Sonic The Hedgehog

Sonic The Hedgehog
a game by Sega, Ancient, and Aspect
Genres: Action, Adventure/RPG
Platforms: XBox 360, Sega GenesisGenesis, Playstation 3, Sega Master SystemSega Master System, GameGear
Editor Rating: 8.6/10, based on 24 reviews, 27 reviews are shown
User Rating: 7.4/10 - 63 votes
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See also: 2D Platformer Games, Side Scroller Games, Sonic Download, Retro Games, Top Grossing Games, Games Like Super Mario Bros.
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog

Life is a groove for Sonic the Hedgehog, until an evil scientist turns all of his animal buddies into weird mechanical monsters. Now, he's out to prove that although he may just be a little forest dweller, he's got a big heart. And he's about to put it on the line to save his pals.

Hedgehog Heaven

Sonic the Hedgehog is Sega's latest for the Genesis and it could well be the greatest. This is a gorgeous game with lightning-fast action. You'll need quick reflexes and quick thinking because Sonic is a quick little dude.

He's got to race across six humongous Zones each with three stages, all packed with thumb-blistering action and eye-popping graphics. Sonic the Hedgehog's multi-scrolling graphics are a knockout, easily the most impressive pix and animation in a Genesis game yet. The backgrounds in particular are fantastic. For example, the Marble Zone is filled with ancient stone ruins and the Star-Light Zone is an ultra-modem high rise structure. Although the misguided evil creatures are sharp-looking but standard visual stuff, Sonic is a cute little guy, who sports a treasure trove of facial expressions and body poses.

A Perilous Journey

You'll want to cross Sonic's world anyway you can, of course, but along the way you'll notice that some stages feature different levels of action. You can work your way straight across the land from wherever you begin. But you can also take high roads or low roads. Blaze a trail across the sky or drop down into the depths onto mountain ledges or underwater passages.

The evil scientist has strewn all sorts of obstacles across Sonic's path. He must make death-defying leaps across spike-laden chasms, race across crumbling land bridges, and hop onto moving platforms. Dead ends and deadly things are everywhere.

ProTip: At the very beginning of the Labyrinth Zone, Stage 1 you can skip some obstacles by jumping up out of the screen into the hidden level You can't see Sonic but the screen will scroll by.

Sonic takes on an army of bionic creatures including motorized bugs, mechanical wasps, metallic crabs, and scaly scorpions. Of course, these bionic beasts are really Sonic's transformed friends, but they're hedgehog headhunters until you jump on them. Beat a boss and you might release a bunch of buddies.

Take out the hovercraft dude in the Green Hill Zone, Stage 3 by standing under the floating hunk of land on the left side and then jumping onto to him after his pendulum passes by you.

Speed Bumps

No Genesis game squeezes more fun out of just running and jumping than Sonic. The hedgehog's weapons are his body spikes, which he uses by rolling into a ball and slamming into his adversaries. Of course, they don't die; they just turn into cute little bunny rabbits and things that hop away happily once they're freed.

  • You can't jump on top of the spiked crabs in the Marble Zone. Try to jump up into them from below.

  • If you run into mountain walls with enough speed, you can blast them apart.

You, however, really take your lumps, but there's protection all around you. There's a king's ransom in Gold Rings floating in the air just waiting for you to grab them. They protect you, and they build up towards extra lives. However, even though your rings prevent you from losing a life when you get hit, you lose all your rings. The evil dude has also carelessly left behind computer terminals that hold special powerups. Break them open to find 1-Ups, temporary shields, Gold Rings, and super speed.

  • You can take hits as long as you have at least one ring in your possession.

  • When a creature forces you to drop rings, try to grab at least one while they bounce around. You need the protection.

  • To get the 1-Up from the computer at the very beginning of the Star Light Zone, Stage 1, that's blocked by the split platforms. Run down the ramps and jump across the drop off. Now, turn around and run back up the ramps to find the computer unblocked.

Even without a power-up, Sonic's the fastest creature on two legs that the Genesis has ever seen. In fact, sometimes he's just a blur, and you may find yourself in a hidden level or another section of the game without ever knowing how you got there.

Sonic's so fast he can run past death-dealing blasts such as fireballs or bug blasts, but they hurt him if he stops and they catch up to him.

That's another fun aspect of the game. Sonic's world is full of unseen surprises including secret doors, invisible levels, and hidden powerups. You'll replay levels or the entire game just to find all the things you missed.

You also get a special bonus stage that must be seen to be believed! Sonic's caught in a huge floating maze that rotates around the screen. The psychedelic backgrounds here are awesome!

Super Sonic

Sonic the Hedgehog is a class act all the way. It shows what determined programmers, artists, and game designers can do when they really set out to produce a winner. Don't hedge your bets on Sonic the Hedgehog!

Download Sonic The Hedgehog

XBox 360

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Genesis

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • Game modes: Single game mode

Player controls:

  • Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
  • Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
  • "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
  • "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
  • "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)

Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.

Playstation 3

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Sega Master System

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
GameGear

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

What more can be said about Sonic the Hedgehog? He is truly one of the biggest video game icons of all time and today I am taking a trip down memory lane as I look at his very first game. A game that right off the bat I have to say still is fantastic to play to this day. So put on your sneakers and get ready to run fast as we take a look at where it all started.

White Streak Flies By

When the original Sonic the Hedgehog was released it set the tone for what the series would be about for the rest of time! That is Sonic trying to stop the crazy Dr. Robotnik (or Eggman if you prefer) from using the Chaos Emeralds and enslaving a bunch of little animals. Not much has changed over the years, but the story back then and even now is more than enough to get you invested and want to help Sonic save the day.

