Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game)

Template:Nihongo foot is a 1991 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. It was released in PAL regions on June 21, North America two days later on June 23 and in Japan the following month. The player controls Sonic, a hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds. The story follows Sonic as he aims to foil the mad scientist Doctor Ivo Robotnik's plans to seek the powerful Chaos Emeralds. The gameplay involves collecting rings as a form of health, and a simple control scheme, with jumping and attacking controlled by a single button.

Development began in 1990 when Sega ordered its developers to create a game featuring a mascot for the company. The developers chose a blue hedgehog designed by Naoto Ohshima after he won an internal character design contest, and named themselves Sonic Team to match their character. It uses a novel technique that allows Sonic's sprite to roll along curved scenery which was based on a concept by Oshima from 1989.<ref name="TwinStars">Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic the Hedgehog, designed for fast gameplay, was influenced by games by the Mario creator, Shigeru Miyamoto. The music was composed by Masato Nakamura, bassist of the J-pop band Dreams Come True.

Sonic the Hedgehog received positive reviews for its visuals, audio and gameplay and is widely considered one of the greatest video games. It sold over 40 million copies across all platforms, becoming one of the best-selling video games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the Genesis, which it was bundled with, it sold over 15 million copies, making it the best-selling Genesis game. It established the Genesis as a key player in the 16-bit era and made it competitive with the Super NES. It has been ported to multiple systems and inspired several clones, a successful franchise, and adaptations into other media. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released in 1992.

Gameplay

File:MD Sonic the Hedgehog.png

The game's first level: Green Hill Zone

Sonic the Hedgehog is a platform game where players control the titular character Sonic, who is tasked with defeating Doctor Ivo RobotnikTemplate:Efn and obtaining the six Chaos Emeralds. The game takes place from a side-scrolling perspective. He is capable of running at high speed through levels that include springs, slopes, bottomless pits and vertical loops.<ref name="alive">Template:Cite web</ref> The levels are populated with robot enemies, inside which Dr. Robotnik has trapped animals; destroying a robot frees the animal, but is not necessary to complete the game.<ref name="allgame">Template:Cite web</ref> His primary form of offense is a spin attack, in which he curls into a ball and spins his body, damaging enemies and certain obstacles upon collision. This may be performed by jumping or rolling.Template:Sfn

Scattered around each level are gold rings that can grant Sonic protection from a single enemy or hazard as well as an extra life if 100 are collected.Template:Sfn Also scattered throughout the level are canisters containing power-ups such as additional rings and temporary invincibility.<ref name="alive" /> Signposts act as checkpoints where Sonic can respawn after losing a life.Template:Sfn

The game is split into six principal zones, followed by a short Final Zone. Each main zone has its own visual style, and while some enemies appear throughout, each zone has unique enemies and obstacles.Template:Sfn Each main zone is split into three acts,<ref name="alive" /><ref name="cvg" /> all of which must be completed. At the end of each main zone's third act, the player confronts Dr. Robotnik for a boss fight. For most of the fights, Robotnik's vehicle is fitted with different weapons.Template:Sfn After completing the sixth zone, the player continues to the single-level Final Zone for a last encounter with Robotnik inside a large machine environment.<ref name="game">Template:Cite video game</ref> A brief animation shows Sonic's return to the first zone, with animals liberated from Dr. Robotnik.Template:Citation needed

Reaching the end of any zone's Act 1 or Act 2 with 50 rings will cause a large ring to appear through which Sonic can jump to enter a bonus stage. In them, Sonic is continually curled up in his Spin Attack animation, and bounces off the bumpers and walls of a fully rotating maze. In these levels, the player earns a number of continues for each multiple of 50 rings collected, but the main goal is to obtain the Chaos Emerald hidden within the maze. Colliding with any of the blocks marked "GOAL" ends the level.<ref name="cvg" />Template:Sfn

