There are a number of major anniversaries this year, one of which is Sonic the Hedgehog's 30th year. SEGA is celebrating this year with events like an upcoming Sonic Symphony, various cameos and the upcoming release of Sonic Colors Ultimate. Of course, fans are getting involved with their own celebrations as well.
The video above, from GTV Japan, is a rather enjoyable one hour retrospective that reflects on Sonic's history and the character's importance in gaming history. It's easy to forget now, but there's a time when Sonic was at the vanguard of SEGA's extremely effective promotion of the Mega Drive / Genesis, which triggered the original 'console wars' with Nintendo. For those of us that grew up in the era it was a memorable time.
Sit back with a refreshing beverage and check it out!
[source youtube.com]
Comments 25
Don't have an hour, can you make it 5 mins. ADHD and all that /s
Remembering the console wars of the 90's, I marvel at how I can now play Mario, Sonic, and Crash Bandicoot games on my Nintendo system.
I've never seen anyone actually legitimately enjoying themselves playing Sonic. Even back when I was 6 as Sonic 1 - 3 on the Genesis were popular, my friends or other kids at daycare were just... Putting up with it. Their faces were blank. I would watch them from across the room and wonder why they even spent their time with it when I knew if they put in Mario they'd go back to laughing and grabbing the controller from each other because they were actually excited to try the level again. Never mind all the junk Sonic games that've come out since then. It's like Star Wars, people just get nostalgic for the old visuals and noises so their brain releases chemicals that make them think they're having a good time but not that deep down their heart knows what they're playing is B rate quality at best. Not that there's anything wrong with that I guess.
Great video and trip down retro lane!! Being in my early 20s (in 1991), I remember the war between Nintendo and Sega very well. Had all the consoles from NES to Megadrive to SNES and nearly brought a Master System. Although I ultimately chose Mario and the SNES, I still have a soft spot for Sonic and I can vividly remember setting up my Megadrive for the first time and thinking wow as I blasted through Green hill level 1 with my new little blue friend!! Happy daze and memories. PS enjoying playing my Megadrive mini as much as my SNES mini
I went back to play Sonic Mania after it not having clicked with me when it first launched. In the years since I am in a more adjusted place and with a system that has scores of the types of games I love available to me at any time. I am more patient with game systems that do not immediately click with me and have found joy in all sorts of less than perfect video games.
But I think I might be in the "Sonic was never good camp" with that I will be turning in my Sega Kid Badge and Orange Sega Saturn Light Gun
@SpaceboyScreams wow lol.
I legitimately enjoy Sonic games.
And it's not just the sights and sounds or other superficial elements - the actual game itself is a huge part of what's so enjoyable. If you grew up with Sonic, or if you take the time to play through Sonic, you start to get an innate understanding of how the game functions, and its style of platforming feels so open and free-form.
for example, the fans could immediately tell that Sonic 4 Episode 1 was significantly off-kilter, and that Sonic Mania was spot-on. It's not just "oh yay it's sonic" and then you go into a mindless trance. ... it's a videogame with game mechanics, and playing through the levels after mastering the mechanics is really really fun.
@SpaceboyScreams You are so absolutely wrong about both Sonic and Star Wars but I’m sick of explaining this to people so I’m just going to leave you alone.
@Donutsavant If Sonic Mania is the only Sonic game you’ve played and it doesn’t click with you, don’t worry. I honestly don’t like 2D Sonic that much but the Sonic Adventure games, specifically 2, are number 2 and 3 on my top ten games list. Not to mention games like Heroes, Unleashed and Colors which all have their one unique styles and positives to them. When I first started playing the franchise, it wasn’t until I played Sonic Forces that I really started liking it. Of course, than I played the Adventure games and look back on Sonic Forces as one of the less solid games. But you could certainly enjoy it! What I’m trying to say is, don’t give up on the franchise. It’s worth it to keep playing.
Sonic went meh in 2010 and now it's like there restarting it again from 2010 again.
@SpaceboyScreams "I've never seen anyone actually legitimately enjoying themselves playing Sonic"
Pleased to meet you. 😉 I love playing Sonic games and have probably given some of them more repeat play throughs than most other games I've owned.
GTV rules, already watched. So good
already a better anniversary than Zelda or Mario
Hey Tom! Thanks for sharing! Good to see you still at it my friend!
@EarthboundBenjy
definitely agree 100%
while i find it harder to go back to sonic 1 due to it feeling like they were still finding the right balance, i feel like sonic 2 and sonic 3k definitely hold up. (with 3k being my fave due to feeling like a big adventure) and definitely agree with the sense of flow the games have in their movement. definitely curious to see more info about that collection they announced.
Sonic adventure 1 and 2. The rest meh.
@SpaceboyScreams I was with you until you started going on about the "brain chemicals" and "they fool themselves into enjoying it" BS. Just because people like you and me don't like Sonic doesn't mean that those who do are delusional or something. Everyone has their own opinions on things.
You really shouldn't go around parading your own opinion as a fact, because it makes you come across as a complete jerk.
Sonic stopped being "cool" when Sega stopped making consoles and then began having a myopic focus on him. Want to see Sega announce a new game that would generate genuine excitement across the hobby and which would become a breakout hit on the level of Fire Emblem: Three Houses or Animal Crossing New Horizons? If it ever happens it'll be one of their beloved RPG/SRPG series making a comeback. It will never, ever be Sonic again because he's become just an easy cash-in for them. He's less the face of Sega's glory days than a constant reminder that those days are way behind them.
@Slowdive thanks!
@EarthboundBenjy @Mgalens
I agree. The gameplay of Sonic 1, 2, 3 & Knuckles is what makes them fun and exciting, the graphics and music make them even more enjoyable.
@BlueOcean
definitely agree with this too., each stage having its own unique look and music (in 3&ks case multiple music tracks per zone) is also a part of the fun, even engaging in a bit of visual storytelling in 3k's case.
@Mgalens Absolutely. Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the pinnacle of the series and the first time I played it, I also remember being affected by the simple yet effective storytelling.
I also agree that the first Sonic was still looking for the right balance but it was innovative at the time. The alternative Master System games are also worth playing.
@SpaceboyScreams I agree with you. I don’t get what people enjoy about Sonic. I never enjoyed it. I had all the games but I didn’t think that we’re that great.
Removed - disrespecting others
@SpaceboyScreams you know people have different opinions right? just because you dont enjoy sonic doesnt mean everyone that does is delusional, that just seems like you are anxious about your opinion and you feel the need to justify it with some weird conspiracy theory about how "everyone that enjoys sonic is just nostalgia biased and are lying to themselves"
So please, next time just say you dont like sonic and move on
Removed - disrespecting others
Tap here to load 25 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...