Stay Out Of My Zone

The first game featured a ton of zones for you to play in and each one has three acts with a boss battle in the third act. What was cool about this over Sonic 2 was that this actually made each zone longer! I really like the variety in the zones as well. The lush Green Hill Zone, the mysterious Marble Zone, and my personal favorite, Labyrinthine Zone are just so much fun to play. Each zone is filled with secret areas that can have a power-up or an extra life so there is a bit of exploration here as well as the need for speed.

So Simple, But Fun

The core gameplay of Sonic the Hedgehog has aged like a fine wine. In this first game, you only have the ability to run fast and when you press down you can spin attack into enemies or crash through walls. Sonic can also jump on enemies and when it comes to power-ups you only have a shield, shoes that make you run faster, and an invincibility power-up. It is very simple, but it is also a lot of fun.

While Sonic is all about speed, I like how some levels such as Green Hill Zone are designed with you flying through them in mind. Others are designed with having Sonic slow things down a tad. There is a special stage if you can get 50 rings and this is where you can earn your Chaos Emeralds. Some of these are super tough and it can be a tad frustrating.

The Blue Dude With Attitude

Even after 30 years, the original game looks great. It moves at a blistering pace and I love the creative enemy designs. Each Zone has its own personality and this is amplified with a tremendous soundtrack that features some songs that are still used to this day. I really do think that this game holds up as a great looking game with an awesome soundtrack.

I do not see how anyone could not like the original Sonic the Hedgehog. It is one of the most important video games of all time and the best thing about it is that it is one of those classic games that when you go back and play it, it is just as much fun now as it was all the way back then. I have a hard time thinking that if you are a gamer you have not played the original Sonic, but if you have not…. what are you waiting for? Go and do it now!

9

Final Score

Pros:

  • Sonic is one cool dude!
  • The game is a ton of fun to play
  • I love the soundtrack
  • Each Zone has a ton of imagination
  • The gameplay is simple, but very fun

Cons:

  • It really did set the bar high for the rest of the series
  • Some of the later special stages can be rather frustrating

By naming Sonic's next-gen debut simply Sonic the Hedgehog. Sega hopes to reboot the franchise and reintroduce gamers to the titular 'hog. But if he's still so popular, is that really necessary? Hell yes. Although recent offerings such as Sonic Heroes and Shadow the Hedgehog have been a hit with the grade-school crowd, many of the hedgehog's older fans gravitated away from these overly cutesy, slower-paced duds.

Despite all of Sega's talk about reinvention, this PS3/XB360 outing actually feels an awful lot like a gussied-up retread of Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast). That's not necessarily a bad thing, though here, you guide a slightly older, more athletic Sonic through a grandiose quest to save Princess Elise from the clutches of series nemesis Dr. Robotnik. In fact, the game's weighty story line (told via gorgeous, Final Fantasy-quality CG cut-scenes) even hints at a possible romance between Sonic and this human female. Wow, Sonic really has grown up., and gotten kind of freaky, too.

The majority of Sonics stages play out just as they have in all of his 3D adventures: lots of running, jumping, bouncing from foe to foe, and, unfortunately, careening to your death due to the deadly combination of breakneck speed and iffy camera angles. Some things never change, eh?

Fortunately, it's not all about falling off edges. Just as in Sonic Adventure, you often take a breather from platforming to explore residential areas. This time, you can talk to townsfolk, take on optional quests, play minigames (tag, races, and quizzes), and gather power-ups and new s moves. Plus, this Sonic introduces an all-, new (and surprisingly fun) level type so-called Speed Stages where Sonic shifts into high gear for absurdly fast dodging, jumping, and attacking. Despite being remarkably simple and straightforward, these new areas reduce the Sonic experience to its purest, twitchiest core (much like Super Mario Sunshine's tricky platforming minilevels).

And although you might expect this to be a back-to-basics all-Sonic affair, he's not the only hedgehog you'll be controlling. Bad-seed antihero Shadow returns with new moves, new motivations, and (regrettably) more of the clumsy gunplay .and lame vehicles that plagued his recent solo outing. Newcomer Silver the Hedgehog seems far more promising this mysterious freak levitates through levels, telekinetically tossing giant boulders at foes. Since Shadow and Silver play through the same stages as Sonic, you'll have to use their unique abilities to find alternate paths to victory.

SONIC NIP/TUCK

What;s Sonic's dirty little secret? Like many celebs, he's had a little work done With the public scrutinizing his every move, can you really blame him? Take on look at how he appeared when he first hit the scene in 1991 fresh-faced, stubby-legged, and a little thick around the middle. By the late '90s, he was sporting new look, with thicker quills, longer legs, green contacts, and an even sassier tude. These days, he's looking even taller and thinner, and he's even got a different quill coif.

A great game.I have for my SEGA Genesis,but I don't use it much.

Debug Mode:Up,C,Down,C,Left,C,Right,C.

Controls:A-Select Object B-Switch Between Debug Mode And Play Mode C-Place Item

The game features no game saves or passwords. This means that the game has to be restarted from the beginning when the player runs out of continues or turns off the system. However, a cheat exists that allows the selection of any level.

Sonic the Hedgehog is great on the Genesis, but now he's portable. Sonic for your Game Gear includes all of the original levels, plus some new ones thrown in to make it more challenging! Gather rings and power ups on your quest to defeat the evil Dr. Robotnik, and free your captured forest buddies! Journey through a lush jungle, a bridge zone, and even a warship! Sonic for Game Gear is a game to look for!