Plot

In his attempt to steal the six Chaos Emeralds and harness their power, the mad scientist Doctor Ivo Robotnik has trapped the animal inhabitants of South Island inside aggressive robots and stationary metal capsules. A hedgehog named Sonic aims to thwart Robotnik's plans by freeing his animal friends and collecting the emeralds himself.<ref name="alive" /> If Sonic collects all the Chaos Emeralds and completes the game, an ending sequence is shown. If all the emeralds are not collected, Robotnik taunts the player while juggling any of the Chaos Emeralds not collected by the player in an alternate ending.<ref name="game" />

Development

Background and character design

Character designer Naoto Ohshima

In the 1980s, Sega had limited success with Genesis ports of its arcade games, but wanted a stronger foothold against its main competitor, Nintendo.<ref name="lame title"/> In 1988, Sega of Japan began an in-house competition to create a rival to Nintendo's mascot Mario.<ref name="megatech">Template:Cite magazine</ref> For the next three years, programmers and designers at Sega worked on a brand character to rival Mario.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1990, Sega ordered its in-house development studios to develop a game featuring a mascot for the company.<ref name="alive" /><ref name="retro">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Sega's president Hayao Nakayama wanted a character as iconic as Mickey Mouse.<ref name="lame title" />

Conception of Sonic the Hedgehog began in November 1989, when character designer Naoto Ohshima was working on another project titled Twin Stars. The story focused on a pair of twin brothers from the Dream World defending it against the boss of the Nightmare World, "Thirteen." The game was to feature smooth terrain and loops that the characters would run through. While the gameplay concept was approved by Ohshima's superiors, the characters were not, leaving Ohshima to come up with a new protagonist.<ref name="TwinStars"/>

The team developed ideas for characters, an engine, and gameplay mechanics. Development emphasized speed, so Sega considered fast creatures such as kangaroos and squirrels and eliminated designs not associated with fast animals.<ref name="alive" /> One idea, a rabbit able to grasp objects with prehensile ears, showed promise but was too complex for the Genesis hardware. The team narrowed its search to animals that could roll into a ball, their idea for an attacking move, and considered armadillos and hedgehogs.<ref name="lame title" /> The hedgehog character, proposed by employee Naoto Ohshima,<ref name="retro" /> prevailed. Ohshima went on vacation to New York, taking sketches with him. He went to Central Park and asked locals for their opinions on them, and Sonic was the favorite. A man with a moustache, who eventually became Dr. Robotnik, was in second place.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sonic was originally teal-colored,<ref name="retro" /> then a light shade of blue, but he was changed to dark blue so he would stand out against certain backgrounds<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and to match the Sega logo. According to Ohshima, Sonic's basic design was created by combining Felix the Cat's head with Mickey Mouse's body.<ref name="facts">Template:Cite web</ref> His shoes had buckles through the inspiration of Michael Jackson's boots on the album cover for Bad and the red and white color scheme of Santa Claus, whom Ohshima saw as the most "famous character in the world".<ref name="retro" /> Sonic's spikes were emphasized to make him sleeker, and he was given the ability to spin while jumping (so attacking and jumping could be controlled with one button).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new character was originally named "Mr. Hedgehog", but the eight-member team<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> changed his name to "Sonic" and took the nickname Sonic Team. According to Yuji Naka, Sonic Team was a one-time unofficial nickname for the studio within Sega that was used during the development of the game; it was never mentioned again on the division's releases until Ohshima-directed and Naka-produced Nights into Dreams was released in 1996. The name would permanently stay when its successor Sega AM8 was spun off as Sonic Team Co., Ltd. in 2000.<ref name="lame title">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="RetroST">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Edge 89">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Ohshima said that "Sonic" was chosen because it represented speed.<ref name="OhshimaIntHist">Template:Cite interview</ref> Ideas proposed to flesh out the character included placing him in a rock band, giving him vampire fangs, and giving him a human girlfriend named Madonna.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sega of America scrapped these ideas to keep his identity simple. Sega of America also expressed concerns that most Americans would not know what a hedgehog is.<ref name="retro" /> According to Mark Cerny, who worked in Tokyo as an intermediary between the Japanese and American Sega offices, the American staff felt the character was "unsalvageable". They made plans to educate Sonic Team on character design with the work of Will Vinton, the creator of the California Raisins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They proposed a full-scale recreation of the character, but compromised with Sonic Team to simply make design changes for western audiences.<ref name="retro" /> The antagonist was named "Dr. Eggman" in Japan and "Dr. Robotnik" in other regions as a result of a dispute between Sega's American and Japanese divisions.<ref name="facts" />

