This page is for the limited 2004 re-release. For the original 1998 release, see Sonic R.
Key points
- Improved compatibility with newer operating systems with a larger modding community than the 1998 version.
- The network mode is almost completely removed.
- The graphics settings menu is made inaccessible and when manually accessed, many functions are disabled.
General information
- Sonic Retro - A huge fan site for everything Sonic the Hedgehog.
Availability
Source |
DRM |
Notes |
Keys |
OS |
Retail |
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Use launch command ignorecd or install Sonic R Updater to bypass disc check. |
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- This port is exceedingly rare and release information is poorly documented. It is currently thought that it has been released only in Portugal, UK and Australia. Copies of it are also not clearly labeled, instead appearing as a reprint of the original 1998 game.[1]
- It is possible to upgrade the 1998 version to this 2004 re-release with by using Sonic R Updater.
Essential improvements
- Fixes a runtime error that causes poor frame-rate on modern hardware, removes the disc check, adds modding support thanks to Sonic R Mod Loader, custom resolutions and widescreen support, windowed/borderless fullscreen modes, and loading music from the installation folder instead of the disc.
How to install Sonic R Updater[2]
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- Install Sonic R from the disc or copy the contents of the disc to a convenient location on your computer.
- Download Sonic R Updater from the link above or its Github page.
- Run
sonic_r_updater_*.exe and follow its instructions. If the patcher does not auto-detect the game's installation folder, point it to <path-to-game> manually.
- Adjust graphics settings from the
Graphics tab of Sonic R Mod Loader and enable desired mods from the Mods tab, then click Save & Play to save your settings and launch the game.
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Featured mods
- Some of the featured mods are included with Sonic R Updater.
Included in Sonic R Updater
- ADX Music - A mod to use more efficient looping ADX format audio for music instead, opting for improved version of tracks from the Sega Saturn version in some cases.
- RemoveStrays - A fix for various graphical bugs tied to how the game maps textures for the user interface.
- Sega Saturn Style Colors - A mod that fixes and restores vertex colors. This makes the game look more lively and colorful than it did before, as well as more accurate to the Saturn version. Additionally it makes Radiant Emerald translucent like it's Saturn counterpart.
- EggRobo Texture Fix - Fixes a texture error where EggRobo's gun shows part of Tail's eye.
Additional notable mods
- Widescreen Assets - Readjusts and crops the original 4:3 GUI assets to properly fit in 16:9 instead of stretching them. This also fixes banner in menus so they don't abruptly cut off when playing in widescreen.
- Resort Island Fix - Fixes out-of-place floormaps of Resort Island.
- Knuckles Shoe Fix - Corrects an error with Knuckles's shoe texture so they don't appear like Tails's shoes.
- Metal Knuckles Has Green Eyes - Changes the eye color of Metal Knuckles so they appear faithful to official artwork.
- Alternate Ending Screens - Replaces the stock ending screen images with official promotional renders. A widescreen supported version is also available that pillarboxes the images so they don't appear stretched in widescreen.
- Saturn HUD - Recreates the original in-game HUD from the Sega Saturn version onto the PC version. Not compatible with Remove Strays.
- Gems Collection Textures - Ports over the textures featured in the Sonic Gems Collection version of the game.
- Music R - A mod that changes most if not all of the music in the game.
- Gentle Ring Sound - Replaces the loud and grating stock ring pick-up sound effect from the 2004 version that can cause audio clipping issues with a softer, sound-balanced one.
- Improved SFX - A sound effects enhancement mod that replaces the default sound effects with higher quality ones.
- Sonic 3D Blast Sounds - Replaces the default sound effects with ones from the Sega Saturn version of Sonic 3D Blast.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- General settings are stored in
sonicr.inf
. Key bindings are stored in keys.bin
. Controller bindings are stored in joystick.inf
.
Save game data location
- Saves are stored in
<path-to-game>\save
. Time Attack ghosts are stored in <path-to-game>\ghost
. Recorded replay demos are stored in <path-to-game>\bin\demos
.
Video
Input
- To use XInput-based controllers with proper D-pad and trigger support, a fix is required.
Instructions for XInput Plus[4]
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- Download and run XInput Plus, and then set the Target Program to
Sonic R.exe .
- Go to the Key Assign tab, then go to Left Stick and assign it to
Multiple Key , then check Left Stick and DPAD .
- Go to the DirectInput tab, check
Enable DirectInput Output , change the Guide button function to Button13 from its drop-down menu, and then click the Customize button and remap the buttons and triggers as the following:
- Left/Right Trigger:
Button 7/8
- Back/Start:
Button 9/10
- Left/Right Stick Button:
Button 11/12
- (Optional) For multiplayer, go to the Advanced tab of the DirectInput settings, and under the DeviceID section, click the
Detect button to assign a controller to a player and then press a button on the controller to register it to the player.
- Go to the Setting tab, uncheck
Enable Init Beep to disable XInput Plus' confirmation beep sound and then click Apply to save the settings and install the XInput Plus *.dll files into the game's installation folder. The game should be able to register XInput D-pad and analog triggers as DirectInput buttons.
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Sega Saturn-like control layout for XInput Plus[4]
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- An alternative controller configuration for XInput Plus that mimics the original controls from the Sega Saturn version on an XInput controller.
- Perform Step 1 of the downloading and running XInput Plus and configurating it for the game above.
- Go to the Key Assign tab, then change the following controls as shown:
- Left Stick: assign it to
Multiple Key , then check Left Stick and DPAD .
- A: assign it to
Multiple Key , then check A and Y buttons.
- X: assign it to
Multiple Key , then check X and B buttons.
- LB: assign it to
Multiple Key , then check LB and RB buttons.
- Resume configurating XInput Plus for the game from Steps 3 through 5.
- Launch the game, go to Options → Controls, then go to Set Joystick with your controller and remap the buttons as the following: Action: X/B Buttons, Pause: Start Button, Accel.: A/Y Buttons, L.Brake: Left Trigger, R.Brake: Right Trigger, Camera: LB/RB Buttons. If mistakes were made during the in-game remapping process where buttons clashes with each other, simply delete the
joystick.inf file from <path-to-game> and start over.
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Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
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Music volume is new to the 2004 port. |
Surround sound |
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Game audio is always stereo. |
Subtitles |
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No speech outside of the announcer and toggleable vocal tracks. |
Closed captions |
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Mute on focus lost |
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Sonic R Updater changes this so the music is audible when focus is lost due to bass_vgmstream support being added. |
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
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Network
Multiplayer types
Issues fixed
Game runs at unstable frame-rate on modern hardware
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
7, 9 |
For Direct3D 9 support, install Sonic R Updater. |
Shader Model support |
2, 3.0 |
For shader model 3.0 support, use Sonic R Updater. |
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
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Change Draw Distance
Use hidden hotkeys[7]
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- Reportedly has unlimited draw distance valves compared to the 1998 version, however, increasing the draw distance above 6 can cause minor transparency graphical bugs with shield power-ups.
Use F1 to decrease draw distance or F2 to increase it.
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System requirements
Windows |
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Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
95, 98, ME, XP | |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium 90 MHz
| Intel Pentium 133 MHz |
System memory (RAM) |
16 MB |
32 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
20 MB |
40 MB |
Video card (GPU) |
DirectX 7 compatible | |
Sound (audio device) |
DirectX-compatible sound card | |
Notes
References