People say:

7.0

This is probably one of the best Game Gear games to date. It is very similar to the 8-Bit version of Sonic which is very similar to the 16-Bit version of Sonic. But many Sonic fans may find the new dangers and overall adventures a refreshing change of pace and a welcome semisequel to the Genesis original.

9.0

Game gear cartridges don't come any better! Sonic for the 8 bit is every bit as much fun as it's big brother. The levels are challenging and if you thought Sonic moved fast on the Genesis, wait till you see him on the GG! One item of special note...listen to the 'Sega' intro. The voice is better than most Genesis carts!

7.0

Sonic is the best Game Gear game that I've ever seen. The graphics are spectacular with vivid colors and great anima-tion.The sounds are equally impressive and they've even kept the "SEGA" voice at the intro. The game play is excellent and there are many improvements and game play techniques.

9.0

This is an awesome translation to the 8-bit Sega machine! It would appear this will go the same road as Castle of Illusion, adding new levels and challenges to the original 16-bit smash! Even if you own the 16-bit version, I recommend the 8-bit wonder wholeheartedly! I can't wait to see an 8-bit ToeJam & Earl!

The heat is definitely turning up as Sonic, the super mega-star hedgehog, revs up his engines for a new appearance in the 8-Meg sequel to our 1991 Video Game of the Year! As soon as new levels and other exciting features are added, we will keep you posted! For right now, we've collected our latest updates to give you this report on the next Sonic boom!

As stated before, Robotnik is back to prepare his ultimate battle fortress, the Death Egg, for the destruction of Sonic's home world! This time our blue wonder is out to stop him for good, and to help out he's brought along his young side-kick Sonic-wanna-be, Tails.

In addition to the fancy corkscrew road and the pictures shown previously, here are more pix of the later levels that will totally blow your mind!

You're a hedgehog with a mission, a super hero capable of performing incredible feats! Become the one and only Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega's latest character creation who's out to deliver some of the brightest, boldest most exciting action you'll ever see on the Genesis (or any game system for that matter)! Sonic also fills the void of quality action titles that the Genesis has been in need of.

You must explore six levels of play, each with three huge stages filled to the brim with action, animation and total challenge. Destined to become one of the hottest games ever, Sonic the Hedgehog rips into the Genesis and pulls out everything you can think of, even rotation! More Super Sonic action to follow...

Coming soon from Sega is this exciting new action/adventure game featuring one of the most unusual video game super heroes to appear on the screen in some time!

In Sonic Hedgehog, you control a super rodent on a mission to defeat the evil creatures that have populated your home. I don't get the hedgehog connection, but the game is fast, fun and colorful and due for release next year.

Sonic junkies who hunger for a new Game Gear fix will rejoice at this latest release-it's a delightful variation on the classic hop-n-bop romp. But don't expect anything astonishingly new, or you'll start feeling a little blue yourself.

Our Hen

Robotnik's out to destroy the world by building a powerful weapon with the Chaos Emeralds, and this time he's bamboozled Knuckles into helping him. A treasure hunter, Nack the Weasel, also shows up, and the only loot on his mind is sparkly and green.

With all that competition and the usual pack of robotic nuisances, Sonic and Tails have their work cut out for them. Players choose either the speedy hedgehog or the flighty fox and tackle six standard Zones-forests, underwater factories, snowy mountains, and such-that each end with a boss. If you collect enough Rings and the right Monitor, you can try your hand at collecting an Emerald from the Special Stages.

Oddly, the game just isn't as challenging as previous Sonic adventures. Fewer enemies than usual populate the Zones, and the mazes, Special Stages, and bosses won't slow down advanced gamers at all.

That Sequel Feeling?

Despite the familiar feel, this cart isn't completely lost in the sequel doldrums. Even the most hardened gamer will crack a smile after taking off in Tails's new submarine or Sonic's Rocket Shoes. Beautiful, bright graphics light up each Zone, and the crisp details won't leave you squinting.

Energetic sound effects, like the crunch of your snowboard shredding through the snow, intensify the action. The tinny music often bogs down the sound effects, but at least you can tune it out.

You'll feel right at home behind the familiar controls. Even the new power-ups-the sub and the jet-powered skateboard, for instance-handle so smoothly that they'll feel instantly comfortable. Sadly, the slowdown that rears its ugly head on busy screens will drive you crazy. There's nothing worse than losing a life because slowdown turned your perfectly timed jump into an untimely demise.

Still the Real Thing

If you're an avid Sonic fan, these flaws won't prevent you from thoroughly enjoying this game. And even if you're getting tired of the blue guy, this cart's worth a quick rental-there's enough for a fun-filled weekend.

ProTips:

  • To reach a "Ring paradise" in Act 2 of the Sunset Parte Zone, climb up as tar as possible after the roller-coaster ride that begins the Act Head right and fall through the first exploding bridge into an area filled with nearly 200 Rings.
  • Disappearing down Into these snow drifts In the Robot-nlk Winter Zone is often fatal, but sometimes you'll discover a hidden room or new path.
  • In Act 2 of the Great Turquoise Zone, stick to the lowest possible path to reach this Emerald Monitor. You'll have to bust through some hidden walls to find it, but If you land on It with 50 Rings, you'll vault into one of the game's Special Stages.

The fastest video game character to hit the Genesis and the Master System is now the most portable video character, too. Why? 'Cause the Spiked Wonder's at it again in another high speed multilevel adventure, this time on the Game Gear. Our speedy little friend is once again playing do-gooder by zipping up, over, and sometimes through traps and mazes collecting scores of magical rings in his quest to free the jungle beasts. Get speedy with portable Sonic.

