Great article, you sum up Sonic's appeal very well.
Sonic 1 on MD is such a cultural touchstone for me. I played it a few months after it came out and I just fell in love with all of it. I know it has its issues, but I love every last bit of it. Yes, even Labyrinth Zone.
Not to sound too much like a snarky old man, but with certain media, the phrase "you just had to be there" really applies. Sonic 1 is definitely one of those cases.
Must've been something special seeing it when it was new, I've always loved Sonic 1 (not Labyrinth Zone) but for me it's always been an old classic/relic of the past rather than something new and exciting.
Thanks for reading! And I get you, a lot of games, especially now so much is online, feel like time capsules.
(Reclines back in old man rocking chair) Ah young Lawrence, you've triggered some memories here...
My gaming upgrade path ran from ZX Spectrum to Master System to Mega Drive. My ambition was always to want Sonic on the Mega Drive (specifically Sonic 2), but I went with the Master System first. This was because a lot of my school friends had one too, so we could play and share together.
While I would still lean towards the Mega Drive games as being the better ones in my opinion, I can't deny the charm the Master System games had. The map screen alone made it clearer there was an eventual goal to the game instead of level after level.
Great article as always. Plus, you mentioned some other classic Master System games here and there, perhaps we will see your thoughts on those one day? Because I agree that Castle of Illusion on Master System is better
I feel the same, about the 16-Bit era in general actually: the NES and Master System had their charm but the Mega Drive and SNES is where home consoles really got good and had experiences you couldn't get in an arcade. In terms of Sonic the Mega Drive version is just such a milestone too, Master System Sonic is really fun but it just can't compare to that.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! To be honest, I'm shocked at how positive the reception has been to this one, typically if I wrote about anything pre-2000 there's a steep drop off but if people want more Master System and Mega Drive I'll certainly provide.
Also, you couldn't not play this game because it was later literally built into the console as the startup game without a cartridge. Just remembered that fun fact!
Ah you must've had a Model 2, as far as I know the Model 1 SMS had all sorts of built-in titles but with the Model 2 it was either Sonic or Alex Kidd In Miracle World.
Sonic was my first real obsession in gaming - and the first Master System outing is as clear in my mind today as it's ever been. One of those things were I get to say I was born at the right time to experience it at the right age, and have never forgotten it! I haven't really played the more modern versions: partly because I'm afraid it'll take the shine off what for me are very happy memories!
Just replace Master System with GameCube and 8-Bit Sonic with the Mega Drive entries and the 2 Adventures and you have the same story as me. Apart from Sonic Boom and Sonic '06 I think even the Sonic games the internet hates tend to be quite decent.
I grew up on those old Sonic Genesis games and absolutely loved them. One of my best memories as a child is getting a copy of Sonic 2 for the holidays and absolutely tearing into it.
The 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog is a weird hidden gem but I actually prefer it to the Genesis version. There's something very earnest and consistently fun about it, and Yuzo Koshiro absolutely cooked on that soundtrack.
It is pretty crazy to see how the online discourse has turned on Sonic; I'm a little older at 36 but back in the day we repped this dude hard.
Great article. Anyway check out Frontiers if you get a chance, it's not going on any top five lists but it's a real solid entry and I enjoyed the heck out of it.
Nice one, enjoyed the piece. Very fond memories of the SMS. I got one for Christmas 1989 and Sonic was definitely the highlight of the console until I finally upgraded to Mega Drive. I recall almost playing through the whole game in one afternoon before I had to go work my part time job and lose all my progress. A real low point before memory cards! Glad you mentioned Castle Of Illusion, that was also a solid SMS entry and I rate that up there with Sonic as one of the console's best.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm only 26 so unfortunately I was led to believe the NES was the era's only system of note but I discovered the Master System last year and now vastly prefer it to Nintendo's 8-Bit machine: better controller, better graphics, less filler.
A lot of people seem to remember CoI so I might do another post comparing the SMS and Mega Drive versions soon.
As many other older millennials have commented “memories unlocked!”
Would love to read your thoughts on Sonic CD because this game always feels like something I made up, but it is real! It had such a banging soundtrack. Also Sonic Underground was fucking cool, loved that stuff. I now feel like writing a deep dive into other Sonic media I love 🤣
I love that you have memories of playing Sonic with your mum. Sonic 2 was a go-to for me and my mum too; we could polish that off, emeralds and all, in about an hour, completely vibing in sync on the special stages.
