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:''"Sonic 1" redirects here. For the 8-bit version, see [[Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)]]. For the remake, see [[Sonic the Hedgehog (2013 game)]]. For similarly titled media, see [[Sonic the Hedgehog (disambiguation)]].''
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{{OtherPage|redirect=Sonic 1|desc=the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Sega Game Gear]] versions|page=Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)|desc2=the 2013 remake|page2=Sonic the Hedgehog (2013)|desc3=similarly titled media|page3=Sonic the Hedgehog (disambiguation)}}
 
{{Bob
 
{{Bob
 
| bobscreen=Sonic1_title.png
 
| bobscreen=Sonic1_title.png
| icon=
+
| bobscreen2=Sonic1Rev01 MD JP Title.png
 +
| tab1=NTSC-U/PAL
 +
| tab2=NTSC-J
 
| title=Sonic the Hedgehog
 
| title=Sonic the Hedgehog
| publisher=[[sega:Sega|Sega]]
+
| publisher={{company|[[Sega]]}}
| developer=[[sega:Sonic Team|Sonic Team]]
+
| developer={{company|[[sega:Sega R&D 9|Sega R&D 9]]{{ref|https://archive.ph/IUTx2|https://twitter.com/U1_Toyama/status/334666515905409025}}|system=MD}}
| system=[[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive]], [[sega:Virtual Console|Virtual Console]], Steam
+
{{company|[[Sonic Team]]|system=MD}}
| romsize=512 KB
+
{{company|[[M2]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230306071838/https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/}}|system=VC}}
 +
| system=[[Sega Mega Drive]], [[Virtual Console]], [[Steam]], [[RealOne Arcade]]
 +
| sounddriver=[[SMPS 68000]] (modified) ([[Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive)|Sonic the Hedgehog]])
 
| peripherals=
 
| peripherals=
 
| players=1
 
| players=1
| releases=
+
| genre=Action{{fileref|Sonic1 box jap.jpg}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200720095133/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html}}
{{releases
+
| releases={{releasesMD
| md_date_us=1991-06-23
+
| md_date_jp=1991-07-26{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20070209192440/http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_sonic/}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200720095133/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html}}
| md_rrp_us=
+
| md_rrp_jp=6,000
 +
| md_code_jp=G-4049
 +
| md_date_us=1991-06-11{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20220424214818/https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/paAgJy9q1dA/m/geqhMS8zzNIJ}}
 +
| md_rrp_us=54.95{{magref|vgce|29|32}}
 
| md_code_us=1009
 
| md_code_us=1009
| md_date_uk=1991-07{{fileref|MeanMachines UK 10.pdf|page=44}}
+
| md_date_us_classic=1995
| md_rrp_uk=34.99
+
| md_code_us_classic=1009C
 +
| md_rating_us_classic=ga
 +
| md_date_us_Classic; ESRB=199x
 +
| md_code_us_Classic; ESRB=1009
 +
| md_rating_us_Classic; ESRB=ka
 +
| md_date_eu=1991-06
 
| md_code_eu=1009
 
| md_code_eu=1009
| md_date_jp=1991-07-26{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20070209192440/http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_sonic/}}
+
| md_date_uk=1991-06-21{{magref|ctw|343|17}}<!--1991-06-24{{magref|Games-X|11|14}}-->
| md_rrp_jp=6,000
+
| md_code_uk=1009
| md_code_jp=G-4049
+
| md_rrp_uk=34.99{{magref|raze|11|76}}{{magref|segapower|22|11}}<!--39.99{{magref|mm|10|44}}-->
| md_date_us_Classic=1995
+
| md_date_br=1991-09{{magref|ag|4|22}}
| md_rrp_us_Classic=
+
| md_date_br_Red=199x
| md_code_us_Classic=1009
+
| md_date_ar=1992
| md_date_br=199x
+
| md_rating_br_Red=ti
 
| md_date_ca=199x
 
| md_date_ca=199x
 
| md_date_kr=199x
 
| md_date_kr=199x
 
| md_code_kr=GM4015JG
 
| md_code_kr=GM4015JG
 
| md_date_pt=1991
 
| md_date_pt=1991
| md_code_pt=MDJ1009/ S.T.H.
+
| md_date_au=199x
 
+
| md_code_au=FSON00SMC
 +
| md_date_as=199x
 +
| md_date_se_r=199x
 +
| md_date_in=1994
 +
| md_rrp_in=2400
 +
}}
 +
{{releasesWii
 
| vc_date_us=2006-11-19{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20101122221924/http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/KxiDSMn_ADYC1Vd30TP-FW3yf8Byxwwu}}
 
| vc_date_us=2006-11-19{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20101122221924/http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/KxiDSMn_ADYC1Vd30TP-FW3yf8Byxwwu}}
 
| vc_rrp_us=800{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20101122221924/http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/KxiDSMn_ADYC1Vd30TP-FW3yf8Byxwwu}}
 
| vc_rrp_us=800{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20101122221924/http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/KxiDSMn_ADYC1Vd30TP-FW3yf8Byxwwu}}
| vc_date_jp=2006-12-02{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20171123050340/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/01.html}}
+
| vc_rating_us=e
 +
| vc_date_jp=2006-12-02{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20171123050340/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/01.html}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230306071838/https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/}}
 
| vc_rrp_jp=600{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20070209192440/http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_sonic/}}
 
| vc_rrp_jp=600{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20070209192440/http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_sonic/}}
 +
| vc_rating_jp=a
 
| vc_date_eu=2006-12-08{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20180308002017/http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/sonic_the_hedgehog}}
 
| vc_date_eu=2006-12-08{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20180308002017/http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/sonic_the_hedgehog}}
 
| vc_rrp_eu=800{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20180308002017/http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/sonic_the_hedgehog}}
 
| vc_rrp_eu=800{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20180308002017/http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/sonic_the_hedgehog}}
 +
| vc_rating_eu=3
 
| vc_date_au=2006-12-07
 
| vc_date_au=2006-12-07
| vc_rrp_au=800
+
| vc_rrp_au=800{{ref|1=http://web.archive.org/web/20120328005829/http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19772&pageID=4}}
 +
| vc_rating_au=g
 +
}}
 +
{{releasesDigital
 +
| realone_date_us=2002-11-14{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20040802233224/http://games.real.com/allgames.php?mode=spnav}}
 +
| realone_rrp_us=
  
| steam_date_us=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20170524001405/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
+
| steam_date_us=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_us=4.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_us=4.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_code_us=71113
 
| steam_code_us=71113
| steam_date_eu=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20170524001405/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
+
| steam_rating_us=e
 +
| steam_date_eu=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_eu=4.49{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_eu=4.49{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_code_eu=71113
 