Concept and programming

With a satisfying protagonist established, Sega turned to programmer Yuji Naka, who had impressed executives with his work on Phantasy Star and the Genesis port of Ghouls 'n Ghosts.<ref name="retro" /> Naka was a fan of Super Mario Bros. but wanted something faster, so the game was made to play quickly,<ref name="RGBoom">Template:Cite book</ref> which was where he focused most of his effort.<ref name=NakaInt>Template:Cite interview</ref> Production on Sonic the Hedgehog officially began in April 1990 and lasted about 14 months.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Naka explained that the reason he wanted a fast game was that he had ported Ghouls 'n Ghosts, and wanted to work on its movement but found it slow.<ref name=NakaIntHist>Template:Cite interview</ref>

Sonic the Hedgehog was developed by a team of seven at Sega R&D9: two programmers, two sound engineers, and three designers,<ref name=NakaIntHist /> although it began with just Ohshima and Naka.<ref name=OhshimaIntHist /><ref>Template:Cite Twitter</ref> People came onto the team as the need for content increased.<ref name=OhshimaIntHist /> After being assigned a project with the code name "Defeat Mario", Ohshima and Naka began work, but encountered problems: Ohshima's Rabbit proved hard to program. Catching items and throwing them caused the action's rhythm to break. Naka stated that the rabbit was not suitable for his game engine, and he also wanted the game to be playable with only one button. Hirokazu Yasuhara came onto the team to supervise Ohshima and Naka and develop levels. He became the lead designer due to his greater experience, and found the way to make the game playable with only one button by having Sonic do damage by jumping. The trio came up with the idea of him rolling into a ball. After the hedgehog character was chosen, many characters were redrawn, and the team agreed on the environments' visual complexity, with particular focus on the colors. After this, four people came onto the team to speed development up.<ref name="Zone1">Template:Cite book</ref>

Due to the popularity of Mario, Naka wanted Sonic to take over the American market. Sonic's default speed was set to that of Mario while running. Tests were run using the Genesis' tool library, and problems such as flickering, slow frame rates, and shaky animation soon became apparent. Increasing Sonic's speed caused animation problems. Naka solved this by developing an algorithm which retained fluidity. All that was left was to optimize of the game speed to adhere to the staff's expectations. The team noticed that different people had different perceptions of the game's speed: some believed it was too fast, which caused disagreements. As a result, it was slowed down.<ref name="Zone1" />

The loop running was implemented in a tech demo by Naka, who developed an algorithm allowing a sprite to move smoothly on a curve by determining its position with a dot matrix. Naka's prototype was a platform game with a fast-moving character rolling in a ball through a long, winding tube, and this concept was fleshed out with Ohshima's character designs and levels by Yasuhara.<ref name="Yasuhara">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite video</ref> Sonic the Hedgehog was unveiled at the Tokyo Toy Show, held between June 7–10, 1990. At this point, Sonic was only able to "run at high speed on a slightly wavy track." As so little was done at the time, the team wanted to try and "bluff" their way through the demo, making the game look far more polished than it actually was.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Yasuhara originally intended to work on the game for three months due to the delay of his planned move to the United States by the outbreak of the Gulf War, but was engrossed in the project for nearly a year.<ref name="Yasuhara" /><ref name="Birth">Template:Cite magazine</ref> His designs for levels were intended to attract both hardcore and casual gamers by integrating occasional challenging set pieces into mostly accessible level design.<ref name="retro" /> The color scheme was influenced by the work of pop artist Eizin Suzuki, and the aesthetics of Green Hill were influenced by the geography of California.<ref name="retro" />

