Socket

From Sega Retro

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Socket Title.png

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

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥7,8007,800 T-23033
Sega Mega Drive
US 		T-23046
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM94001JT

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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.

Story

It features a time travelling duck as a protagonist named Socket (named Minute in the japanese version) hired to stop an evil time-travelling overlord known as the Time Dominator, who is the boss of each stage.

Gameplay

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/Minute jump, while B allows him to kick, acting the primary method of defense within the game. As the name may suggest, Socket/Minute requires electricity to keep going, and so must collect lightning bolts in order to stay alive. His health will otherwise deteriorate over time. Socket/Minute 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. In the Japanese version, the High Speed Areas are arranged differently.

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 the boss.

Socket EmeraldForest.png

Emerald Forest

Socket TreasureCastle.png

Treasure Castle

Socket OlienCavern.png

Olien Cavern

Socket StoneAge.png

Stone Age

Socket Antiquity.png

Antiquity

Socket Future.png

Future

Socket TimeCastle.png

Time Castle

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English (US) Socket Socket
Japanese タイムドミネーター 1st Time Dominator 1st

Production credits

  • Director: Dark Side Toshi
  • Map Design: Lovely Nao, Good By Mitsu
  • Character Design: Dark Side Toshi, Bird West, Good By Mitsu
  • Main Program: Gantaro
  • Map Program: Honey Ishihara
  • Enemy Program: Norimono Hakubutsukan
  • Sound Composer: Fumito Tamayama, Yoko Suzuki, Shigenori Masuko, Yasuyuki Hamada
  • Planner: Toshi.Nao.Mitu
Source:
In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Socket/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #15: "October/November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
58 №1993-10, p22[2]
63 №, p85[3]
60 №1993-10, p41
41 №17, p38
68 [4]
64 №51, p73
84 №28, p64/65
0 №15, p58/59
Sega Mega Drive
 55
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[5]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[6]
Console Mania (IT)
89
[7]
Cool Gamer (RU)
40
[8]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[9]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
41
[10]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
71
[11]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
68
[12]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
64
[13]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
84
[14]
Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U
0
[15]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
63
[16]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
72
[17]
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
TimeDominator1ST MD JP CartTop.jpg
Socket MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Socket md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR

Socket MD KR cart.jpg
Cart

References

  1. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 119
  2. ↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1993-10.pdf, page 24
  3. ↑ File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 87
  4. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 84-86 (84)
  5. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 212
  6. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-08), page 24
  7. ↑ Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 71
  8. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 192
  9. ↑ Hippon Super, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-03), page 41
  10. ↑ Mega, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 38
  11. ↑ Mega Fun, "03/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 106
  12. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 84
  13. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-06), page 73
  14. ↑ Sega Pro, "February 1994" (UK; 1993-12-30), page 64
  15. ↑ Sega Zone, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-23), page 58
  16. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  17. ↑ Video Games, "2/94" (DE; 1994-01-26), page 50
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