Anyway, onto the SMS… I never knew anyone who owned these but I’ve seen the Sonic SMS game around retro stores and always wondered what it was like.
I'm shocked to see the feedback on this one, usually if I write about anything retro that's a bit off the beaten path it doesn't get as many reads but this has been great :)
I'd love to play Sonic CD on the Mega CD, that's probably my dream retro item right there: they're expensive today as is the game but if not I'd definitely review it on a modern version. Sonic Underground was REALLY fucking cool XD But did you know they never finished it? Insane.
The ultimate game for a quick run-through. Something I really miss about Sega games is that they're as long as you are good: if you get really good at a Sega game, it's over in an hour but you'll spend many attempts getting to that point.
It's definitely worth playing and I think Sonic Origins+ for the modern platforms might have it too.
Haha Sonic brings the elders out to shake their fists and remember the “good old days” of gaming 🤣
I remember having it on PC 🤷♀️ the Mega CD phew, that’s a crusty old memory 🤣 I’m sad Sonic Underground never finished! Saturday morning kids TV has changed for the worst, I miss those days.
I love to see it. European/PAL retro gaming is so overlooked; people wet themselves over Japan-exclusive games and only talk about the USA and there when the EU + UK is the third largest game market after the USA and China. It makes me irrationally annoyed how much we're ignored or glossed over XD I think we had it best for the most part too.
Easier to put them in front of YouTube now and have them develop American accents and get over-stimulated watching that Mr. Beast swill.
I got my start with Sonic on the original Sega Genesis (no, you can't convince me to call it the Master Drive. Not when Genesis is how I've known it since I was six). All five games (1,2,3,3D Blast, and Knuckles) were bought second hand as birthday presents, and I loved them. I actually got Sonic 2 before I got 1, and I went years believing a 3 had to be out there before my dad found it at one of the local used game shops. Sadly, my already very Christian household was swept by a particular religious fervor, and my mom insisted we get rid of them. I would later manage to get Sonic Adventure 2 into the house for the GameCube, which left a fresh indelible stamp on my heart and imagination.
Anyone trying to sniff at og Sonic is a poser. There, I said it. The 2D games were and are phenomenal, and there's a reason Sonic Mania sold like hotcakes.
I dunno man, that's 3 regions against one if we count Brazil also calling it that ;)
Sonic Adventure 2, what a game. I also had it on GameCube (it's actually fairly uncommon and expensive on DC) and it certainly left its mark here too, 7 year old me thought Shadow The Hedgehog was cooler than ice.
Say it louder so the rest of the internet hears, you'll get no argument from me, adore these games and I loved Mania too.
I don't care what the Brazilians say! I will gleefully die on this hill! :D
There's a reason fans are still hoping for a Sonic Adventure 3. 2 was incredible. It really brought the series' rebellious sense of cool into the 3D realm in a way that landed hard. Especially with the addition of an edgy antihero rival for Sonic, which couldn't have been better timed. Shadow is the best addition to the og character roster we've ever had.
Heads up about Frontiers, btw. It's very Different. You will love it or you will hate it. The open world racing/platforming sections are very hit or miss, but they're also where the heart of the game really is.
Adventure 3 would be an INSTANT buy for me, with the old multi-character format, God I don't know why Sega hasn't done it, that would be just sublime. I agree on Shadow and I'll go a step further and say that I think Chaos is the best villain besides Eggman.
I was waiting for it to drop on Switch 2 but that's apparently going to be a Game Key Card which takes the piss. I've got quite a few games I need to get through right now (I started Octopath Traveller 0 when it came out and I need to restart that and give it the proper time it deserves) but I'll definitely review Frontiers someday, probably for PS5.
This was a very enjoyable read from start to finish.
There's also a point to what you're saying about Sonic perhaps not living up to the scrutiny of the present day. That's the downside of there being so much content out there focusing on retro gaming (and I suppose I've been guilty of this myself a few times), where older games are mostly approached from an angle of 'how do they hold up now?' which is a really unfair question when you think about it.
I first beat the initial trilogy + Sonic CD at the start of this year, and while most of those games were rife with dodgy design decisions (Sonic 3&K kicks ass though), another thought I had was 'wow, I would probably have *really* liked these games as a kid.'
It is an unfair question and especially with Sega, I think people fail to appreciate theiur design sensibilities and arcade leanings.
I'm not super tuned in to the Sonic discourse but from what I hear these days, Sonic 1 is considered iconic but not great, 2 and 3 are loved and CD gets a lot of flak; CD was my favourite as a kid but I've not played it in at least 16 years, I'd love to give it a go on original hardware someday but the Sega Mega CD isn't cheap and neither is the game.