| steam_code_eu=71113
| steam_date_uk=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20170524001405/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
+
| steam_rating_eu=3
 +
| steam_date_de=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steam_rrp_de=4.49{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steam_code_de=71113
 +
| steam_rating_de=6
 +
| steam_date_uk=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_uk=3.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_uk=3.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_code_uk=71113
 
| steam_code_uk=71113
| steam_date_au=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20170524001405/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
+
| steam_rating_uk=3
 +
| steam_date_au=2010-10-26{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/https://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_au=6.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_rrp_au=6.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130522201948/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 
| steam_code_au=71113
 
| steam_code_au=71113
 +
| steam_rating_au=g
 +
 +
| steamlinux_date_us=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
 +
| steamlinux_rrp_us=4.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steamlinux_code_us=71113
 +
| steamlinux_rating_us=e
 +
| steamlinux_date_eu=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
 +
| steamlinux_rrp_eu=4.49{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steamlinux_code_eu=71113
 +
| steamlinux_rating_eu=3
 +
| steamlinux_date_de=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
 +
| steamlinux_rrp_de=4.49{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steamlinux_code_de=71113
 +
| steamlinux_rating_de=6
 +
| steamlinux_date_uk=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
 +
| steamlinux_rrp_uk=3.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steamlinux_code_uk=71113
 +
| steamlinux_rating_uk=3
 +
| steamlinux_date_au=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
 +
| steamlinux_rrp_au=5.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steamlinux_code_au=71113
 +
| steamlinux_rating_au=g
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 +
| steamosx_date_us=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
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| steamosx_rrp_us=4.99{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
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| steamosx_code_us=71113
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| steamosx_rating_us=e
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| steamosx_date_eu=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
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 +
| steamosx_code_eu=71113
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| steamosx_rating_eu=3
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| steamosx_date_de=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
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| steamosx_rrp_de=4.49{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20191116224202/http://steamdb.info/app/71113/}}
 +
| steamosx_code_de=71113
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| steamosx_rating_de=6
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| steamosx_date_uk=2019-01-31{{ref|1=https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722}}
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| steamosx_code_uk=71113
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| steamosx_rating_uk=3
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 +
| steamosx_code_au=71113
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| steamosx_rating_au=g
 
}}
 
}}
| genre=Action
 
| esrb=e|vrc=ga|pegi=3|oflc=g|cero=a|
 
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Sonic the Hedgehog''''' (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ) is the first game in the long-running series by video game publisher and former console maker [[sega:Sega|Sega]]. First released in the United States and Europe on June 23rd, 1991, it was the premier outing for the character of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] and the group behind his creation, [[sega:Sonic Team|Sonic Team]]. Though the game only received marginal success in its home country, almost overnight ''Sonic'' became a sensation in the West, solidifying Sega's place in Europe and turning the company into a household name in the United States.
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'''''Sonic the Hedgehog''''' {{Japanese|ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ|Sonikku za Hejjihoggu}} is the first game in the long-running series by video game publisher and former console maker [[sega:Sega|Sega]]. First released in the United States on June 11, 1991, it was the premier outing for the character of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] and the group behind his creation, [[sega:Sonic Team|Sonic Team]]. Though the game only received marginal success in its home country, almost overnight ''Sonic'' became a sensation in the West, solidifying Sega's place in Europe and turning the company into a household name in the United States.
  
 
For the first time, a company was able to directly compete with console and gamemaker Nintendo, which had dominated the second half of the 1980s. Though Nintendo still reigned supreme in Japan, the highly-contested 16-bit war in the West was a marvel to behold, the big two being neck and neck through almost the entirety of the third generation of console gaming.
 
For the first time, a company was able to directly compete with console and gamemaker Nintendo, which had dominated the second half of the 1980s. Though Nintendo still reigned supreme in Japan, the highly-contested 16-bit war in the West was a marvel to behold, the big two being neck and neck through almost the entirety of the third generation of console gaming.
  
The game propelled the creators into the realm of video game superstardom, programmer [[sega:Yuji Naka|Yuji Naka]] for a time becoming the face of Sega much as Shigeru Miyamoto became the face of Nintendo after the success of ''Super Mario Bros''. The franchise took off, with a version of the game being released on the [[sega:Sega Master System|Sega Master System]] and a series of sequels across Sega's various consoles over the years. It not only became the definitive title for the system and replaced ''[[sega:Altered Beast|Altered Beast]]'' as the pack-in title for the West, but would go on to be ported to no less than twenty platforms after its initial release.
+
The game propelled the creators into the realm of video game superstardom, programmer [[sega:Yuji Naka|Yuji Naka]] for a time becoming the face of Sega much as Shigeru Miyamoto became the face of Nintendo after the success of ''Super Mario Bros''. The franchise took off, with a version of the game being released on the [[sega:Sega Master System|Sega Master System]] and a series of sequels across Sega's various consoles over the years. It not only became the definitive title for the system and replaced ''[[sega:Altered Beast|Altered Beast]]'' as the pack-in title for the West, but would go on to be released on no less than twenty platforms after its initial release.
  
 
==Story==
 
==Story==
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* 5:00 or more = 0
 
* 5:00 or more = 0
  
End-of-level flags: Where the Signpost stands, there are sometimes flags you can trigger.  These flags are hidden, but if you hit them they will appear and show either 100, 1000, or 10000.  The flags that say "100" are really only worth 10 points each, but the 1000 and 10000 flags report their values accurately.
+
End-of-level flags: Where the Signpost stands, there are sometimes flags you can trigger.  These flags are hidden, but if you hit them they will appear and show either 100, 1000, or 10000.  The flags that say "100" are really only worth 10 points each, but the 1000 and 10000 flags report their values accurately. There are no flags in Scrap Brain Zone Act 2.
  