In designing the gameplay, Naka was inspired by Nintendo employee and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, whose games he had enjoyed playing years earlier. Admiring the simplicity of Miyamoto's mechanics in complex environments, Naka decided that Sonic would be controlled with only a directional pad for movement and a single button for jumping. He also wanted his creation to be more action-oriented than the Mario series;<ref name="edge" /> while playing Super Mario Bros., he had wondered why the levels could not be cleared more quickly.<ref name="retro" />

Ohshima, Naka and Yasuhara worked 19 hours a day on the project for several months.<ref name="Yasuhara" /> Due to the need to demonstrate the Genesis' technological prowess, the game underwent extensive testing and redesign, which took over six months. According to Naka, the game had the fastest-ever character speed in a video game and a rotation effect in the bonus stages that had been considered impossible on the console.<ref name="edge">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The team intended to add a two-player mode displayed via split-screen, but Naka's programming knowledge was insufficient to implement it. A two-player mode appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), whereby the second player controls Sonic's sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower.<ref name="retro" /> Sonic Team also intended to include a sound test with animations of Sonic breakdancing to a band of animal characters, including a crocodile keyboardist who was later introduced into the series as Vector the Crocodile in Knuckles' Chaotix in 1995.<ref name="soundtest">Template:Cite web</ref> The sound test was scrapped for time reasons and Naka used the freed up memory to add the iconic "Se-ga!" chant used in TV commercials as a startup sound.<ref name="soundtest" />

Naka's relationship with Sega was tenuous during this time, and he received little credit for his work. He left the company shortly after the game's release, although Sega of America hired him later. Before leaving, however, he defied Sega's prohibition of developer credits by displaying a few names in black text on a black background, identifiable only by looking at the code.<ref name="facts" /> Naka stated that level design was a major challenge: he created maps much wider than normal and tried to ensure players would not get lost. It took him around eight months to develop Green Hill Zone as he kept restarting from scratch.<ref name=NakaInt /><ref name="Zone1" /> He stated that he found the process "very interesting".<ref name=NakaInt /> Throughout the rest of 1990, work on the game was behind closed doors. Sega of Japan instead promoted the upcoming title in other ways. In the November 1990 issue of Sega Players Enjoy Club, a brief "interview" with Sonic was published, establishing his attitude and his birthplace of Christmas Island.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Naka also stated that the team was trying to create smooth maps, and that implementing looping structures was a challenge because Sonic would break through them instead of running around them. The backgrounds were also a challenge, as the game's speed created the impression of going backwards.<ref name=NakaIntHist /> The zones were based on designs by Naka and Ohshima, with the goal of creating the world's fastest action game. According to Ohshima, Robotnik was based on Humpty Dumpty.<ref name=OhshimaInt>Template:Cite interview</ref>

Yasuhara wanted the game to appeal to both Japanese and American players, which was why Green Hill Zone was redesigned many times. Sonic Team wanted the level to portray the character correctly. Its checkered ground was inspired by 3D image rendering from computers, an idea Naka obtained from Sega developer Yu Suzuki, who used this technique with Space Harrier. The team read Famitsu to stay informed of what their rivals were doing so they could avoid their mistakes.<ref name="Zone1" />

Music

Template:Main Template:Listen Sega director Fujio Minegishi had connections to the music industry and suggested his friend Yūzō Kayama write the Sonic score. However, Sonic Team did not think Kayama's music would fit, and so commissioned Masato Nakamura, bassist and songwriter of the J-pop band Dreams Come True.<ref name="retro" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine (Translation by Shmuplations. Template:Webarchive).</ref> Nakamura said he was surprised, as he had just started with Dreams Come True, but accepted as he was inspired by the team's desire to outperform Nintendo. He said the hardest part was working with the limited number of sounds that could play concurrently: he was limited to four, and said that his lack of knowledge of music on computers made it "impossible". He wrote the soundtrack concurrently with the Dreams Come True album Million Kisses.<ref name="Zone1" /> After he finished the compositions, they were digitized using an Atari ST and the program Notator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On October 19, 2011, over 20 years after the release, a three-disc compilation of music from Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released in Japan. The first disc features original tracks from both games, the second contains Nakamura's demo recordings before they were programmed into the Genesis, and the third has songs by Dreams Come True and their associated Akon remixes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Packaging and release

