History VideoGame / SonicTheHedgehog18Bit

The first 8-bit ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' game, created for the Platform/MasterSystem and Platform/GameGear, and anonymously developed by Creator/YuzoKoshiro's game company Ancient in their first commercial release. While having the same basic plot, it wasn't a port so much as it was a [[ReformulatedGame unique alternative]] to the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 16-bit version]]. It has a mostly-unique Zone lineup, and unlike its 16-bit counterpart, Chaos Emeralds are hidden in the stages themselves. Special Stages are only for extra lives and continues.

The first 8-bit ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' game, created for the Master System and Game Gear, and anonymously developed by Creator/YuzoKoshiro's game company Ancient in their first commercial release. While having the same basic plot, it wasn't a port so much as it was a [[ReformulatedGame unique alternative]] to the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 16-bit version]]. It has a mostly-unique Zone lineup, and unlike its 16-bit counterpart, Chaos Emeralds are hidden in the stages themselves. Special Stages are only for extra lives and continues.

Due to playing on weaker hardware, the high-speed element of gameplay was scaled back quite a bit, and it really didn't help the Game Gear gain an advantage over the Nintendo's UsefulNotes/GameBoy in the handheld market. Nevertheless, it's still pretty fun in its own right, and features a catchy soundtrack of its own composed by Yuzo Koshiro (with some adaptations of Masato Nakamura's work for the 16-bit game), the most notable sample being the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl1NHbCEFds Bridge Zone theme.]]

* CanonImmigrant: While this game is largely not considered canon to the classic continuity -- being superseded by the 16-bit version -- it was the first to include a full view of South Island, which later installments have taken as its canon appearance, including ''Sonic Origins'', which features the 16-bit version.[[note]]The Game Gear version will be added as part of the ''Plus'' DLC on June 23rd, 2023.[[/note]]

** If you have a shield at the end of the level, you will bring it to the next, which predates the use of this in ''[[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]''. This is extremely useful for the [[OneHitPointWonder ringless]] boss stages.

* WarmUpBoss: Green Hill's boss is even easier than in the 16-bit version, with Eggman simply floating in his regular Egg Mobile to the edge of a screen with no wrecking ball, slowly descending to ground level, and then [[CollisionDamage trying to ram into you]]. The UsefulNotes/GameGear port's low screen resolution makes it possible for Sonic to jump high enough to hurt Eggman and defeat him before he even gets the chance to attack you. It's even easier than the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 drill car]].

* FanRemake: The [[https://sonic-sms-remake.blogspot.com/ Sonic SMS remake]] is one (specifically the Master System version) by Creative Araya that aims to faithfully replicate the original game, but also adds in several features such as widescreen support, the addition of the Spin-Dash and the Super Peel-Out, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty and Ray as playable characters, Super Sonic and even a playable Marble Zone. And on December 2021, [[https://www.indieretronews.com/2021/12/sonic-hedgehog-c64c128-is-due-for.html?m=1 Mr. Sid did a Commodore 64 port of the game]].

* GreenAesop: The nature vs. technology conflict is retained in the 8-bit version, with the contrast between the beauty of Green Hill Zone and the dystopic nightmare of Scrap Brain Zone being just as clear as before.

[[caption-width-right:350:The fun-sized edition.]]

** If you have a shield at the end of the level, you will bring it to the next, which predates the use of this in [[VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'']]. This is extremely useful for the [[OneHitPointWonder ringless]] boss stages.

** If you have a shield at the end of the level, you will bring it to the next, which is virtually unheard of for a Sonic game, let alone one this early. This is extremely useful for the [[OneHitPointWonder ringless]] boss stages.

** If you have a shield at the end of the level, you will bring it to the next, an extremely rare luxury for a Sonic game. This is extremely useful for the [[OneHitPointWonder ringless]] boss stages.

** This is notably averted with the Master System version, which opts to use Sonic's original Japanese design for all regions as opposed to the redesign by Greg Martin.