  • Manufacturer: Sega
  • Machine: Genesis

It's Started. Sonic The Hedgehog Is Out. And No One Can Stop Him.

Think fast. C'mon faster. What happens when a not-so-common hedgehog reaches supersonic speeds? A Sonic boom, of course. And you'd better get ready for it. Because here comes Sonic The Hedgehog. He's the fastest critter the world has ever seen, and he's a hedgehog with a major attitude.

Watch him smirk in the face of danger as he blazes his way through hilly pastures, underwater caverns, marble ruins, strange cities and a cybernetic world of enemies in a race to save his buddies.

Sonic's got everything a hedgehog could ever want: tricks, gadgets and speed. Lots of speed. And he's not afraid to use it. Just try to keep up as he gives the bad guys the run-around with his infamous ultra-sonic spin attack. There's never been anything like it.

So don't blink or you just might miss Sonic The Hedgehog. He's fresh, he's on Genesis, and he's here. Well uh, at least he was here.

You've read it in our previous articles, so now here's the rest of the scoop on this phenomenal title! Get ready for some truly intense levels that are twice as long as those in Sonic the Hedgehog 2! There are a whopping 70 levels when you take the time travel levels into consideration. Cinemas at the beginning and end of the game tell the whole story in graphic detail.

Sonic's back and better than ever on CD!

Quartz Quadrant Zone

Plenty of beautiful backdrops line this cave system. There are conveyor belts that can change directions at your command, as well as plenty of tubes that lead left, right, up, down, sideways, counter clockwise up leftward, and everywhere else! Use the conveyor under the Boss to melt its base. Once you give Robotnik the hotfoot, then it's on to bigger and worse things!

Wacky Workbench Zone

Enter a gigantic garage filled with energy coils that will shock you to death! There are also freezer jets embedded on the bottom of some walls that will turn you into a block of ice! To also add to the fun, there is a weird floor that repels objects off of it, essentially sending you flying to the ceiling, where the whole mess of energy coils and enemies lie! Ouch!

Stardust Speedway Zone

Definitely one of the most bizarre levels in the game. The motif behind this one is of a giant brass wind instrument. Be aware of the many hundreds of tubes scattered about the level, along with rocket powered gun-like things that send you flying! Expect to go faster than you ever have before in any other Sonic game ever! This is truly one level that can give you motion sickness!

Metallic Madness Zone

Enter the final zone, where cylinders rise and fall, ready to crunch you - all the badnicks have weapons and all kinds of other defenses! Spikes are lined up all over the place. Also, turbo tubes are in the walls so that you have no idea where to go! Also watch out for the laser that can zap you down into an itsy-bitsy little Sonic that can fit in small crevices and many other places!

  • Manufacturer: Sega
  • Machine: Sega CD
  • Theme: Action
  • Release: 1993
  • No. of Levels: 70+

People say:

9

Excellent, Excellent Excellent! This CD has got to be the best version of Sonic to date! All the control is here, the glitches that plagued the second one are gone, and having 70+ levels to traverse make this really incredible! Also, the ability to time travel adds wonders to this game - as with changing the future! The bonus stages are cool, but a bit choppy, plus the Bosses are a bit weak, but it still is incredible!

9

This game is a ball! Sega CD owners finally have a good game to look for. There are tons of levels with cool effects, and the ability to travel into the past and future adds even more to an already great game. The music is what really draws me to the game. It's a mix of techno in the future and more laid back in the past. The cinemas are cool, but you'd expect those in a CD game. Game of the Year? Maybe!

8

Don't believe the hype. Sonic's a cool dude, but there really isn't anything new in his premier onto the CD scene. The graphics are pretty much the same and there isn't a lot here that couldn't be done on a cart. The bonus rounds are very cool and the music and sounds are extremely high quality. The cartoon-like intros and endings are an added bonus, but there's just not enough originality here to break new ground.

8

WOW! We're talking BIG levels here with the little blue blur travelling through time zones! Oh, yes, big ring - time to go to the Bonus Stage - YUCK! I've warped into the choppiness of Awesome Possum! Other than this uncharacteristically choppy Bonus Stage (what happened?), Sonic CS is a top-notch game with (as expected) absolutely knockout graphics and atmospheric sound! Yet, some may find it too easy.

  • Machine: Genesis;
  • Manufacturer:Sega of America

Dr. Robotnik's up to his evil tricks again! His latest invention, the volcanic Veg-O Fortress, has enslaved thousands of helpless forest creatures and turned a once beautiful island into a toxic waste zone! Using Sonic's patented Super Spin Attack, penetrate the Pinball Defense System that protects the Veg-0 Fortress, destroy the rotten Robotnik, and save the day! Five phenomenal rounds of flipper-flappin' action, plus cool tunes and spinsational animations bring Sonic to life in the most awesome pinball machine ever!

Spintacular Action!

Bounce the supersonic hedgehog over toxic pools of ooze and boiling pits of lava - truly, hot graphics! Save the animal kingdom and live to tell about it!

The Toxic Caves

Sonic must retrieve three Chaos Emeralds from the caves to advance to the next round. Check out these spinsational tips and clean up Robotnik's mess.

Bag a Worm

Robotnik has trapped one of the Emeralds in a toxic vat; Sonic must drain the slime from the vat before he can get the Emerald.

The Mine Car

The mine car will take Sonic to the other two Emerald chambers, but before Sonic can retrieve them the side gates must be open!

It's Started. Sonic The Hedgehog Is Out. And No One Can Stop Him.

