History WhatCouldHaveBeen / SonicTheHedgehog1

* The original stage setup for Sonic to run through was Green Hill, Labyrinth, Marble, Star Light, Spring Yard, and finally Scrap Brain. The reason everything between Green Hill and Scrap Brain was changed wasn't because of its pacing, but rather due how Labyrinth would be too hard for a second level. This intended level order can be seen in the [=REV00=] level select menu.

* The checkered wrecking ball that Eggman uses in the first boss fight was also a separate obstacle that would chase Sonic. This object is also notorious for appearing in various magazine screenshots as that. After a handful of [[http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=26314 interpretations]] by fans on how it could have worked, the remake has it as an object that can be placed in the debug mode. The pilot of ''Series/NickArcade'' briefly features an early version of the game and the ball is seen rolling on a slope.

* There were initial plans for a more extensive sound test mode. Sonic was the head (and {{face|OfTheBand}}) of a rock band that was scrapped early in development but the band was removed due to time constraints. Sonic's love of music would reappear in future games. Instead of rock, however, he became a fan of hip-hop. One of the band members would be reused as Vector the Crocodile in future titles. Additionally, at one point, according to some early ConceptArt, the band members would have appeared at the end of the game with Sharps the Parakeet saving Sonic from falling in a way similar to Tails at the end of ''Sonic 2''.

* Instead of Badniks, Sonic originally fought monsterous creatures. These can be seen in early ConceptArt and early prototype screenshots, where only one of the creatures was left intact there. When Madonna was scrapped and the original storyline (Where Sonic was in a world of nightmares) had to be rewritten, the monsters were replaced with wackier-looking robots containing cute creatures that became Sonic's friends inside.

* The checkered wrecking ball that Eggman uses in the first boss fight once had a diamond symbol drawn on it instead. This object is also notorious for appearing in various magazine screenshots as a level obstacle for Green Hill. After a handful of [[http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=26314 interpretations]] by fans on how it could have worked, the remake has it as an object that can be placed in the debug mode. The pilot of ''Series/NickArcade'' briefly features an early version of the game and the ball is seen rolling on a slope.

* There were initial plans for a more extensive sound test mode. Sonic was the head (and {{face|OfTheBand}}) of a rock band that was scrapped early in development but the band was removed due to time constraints. Sonic's love of music would reappear in future games. Instead of rock, however, he became a fan of hip-hop. One of the band members would be reused as Vector the Crocodile in future titles. Additionally, at one point, according to some early concept art, the band members would have appeared at the end of the game with Sharps the Parakeet saving Sonic from falling in a way similar to Tails at the end of ''Sonic 2''.

* Instead of Badniks, Sonic originally fought monsterous creatures. These can be seen in early concept art and early prototype screenshots, where only one of the creatures was left intact there. When Madonna was scrapped and the original storyline (Where Sonic was in a world of nightmares) had to be rewritten, the monsters were replaced with wackier-looking robots containing cute creatures that became Sonic's friends inside.

* In 2023, Naoto Ohshima [[https://twitter.com/NaotoOhshima/status/1616849524710068227 shared more info]] about the very origin of the game as ''"Twin Stars"'', a story about twin human brothers who protect a dream world from Thirteen, the boss of the Nightmare World. From that concept, only the fast gameplay with smooth terrain and loops remained. He also made it clear a couple of the odd creatures shown in the artwork are meant to be a baseball bat and mitt. A fellow developer then [[https://twitter.com/tetsu_skytree/status/1616894357931692033 shared two more sketches]] showing the possible title screen and two stages for the game.

!!Examples

* According to [[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/6/60/ComputerandVideoGamesJune1991_2.jpg the June 1991 issue]] of ''Computer and Video Games'', the game was going to be ported to home computers of the time such as the Commodore 64, Amiga and ZX Spectrum. Sega eventually scrapped the idea, presumably so that computer users of the time [[KillerApp had a good reason to buy a Mega Drive]].

* [[https://shmuplations.com/sonic/ The game was originally planned to have a multiplayer mode]] early on. The concept was scrapped due to the team having difficulties with trying to make it work with the game's speed. The idea would later be realized in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''.

* [[https://shmuplations.com/sonic/ The game was originally planned to have a multiplayer mode]] early on. The concept was scrapped due to the team having difficulties with trying to make it work with the game's speed. The idea would later be revisited in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2''.

* There [[https://www.sonicstadium.org/2021/06/meet-the-30th-anniversary-edition-of-sonic-the-hedgehog-on-mega-drive-that-almost-happened/ were plans]] for what would have been an [[MilestoneCelebration 30th anniversary]] themed UpdatedRerelease of the game that would had been released right on the same day as the game's original release. It didn't get far, however, as it was promptly rejected by Sega when the people behind the plan pitched the idea to them.

[[caption-width-right:350:This is one of the manny design of sonic where at one point h was a rabbit that would grab things with his ears.]]