I can vouch for that: loved them as a kid and still do... just sobered by the realisation that I could rip them to shreds quite easily in a review.
That discourse seems pretty much the same as what I've seen, except I haven't seen Sonic CD being that unpopular.
I think a big part of Sonic is also that both the character and the games he's in were foremost created to *look* cool, sometimes even at the cost of the gameplay. At that, the series was very effective. If in a store at the time you would've had a Megadrive and a SNES set up next to each other running Sonic and Mario respectively, Sonic must've looked so much more spectacular. Really circles back to Sega's arcadey inclinations.
I completely agree and I also think Sonic did well at exposing Nintendo's weaknesses, only Sega wouldn't be the ones to exploit them, it would be Sony later.
Compared to what Sega were doing with Sonic, the console versions of their racers and even with the Sega CD I think Nintendo played the SNES rather safe. I love Super Metroid, Super Mario World etc. but they kind of feel like refined versions of their NES counterparts. Nintendo lacked that experimental edge that Sega had and Sonic was emblematic of; neither of them nailed the execution compared to Sony on the PS1. The PS1 isn't a console I'm all that fond of but it has a sense of ambition that the others sorely lacked.
I played Sonic on my cousin’s Master System and it was, as you say, bloody brilliant. I had it on my Mega Drive too and it’s one of my favourite games of all time. Down with those who say otherwise! 😄 thanks for this nostalgia trip!
I can see why you'd prefer it, it is definitely the better platformer and more consistently well-designed I think. Both are great of course but SMS Sonic just has that touch of extra polish.
Same here! When I was a kid Sonic X was a popular cartoon and most kids I knew with a GBA had one of the Sonic Advance games, how times have changed...
I'll definitely give it a go at some point this year.
Great article, you sum up Sonic's appeal very well.
Sonic 1 on MD is such a cultural touchstone for me. I played it a few months after it came out and I just fell in love with all of it. I know it has its issues, but I love every last bit of it. Yes, even Labyrinth Zone.
Not to sound too much like a snarky old man, but with certain media, the phrase "you just had to be there" really applies. Sonic 1 is definitely one of those cases.
Must've been something special seeing it when it was new, I've always loved Sonic 1 (not Labyrinth Zone) but for me it's always been an old classic/relic of the past rather than something new and exciting.
Thanks for reading! And I get you, a lot of games, especially now so much is online, feel like time capsules.
Excuse me, I have only ever played sonic the hedgehog on the master system. My back and feet hurt now.
Might need your fish oil capsules and prune juice before you give it another go, wouldn't want to strain anything.
(Reclines back in old man rocking chair) Ah young Lawrence, you've triggered some memories here...
My gaming upgrade path ran from ZX Spectrum to Master System to Mega Drive. My ambition was always to want Sonic on the Mega Drive (specifically Sonic 2), but I went with the Master System first. This was because a lot of my school friends had one too, so we could play and share together.
While I would still lean towards the Mega Drive games as being the better ones in my opinion, I can't deny the charm the Master System games had. The map screen alone made it clearer there was an eventual goal to the game instead of level after level.
Great article as always. Plus, you mentioned some other classic Master System games here and there, perhaps we will see your thoughts on those one day? Because I agree that Castle of Illusion on Master System is better
I feel the same, about the 16-Bit era in general actually: the NES and Master System had their charm but the Mega Drive and SNES is where home consoles really got good and had experiences you couldn't get in an arcade. In terms of Sonic the Mega Drive version is just such a milestone too, Master System Sonic is really fun but it just can't compare to that.
I'm glad you enjoyed it! To be honest, I'm shocked at how positive the reception has been to this one, typically if I wrote about anything pre-2000 there's a steep drop off but if people want more Master System and Mega Drive I'll certainly provide.
Also, you couldn't not play this game because it was later literally built into the console as the startup game without a cartridge. Just remembered that fun fact!
Ah you must've had a Model 2, as far as I know the Model 1 SMS had all sorts of built-in titles but with the Model 2 it was either Sonic or Alex Kidd In Miracle World.
That makes sense actually, good clarification. I also remember my friend having Alex Kidd as the built in game, but he had the Model 1
There were lots on Model 1, I think all the early Model 1's had Snail Maze then it got more interesting later.
