Play Socket Online
You play as a robot duck zapping enemies and kicking your way through time-warped zones, trying not to run out of juice while figuring out those confusing labyrinth levels. That kick attack’s got a weirdly nice crunch to it, especially when you remember you can boot enemies upward too.
Socket is this weirdly charming Sonic-like platformer on the Genesis where you play as a time-traveling robot duck (yeah, really) trying to stop some jerk called the Time Dominator from messing up history. At first glance it feels like a Sonic clone—you’ve got loops, speed sections, and those satisfying electric bolts scattered everywhere to recharge your constantly draining energy meter. But then you realize the levels actually force you to slow down sometimes, especially in the Labyrinth Zone where you’re just trying to figure out where the exit even is.
The kick attack feels oddly satisfying once you get the hang of it, though I kept forgetting you can kick upward too. And those boss fights against Time Dominator? They’re not exactly hard, but they’ve got this goofy charm where he’s just floating around in his little time machine while you try to kick him. Also, props for the time trial mode—it’s basically the game admitting the High Speed Zones are the most fun part.
It’s not perfect (that energy drain can be annoying), but there’s something about the weird duck robot aesthetic and the way the zones mix speed with exploration that makes it stick in your memory. Definitely one of the better "Sonic-but-not" games from that era.
Download Socket ROM
You can download this ROM to play Socket offline using an Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) emulator (Top Emulators).
*This ROM is provided for backup and educational purposes only.
