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===Sequels and other media===
===Sequels and other media===
The game's success led Sega to develop an extensive [[media franchise]]. A 1992 sequel, ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', gave Sonic a best friend (and sidekick) named [[Tails (character)|Tails]] and continued the fight against Dr. Robotnik. ''Sonic'' has generated dozens of additional games and a large cast of recurring characters (keeping Sonic and Robotnik as mainstays), surviving the end of Sega console manufacturing after the failed [[Dreamcast]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/20/where-did-sonic-go-wrong|publisher=IGN|title=Where Did Sonic Go Wrong?|date=February 20, 2009|last=Buchanan|first=Levi|accessdate=October 11, 2014}}</ref> The series has ventured from platformers to [[fighting game|fighting]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/13/sonic-battle-3|publisher=IGN|title=Sonic Battle|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=January 13, 2004|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> [[racing video game|racing]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-r-review/1900-2532890/|publisher=GameSpot|date=December 22, 1997|title=Sonic R Review|last=MacDonald|first=Ryan|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> [[role-playing video game|role-playing]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/24/sonic-chronicles-the-dark-brotherhood-review|publisher=IGN|title=Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Review|date=September 24, 2008|accessdate=October 13, 2014|last=Bozon|first=Mark}}</ref> and [[sports game|sports]] games,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/09/mario-sonic-at-the-sochi-2014-olympic-winter-games-review|publisher=IGN|title=Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Review|accessdate=October 13, 2014|last=Thompson|first=Scott|date=November 8, 2013}}</ref> and has expanded into [[anime]]<ref name="bestmoments">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/?page=2|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|title=The absolute worst Sonic moments|author=GamesRadar_US|date=April 23, 2008|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> and [[manga]],<ref name="manga">{{cite comic|title=[[Sonic the Hedgehog (manga)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]|writer=[[Kenji Terada]]|date=1992|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|story=エイミー姫をすくえ!}}</ref> [[cartoon]]s<ref name="bestmoments"/> and [[comic book]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/16/archie-to-release-sonic-boom-comic-book-series|publisher=IGN|date=July 16, 2014|title=Archie to Publish Sonic Boom Comic Book Series|last=Yehl|first=Joshua|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> novels<ref>{{cite book|title=Desperately Seeking Sonic|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|authorlink=Charlotte Fullerton|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|date=March 1, 2007|isbn=978-0-448-44479-6}}</ref> and toys.<ref>{{cite web|title=McDonald's and SEGA Reveal Details of New Happy Meal Promotion Featuring Sonic and 'Search for the Silver Game'|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110807090612/http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/mcdonald_s_and_sega_reveal_details_of_new_happy_meal_promotion_featuring_sonic_and_search_for_the_silver_game|url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/mcdonald_s_and_sega_reveal_details_of_new_happy_meal_promotion_featuring_sonic_and_search_for_the_silver_game/|publisher=[[GameZone]]|date=December 2, 2004|accessdate=July 23, 2014|archivedate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' has become one of the [[List of best-selling video game franchises|best-selling video game franchises]] of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/sonic-the-hedgehog-1991/|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''|title=All-TIME 100 Video Games|date=November 15, 2012|last=Aamoth|first=Doug|accessdate=September 2, 2014}}</ref> with over 150&nbsp;million copies sold by May 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sega.com/2014/05/29/introducing-sticks-to-the-sonic-boom-franchise/|publisher=Sega Blog|title=Introducing Sticks to the Sonic Boom Franchise|author=Kellie|accessdate=October 11, 2014|date=May 29, 2014}}</ref> Green Hill Zone has been repurposed for ''[[Sonic Generations]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sega.com/2011/10/26/play-sonic-1-in-x360-ps3-versions-of-sonic-generations/|publisher=[[Sega|Sega Blog]]|title=Play Sonic 1 in X360 & PS3 Versions of Sonic Generations|author=Kellie|date=October 26, 2011|accessdate=October 11, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]|developer=[[Sora, Ltd.]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=March 9, 2008|quote='''Description:''' SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: GREEN HILL ZONE|level=Stage select screen}}</ref>
