One of the rarest games starring Sega's blue hedgehog was released exclusively for arcades in Japan, and only a lucky few ever got to play it. That is about to change, because a fan has gotten hold of the lost Sonic arcade game and is about to release a ROM for MAME.
The Rarest Sonic Game
Released in 1991 for Japanese arcade machines, Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car is one of the rarest games in Sonic's library. This time, Sonic is a Japanese police officer who patrols the streets of a city, keeping the animal pedestrians safe from Dr. Eggman (also known as Dr. Robotnik). A detail that Sonic fans will appreciate is that this is the first game in the franchise to feature voice acting for the characters and the original game's soundtrack. Let's take a look at the gameplay:
Gameplay
Using the steering wheel, you drive through the city streets, avoiding traffic until you face Dr. Eggman. Whether you do well or not, Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car is very short. It's fairly basic compared to other arcade games, but it's not that bad either. Unless you lived in Japan in the early 90s, chances are you never got to enjoy this title. The arcade cabinet, shaped like the police car Sonic drives, exists in both Japanese and English versions, although the latter was not exported to other countries and was probably used in areas with many tourists.
A Release for MAME
And while it's a shame we can't experience the feeling of sitting in one of these cars, at least we'll be able to enjoy a copy of the game, because a fan is about to release a ROM for MAME after acquiring one of the arcade machines. Don't expect a great Sonic game, though. This is a title more for collectors and franchise fans. After all, Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car was an amusement game aimed at small children.
