Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is an infamous unlicensed platformer for the SNES that is actually a bootleg ROM hack of the 1995 game Speedy Gonzales: Los Gatos Bandidos. Created by unknown developers, the title replaces the original protagonist with Sega’s mascot, swapping out collectible cheese for rings while retaining the fast-paced running and kicking mechanics of the base game. Because it is built on an already competent commercial release, it stands out as one of the more playable and polished pirate games of its era.
How to play
Your goal is to dash through each sprawling level, defeat enemies, and rescue the captives scattered throughout the stages. Use the SNES D-pad (mapped to your keyboard’s arrow keys) to move, the B button (usually mapped to your Z or X key) to jump, and the Y button (A or S key) to execute a short-range kick attack. You can also hold the Y button while moving to sprint at high speeds.
Tips
- Since this is built on the Speedy Gonzales engine, Sonic’s signature spin dash is absent. You must use your kick attack to safely deal with enemies.
- You need to build up a significant amount of running speed on flat surfaces to successfully run up and clear the vertical loops found in the levels.
- Keep an eye out for cages to break open. In a humorous twist by the bootleggers, the mice from the original game have been graphically replaced with captive Marios that you must rescue.
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