Sonic the Hedgehog (GEN)

One of the best gaming classics in the history of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, is Sonic the Hedgehog, the first installment in the Sonic series, and one of the great “nostalgia” games to play. Sega had a good time developing it for the Genesis, it even became the game to be packed in with the Sega Genesis instead of Altered Beast. It is how the Sega Genesis gained fame and was bought by many people, and a reason why Sega is still developing more Sonic games.

Dr. Ivo Robotnik (or Eggman as in later games), is capturing animals and transforming them into evil robots to help him on his plan of conquering the world. Only one, the fastest thing alive in the world, Sonic the Hedgehog could stop him, take the Chaos emeralds, and bring back peace to the animals.

The music is great, it’s one of the main aspects how Sega got Sonic successful. The first zone’s (Green Hill) music is awesome, so is the title screen and the level clear chime is something well done. The sounds too are good, like Sonic’s jump, the destruction of a badnik, etc.

The graphics are good enough and one of the best for the Genesis. Sonic is detailed, the badniks are not that bad looking either, and the game is so colorful in graphics. Even Sonic’s look in that game, was re-used later for the Sega CD title, Sonic CD. The graphics are worth a mention in this game.

GAMEPLAY

This is the #1 reason how Sonic the Hedgehog is a successful game! The fact that you control the fastest thing alive in the world makes this game fun, in terms of speedy zones and acts, and dangerous yet addictive zones.

To make yourself protected from dangers, you must pick rings, and they’re everywhere! Unlike mushrooms in the Mario games, you will never find a place where nearly no ring exist (except the Final Zone), and the rings get dropped for you to pick up again, which makes the game easier to beat and fun to play. The badniks are plenty and some of them are even exclusive to some zones. They are more than the enemies found in the Mario games, and they all have their own attributes, including weak spots, what do they do, etc. The zones are all colorful and worthwhile to beat, and they are placed pretty well. There are special stages for Sonic to go to save the 6 Chaos Emeralds from Robotnik to achieve a true ending, all in a spinning room with Sonic being a ball. There are also some secret rooms in the game to see, all holding their set of rings, monitors, and badniks, and shortcuts like in Marble Zone. The game is challenging and all speedy that you have to make it to the next act in less than ten minutes or you’ll get a time over and lose a 1-up, which brings your attention and makes it alive, or it’s over! I suggest you get this if you want fast-paced gameplay, as I rate 9/10

CONCLUSION

Good story, great music, nice graphics, and the greatest part in Sonic the Hedgehog, the gameplay, is how this game made Sega successful later in the Sonic series, thanks to Sonic Team for developing that great game that made the Sega Genesis one of the successful 16-bit consoles.

RATING: 9/10 - Perfecto!