Think fast. C'mon faster. What happens when a not-so-common hedgehog reaches supersonic speeds? A Sonic boom, of course. And you'd better get ready for it. Because here comes Sonic The Hedgehog. He's the fastest critter the world has ever seen, and he's a hedgehog with a major attitude.

Watch him smirk in the face of danger as he blazes his way through hilly pastures, underwater caverns, marble ruins, strange cities and a cybernetic world of enemies in a race to save his buddies.

Sonic's got everything a hedgehog could ever want: tricks, gadgets and speed. Lots of speed. And he's not afraid to use it. Just try to keep up as he gives the bad guys the run-around with his infamous ultra-sonic spin attack. There's never been anything like it.

So don't blink or you just might miss Sonic The Hedgehog. He's fresh, he's on Genesis, and he's here. Well uh, at least he was here.

  • Manufacturer: Sega
  • Machine: Genesis
  • Type: Action
  • No. of Levels: 6
  • Release: July 1991
  • Difficulty: Average

You're a hedgehog with a mission, a super hero capable of performing incredible feats! Become the one and only Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega's latest character creation who's out to deliver some of the brightest, boldest, and most exciting action you'll ever see on the Genesis! Explore six levels of play, each with three huge stages filled to the brim with action, animation and total challenge!!

People say:

9

Definitely, without a doubt, positively the most incredible action game ever created for the Genesis! Incredible speed, plenty of technique and more than enough await our supersonic hero as he collects rings and discovers hidden rooms. Excellent, excellent, excellent!

9

Sonic is the best game ever to come to the Genesis. It is challenging but never to the point of frustration. Sonic's speed is second to none and the best part is when he turns into a pinball. Lots of secret rooms to keep you searching while progressing through the game. Spectacular!

9

The Genesis has been hit by a sonic boom. He faster than anything you've ever seen. If you thought the Enterprise was quick, wait till you see Sonic at warp speed. This game is absolutely unbelievable! If you don't buy it it's because you don't have a Genesis.. .yet.

9

Super Sonic, Super Sonic... Sonic is Super all right! The Genesis shouldn't be able to put Nintendo's 16-banger to shame so early in the contest. Nothing compares to Sonic in every category: music, graphics, animation, theme, and control! To top it all off, Sonic even has an attitude!!

That hedgehog with an attitude has now gone handheld gaming and makes a frenzy out of himself on the Game Gear. Collect rings and run through intricate worlds where Dr. Robotnic has turned your friends into robots! Free your friends and beat the evil doctor before it is too late!

  • Theme: Action
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Players: 1
  • Available: Autumn 1991

He's Super Sonic!

The most famous hedgehog in the world is about to be blown away as the U.S. National Video Game Team gives you tips and strategies to help you play your best. Take a look at these awesome maps that when combined with our special techniques you'll send your Sonic scores into the stratosphere.

Green Hill Zone Act. 2

In this level, get all of the rings up to point 1. Use a light tap and jump to the left of the spikes to find the secret room. Break through the wall to the right and stay on the lower part of the level. When you get to the red springboard, use it to get you on top of the loop and collect the 1-UP. Collect 100 rings without touching the lamp posts and then die.

Green Hill Zone Act. 3

The 1-UP loop in this level is a bit more complex than before. First collect the 1-UP on top of the loop at the beginning of the stage, then collect about 50 rings before doing the next step of the trick. Once you have 50 rings or more run to the location shown in point 2. Bust through to find the secret tunnel that will take you below the level. When you get to the yellow spring board, jump over the spikes to find a secret room with 50 rings and another 1-UP. Die and repeat this to max out your lives.

Boss 1

Before going against the first boss, run and jump through the top of the tree right before the bridge. Just jump into the boss eight times to send him running. Now rescue your animal friends from the demented Dr. Robotnik.

Marble Zone Act. 3

There is a secret shortcut with a 1-UP. When you get to the falling spikes jump into the wall to the right. If you want to get a 1-UP loop on this level you must collect all of the rings by going back to the right. There are only 102 rings on this level.

Marble Zone Act. 2

There are two secret rooms in this level. One of the rooms has a 1-UP and twenty rings and is kind of difficult to get to. When you get to point 1, jump into the wall to find the secret passage to the room with the 1-UP and the rings. The other secret room is towards the end the of the level. If you are running low on extra lives, this is good opportunity to max them out. Just get the 1-UP and collect 100 rings without touching any of the lamp posts. Then die and repeat to keep building up your lives

Boss 2

Try to keep your shield when fighting the end boss of the level. All you have to do is jump at him when he flies towards you and jump to the other side when he shoots his fire bombs. Only eight hits and he's finished.

  • Levels: 18
  • Theme: Action
  • Players: 1
  • Difficulty: Easy

Sega's latest hero is none other than a Hedgehog! This guy has the fastest feet ever seen on a video game! His goal - save his friends who have been kidnapped by the evil Dr. Robotnic.

The cute little hog is coming this summer to the Genesis. It's a quest/adventure loaded with hidden items, power-ups and surprises. Great 16 bit rotation too! Look for more in May!

What's a hedgehog to do? Dr. Robotnik never gives up, and now he's committed the ultimate crime -- at least as far as Sonic is concerned. With a little help from metal Sonic (a nefarious henchbot), the mad doctor has hedgehog-napped Sonic's gal, Princess Sally, and taken control of the Little Planet. If Sonic doesn't rescue the Time Stones and free the Little Planet from Robotnik's sinister clutches, the doctor will finally conquer the world. Of course, Sonic's more than happy to save the day, and in his latest adventure (Sonic's first on disc) he makes saving the day an adventure well worth having.

