Sonic the Hedgehog

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.

The Good
Sonic The Hedgehog made waves across both SEGA consoles & SEGA gamers when he was introduced in the early 90's. Like myself and many, others others I was swept away by these waves. Falling in love with the great balanced difficulty and amazing character with a style and a coolness not yet seen on the Master System.

The first thing you'll notice in the early minutes of the game is the animation of Sonic himself. His movement, fluidity and the way he stands out from the background of the already bright primary colors is still very impressive. Each level, of the 4 featured (Green Hill Zone, Bridge, Jungle, Labyrinth) has a different look, feel and theme to it making Sonic a very diverse and well put together experience.

Each level is split into 3 acts - the 3rd been a boss battle act with the recurring Dr Robotnic who was one of favorite features of the game. Each encounter proved a challenge without been too easy or unforgiving - a perfect balance! I genuinely enjoyed wondering how he would come at me next.

The music is great too, varied from level to level I especially liked the Bridge music theme and thought the Master System sound chip was used to it's full potential. Sound effects, enemy sounds, Sonic's and the interaction with the playing area itself were well used and didn't once get annoying or repetitive as is the case with many games in this era.

The gameplay is fun and rewarding too, every Level introduces a different way to play, sometimes underwater - open or confined underground.The bonus levels were great fun, if you hold 50 rings or more (baring in mind 100 will earn you an extra life AND reset your ring count to 0) when reaching the end of an act you will take part in a timed bonus game - much like a pinball game.

You have a countdown timer and can collect continues, extra lives and also a 100 free standing rings for an extra life. This is such a blast as you have to be very careful with your timing, if you don't make it to the goal before the timer counts down everything you just earned gets written off and you carry on to the next act - very humbled!

There are lots of cleverly hidden items in the game that will drive you to keep playing through again and again. From Chaos Emeralds to the odd TV screen, even re-playing those awesome bonus stages are worth the time investment.

A perfect example of what can be done with a dedicated attitude - a flawless platforming experience and thoroughly enjoyable play-through.

The Bad
The only actual gameplay issue I can point out is you only ever get Sonics running sneakers on Green Hill Zone ACT 1 (The very first level!)

Such a shame as this was the coolest part and greatest introduction in my opinion. When the music speeds up and you cover half the level in a matter of seconds, it truly makes you feel.....fast (provided you don't slam into a spring pad lol - which I did).

I imagine the limits of the system and design of the levels would be the reasons why, still though a bit of a tease!

It would of been nice to see a score tally for killing enemies, even an actual tally! They just provide an obstacle which granted is there purpose however with some so cleverly designed it would have added another level of enjoyment to this already great game.

Other issues were down to aesthetics and didn't effect the way the game plays. For example, Sonics bubble shield not covering the sprite all the way, a bit of a lazy animation I thought as it's the most common powerup throughout. The Jungle level too was very, very bold and rich in color - even for the bright primary color theme of the game.

The Bottom Line
A great platform game with smooth mechanics, catchy music (which you will whistle too - even after a frustrating death or 2) and a great character who you will enjoy playing.

The visuals are stunning and alongside the level design give each of the 4 very different themed areas a different and great gaming experience.

The boss battle acts & bonus levels were a personal favorite.

Sonic The Hedgehog is definitely in The Master Systems TOP 5 MUST HAVE GAME CARTS LIST for every owner I would say. Unless you are lucky enough to have it built in to your machine.

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.

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.