 
Special Stage: 100 points for each ring held
 
Special Stage: 100 points for each ring held
  
 
==Music and sound==
 
==Music and sound==
Utilizing the onboard [[Zilog]] [[Z80]] microprocessor, [[Yamaha]] [[YM2612]] synthesizer and [[Texas Instruments]] [[SN76489]] PSG sound chips, ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was able to create a sound that was also unique, with the jumps, springs, and ring collecting sounds being an intergral part of the Sonic experience. These audio effects created by the sound team would be reused in subsequent entries, the classic ring sound still being heard with each new Sonic game. The music to the game, composed by [[DREAMS COME TRUE]] artist [[Masato Nakamura]], also became a highly praised game soundtrack. Instead of treating it as a video game, Nakamura went into the project with the same mindset he would have if he were to compose the music to a feature length film. The first two songs written, the Green Hill Zone theme and the title screen jingle, would be alluded to in subsequent games, becoming the quintessential score of ''Sonic the Hedgehog''. The popularity of the soundtrack has also made it a standard in live videogame music performance tours such as [http://www.videogameslive.com Video Games Live] and [[Play! A Video Game Symphony Live!|Play! A Video Game Symphony]].
+
Utilizing the onboard [[Zilog]] [[Z80]] microprocessor, [[Yamaha]] [[YM2612]] synthesizer and [[Texas Instruments]] [[SN76489]] PSG sound chips, ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was able to create a sound that was also unique, with the jumps, springs, and ring collecting sounds being an intergral part of the Sonic experience. These audio effects created by the sound team would be reused in subsequent entries, the classic ring sound still being heard with each new Sonic game. The music to the game, composed by [[Dreams Come True]] artist [[Masato Nakamura]], also became a highly praised game soundtrack. Instead of treating it as a video game, Nakamura went into the project with the same mindset he would have if he were to compose the music to a feature length film. The first two songs written, the Green Hill Zone theme and the title screen jingle, would be alluded to in subsequent games, becoming the quintessential score of ''Sonic the Hedgehog''. The popularity of the soundtrack has also made it a standard in live videogame music performance tours such as [http://www.videogameslive.com Video Games Live] and [[Play! A Video Game Symphony Live!|Play! A Video Game Symphony]].
  
 
===Sound test===
 
===Sound test===
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Below is a listing of the songs available to played through the sound test within the game, accessible through the level select code:
 
Below is a listing of the songs available to played through the sound test within the game, accessible through the level select code:
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
*81: [[Green Hill Zone]]
+
*81: [[Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 16-bit)|Green Hill Zone]]
 
*82: [[Labyrinth Zone]]
 
*82: [[Labyrinth Zone]]
 
*83: [[Marble Zone]]
 
*83: [[Marble Zone]]
Line 150: Line 224:
 
*8D: [[Final Zone]]
 
*8D: [[Final Zone]]
 
*8E: Stage Clear
 
*8E: Stage Clear
*8F: Game Over
+
*8F: [[Game Over]]
 
*90: Continue
 
*90: Continue
 
*91: Staff Roll
 
*91: Staff Roll
Line 158: Line 232:
  
 
==Graphical style==
 
==Graphical style==
The graphical style of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was extremely impressive for its time, especially for the Mega Drive hardware (the Super Nintendo being technically superior in terms of graphic capabilities). With a color pallette expanded beyond what 8-bit systems could do, each zone was given a unique and rich look. The graphical style was inspired by the then-new world of "computer generated" graphics, the visuals of the [[Green Hill Zone]] being the most prime example. Even the sprites of Sonic, Eggman, the enemies, and the rings reflected on this, each richly animated object jumping out of the screen. While other games of the era can look dated, ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' has been able to maintain a timeless feel, emphasized by the visual work of [[sega:Naoto Ohshima|Naoto Ohshima]] and the fact that the original game still sells, albeit on modern hardware.
+
The graphical style of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was extremely impressive for its time, especially for the Mega Drive hardware (the Super Nintendo being technically superior in terms of graphic capabilities). With a color pallette expanded beyond what 8-bit systems could do, each zone was given a unique and rich look. The graphical style was inspired by the then-new world of "computer generated" graphics, the visuals of the [[Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 16-bit)|Green Hill Zone]] being the most prime example. Even the sprites of Sonic, Eggman, the enemies, and the rings reflected on this, each richly animated object jumping out of the screen. While other games of the era can look dated, ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' has been able to maintain a timeless feel, emphasized by the visual work of [[sega:Naoto Ohshima|Naoto Ohshima]] and the fact that the original game still sells, albeit on modern hardware.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Sales data===
 
===Sales data===
{| class="prettytable"
+
Unless otherwise specified, it is not known whether these figures include sales of Mega Drive/Genesis bundles containing the game.
|-
+
{{SalesTable|
! Number of copies sold
+
{{SalesRow|2,000,000|1991-12-31|{{MD}}|WW|{{ref|https://archive.is/aBw9p|https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-13-tt-45191-story.html|quote=Naka was just 25 years old in 1991 when he created “Sonic the Hedgehog” [...] The game sold 2 million copies the year it was released[.]}}|}}
! Platform
+
{{SalesRow|1,700,000|1992-10|{{MD}}|WW|{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega02UK.pdf|page=12}}|}}
! Reference
+
{{SalesRow|10,300,000|1997-06-11|{{MD}}|WW|{{fileref|SSM UK 21.pdf|page=36}}{{fileref|SSM UK 22.pdf|page=68}}|By this point, the game had sold ''over'' 14 million copies.}}
! Notes
+
{{SalesRow|1,000,000|2009-02-17|{{MD}}|WW|{{ref|1=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/7mFs2v7XM4o|2=https://youtube.com/watch?v=7mFs2v7XM4o&t=81s|quote=We gave ''Sonic'' away, eventually, to over 15 million households with our hardware system.}}{{ref|1=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/f-ij_RcEzcI|2=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-ij_RcEzcI&t=760s|quote=We gave ''Sonic'' away, eventually, to over 15 million households with our hardware system.}}|The figure specifically refers to sales of Mega Drive/Genesis consoles that included the game as a pack-in title. This number makes ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' the system's best-selling game.}}
|-
+
}}
| 15,000,000
 
| Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
 
| [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mFs2v7XM4o Sonic the Hedgehog Retrospective, Part 3] (Not viewable in the US.)
 
| This sales data number makes ''Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)'' the best-selling game for the Sega Mega Drive / Sega Genesis console.
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
==Versions==
 
==Versions==
Shortly after the original release of the game (known as REV00), Sega reissued the game (REV01) with various enhancements, bug-fixes and general tweaks. REV01 added extra layers of scrolling to most parallax backgrounds where many had been flat before, added moving clouds ([[Green Hill Zone]]), rippling water ([[Labyrinth Zone]]), corrected the level select screen's arrangement, among other minor changes. REV01 is most commonly found on Japanese cartridges, where the game was released slightly later than in Europe and North America, and was also made available in later production runs internationally.
+
Shortly after the original release of the game (known as REV00), Sega reissued the game (REV01) with various enhancements, bug-fixes and general tweaks. REV01 added extra layers of scrolling to most parallax backgrounds where many had been flat before, added moving clouds ([[Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 16-bit)|Green Hill Zone]]), rippling water ([[Labyrinth Zone]]), corrected the level select screen's arrangement, among other minor changes. REV01 is most commonly found on Japanese cartridges, where the game was released slightly later than in Europe and North America, and was also made available in later production runs internationally.
  