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Sonic CD is packed with the speedy, super-Sonic style of game play that fans of the wonderhog love. Just as in Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog 2, each of the seven Zones has three huge Acts. As usual, Sonic can ricochet through several paths in each Act, as well as head backwards and forwards and any which way he likes.

ProTip: To defeat the Palm Tree Panic incarnation of Robotnik, wait until he steps back and retracts his arms. Then, bounce on him to knock his arms off. Once his arms are gone, bounce on his stomach and he'll be done for.

Speedmeisters can concentrate on zipping straight to the end of each Act, or explore the usual tons of hidden rooms and secret passages 'til they get a hole in the soles of their red tennies. Altogether, this adds up to hours of fun gaming, since there's something new to find every time you play. To spice up the action even further, Sonic's gotta do a little time travelin' to beat the game and see the real ending. His Hedgehogness searches each Act for signs that say Past or Future on them. Once he's found one, all he must do is pick up some super speed to warp through time. In the Past, Sonic finds objects to destroy to make the Future safe.

Just for kicks, there's a Time Attack Mode. This competitive mode enables you to send Sonic through any Zone, trying to beat the clock or your own best scores.

  • To reach the Past, simply search for one of these signs, and then turn it. Next, search for a place to get movin' really fast, and in a snap Sonic's heading through time.
  • In the Collision Chaos Zone, search for spots where Sonic can ricochet into the pinball machines shown on the screen. If he lands in the center slot, he can quickly rack up points.

Who's the Boss?

In all of the time eras, Sonic's got to match spines against Robotnik's best. Overall, this adventure's mechanical menaces are more aggressive and much larger than in past Sonic sagas. Since Sonic picks up so much speed, avoiding head-on collisions with the Robotnik Robots is tricky. You'll go so fast that you'll never know what hit you.

In the Boss Acts, the Robotnik Robots are much larger than in past adventures, but they're no more difficult to beat. In this game, the Boss Acts are more like regular Acts, longer and with more action. In some Acts, Sonic even has to chase down Robotnik before he actually fights him.

If Sonic completes an Act with 50 Rings, he can jump in this large Ring to enter the Special Stage. Remember, though, if he doesn't jump in the large Ring, he doesn't go to the Special Stage.

Give Me a Ring

Rings are just as important as ever in Sonic CD. Sonic, of course, collects them everywhere he goes. They protect him from damage, gain him 1 -ups, and also earn him passage into special stages. In addition, the standard set of power-up Monitors, including 10-Ring, Power Sneakers, Invincibility, Shields, and 1-ups, are hidden throughout each Zone. In the special stages, Sonic races against time in an entertaining and very challenging F-Zero-style obstacle course. He's got to track down UFOs and peg them for additional power-ups. If he manages to destroy all the UFOs, Sonic earns a Time Stone. He'll see a different ending if he beats the game with all the Time Stones in paw.

Sega didn't hedge at all in giving the crafty hog all of his traditional speedy moves and attacks, including his usual Spin Dash. Plus, they've added an upright turbo move called the Super Peel Out! The little critter's as easy to control as ever, although the Spin Dash takes a little adjustment since the button pressing is slightly different from the other Sonic games. Although you'll notice slight slowdown when there are tons of Rings on-screen, it doesn't mar the action. Load time is so quick that there's barely a pause between levels.

The CD version of the game isn't any more difficult than the other Sonic adventures. As usual, the game features several levels of play. You can rocket straight through the game, or you can find all of its secrets, collect the Time Stones, and see the real endings.

  • In the Special Stage, Sonic has to watch out for the Chopper Blocks. They'll make him trip and fall. On the other hand, he can use Spring Blocks to vault across the playing field. The worst thing for him to do is run into the water. Sonic loses 10 seconds each time this happens.
  • As in his other adventures, Sonic can bust through blocks to reach hidden rooms and other secret areas.

Sonic Boom

Sonic's graphics are all you'd expect and more. Each of the Zones is new, with the kind of innovative obstacles that make you enjoy exploring each one. Sonic's sprite is a little larger, with additional detailing and a nice twist as he leaps off buttons and into the air. Overall, the graphics are brilliantly colorful, with more dimension than those found in the previous adventures. When Sonic travels to the Past or the Future, the layout remains the same, but the backgrounds and scenery change appropriately. Different parts of the game simulate rotation and scaling extremely well, especially the new large Loop- the-Loop and the Special Stages.

  • Sonic's still a mammal and mammals can't breathe under water. During the Tidal Tempest Zone, keep an eye out for bubbles. Every time you see them, stop and have Sonic take a breath.

This disc's tunes are new and jazzy, with different theme songs for each Zone. In an original touch, the music shifts when Sonic travels through time. When he travels to the Past, the theme song takes on a more primitive sound. When Sonic warps to the Future, the same tune becomes high-tech and futuristic sounding. There are good, solid bounces, boings, and other mechanical sound effects to enhance the action, plus some minimal digitized voice during the game. Best of all, it's all in Q-Sound. Set up speakers or slap on headphones for the ultimate Sonic sound experience.

Just for fun, there's an amusing Sonic cartoon to watch at the beginning of the game. Sonic struts his stuff, accompanied by a Sonic theme song of sorts. Although it doesn't figure into the game, it's a fun way to show what the Sega CD can (and can't) do in the way of full-motion video.

