Sonic The Hedgehog XA

 

Developer:  luksamuk

Release Date: June, 2024

Last Update: August, 2025

Graphics: 2D

Version: 0.6

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1

Description

Sonic The Hedgehog XA is a 2D platformer designed specifically for the original PSX, developed as an open-source technical experiment to evaluate how Sega-style, high-speed gameplay can be implemented on PS1 hardware. Rather than being a port or remake of an existing Sonic title, the project is a ground-up implementation that recreates the core mechanics, physics, and structure of classic Sonic games within the constraints of Sony’s 32-bit system.

Extra info

Sonic XA is a 2D platformer designed to capture the classic speed and precision of Sonic games while exploring the technical possibilities of the PlayStation. Players control Sonic (or unlockable characters like Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose) to navigate through levels filled with ramps, loops, and hazards, collecting rings and defeating enemies along the way. Each character has unique movement abilities and attacks, such as Sonic’s Spindash and Super Peel-Out, or Amy’s Piko Piko Hammer and double jump, allowing for varied exploration and combat strategies. Levels feature dynamic objects, moving platforms, and interactive enemies, emphasizing fast-paced action, precise platforming, and experimentation with character-specific mechanics.

The game was presented at SAGE 2025:

"SAGE is a yearly, non-profit put together by Sonic Fan Games HQ and it's partners to support, promote and celebrate the community's creative efforts."

Some notes of the developer:

"The game blends classic 2D Sonic gameplay with the unique possibilities of the PlayStation, offering a fresh take on the series. Utilizing modern development tools like PSn00bSDK, it’s an attempt to reimagine the Sonic experience on hardware that was never intended for it, all while respecting the spirit of the original games.

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PROTOTYPE AND HIGHLY UNFINISHED. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU WILL BE PLAYING BETA-QUALITY SOFTWARE, LACKING SIGNIFICANT CODE, OPTIMIZATIONS, AND POLISH.

What is the meaning of "XA"?

"XA" refers to a widely used audio format on the PlayStation, which this fangame adopts for encoding its background music. Including it in the title pays homage to the target platform, adds a sense of originality, and serves as a subtle nod to Sonic CD.

There's two new other builds of this project, for consoles of other regions that are not the US. U stands for USA, E stands for Europe, and J stands for Japan. Both U and J versions run at NTSC 60Hz, but E stands for PAL 50Hz. Notice that, if you play the PAL version of this game, you might feel Sonic a little slower and "float-y", since the game is FPS-locked."

Changelog

V. 0.1

• Updated sprites and extra animations for Sonic.
• Ramp Rotation: Sonic now rotates on slopes with angle snapping for smoother movement.
• Character Animations: Added underwater bubble-gulping and improved ledge balancing animations.
• Super Peel-Out Move: Charge a high-speed dash, faster than the Spin Dash.
• Playable Characters: Tails and Knuckles are now playable, expanding the game beyond Sonic.

 V. 0.5.1

• Offscreen Character Rendering: Major improvement in sprite handling. Characters are now rendered offscreen to prevent rotation distortion and visual gaps, resulting in cleaner and smoother animations.
• Red Book Audio: Background music now uses CD-quality audio (44.1 kHz), replacing the previous .XA tracks, improving sound clarity and looping.
• Level-Specific Objects: Each level can now have unique objects with custom behaviors and palettes. Supports solid platforms, spawnable items, doors, switches, and puzzles.
• Enemies: Fully implemented level-specific enemies, including spawning and de-spawning mechanics. Adds challenge and brings levels to life.
• Bosses: Two playable bosses added, with independent memory, palettes, and glow-on-hit effects for visual feedback.
• Memory Management: Improved allocation, with most level data now handled by the screen arena allocator, reducing static memory use.
• Gameplay Enhancements: Added 1-ups from collected rings (up to 800), pause menu, and audio controls (stereo, reversed stereo, mono, and volume adjustments).
• Polish and Bug Fixes: Removed debug mode from release build, fixed visual distortions, and refined general gameplay systems.

V. 0.6

• Playable Character: Amy Rose. Unlockable after completing all main levels. Features unique vertical movement: higher jumps, slower acceleration, and special abilities. A cheat code allows access without completing the game.
• Gameplay & Technical Fixes: Player top sensors fixed to prevent clipping, improved hitbox framework, Tails’s flight hitboxes corrected, and spin dash dust effect restored. Animals now render correctly in front of the player.
• Disc & Audio Updates: Fall-back routines added for disc track loading issues, and disc track count now visible in OPTIONS.

For more detailed info about the different versions, check official links:

V. 0.1 -  V. 0.51 - V. 0.6

Media

 

Official Download Links

Official Website - Itch.io - Github