 
A complete list of changes between REV00 and REV01 was compiled by [[User:Hivebrain|Hivebrain]], by disassembling both versions and comparing the resultant code.
 
A complete list of changes between REV00 and REV01 was compiled by [[User:Hivebrain|Hivebrain]], by disassembling both versions and comparing the resultant code.
Line 185: Line 253:
 
# "TM" on Sega screen is hidden if the console is Japanese.
 
# "TM" on Sega screen is hidden if the console is Japanese.
 
# "TM" on title screen isn't loaded if the console is Japanese.
 
# "TM" on title screen isn't loaded if the console is Japanese.
# AddPoints gives you an extra life for every 50000 points.
+
# AddPoints gives you an extra life for every 50000 points if the console is Japanese.
 
# Level select stage order is correct.
 
# Level select stage order is correct.
 
# Level select code is UDDDLR (instead of UDLR) if the console is Japanese.
 
# Level select code is UDDDLR (instead of UDLR) if the console is Japanese.
Line 220: Line 288:
 
The success of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' has led to the game being released for numerous systems, and included in most compilations of Mega Drive games. The 2000s also saw the game sold through a number of download services.
 
The success of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' has led to the game being released for numerous systems, and included in most compilations of Mega Drive games. The 2000s also saw the game sold through a number of download services.
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 +
'''Standalone cartridges, sold in bundles:'''
 +
* ''[[sega:Telstar Double Value Games: Sonic the Hedgehog/James Pond II: Codename RoboCod|Telstar Double Value Games: Sonic the Hedgehog/James Pond II: Codename RoboCod]]'' for [[Sega Mega Drive]] (1993)
 +
* ''[[sega:Help!|Help!]]'' for Sega Mega Drive (1994)
 +
 
'''Direct ports from source code, sold individually:'''
 
'''Direct ports from source code, sold individually:'''
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (arcade game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[sega:Mega-Tech|Mega-Tech]] and [[sega:Mega Play|Mega Play]] (1993)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (arcade game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[sega:Mega-Tech|Mega-Tech]] and [[sega:Mega Play|Mega Play]] (1993)
Line 228: Line 300:
 
'''Direct ports from source code, sold in compilations:'''
 
'''Direct ports from source code, sold in compilations:'''
 
* ''[[sega:Mega 6 Volume 3|Mega 6 Volume 3]]'' for Sega Mega Drive (1995)
 
* ''[[sega:Mega 6 Volume 3|Mega 6 Volume 3]]'' for Sega Mega Drive (1995)
* ''[[Sonic Classics]]'' for [[sega:Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive]] (1995)
+
* ''[[Sonic Classics]]'' for Sega Mega Drive (1995)
 
* ''[[sega:6-Pak|6-Pak]]'' for Sega Mega Drive (1996)
 
* ''[[sega:6-Pak|6-Pak]]'' for Sega Mega Drive (1996)
 +
* ''[[sega:Mega Games 10|Mega Games 10]]'' for Sega Mega Drive (1995)
 
* ''[[Sonic Jam]]'' for [[sega:Sega Saturn|Sega Saturn]] (1997)
 
* ''[[Sonic Jam]]'' for [[sega:Sega Saturn|Sega Saturn]] (1997)
  
 
'''Emulated, sold individually:'''
 
'''Emulated, sold individually:'''
 +
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' on [[sega:RealOne Arcade|RealOne Arcade]] (2002)
 
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' for [[sega:Virtual Console|Virtual Console]] on [[sega:Wii|Wii]] (2006)
 
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' for [[sega:Virtual Console|Virtual Console]] on [[sega:Wii|Wii]] (2006)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Xbox Live Arcade)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for Xbox Live Arcade (2006)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Xbox Live Arcade)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for Xbox Live Arcade (2006)
 +
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' for GameTap (~2008)
 +
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' on the [[sega:PlaySEGA|PlaySEGA]] website
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (iPhone)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[sega:iOS|iOS]] (2009)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (iPhone)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[sega:iOS|iOS]] (2009)
 
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' for Steam on Windows PC (2010)
 
* ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' for Steam on Windows PC (2010)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Android)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for Android (2011)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Android)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for Android (2011)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Playstation Network)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[sega:PlayStation Network|PlayStation Network]] on [[sega:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]] (2011)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (Playstation Network)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[sega:PlayStation Network|PlayStation Network]] on [[sega:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]] (2011)
* ''[[3D Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' on [[sega:Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo 3DS]] (2013)
+
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Anniversary Bundle]]'' for PlayStation Network on PlayStation 3 (2011)
 +
* ''[[3D Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[sega:Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo 3DS]] (2013)
 +
* ''[[Sega Ages Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for [[Nintendo Switch]] (2018)
  
 
'''Emulated, sold in compilations:'''
 
'''Emulated, sold in compilations:'''
Line 255: Line 333:
 
* ''[[sega:Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Volume 1|Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Volume 1]]'' (2010)
 
* ''[[sega:Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Volume 1|Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Volume 1]]'' (2010)
 
* ''[[sega:Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Gold Edition|Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Gold Edition]]'' (2011)
 
* ''[[sega:Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Gold Edition|Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Gold Edition]]'' (2011)
 +
* ''[[Sonic Generations]]'' (2011) for [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]]
 
* ''[[sega:Sega 3D Classics Collection|Sega 3D Classics Collection]]'' for Nintendo 3DS (2015)
 
* ''[[sega:Sega 3D Classics Collection|Sega 3D Classics Collection]]'' for Nintendo 3DS (2015)
 
* ''[[sega:Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub|Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics]]'' for Steam (2016)
 
* ''[[sega:Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub|Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics]]'' for Steam (2016)
 +
* ''[[sega:Sega Mega Drive Classics| Sega Mega Drive Classics]]'' for [[sega:PlayStation 4|PS4]], [[sega:Xbox One|Xbox One]] and [[sega:Nintendo Switch|Switch]]
 +
* [[sega:Mega Drive Mini|Mega Drive Mini]] (all regions except Japan) (2019)
  
 
'''Recreated from scratch:'''
 
'''Recreated from scratch:'''
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis]]'' for [[sega:Game Boy Advance|Game Boy Advance]] (2006)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis]]'' for [[sega:Game Boy Advance|Game Boy Advance]] (2006)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2013 game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for Android and iOS (2013)
 
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2013 game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' for Android and iOS (2013)
 +
* ''[[Sonic Origins]]'' for [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox One]], [[Xbox Series X]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[Steam]] and [[sega:Epic Games Store|Epic Games Store]] (2022)
  
 
'''Superficially similar:'''
 