The game's success led Sega to develop an extensive [[media franchise]]. A 1992 sequel, ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', gave Sonic a best friend (and sidekick) named [[Tails (character)|Tails]] and continued the fight against Dr. Robotnik. ''Sonic'' has generated dozens of additional games and a large cast of recurring characters (keeping Sonic and Robotnik as mainstays), surviving the end of Sega console manufacturing after the failed [[Dreamcast]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/20/where-did-sonic-go-wrong|publisher=IGN|title=Where Did Sonic Go Wrong?|date=February 20, 2009|last=Buchanan|first=Levi|accessdate=October 11, 2014}}</ref> The series has ventured from platformers to [[fighting game|fighting]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/13/sonic-battle-3|publisher=IGN|title=Sonic Battle|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=January 13, 2004|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> [[racing video game|racing]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-r-review/1900-2532890/|publisher=GameSpot|date=December 22, 1997|title=Sonic R Review|last=MacDonald|first=Ryan|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> [[role-playing video game|role-playing]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/24/sonic-chronicles-the-dark-brotherhood-review|publisher=IGN|title=Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Review|date=September 24, 2008|accessdate=October 13, 2014|last=Bozon|first=Mark}}</ref> and [[sports game|sports]] games,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/09/mario-sonic-at-the-sochi-2014-olympic-winter-games-review|publisher=IGN|title=Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Review|accessdate=October 13, 2014|last=Thompson|first=Scott|date=November 8, 2013}}</ref> and has expanded into [[anime]]<ref name="bestmoments">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/?page=2|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|title=The absolute worst Sonic moments|author=GamesRadar_US|date=April 23, 2008|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> and [[manga]],<ref name="manga">{{cite comic|title=[[Sonic the Hedgehog (manga)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]|writer=[[Kenji Terada]]|date=1992|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|story=エイミー姫をすくえ!}}</ref> [[cartoon]]s<ref name="bestmoments"/> and [[comic book]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/16/archie-to-release-sonic-boom-comic-book-series|publisher=IGN|date=July 16, 2014|title=Archie to Publish Sonic Boom Comic Book Series|last=Yehl|first=Joshua|accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> novels<ref>{{cite book|title=Desperately Seeking Sonic|last=Fullerton|first=Charlotte|authorlink=Charlotte Fullerton|publisher=Grosset & Dunlap|date=March 1, 2007|isbn=978-0-448-44479-6}}</ref> and toys.<ref>{{cite web|title=McDonald's and SEGA Reveal Details of New Happy Meal Promotion Featuring Sonic and 'Search for the Silver Game'|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110807090612/http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/mcdonald_s_and_sega_reveal_details_of_new_happy_meal_promotion_featuring_sonic_and_search_for_the_silver_game|url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/item/mcdonald_s_and_sega_reveal_details_of_new_happy_meal_promotion_featuring_sonic_and_search_for_the_silver_game/|publisher=[[GameZone]]|date=December 2, 2004|accessdate=July 23, 2014|archivedate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' has become one of the [[List of best-selling video game franchises|best-selling video game franchises]] of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/sonic-the-hedgehog-1991/|publisher=''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''|title=All-TIME 100 Video Games|date=November 15, 2012|last=Aamoth|first=Doug|accessdate=September 2, 2014}}</ref> with over 150&nbsp;million copies sold by May 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sega.com/2014/05/29/introducing-sticks-to-the-sonic-boom-franchise/|publisher=Sega Blog|title=Introducing Sticks to the Sonic Boom Franchise|author=Kellie|accessdate=October 11, 2014|date=May 29, 2014}}</ref> [[Green Hill Zone]] has been re-purposed for other titles such as ''[[Sonic Generations]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sega.com/2011/10/26/play-sonic-1-in-x360-ps3-versions-of-sonic-generations/|publisher=[[Sega|Sega Blog]]|title=Play Sonic 1 in X360 & PS3 Versions of Sonic Generations|author=Kellie|date=October 26, 2011|accessdate=October 11, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.<ref>{{cite video game|title=[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]|developer=[[Sora, Ltd.]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=March 9, 2008|quote='''Description:''' SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: GREEN HILL ZONE|level=Stage select screen}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 02:55, 12 January 2015