Game-package illustrator Akira Watanabe said that his goal was to make the characters "colorful", using clear lines and gradation to "finish them neatly".<ref name="Sega illustrations">Template:Cite book</ref> According to Watanabe, the developers asked him to create a package design "similar to pop art ... without being particular to conventional packages" – something "original" and "stylish".<ref name="Sega illustrations" /> Sonic was not revealed until the January 1991 Winter Consumer Electronics Show because Sega wanted to wait until the right time and because they saw an opportunity to "steal the show". Sonic the Hedgehog was believed to be the most impressive game at the show and won the CES award for innovation.<ref name="Zone2">Template:Cite book</ref>

Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske wanted reassurance that the character would not fail. The global head of marketing, Al Nilsen, and the senior product manager, Madeleine Schroeder, became involved in redesigning Sonic for American audiences. Artist Greg Martin was commissioned to redesign the character, and a new backstory was created where Sonic was from Nebraska.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sega playtested Sonic across the United States with Mario fans: they were shown Mario and then played Sonic the Hedgehog. 80 percent preferred Sonic the Hedgehog, and the game was shown at the 1991 Summer CES.<ref name="Blur">Template:Cite book</ref> The game was completed in May 1991, during Japan's Golden Week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It arrived in the United Kingdom on June 21, 1991,<ref name="pennsonic"/> widely released in North America on June 23,<ref name="edge" /> and in the PAL regions and Japan the following month.<ref name="mean" /><ref name="Mega Drive Master List – Sega">Template:Cite web</ref> In November 1991, Sega of America included Sonic as a pack-in game with American Genesis consoles,<ref name="Chicago">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> replacing Altered Beast. This enabled Sega of America to sell 15 million Genesis units.<ref name="Zone2" /> Genesis owners who bought their consoles before the switch could request free copies of Sonic the Hedgehog by mail.<ref name="edge" /> Sega of America created a marketing campaign, making Sonic its new mascot.<ref name="retro" />

Other versions and rereleases

8-bit version

A version of Sonic the Hedgehog was developed by Ancient and released in late 1991 for Sega's 8-bit consoles, the Master System and Game Gear. Its plot and gameplay mechanics are similar to the 16-bit version, though some level themes and digital assets are different and Chaos Emeralds are scattered throughout levels rather than bonus stages.<ref name="sonic8bit">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Gameplay as a whole is simplified; the level design is flatter and has a larger focus on exploration, with no vertical loops, and Sonic cannot re-collect his rings after being hit.<ref name="ign 8bit" /> The game has a different soundtrack composed by Yuzo Koshiro, which includes adaptations of music from the original version.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was the final game released for the Master System in North America.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Master System version was re-released for Wii's Virtual Console service in North America and Europe in August 2008.<ref name="ign 8bit">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Game Gear version was re-released for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console on June 13, 2013,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and included as an unlockable game in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut for GameCube and Windows<ref>Template:Cite video game</ref> and Sonic Mega Collection Plus for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows.<ref name="ign plus" />

Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis

To mark the game's fifteenth anniversary, a port for the Game Boy Advance, Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis, was released on November 14, 2006, in the United States. While the port is mostly identical to the original, it includes several new features not seen in the original Genesis release, such as the ability to save game progress and the inclusion of the Spin Dash move.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This version, unlike others, received poor reviews, with a Metacritic score of 33/100.<ref name="Sonic Genesis Metacritic">Template:Cite web</ref> The chief complaints concerned its poor conversion to the Game Boy Advance, resulting in a bad performance and poor implementation of the original music and gameplay.<ref name="gamespotgba">Template:Cite web</ref>

As a response to the poor reception and claims that the system could not handle the original game, Simon "Stealth" Thomley, who later assisted with the development of the 2013 mobile port, released an unofficial, proof-of-concept version of Sonic the Hedgehog for the system. The unofficial version contains a complete Green Hill Zone and two bonus stages, as well as Tails and Knuckles as playable characters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2013 remaster

