It is unbelievable how far Sonic the Hedgehog has come over the years. Sonic started as just a simple and short little game released in 1991, and since then, it has gotten multiple sequels, TV shows, and even feature-length Hollywood movies in the following decades. I was more of a Super Mario person growing up, but there have been a few occasions that I've played one or two Sonic games, and I remember enjoying them decent enough. This time, I'm getting more into the Sonic franchise by attempting to play their games from the first to the most recent, all in order by release year—what better way to start than by playing the original game that started it all! Released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis, Sonic The Hedgehog was made to compete with anything Nintendo was putting out. Can this game still hold its ground even in modern times?
Dr Robotnik (Eggman) has trapped innocent animals in robotic prisons and suits, stolen six chaos emeralds, and hidden them in different areas of the world. It's up to a blue hedgehog named Sonic to outrace Eggman and save his animal friends from impending doom.
The Story takes a backseat, so the gameplay and graphics can do all the work for the gamer. Modern Sonic games would include more structured plot threads in their adventures, but here, it honestly makes sense why there isn't much of a story in this game. It is supposed to be very simple as it is just Sonic stopping Eggman from doing the evil things he does, and most players don't need anything more than that. It is almost the same way the original Super Mario Bros game focuses on Mario saving Princess Peach from Bowser. I appreciate games more for having an actual story that accompanies playing the game. Still, I also respect video game stories for having a simple objective that only needs a little explaining, which helps this game stay relevant and even timeless.
The Gameplay is simple to follow and controls mostly well. You start with three lives and can get more by collecting one hundred rings. Rings also affect your health; if you run into a dangerous area, you lose all your rings, and you’ll have to collect more because if you get hit without any rings, you lose a life. Lose all your lives, and you’ll get a game over and have to start the game all over again from the start. If you collect fifty rings in any given world's 1st and 2nd acts, you can go to a bonus area to have a chance to get a chaos emerald; if you collect them all, you’ll get a different ending to the game. Sometimes, power-ups are found around the level’s area. They can be most helpful when getting across tricky platforming. It's funny, though, because, for a game that encourages the gamers to go as fast as possible, given Sonic’s ability to run very fast, there sure are a lot of times that the game forces you to slow down and think about your next move. Many people who have played this game have argued that slowing down and reassessing your next move breaks the game's fast-paced flow. It never bothered me, but I agree that multiple sections of the game allow you the freedom to go as fast as possible, and it does seem a bit strange that the gameplay would halt you quite randomly when you run into a platforming section. It honestly doesn’t matter because the platforming is still excellent. It starts slow but then gets more complex and challenging. The only thing that bugged me is the game's lack of saving for when you get past a section. Thankfully, thanks to modern ports, you can use save states to save your progress once the player is done with a level. The game's length is short by modern standards, but the gameplay still leaves enough room for creative platforming and flawed but engaging gameplay.
The Graphics are timeless and very beautiful. I’m a sucker for stylized video games that go for a more exaggerated cartoony look because that, in my opinion, makes video games hold up a lot better. The 2D-pixel art is so good that it even holds up today, and it feels like the game could have been made in any decade. According to Sega, Sonic's character design is based on the look and feel of Mickey Mouse and Felix the Cat if he had Micheal Jackson's red shoes. Many animals were considered for Sonic, but the team at Sega went with Hedgehog. I’m glad they did because his design would immediately become one of history's most recognizable video game characters. The backgrounds are iconic, from the famous Green Hills to the Scrap Brain Zone. Almost every level has a distinct look and can entice the player to explore as much of the selected land as possible to find new paths and unlock hidden secrets. Levels are designed chiefly well, but even in modern times, a few things could have been done better. For example, the placement of obstacles in the path could have been more precise so the player knew what to expect without being too surprised by an oncoming death trap. Even with that said, the graphics and level design are just as excellent as in 1991.
The Music needs no introduction because even those who have yet to play this game know these tracks by sound alone. Sega managed to get singer and musician Masato Nakamura. Nakamura has created one of the best and most iconic video game scores of the 90s. Everything from the iconic Green Hills theme and everything else in between excels at creating great music that can live on for decades.
I won’t say this game is 100% flawless, but it is still one of the most iconic and beloved video games of all time because the things it manages to do right still make this game worth playing, whether you haven't played it in a while or are new to the Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise. Sonic has seen its ups and downs; some games are better than others. What the first game managed to do, though, will most likely never be forgotten anytime soon. Thanks to its timeless art direction and solid gameplay, Sonic the Hedgehog, for a time, gave Nintendo’s Super Mario some heavy competition and gave Sega a chance to play with the big boys in the video game industry. Yes, the first Sonic game is excellent, and no matter what good or bad games are in store for continuing the Sonic adventure, I am glad that the first game was at least a great starting point for a newbie like me.
(Final Grade: A-)