'''Superficially similar:'''
Line 269: Line 351:
  
 
==Production credits==
 
==Production credits==
{{creditstable|
+
{{mainArticle|sega:Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive)/Production credits}}
* '''Game Plan:''' [[sega:Hirokazu Yasuhara|Hirokazu Yasuhara]] (as "Carol Yas")
 
* '''Program:''' [[sega:Yuji Naka|Yuji Naka]] (as "YU2")
 
* '''Character Design:''' [[sega:Naoto Ohshima|Naoto Ohshima]] (as "BigIsland")
 
* '''Design:''' [[Jina Ishiwatari]] (as "Jinya"), [[sega:Rieko Kodama|Rieko Kodama]] (as "Phenix Rie")
 
* '''Sound Produce:''' [[Masato Nakamura]]
 
* '''Sound Program:''' [[sega:Hiroshi Kubota|Hiroshi Kubota]] (as "Jimita"), [[sega:Yukifumi Makino|Yukifumi Makino]] (as "Macky")
 
* '''Special Thanks:''' [[Fujio Minegishi]], Papa
 
* '''Presented by:''' [[sega:Sega|Sega]]
 
|source=In-game credits{{fileref|Sonic1 credits.pdf}}{{fileref|SonicTeamCredits.PNG}}
 
}}
 
  
 
==Manuals==
 
==Manuals==
{{main|Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) manuals}}
+
{{main|Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)/Manuals}}
  
 
==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==
{{main|Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) print advertisements}}
+
{{main|Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)/Promotional material}}
{{main|Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) television advertisements}}
 
  
 
==Artwork==
 
==Artwork==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
SSS SONIC26.png
 
SSS SONIC26.png
Ballhog.png
+
Sonic1_usBoxArtwork.jpg
Basaran.png
+
Sonic MD US Art1.png
Burrobot.png
+
Sonic MD US Art2.png
 +
Sonic1 MD Art Sonic Fall.jpg
 +
Sonic1 MD Art Eggmobile.png
 +
Motobug.png
 
Buzzbomber.png
 
Buzzbomber.png
Caterkiller.png
 
 
Chopper.png
 
Chopper.png
 
Crabmeat.png
 
Crabmeat.png
 +
Newtron.png
 +
Caterkiller.png
 +
Basaran.png
 +
Roller.png
 +
Yadorin.png
 +
Burrobot.png
 
Jaws.png
 
Jaws.png
Motobug.png
 
Newtron.png
 
 
Orbinaut.png
 
Orbinaut.png
 
Orbinaut2.png
 
Orbinaut2.png
Roller.png
+
Ballhog.png
Yadorin.png
 
Sonic1 MD Art Sonic Fall.jpg
 
Sonic1 MD Art Eggmobile.png
 
SSS SONICE .png
 
Sonic MD US Art1.png
 
Sonic MD US Art2.png
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
Line 315: Line 386:
 
{{ratings
 
{{ratings
 
| icon=MD
 
| icon=MD
| acaogames=100
 
| acaogames_source={{num|4|page=22-23|pdf=AcaoGames BR 004.pdf|pdfpage=22}}
 
| ace=93
 
| ace_source={{num|47|page=54-56|pdf=ACE UK 47.pdf|pdfpage=54}}
 
| ace_1=100
 
| ace_source_1={{num|50|page=128|pdf=ACE UK 50.pdf}}
 
| consolemania=95
 
| consolemania_source={{num|1|page=34-36|pdf=ConsoleMania IT 001.pdf|pdfpage=34}}
 
| cvg=94
 
| cvg_source={{num|117|page=16-19|pdf=CVG UK 117.pdf|pdfpage=16}}
 
| cvgit=96
 
| cvgit_source={{num|8|page=48-49|pdf=CVG IT 08.pdf|pdfpage=48}}
 
| egm=90
 
| egm_source={{num|24|page=24|pdf=EGM US 024.pdf}}
 
| excalibur=75
 
| excalibur_source={{num|16|page=31|pdf=Excalibur CZ 16.pdf}}
 
 
| famitsu=83
 
| famitsu=83
| gamepro=96
 
| gamepro_source={{num|23|page=42/43|pdf=GamePro US 023.pdf|pdfpage=42}}
 
| tgmit=98
 
| tgmit_source={{num|34|page=85-86|pdf=TheGamesMachine IT 034.pdf|pdfpage=85}}
 
| gamesx=100
 
| gamesx_source={{num|10}}
 
| hobbyconsolas=95
 
| hobbyconsolas_source={{num|1|page=18-21|pdf=HobbyConsolas ES 001.pdf|pdfpage=18}}
 
| megaaction=92
 
| megaaction_source={{num|1|page=65}}
 
| megaaction_1=87
 
| megaaction_source_1={{num|11|page=80}}
 
| megablast=83
 
| megablast_source={{num|1992-01|page=44|pdf=Megablast DE 1992-01.pdf}}
 
| megatech=92
 
| megatech_source={{num|1|page=48|pdf=MegaTech UK 01.pdf}}
 
| megatech_1=83
 
| megatech_source_1={{num|1|page=80}}
 
| megatech_2=89
 
| megatech_source_2={{num|6|page=27}}
 
| mm=92
 
| mm_source={{num|10|page=42-44|pdf=MeanMachines UK 10.pdf|pdfpage=42}}
 
| mms=77
 
| mms_source={{num|10|page=108|pdf=MeanMachinesSega10UK.pdf}}
 
| playerone=96
 
| playerone_source={{num|11|page=26-29|pdf=PlayerOne FR 011.pdf|pdfpage=26}}
 
| raze=95
 
| raze_source={{num|11|page=50-52|pdf=Raze UK 11.pdf|pdfpage=50}}
 
| mdag=85
 
| mdag_source={{num|2|page=79}}
 
| segapower=97
 
| segapower_source={{num|22|page=9/10/11}}
 
| segapower_1=100
 
| segapower_source_1={{num|23|page=54}}
 
| segapro=96
 
| segapro_source={{num|6|page=28}}
 
| segapro_1=90
 
| segapro_source_1={{num|18|page=67}}
 
| videogame=100
 
| videogame_source={{num|5|page=51-53|pdf=VideoGame BR 05.pdf|pdfpage=51}}
 
| vgce=88
 
| vgce_source={{num|29|page=32|pdf=VG&CE US 29.pdf}}
 
| zero=95
 
| zero_source={{num|22|page=64/65}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| region=JP
 
| region=JP
| front=Sonic1_box_jap.jpg
+
| cover=Sonic1_box_jap.jpg
 
| cart=SonicHedgehog1JapCart.jpg
 
| cart=SonicHedgehog1JapCart.jpg
 
| manual=Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf
 
| manual=Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf
Line 386: Line 397:
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| region=US
 
