Review cover Sonic the Hedgehog (Retro)
User Review

Product Information:

  • Release Date (NA): June 23, 1991
  • Release Date (EU): July 1, 1991
  • Release Date (JP): July 26, 1991
  • Publisher: SEGA
  • Developer: Sonic Team
  • Genres: Action
  • Also For: Android

Game Features:

Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative

Review Approach:

(WARNING: This is my first review, so expect some mistakes and some lost elements when reading this review.) Never got the game on my hands. I started playing it on the emulator back in 2009. And i knew that this is where my Sonic's ride begins.
It's been almost 26 years since Sonic's first video game debut with his first game. Since 1991 he has been loved and hated throughout years and he doesn't stop running ever since. Of course most of "modern" Sonic games are now more mixed or average then positive because....let's say SEGA lose their skills on making better Sonic games. They did really well during the 4th, 5th and 6th generation of video games, but the ride ended during the 7th generation since 2006 but they realized their mistake and make good games with Sonic Colors in 2010 and Generations in 2011.....and then comes 2014 and they failed yet again. But let's go back to the origins and see how it looks today? Let's start with the plot:
Plot

The story is very simple. Dr. Robotnik (or Eggman in Japan, before Sonic Adventure) trapped many animals of South Island into robots and most of them put them into metal capsules in attempt to steal all 6 Chaos Emeralds and harness their power. Sonic then found out that his friends (at that time) were kidnapped and his up to him to rescue, collect all Chaos Emeralds and defeat Robotnik. Nothing much, it was his first game, it did changed later on.

Gameplay

Do i need to say a lot of things about the gameplay? No. Why? Well it isn't that important to say if you a die-hard Sonic fan and if you played Classic Sonic games for years. The controls are just like every side-scrolling game. Press left to go left, right to go right, up to see something high or jump and down to crouch. If you hold left or right for long enough, Sonic will start running. Instead of pressing up to jump, you press A or B or even C to jump. You can also roll and go even faster if you press down while running. Of course you cannot forget about Rings, in which there are the one of items Sonic can be protected from enemies. If you destroy one of robots, you get points. There are also power-ups, hidden in "monitors" you can get during the game. There is the shield in which it can protect Sonic from enemies and when he gets hit, he doesn't lose rings at all. There is a monitor that gives you 10 rings and a invincibility that make Sonic completely unkillable from enemies except from being drowned, crushed or falling into a pit for at least 15-20 seconds. In this game, Sonic doesn't have that many abilities unlike in later games, so if you played a game other than Sonic 1, be ready to be disappointed because in this game you cannot do the Spin Dash as it wasn't a thing in the whole series yet.

Graphics

The graphics were really great at that time. There is not much to say about it, other than some sprites are also seen in later games, but where changed to probably more match with artworks that there were made at that time.

Music

Compared to other games released on Mega Drive, Sonic 1's soundtrack just fits perfectly with the Mega Drive's soundchip and it sounds so smoothly and near-perfect like with Mario games on the NES and SNES. It doesn't stop there in later games, so enjoy listening to the green paradise of Green Hill, a underground that hides a lava in Marble or even a nice nightly walk in Star Light.


Final Thoughts

Despite being a old, retro game, it still looks fresh after years. It may now be not that much fantastic compared to later Sonic games than before, but it still holds the enjoyment. Plus, unlike other Sonic games, this game doesn't have that much stages, so the time of completing the game will take probably just an hour or two if you want to get all the Chaos Emeralds and get a good ending. It could be a little longer but despite that, it's still fun!

Verdict

What I Liked ...
  • Amazing graphics
  • Fantastic music
  • Sweet, classic gameplay
What I Didn't Like ...
  • Not a big time length of the game
  • Not a big challenge for hardcore players
7
Gameplay
Because it was his first game, it wasn't much easier to avoid deaths and go much faster without the Spin Dash, but it was a game were you were focusing on platforming instead of speeding.
9
Presentation
In his glory, Mega Drive days, it looked beautifully amazing. Colorful and fresh, it make you go fast like Sonic.
8
Lasting Appeal
The game doesn't offer that much. You press start and your adventure with Sonic begins. There was a lot of platforming back then and it went down years and years, probably to make Sonic games, more fast than slow.
8.9
out of 10

Overall

Now here's a little fun fact: In my IGN account, i give this game a 8.5 out of 10. I decided to be more positive toward the game and say that it is more fun when you play the game many times, but it gets then too easy if you remembered everything in the game. Besides, being the first Sonic game, it isn't the most perfect one for me. Lacking many great gameplay elements and being quite short, it is better to rather play later Sonic games if you want a bigger challenge, longer time length and more exploration in stages to give you even more fun. But if you want a Sonic game that isn't complicated, hard or long, this game might fit for you and make it as an game for beginners before you continue Sonic's ride with more challenging gameplay.
Review cover
Product Information:
  • Release Date (NA): June 23, 1991
  • Release Date (EU): July 1, 1991
  • Release Date (JP): July 26, 1991
  • Publisher: SEGA
  • Developer: Sonic Team
  • Genres: Action
  • Also For: Android
Game Features:
Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative

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