History VideoGame / SonicTheHedgehog1

On June 22, 2017, the remastered version of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was added to the Sega Forever service as an ad-supported free-to-play game. Both the original and remastered versions of the game, along with those of ''Sonic CD'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', and ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', are included in CompilationRerelease ''Sonic Origins'', released June 23, 2022.

Released on June 11, 1991 for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, it marked the beginning of Creator/{{Sega}}'s beloved ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise and is one of the most iconic games of the [[UsefulNotes/The16bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 16-bit era]]. An [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog18Bit 8-bit Master System / Game Gear counterpart]] was also released in 1991.

It practically re-defined the [[PlatformGame platforming genre]] by adding branching paths and [[WreakingHavok physics-based obstacles]] such as loops and slopes. In addition to the touted high-speed gameplay, gamers of the time were astonished by the impressive graphics, as well as the catchy soundtrack by Masato Nakamura of the Japanese pop group, Dreams Come True. ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' put the Genesis on the map and was a catalyst for the console dethroning [[Creator/{{Nintendo}} The Big N]] with a 65% market share over the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super NES]] during the 16-bit UsefulNotes/ConsoleWars. This was by far the best-selling game for the Genesis/Mega Drive with over 15 million units sold worldwide.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Pecky, an animal sometimes freed in Labyrinth Zone and Scrap Brain Zone Act 3, is decidedly sphenisciform.

Released in 1991 for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, it marked the beginning of Creator/{{Sega}}'s beloved ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise and is one of the most iconic games of the [[UsefulNotes/The16bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 16-bit era]]. Both it and an [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog18Bit 8-bit Master System / Game Gear counterpart]] were released in 1991.

''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was also [[UpdatedReRelease remastered]] for [=iOS=] and Android devices, and was released in 2013. This remaster was completely rebuilt from scratch while using a new engine, featuring HD 60 FPS presentation with proper widescreen, a remastered soundtrack, and other quality-of-life improvements. Like ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''[='=]s HD remaster, it was developed by Christian "The Taxman" Whitehead (who later headed up ''VideoGame/SonicMania''), though this time in collaboration with Simon "Stealth" Thomley. Not only does it allow Tails to be playable (and even follow Sonic and carry him while flying à la ''Sonic 3'', unlike the HD remaster of ''Sonic CD''), but it finally accomplished what the Lock-On Technology of ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' tried to do and what had once only been possible in an unofficial [[GameMod ROM hack]] by Stealth himself: make Knuckles playable. On June 22, 2017, the remastered version of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was added to the Sega Forever service as an ad-supported free-to-play game. Both the original and remastered versions of the game, along with those of ''Sonic CD'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', and ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', are included in CompilationRerelease ''Sonic Origins'', released June 23rd, 2022.

* CompanyCrossReferences: The little birds Sonic frees from the Badniks are called Flicky, a reference to Sega's early arcade game '"VideoGame/{{Flicky}}''.

* Sega of America also renamed all of the small animals besides Flicky the bird. Cucky the chicken became Chirps, Pecky the penguin became Tux, Picky the pig became Porker Lewis, Pocky the rabbit became Johnny Lightfoot, Ricky the squirrel became Sally Acorn, and Rocky the seal became Joe Sushi.

** Sonic's home planet is left unnamed in Japanese, but heavily implied to be our Earth -- South Island is said to be located in the Pacific. Sega of America instead described the setting as an alien planet called Mobius, which was adopted by most western media associated with the franchise.

* MinimalistCast: Sonic and Eggman are the only named characters; the Badniks and the kidnapped animals are an indistinct mass.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: The Peckys freed in Labyrinth Zone and Scrap Brain Zone Act 3 are decidedly sphenisciform.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Some of the critters freed in the Labyrinth Zone and Scrap Brain Zone Act 3 are decidedly sphenisciform.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: * The final Zone of the game is called ''Final Zone''.

The story begins on the fictional South Island, where the [[MadScientist insane scientist]] [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]] (or [[IHaveManyNames Dr. Ivo Robotnik]]) is gathering up the [[FunnyAnimal intelligent animals that live there]] and [[UnwillingRoboticization systematically transforming]] them all into "[[MeaningfulName Badniks]]" -- an army of {{Robot Soldier}}s that obey his every command. Using this army and South Island's six [[PowerCrystal Chaos Emeralds]], he intends to conquer the planet. Unfortunately for Eggman, there's one problem. South Island is ''[[MuggingTheMonster also]]'' currently home to Sonic: an unusual [[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife blue hedgehog]] who possesses [[NaturalWeapon razor sharp quills]], [[SuperSpeed the power to run at supersonic speeds]], and [[MascotwithAttitude an attitude]]. Not only is Sonic far too fast to be caught, but thanks to his sense of justice, he's made it his mission to free his friends and take the fight to the doctor's doorstep.

