top. The only hazards are the bottomless pits at the start (ironically, this 
is the only act 3 where you get rings!)

Level 6: Sky Base Zone

Act 1 shouldn't be too much of a problem. Two things to watch out for, 
however, are the electrodes, which conduct electricity through them during 
each lightning flash (which takes place every few seconds). Either get out of 
the way or duck to avoid the bolts that appear all over the screen. Also, be 
careful when using the propellor platforms. They only move when you do, and 
at one point there is a bolt that intermittently appears directly in its 
path. Simply jump up and down and the platform will stop. When the bolt goes, 
get past quick.
Acts 2 and 3 take place on an airship and NEITHER contain rings, or shields. 
The former is particularly hard as you are being shot at from all angles. It 
is very hard to avoid taking a hit.

6 How To Beat Robotnik

Be warned! Robotnik turns up on act 3 of all zones, although you don't fight 
him on level 5. There are no rings on these levels! If you can, come equipped 
with a shield. Robotnik takes eight hits to kill each time.
After beating him, run right and break open the prison egg (except for the 
last two levels, where these don't exist...)

Green Hill Zone

This is really easy. He hovers overhead and after a while, goes down to 
ground level and tries to ram you. However, you can hit him while he's in the 
air and can easily finish him off before he gets to this stage!

Bridge Zone

Stand in the middle and Robotnik will appear from under the bridge, on either 
side. Wait a few seconds and jump as he is about to fire at you and you'll 
land on his head.

Jungle Zone

This can be really annoying. Get up to the top of the level and you'll be on 
a curved vine, which goes up at either side. Don't fall off or you'll die. 
When Robotnik appears, try and get some hits in, then get out of the way. 
He'll drop a bomb and it will begin to roll back and forth before exploding. 
When you can, hit Robotnik. When it explodes, he'll drop another.

Labyrinth Zone

Robotnik appears from the hole in the middle; don't try to hit him, but avoid 
the bullets he fires. He will then appear over your head. Hit him, then leap 
over the gap and avoid the torpedo he shoots. He does this again, in mirror 
image, before repeating the sequence.

Scrap Brain Zone

Just chase him and he'll escape on a moving platform. Jump on it when it 
returns and be transported to the next zone!

Sky Base Zone

This is disappointing! Robotnik has three pads on the floor, and one will 
spew flames every few seconds. It's always in the same sequence (left, right, 
centre). When you can, run up and hit him behind his screen. Also avoid the 
white homing missiles from the ceiling. When you've beaten him, follow him to 
the teleporter and jump in after him. You'll both be warped to the Green Hill 
Zone where you'll automatically finish him off!

7 Bonus Stages

There are four of these, but if done properly, you will visit each twice. You 
will have two minutes the first time and one the second time. Each has a 
continue box in. If you get to the sign at the end, all the rings you 
collected will be mustiplied by 1000 to give a points score; also for each 
additional stage you go in, the figure goes up by 1000, so if you get into 
all the stages and complete them, you will get your ring total multiplied by 
8000 the last time. You will screw this up hoever, if you fail to finish, or 
you miss a stage. The only way you can get it is by entering all the bonus 
stages and completing them. 
Most have 1 ups too; the 4th/8th stage has FOUR, but it only lets you take 
one! 

8 1 up locations

Each act has a 1 up hidden on it, but you can only get it once, unlike some 
games (i.e. when you die it won't appear again).

Green Hill Zone

Act 1

After the first pit of spikes, count two trees (near to the restart point) 
and jump into the second; a 1 up will fall out.

Act 2

When you fall into the cave, drop right down and go left through a false wall 
to get to the TV set.

Act 3

Jump over the spikes, then fall down the next hole and there's a 1 up there.

Bridge Zone

Act 1

Use the second scales to get up to a high ledge with a 1 up on.

Act 2

This is - for once - in plain sight, floating in the water. Jump to get it 
and you should bounce out onto the bridge.

Act 3

Run to your left from the start point and get it.

Jungle Zone

Act 1

This is also obvious, above the first waterfall. It shoudln't be a problem.

Act 2

About half way up, cross over a platform, avoiding the spikes and drop down 
to the right to get it.

Act 3 

Run right and jump into the water. You should land on the box.

Labyrinth Zone

Act 1

At the end of the level is a box with a ring on it. DON'T GET IT! Run left 
and press the switch. The box will become a 1 up.

Act 2

At one point (just after you go under the first time, I think) you will fall 
down a shaft and can go left or right; go left and roll along under the 
spikes to get the 1 up.

Act 3

Use the spring and you will end up on a high paltform. If you can avoid the 
spikes there's a 1 up at the end, but you are likely to lose more lives than 
you gain here if you're not careful.

Scrap Brain Zone

Act 1 

Run along the first conveyor belt and catch up with the item box before it is 
carried off the end.

Act 2 

You can see it, but how do you get to it? After you see it, run right and go 
to the bottom door (leading to the ballhogs) and drop down the shaft; you 
will land in a corridor. Run left and use the teleporter. Run right and the 1 
up will be infront of you.

Act 3

Make your way to the top right hand corner of the maze and drop down the 
shaft to the bottom to claim the life.

Sky Base Zone

Act 1

After the second propellor platform, go down a series of levels to the item 
box.

Act 2

Instead of taking the obvious route, which is difficult (especially the 
section where you run along the corridor with the Bomb Bot in and the spikes 
chasing you!), drop down to the left. You will land on a propellor platform. 
Ride it until you see another ladder. At the top is a 1 up.

Act 3

I think this one only appears if you made it through act 2 without dying; it 
will be right infront of you when you start the act - you can't miss it!

9 Chaos Emerald Locations

Green Hill Zone (Act 2)

After you reach the restart point, run into the cave and don't spring up to 
the top passage, Don't use the spring that leads up to the top, but go on and 
drop down at the end to achamer with the emerald in.

Bridge Zone (Act 1)

This is in plain sight, but hard to get; stand on the first tile of the last 
bridge and it will drop down. Jump off to the ledge with the emerald on.

Jungle Zone (Act 1)

At one point you drop down using a log platform to a series of waterfalls. 
There is a log on the left in the water. Jump on it and roll it left until 
you come to a platform with the chaos emerald on.

Labyrinth Zone (Act 2)

This is easy! I won't even tell you where it is as you can't possibly miss it.

Scrap Brain Zone (Act 2)

After you kill the ballhogs, run right and go into the teleoprter. Go down, 
trip the switch as usual and go down again. When you reach the first shaft 
with a flame thrower, fall down it. This leads to a teleporter (the other two 
are bottomless). The teleporter takes you to the emerald.

Sky Base Zone (Act 2)

Get the 1 up, then continue flying on the propellor platform, jumping onto 
the new ones when you see them. Avoid the missiles (its really easy) and jump 
on a platform that moves up and down. At the top, jump over the giant screw 
(I think it kills you if you touch it) and claim the final chaos emerald.

If you think there is anything missing here, email GavLuvsGA@aol.com