Sonic was my first real obsession in gaming - and the first Master System outing is as clear in my mind today as it's ever been. One of those things were I get to say I was born at the right time to experience it at the right age, and have never forgotten it! I haven't really played the more modern versions: partly because I'm afraid it'll take the shine off what for me are very happy memories!
Just replace Master System with GameCube and 8-Bit Sonic with the Mega Drive entries and the 2 Adventures and you have the same story as me. Apart from Sonic Boom and Sonic '06 I think even the Sonic games the internet hates tend to be quite decent.
I grew up on those old Sonic Genesis games and absolutely loved them. One of my best memories as a child is getting a copy of Sonic 2 for the holidays and absolutely tearing into it.
The 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog is a weird hidden gem but I actually prefer it to the Genesis version. There's something very earnest and consistently fun about it, and Yuzo Koshiro absolutely cooked on that soundtrack.
It is pretty crazy to see how the online discourse has turned on Sonic; I'm a little older at 36 but back in the day we repped this dude hard.
Great article. Anyway check out Frontiers if you get a chance, it's not going on any top five lists but it's a real solid entry and I enjoyed the heck out of it.
Nice one, enjoyed the piece. Very fond memories of the SMS. I got one for Christmas 1989 and Sonic was definitely the highlight of the console until I finally upgraded to Mega Drive. I recall almost playing through the whole game in one afternoon before I had to go work my part time job and lose all my progress. A real low point before memory cards! Glad you mentioned Castle Of Illusion, that was also a solid SMS entry and I rate that up there with Sonic as one of the console's best.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm only 26 so unfortunately I was led to believe the NES was the era's only system of note but I discovered the Master System last year and now vastly prefer it to Nintendo's 8-Bit machine: better controller, better graphics, less filler.
A lot of people seem to remember CoI so I might do another post comparing the SMS and Mega Drive versions soon.
As many other older millennials have commented “memories unlocked!”
Would love to read your thoughts on Sonic CD because this game always feels like something I made up, but it is real! It had such a banging soundtrack. Also Sonic Underground was fucking cool, loved that stuff. I now feel like writing a deep dive into other Sonic media I love 🤣
I love that you have memories of playing Sonic with your mum. Sonic 2 was a go-to for me and my mum too; we could polish that off, emeralds and all, in about an hour, completely vibing in sync on the special stages.
Anyway, onto the SMS… I never knew anyone who owned these but I’ve seen the Sonic SMS game around retro stores and always wondered what it was like.
I'm shocked to see the feedback on this one, usually if I write about anything retro that's a bit off the beaten path it doesn't get as many reads but this has been great :)
I'd love to play Sonic CD on the Mega CD, that's probably my dream retro item right there: they're expensive today as is the game but if not I'd definitely review it on a modern version. Sonic Underground was REALLY fucking cool XD But did you know they never finished it? Insane.
The ultimate game for a quick run-through. Something I really miss about Sega games is that they're as long as you are good: if you get really good at a Sega game, it's over in an hour but you'll spend many attempts getting to that point.
It's definitely worth playing and I think Sonic Origins+ for the modern platforms might have it too.
Haha Sonic brings the elders out to shake their fists and remember the “good old days” of gaming 🤣
I remember having it on PC 🤷♀️ the Mega CD phew, that’s a crusty old memory 🤣 I’m sad Sonic Underground never finished! Saturday morning kids TV has changed for the worst, I miss those days.
I love to see it. European/PAL retro gaming is so overlooked; people wet themselves over Japan-exclusive games and only talk about the USA and there when the EU + UK is the third largest game market after the USA and China. It makes me irrationally annoyed how much we're ignored or glossed over XD I think we had it best for the most part too.
Easier to put them in front of YouTube now and have them develop American accents and get over-stimulated watching that Mr. Beast swill.
I got my start with Sonic on the original Sega Genesis (no, you can't convince me to call it the Master Drive. Not when Genesis is how I've known it since I was six). All five games (1,2,3,3D Blast, and Knuckles) were bought second hand as birthday presents, and I loved them. I actually got Sonic 2 before I got 1, and I went years believing a 3 had to be out there before my dad found it at one of the local used game shops. Sadly, my already very Christian household was swept by a particular religious fervor, and my mom insisted we get rid of them. I would later manage to get Sonic Adventure 2 into the house for the GameCube, which left a fresh indelible stamp on my heart and imagination.
Anyone trying to sniff at og Sonic is a poser. There, I said it. The 2D games were and are phenomenal, and there's a reason Sonic Mania sold like hotcakes.