| region=US
| front=Sth_md_us_cover.jpg
+
| cover=Sth_md_us_cover.jpg
 
| cart=Sonic1USCart2.JPG
 
| cart=Sonic1USCart2.JPG
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD US manual.pdf
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=US (Not for resale; Genesis seal)
 +
| cover=Sonic1_box_us_nfr1.jpg
 +
| cart=Sonic1USCart.jpg
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
| region=US (Not for resale)
+
| region=US (Not for resale; Sega seal)
| front=Sonic1_box_us_nfr1.jpg
+
| cover=Sonic1 MD US nfr2 cover.jpg
 
| cart=Sonic1USCart.jpg
 
| cart=Sonic1USCart.jpg
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD US nfr manual.pdf
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=US ([[sega:Sega Classic|Classic]]; K-A rating)
 +
| cover=Sonic1 md us classic cover.jpg
 +
| cart=
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
| region=US ([[sega:Sega Classic|Classic]])
+
| region=US ([[sega:Sega Classic|Classic]]; GA rating)
| front=Sonic1 md us classic cover.jpg
+
| cover=Sonic1 MD US classic ga cover.jpg
 
| cart=
 
| cart=
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
| region=EU
+
| region=EU (Made in China cover)
| front=Sonic1_box_eu.jpg
+
| cover=Sonic1_box_eu.jpg
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD EU manual.pdf
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=EU (Made in Japan cover)
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD EU mij cover.jpg
 
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 
| manual=Sonic1 MD EU manual.pdf
 
| manual=Sonic1 MD EU manual.pdf
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
| region=BR
+
| region=EU (Made in Malaysia cover)
| front=Sonic1-box-bra.jpg
+
| cover=Sonic1 MD EU mim cover.jpg
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD EU manual.pdf
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=EU (Made in Thailand cover)
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD EU mit cover.jpg
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD EU manual.pdf
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=EU (?)
 +
| cover=
 +
| item1=Sonic1 MD EU p22 pcb.jpg
 +
| item1name=PCB
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=EU (?)
 +
| cover=
 +
| item1=Sonic1 MD EU f pcb.jpg
 +
| item1name=PCB
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=PT
 +
| front=Sonic1 MD PT Box.jpg
 +
| manual=Sonic the Hedgehog MD PT Manual.pdf
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=PT (alt)
 +
| front=
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD PT 2 manual.pdf
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=PT (alt 2)
 +
| front=
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD PT 3 manual.pdf
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=BX
 +
| front=Sonic1 MD BX Box.jpg
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Notavailable.svg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=SE (rental)
 +
| front=
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=GR (Zegetron)
 +
| front=
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=CZ (Datart)
 +
| cover=
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Sonic1 MD CZ manual.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=LT<ref> Mickey Mouse #35 "1/1996" Puiki naujiena Sega gerbejams!</ref>
 +
| cover=Sonic1 box lt.jpg
 +
| cart=S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
 +
| manual=Notavailable.svg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=AU
 +
| cover=
 +
| cart=Sonic1 MD AU Cart.jpg
 +
| cartback=Sonic1 MD AU Cart Back.jpg
 +
| carttop=Sonic1 MD AU Cart Top.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=AU (Horizontal manual)
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD AU classics cover.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=AU (Horizontal manual; "SPO1")
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD AU spo cover.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=AU (Vertical manual)
 +
| cover=
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=BR/AR/UY
 +
| cover=Sonic1-box-bra.jpg
 
| cart=Sonic1 MD BR Cart.jpg
 
| cart=Sonic1 MD BR Cart.jpg
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
}}{{Scanbox
+
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=BR (newer)
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD BR Box Newer.jpg
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| region=CA
 
| region=CA
| front=Sonic1 MD CA Box.jpg
+
| cover=Sonic1 MD CA Box.jpg
 
| cart=Sonic1cacart.jpg
 
| cart=Sonic1cacart.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=CA (Not For Resale)
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD CA nfr cover.jpg
 +
| cart=Sonic1 MD CA nfr cart.jpg
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| region=KR
 
| region=KR
| front=
+
| cover=Sonic1 MD KR cover.jpg
 
| cart=
 
| cart=
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
| region=KR (newer)
+
| region=KR (Gold)
| front=Sonic1 MD KR Box 2.jpg
+
| cover=Sonic1 MD KR gold cover.jpg
| cart=Sonic1 MD KR cart.jpg
+
| cart=Sonic1 MD KR gold cart.jpg
 +
| cartback=Sonic1 MD KR gold cartback.jpg
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
| region=SE (rental)
+
| region=KR (Gold, alt)
| front=
+
| front=Sonic1 MD KR gold alt cover.jpg
 
| cart=
 
| cart=
 
| manual=
 
| manual=
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Mega Drive
 
| console=Mega Drive
| region=PT
+
| region=KR (newer)
| manual=Sonic the Hedgehog MD PT Manual.pdf
+
| cover=Sonic1 MD KR Box 2.jpg
 +
| cart=Sonic1 MD KR cart.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=AS
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD AS cover.jpg
 +
| cart=Sonic1 MD AS cart.jpg
 +
| manual=
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=IN
 +
| cover=Sonic1 MD AS cover.jpg
 +
| cart=Sonic1 MD AS cart.jpg
 +
| item1=Sonic1 MD IN SWC label.png
 +
| item1name=Shaw Wallace seal
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Mega Drive
 +
| region=ZA
 +
| cover=
 +
| cart=
 
}}
 
}}
  
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{{rom|MD|sha1=69e102855d4389c3fd1a8f3dc7d193f8eee5fe5b|md5=09dadb5071eb35050067a32462e39c5f|crc32=afe05eee|size=512kB|date=1991-04|source=Cartridge (JP)|comments=REV01|quality=good|prototype=}}
 
{{rom|MD|sha1=95b6aac7e11bb2d908aafa06973ffeb45817a992|md5=c6c15aea60bda10ae11c6bc375296153|crc32=6382b2c5|size=512kB|date=1991-04|source=''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' disc|comments=JP2|quality=good|prototype=}}
 
{{rom|MD|sha1=95b6aac7e11bb2d908aafa06973ffeb45817a992|md5=c6c15aea60bda10ae11c6bc375296153|crc32=6382b2c5|size=512kB|date=1991-04|source=''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' disc|comments=JP2|quality=good|prototype=}}
 
