Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)

Sonic the Hedgehog is a side-scrolling platform game based on the original Sega Genesis game of the same name developed by Ancient and published by Sega. It is in a similar style to the Sega Genesis counterpart, but includes changes and different content for the technologically inferior Sega Master System and eventually ported to the Game Gear. The plot of the game is copied from its Genesis cousin. It is noted for being the only Sonic game that Ancient developed, with most of the other 8-bit games being developed by Aspect.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Once again, it has colorful, detailed graphics. Even the reused zones have some new visuals to enjoy.
 * 2) Half of the zones are brand new, while the other half are taken from its 16-bit counterpart, but has different level design, graphics, and music (except for Green Hill Zone) for them to stand out.
 * 3) The game has a higher emphasis on platforming, probably to accommodate for the Sega Master System/Game Gear's weaker hardware. The platforming itself is pretty well done.
 * 4) Amazing music composed by Yuzo Koshiro, who also worked on the soundtrack for the Streets of Rage series.
 * 5) Different and unique bosses against Dr. Robotnik.
 * 6) Labyrinth Zone is nowhere near as frustrating as it was in the Genesis game.
 * 7) Getting the Chaos Emeralds is far less tiresome, because all you have to do is grab them in a specific act in each zone and you don't have to go through frustrating Special Stages to earn them.
 * 8) The game still has Special Stages, but they don't have any Chaos Emeralds, as they are more for extra lives and continues.
 * 9) Despite the Game Gear version having some screen crunch, enemies rarely ambush you from offscreen.
 * 10) Adorable credits sequence where Sonic is singing on a microphone while the credits play out.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) The game much slower and doesn't emphasize speed often, but at least the level design compliments the slower physics.
 * 2) Scrap Brain Zone and Sky Base Zone can be frustrating to deal with.
 * 3) The bosses range from being too easy, like in Green Hill Zone, to frustrating, like in Jungle Zone. This is especially true in the Game Gear version. You also get no rings in the bosses, although if you have a shield from a previous act, it will carry over.
 * 4) The game has some questionable level design, like the Chaos Emerald in Labyrinth Zone in both versions.
 * 5) Unlike most other Sonic games, if you take damage, you lose all of your rings and can't recover them. Also, if you get 100 rings, you'll still get a 1-up, but you lose all of them.
 * 6) Jungle Zone Act 2 can be annoying in the Master System version, mainly because you can die if you touch the lower part of the screen. Even if you make it to a platform you will still lose a life. Fortunately, this was fixed in the Game Gear version.

Trivia

 * The Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog was the final game released for the Sega Master System in North America.
 * The Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog received a homebrew port for the Commodore 64 in late 2021.

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