Sonic The Hedgehog

About

Sonic the Hedgehog is a fast-paced 2D platformer featuring the eponymous blue hedgehog. Sonic must stop the villainous Dr. Robotnik from imprisoning animals in robots and finding the powerful Chaos Emeralds. With his incredible speed and agility, players must navigate through diverse levels and defeat Robotnik's minions to save the day.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

music4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Sonic 1 is a true 16-bit classic that set the standard for platformers with its innovative gameplay and colorful graphics.
The level design is praised for its variety and secrets, providing a fun experience for players who enjoy exploration.
The game features a memorable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, with standout tracks in various zones.

The absence of the spin-dash mechanic makes the gameplay feel slower and less dynamic compared to later Sonic titles.
The lack of save functionality leads to repetitive gameplay, as players must replay earlier levels frequently to progress.
Boss battles are considered weak and predictable, lacking the creativity and challenge found in other Sonic games.

music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with standout tracks from various zones, although some users express disappointment with specific areas like Marble Garden and the final zone. Reviewers appreciate Sega's transition from chiptune to higher bitrate CD-quality soundtracks, particularly praising the quirky Japanese soundtrack of Sonic CD and the innovative use of contextual remixes. Overall, the music is considered a highlight, showcasing a blend of rock and pop influences that enhance the gaming experience.
- “Sega definitely beat Nintendo at shifting from chiptune music to higher bitrate CD-quality soundtracks with voices for Sonic CD, especially the weird, quirky kind with the Japanese soundtrack. Even though Nintendo beat them to the adaptive soundtrack race, I feel that for replay listens, Sega's approach for overhauling the zone themes with contextual remixes was better than adding a bongo track onto Mario soundtracks when you sit on Yoshi.”
- “The soundtrack is still one of my favorites, with Marble Zone, Labyrinth, Scrap Brain, and Final Zone being the ones I enjoy the most.”
- “The beeps and boops of the Genesis sound more like rock music compared to the SNES's softer but heavier music.”
- “Even though 1 and 2 are pop music, 3 is pop-rock; CD is the most experimental with its 90s SFX mash-ups.”
- “Anyways, hope next time you give us something related to the game itself, like its soundtrack, a demo, a special feature, and not an old 2 dollar game.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
33%
11%
The graphics of the game are praised as excellent for their time, showcasing impressive 16-bit visuals that enhance the experience, especially during high-speed gameplay. However, some reviewers note that the game's design flaws become more apparent when transitioning to platforming sections, suggesting that the graphics alone cannot compensate for poor gameplay mechanics. Overall, the aesthetics are recognized as a significant achievement of the era, but they also highlight the limitations of the game's design.
- “When you’re holding down right and pounding along at 300 km/h, it’s lovely, with the admittedly excellent Mega Drive graphics dashing by at mach speed.”
- “And yep, graphics and music are really great, especially for 1991.”
- “[Great graphics, a true 16-bit classic, nigh-perfect emulation].”
- “It's not just retrospectively awful game design; in 1991, Sonic was still a steaming pile of garbage and now, stripped of the value that its aesthetics gave it then, it stands as a monument to just how far you could get on graphics alone in an era before they existed on this scale.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with some players feeling it lacks crucial mechanics like the spin-dash, which affects the overall pace and enjoyment. While the game emphasizes building momentum, many find this approach results in a slower experience compared to previous titles. Players can choose between fast-paced play or a more cautious, slower style, but the absence of certain features leaves some feeling the gameplay is less engaging.
- “The gameplay is enjoyable; you can choose to play quickly or take your time if you're worried about losing a life.”
- “The gameplay offers flexibility, allowing players to either rush through levels or proceed cautiously to avoid losing lives.”
- “It really does show its irrelevancy in that sense, especially with the lack of the spin-dash, which was disappointing for me since I played Sonic 2, Mania, and Generations before this. At many times, the game felt like it was lacking a crucial mechanic. Though its focus was on building up momentum instead of providing the instant gratification that comes with spin-dashes, everything felt slower overall.”
- “The gameplay is okay; you can choose to do things the fast way or take a cautious approach and run slowly out of fear of losing a life.”
- “The absence of the spin-dash really impacted my experience, as I felt the game was missing a key mechanic that made previous titles more enjoyable. The emphasis on momentum instead of quick actions made the gameplay feel sluggish.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the simple launcher experiences a number of glitches, indicating that stability is a concern for this aspect of the game.
- “However, the simple launcher has its fair share of glitches as well.”

87%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

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