+
{{rom|MD|sha1=0b38a66d5e2ffa2394fccb41e4871419cd0a077d|md5=b06578c3412de1c5be765a59dec5ff1f|crc32=917c9ca9|size=512kB|date=1989-01|source=EPROM cartridge{{ref|https://hiddenpalace.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(Prototype)}}|comments=|quality=|prototype=yes|protoname=prototype|file=Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) (Prototype).zip}}
 
{{rom|MD|sha1=ad7502fa15b1819eeb4089783b4a850d898bc71e|md5=e5e4eea000240b7bc675cf148b5b897b|crc32=7a093f0b|size=512kB|date=1991-04|source=Cartridge (pirate)|comments=Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p5][!].bin|quality=|pirate=yes}}
 
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{{rom|MD|sha1=a56c2f98d891eb6aa69c8169d806acf996325810|md5=0b5cc06bcce7f2b7907b7357266bbfa7|crc32=2ad86af1|size=512kB|date=1991-04|source=Cartridge (pirate)|comments=Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p4][!].bin|quality=|pirate=yes}}
 
{{rom|MD|sha1=a56c2f98d891eb6aa69c8169d806acf996325810|md5=0b5cc06bcce7f2b7907b7357266bbfa7|crc32=2ad86af1|size=512kB|date=1991-04|source=Cartridge (pirate)|comments=Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p4][!].bin|quality=|pirate=yes}}
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==External links==
 
==External links==
 +
* Sega of America webpage: [https://web.archive.org/web/19980223135116/http://www.sega.com:80/products/games/00374.html Mega Drive]
 
* [http://vc.sega.jp/vc_sonic/ Sega of Japan Virtual Console page (Japanese)]
 
* [http://vc.sega.jp/vc_sonic/ Sega of Japan Virtual Console page (Japanese)]
* [http://store.steampowered.com/app/71113/ ''Sonic the Hedgehog''] on Steam
+
* Nintendo catalogue pages: [https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/sonic-the-hedgehog-genesis-wii US], [http://web.archive.org/web/20120328005829/http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19772&pageID=4 AU]
 +
* [http://store.steampowered.com/app/71113/ ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' on Steam]
 
* [https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm_git ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' disassembly on GitHub]
 
* [https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm_git ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' disassembly on GitHub]
 
* [http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son1/son1.html ''Sonic the Hedgehog''] on [[The Green Hill Zone]]
 
* [http://www.theghz.com/sonic/son1/son1.html ''Sonic the Hedgehog''] on [[The Green Hill Zone]]
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{{SonicGenesisGames}}
 
{{SonicGenesisGames}}
 
{{SonicSteamGames}}
 
{{SonicSteamGames}}
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{{SonicOSXGames}}
 
{{SonicVirtualConsole/WiiWareGames}}
 
{{SonicVirtualConsole/WiiWareGames}}
  
 
[[Category:Steam games]]
 
[[Category:Steam games]]
[[Category:Virtual Console/WiiWare games]]
+
[[Category:Wii Virtual Console/WiiWare games]]
 
[[Category:Mega Drive games]]
 
[[Category:Mega Drive games]]

Latest revision as of 19:16, 31 January 2024

"Sonic 1" redirects here. For the Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear versions, see Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit). For the 2013 remake, see Sonic the Hedgehog (2013). For similarly titled media, see Sonic the Hedgehog (disambiguation).

n/a

show;hide
  • NTSC-U/PAL
  • NTSC-J
Sonic1 title.png
Sonic1Rev01 MD JP Title.png
Sonic the Hedgehog
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam, RealOne Arcade
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: SMPS 68000 (modified) (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Genre: Action[3][4]
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code Rating
Sega Mega Drive
JP
1991-07-26[5][4] ¥6,000 G-4049
Sega Mega Drive
US
1991-06-11[6] $54.95[7] 1009
Sega Mega Drive
US
(classic)
1995 $? 1009C
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Sega Mega Drive
US
(Classic; ESRB)
199x $? 1009
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1991-06 €? 1009
Sega Mega Drive
UK
1991-06-21[8] £34.99[9][10] 1009
Sega Mega Drive
BR
1991-09[11] R$? ?
Sega Mega Drive
BR
(Red)
199x R$? ?
Tectoy: Todas as Idades
Sega Mega Drive
AR
1992  ? ?
Sega Mega Drive
CA
199x $? ?
Sega Mega Drive
KR
199x ₩? GM4015JG
Sega Mega Drive
PT
1991  ? ?
Sega Mega Drive
AU
199x $? FSON00SMC
Sega Mega Drive
AS
199x  ? ?
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(r)
199x  ?kr ?
Sega Mega Drive
IN
1994 ₹2400 ?


Wii Virtual Console
US
2006-11-19[12] 800[12]pts ?
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
JP
2006-12-02[13][2] 600[5]pts ?
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
EU
2006-12-08[14] 800[14]pts ?
PEGI: 3+
Wii Virtual Console
AU
2006-12-07 800[15]pts ?
OFLC: General (G)


RealOne Arcade
US
2002-11-14[16] $? ?
Steam
US
2010-10-26[17] $4.99[18] 71113
ESRB: Everyone
Steam
EU
2010-10-26[17] €4.49[18] 71113
PEGI: 3+
Steam
DE
2010-10-26[17] €4.49[18] 71113
USK: 6
Steam
UK
2010-10-26[17] £3.99[18] 71113
PEGI: 3+
Steam
AU
2010-10-26[17] $6.99[18] 71113
OFLC: General (G)
Steam Linux
US
2019-01-31[19] $4.99[20] 71113
ESRB: Everyone
Steam Linux
EU
2019-01-31[19] €4.49[20] 71113
PEGI: 3+
Steam Linux
DE
2019-01-31[19] €4.49[20] 71113
USK: 6
Steam Linux
UK
2019-01-31[19] £3.99[20] 71113
PEGI: 3+
Steam Linux
AU
2019-01-31[19] $5.99[20] 71113
OFLC: General (G)
Steam OS X
US
2019-01-31[19] $4.99[20] 71113
ESRB: Everyone
Steam OS X
EU
2019-01-31[19] €4.49[20] 71113
PEGI: 3+
Steam OS X
DE
2019-01-31[19] €4.49[20] 71113
USK: 6
Steam OS X
UK
2019-01-31[19] £3.99[20] 71113
PEGI: 3+
Steam OS X
AU
2019-01-31[19] $5.99[20] 71113
OFLC: General (G)

Sonic the Hedgehog (Japanese: ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ) is the first game in the long-running series by video game publisher and former console maker Sega. First released in the United States on June 11, 1991, it was the premier outing for the character of Sonic the Hedgehog and the group behind his creation, Sonic Team. Though the game only received marginal success in its home country, almost overnight Sonic became a sensation in the West, solidifying Sega's place in Europe and turning the company into a household name in the United States.

