Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sonic the Hedgehog |
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U.S. cover art
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| Developer(s) | Sonic Team |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Producer(s) | Shinobu Toyoda |
| Designer(s) | Hirokazu Yasuhara |
| Programmer(s) | Yuji Naka |
| Artist(s) |
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| Composer(s) | Masato Nakamura |
| Series | Sonic the Hedgehog |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release date(s) |
June 23, 1991
Sega Genesis
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| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Sonic the Hedgehog is a super-fast platform game made by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It first came out on the Sega Genesis console in 1991. This game introduced the world to Sonic, a speedy blue hedgehog. It was the very first game in the popular Sonic the Hedgehog series.
In the game, you play as Sonic. Your mission is to stop the evil scientist Dr. Robotnik. He has trapped innocent animals inside robots and wants to collect powerful Chaos Emeralds. Sonic must run through levels, collect rings for protection, and defeat Robotnik's machines. The game is known for its fast pace and simple controls. You mostly just jump and attack with one button.
Sonic the Hedgehog was a huge hit with players and critics. People loved its cool graphics, music, and exciting gameplay. It's often called one of the greatest video games ever made. It sold about 24 million copies worldwide. This success helped the Genesis become a major console in the 1990s. The game led to many sequels, cartoons, and other media. The next game, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, came out in 1992.
Contents
How to Play the Game
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2D game where you move from left to right. The main idea is to use Sonic's super speed. You race through levels that have springs, slopes, and even loops you can run around!
The levels are full of robot enemies. Inside these robots, Dr. Robotnik has trapped animals. When you destroy a robot, the animal is set free. You also need to avoid spikes, falling into pits, or getting crushed. Sonic can also drown if he stays underwater too long. You can find air bubbles to help him breathe.
Sonic's main attack is the spin attack. He curls into a ball and spins, hitting enemies and breaking obstacles. You can do this by jumping or by rolling on the ground.
Lives and Rings
You start the game with three lives. You lose a life if Sonic gets hit by an enemy without any rings. You also lose a life if he falls off the screen or runs out of time. Each level has a ten-minute time limit.
Checkpoints look like signposts. If you touch one, Sonic will restart from there if he loses a life. The game ends if you run out of lives. But you can use a continue to restart the current section with three lives.
Gold rings are found everywhere in the levels. If you collect 100 rings, you get an extra life! Rings also protect Sonic. If he has at least one ring and gets hit, his rings scatter. You can quickly pick some up again before they vanish. If he gets hit with no rings, he loses a life.
You can also find shields or temporary invincibility. These give you more protection. But some dangers, like drowning or falling into a pit, will always make Sonic lose a life.
Zones and Boss Fights
The game has six main zones, plus a short Final Zone. Each main zone looks different and has its own unique enemies and challenges. Each zone is split into three parts, called acts. You must complete all three acts.
At the end of the third act of each main zone, you fight Dr. Robotnik. He usually has a different machine or weapon in each fight. After the sixth zone, you go to the Final Zone. This is a single level where you have one last battle with Robotnik. When you destroy his machine, the game ends. A short scene shows Sonic freeing the animals.
Special Stages
If you finish Act 1 or Act 2 of any zone with at least 50 rings, a giant ring appears. Jump into it to enter a "special stage". In these stages, Sonic is always spinning. He bounces around a rotating maze.
In these levels, you can earn extra continues. But the main goal is to find a Chaos Emerald hidden in the maze. If you hit a block marked "GOAL", the special stage ends.
Game Story
The evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik wants to steal the six Chaos Emeralds. He wants to use their power for his bad plans. To do this, he has trapped the animals of South Island inside robots and metal capsules. You play as Sonic, who must stop Robotnik. Sonic needs to free his animal friends and collect the emeralds himself.
If you collect all six Chaos Emeralds and finish the game, you see a special ending. If you don't collect all of them, Robotnik will tease you. He will juggle the emeralds you missed.
How the Game Was Made
Creating Sonic and Robotnik
In the 1980s, Sega wanted a new character to compete with Nintendo's Mario. In 1990, Sega asked its game creators to make a mascot. Sega's president wanted a character as famous as Mickey Mouse. They had a character named Alex Kidd, but he wasn't popular enough.
The team thought about different animals that could be fast. They considered kangaroos and squirrels. They also wanted the character to roll into a ball to attack. This led them to think about armadillos and hedgehogs. Naoto Ohshima designed a blue hedgehog, which everyone loved. This hedgehog became Sonic. The armadillo idea later became Mighty the Armadillo.
