Rolling around, at the speed of sound, he's got places to go, he's gotta follow that rainbow. Can't stick around, he has to keep moving on, guess what lies ahead only one way to find out!
It's...
Mainline Entry 01 - Sonic the Hedgehog
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
The origin of the infamous blue blur. Developed to be Sega's answer to Mario, for a long time the high speed hedgehog proved to be just that. With a sense of momentum to his movement and unique moveset, Sonic entered the 16bit era with a lot more 90's attitude than Nintendo's more pleasant natured mascot. Using the incredibly simple controls of left, right and jump the game was a masterclass in creating a compelling experience that also kept things easy to pick up for a player of any skill level. The Master System/Game Gear version was always notable for fans too thanks the differences in design it provides over the MD original.
Mainline Entry 02 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
Spin Off Entry 01 - Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
Arriving with a new Sonic the third time in three years, the CD entry was developed by the half of the original team that stayed in Japan as opposed to the other half who'd moved to the US and developed the second game. Rather than heavily retool the visuals this entry played with the formula of exploration, introducing alternate versions of levels via time travel checkpoints. The game was a hit, albeit less so because of the host platform, but it gave a lasting contribution to the series itself thanks the popular introduction of Metal Sonic and the grin and bear it introduction of Amy Rose.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Sonic Chaos
Formats: Master System and Game Gear
Mainline Entry 03 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
Relentlessly moving on, the Sonic 2 team dove straight in with a plan to create the biggest Sonic possible for the Mega Drive. With another refresh of the visuals and a new character in the form of Knuckles, the new project would be realised but not as originally envisaged. With costs spiralling and time running out, the developers cut the game in half and wrapped up with the game we're familiar with. This was a high stakes project that even Michael Jackson had allegedly worked on, new shield types and mini-bosses made for a big adventure alongside 3D grid movement mini-games. The game drew some complaints of not progressing design enough after the previous entries but such issues were minor and the game remains of the MD's biggest successes.
Spin Off Entry 03 - Sonic & Knuckles
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
The second half of the Sonic 3 project made its way to the system the following year using the well known Lock-On cartridge allowing other Sonic's to connect to this version. Sonic 3 being plugged in gives players the originally intended overall twelve stage experience. For many, the combined game is a key triumph though Knuckles on its own is often highlighted as being preferred to Sonic 3.
Spin Off Entry 04 - Sonic Triple Trouble
Formats: Game Gear and Others
Spin Off Entry 05 - Knuckles Chaotix
Formats: Mega 32X
Spin Off Entry 06 - Tail's Adventure
Formats:Game Gear and Others
Spin Off Entry 07 - Sonic Blast
Formats: Master System and Game Gear
Spin Off Entry 08 - Sonic 3D Blast
Formats:Mega Drive, Saturn and Others
Traveller's Tales took over for this entry which re-imagined the classic Sonic gameplay from an isometric viewpoint that had nothing to do with the Master System entry. With pre-rendered visuals, the game was designed to be a noteworthy swansong for the Mega Drive and a diversion from the fact Sonic X-treme was failing in development. Developed in just eight months and ported to Saturn in a mere seven weeks, the game wasn't perfect but it remains a highly impressive feat that TT was able to accomplish.
Mainline Entry 04 - Sonic Adventure
Formats:Dreamcast, Gamecube, PC and Others
Sonic skipped the 32-bit era in the end and landed on launch for Sega's 128-bit final console. Making the anticipated shift to 3D two years after Mario's mega hit, the new game redesigned the character and made levels more straightforward and like a roller coaster ride. With multiple playable characters, the games story occurred from differing viewpoints building to a final boss face off. The game was a hit and visually impressive at the time though the trappings of the time are too apparent with the camera often causing issues in particular.
Spin Off Entry 09 - Sonic Pocket Adventure
Formats: Neo Geo Pocket
Spin Off Entry 10 - Sonic Advance
Formats: Game Boy Advance and N-Gage
Mainline Entry 05 - Sonic Adventure 2
Formats:Dreamcast, Gamecube, PC and Others
Introducing emo-lord Shadow, another dark Sonic variant, the sequel was one of the final swansong hits for the DC, polishing the visuals and gameplay over the original in a fondly remembered sequel. Many of the games issues born of the 3D nature remain the same as the original but this is broadly well liked.
Spin Off Entry 11 - Sonic Advance 2
Formats: Game Boy Advance
Spin Off Entry 12 - Sonic Advance 3
Formats: Game Boy Advance
Mainline Entry 06 - Sonic Heroes
Formats:Playstation 2, Gamecube, PC and Xbox
Spin Off Entry 13 - Shadow the Hedgehog
Formats:Playstation 2, Gamecube, PC and Xbox
Shadow and Guns. Still all that has to be said about this one.
