Genesis REVIEWS: Sonic the Hedgehog

Few games are as defined by their main competition as Sonic the Hedgehog. Here is a game that was not formed naturally, but deliberately designed to compete with Nintendo’s Mario and provide Sega with its own mascot to rally behind.

Knowing that, Sega was not in a position to halfheartedly make any game, but needed a sure hit. This was going to be a game that could compete with the most iconic character in video games, and it needed to be something special.

The result was the first Sonic the Hedgehog game, a complete opposite to Mario in design and philosophy, which nevertheless managed to convince people it was in the same league. Even if we now find that illusion to be far-fetched, Sega actually fooled a generation of people into thinking that it was huge.

20: Sonic the Hedgehog:-

Year: 1992.
Genre: Platformer.
Publisher: Sega.
Developer: Sega.  

"Collect the chaos emeralds"

Right off the bat, I am going to say that Sonic never stands a chance in direct comparison to Super Mario. At the time this first Sonic game was released, Super Mario World was released. In comparison to that masterpiece, Sonic the Hedgehog’s mere 18 stages wouldn’t stand a chance.

So, as an advantage to the Sonic games, I will review them based on their own merits. And those are many.

In this game, you control the titular blue Hedgehog as you blur through 18 acts to free as many animals imprisoned by Dr. Robotnik as possible. This culminates in a fight with the egg-shaped man every three stages, inviting multiple replays.

To be properly played, Sonic should always be moving fast

I say that because the game is pretty short. However, it is designed in such a way as to invite replays in both its mechanics and stage design.

Mechanically, the game relies strongly on its speed. Sonic can pick up speed as you run, and with that speed, can have access to different areas in the stage. Before you know it, the game becomes less about finishing a level and more about using Sonic’s speed to explore the stages in different ways.

This is especially emphasized through non-linear stage design, meaning there are usually multiple ways to go through a single stage. While this is not true for all levels, it does add more incentives to go back and find new ways to finish a stage.

While the game doesn’t have too many levels, it manages to provide 6 different varieties of stage design that keep things fresh and inviting again. From the classic labyrinthine Green Zone to the claustrophobic Marble Zone.

Hence, here is a game that doesn’t just invite you to finish it, but to learn its mechanics and stages well so that you can perfect it if you wish.

For the less dedicated, and for children, the game actually manages to become longer than it is by virtue of its life system.

Here we see someone who apparently just had their first gameover in the second zone and lost all their score

Losing enough lives gets you all the way to the start. Thankfully, you can actually survive very long in Sonic due to its health system (collecting rings keeps you alive, and while you have at least one ring, you can take damage without dying). However, bottomless pits and other environmental hazards still pose a danger.

Played as a game where you go from start to finish, Sonic the Hedgehog is a competent but not very remarkable game. However, if you give it the time and learn its mechanics well, it becomes a platforming experience that has never been properly imitated.


"Sonic has passed"

It’s not an accident that the sounds and shapes we see in the first Sonic game have become as iconic as they are today.

Through a meticulous phase of design and redesign that covered every aspect in the game’s graphics, the development team managed to make the Genesis do things few knew it was capable of doing.

Immediately, the shape and sound of Sonic going into a blue blur become a treasured memory to all who have seen it in action. The Green Zone became the iconic starting area for the franchise. Graphically, the game managed to set the standards for the Genesis while showcasing its abilities to the masses. The dynamic background blended well with the 3D foreground.

However, the game’s attempt to use 3D imagery didn’t always go well. After collecting 50 rings and finishing a stage, the player is propelled into a special stage to look for the Chaos Emerald. Those stages were annoying mechanically and nauseating visually. By far, the worst part of the game.

I am sure these levels can be submitted in court as strong evidence of serious drug abuse on the part of the development team

Generally, though, the game managed to craft its own graphical style, mostly thanks to the varied level design.

This extends to the music, which, besides the famous jingles and sounds, also features a quite decent collection of tracks. More importantly, each of those tracks works well with the zone.

Sonic’s music uses the Genesis sound chip with all its strengths and avoids its weaknesses. Because of that, the soundtrack takes advantage of the sharp, chiptune-like quality of the Genesis music, while avoiding being grating and annoying.


In Conclusion:

In the early console wars of the 90s, Sonic gave Sega a mascot to fight in that war. With that in place, Sonic managed to reach an iconic place purely through his competition with Mario.

Here is Sonic selling his soul to the Chaos Emeralds to be able to compete with Mario. This decision will come back to haunt him in later years

 

In reality, Sonic the Hedgehog never reaches the level of polish the Mario platformers are known for. However, it manages to inspire a different style of play; one that focuses on mastering the simple mechanics of the game and using them to their fullest potential.

On that note, the Sonic series succeeds in becoming its own entity, outside of its competition with the fat Italian plumber. It would probably have been better for Sonic to realize that niche going forward.

  

Final: 8/10

  

Pros:

• Great platforming gameplay with emphasis on mastery.
• Non-linear and varied level design.
• Great graphics and world design.
• Brilliant soundtrack and sound effects 

Cons:

• Relatively short in a single playthrough.
• The special stages are an assault on the senses.

Tips:

1. Search the level around for power-ups and lives.
2. If you lose a life, you can always get one at the same location you found it for the first time.
3. Collect 100 rings to get a life.
4. Complete the stage with more than 50 rings to go into the bonus stages.
5. If you have no rings at all, play the game like its Ghost's and Goblins.

Series:

For those reading one of my Genesis review blogs for the first time, here is the basic concept:

I already reviewed a bunch of SNES games, so, naturally, I am going to review the games of its prime competition. Does the SEGA Genesis stand a chance against the legendary SNES library?

My review series is based on the top 100 list of Retro Sanctuary

Originally, I posted most of my content on a football forum called "Goallegacy," which was the first online community I had ever joined. I found it to be the best place for a football fan (the REAL football, not handegg) to hang out on the internet, but the forum is not as active as it was years ago.

 

Next Game:

My first review of a Sonic game on the Genesis went well. These were very mechanically sound games, and they still hold up today. I will next review the sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which sits at #61 in the Retro Sanctuary list.

Stay Tuned.

For Previous Genesis Game Reviews:

The List

This blog was originally posted in Destructoid Community Blogs on June 8th, 2016. The blog was slightly edited to fit my newer review format.