The Genesis(Pun entirely intended)

Sonic The Hedgehog is often mocked today for a recent streak of low quality titles. However there was once a time when Sonic was on top of the video game market, acting as the mascot for SEGA, who was soon to overturn Nintendo's monopoly on the market. This game is the beginning of Sonic as a series and the beginning of the rise of SEGA. The Genesis, if you will. History lessons aside, Sonic 1 is an overall good game for its time. Unfortunately it does have some glaring flaws when looking back on the game today. A lot of the levels in Sonic 1 were designed more with a Super Mario type of mindset, if that makes sense. It kicks off with Green Hill Zone. A long wide area for you to really get a grasp on and witness the full capabilities of Sonic's entire schtick. Momentum. Green Hill Zone is the perfect showcase of exactly what a Sonic level should be. Achieving speed through quick reactions, and some quick platforming. Unfortunately jmmediately after Green Hill Zone, the game stops following that core design. The game's second set of levels is a lot more methodical. Lots of precision platforming, but done with a character that doesn't mesh well with that design. It's the Super Mario approach I mentioned earlier. Where Mario's movement is a lot more precise, Sonic's slow start and whole momentum thing makes him feel almost slippery in precision platforming situations. Unfortunately, this sentiment doesn't exist only for Marble Zone. The 3rd 4th and final level all have more methodical platforming as well. Spring Yard Zone, the third level, does have some speed sections thanks to the many springs in the level, as the name would imply, however there's also an abundance of spike hazards meaning you'd likely not want to go so fast and stay careful. The unfortunate part of this is that the unique(for the time) momentum mechanic and the level design are almost always at odds with each other. It really does show that this was the first Sonic game. It's successors would figure out a better balance between platforming and quick reactions, but as of now, Sonic 1 serves as more of a time capsule of sorts. A window into 1991 and a way to experience the first of a long line of games. While I myself, being the collector I am, would recommend you play on original hardware, I'd say the easiest to digest experience is the Christian Whitehead mobile phone port. It adds in the spindash, a move from the game's sequel and subsequent titles making for a much nicer experience and is also in widescreen meaning it's easier to see what's coming before it's right up on you, eliminating a lot of the trial and error elements. It also includes some bug fixes and retains the removal of the infamous spike behavior from the Sonic Jam version on the Sega Saturn.Read full review

Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned