Master System Sonic The Hedgehog (SMS NC Revision) SMS ROM

[RageBurner]

A graphical and layout hack of Sonic the Hedgehog 1, bringing a nice new lick of paint, tweaked zone layouts and improved boss acts, now containing rings.


Author(s): Ninjacat25
Type: Graphics, Gameplay
Version: 1.8
Date: 13th of October, 2025
Status: Fully Playable, Actively Supported
Source: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/9193/


RB's Notes: The difference between the two versions is in Labyrinth Zone; Water leaves the zone intact, while no water removes the water from the zone, making it less frustrating.

Download from Repo​

• Sonic The Hedgehog (SMS NC Revision) SMS ROM
• -

 

[revck]

LEFT: Original
RIGHT: NC Revision

A few evident facts:
- Colours are strongers
- Sprites changed, moved, improved (coins, placement of objects, red-er shoes, look at the mountains!)
- Camera is slightly down turned, meaning that you can see more of the scenery (excellent!)

Not sure if I like the new colours, I believe the original give quite the nostalgic kick and in general the game of that era's feeling. I think the OG will still do for me, not sure


Oh one thing to note ..I thought rings were missing on the original and it seems they are there so maybe I misunderstood from the post ?

 

[RageBurner]

No problem, shall you feel like it, this hack is also compatible with the FM mod, making the music play and not be interrupted with the sound effects.

I might add that as an optional at some point. I always preferred PSG to FM, though, even if most people consider FM superior.

Edit: The chaos emerald display is slightly buggy when you you get them all. I hope the author corrects it.

 

[Juiceala]

Updated, thanks @Juiceala.

No problem, shall you feel like it, this hack is also compatible with the FM mod, making the music play and not be interrupted with the sound effects.

 

[Nightsy]

Legal, o primeiro jogo que joguei foi o Sonic 1 do Master System. Vou testar esse com o visual novo!

 

[RageBurner]

I've tested it and it seems to work, played the first few zones, no issues, I really like the updated level design, it keeps the spirit of the original while adding a few extra platforms and power ups to improve the experience, boss fights now have rings too.

Post automatically merged: Oct 21, 2025

Version 1.9 is out

https://www.smspower.org/forums/20229-SonicTheHedgehogSMSNCRevisionS1NC

Updated, thanks @Juiceala.

Strange. I obviously I know the game doesn't look like this; I have played it at least once a year ever since I was seven...yet, these graphics are exactly how I remember the game looking when I used to play it as a kid, on my dad's Master System.
Nostalgia is crazy.

Yeah. As a kid I was convinced that lending the cart to my cousins had somehow made the graphics change aspect ratio, haha.

 

[Mithraslogos]

Strange. I obviously I know the game doesn't look like this; I have played it at least once a year ever since I was seven...yet, these graphics are exactly how I remember the game looking when I used to play it as a kid, on my dad's Master System.
Nostalgia is crazy.

 

[Juiceala]

Is this compatible with the FM music patch?

I've tested it and it seems to work, played the first few zones, no issues, I really like the updated level design, it keeps the spirit of the original while adding a few extra platforms and power ups to improve the experience, boss fights now have rings too.

Post automatically merged: Oct 21, 2025

Version 1.9 is out

https://www.smspower.org/forums/20229-SonicTheHedgehogSMSNCRevisionS1NC

 

[Shinobi77Gamer]

Is this compatible with the FM music patch?

 

[Juiceala]

This looks interesting, thank you for sharing,

 

[Nelson2001 Nelson2001]

This graphic change of look of the first Sonic of the Master System looks beautiful and at the same time something more detailed and slightly less simple and basic than the original.