Somari

About

Somari is a side-scrolling platformer that mashed up elements from two rival franchises. You play as Nintendo’s Mario fighting against a version of Dr. Robotnik from Sonic the Hedgehog. The game tasks you with running, jumping, and collecting rings across tropical levels. While it borrows visual and mechanical nods from Sonic’s world, it swaps the blue hedgehog for red overalls and a mustache. The levels scroll left to right with standard platformer physics but lack the polish of either series’ official entries. This odd crossover became a niche curiosity due to its unlicensed status and regional distribution. It gained a cult following among collectors for its bizarre concept and historical context as a product of the 90s gray market. With a December 1994 release date on Family Computer, it remains a relic of early gaming’s chaotic overlap. Fans appreciate its cheeky mix of IP, though technical quirks and limited availability keep it as more of a novelty than a classic.