A remastered mobile port was released on iOS on May 15, 2013, with an Android version following the next day. This version was developed by Christian "Taxman" Whitehead and Simon Thomley of Headcannon from scratch using the Retro Engine, previously used in the 2011 remaster of Sonic CD. This port features several enhancements, such as widescreen graphics, the optional ability to Spin Dash, an additional bonus stage, a time attack mode and the unlockable option to play as Tails or Knuckles; it additionally features a heavily expanded debug mode, which allows for use of unused elements and elements from more recent games (such as the characters' super forms).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The iOS version was updated in 2016, adding compatibility with Apple TV.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

3D Sonic the Hedgehog

A Nintendo 3DS version, 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, was released as part of the 3D Classics line in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This version, unlike most downloadable re-releases of the game, is not emulated; rather, the code was restructured to take advantage of the 3DS system's stereoscopic 3D graphics and comes with additional enhancements, such as the option to use the Spin Dash move, a CRT-style filter, and the option to start from any level.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Compilation releases

Template:Main With its sequels for the Genesis, Sonic the Hedgehog has been ported for a wide range of home and handheld consoles and personal computers through compilations.<ref name="clascol" /> The first collection it appeared in was Sonic Compilation (1995) for the Genesis.<ref>Sonic Compilation instruction manual, p. 3.</ref> It has since appeared in Sonic Jam (1997) for the Saturn,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Sonic Mega Collection (2002) for the GameCube,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic Mega Collection Plus (2004) for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox,<ref name="ign plus">Template:Cite web</ref> Sega Genesis Collection for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (2009) for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic Classic Collection (2010) for the Nintendo DS,<ref name="clascol">Template:Cite web</ref> Oculus Arcade for the Oculus Rift,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Sega Genesis Classics (2018) for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The 2013 remaster was included in the 2022 compilation Sonic Origins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This remaster saw Amy Rose becoming a playable character in an upgraded version of Origins.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Downloadable releases

Sonic the Hedgehog has been available for all three major seventh-generation video game consoles. It was part of the Wii Virtual Console at the service's 2006 introduction,<ref name="alive" /> and was released for the Xbox Live Arcade<ref name="XBLA">Template:Cite web</ref> and PlayStation Network shortly afterwards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The game was released for the iPod Classic, iPod video, and video-capable iPod Nano models in 2007<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and for Apple's iOS in April 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic the Hedgehog became available on GameTap in September 2009.<ref name="GameTap">Template:Cite web</ref> In October 2010, it was released on Windows via Steam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The game was ported to Android and released in December 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, it is an unlockable reward in the console versions of Sonic Generations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2013 remaster was made available on the Sega Forever service on iOS and Android in June 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A port for the Nintendo Switch was released on September 20, 2018<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as part of M2's Sega Ages line of rereleases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It adds features including the ability to use moves from Sonic 2 and Sonic Mania, a challenge mode, a time attack for the first stage, and features from the 3DS rereleases of the game and its sequel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Canceled versions

U.S. Gold acquired the rights to make a version of Sonic the Hedgehog for the Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and Atari ST personal computers, but these went unreleased.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Several screenshots exist, some of which resemble the 8-bit version.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> An enhanced port for the Sega CD was also planned, but was canceled in favor of Sonic CD.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Reception

Sales

Sonic the Hedgehog was a commercial success. It became America's best-selling video game for several months in 1991, outselling Super Mario.<ref name="Chicago"/> By Christmas 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog had sold nearly Template:Nowrap game cartridges in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also Blockbuster Video's highest-renting game of the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the United Kingdom, it was the top-selling Mega Drive game for two months following its release.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Sonic the Hedgehog was the best-selling home video game of 1991,<ref name="Kalinske">Template:Cite AV media (Part 1 and Part 2)</ref> with Template:Nowrap copies sold worldwide by the end of the year,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> becoming Sega's best-selling home video game up until then.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog helped Sega generate a gross revenue of Template:US$ in console sales and capture a 65% share of the European console market.<ref name="megatech13">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Sonic the Hedgehog set a Sega software sales record with Template:Nowrap cartridges sold by March 1992,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> including Template:Nowrap copies in the United States and another Template:Nowrap in Europe and Japan.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The game went on to sell Template:Nowrap units by October 1992,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and Template:Nowrap copies worldwide by November 1992.<ref name="Kalinske"/> By 1997, the game had sold over Template:Nowrap copies worldwide,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and earned over Template:US$ (Template:US$ adjusted for inflation), higher than the Template:US$ typically grossed by a blockbuster movie at the time.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The original version bundled with the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive hardware had sold over 15 million copies Template:As of.<ref name="youtube">Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name="youtubealt">Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The mobile game version also had eight million paid downloads by 2008,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 482,960 units were sold on Xbox Live Arcade Template:As of,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and 10 million paid Android downloads were sold as of 2017<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> bringing total sales to Template:Nowrap worldwide across all platforms.