  • Just like always, 100 Rings equals a 1-up for Sonic.
  • The gray buttons in the Tidal Tempest Zone often open walls that are blocking doors to secret rooms with power-up Monitors inside. They also turn fans and water currents on and off.
  • To defeat the boss in the Tidal Tempest Zone, you've got to pop his protective shield of bubbles. Dodge the bombs he throws, then leap to pop the bubbles. Once you've created a gap in Robotnik's Shield, it only takes one direct hit to destroy him.
  • In the second Act of the Quartz Quadrant Zone, you'll find a 1-up above and to the right, starting from the beginning of the Act.
  • Here's an old Sonic standby: Always, always, always keep at least one Ring on hand. If you do, you'll rarely lose a life.
  • To defeat the Quartz Quadrant Boss, don't attack him at all! Simply dodge the bombs he drops until Robotnik gives up and runs away.
  • Take time to destroy the mechanical robots whenever you encounter them. Once they're gone, they're gone. If you don't destroy them, you'll inevitably encounter them again, usually the hard way.
  • Watch out for the Electric Coils in the Wacky Workbench Zone. When they're fired up, they'll zap Sonic.
  • To make use of this new contraption in the Wacky Workbench Zone, Sonic has to jump from one side of it to the other. It'll keep going up as long as Sonic keeps jumping.

Super Sonic

What can you say? Just when you thought Sega had done it to death with Sonic, they came up with another game that's gonna make you wanna lace up those high tops and go after Robotnik one more time. This one's everything you've come to expect from Sonic -- super speed, super game play, super original, super fun, and now a super CD!

Watch out for the Freeze Beam in the Wacky Workbench Zone. If it zaps Sonic, it'll send him crashing to the ground and he loses whatever Rings he has.

He's not the most conspicuous superhero, after all he's just a tiny hedgehog. Don't be fooled by that mild mannered exterior, though, 'cause this little fellow's pretty quick on his feet. In fact, he's the fastest video game character in the world! Sonic the Hedgehog's his name and destroying evil at Mach speed is his game. Join this spiny fellow as he embarks on a crazy journey over land and under sea, in search of evil-doing creatures such as Insectoids and Ghoulies. And, just how does he destroy these nasty critters? With his speed, of course. By zipping up circular ramps, Sonic catches air and goes into a 360 degree horizontal spin, picking off enemies like a tiny buzz saw. You'll get stuck (ouch!) on Sonic.

Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game developed in Japan by SEGA, and published for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Sonic is the first game in the series and was developed by Sonic Team. It was released in 1991 in North America and Japan.

Sonic is a blue hedgehog living on South Island with his friends. He has to encounter Doctor Ivo Robotnik, or Dr. Eggman in the Japanese version. The villain seeks to obtain Chaos Emeralds so that he can take over the world. Sonic pursues him and tries to stop him from his evil plans and after he manages, he returns on the island to his normal life.

The player has six levels to pass, and the game is split in three Acts. At the end of the game, Sonic has to encounter Dr. Robotnik in one of his vehicles. Sonic has lots of skills and the game focuses on his abilities, such as springing, sloping and others. Sonic must avoid different animals trapped inside mechanical bodies.

Sonic can also collect 100 rings throughout the game to get an extra life. The rings act as a layer of protection against hazards. Lamp posts act as checkpoints in the game. In the Japanese version, if a checkpoint is reached, the time will reset to 0:00 if the player lost a life as a result of running out of time.

Sonic can also reach a special stage, if he has 50 rings by the end of Act 1 and Act 2. The act is a 360° rotating maze. Sonic bounces off the bumpers and walls like a pinball, and needs to obtain Chaos Emeralds.

The development process of the game started in April 1990, when Sega ordered its AM-8 team. Their task was to develop a game featuring a mascot for the company. The small group, consisting of only five people, changed the name to Sonic Team after choosing the hedgehog as the mascot. The game was released for many platforms, including computer, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 3 and Xbox360.

Sonic the Hedgehog was a very popular game and was followed up by some other releases in the next years. However, the first release was not as good as the second and third, and was mostly criticized for its poor graphics and sound. The gameplay was not very interesting either, and was considered easy by critics and press.

Still, the game sold 15 millions of copies all over the world and helped SEGA gain 65% of the market share against Nintendo at that time. Though the critics were a bit tough on the game, many players all over the world loved the game and rated it with 5 out of 5 stars.

The most popular new kid...er...hog on the block this year is Sonic. More than a few gamers have seen fit to hedge their bets with the Genesis version of this smoking title. Now SMS gamers are going to get their shot at the whole hog.

The name of the game's the same, and so is the story line. Sonic's a happy-go-lucky forest dude with an attitude until an evil scientist, Dr. Robotnik, turns all of Sonic's animal buddies into mechanical monsters. Now Sonic's going to use his super speed (and we really mean super-sonic speed) to whiz through multiple levels of one-player vertically and horizontally scrolling action.

Unfortunately for Sonic the evil doctor has filled Sonic's world with wild and weird obstacles-from spike-laden chasms to heart-stopping cliffs. The land is also populated by an army of bionic creatures, all eager to pull the plug on Sonic. Unfortunate for Sonic, but totally cool for you! It's the wacky obstacles combined with Sonic's ability to race, roll, and rock like you've never seen a vid-kid do that make this title a finger-busting blast.

The good news for SMS gamers is that Sonic has been translated to perfection for the Master System. Sizzling graphics, super 8-bit speed, sharp game-play, and sinister foes make Sonic sing....and you will too! Check out our next issue for more on what looks to be the SMS game of the year.

Evil Dr. Robotnik has transformed all of the forest critters into robots. There's only one creature with the guts, the speed, the determination and the hair required to stop the Doctor-and that's, of course, Sonic The Hedgehog.

