Do You Remember Sonic the Hedgehog?
Sonic the Hedgehog came out in 1991. It was created because while Sega had some successes by that point in time, it had nothing that could match the iconic status of Mario for Nintendo. As a result, the people at Sega were determined to come up with something just as iconic, which is why they actually conducted a fair amount of market research before ending up with the blue hedgehog that we have come to know and love.
Regardless, the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog was the first installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise means that it should come as no surprise to learn that there are some elements found in later installments that are missing in this particular product. As a result, while there can be no doubt about the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog is well, Sonic the Hedgehog, people who are more accustomed to later installments might find it rather odd in that sense that it both does and doesn’t conform to their expectations. Still, it is the game that launched the entire franchise, meaning that said individuals shouldn’t let their expectations prevent them from giving it a chance.
Wood You Play Sonic the Hedgehog In The Present Day?
For that matter, it should be noted that there are plenty of other people who haven’t let the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog was released in 1991 stop them from playing it in the present. For proof, look no further than the fact that ports of the game have been released on a semi-regular basis. One excellent example is the port that was created for the GameBoy Advance, which incorporated some new features such as level select and the spin dash move, but met with a poor response because a lackluster conversion effort resulted in poor performance in a number of respects. In contrast, other ports have met with a much better reception, with one excellent example being the 2013 remaster that was released for both the iOS and Android in 2013.
However, that port doesn’t compare with 3D Sonic the Hedgehog for the Nintendo 3DS, which was interesting because it wasn’t an emulation of the original game but rather something of a remake that enabled it to take advantage of the system’s 3D graphics. On top of these, it should be mentioned that Sonic the Hedgehog is actually available on not just the Nintendo Wii but also both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.
Summed up, it is clear that there are a lot of people out there who remember Sonic the Hedgehog with fondness, so much so that they are willing to pay for it on a wide range of platforms in spite of the fact that it was released in 1991. In part, this might be because of nostalgia, which is a powerful force that can convince people to buy products for a chance to remember their bygone childhood.
Something that can be seen in the numerous remakes that are released by the entertainment industries on a regular basis. However, it is improbable that Sonic the Hedgehog would be able to sustain a semi-regular succession of re-releases on nothing but pure nostalgia, as shown by the sheer number of remakes that crash and burn on a regular basis. As a result, it seems reasonable to say that Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t just popular because it is old but also because there is something to it that still enables it to capture the interest of people who play video games in the present.
As for what that might be, that is rather complicated question to answer. Certainly, the graphics of Sonic the Hedgehog aren’t particularly great for people who are more accustomed to modern games, but for the most part, they have managed to hold up better than most people would expect, perhaps because the chosen style has provided it a touch of timeless charm. Instead, a better solution might be the actual game-play, particularly when it has been enhanced with some of the user experience improvements that have been added onto some of the ports that have been made of the game since its initial release.
After all, while Sonic the Hedgehog was the first installment of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, it nonetheless possessed the fundamental mechanics that have made the franchise as a whole so successful. For that matter, it should be mentioned that Sonic the Hedgehog isn’t a huge demand on someone’s time, meaning that there is nothing to stop interested individuals from picking it up before giving it a play from time to time. Something that makes it particularly well-suited for people who want to pass some time by playing on the portable platform of their choice.
Further Considerations After Playing Sonic Again
Summed up, there is no reason why people shouldn’t play Sonic the Hedgehog in the present. Sure, it is rather old and out-dated, meaning that it lacks a lot of the conveniences that people have become used to. However, it is simple and straightforward enough in nature that the lack of these conveniences isn’t actually the deal-breaker that it might be for other more complicated and more time-consuming games.
For that matter, it should be mentioned that there have been numerous ports released for Sonic the Hedgehog, including a fair number of which that happen to include changes intended to fix such issues. On top of that, even if people are dissatisfied by the experience provided to them by Sonic the Hedgehog, chances are good that they won’t have wasted much money anyways.
With that said, there is one other reason why interested individuals might want to play Sonic the Hedgehog. Simply put, it is the first installment in one of the more successful franchises out there, meaning that it has had a profound role in shaping what came after it. As a result, if people want to understand the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise as well as the fandom that has built up around it, playing Sonic the Hedgehog could provide them with a fair amount of insight into the older segments.
