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| Sonic the Hedgehog |
[View Rear]
Overview
Story
Scans
Notes
Cheats / Secrets
Last Updated: 12.26.05 |
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Developer:
Sonic Team
Publisher:
Sega
Platform:
Sega Genesis
Players:
1 |
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 06.23.91
 Unknown
 06.23.91
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Rereleases
Sega Genesis:
Sonic Classics
6-Pak
Sega MegaPlay:
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sega Saturn:
Sonic Jam
RealArcade (PC):
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sega Dreamcast:
Sega Smash Pack Vol. 1
Nintendo Gamecube:
Sonic Mega Collection
Sonic Gems Collection
Sony Playstation 2:
Sonic Mega Collection +
Microsoft XBox:
Sonic Mega Collection +
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Staff Credits:.
Game Planner:
Hirokazu Yasuhara
Sound Producer:
Masato Nakamura
Programmer:
Yuji Naka
Sound Programmers:
Takayuki Nakamura
Hiroshi Kubota
Design:
Jina Ishiwatari
Reiko Kodama
Character Design:
Naoto Ohshima
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| Overview |
Sonic the Hedgehog, commonly referred to as "Sonic 1," was Sega's answer to Mario as well as their attempt to take the lead in the console industry. It seems ironic that the first Sonic game was released in the United States and Europe before Japan, but the game sold well all across the globe. Sonic-Mania had begun.
The objective of each level in the game has kept true for the whole series: make it to the other side of the level in less than ten minutes. Sonic's movement (left, right, crouching, and looking up) is controlled by the D-Pad. The D-Pad on the Genesis/MegaDrive was not pressure sensitive, so Sonic's speed increases gradually as you held left or right for a period of time. Sonic can jump by pressing A, B, or C. His jump, just like the Mario games, is also his attack. However, Sonic can alternatively hurt his enemies by rolling into them while in "ball mode," which you can get into by running quickly and then crouching. Sonic also has a score meter that has no real effect on gameplay - it's there just for effect and competition. Points are added to the score meter every time you kill an enemy. Each enemy is worth 100 points, but that number is multiplied pseudo-exponentially whenever you kill multiple enemies with a single attack. Each zone boss is worth 1000. Bonus points are added at the end of each zone depending on the number of rings you collected and the amount of time you had left to complete the level.
Sonic's health is non-existant. If he gets hit a single time by an enemy or falls onto something sharp, he dies. However, Sega revolutionized the traditional life system by turning the most common platformer cliché - collectible items - into a health-barrier. Rings are found everywhere throughout the game. After collecting rings, Sonic will not die after getting hit by an enemy. Instead, he'll lose all of his rings and stay alive, becoming invincible for about three seconds. You can recollect the rings after losing them, but they all disappear after 6 seconds from the time you were hit. There is also a collectible energy shield that allows you to get hit and keep your rings without dying, but you lose the shield each time you are hit and cannot regain it until you obtain a new shield. Shields are found in item boxes, along with rings, extra lives, speed shoes, and invincibility stars.
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| Story |
The game supposedly takes place on "South Island," a strange island under attack by Dr. Robotnik. Dr. Robotnik (called Dr. Eggman in the Japanese version) is searching for the six Chaos Emeralds, mystical gems that give power to everything. To help him look for the emeralds, Robotnik recruits the help of the island's residents...who he has turned into robotic slaves. Sonic the Hedgehog has heard of Robotnik's devious plans and come to the island to put an end to the dictator's rule.
There are six "zones," or levels in Sonic the Hedgehog, each consisting of three "acts." There is a zone boss (Robotnik in one of his mechs) at the end of each zone's third act, each taking 8 hits to defeat. |
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Green Hill Zone
Green Hill is the trademark Sonic zone; by far the most famous out of all the games. You'll encounter 6 different types of colorful topic-themed enemies throughout all three acts.
Boss: Once again a classic, Robotnik will attack from the Eggmobile. He swings a giant checkered pendulum at Sonic. Jump onto the floating platforms on either side of the battlefield and then jump onto his ship to defeat him. |
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Marble Zone
Marble Zone is a lava-filled, crumbling fortress. How it became filled with lava is anyone's guess...and how the fortress came to conviently place platforms over the lava is another mystery, but we'll let it pass. You can get additional points by breaking the grey blocks located throughout the level, but since score doesn't matter, what's the point? (*onospun*)
Boss: Robotnik is back in the Eggmobile, but this time it's equipped with a flamethrower. He should get his money back - it's a really crummy weapon. It shoots little flames down onto one of the two platforms (separated by a pool of lava in the center) to engulf it in flames for a short time as he slowly moves back and forth across the field. Simply stand on the platform opposite the flaming one (NAW, REALLY?) and jump into his ship 8 times. Be careful not to fall into the pool of lava, though. |
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Spring Yard Zone
The pinball theme created by Spring Yard has stayed firm throughout the whole series. While the music isn't as upbeat, you still get the general casino feel. This zone is very easy, but it's also time consuming thanks to the slow movement of the platforms. You can earn 10 points by hitting the bumpers located throughout each act...but once again, there's no real reason to. Try finding all the exits to Act 2 after you've gone through it once.