Sonic the Hedgehog
North American box art
Developer(s)Sonic Team
Publisher(s)Sega
Producer(s)Shinobu Toyoda
Designer(s)Hirokazu Yasuhara[3]
Jina Ishiwatari
Rieko Kodama
Programmer(s)Yuji Naka
Artist(s)Naoto Ohshima
Composer(s)Masato Nakamura
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)
Sega Genesis
Release
June 23, 1991
  • Sega Genesis Mobile Game Boy Advance Virtual Console Xbox Live Arcade iOS
    ver. 1ver. 2

    BlackBerry Microsoft Windows Nintendo 3DS
    3D Classics

    Android
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Sonic the Hedgehog (Japanese: ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, Hepburn: Sonikku za Hejjihoggu) is a platform video game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis console. The game was released in North America, Europe and Australia on June 23, 1991, and in Japan on July 26 of that year. It features Sonic the Hedgehog in a quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik, an evil scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and stolen the magical Chaos Emeralds. Sonic the Hedgehog's gameplay involves collecting rings as a form of health and a simple control scheme, with jumping and attacking controlled by one button.

The game's development began in 1990, when Sega ordered its AM8 development team to create a game featuring a mascot for the company. After considering a number of suggestions the developers decided on a blue hedgehog with spikes along his head and spine, and renamed themselves "Sonic Team" to match their character. Sonic the Hedgehog, designed for fast gameplay, was influenced by the games of Shigeru Miyamoto. It uses a novel technique, allowing Sonic's sprite to roll along curved scenery, which originated in a tech demo created by Yuji Naka. The game's soundtrack was composed by Masato Nakamura.

Sonic the Hedgehog was well-received by critics, who praised its visuals and speed. The game was also commercially successful, establishing the Genesis as a key player in the 16-bit era and allowing it to compete with Nintendo and their Super Nintendo console. It has been ported a number of times. The game inspired several clones, a successful video-game series (beginning with its sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2) and adaptations by other media.

Plot

In an attempt to steal the six Chaos Emeralds and harness their power, the game's antagonist (Dr. Ivo Robotnik, known as Dr. Eggman in the Japanese version) has trapped the animal inhabitants of South Island in aggressive robots and stationary metal capsules. The player controls Sonic, who aims to halt Robotnik's plans by freeing his animal friends and collecting the emeralds himself.[5] If the player collects all the Chaos Emeralds and completes the game, a reward ending sequence is shown. If all the emeralds are not collected, Robotnik taunts the player instead.[6]

Gameplay

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2D, side-scrolling platformer, whose gameplay centers around Sonic's ability to run at high speed through levels incorporating springs, slopes, high falls and loop-the-loops.[5] The levels contain hazards in the form of robots ("badniks" in the Western game manuals)[7] in which Dr. Robotnik has trapped animals. Although destroying a robot frees the animal within, this is not required to complete the game.[8] The player must avoid rows of sharp spikes, falling into bottomless pits, being crushed by moving walls or platforms and drowning (which can be avoided by breathing air bubbles periodically released from vents).[9] Sonic's main attack is his spin, where he curls into a ball and rotates rapidly (damaging enemies and some obstacles). This can be performed by jumping in the air or rolling on the ground.[10]

See caption
Typical in-game screenshot: Green Hill Zone, on the game's first level

Scattered around each level map are gold rings,[11] and collecting 100 rings rewards the player with an extra life.[11] Rings are a layer of protection against hazards; if Sonic has at least one ring when he collides with an enemy (or obstacle), he will survive.[8] However, all his rings will be scattered; they will flicker and disappear in a few seconds if they are not picked up again. If Sonic is hit without any rings, he loses a life.[12] Although shields and temporary invincibility may be collected to provide additional protection, certain hazards (such as drowning, being crushed, falling down a bottomless pit or running out of time) will cost Sonic a life regardless of rings or other protection.[5]

The game is divided into six zones (Green Hill, Marble, Spring Yard, Labyrinth, Star Light, and Scrap Brain),[13] each with its own visual style and enemies. A player must navigate through each zone (subdivided into three acts)[5][9] to progress.