I dunno man, that's 3 regions against one if we count Brazil also calling it that ;)
Sonic Adventure 2, what a game. I also had it on GameCube (it's actually fairly uncommon and expensive on DC) and it certainly left its mark here too, 7 year old me thought Shadow The Hedgehog was cooler than ice.
Say it louder so the rest of the internet hears, you'll get no argument from me, adore these games and I loved Mania too.
I don't care what the Brazilians say! I will gleefully die on this hill! :D
There's a reason fans are still hoping for a Sonic Adventure 3. 2 was incredible. It really brought the series' rebellious sense of cool into the 3D realm in a way that landed hard. Especially with the addition of an edgy antihero rival for Sonic, which couldn't have been better timed. Shadow is the best addition to the og character roster we've ever had.
Heads up about Frontiers, btw. It's very Different. You will love it or you will hate it. The open world racing/platforming sections are very hit or miss, but they're also where the heart of the game really is.
Adventure 3 would be an INSTANT buy for me, with the old multi-character format, God I don't know why Sega hasn't done it, that would be just sublime. I agree on Shadow and I'll go a step further and say that I think Chaos is the best villain besides Eggman.
I was waiting for it to drop on Switch 2 but that's apparently going to be a Game Key Card which takes the piss. I've got quite a few games I need to get through right now (I started Octopath Traveller 0 when it came out and I need to restart that and give it the proper time it deserves) but I'll definitely review Frontiers someday, probably for PS5.
This was a very enjoyable read from start to finish.
There's also a point to what you're saying about Sonic perhaps not living up to the scrutiny of the present day. That's the downside of there being so much content out there focusing on retro gaming (and I suppose I've been guilty of this myself a few times), where older games are mostly approached from an angle of 'how do they hold up now?' which is a really unfair question when you think about it.
I first beat the initial trilogy + Sonic CD at the start of this year, and while most of those games were rife with dodgy design decisions (Sonic 3&K kicks ass though), another thought I had was 'wow, I would probably have *really* liked these games as a kid.'
Glad you enjoyed reading :)
It is an unfair question and especially with Sega, I think people fail to appreciate theiur design sensibilities and arcade leanings.
I'm not super tuned in to the Sonic discourse but from what I hear these days, Sonic 1 is considered iconic but not great, 2 and 3 are loved and CD gets a lot of flak; CD was my favourite as a kid but I've not played it in at least 16 years, I'd love to give it a go on original hardware someday but the Sega Mega CD isn't cheap and neither is the game.
I can vouch for that: loved them as a kid and still do... just sobered by the realisation that I could rip them to shreds quite easily in a review.
That discourse seems pretty much the same as what I've seen, except I haven't seen Sonic CD being that unpopular.
I think a big part of Sonic is also that both the character and the games he's in were foremost created to *look* cool, sometimes even at the cost of the gameplay. At that, the series was very effective. If in a store at the time you would've had a Megadrive and a SNES set up next to each other running Sonic and Mario respectively, Sonic must've looked so much more spectacular. Really circles back to Sega's arcadey inclinations.
I completely agree and I also think Sonic did well at exposing Nintendo's weaknesses, only Sega wouldn't be the ones to exploit them, it would be Sony later.
Compared to what Sega were doing with Sonic, the console versions of their racers and even with the Sega CD I think Nintendo played the SNES rather safe. I love Super Metroid, Super Mario World etc. but they kind of feel like refined versions of their NES counterparts. Nintendo lacked that experimental edge that Sega had and Sonic was emblematic of; neither of them nailed the execution compared to Sony on the PS1. The PS1 isn't a console I'm all that fond of but it has a sense of ambition that the others sorely lacked.
Off to find it on my retro system and play now
Always love it when something I write prompts a play.
I played Sonic on my cousin’s Master System and it was, as you say, bloody brilliant. I had it on my Mega Drive too and it’s one of my favourite games of all time. Down with those who say otherwise! 😄 thanks for this nostalgia trip!
And thank you for reading! It's definitely worth playing even if you're familiar with the original. Sonic forever.
Sonic forever 😭
I can see why you'd prefer it, it is definitely the better platformer and more consistently well-designed I think. Both are great of course but SMS Sonic just has that touch of extra polish.
Same here! When I was a kid Sonic X was a popular cartoon and most kids I knew with a GBA had one of the Sonic Advance games, how times have changed...
I'll definitely give it a go at some point this year.
My first Sonic game. Seriously. My idiot parent bought me the wrong console. 😱😱😱😱