Boss: When you first enter this boss arena, you'll see Robotnik in the Eggmobile moving back and forth across the screen while you wait for him to bring out a weapon or something...well, don't wait, attack! Every once in a while, a spike will eject from the bottom of the ship and he'll descend to one of the floor panels. The Eggmobile rises quickly, taking the floor panel with it! This creates a gap in the floor, so if you wait too long, all the panels will be gone, leaving you nowhere to go.
Wait...if Robotnik is a scientific genius, why can't he just blast the whole floor with dynamite? Ahh, nevermind...gotta love Sonic Team. |
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Labyrinth Zone
You're probably tired of hearing "OMG START OF A TRADITION" at the beginning of each of these zones, but then again, it is the first game in the series...
Labyrinth Zone introduces us to the underwater-level theme. While underwater, Sonic's speed is seriously impaired, as is his jump. Everything moves very slowly, which is a problem, because you need to get out of the water as fast as possible - Sonic will drown if he's underwater for too long. Use the air bubbles that rise from cracks in the ground to buy yourself more breathing time.
Boss: Take a guess on what 'ol 'Botnik's driving this time...NO WAY! How'd you guess it was the Eggmobile?! Anyways, he doesn't even attempt to kill Sonic this time. He's actually running away from him in a very narrow passageway. Sounds too easy? Well, the passageway is filled with spikes and other hazards as the water creeps up from beneath. Heh. Just chase Robotnik to the top of the passage where he's very vulnerable. |
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Star Light Zone
Star Light Zone is full of fans, see-saws, and explosives...perfect ingredients for a highway construction themed level! Well, ok, it's wierd, but it's fun nonetheless. Use the bombs on the see-saws to propel Sonic higher by jumping on the side opposite of the bomb and quickly moving the side where the bomb was as it rises into the air. The fans are annoying, but harmless.
Boss: Robotnik is a coward no more - he fights back in full force in this boss fight. Use the trio of see-saws at the bottom of the stage to propel the bombs he drops right back up to him, or let the bombs propel Sonic into the sky and navigate to land on the Eggmobile. |
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Scrap Brain Zone
This zone throws all of the leftovers from production into one...there's a reprise of Star Light, then a factory level, followed by a funky-paletted Labyrinth Zone style map. This is the only zone without a boss... |
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Final Zone
This is the final zone of the game, as the name might suggest, but it only has one act. It's not really a zone at all, it's just a boss fight. To add more exclusive brownie points, it's the only boss fight in the game that doesn't feature the Eggmobile. Robotnik is instead being a lazy ass, standing inside huge iron pillars that compress hard against the ground to crush Sonic. After each pillar falls, the machine will send out four homing sparks. Wait a few seconds after the four sparks appear, and then quickly run to the other side of the stage. You have to hit the pillar Robotnik is in to do any damage. 8 hits and you've beat the game. Enjoy the super cheesy cutscene....w00t... |
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Special Stage
The special stages in Sonic the Hedgehog can be reached at the end of any non-boss act by completing the act with 50 rings or more. Jump into the big ring that appears to begin. The objective is to reach the "Goal" blocks where the Chaos Emerald lies. The level is rotating, so this requires skill. Fall into the wrong pit and the special stage will be over.
If you collect all six emeralds in six different special stages, you get a different ending.
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| Scans |
Instruction Manual - US/Genesis Version
The manual for Sonic the Hedgehog was the only place the storyline was explained. It also had the mysterious 1up Special Stage item. This version is from the American release. Scanned by ReplacementDocs.com.
Click Here to View
1.08 MB - (Adobe PDF Format)
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| Notes |
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Manual Mishap
The 1UP item shown on the Special stage page of the manual doesn't appear in the final version of the game. You can access it via debug mode, but nowhere else. |
Multiple Releases
The US version of Sonic the Hedgehog was released over a month before Japan received it. Unlike most developers, Sonic Team took the extra time to make additions to the game. While the clouds in the US and European versions of Green Hill Zone are still, they scroll seperate from the background in the Japanese version. The water in Labyrinth Zone has new ripple effects too. Aside from graphics, they fixed the order of the Level Select menu and added a script to give an extra life whenever the player collects 50,000 points. A second Japanese version was released later to fix the spike glitch that causes Sonic to die if he hits spikes while flashing (he should be invincible). All three versions were available in Sonic Mega Collection through cheat codes.
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Sonic the Hedgehog Mobile
In 2005 - more than 15 years after the original release - Sega ported Sonic the Hedgehog to mobile phones. In a partnership with Panasonic, the game was preloaded on select new models. Many changes had to be made because of the lower resolution, most notably the HUD, which has been replaced with the Sonic Advance-style system. Despite rumors of their removal, the special stages are in tact. Not really significant, but interesting: Sega used the game's description (as seen on the original box) for the download page at SegaCafe. |
| Cheats / Secrets |
Level Select
At the title screen, press UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT on the D-Pad. Hold A and press START to access the level select screen. |
Debug Mode
At the title screen, press UP, C, DOWN, C, LEFT, C, RIGHT, C. Hold A and press START. |
Hidden Credits Screen
At the title screen, press C, C, C, C, C, C, UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT. When "Sonic Team Presents" is visible on the screen, hold A, B, C, and DOWN. This credits screen has the real names of the staff, which was forbidden by most companies at the time of the game's release. |
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