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Sonic R

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This page is for the original 1998 release. For the rare 2004 re-release, see Sonic R (2004).

Sonic R
Sonic R cover
Developers
Traveller's Tales
Publishers
Sega
Release dates
Windows December 11, 1998
Taxonomy
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Racing
Art styles Cartoon
Series Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic R on IGDB
Sonic R guide on StrategyWiki
Sonic R on MobyGames
Sonic R on Wikipedia
Sonic the Hedgehog fangames (series)
Sonic CD 1995
Sonic's Schoolhouse 1996
Sonic 3D Blast (series)
Sonic & Knuckles Collection 1997
Sonic R (series)
Sonic Adventure (series)
Sonic Heroes 2004
Sonic Mega Collection Plus 2006
Sonic Riders 2006
Sonic Racing (series)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2010
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 2010
Sonic Spinball 2010
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 2011
Sonic 3 & Knuckles 2011
Sonic Generations 2011
Sonic CD (2012) 2012
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I 2012
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II 2012
Sonic Dash 2014
Sonic Lost World 2015
Sonic Mania 2017
Sonic Forces 2017
Sonic the Hedgehog (Mobile Decompilation) 2021
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mobile Decompilation) 2021
Sonic Colors: Ultimate 2021
Sonic Origins 2022
Sonic Frontiers 2022
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog 2023
Sonic Superstars 2023
Sonic Dream Team 2023
Sonic X Shadow Generations 2024

Key points

Supports networked multiplayer if .exe file is replaced with the officially-released network version of the game. This version includes all content found in the original release and is hex-edited to work on modern versions of Windows.
DXWnd (OG Edition) is required for the game to recognize input devices on modern versions of Windows. "Hook DirectDraw", "Fullscreen", and "Hook DirectInput" must be enabled within the program for the game to work.
The Sonic R Mod Loader is only supported by the more-compatible 2004 release of the game. You can use the Sonic R Updater to update your game.
Some reprints of the game are missing the music.
Hex-edited version of the original .exe also exists for those who are interested.
Configuration files can be edited to increase resolution and draw distance beyond what in-game menus allow.

General information

Sonic News Network - A massive wiki for the Sonic the Hedgehog universe.
Sonic Retro - A huge fan site for everything Sonic the Hedgehog.

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
Network play is the only mode that doesn't require the disc.
Windows
This game is not available digitally.

Essential improvements

Sonic R Updater

Upgrades the game to its rare 2004 re-release, fixes compatibility issues with modern Windows systems, 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.
Network Mode is lost as a result of the 2004 re-release almost completely losing this feature.
How to install Sonic R Updater[1]
  1. Install Sonic R from the disc or copy the contents of the disc to a convenient location on your computer.
  2. Download Sonic R Updater from the link above or its Github page.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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' shoe texture so don't appear like Tails' 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.
  • SEGA European Localization Patches - Restores back the German, French, Spanish and Italian language localizations from the 1998 European PC version.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\sonicr.inf[Note 1]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows

Video settings

Video settings.
Video settings.

Template:Video settings

Widescreen resolution

1080p Edited Configuration[2]
  1. Download this file.
  2. Replace the sonicr.inf
  3. To get music back, go to Options/Sound and set Volume more than 1.
Install Sonic R Updater and adjust Sonic R Mod Manager's graphics settings for widescreen.[3]

Input settings

Input settings.
Input settings.

Template:Input settings

Controller support

To use XInput-based controllers with proper D-pad and trigger support, a fix is required.
Instructions for XInput Plus[4]
  1. Download and run XInput Plus, and then set the Target Program to Sonic R.exe.
  2. Go to the Key Assign tab, then go to Left Stick and assign it to Multiple Key, then check Left Stick and DPAD.
  3. 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
  4. (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.
  5. 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.
Sega Saturn-like control layout for XInput Plus[4]
An alternative controller configuration for XInput that mimics the original controls from the Sega Saturn version on an XInput controller.
  1. Perform Step 1 of the downloading and running XInput Plus and configurating it for the game above.
  2. 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.
  3. Resume configurating XInput Plus for the game from Steps 3 through 5.
  4. 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.

Audio settings

Sound settings.
Sound settings.

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Polish
Local retail version only.
Russian
Local retail version only. Voices were translated.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
4 Versus
1-2 players on keyboard, gamepads allow for up to 4 players.
LAN play
4 Versus
Requires Network version.
Online play

Connection types

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 2300
UDP 2350
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues fixed

Game crashing on start

Use Sonic R Fixed EXE.[5]

No input in the game

Use DxWnd[6]
  1. Download DxWnd.
  2. On the Edit menu, select Add
  3. Go to the installation folder and select sonicr.exe.
  4. Now select Directx9, Do not Notify on Task Change, DirectInput Hooking, Correct Mouse Position and Optimize CPU (DirectX1-7)
Should look like this
Sonic R does not work correctly in DXWnd versions above 2.01.43.

Other information

API

Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

System requirements

Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 95, 98, ME, XP
Processor (CPU) 90 MHz Pentium
System memory (RAM) 16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 20 MB

Notes

  1. When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

References

  1. Verified by User:AmethystViper on March 27, 2019
  2. Guide to Making Sonic R Run on XP/Vista/7 at Modern Resolutions - Steam Community - last accessed on March 27, 2019
  3. Verified by User:AmethystViper on March 27, 2019
    Patched the 1998 version with Sonic R Updater which allows for widescreen and custom resolutions thanks to Sonic R Mod Manager.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2020-07-12
    Confirmed working with an Xbox One controller via Bluetooth. The Sega Saturn control layout was referenced from a guide from GameFAQs and emulating the Sega Saturn version via Mednafen.
  5. An Itch To Play Sonic R - Green Hills Zone - SSMB - last accessed on March 27, 2019
  6. Play Sonic R on your modern PC - Play Old PC Games - last accessed on March 27, 2019