Gray screen, with blue-and-white circle
Shield power-up similar to that in the game

At the end of each zone's third act, the player confronts Dr. Robotnik (who pilots a different vehicle each time) in a boss fight.[11] After the sixth zone, the player continues directly to the Final Zone for a last encounter with Robotnik.[6] They begin with three lives (power-ups and rings add more), which are lost when Sonic collides with hazardous enemies (or objects) without rings, falls off-screen or exceeds an act's ten-minute time limit. Lampposts acting as checkpoints allow Sonic to return to the most-recently-activated post when he loses a life.[14] If he loses a life as a result of time running out but has another life, the timer will reset to 0:00 when he returns to the checkpoint.[6] If all lives are lost at any point in the game, the game over screen will appear[7] (when the player can return to the beginning of the act with three lives, if they have any continues).[6]

When Sonic reaches the end of act one or act two of a zone with at least fifty rings, a large ring appears through which he can jump[7] to enter a bonus stage (a "secret zone" in the original Genesis manual).[15] In each of six bonus levels, Sonic bounces off the bumpers and walls of a rotating maze in spin attack. Although the player earns a continue with each 50 rings found, their main goal is to obtain the Chaos Emerald at the end of the maze without colliding with a "goal block" (which ends the level).[7][9]

Development

Statue of Super Mario on a Nintendo sign
Mario and his game series were stiff competition for Sega, requiring a mascot character and a technically-impressive game.

In 1990 Sega ordered its in-house development studio, AM8, to develop a game featuring a mascot for the company; Sega president Hayao Nakayama wanted a character as iconic as Mickey Mouse. Sega had competition from Nintendo and its mascot, Mario, in mind; Nintendo was dominant at the time, particularly after the release of the successful Super Mario Bros. 3,[16] and Sega wanted a foothold in the industry.[5] Although the company had some success with Genesis ports of its arcade titles, it knew this would not be enough.[16] Sonic originated with a tech demo by Sonic Team head and programmer Yuji 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 Naoto Ohshima's character designs and levels by designer Hirokazu Yasuhara.[17] 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.[3][17]

AM8 developed ideas for characters, an engine and gameplay mechanics. Development emphasized speed, so AM8 eliminated character designs not associated with fast animals [5] (including kangaroos and squirrels). One idea, a rabbit able to grasp objects with prehensile ears, was too complex for the available hardware. The team narrowed its search to animals which can roll into a ball, their idea for an attacking move. Designers then realized that this would not seem aggressive enough, so they focused on two animals with spikes: armadillos and hedgehogs.[16] The hedgehog prevailed, although the armadillo would later become the basis for Mighty the Armadillo (who first appeared in 1993's SegaSonic the Hedgehog).[5] Sonic was originally lighter blue, and was changed to dark blue so he would stand out against certain backgrounds.[18] His spikes were emphasized to make him look sleeker, and he was given the ability to spin while jumping (so attacking and jumping could be controlled with one button).[19] The new character was originally named "Mr. Needlemouse", but the 15-member AM8 changed his name to "Sonic" and their studios to Sonic Team.[16] Naka, Oshima and Yasuhara worked 19 hours a day on the project for several months.[17]

In designing the game mechanics Naka was inspired by Shigeru Miyamoto, whose games he played as a child. 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. Due to the need to demonstrate the Genesis' technological prowess, the developing game underwent extensive testing and redesign (a process taking over six months). The developers' efforts were rewarded; according to Yuji Naka, the game had the fastest-ever character speed in a video game and a Secret Zone rotation effect considered impossible on the console.[20]

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".[21] 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".[21] The game was released in the United States on June 23, 1991. Sega of America packaged it with American Genesis consoles, replacing Altered Beast. Genesis owners who bought their consoles before the switch could request free copies of Sonic the Hedgehog by mail.[20]

