Sonic the Hedgehog

Moby ID: 36523
SEGA Master System Specs
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Description official descriptions

SEGA's mascot Sonic the Hedgehog made his debut in a famous Genesis title, but Sega's 8-bit systems got their own version of the platformer, featuring the same story and gameplay style, but different levels.

To stop the evil Dr. Robotnik, Sonic must traverse six zones consisting of three levels each. Most of the zones are based on those in the original game, but some are entirely new, including a jungle environment and a huge airship. Other unique differences are one level that scrolls automatically and one that is aligned vertically instead of horizontally. Most of the enemies (mechanized animals, defeated by Sonic's spikes when jumping or rolling) and power-ups (speed-ups, shields, extra lives) are the same as in the Genesis version as well. Sonic can pick up golden rings for protection (when hit, he simply loses all of his rings instead of a life) and bonuses: 100 rings gain Sonic an extra life, and 50 remaining rings at the end of a level allow access to pinball-themed special stages full of bumpers and springs. The final level of a zone is always a boss fight against Robotnik. Some of the boss fights differ in the Master System and Game Gear versions of the game, with special designs for the handheld version due to the smaller visible screen area.

Sonic should also collect the six Chaos Emeralds to keep them from falling into Robotnik's hands. In a departure from the original game, these are not hidden in the special stages but somewhere in the regular levels.

Spellings

  • ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ - Japanese spelling
  • 바람돌이 소닉 - Korean spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (SEGA Master System version)

8 People (6 developers, 2 thanks)

Game Program
Graphic Design
Sound Producer
Rearrange and Original Music
Special Thanks
Presented by
  • Sega

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 86% (based on 33 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.6 out of 5 (based on 106 ratings with 4 reviews)

The same Sonic... with less speed

The Good
One of the first games ever to be released on the Sega Genesis, Sonic the Hedgehog showed what the console was really capable of. It impressed gamers the world over with its speedy gameplay, great graphics, and excellent sound. Sega knew that there were some people who still owned a Master System at the time but couldn't afford to upgrade, so a version was made specifically for them.

So, how does the Master System version of Sonic compare to the one released for its bigger brother? Well, it's quite good. Although the core gameplay remains intact, some tweaks had to be made. The zones remain the same, but there is one new zone between Green Hill and Labyrinth. Loop-de-loops were removed. The bonus levels with the 3D rotating maze have been replaced with a pinball-themed level where where you bounce around, collecting as many rings as possible before the time runs out.

The graphics in the SMS version are just as great as its bigger brother. The world map that displays your progress through the game is quite beautiful and shows what the console can do with just 32 colors, and the pinball-themed bonus levels are quite colorful and well designed. There are also smooth animations of Sonic doing his iconic spin dash.

Sound-wise, the sound effects are on par with the Genesis game. The jump sound is exactly the same in the two versions, for example. The music blends well with the setting of each zone, and the background music for the new zone (The Bridge) is based on one of Janet Jackson's songs. I like the music while you are fighting Robotnik since it has a gangster feel to it.

The Bad
Uhhh...

The Bottom Line
Sonic the Hedgehog for the Master System is similar to its bigger brother, but some changes were made due to the less-powerful Z-80 processor, including the removal of loop-de-loops and rotating mazes, making it a straight jump-n-run platformer. Despite these changes, SMS owners will still recognize the game as Sonic. The graphics and sound are very good, and there is even some replayability due to the different endings you will get depending on whether you get all seven chaos emeralds. People who already own a Genesis and wish to give the SMS version a try can get the Power Base Converter to play it on.

SEGA Master System · by Katakis | カタキス (43092) · 2017

A True Classic: The start of the legend!

The Good
The game, unlike many games today, is challenging and fun. The makers of the game didn't know how popular it would become. It contains sudden surprises, good controls and that iconic soundtrack. The ultimate classic that gave our good friend Mario a run for his money.

The Bad
Although the game contained everything a game would want (minus the great graphics of 3rd Generation consoles) the game has some snags. Sometimes it can be a little too tough for younger gamers (I should know, it took me seven years to complete) and sometimes the sound effects can get on your nerves a little.

The Bottom Line
Sonic the Hedgehog, the birth of a legend, the beginning of a new era in gaming. My advice is get that old Megadrive out of your loft/attic, dust off the webs and get back into the good old times when gaming was so much fun.

SEGA Master System · by M.Allen (83) · 2006

A great Sonic game that you can take anywhere!

The Good
Sonic the Hedgehog for the Game Gear is a great game. It is almost exactly the same as the one for the Sega Master System, but there are some differences. Also, you can take it anywhere like a gameboy, but with over 1000 colors! Anyway, STH has great graphics. The sound and music is some of the best of its time. This game will keep you busy for hours. When I first played this game, I was amazed that it was made on an 8-bit system. The graphics were amazing and the speed was the best of any game at the time. That's one of the things that's great about this game; the high-paced action. You have to keep moving the whole game or you could die or run out of time. This game is a piece of art and is definitely a game you must have if you own a game gear. And even if you don't, find someone who does and play their copy.

The Bad
When people think of Sonic the Hedgehog, they think of the genesis version. Considering the Game Gear is an 8-bit system, this just can't be ported to the Game Gear. That's why the Game Gear version came from the Master System. So of course the graphics are worse and the sound is worse. What'd you expect? This is why I was originally disappointed. But now I realize that what I wanted for the Game Gear just couldn't be done. Even if you could do it, the max screen resolution is much less and half of the screen would be cut off. Overall, this is a great game.

The Bottom Line
Sonic the Hedgehog is a true gem, a classic. The ported version to the Game Gear is no less. It was one of the best Game Gear games. This was the game that brought the Game Gear to life. Though a short-lived life, everyone who had a Game Gear, had this game. In short, this game is great.

Game Gear · by Classix (80) · 2006

[ View all 4 player reviews ]

Trivia

Master System II version

The Sonic The Hedgehog version that came built-in the Master System II console lacks credits. Because ROM chips were very expensive at the time, the credits were dropped to make room on the small ROM chip for the necessary BIOS routines for the console. By doing this, Sega avoided having to buy bigger and more expensive ROM chips for the console.

Awards

  • Electronic Gaming Monthly
    • February 1992 (Issue 31) - Game of the Month
    • 1992 Buyer's Guide - Best SMS Game of the Year

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Terok Nor.

Nintendo 3DS added by GTramp. Palm OS added by Kabushi.

Additional contributors: Alaka, ケヴィン, Grandy02, Rik Hideto, Jo ST.

Game added October 4, 2008. Last modified January 2, 2024.