** Similarly, after beating the Spring Yard Zone boss, Sonic can easily fall into the gaps in the floor and die.

** Similarly, Sonic can easily fall into the holes in the floor after beating the Spring Yard Zone boss and die.

** In Final Zone, there's a bottomless pit after the final boss that you can very easily jump into.

%%* MascotWithAttitude: Sonic was the inspiration for dozens of knock-offs. ZERO CONTEXT EXAMPLE

* MascotWithAttitude: Sonic was the inspiration for dozens of knock-offs, [[SturgeonsLaw only very few of whom actually had good games]].

* EverythingTryingToKillYou: [[PollutedWasteland Scrap Brain Zone]] is a [[NoOshaCompliance horrible, horrible place]] for living creatures. Crushers and circular saws suspended over fast-moving conveyor belts in cramped corridors, temporary platforms placed right next to flamethrowers and lightning bolt generators, swinging spiked balls on chains, [[AsteroidsMonster Caterkillers]] and [[ActionBomb Bombs]] lurking around... and the third act is actually a harder Labyrinth Zone!
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Final Zone, the final zone in the game.

** Then there are hacks that tweak core game mechanics for a twist, such as "OMG the Red Rings" (where touching any ring kills Sonic) or "Sonic 1: Gotta Go Fast Edition", (which speeds up Sonic's movement more with every ring he grabs), Sonic 1 Over 9000 (which bumps up Sonic's SuperSpeed UpToEleven, [[FakeDifficulty to the point of him being near-uncontrollable]]) and the infamous "An Ordinary Sonic 1 ROM Hack" (which revamps the game into what can only be described as a survival horror platformer).

** With the exception of the Final Zone, there are three rather than two Acts per Zone. This can make them seem overly long to someone who played later games first. Only the Metropolis Zone of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' would feature three full Acts within a single Zone, while ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'' and the 8-bit games would feature third Acts, but as {{Boss Only Level}}s

** With the exception of the Final Zone, there are three rather than two Acts per Zone. This can make them seem overly long to someone who played later games first. Only the Metropolis Zone of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' would feature 3 Acts within 1 Zone.

* ActionBomb: The apty-named [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Bomb]] Badnik, whom cannot be defeated by Sonic and will self-destruct when he approaches them, scattering shrapnel in the process.

''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was also [[UpdatedReRelease remastered]] for [=iOS=] and Android devices, and was released in 2013. This remaster was completely rebuilt from scratch while using a new engine, featuring HD 60 FPS presentation with proper widescreen, a remastered soundtrack, and other quality-of-life improvements. Like ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]''[='=]s HD remaster, it was developed by Christian "The Taxman" Whitehead (who later headed up ''VideoGame/SonicMania''), though this time in collaboration with Simon "Stealth" Thomley. Not only does it allow Tails to be playable (and even follow Sonic and carry him while flying à la ''Sonic 3'', unlike the HD remaster of ''Sonic CD''), but it finally accomplished what the Lock-On Technology of ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' tried to do and what had once only been possible in an unofficial [[GameMod ROM hack]] by Stealth himself: make Knuckles playable. On June 22, 2017, the remastered version of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was added to the Sega Forever service as an ad-supported free-to-play game. Both the original and remastered versions of the game, along with those of ''Sonic CD'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', and ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'', are included in ''VideoGame/SonicOrigins'', released June 23rd, 2022.

The story begins on the fictional South Island, where the [[MadScientist insane scientist]] [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]] (or [[IHaveManyNames Dr. Ivo Robotnik]]) is gathering up the [[FunnyAnimal intelligent animals that live there]] and [[UnwillingRoboticization systematically transforming]] them all into "[[MeaningfulName Badniks]]" -- an army of {{Robot Soldier}}s. Using this army and South Island's six [[PowerCrystal Chaos Emeralds]], he intends to conquer the planet. Unfortunately for Eggman, there's one problem. South Island is ''[[MuggingTheMonster also]]'' currently home to Sonic: an unusual [[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife blue hedgehog]] who possesses [[NaturalWeapon razor sharp quills]], [[SuperSpeed the power to run at supersonic speeds]], and [[MascotwithAttitude an attitude]]. Not only is Sonic far too fast to be caught, but thanks to his sense of justice, he's made it his mission to free his friends and take the fight to the doctor's doorstep.

The story begins on the fictional South Island, where the [[MadScientist insane scientist]] [[BigBad Dr. Eggman]] (or [[IHaveManyNames Dr. Ivo Robotnik]]) is gathering up the [[FunnyAnimal intelligent animals that live there]] and [[UnwillingRoboticization systematically transforming]] them all into "[[MeaningfulName Badniks]]" -- an army of {{Robot Soldier}}s. Using this army and South Island's six [[PowerCrystal Chaos Emeralds]], he intends to conquer the planet. Unfortunately for Eggman, there's one problem. ''[[MuggingTheMonster Another]]'' recent arrival to the island is Sonic: an unusual [[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife blue hedgehog]] who possesses [[NaturalWeapon razor sharp quills]], [[SuperSpeed the power to run at supersonic speeds]], and [[MascotwithAttitude an attitude]]. Not only is Sonic far too fast to be caught, but thanks to his sense of justice, he's made it his mission to free his friends and take the fight to the doctor's doorstep.

* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: Sega of America edited Sonic's appearance on the game's 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.