Soundtrack

Untitled

The music for Sonic the Hedgehog was composed by Masato Nakamura of the J-pop band Dreams Come True. The game uses onboard Yamaha YM2612 and SN76489 programmable sound generators to produce a variety of stereo sound effects and music. It was originally intended to have a sound test menu with animations of Sonic breakdancing to the music of a "Sonic Band" of Sharps Chicken on guitar, Max Monkey on bass, Mach Rabbit on drums and Vector the Crocodile on keyboard. The playable Vector became a recurring character in the series, also appearing in Knuckles' Chaotix, Sonic Heroes[22] and Sonic Free Riders.[23] The development schedule scrapped the feature, and Yuji Naka replaced the test with the "Se-ga!" chant used in TV commercials (which reportedly used one-eighth of the memory of the four-megabit cartridge.[22]

On October 19, 2011, twenty years after the game's 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 Masato Nakamura's demo recordings and the third comprises songs by Dreams Come True and their Akon remixes.[24]

Disc 1
No.TitleLength
1."STH1 Green Hill Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:38
2."STH1 Marble Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:08
3."STH1 Spring Yard Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:10
4."STH1 Labyrinth Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:08
5."STH1 Star Light Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:26
6."STH1 Scrap Brain Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:36
7."STH1 Final Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:17
8."STH1 Special Stage 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:32
9."STH1 Power Up 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:58
10."STH1 1up 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:06
11."STH1 Title 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:11
12."STH1 All Clear 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:20
13."STH1 Stage Clear 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:09
14."STH1 Boss 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:23
15."STH1 Game Over 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:15
16."STH1 Continue 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:12
17."STH1 Staff Roll 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:03
18."STH2 Emerald Hill Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:26
19."STH2 Chemical Plant Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:10
20."STH2 Aquatic Ruin Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:40
21."STH2 Casino Night Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:18
22."STH2 Hill Top Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:51
23."STH2 Mystic Cave Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:07
24."STH2 Oil Ocean Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:55
25."STH2 Metropolis Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:49
26."STH2 Mystic Cave Zone (2P) 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:05
27."STH2 Casino Night Zone (2P) 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:55
28."STH2 Death Egg Zone (Part1) 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:10
29."STH2 Death Egg Zone (Part2) 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:18
30."STH2 Emerald Hill Zone (2P) 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:35
31."STH2 Sky Chase Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:38
32."STH2 Wing Fortress Zone 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:59
33."STH2 Special Stage 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:47
34."STH2 Power Up 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:54
35."STH2 Title 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:12
36."STH2 All Clear 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:16
37."STH2 Boss 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:14
38."STH2 Super Sonic 〜Mega Drive version〜"1:16
39."STH2 Option 〜Mega Drive version〜"0:42
40."STH2 Staff Roll 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:41
41."STH2 Game Results 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:19
42."STH2 Unused Song 〜Mega Drive version〜"2:02
Disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."STH1 Green Hill Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:37
2."STH1 Marble Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:14
3."STH1 Spring Yard Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:16
4."STH1 Labyrinth Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:08
5."STH1 Star Light Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:30
6."STH1 Scrap Brain Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:41
7."STH1 Final Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:24
8."STH1 Special Stage 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:32
9."STH1 1up 〜Masa's Demo version〜"0:07
10."STH1 Title 〜Masa's Demo version〜"0:12
11."STH1 All Clear 〜Masa's Demo version〜"0:24
12."STH1 Stage Clear 〜Masa's Demo version〜"0:11
13."STH1 Boss 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:29
14."STH1 Game Over 〜Masa's Demo version〜"0:22
15."STH1 Continue 〜Masa's Demo version〜"0:13
16."STH2 Emerald Hill Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:48
17."STH2 Chemical Plant Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:29
18."STH2 Aquatic Ruin Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:03
19."STH2 Casino Night Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:23
20."STH2 Hill Top Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:12
21."STH2 Mystic Cave Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:26
22."STH2 Oil Ocean Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:06
23."STH2 Metropolis Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:21
24."STH2 Mystic Cave Zone (2P) 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:02
25."STH2 Casino Night Zone (2P) 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:03
26."STH2 Death Egg Zone (Part1) 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:18
27."STH2 Death Egg Zone (Part2) 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:22
28."STH2 Emerald Hill Zone (2P) 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:45
29."STH2 Sky Chase Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:49
30."STH2 Wing Fortress Zone 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:08
31."STH2 Special Stage 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:04
32."STH2 All Clear 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:23
33."STH2 Boss 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:16
34."STH2 Super Sonic 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:21
35."STH2 Option 〜Masa's Demo version〜"0:40
36."STH2 Game Results 〜Masa's Demo version〜"2:19
37."STH2 Unused Song 〜Masa's Demo version〜"1:03
38."Theme of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Demo"0:34
Disc 3
No.TitleLength
1."Sweet Sweet Sweet"5:15
2."Sweet Dream"5:14
3."Sweet Sweet Sweet - 06 Akon Mix -"4:41
4."Sweet Dream - 06 Akon Mix -"4:16