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Sega of America edited Sonic's appearance on the Game Gear box and in all promotional media to make him look more "punk"-like, shaping his quills to look like a mohawk and giving him a more smug expression. However, unlike the Genesis and Game Gear versions, the Master System box uses Sonic's original Japanese design as opposed to his redesign by Greg Martin. This is due to the game being a direct import of the European version, which had used his Japanese design.

* CanonImmigrant: While this game is largely not considered canon to the classic continuity -- being superseded by the 16-bit version -- it was the first to include a full view of South Island, which later installments have taken as its canon appearance (including ''Sonic Origins'', which only includes the 16-bit version).

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Sega of America edited Sonic's appearance on the Game Gear box and in all promotional media to make him look more "punk"-like, shaping his quills to look like a mohawk and giving him a more smug expression. However, which unlike the Genesis and Game Gear versions, the Master System box uses Sonic's original Japanese design as opposed to his redesign by Greg Martin. This is due to the game being a direct import of the European version, which had used his Japanese design.

** No Spin Dash, no Super Sonic[[npte]]Though no 8-bit Sonic game ever featured the SuperMode[[/note]], and only six Chaos Emeralds. Emeralds are not obtained from Special Stages; instead, the game features a freestanding Emerald hidden somewhere in one of the first two Acts of each Zone. There are also a few zones with rather bland one word names (Labyrinth, Bridge, Jungle), whereas every subsequent 2D ''Sonic'' game would either give the zones two word names or one big word as a name.

** No Spin Dash, no Super Sonic, and only six Chaos Emeralds. Emeralds are not obtained from Special Stages; instead, the game features a freestanding Emerald hidden somewhere in one of the first two Acts of each Zone. There are also a few zones with rather bland one word names (Labyrinth, Bridge, Jungle), whereas every subsequent 2D ''Sonic'' game would either give the zones two word names or one big word as a name.

* MissingSecret: Scrap Brain Zone Act 3 has only 99 Rings. Don't waste your time looking for the last Ring to get a 1-Up.

* AdaptedOut: While Green Hill, Labyrinth and Scrap Brain make it in, Marble, Spring Yard and Starlight are absent in this version. The former two are replaced by Bridge and Jungle, while Scrap Brain takes Starlight's original spot as the fifth zone, with Sky Base becoming the new final zone. Notably, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhSNmb-4Qr0 Marble Zone's theme]] actually is left over in the game files, suggesting it was at least considered.

* FanRemake: The [[https://sonic-sms-remake.blogspot.com/ Sonic SMS remake]] is one (specifically the Master System version) by Creative Araya that aims to faithfully replicate the original game, but also adds in several features such as widescreen support, the addition of the Spin-Dash and the Super Peel-Out, Tails, Knuckles, Mighty and Ray as playable characters, Super Sonic and even a playable Marble Zone.

** Unlike in practically other ''Sonic'' game, rings cannot be recollected after Sonic takes a hit.

* GreenAesop: The nature vs. technology conflict is retained in the 8-bit version, with the contrast between the beauty of Green Hill Zone and the dystopic nightmare of Scrap Brain Zone]] being just as clear as before.

* WarmUpBoss: Green Hill's boss is even easier than in the 16-bit version, with Eggman floating in his regular Egg Mobile to the edge of a screen, slowly descending to ground level, and then [[CollisionDamage trying to ram into you]]. The UsefulNotes/GameGear port's low screen resolution makes it possible for Sonic to jump high enough to hurt Eggman and defeat him before he even gets the chance to attack you. It's easier than the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 drill car]].

* GreenRocks: The Chaos Emeralds — magical gemstones that [[KiManipulation contain the power of nature]]. In both the 16-bit and 8-bit versions of Sonic 1, there are six of them; however in this game, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness they are all blue]]. Obtaining all of them is necessary to earn the GoldenEnding, in which their power is used to restore nature and remove all of the pollution that Eggman created.