Sonic Crackers (Japan) (Proto) ROM

Sega ran experiments until the last days of the Genesis, to test on different ideas for next games. Not so many times you get to see a prototype for such a game.
Sonic Crackers, or Sonic Studium as the game header would say, is one of these test releases. Dated on April 1st, 1994, this Sega Megadrive/Genesis beta release baffled for a long time the Sonic fan community, by bringing together some pieces of the puzzle that is Sega 32X's Knuckles' Chaotix, a game leaded by Knuckles, set on the same universe as the Sonic series.
This beta release contains one of the oddest title screens in Sonic games history, perfectly suitable for a prototype like this. Other than that, the game is pretty unplayable. Only one map works rather well, the other one loops around endlessly, and the overhead levels don't do a single thing.
As stated, the game is a test release, a tool used by Sega to test special game machanics, map layouts, interactions and gameplay. The result of this test is 1996 Sega 32X Knuckles' Chaotix, and it goes to show, as they both share similar music, setting and graphics. Neither Sonic or Tails went on to be on Chaotix, but nevertheless, Chaotix is a great game.
About this particular one, if you're really curious about what Sonic Team did to test and experiment on new (for the time) game mechanics, give this prototype a try. If you're looking for a real complete title, you're better off playing Knuckles' Chaotix.

Sonic Crackers (Japan) (Proto) is a game that was developed and published by Sega. This game features Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower (even though they didn't became the part of the Chaotix).

Sonic Crackers is a early placeholder ROM for Knuckles Chaotix. Sega wanted people to notice a new experience. This, however ended with a big ending. It then began with Knuckles Chaotix.