Alternate versions and ports

8-bit version

Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit video game)

A version of Sonic the Hedgehog was developed by Ancient and released in 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, with different level themes and digital assets.[25] The level design is flatter, with no vertical loops, and Sonic cannot re-collect his rings after being hit.[26] The game has a different soundtrack, composed by chiptune musician Yuzo Koshiro and including his compositions and adaptations of music from the 16-bit version.[27] It was the final game released for the Master System in North America.[28] The Master System version was re-released for Wii's Virtual Console service in North America on August 4, 2008,[26] and in Europe on August 8.[29] The Game Gear version was re-released for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console on June 13, 2013,[30] and included as an unlockable game in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut for GameCube and Windows[31] and Sonic Mega Collection Plus for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Windows.[32]

Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis

A port, Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis, was released for the Game Boy Advance (GBA) on November 14, 2006 to mark the game's fifteenth anniversary. It included several new features, such as the ability to save game progress, a level select option and an Anniversary Mode with the Spin Dash move (not originally implemented until Sonic the Hedgehog 2). Its view is slightly zoomed-in, and adapted to the GBA's widescreen aspect ratio.[33] The game was poorly reviewed, with a Metacritic score of 33 percent;[34] the chief complaints concerned its poor conversion to the Game Boy Advance (resulting in a slow frame rate), its remixed music and poor preservation of the original gameplay.[35]

Compilation releases

See also: Compilations in the Sonic series

With its sequels for the Genesis, Sonic the Hedgehog has been ported for a wide range of home and handheld consoles and personal computers.[36] It has appeared in Sonic Compilation (1995) for the Genesis,[37] Sonic Jam (1997) for the Sega Saturn and Game.com,[38] Sonic Mega Collection (2002),[39] Sonic Mega Collection Plus (2004),[32] Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (2009) for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3,[40] and Sonic Classic Collection (2010) for the Nintendo DS.[36] Additionally, the game is an unlockable reward in the console versions of Sonic Generations.[41]

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,[5] and was released for the Xbox Live Arcade[42] and PlayStation Network shortly afterwards.[43] In 2007 the game was released for the iPod Classic, iPod video and video-capable iPod Nano models,[44] and was released for Apple's iOS service (compatible iPhone and iPod touch models) in April 2009.[45] Sonic the Hedgehog became available on GameTap in September 2009.[46] In October 2010, it was released as a Microsoft Windows download[47] which was ported to Steam.[48] The game was ported to two online app services (Google Play[49] and the Amazon Appstore) in December 2012.[50]A remastered mobile port, created using Christian Whitehead's Retro Engine previously used in the 2011 rerelease of Sonic CD, was released on iOS, replacing the original port, on May 15, 2013 with an Android version released the following day. The port features widescreen graphics, the ability to spin dash, a time attack mode and the unlockable option to play as Tails or Knuckles.[51] The game was also released in Japan as part of the Nintendo 3DS 3D Classics line in May 2013, and worldwide in December.[52]

Reception

Sonic the Hedgehog was critically praised at its release and in retrospective reviews, with an 86-percent approval rating at the review aggregator GameRankings.[53] The game rivaled the Mario series,[9][54] particularly Super Mario World (which was recently released for Genesis rival Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Paul Rand of Computer and Video Games compared the two in depth, declining to choose the better game and summarizing Sonic the Hedgehog as "faster, brighter and more colourful" and Super Mario World as having more "depth of play".[9]

