Today Sonic officially turns 30 years old as the original Sonic the Hedgehog for the Genesis released in North America for the first time back on June 23, 1991.

Featuring the iconic Green Hill Zone, Sonic's first outing was an instant smash hit and led to SEGA's early success in the home video game market. The launch of the game and its eventual pack-in promotion helped the Genesis overtake the Super Nintendo in sales by two to one, with SEGA later taking up to 65% of the market share.

This was the birth of a video game icon and the runaway success of Sonic finally gave SEGA the mascot they had been searching for after their previous attempts with Fantasy Zone's 'Opa Opa' and Alex Kidd.

In the 30 years that have passed, Sonic has featured in hundreds of games and collections as well as TV shows, movies, comics and merchandise, and while no new Sonic games are to be released in 2021, with the next mainline title being scheduled for release in 2022, as well as a Sonic Origins collection slated for release the same year; SEGA are instead celebrating today with the Sonic Symphony 30th Anniversary Concert featuring orchestrated renditions of classic Sonic tunes and a host of guest performers including Crush 40 and DJ Tomoya Ohtani. The live event can be watched via the YouTube video embed below.

Event starts at today at
Pacific Time: 12 PM PDT | Central Time: 2 PM CDT | Eastern Time: 3 PM EDT | British Summer Time: 8PM BST | European Time: 9 PM CEST​

What are your favourite memories of Sonic the Hedgehog growing up and what are your favourite games in the franchise? Let us know below! I for one wouldn't be where I am today had the blue blur not left the impact it did on me as I played it almost religiously during my childhood. For me, no other platform games come close to matching the pure charm, style and unrivalled control and platforming perfection that the classic Mega Drive trilogy provide.

Here's to another 30 years of Sonic!

 

[machomuu]

The problem with Sonic they never changed the formula like how Mario did. Sonic falls into the same category as Mega man all they do is slap a new skin

Yeeeeah, Sonic definitely isn't that.

You're talking about the series that went from being a side scroller to an open-ended free runner to an action adventure title to just an action title to a platformer and back to action platforming, only to return to 2D platforming again when things didn't work out, to-

You get the idea. Also there's an RPG. And like, those are genres. I can tell you good and well that Sonic isn't the type of series to rest on its laurels. Mainly because it literally can't on account of mixed success.

 

[shaunj66]

Who the fuck voted for Labyrinth Zone?

 

[expanddong69]

Who the fuck voted for Labyrinth Zone?

 

[Xzi]

I grew up a Mario fan because I had Nintendo consoles, but certain Sonic games/songs still stuck with me along the way, from demos at stores and friends' houses, etc. It's just too bad Sega didn't release fewer consoles that were all as iconic as the blue blur himself. By the time they got it semi-right it was too late, Dreamcast had some really interesting ideas going for it though.

 

[SaulFabre]

Happy birthday to Sonic the Hedgehog! (1991-2021)

 

[subcon959]

I never properly got into Sonic honestly, it just doesn't gel naturally with my play style. I don't Gotta Go Fast, I Gotta Systematically Explore Every Nook And Cranny To Make Sure I Don't Miss Anything.

That's how I played it. I don't think the speedy playthrough is enforced all that much in the original games.

 

[SaulFabre]

So cool that SEGA finally chosen Sonic the Hedgehog as the official SEGA mascot after many attempts of making Fantasy Zone's Opa-Opa airship and the boy Alex Kidd as the official SEGA mascot... So nice

I also remember the famous phrase when promoting the Sega Genesis console: GENESIS DOES WHAT NINTENDON'T

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

Who the fuck voted for Labyrinth Zone?

a masochist

 

[raxadian]

SONIC MANIA IS CURRENTLY FREE ON THE EPIC STORE!

https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/sonic-mania

 

[Zaraf]

I wonder how many of the people playing in this orchestra have actually ever played a Sonic game lol

 

[WG481]

Sonic has had its highs, its lows, its rollbacks, but it has always remained one of the best games ever. Salute to a good future!

 

[BitMasterPlus]

Who the fuck voted for Labyrinth Zone?

Ur mumsie.

 

[MetoMeto]

i dont like soni 1, its my least favorite game of all, and unfortunatly, the most remakes and ported.

 

[Fyrus]

SONIC MANIA IS CURRENTLY FREE ON THE EPIC STORE!

https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/sonic-mania

Yes, wish it supported mods though, I hear it doesn't

 

[raxadian]

Yes, wish it supported mods though, I hear it doesn't

Only version that supports mods is the Steam PC version, if you crack it.

Still....

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=sonic+mania+pc+mods

Go and have fun if you have that version.