Sonic The Hedgehog

From Sonic - NeoWiki

Sonic The Hedgehog

Publisher: SEGA Developer: Sonic Team System(s): SEGA Genesis Released in NA: June 23, 1991 Released in JP: July 26, 1991 Genre: Platform

Sonic the Hedgehog was the game which propelled the titular character and Sonic Team into success. Sonic the Hedgehog added elements of speed to the standard platform formula, and introduced the trademark loops and springboards now permanently associated with the game series. There is also a version of Sonic the Hedgehog released for the Sega Master System and the Game Gear, which loosely followed the design of this 16-bit version.

Although the SEGA Genesis version was extremely popular elsewhere, Sonic the Hedgehog at first only received lukewarm responses in Japan. Sonic wouldn't catch on in that locale until the release of Sonic The Hedgehog 3. Because of its popularity, it later replaced Altered Beast as the pack-in for the console in North America.

Unlike its sequels, where you need seven Chaos Emeralds to fully complete the game, in this one, you only need six. The Chaos Emeralds in this game do not transform Sonic into Super Sonic. They have no effect at all besides Dr. Robotnik challenging you to play Sonic the Hedgehog again if you failed to collect all Chaos Emeralds.

1 Development
2 Game Storyline
3 Gameplay
4 Pages

Development

Development for Sonic the Hedgehog began in April 1990, after SEGA ordered its AM-8 team to develop a game featuring a mascot for the company. After choosing a hedgehog as the main character, the 5-person group changed its name to Sonic Team and started working on Sonic the Hedgehog. The main minds behind the game were character designer Naoto Ohshima, game programmer Yuji Naka and designer Hirokazu Yasuhara.

The game was originally intended to feature a sound test menu, with animated graphics based around Sonic break-dancing to the music of a "Sonic Band" consisting of Sharps Chicken (guitar), Max Monkey, (guitar), Mach Rabbit (drums), and Vector the Crocodile (keyboard/synth). Vector was later re-designed and re-used for the games Knuckles' Chaotix and Sonic Heroes. The development schedule meant that the feature had to be scrapped, and Yuji Naka decided to replace the test with the "SEGA!" chant used in TV advertisements, which took up 1/8 of the 4-megabit cartridge. A text-only sound test option remained in the final game's level select cheat menu.

Game Storyline

Taken from the Sonic The Hedgehog European manual:

Crush Dr. Robotnik!

Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the mad scientist, is snatching innocent animals and turning them into evil robots! Only one tough dude can put an end to the demented scientist's fiendish scheme. It's Sonic, the real cool hedgehog with the spiked haircut and power sneakers that give him super speed.

Help Sonic fight hordes of metal maniacs and do the loop with the Super Sonic Spin Attack. Speed down twisting tunnels and swing over dangerous booby traps. Leap across lava pits and dodge burning rocks. Then splash through the chilling waters in an underground cavern. And if you're lucky, you can warp to the secret zone where you spin around in a floating maze! Your greatest challenge lurks in a secret lab where you come face to face with Dr. Robotnik himself!

Spin through space, loop 'til you're dizzy, save the animals and become the super hero. Be Sonic! Be atomic!

Gameplay

Being the first in the series, Sonic the Hedgehog provided the basics for the numerous sequels on the SEGA Genesis, as well as the next series of games.

Sonic's speed and species gave new life to the platforming genre of video games. As a hedgehog, he could curl up into a ball, by either jumping or by rolling along the ground. His spines were utilized to break open Badniks and release the animals inside. He could also use his ball like state to gain momentum on slopes, giving him the power to break through Badniks and destructible walls. However, Sonic was unable to spin-dash as he could in future Sonic the Hedgehog games.

The game featured no passwords or game saves. It was designed to be completed in one sitting, or via the help of the Level Select code.