Spin Off Entry 14 - Sonic Rush
Formats: Nintendo DS
Spin Off Entry 15 - Sonic Rush Adventure
Formats: Nintendo DS
Mainline Entry 07 - Sonic the Hedgehog
Formats:Playstation 3 and Xbox 360
Spin Off Entry 16 - Sonic and the Secret Rings
Formats:Wii
Mainline Entry 08 - Sonic Unleashed
Formats:Playstation 3, PC and Xbox 360
Spin Off Entry 17 - Sonic and the Black Knight
Formats:Wii
Mainline Entry 09 - Sonic Colors
Formats:Wii and Nintendo DS
Following the success yet critical stumbling of Unleashed, Sonic Team honed in on Nintendo's platform where Sonic had been doing well and tried to address several of the issues the 3D games had been called out on. The result was this well liked and more focused theme park themed entry. With Wisps offering power ups for Sonic, the game was aimed to recreate that roller coaster ride feeling and was also something of a showcase for the platform.
Mainline Entry 10 - Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Formats:Playstation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and Others
After a long time and a string of hits under their belt, Dimps were given the keys to the main series and so came the infamous Sonic 4. The intent was lovely, a modern 2D classic design Sonic to be delivered across multiple episodes. The first episode however belly flopped with gamers hating the visuals, level design and physics. The plan suddenly changed and other episodes bar the second axed, Dimps took extra time and the second episode was better received but the damage was done and though better received Sonic 4 remains a very disjointed and uneven title.
Mainline Entry 11 - Sonic Generations
Formats:Playstation 3, PC, Xbox 360 and Others
Spin Off Entry 17 - Sonic: Lost World
Formats:Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
Mainline Entry 12 - Sonic Forces
Formats:Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch
Spin Off Entry 18 - Sonic Mania
Formats: Playstation 4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
Effectively another attempt at doing what Sonic 4 was intended to be but this time done in the right way. Featuring visuals that step just that little bit further than the 16 bit era was capable of, Mania was designed to evoke the MD era titles but take the design into territory that generation was never capable of. The game and its expansion proved highly successful and critically acclaimed making Sonic's last 2D stand for now a high point.
Share your highs and low memories of Sonic!
It's...
Mainline Entry 01 - Sonic the Hedgehog
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
The origin of the infamous blue blur. Developed to be Sega's answer to Mario, for a long time the high speed hedgehog proved to be just that. With a sense of momentum to his movement and unique moveset, Sonic entered the 16bit era with a lot more 90's attitude than Nintendo's more pleasant natured mascot. Using the incredibly simple controls of left, right and jump the game was a masterclass in creating a compelling experience that also kept things easy to pick up for a player of any skill level. The Master System/Game Gear version was always notable for fans too thanks the differences in design it provides over the MD original.
Mainline Entry 02 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
Spin Off Entry 01 - Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
Arriving with a new Sonic the third time in three years, the CD entry was developed by the half of the original team that stayed in Japan as opposed to the other half who'd moved to the US and developed the second game. Rather than heavily retool the visuals this entry played with the formula of exploration, introducing alternate versions of levels via time travel checkpoints. The game was a hit, albeit less so because of the host platform, but it gave a lasting contribution to the series itself thanks the popular introduction of Metal Sonic and the grin and bear it introduction of Amy Rose.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Sonic Chaos
Formats: Master System and Game Gear
Mainline Entry 03 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
Relentlessly moving on, the Sonic 2 team dove straight in with a plan to create the biggest Sonic possible for the Mega Drive. With another refresh of the visuals and a new character in the form of Knuckles, the new project would be realised but not as originally envisaged. With costs spiralling and time running out, the developers cut the game in half and wrapped up with the game we're familiar with. This was a high stakes project that even Michael Jackson had allegedly worked on, new shield types and mini-bosses made for a big adventure alongside 3D grid movement mini-games. The game drew some complaints of not progressing design enough after the previous entries but such issues were minor and the game remains of the MD's biggest successes.
Spin Off Entry 03 - Sonic & Knuckles
Formats: Mega Drive and Others
The second half of the Sonic 3 project made its way to the system the following year using the well known Lock-On cartridge allowing other Sonic's to connect to this version. Sonic 3 being plugged in gives players the originally intended overall twelve stage experience. For many, the combined game is a key triumph though Knuckles on its own is often highlighted as being preferred to Sonic 3.