Reviewers noted the game's 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 Genesis.[9] Reviewer Boogie Man of GamePro called the intricate backgrounds "eye-popping" and "gorgeous",[60] which was echoed by Mean Machines.[59] According to the Lessers (Hartley, Patricia and Kirk) of Dragon, "The graphics and animation in Sonic the Hedgehog make this a serious contender for the best video game of the year"[54] and GameZone called the animation "some of the smoothest and fastest ... ever seen".[61] The music and sound effects were also well received; Dragon called them "great",[54] and GameZone "amazing".[61] Rand noted "stacks of catchy tunes and jingles", calling some of the sound effects "absolutely brilliant".[9] Although Mean Machines called the songs "vaguely appealing", the game's sound effects were better appreciated.[59]

Critics cited the fast gameplay, unprecedented in platformers. GamePro's Boogie Man noted its "lightning-fast action"[60] and, according to Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), "If you thought the Enterprise was quick, wait till you see Sonic at warp speed."[55] The game's difficulty was disputed, described as "impossible" by Rand[9] and "average" by EGM.[55] Rand said about the gameplay in general that it "plays like a dream";[9] according to GameZone it would enchant players for hours,[61] and Boogie Man praised Sonic Team's ability to provide an engaging experience primarily from running and jumping.[60] Although EGM, Dragon and Paul of Mean Machines praised the level design (especially the hidden rooms),[54][55][59] Paul found losing all of one's rings frustrating.[59]

Sonic the Hedgehog has maintained its popularity, appearing on lists of the greatest video games of all time. Frank Provo of GameSpot described the game as "one of the best platformers of all time", noting that despite technical issues in the Game Boy Advance port "after all these years, the underlying graphics, audio, and gameplay still hold up".[35] Lucas M. Thomas of IGN agreed that it stood the test of time: "You'll be impressed by the clarity and color that come through [...] Few people realize how difficult it was to create Sonic's graphics engine, which allowed for the incredible rate of speed the game's known for. But the technical achievement impressed back in '91, and still does so today."[58] Mega ranked the game its third-favorite Genesis title,[62] and in 2001 Game Informer called it the 24th-greatest game of all time.[63] Sonic the Hedgehog has been a commercial success; the original Genesis version sold over 15 million copies by February 2009,[64] and the mobile version had eight million paid downloads by 2008.[65]

Legacy

Effect on the industry

Primarily because of its Genesis bundling, Sonic the Hedgehog contributed to the console's North American popularity.[16] During the 1991 holiday season the Genesis outsold the Super Nintendo by a two-to-one ratio, and at its January 1992 peak claimed 65 percent of the market for 16-bit consoles.[64] Although Nintendo eventually again overtook Sega, this was the first time since December 1985 that the company did not lead the console market.[66]

Sonic the Hedgehog added momentum-based physics to the standard platform formula. Setpieces and mechanics introduced by the game (such as loops, springs and acceleration pads) have appeared in other games and become associated with the Sonic series. Its combination of speed and platforming has been called influential, and a number of video game clones—generally platform games featuring cartoon mascots "with attitude"—were released after Sonic the Hedgehog (including Bubsy, Aero the Acrobat,[16] James Pond 3,[67] Ristar and Earthworm Jim).[68]

Sequels and other media

The game's success led Sega to develop an extensive media franchise. A 1992 sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, gave Sonic a best friend (and sidekick) named Tails and continued the fight against Dr. Robotnik. Sonic has generated dozens of additional games and a large cast of recurring characters (keeping Sonic and Robotnik as mainstays), surviving the end of Sega console manufacturing after the failed Dreamcast.[69] The series has ventured from platformers to fighting,[70] racing,[71] role-playing[72] and sports games,[73] and has expanded into anime[74] and manga,[75] cartoons[74] and comic books,[76] novels[77] and toys.[78] Sonic the Hedgehog has become one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time,[79] with over 150 million copies sold by May 2014.[80] Green Hill Zone has been re-purposed for other titles such as Sonic Generations[81] and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.[82]

References

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