Sonic was first a lighter blue, but changed to dark blue to stand out. His design was inspired by Felix the Cat and Mickey Mouse. His cool red and white shoes were inspired by Michael Jackson's boots and Santa Claus. Sonic's spikes were made sharper. He was given the ability to spin while jumping, so one button could control both. The team named themselves Sonic Team.
The bad guy, a man with a mustache, was also designed by Ohshima. He became Dr. Robotnik. In Japan, he was called "Dr. Eggman." Sega of America wanted to change some things about Sonic for Western players. They thought Americans might not know what a hedgehog was. They also wanted to simplify Sonic's backstory.
Game Design and Programming
Yuji Naka was the main programmer for Sonic the Hedgehog. He loved Super Mario Bros. but wanted to make a game that was much faster. He focused most of his effort on making Sonic move at incredible speeds.
The game was made by a small team of seven people at first. This included two programmers, two sound engineers, and three designers. Hirokazu Yasuhara joined to help design the levels. He made sure the game could be played with just one button. This was done by making Sonic damage enemies just by jumping.
Naka created a special way for Sonic to roll smoothly on curved paths and loops. This was a big technical achievement for the Genesis. The team worked very long hours to make the game perfect. They wanted to show off the Genesis's power.
The first level, Green Hill Zone, was designed many times. It was important to show Sonic's speed and style. Its famous checkered ground was inspired by 3D computer graphics.
Music Creation
Masato Nakamura, a bassist from the band Dreams Come True, composed the music for Sonic the Hedgehog. He was surprised to be asked, but he accepted. He wanted to help Sega beat Nintendo. The hardest part was working with the Genesis's sound limits. He could only use four sounds at once.
In 2011, a special music collection was released in Japan. It included music from Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It even had Nakamura's early demo recordings.
Game Release
The game's artist, Akira Watanabe, made the package look colorful and stylish. Sega waited to reveal the game until January 1991. They wanted to make a big splash at the Consumer Electronics Show. Sonic the Hedgehog was a huge hit at the show. It won an award for being innovative.
Sega of America tested the game with Mario fans. Most preferred Sonic the Hedgehog. The game was released in North America on June 23, 1991. It came out in other regions the next month. In November 1991, Sega started including Sonic the Hedgehog with every Genesis console. This helped Sega sell 15 million Genesis units. It made Sonic their new mascot.
Other Versions and Rereleases
Sonic the Hedgehog has been released on many different consoles over the years.
8-bit Version
A different version of Sonic the Hedgehog was made for Sega's 8-bit consoles. These were the Master System and Game Gear. It came out in late 1991. The story and gameplay are similar, but some levels and enemies are different. Chaos Emeralds are found in the levels, not in special stages. Sonic also can't pick up his rings after being hit. This version has different music.
Modern Remasters
In 2013, a new and improved version was released for iOS and Android phones. This version was built from scratch. It has widescreen graphics and lets you use the Spin Dash move. You can also play as Tails or Knuckles. This mobile version was updated in 2016 for Apple TV.
A Nintendo 3DS version, 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, came out in 2013. It used the 3DS's 3D graphics. It also added the Spin Dash and the option to start from any level.
Game Collections
Sonic the Hedgehog has been part of many game collections. These include Sonic Jam for the Sega Saturn and Sonic Mega Collection for the Nintendo GameCube. It's also in Sega Genesis Collection and Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. The 2013 mobile remaster was included in the 2022 collection Sonic Origins.
Digital Downloads
You can download Sonic the Hedgehog on many modern systems. It was available on Wii's Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade. It also came to PlayStation Network. You can play it on iOS and Android phones. It's also on Steam for Windows computers. A version for Nintendo Switch was released in 2018. It adds new features like moves from other Sonic games.
Legacy of Sonic
Sonic the Hedgehog helped make the Sega Genesis very popular. It became a strong rival to Nintendo and their Super Nintendo Entertainment System. For a while, the Genesis even sold more than the SNES. This was a big deal in the video game world.
The game inspired many other platformers with animal mascots. Games like Bubsy and Earthworm Jim followed its lead. Even games like Crash Bandicoot were inspired by Sonic's style.
Sonic's success led to a huge media franchise. Many sequels followed, like Sonic the Hedgehog 2. There are dozens of other Sonic games now. The series also has anime, manga, cartoons, and toys. It's one of the best-selling video game franchises ever. By 2014, it had sold over 140 million copies.
The first level of the game, Green Hill Zone, is very famous. It has appeared in many later Sonic games. These include Sonic Generations and Sonic Mania. It's even in the Super Smash Bros. fighting games.
The game also inspired many unofficial fan-made versions. These include Somari, which put Mario in Sonic levels. There are also "ROM hacks" that change the game in fun ways.
See also
In Spanish: Sonic the Hedgehog (videojuego de 1991) para niños
