Sonic X is an educational video game developed by Torus Games and published by LeapFrog Enterprises. It was released for the Leapster in early 2007.^[1][2] Sonic X is based on the anime of the same name and is aimed towards children from kindergarten through first grade. Progress in the game is primarily made through solving mathematical problems such as numerical ordering, addition, and subtraction.

Plot[]

The plot begins in Station Square, where Chris Thorndyke greets the player and introduces himself as a friend of Sonic the Hedgehog. Dr. Eggman, jealous of Sonic's popularity, suddenly appears and kidnaps Amy Rose, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Knuckles the Echidna. Sonic hears Chris' call for help and arrives on the scene, but Eggman deploys his math robots to get in Sonic's way. Chris tells Sonic that he must defeat the math robots and save their friends, and Sonic gladly accepts the challenge.

Sonic traverses several locations, outwitting Eggman's math robots and saving his friends one by one. After all levels are completed, Eggman's plans are foiled, and he makes his retreat. Sonic returns to Station Square, where he is met by an ecstatic crowd and congratulated by Chris. He then tells the player not to use robots against hedgehogs in a math contest.

Gameplay[]

Sonic X is a 2D side-scroller platformer, with gameplay reminiscent to the classic Sonic games. Here, the player takes control of Sonic, whose basic abilities are running and jumping.

Sonic X is split into three zones, each divided into three levels, with the main objective of reaching the end. Levels are dotted with question marks that each initiate a mathematical problem for the player to solve, requiring the right numbers to be found and run through in the right order; doing so will defeat the math robot guarding the next section of the level, allow the player to progress. To finish the first two levels of each zone, the player has to touch the local Star Post in each of them. In each third level on the other hand, a Goal Plate with the face of one of Sonic's friends has to be spun, after which Sonic will run past and rescue that friend from a containment capsule.

Throughout levels, beams appear for the player to grind on, as well as automated speed sections where Sonic enters a spin-dash to traverse loops, curves, and tunnels. Springs are used to reach higher areas, and additional Goal Plates can be found, although they do not affect gameplay when interacted with.

Golden rings appear scattered throughout the game, with ninety-nine of them appearing in each zone. Finishing a zone with every golden ring collected will grant the player one of the seven Chaos emeralds. When the seven emeralds are collected, collecting all golden rings will power up the Master emerald instead.

In addition to the main zones, Sonic X features three mini-games, which can be accessed either through being transported to them in their respective zones or through a boat symbol in the map. The mini-games are:

• Eggman's Super Sucky Machine: Found in Station Square. The player must choose the right numbers in the right order in order to progress.^[3]
• Math Robot Round-Up: Found in Angel Island. The player must use the Leapster pencil to round up enough math robots in order to progress.^[4]
• Aerial Automations: Found in Eggman's Base. The player must tap enough math robots in order to progress.^[5]

Controls[]

Button formation	Movement
/Joystick left/right	Move
A	Jump
B	Hear question
Hint	Play a tutorial

Objects[]

Items[]

• Chaos emerald^[6]
• Master emerald^[6]
• Golden ring^[6]

Gimmicks and obstacles[]

• Goal Plate (only appearance)
• Spring^[6]
• Star Post

Characters[]

Playable characters[]

• Sonic the Hedgehog

Non-playable characters[]

• Amy Rose
• Christopher Thorndyke
• Dr. Eggman
• Knuckles the Echidna
• Miles "Tails" Prower

Enemies[]

• Math robot (only appearance)

Zones[]

Sonic X has three zones divided into three levels each. In each level, the player must solve simple mathematical problems. The zones are:

1. Station Square: Teaches the player number identification, number/object association, and counting by two, five and ten.^[7]
2. Angel Island: Teaches the player simple and intermediate addition, with and without visual support.^[7]
3. Eggman's Base: Teaches the player simple and intermediate subtraction, with and without visual support.^[7]

Cast[]

Trivia[]

• The game is a reskin of Numbers on the Run: Counting on Zero, another Leapster game also developed by Torus Games.
• The sprites of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are based on those of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, while Amy's sprites and all character victory/rescued animations are based on those of Sonic Advance 3.
• Apart from a small cameo in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, this is the only Sonic game featuring Chris Thorndyke. He appears in the animated cutscenes and cheers Sonic on off-screen each time a math problem is solved.
• Sonic breaking the fourth wall during the ending, when he tells players to not use robots in math contests against hedgehogs, is reminiscent of "Chaos Control Freaks", the first episode of the Sonic X anime series. In this episode, while being pursued by the Speed Team, Sonic also breaks the fourth wall when he tells viewers to not use formula one race cars to chase hedgehogs.

Video[]

See also[]

• Sonic X (disambiguation)

References[]