Spin Off Entry 04 - Sonic Triple Trouble
Formats: Game Gear and Others
Spin Off Entry 05 - Knuckles Chaotix
Formats: Mega 32X
Spin Off Entry 06 - Tail's Adventure
Formats:Game Gear and Others
Spin Off Entry 07 - Sonic Blast
Formats: Master System and Game Gear
Spin Off Entry 08 - Sonic 3D Blast
Formats:Mega Drive, Saturn and Others
Traveller's Tales took over for this entry which re-imagined the classic Sonic gameplay from an isometric viewpoint that had nothing to do with the Master System entry. With pre-rendered visuals, the game was designed to be a noteworthy swansong for the Mega Drive and a diversion from the fact Sonic X-treme was failing in development. Developed in just eight months and ported to Saturn in a mere seven weeks, the game wasn't perfect but it remains a highly impressive feat that TT was able to accomplish.
Mainline Entry 04 - Sonic Adventure
Formats:Dreamcast, Gamecube, PC and Others
Sonic skipped the 32-bit era in the end and landed on launch for Sega's 128-bit final console. Making the anticipated shift to 3D two years after Mario's mega hit, the new game redesigned the character and made levels more straightforward and like a roller coaster ride. With multiple playable characters, the games story occurred from differing viewpoints building to a final boss face off. The game was a hit and visually impressive at the time though the trappings of the time are too apparent with the camera often causing issues in particular.
Spin Off Entry 09 - Sonic Pocket Adventure
Formats: Neo Geo Pocket
Spin Off Entry 10 - Sonic Advance
Formats: Game Boy Advance and N-Gage
Mainline Entry 05 - Sonic Adventure 2
Formats:Dreamcast, Gamecube, PC and Others
Introducing emo-lord Shadow, another dark Sonic variant, the sequel was one of the final swansong hits for the DC, polishing the visuals and gameplay over the original in a fondly remembered sequel. Many of the games issues born of the 3D nature remain the same as the original but this is broadly well liked.
Spin Off Entry 11 - Sonic Advance 2
Formats: Game Boy Advance
Spin Off Entry 12 - Sonic Advance 3
Formats: Game Boy Advance
Mainline Entry 06 - Sonic Heroes
Formats:Playstation 2, Gamecube, PC and Xbox
Spin Off Entry 13 - Shadow the Hedgehog
Formats:Playstation 2, Gamecube, PC and Xbox
Shadow and Guns. Still all that has to be said about this one.
Spin Off Entry 14 - Sonic Rush
Formats: Nintendo DS
Spin Off Entry 15 - Sonic Rush Adventure
Formats: Nintendo DS
Mainline Entry 07 - Sonic the Hedgehog
Formats:Playstation 3 and Xbox 360
Spin Off Entry 16 - Sonic and the Secret Rings
Formats:Wii
Mainline Entry 08 - Sonic Unleashed
Formats:Playstation 3, PC and Xbox 360
Spin Off Entry 17 - Sonic and the Black Knight
Formats:Wii
Mainline Entry 09 - Sonic Colors
Formats:Wii and Nintendo DS
Following the success yet critical stumbling of Unleashed, Sonic Team honed in on Nintendo's platform where Sonic had been doing well and tried to address several of the issues the 3D games had been called out on. The result was this well liked and more focused theme park themed entry. With Wisps offering power ups for Sonic, the game was aimed to recreate that roller coaster ride feeling and was also something of a showcase for the platform.
Mainline Entry 10 - Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Formats:Playstation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 and Others
After a long time and a string of hits under their belt, Dimps were given the keys to the main series and so came the infamous Sonic 4. The intent was lovely, a modern 2D classic design Sonic to be delivered across multiple episodes. The first episode however belly flopped with gamers hating the visuals, level design and physics. The plan suddenly changed and other episodes bar the second axed, Dimps took extra time and the second episode was better received but the damage was done and though better received Sonic 4 remains a very disjointed and uneven title.
Mainline Entry 11 - Sonic Generations
Formats:Playstation 3, PC, Xbox 360 and Others
Spin Off Entry 17 - Sonic: Lost World
Formats:Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
Mainline Entry 12 - Sonic Forces
Formats:Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch
Spin Off Entry 18 - Sonic Mania
Formats: Playstation 4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
Effectively another attempt at doing what Sonic 4 was intended to be but this time done in the right way. Featuring visuals that step just that little bit further than the 16 bit era was capable of, Mania was designed to evoke the MD era titles but take the design into territory that generation was never capable of. The game and its expansion proved highly successful and critically acclaimed making Sonic's last 2D stand for now a high point.
Share your highs and low memories of Sonic!
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