A downloadable fangame



Sonic The Hedgehog XA is an open-source fangame created as an exploration of the PlayStation hardware’s capabilities and limitations. It serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating that a Sonic game could be developed from the ground up for this console. The project is non-commercial and has been developed by a single individual, driven by passion and experimentation.

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.

Controls

Game controls:


Debug controls:


(Make sure you activate debug by pressing L1+R1 before executing these actions. Debug can also be toggled on other screens.)

List of Levels

Here is a description of Sonic XA's levels (please notice that some of these levels are unplayable and will not appear on normal play):

  • Playground Zone
  • Green Hill Zone
  • Surely Wood Zone
  • Dawn Canyon Zone (Unused)
  • Amazing Ocean Zone
  • Blazing Force Zone (Unused)
  • Radiant Tomb Zone (Unused)
  • Eggmanland Zone (Unused)
More information

Download

Download
Xmas '24 Demo (U) 70 MB

Install instructions

This game is distributed in a .CHD format (MAME Disc Image). To play it, you'll need an emulator that supports this format, such as DuckStation, PCSX-Redux, or Mednafen.

Keep in mind that some emulators, like PCSX-ReARMed (commonly bundled with Emulator.js), may have trouble running the game. If you're using one of these, you might encounter issues, so consider this when playing or reporting bugs.

You can also enjoy this game on real PlayStation hardware! To do so, you'll need to convert the .CHD file to BIN+CUE format using a tool like CHDMAN. After converting, make sure to follow this guide on burning PlayStation CDs correctly. This game has been tested on an SCPH-5501 model and runs well, with no major issues observed.

IMPORTANT: If you encounter a black screen during FMVs (e.g., after the disclaimer screen), this may be caused by the CD reader of the console, but I haven't been able to fully isolate the root cause yet. You can skip the black screen by pressing X or Start to continue playing. I would greatly appreciate any feedback regarding this issue!

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