Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

Sonic the Hedgehog is the platform game that started off the career of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Team.

Related Topics:
Platform game - Sonic the Hedgehog - Sonic Team

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It was released on June 23, 1991 in North America for the Sega Genesis. The European version was released later in June, 1991 for the Sega Mega Drive. The Japanese version was released on July 26, 1991 for the Mega Drive. The game was later re-released for the Sega Saturn in 1998 as part of Sonic Jam, for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002 as part of Sonic Mega Collection (including all three revisions), and on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004 as part of Sonic Mega Collection Plus.

Related Topics:
June 23 - 1991 - North America - Sega Genesis - June - Sega Mega Drive - Japan - July 26 - Sega Saturn - 1998 - Sonic Jam - Nintendo GameCube - 2002 - Sonic Mega Collection - PlayStation 2 - Xbox - 2004 - Sonic Mega Collection Plus

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The first version lacked moving clouds, rippling water, and other minor details. The later Japanese version included the details, and the Japanese version 2.0 fixed the "spike bug."

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This game was the first game to really propel the Genesis into mass popularity in North America. After it was released, it eventually supplanted Altered Beast as the bundled game with the console.

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Sonic the Hedgehog added the element of speed to the standard platform formula, and introduced other unique elements as well, such as the loops and springboards now permanently associated with the game series.

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In the game, Sonic has to prevent Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik from collecting the Chaos Emeralds in an attempt to rule the world - canonically this is Earth, but for a lengthy period of time was commonly believed to be Mobius, due to outside sources using the name.

Related Topics:
Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik - Chaos Emerald - Earth - Mobius

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The main villain, Doctor Eggman, has always been called that in the Japanese titles. However, in the European and American versions, his name is localized to Doctor Ivo Robotnik, and has stayed that way until Sonic Adventure, where it has been changed to Doctor Eggman.

Related Topics:
Doctor Eggman - Sonic Adventure

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There was also a version of Sonic the Hedgehog released for the Sega Master System and the Game Gear, which loosely followed the design of the Genesis version, although with some different zones and a level map.

Related Topics:
Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega Master System - Game Gear

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Although its Genesis counterpart was extremely popular in the United States, Sonic the Hedgehog only received lukewarm responses in Japan. Sonic wouldn't catch on in that locale until Sonic Jam.

Related Topics:
United States - Sonic Jam

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