Here are all the guides, tips, and strategies to enjoy playing Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) with cheats and unlockables.
Tips & Tricks
Bonus Points
Pass any zone in a certain amount of time. The best way to get extra points is by using Debug Mode. This makes the clock freeze and you will always score a 50,000 bonus.
| Time | Points |
|---|---|
| 0:30 | 50,000 |
| 0:45 | 10,000 |
| 1:00 | 5,000 |
| 1:30 | 4,000 |
| 2:00 | 3,000 |
| 3:00 | 2,000 |
| 4:00 | 1,000 |
| 5:00 | 500 |
Unlimited Lives
In Green Hill Zone – Act 3, there is a 1-Up at the very bottom of the level. Collect it along with enough rings to make 100 for a second life. Next, grab the 1-Up at the top of the loop-de-loop and die. Repeat until you have enough lives.
Cheats
General
The International game releases have different cheat codes than the Japanese release.
International Versions
Debug Mode
On the title screen, press C, Up, C, Down, C, Left, C, Right, Start, A + Start. Keep holding A until Sonic appears on the screen.
Zone Select
On the title screen, press Up, Down, Left, Right, A + Start (After pressing Right, a ring noise will sound, indicating that you’ve inputted the code correctly).
Zone Select + Debug Mode
On the title screen, press Up, Down, Left, Right, Up, Up, C, Down, C, Left, C, Right, C, A+Start, select a zone, and keep holding A until Sonic appears on the screen.
Messed Up Demo Mode
While the in-game demo is playing, press and hold A+B+C. Sonic will get confused, lose his place, and, in some cases, die.
Japanese Version
Alternate Ending (Sequence Method)
Press C, C, C, C, C, C, Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, wait until the demo starts, press Start to stop the demo, enter the Zone Select cheat, go to 9F in Sound Select and press A, B, or C to go to the Ending Sequence, which will also lead into the Staff Roll.
Alternate Staff Roll Method
Press C, C, C, C, C, C, Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, wait until the demo starts, press Start to stop the demo, enter the Zone Select cheat, go to 9E in Sound Select and press A, B, or C to go to the Staff Roll.
Debug Mode
On the title screen, press C, C, C, C, Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, A+Start. Keep holding A until Sonic appears on the screen.
Hidden Japanese Credits Screen
On the title screen, press C, C, C, C, C, C, Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, then hold Down+A+B+C while the demo starts up. The credits will appear instead of the “Sonic Team Presents” screen.
Zone Select
On the title screen, press Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, A+Start (After pressing Right, a ring noise will sound, indicating you’ve inputted the code. Then hold A and press Start to access Zone Select).
Zone Select + Debug Mode
On the title screen, press Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, Up, C, C, C, C, Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, A+Start, select a zone, and keep holding A until Sonic appears on the screen.
Staff Roll and Ending Sequence from Zone Select
Go to Zone Select, then press Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, Up, C, C, C, C, C, C, Up, Down, Down, Down, Left, Right, A+Start.
Action Replay Codes
The game is enjoyable by itself, but cheating makes it even better. Always keep in mind to input codes with an Action Replay. All the below codes are compatible with most emulators.
Note: before entering cheats, be aware that altering the game can cause random freezing and several other glitches.
General
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| Always Have Shield | FFFE2C:0001 |
| Corrupted Spring Yard Title Card | 00CAA8:0532 |
| Enable Stage Select (press A+START on Title Screen) | FFFFD0:0100 |
| Every Monitor Powerup Gives Speed Shoes. | 00A35E:6042 |
| Final Zone’s First Boss Health Is 1 | FFD861:0001 |
| Infinite Rings | FFFE20:00C8 |
| Infinite Time | FFFE24:0000 |
| Invincibility | FFFE2D:0001 |
| Never Run Out Of Air Underwater | FFFE15:00FA |
| Very Low Gravity | 00D5CA:0005 |
Game Modifier
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| SEGA Screen | FFF600:0000 |
| Title Screen | FFF600:0004 |
| Demo | FFF600:0008 |
| Level | FFF600:000C |
| Special Stage | FFF600:0010 |
| Continue Screen | FFF600:0014 |
| Ending Scene | FFF600:0018 |
| Credits | FFF600:001C |
| Pre-Level | FFF600:008C |
Stage Select
Code: FFFE10:XXYY (XX: Zone, YY: Level).
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| Green Hill Zone | FFFE10:0001 |
| Labyrinth Zone | FFFE10:0101 |
| Marble Zone | FFFE10:0201 |
| Star Light Zone | FFFE10:0301 |
| Spring Yard Zone | FFFE10:0401 |
| Scrap Brain Zone | FFFE10:0501 |
Game Genie Codes
The game is enjoyable by itself, but cheating makes it even better. Always keep in mind to input codes with a Game Genie. All the below codes are compatible with most emulators.
Note: before entering cheats, be aware that altering the game can cause random freezing and several other glitches.
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| Master Code | ATBT-AA32 |
| Debug Mode (Enable) | AE2T-AAAL |
| Each Ring Is Worth 2 | SCRA-BJX0 |
| Each Ring Is Worth 3 | SCRA-BNX0 |
| Each Ring Is Worth 4 | SCRA-BTX0 |
| Each Ring Is Worth 5 | SCRA-BYX0 |
| Each Ring Is Worth 6 | SCRA-B2X0 |
| Each Ring Is Worth 7 | SCRA-B6X0 |
| Each Ring Is Worth 8 | SCRA-BAX0 |
| Each Ring Is Worth A Crazy Amount | SCRA-B9X0 |
| Infinite Lives | GJ6A-CA7A |
| Keep Invincibility Until Stage Ends Or Death | AE0T-CABE |
| Keep Speed Shoes Until Stage Ends Or Death | AE0T-CABY |
| Level Select | AJ3A-AA4G |
| Low Jump | KDLT-AAGL |
| Max Out Score With One Kill | 663T-BA4R |
| Mega Jump | DDLT-AAGL |
| Ring Count Resets To 50 If Hit (Must Have At Least 1 Ring) | GLRT-AADY |
| Ring Count Resets To 99 If Hit (Must Have At Least 1 Ring) | NRRT-AADY |
| Some Crabmeats Disappear | NCLT-B9E6 |
| Some Crabmeats Go Berserk | NCLT-BYE6 |
| Start On Labyrinth Zone | NCLT-B9E6 |
| Start On Marble Zone | AA2A-AEC8 |
| Start On Star Light Zone | AA2A-AGC8 |
| Start With 1 Life | AE3T-AACL |
| Start With 2 Continues | 663T-B64R |
| Start With 5 Chaos Emeralds | AY3T-BA4R |
| Start With 5 Lives | AY3T-AACL |
| Start With All Chaos Emeralds | A23T-BA4R |
| Super Jump | BDLT-AAGL |
Sonic the Hedgehog is a platform game developed by SEGA and initially released in 1991 for the Genesis.
