Update (Wed 8th Mar, 2023 10:15 GMT): On Twitter, earlier this week, Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit developer Noah N. Copeland revealed that the game has now entered testing for its final PC update, as well as for ports for both Android and Mac. This will be exciting news for those who have been waiting to experience the fan reboot on other operating systems.
A release date is not set in stone yet for either the update or these ports. Instead, a date will be decided based on the results of these tests.
According to Copeland on Twitter, the full list of changes coming to the PC version will be released soon, but for now, he teases a new bonus stage, cutscenes, and an extended Knuckles Atomic Destroyer Zone Act 3 boss fight. Everything else will be mostly quality-of-life stuff. We'll keep you updated as soon as we know more.
Original article (Thu 4th Aug, 2022 10:40 BST): Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble is kind of an obscure game when it comes to classic Sonic titles. Developed for the Game Gear by Aspect, the team behind the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, it starred Sonic and Tails on another quest to stop Dr. Robotnik from claiming the chaos emeralds, and introduced a new series side-villain, Fang the Sniper (initially known as Nack the Weasel in the West).
It can be argued that Triple Trouble's handheld origins are likely what caused it to be overlooked by some members of the Sonic fanbase, but in recent years a fan creator named Noah N. Copeland has brought the game back into the spotlight.
In 2019, Copeland released an impressive demo showcasing a reimagining of the handheld game in the style of a Mega Drive/Genesis title. This featured a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis-accurate colour palette, 16-bit levels with new layouts, new gimmicks, improved bosses, and so much more.
It's been a bit of a long wait for the final version, but now three years later, it's finally out, with Copeland tweeting out the link to the Game Jolt page where you can actually play it.
“Believe it or not, I first played the original Sonic Triple Trouble on GameCube, not Game Gear," Copeland tells us. "It was part of Sonic Mega Collection and I felt that it was a great game held back by its 8-bit hardware. I think everyone has imagined a Genesis-like version of the game at some point. I just decided to be the one to make it, and I can't believe it wasn't done already. It's been five years of hard work with me and a small team, and I'm very happy that people are finally going to play it!”
We played its first few stages last night and we can safely say it didn't disappoint, bringing us right back to those early days back when Sonic ruled the roost. In particular, the size of the stages impressed us, as did the improved physics, 3D bonus races, and neat little interactions like switches, plant cannons, and bungee ropes. You can check out the fantastic retro-themed trailer of the game below.