Contemporary reviews

Sonic the Hedgehog was praised by critics, with scores above 90% from most video game magazines at the time. It was considered Sega's answer to Nintendo's widely popular Mario series, as it was a platformer featuring the company's mascot.<ref name="cvg"/><ref name="dragon"/> In a preview following its CES debut in January 1991, John Cook of Computer and Video Games called it the most impressive game at the show and said it was "another jumpy jumpy game in the Mario mould, but with an astonishing turn of speed and great music."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Upon release, Paul Rand of Computer and Video Games compared the two in depth and characterized Sonic the Hedgehog as being faster, with brighter colors and Super Mario World as having more "depth of play".<ref name="cvg" /> Frank Ladoire of Template:Ill believed Sonic the Hedgehog was part of a new generation of games that demonstrate that the Mega Drive is capable of "beautiful things" in the technical department.<ref name="G4Rev"/>

Reviewers praised the colorful, detailed graphics. Rand called its color scheme "lively, but never garish", praising the interaction of color with detail in the sprites, backgrounds, and animations and describing its graphics as the best available for the Mega Drive.<ref name="cvg"/> Reviewer Boogie Man of GamePro called the intricate backgrounds "eye-popping" and "gorgeous",<ref name="gamepro"/> which was echoed by Mean Machines.<ref name="mean"/> The Lessers (Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk) of Dragon claimed the graphics made Sonic a possible contender for the best game of 1991<ref name="dragon"/> and GameZone called the animation "some of the smoothest and fastest ... ever seen".<ref name="gamezone">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Julian Boardman of Raze praised the "colourful and highly detailed" backdrops and "fabulous" sprites.<ref name="Raze"/> The music and sound effects were also well received; Dragon called them "great",<ref name="dragon"/> and GameZone "amazing".<ref name="gamezone"/> Rand praised the "catchy" soundtrack, calling some of the sound effects "absolutely brilliant".<ref name="cvg"/> Although Mean Machines called the songs "vaguely appealing", the sound effects were better appreciated.<ref name="mean"/> However, Boardman of Raze considered the music "a little boring".<ref name="Raze"/>

Critics cited the fast gameplay, unprecedented in platformers.<ref name="egm"/><ref name="gamepro"/> The difficulty was disputed, described as "impossible" by Rand<ref name="cvg"/> and "average" by EGM.<ref name="egm"/> Rand said about the gameplay in general that it "plays like a dream";<ref name="cvg"/> according to GameZone it would enchant players for hours,<ref name="gamezone"/> and Boogie Man praised Sonic Team's ability to provide an engaging experience primarily from running and jumping.<ref name="gamepro"/> Although EGM, Dragon, Paul of Mean Machines and Boardman of Raze praised the level design (especially the hidden rooms),<ref name="mean"/><ref name="dragon"/><ref name="egm"/><ref name="Raze"/> Paul found losing all of one's rings frustrating.<ref name="mean"/>

Bob Strauss of Entertainment Weekly gave the game an A+ and wrote that it was a very fast game, yet never felt chaotic or impossible,<ref name="StraussRev" /> and they later named it the best game available in 1991.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Awards

