Difference between revisions of "Socket"

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'''''Socket''''', known as '''''Time Dominator 1st''''' (タイムドミネーター 1st) in Japan, is a platform game released for the [[Mega Drive]] in 1993. It was developed and published by [[VIC Tokai]] and stars a time travelling duck named Socket, built to "fight" in the "mascot wars" initiated by the rivalry between Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. The game was released in Japan and North America, but not in Europe.
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'''''Socket''''', known as '''''Time Dominator 1st''''' (タイムドミネーター 1st) in Japan, is a platform game released for the [[Mega Drive]] in 1993, developed and published by [[VIC Tokai]]. The game was released in Japan and North America, but not in Europe.
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It stars a time travelling duck named Socket, built to "fight" in the "mascot wars" initiated by the rivalry between Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. Really, it starts a time-travelling duck named Socket (Minutes in the original TD1), hired to stop an evil time-travelling overlord known as the Time Dominator.
  
 
''Socket'' borrows many elements from ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and its sequels, causing it to be labelled as a "Sonic clone". Like Sonic there is an emphasis on speed, with the game offering several "High Speed Areas" in an attempt to woo fans of Sega's game. There are also "labyrinth" areas, which have a greater emphasis on exploration of the level. Items are collected by destroying capsules, similar to Sonic, and a time attack mode is offered.  
 
''Socket'' borrows many elements from ''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and its sequels, causing it to be labelled as a "Sonic clone". Like Sonic there is an emphasis on speed, with the game offering several "High Speed Areas" in an attempt to woo fans of Sega's game. There are also "labyrinth" areas, which have a greater emphasis on exploration of the level. Items are collected by destroying capsules, similar to Sonic, and a time attack mode is offered.  
  
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{{A}} and {{C}} make Socket jump, while {{B}} allows him to kick, acting the primary method of defense within the game. As the name may suggest, Socket requires electricity to keep going, and so must collect lightning bolts in order to stay alive. His health will otherwise deteriorate over time. Socket has a machine allowing him to travel through time, so each level is set in a different time period as well as setting.
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{{A}} and {{C}} make Socket/Minutes jump, while {{B}} allows him to kick, acting the primary method of defense within the game. As the name may suggest, Socket/Minutes requires electricity to keep going, and so must collect lightning bolts in order to stay alive. His health will otherwise deteriorate over time. Socket/Minutes has a machine allowing him to travel through time, so each level is set in a different time period as well as setting.
  
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Socket was the subject of mixed reviews at the time of release. ''[[Sega Zone (Magazine)|Sega Zone]]'' gave the game the lowest possible score on the basis that it was a Sonic clone.
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''Socket'' was the subject of mixed reviews at the time of release. ''[[Sega Zone (Magazine)|Sega Zone]]'' gave the game the lowest possible score on the basis that it was a Sonic clone.
  
 
==Levels==
 
==Levels==

Revision as of 07:26, 10 April 2013

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n/a

Socket Title.png

Socket
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: VIC Tokai
Developer:
Sound driver: GRC/later custom
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code

Socket, known as Time Dominator 1st (タイムドミネーター 1st) in Japan, is a platform game released for the Mega Drive in 1993, developed and published by VIC Tokai. The game was released in Japan and North America, but not in Europe.

It stars a time travelling duck named Socket, built to "fight" in the "mascot wars" initiated by the rivalry between Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. Really, it starts a time-travelling duck named Socket (Minutes in the original TD1), hired to stop an evil time-travelling overlord known as the Time Dominator.

Socket borrows many elements from Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequels, causing it to be labelled as a "Sonic clone". Like Sonic there is an emphasis on speed, with the game offering several "High Speed Areas" in an attempt to woo fans of Sega's game. There are also "labyrinth" areas, which have a greater emphasis on exploration of the level. Items are collected by destroying capsules, similar to Sonic, and a time attack mode is offered.

A and C make Socket/Minutes jump, while B allows him to kick, acting the primary method of defense within the game. As the name may suggest, Socket/Minutes requires electricity to keep going, and so must collect lightning bolts in order to stay alive. His health will otherwise deteriorate over time. Socket/Minutes has a machine allowing him to travel through time, so each level is set in a different time period as well as setting.

Socket was the subject of mixed reviews at the time of release. Sega Zone gave the game the lowest possible score on the basis that it was a Sonic clone.

Levels

Stages in Socket follow a format rarely seen in other games - they are split into three "sub-stages", each sporting a different change of pace. The first sub-stage is merely called a "High Speed Area", playing to the fast speeds of Socket. High Speed Areas have their own set of graphics and could be seen as completely independent stages, but the game classes them as part of a three-act stage. High speed areas presumably are what Socket must overcome in order to travel through time and reach his destination.

The second sub-stage, now set in a specific time period, is deemed an "Athletic Area", resembling more of what you might see in a Sonic the Hedgehog platformer. They are a more balanced mixture of running and jumping than the high speed areas.

The third and final sub-stage is called a "Labyrinth Area", and is much like the above aside from the fact that Socket needs to find a door (i.e. there is a need for exploration). Going through that door will inevitably put Socket up against a boss. Template:Sections

Manuals

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
68 №17, p84/85/86
84 №28, p64/65
Sega Mega Drive
 76
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[1]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[2]
Console Mania (IT)
89
[3]
Cool Gamer (RU)
40
[4]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[5]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
41
[6]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
71
[7]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
68
[8]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
64
[9]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
84
[10]
Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U
0
[11]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
63
[12]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
72
[13]
Sega Mega Drive
 58
Based on
13 reviews

Socket

Mega Drive, US
Socket md us cover.jpg
Cover
Socket MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Socket md jp cover.jpg
Cover
Socket MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, KR

  1. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 212
  2. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-08), page 24
  3. ↑ Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 71
  4. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 192
  5. ↑ Hippon Super, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-03), page 41
  6. ↑ Mega, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 38
  7. ↑ Mega Fun, "03/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 106
  8. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 84
  9. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-06), page 73
  10. ↑ Sega Pro, "February 1994" (UK; 1993-12-30), page 64
  11. ↑ Sega Zone, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-23), page 58
  12. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  13. ↑ Video Games, "2/94" (DE; 1994-01-26), page 50
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