** The original stage setup for Sonic to run through was Green Hill, Labyrinth, Marble, Star Light, Spring Yard, and finally Scrap Brain. The reason everything between Green Hill and Scrap Brain was changed wasn't because of its pacing, but rather due how Labyrinth would be too hard for a second level. This intended level order can be seen in the [=REV00=] level select menu.
** The checkered wrecking ball that Eggman uses in the first boss fight once had a diamond symbol drawn on it instead. This object is also notorious for appearing in various magazine screenshots as a level obstacle for Green Hill. After a handful of [[http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=26314 interpretations]] by fans on how it could have worked, the remake has it as an object that can be placed in the debug mode. The pilot of ''Series/NickArcade'' briefly features an early version of the game and the ball is seen rolling on a slope.
** Scrap Brain Zone was originally called Clock Work Zone.[[note]]For some reason, the font used for the title cards didn't allow a W, which rendered it as "Clock Ork Zone". Rather amusingly, a W was later made for the 2013 remake so the message "NOW SONIC CAN BE SUPER SONIC" could be displayed.[[/note]] It also had diagonal conveyor belts, which eventually appeared in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' via Wing Fortress Zone, and a background that looked almost exactly like the foreground.
** Stealth, the same person who assisted Christian Whitehead on the iOS/Android port, made a demonstration port of the first three games to present to Sega for the DS, running well ahead in terms of frame rate before ''Classics Collection'' for the DS. Sega never responded.
** [[http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=27908&st=330&p=805151&#entry805151 Artwork revealed]] in the ''[[http://www.readonlymemory.vg/sega-mega-drive-genesis-collected-works Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works]]'' book shows that the original plan for the ending was for Sonic to fall from the sky, be brought down to earth safely by his scrapped bandmate, Sharps the Chicken and then pose with his friends. [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou This sort of ending]] became a recurring element in the series once it was used [[SignatureScene to great effect]] in [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 the sequel.]]
** There were initial plans for a more extensive sound test mode. Sonic was the head (and {{face|OfTheBand}}) of a rock band that was scrapped early in development but the band was removed due to time constraints. Sonic's love of music would reappear in future games. Instead of rock, however, he became a fan of hip-hop. One of the band members would be reused as Vector the Crocodile in future titles. Additionally, at one point, according to some early concept art, the band members would have appeared at the end of the game with Sharps the Parakeet saving Sonic from falling in a way similar to Tails at the end of ''Sonic 2''.
** Sonic was originally supposed to have a human girlfriend named [[http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Madonna Madonna]] who was a LadyInRed with short, blonde hair. There are conflicting reports as to why she was scrapped.[[note]]Madeleine Schroeder, who worked for Sega of America at the time of the game's development, claims that she dropped Madonna, and made some other changes, in order to "soften" Sonic for an American audience. Yuji Naka, however, contradicted it and claimed that the developers dropped her because they felt that her appearance would have made the game's story too similar to ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros''[[/note]] Considering the later reception of Sonic's "friendship" with a human princess in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', Sega ''definitely'' seem to have made the right call here.
** Very early screenshots of Green Hill Zone featured a [[https://www.sonicretro.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sonic-Tokyo-Toy-Show-6-1990_zpshfcvw5eq-1024x417.jpg mountainous background]] instead of the large lake and cascades that inhabit the final version (with the mountain ranges pushed further into the background and being relatively indistinct). The second act of ''VideoGame/SonicMania''[='s=] Green Hill Zone features a background inspired by these screenshots.
** The ''[[https://tcrf.net/File:Sonic1concept_specialitem.jpg Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works]]'' shows that Sonic originally collected keys instead of Chaos Emeralds which hadn't been thought up yet.
** Spring Yard Zone was originally called Sparkling Zone. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nATUbLc6sF4 It had a radically different background.]]
** Sonic originally had a "scarier" design that featured fangs. He was softened up under suggestion from Sega of America. His fangs can still be seen in an [[EarlyDraftTieIn early promotional manga]].
** Instead of Badniks, Sonic originally fought monsterous creatures. These can be seen in early concept art and early prototype screenshots, where only one of the creatures was left intact there. When Madonna was scrapped and the original storyline (Where Sonic was in a world of nightmares) had to be rewritten, the monsters were replaced with wackier-looking robots containing cute creatures that became Sonic's friends inside.
** In a ''Sega Mega Drive/Genesis: Collected Works'' interview, Naoto Ōshima revealed that the sound test originally had Sonic performing Music/MichaelJackson-like dance moves.
** According to [[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/6/60/ComputerandVideoGamesJune1991_2.jpg the June 1991 issue]] of ''Computer and Video Games'', the game was going to be ported to home computers of the time such as the Commodore 64, Amiga and ZX Spectrum. Sega eventually scrapped the idea, presumably so that computer users of the time [[KillerApp had a good reason to buy a Mega Drive]].
** One [[http://info.sonicretro.org/images/f/fe/S1concept-WaterArt.jpg early concept art]] depicts Sonic skipping across the water of a Japanese-themed underwater zone (likely an early version of what would become Labyrinth Zone) to reach a different path. While both of these concepts likely never made it past the concept stage for this game, the idea of Sonic skipping across the water to access different paths would soon be realized in [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog28Bit the]] [[VideoGame/SonicChaos 8-bit]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble platformers]] and ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' would revisit the particular concept nearly 20 years later in the form of Aquarium Park.
** According to Creator/YujiNaka, the developers originally wanted Scrap Brain's 3rd act to contain an original background and sprite files, in order to make the final full stage truly unique. However, due to space and time constraints, they settled for reusing Labyrinth Zone's tile set with a new palette.
** There [[https://www.sonicstadium.org/2021/06/meet-the-30th-anniversary-edition-of-sonic-the-hedgehog-on-mega-drive-that-almost-happened/ were plans]] for what would have been an [[MilestoneCelebration 30th anniversary]] themed UpdatedRerelease of the game that would had been released right on the same day as the game's original release. It didn't get far, however, as it was promptly rejected by Sega when the people behind the plan pitched the idea to them.