Developer: Vik Tokai Publisher: Vik Tokai Release: 08/17/93 Genre: Platformer
In the video game industry one of the easiest paths to success is to copy the most popular game at the time. Super Mario Brothers had its moment and one can argue it is still being imitated today. Dragon Quest spawned a legion of clones and so did Final Fantasy. So it stands to reason that Sonic the Hedgehog would see his fair share of copycats. Awesome Possum, Havoc, Rolo, the list goes on. But the most blatant is Socket the Time Dominator. Vik Tokai wanted some of that sweet mascot money and this was their effort. But while you can copy the gameplay and look of a classic it does not mean you have one on your hands. Socket is a decent game but that is about it.
There is next to no backstory given in the game. Despite the title Socket is not the Time Dominator. Instead he is an android created by the Time Warp Patrol to stop said villain from wreaking havoc across the time stream. Vik Tokai was one of the last I would expect to hop on the mascot bandwagon. Their publishing choices were always weird but I suppose the allure was too much to resist. At least they put some effort into it, even if Socket is a generic rip off.
Socket is a duck with an electrical plug in his ass. I swear to god I am not making that up. As an android he uses electricity and begins each stage by charging up. Your energy meter serves as both your health and time limit. Your energy is always ticking down, not so fast that it is annoying but enough that it is a concern. The lightning bolts scattered in each level refill it slightly and they always appear in groups. Taking hits from enemies or spikes reduces energy in chunks and you can only sustain a few before death. Lightning bolts are finite so you must always stay on the move. Your only means of offense is a lightning charged kick which is…functional; I’ll leave it at that.
Vik Tokai tries to differentiate Socket from Sonic but they cannot. Of all the games that copied Sega’s classic Socket is the most flagrant. Lightning bolts replace rings, there is a one hit shield, loop de loops, and the Time Dominator is the Dr. Robotnik stand in. It features comparable art direction and the level design is eerily similar. Each “zone” has three distinct areas. The first is a high speed area which serves as a transition to the next zone. These feature next to no enemies and are a fun sprint using the game’s mechanics. The second is an athletic area. This is your typical platforming stage with each new zone featuring era appropriate gadgets and machinery. The finale is the labyrinth, a maze like structure leading to the boss battle.
The structure is kind of similar to the original Sonic the Hedgehog but at least it is different here. But while they have copied the framework Socket suffers in a number of areas. The most notable is its physics which are terrible. The game wants you to speed through its levels like the blue hedgehog with its hills, inclines, slopes, and bumpers. But the awful physics cannot facilitate that. Trying to build speed on anything other than a straight path ranges from hard to near impossible. Sonic’s ability to curl into a ball helped build speed. The lack of such here is very noticeable and hurts the game overall.
There are other problems with the level design. Even if you build up speed the game frequently places enemies and walls in your path, forcing you to a complete stop. It would not be such an issue if the game did not do it constantly. The labyrinth stages are an often confusing mess of split paths and mechanical gadgets that barely seem to work as intended. This is an area where the game’s graphical design should be clearer. Normally it would be fun to plot your own path but here it mostly feels like a waste of time. Once again Socket lacks the nuances that make Sega’s game so brilliant.
In an odd way even with the game’s numerous failings it can’t help but be fun at times. When the various mechanics work you can see the game it tries to be. This is most evident in the high speed zones. Without troublesome enemies blocking your path these levels are one big Rube Goldberg machine that rockets you to the exit. If the game expanded on these stages and used them more it could have been incredible. The Sonic formula works for a reason and even a shameless copy is good for a little bit of fun.
Socket is an easy game overall despite its best attempts. Enemies are few and they are not the slightest bit aggressive. Even though lightning bolts are not in abundance you still have plenty of time. There are no bottomless pits and spikes only take health. For some odd reason the game provides plenty of invincibility power-ups, sometimes three times back to back. They are not necessary and are placed haphazardly. The Time Dominator in his various forms is even easier than Dr. Robotnik if you can believe it. If you want a challenge look elsewhere as it is clear this is meant to be very accessible.
In Closing
Socket is a decent game in the end that pales next to the game it is patterned after. The graphics are decent and the gameplay can be fun. But you have to tolerate a lot to find it and I do not think it is worth it with the variety of superior options available.