At the 1991 Golden Joystick Awards, Sonic the Hedgehog won Overall Game of the Year.<ref name="theone">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the 1991 Electronic Gaming Monthly awards, Sonic the Hedgehog won Game of the Year.<ref name="EGM1992">Electronic Gaming Monthly's 1992 Video Game Buyer's Guide, pages 60–61</ref> At the European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) awards, it won the awards for Best Video Game and Going Live Viewers Award.<ref name="Zero33">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1992, Mega ranked Sonic as their third-favorite Genesis game.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1995, Flux rated the game fourth in its "Top 100 Video Games".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1996, GamesMaster ranked the game 78th on their "Top 100 Games of All Time".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2016, The Strong National Museum of Play inducted Sonic the Hedgehog to its World Video Game Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Retrospective reviews

Retrospective reception has been positive, with an 86% rating at the review aggregator GameRankings based on nine reviews published online in the 2000s.<ref name="gr_sonic"/> Sonic the Hedgehog has maintained its popularity, and has since been considered one of the greatest video games of all time.

Frank Provo of GameSpot described the game as "one of the best platformers of all time", finding that despite technical issues in the Game Boy Advance port "after all these years, the underlying graphics, audio, and gameplay still hold up".<ref name="gamespotgba" /> Lucas M. Thomas of IGN agreed that it stood the test of time.<ref name="ign_vc" /> Writing in The Guardian, Keith Stuart observed that Sonic the HedgehogTemplate:'s emphasis on speed and pinball mechanics dramatically departs from generally accepted precepts of game design, requiring that players "learn through repetition rather than observation" as "the levels aren't designed to be seen or even understood in one playthrough." However, Stuart concluded that "sometimes in Sonic, when you get better, or through sheer luck, things take off, every jump is right, every loop-the-loop is perfect, and you're in the flow, sailing above the game's strange structure ... Sonic is incorrect game design and yet ... it's a masterpiece."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Legacy

Primarily because of its Genesis bundling, Sonic the Hedgehog was a factor in popularising the console in North America, thus solidifying Sega as a competitor to Nintendo and their Super Nintendo Entertainment System.<ref name="lame title" /> During October–December 1991, with the game's success, the Genesis outsold the SNES by two to one; at its January 1992 peak it gained a foothold in the industry and had 65 percent of the market for 16-bit consoles.<ref name="youtube" /> Although Nintendo eventually overtook Sega, it was the first time since December 1985 that Nintendo did not lead the console market.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Sonic the Hedgehog inspired similar platformers starring animal mascots, including Bubsy,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Aero the Acro-Bat,<ref name="lame title" /> James Pond 3,<ref name="jamespond">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Earthworm Jim,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel,<ref name="mascot">Template:Cite web</ref> and Radical Rex.<ref name="rex">Template:Cite web</ref> "Animal with attitude" games carried over to the next generation of consoles, with Crash BandicootTemplate:'s Naughty Dog and GexTemplate:'s Crystal Dynamics citing Sonic as a major inspiration.<ref name="Rags">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

SonicTemplate:'s success led to an extensive media franchise, with the first of many sequels, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, released the following year. It has generated dozens of additional games and a large cast of recurring characters, keeping Sonic and Robotnik (later renamed as Eggman) mainstays, and continued beyond Sega's exit from the console industry after the Dreamcast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series has ventured from platformers to fighting,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> racing,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> role-playing,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and sports games,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and also expanded into anime,<ref name="bestmoments">Template:Cite web</ref> manga,<ref name="manga">Template:Cite comic</ref> cartoons<ref name="bestmoments" /> comic books,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> novels,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and toys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> with over 140 million copies sold or downloaded worldwide across consoles, PC's, mobile phones and tablets by May 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The game's first level, Green Hill Zone, has been featured in later games such as Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Generations,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic Mania,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sonic Forces, and the Super Smash Bros. series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The game inspired a number of unofficial variants, including Somari, a pirated Nintendo Entertainment System conversion featuring Nintendo's Mario character in levels from the original Sonic game,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix, a total conversion mod of the original game,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Sonic 1 Boomed, a ROM hack which implements Sonic's redesign from the Sonic Boom animated series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

References

Sources

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book

External links

• Official website. Template:Webarchive.