Sonic the Hedgehog

Story-

Dr. Robotnik has put all of the local animals into metal robot suits for the purposes of collecting the 6 Chaos Emeralds and gaining their power. What did they do to him anyways... who knows? Now it's up to Sonic to rescue the fuzzy little guys and halt Robotnik's very farfetched and inhumane plan.

Overview-

Sonic the Hedgehog is a mad dash side-scrolling platform game where you guide Sonic from the beginning point of each stage to the end while avoiding enemy attacks, collecting rings and generally blitzing at breakneck speeds as often as feels right. Each level consists of 3 "acts" with 2 platforming sections leading up to a Dr. Robotnik boss battle who blocks your path for further admittance until defeated. Pretty much all of the stages involve dashing Sonic around at high speeds (which is good considering there is a time limit in the game) though there's also some slower sections that require a more methodical approach.

Sonic's only real attack involves him hitting a foe while spinning which can be accomplished by either jumping on an enemy or rolling into one. Along the way, you may optionally collect the 6 Chaos Emeralds if you can guide Sonic through the maze-like bonus stages that contain them which will unlock the "proper" ending. To gain access to these areas, Sonic must have 50 rings in his possession when crossing that level's end goal which simultaneously act as his "health" allowing him to take a hit from an enemy as long as he has at least one on him ensuring the player's desire to maintain a steady greed for them throughout gameplay. Make your way through all the different stages and defeat the final incarnation of Dr. Robotnik (with or without the Chaos Emeralds) to complete the game.

Critical Analysis-

• Gameplay: 3/5 (Meh)
  The game works best when running and flowing at high speeds but feels slowed down at times from some clumsy level design. I still don't quite understand why they made a slow water level for instance when he likes to run but whatever. I do give points for attempting the variety that they did but it just felt like the execution was lacking.
• Controls: 4/5 (I like it)
  Controls feel good in this game though there are some setbacks. Trying to walk uphill can be a chore for example which is kind of funny considering how fast Sonic is (hills... my only weakness) otherwise Sonic does what you want him to do meaning that deaths are usually the players fault. The feeling of absolute momentum that follows Sonic once you get him running at full speed is visceral and a big part of this game's charm overall.
• Music/Sound: 4/5 (I like it)
  While the music is not the greatest overall, it does have high points at times supplying the game with a decent soundtrack for Sonic as he rushes through levels at high speed. The sound effects are ridiculously memorable and I hear many of them in regular life even today reminding me constantly of the grand significance of this game. I swear, I could listen to the sound of Sonic breathing that huge bubble underwater on loop.
• Graphics: 5/5 (I love it)
  Wow Sonic, Robotnik and Co. look great here especially considering the release date (1991) and they all move fluidly with excellent animations. The colors are appropriate for the different zones and make each one feel unique. I can still remember how envious I was playing this at my next door neighbors house during its launch period as it looked SO good compared to anything else I had seen from a home console at the time.
• 'Tude Meter: MAXIMUM (Coolness guaranteed)
  While you certainly can find some cool stuff in here apart from the "blue blur", the biggest majority of Sonic the Hedgehog's 'tude comes from our furry protagonist himself as he maintains a constant don't give a @#$% demeanor throughout the game's entirety. Let's face it, Sonic is practically the mascot for 'tude ushering in a new era of edgy awesomeness behind folded arms and unnecessary speed. I wonder if there's a blood code?

Final verdict: 4/5 (Good game)

At the end of the day, Sonic the Hedgehog presents a pleasantly gratifying experience on the Sega Genesis providing quality metrics across the board! Blast processing and mega-powered 'tude seem to fuel "the blue blur" making him the perfect representative for the up-start and rebellious Genesis and this the perfect "killer app tech-demo" platform game to showcase the performance and bravado of the console. Though Nintendo had effectively set the initial bar in the mainstream's conscience with the Mario Bros. series, Sonic the Hedgehog loaded up Sega's barrels for the impending gunfight against the mushroom eating plumber admirably with a unique experience predicated on "roller-coaster/pinball" gameplay which was too tantalizing to ignore. Add to that a finger-snapping soundtrack and eye-popping graphics and you've got a true contender to the crown in its running and jumping genre! Of course, it's not all golden rings and chili dogs for our hero otherwise the score would reflect that but I digress.

The pacing screeches to a besmirching halt at times foregoing its namesake as you wait for any number of obstacles to move out of your way showcasing some of the clumsier moments. I mean, it DOES feel a little anti-climatic to be zipping around loops in some sections only to have to stand idly on a slow-moving conveyor across lava ("quit looking at me like that Sonic I can't make this thing move any faster than you can!") but it is what it is I suppose. Also, many of the boss battles with Dr. Robotnik (miss me with that Eggman stuff) feel a little too scaled down for my taste in terms of difficulty tempering the excitement a bit for what should be some of the juicier moments in the game. Overall though despite some speed bumps, Sonic the Hedgehog delivers a totally bodacious, 'tude filled, spinning, flipping, dashing good time sparking a revolution within the gaming universe as a Hall of Fame-worthy mascot character while at the same time supplying a fun and memorable title that kick-started a long (...and FAST) running franchise. Now that's playing with MEGA power!

Parting Thoughts-

• Pros-
  *Awesome kamikaze gameplay
  *Mesmerizing visuals
  *Sonic's cool persona
• Cons-
  *Inconsistent level design
  *Just okay boss encounters
  *Bonus stage causes nausea

The 'Tude Dude's Bottom Line-

Not just the catalyst to a larger franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog stands firmly on its own as a speed-racing side-scroller capable of delivering a fun and rewarding experience to players of all skill levels.

Thanks for reading!