Sonic Boom

Sonic's made a name for himself via the Genesis, so why not go to a romp on the Master System too? Genesis Sonic fans are probably wondering how you can do all that great 16-bit stuff on an 8-bit system-well, you can't do it all. But Sega came pretty close!

Your goal in this game is the same as in the Genesis version. Battle Robotnik and save the forest creatures. Also like Genesis Sonic there are six levels of horizontally and vertically scrolling lightning fast action, each with two acts and a boss battle. "The graphics are top of the line for an 8-bit system. And Sonic's trademark speed is fairly intact-in fact, it's just about the fastest 8-bit game you're likely to see.

Hedgehog Hazards

The game-play will be as comfortable as an old pair of shoes to Sonic fans. Each Act is packed with familiar hair-raising obstacles, including perilous cliffs, deadly spikes, and cascading waterfalls. There are also new obstacles such as see-saw springboards and a log-rolling contest. Sonic rocks and rolls through each level, grabbing gold rings and bouncing on bad guys. If a foe bumps into Sonic or zaps him, he loses all of his rings. If he isn't carrying any rings, he's history.

Follow the Bouncing Sonic

If Sonic manages to carry at least 50 rings to the end of an Act he bounces to a bonus round. In this bonus round, unique to the SMS version of the game, Sonic bounces his way through several giant pinball machines (he's the ball) and tries to grab special bonus items.

Supersonic

The Master System Faithful can be thankful that even though the flow of titles has slowed to a trickle, games like Sonic the Hedgehog make them well worth waiting for. Sonic speed, graphics, and game-play-you can't touch that!

ProTips:

  • Go right at the beginning of Level 2's boss stage. You'll find a 1-up.
  • Sonic can grab a Continue, a 1-Up, and enough rings to earn yet another 1-Up all in one bonus round. But if he doesn't get to the sign at the end of the bonus round before time runs out, he doesn't earn the items.
  • Bounce at least three times on Level 2's see-saw springboards to get the maximum height when you jump.
  • Grab 100 golden rings for a 1-Up.
  • Carry at least one ring at all times!
  • There's a hidden 1-Up in Level 1, Act 1. It's located in a Palm Tree with a Totem Pole to the right of it.
  • If you make ft to the top of Level 3, Act 2's treacherous waterfall, you'll find a 1-Up on the left side of the screen.
  • This Level 2 boss is easy to beat. Just stand on the middle platform, bounce and bop Robotnik when he appears, jump to the side platform to draw his fire, and then jump back to the middle platform. Repeat this procedure eight times and he's done for.

Want to see something really special? Run out and pick up a copy of Sonic the Hedgehog, and plug it into your Genesis. Now turn it on, and that thing you used to call a TV set becomes a window to a different world--a land of color and sound, of action and adventure, of terrible danger and glorious reward.

At last, Sega has their own "Mario"; a combination of the common man, the champion and the corporate mascot, all rolled into a neat little bug-eyed cartoon character. Sonic is Sega's "guy game" extraordinaire, a run-and-jump masterpiece that compares favorably to the best examples of its genre--including Nintendo's own 16-bit Super Mario World.

Visually, Sonic is about as appealing as a video game character can be. Give him a running start, and he'll bear down and pick up speed like an NFL running back. Point the controller in the opposite direction and watch him slam on the brakes Fred Flint-stone-style, digging his heels into the ground with a rubberburning squeal. If you lead him too close to a precipice, he'll teeter on the edge and flail his arms, trying to regain his balance as he looks down with apprehension.

Sonic can also roll up into a whirling ball of pure hedgehog--that's how he takes care of bad guys like Motobug, Ball-hog and Crabmeat. An evil scientist has captured Sonic's friends and trapped them inside these evil creatures, and only Sonic can set them free this way.

As expected, the graphics and sounds are great. Sonic travels through six different zones of three "areas" apiece, and each zone has distinctly different graphic elements and musical themes. Exploration has always been an important part of this type of game, and Sonic has more than its share of hidden power-ups and surprises. There are some places you can see but can't quite reach, and it's up to you to figure out how to get to them. Did I mention that Sonic can burrow through solid rock, or that he can run faster and jump higher when he finds a pair of running shoes?

Unfortunately, if you're tired of Super Mario clones, there's nothing I can say to hide the fact that Sonic is one of them. Another minor complaint came from a less-experienced player who previewed Sonic for me: the game's incredibly quick scrolling and layered backgrounds can be somewhat disorienting if you're not accustomed to 16-bit graphics. For instance, there's a surreal bonus round where Sonic rolls around and bounces off the walls of a huge rotating maze with hypnotic patterns of birds and fish floating by. This stage can actually make you dizzy--heck, the music alone is mesmerizing enough to put you in a trance!

All things considered, it's easy to see why Sonic the Hedgehog took the industry by storm at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Software development for the Genesis has primarily focused on serious-themed action titles, encyclopedic RPGs and realistic sports simulations. The Genesis catalog really needed a dynamite Mario-style adventure, and Sonic fills that void better than many folks believe is possible.

They've been telling me "Genesis does" for months, and now I'm convinced: Genesis does it all! All Sega has to do is shelve all those copies of Altered Beast and include Sonic with the system instead--it'd make a big difference. Sega is calling Sonic the Hedgehog the fastest game ever. That may be so, but don't be surprised if it's the fastest-selling too.

Snapshots and Media

XBox 360 Screenshots

Playstation 3 Screenshots

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots

Sega Master System Screenshots

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