For the first time, a company was able to directly compete with console and gamemaker Nintendo, which had dominated the second half of the 1980s. Though Nintendo still reigned supreme in Japan, the highly-contested 16-bit war in the West was a marvel to behold, the big two being neck and neck through almost the entirety of the third generation of console gaming.

The game propelled the creators into the realm of video game superstardom, programmer Yuji Naka for a time becoming the face of Sega much as Shigeru Miyamoto became the face of Nintendo after the success of Super Mario Bros. The franchise took off, with a version of the game being released on the Sega Master System and a series of sequels across Sega's various consoles over the years. It not only became the definitive title for the system and replaced Altered Beast as the pack-in title for the West, but would go on to be released on no less than twenty platforms after its initial release.

Story

Somewhere in the ocean lies a mysterious island not found on any map, known by its inhabitants as South Island. The reason for it being absent is a simple, yet mysterious one: it does not have a fixed position, instead traveling through the seas on its own course. While the reason for this behavior is unknown, it is rumored that it may have something to do with the legendary gemstones known as the Chaos Emeralds. Though legend says they exist on the island, no one knows exactly where they are or how to get a hold of them. All they do know is of the incredible power they are said to contain, and how they can give energy to all living beings.

Learning of the existence of the Chaos Emeralds, the mad genius Dr. Eggman sets himself on a quest to locate the emeralds for his own use, wanting to harness their power for his many mechanical creations. With the plan in motion, Eggman creates his base in a corner of the island, which he dubs the Scrap Brain Zone. However, he is aware that his evil plans will more than likely be interfered by Sonic the Hedgehog.

Though not a native of the island, Sonic the Hedgehog would often find himself on its mystical shores, and more than once had he run into the evil doctor, foiling an untold number of schemes. Just as Eggman predicted, in no time at all does the blue hedgehog learn of the doctor's intentions, running at sonic speed to confront him.

It doesn't take long for Sonic to realize that something is amiss, and is shocked to learn that Eggman has gone a step further with his evil intentions. Kidnapping the many animals living on the island, he has methodically been placing them in robot shells and using them to scour the island in search of the emeralds. Realizing that Eggman has turned Sonic's friends into his own personal mechanical army, Sonic wastes no time. Running across the island, he must not only stop Eggman's latest scheme and gather the Chaos Emeralds, but free his friends in the process.

"Hurry! Sonic the Hedgehog - everyone is waiting for your help!"

Gameplay

Sonic the Hedgehog facing off against his arch-rival, Dr. Eggman.

At its heart, Sonic the Hedgehog is a platformer. Taken from the same mold as platformers previous, Sonic Team was able to make the experience unique enough to rise it above the numerous Mario clones that had flooded the market. Becoming the standard for the Mega Drive, the game was also developed to showcase the potential of the system, creating a smooth-running and fast-moving game that is simple to pick up but complex and engaging underneath.

Broken up into six "Zones" with three "Acts" each (plus a "Final Zone" at the end, a single Act consisting of a final boss confrontation), the game operates under a very basic platforming premise: to traverse across each of these Acts under a certain amount of time (in this case ten minutes) and overcome whatever enemies and obstacles may be in your way. The flow of each of these Zones presents an interesting duality in terms of playthrough. While it is possible to go through each act slow and methodically, it is just as simple to run through the Zone as fast as possible, playing for the shortest time as opposed to the highest score. Featuring multiple pathways and plenty of secret areas, the eighteen main courses were created specifically with replayability in mind, with game director Hirokazu Yasuhara wanting a game that could stand the test of time, something more than a basic arcade experience.

Thanks to the efforts of Yuji Naka, the engine by which Sonic the Hedgehog is powered focuses not only on the potential speed for the character, but establishes the physics for the world as well. Being one part "pinball" and one part "momentum", the movement of Sonic depends just as much on the unique terrain of each level as it does on the input of the player. When it comes to the now-iconic set pieces of loop-de-loops and curved slopes, Sonic can only run through them if he has built up enough momentum to traverse through it. Running on curved slopes, a player can press downward on the control pad, allowing Sonic to curl up into a ball and gain tremendous speed - the steeper the slope, the higher the max speed at the end. Even the angles for which Sonic bounces off bumpers and springs are determined by the values within, making the Sonic experience unique from what other games were presenting at the time.

Sonic the Hedgehog rolling downward in Spring Yard Zone.

In terms of the moveset, the original Sonic the Hedgehog chooses to keep it simple. A secondary button is not needed to increase Sonic's speed, only time. Each of the three buttons on the Mega Drive controller were mapped to the same action, giving the player the power to make Sonic jump up, curling into a ball in the process. With this spin attack, Sonic can break an enemy from any angle, provided a spiked surface or a fire projectile is not in the way. He can also curl into this ball from on the ground, but can only remain as long as there is some momentum behind it. Once Sonic slows down, he is forced to return to his standing (or crouching) pose.

Scattered throughout each level are also a variety of items, the most famous of these being the spinning golden rings. While collecting 100 of these will award Sonic with an extra life, they serve a much more important function: as long as Sonic has at least one in his possession, he can not be killed by an enemy or spikes, though he can still succumb to crushing or drowning. Being hit while having rings causes them to scatter, making Sonic temporarily invincible to give the player time to recover and try to collect the scattered rings before they disappear.

Another prominent item featured in each Zone are the variety of item boxes. Resembling computer monitors, each give Sonic a different reward depending on the image inside. If a ring is pictured, for instance, the player gets an extra 10 rings added to their ring count. If the icon is a group of stars, Sonic is awarded with temporary invincibility. A shoe icon allows the character to temporarily run even faster than what can normally be achieved, and a shield icon gives Sonic a barrier that will protect him from a hit, either maintaining his ring count or not killing the player if no rings are available. Another common item found on the playfield are Lamp Posts, allowing Sonic to start at that point in the level in the case of the player losing a life, as opposed to starting the act from the beginning again. These, along with other level features such as springs, spikes, and bumpers, create a landscape that would be featured again and again within the Sonic the Hedgehog series.

Dr. Eggman taunting the player when you complete the game without all six Chaos Emeralds.

At the end of the first two Acts in each Zone, a Signpost with Eggman's face is there to greet you, as you run by it and turn it to Sonic's profile signaling your victory. However, at the end of each third Act, the player is greeted with an appearance from the main antagonist in his Eggmobile hovercraft, modified to present the player with a new challenge, with each Zone. Needing eight hits to be defeated, the doctor scurries away, allowing Sonic to open the animal capsule and free his friends, signaling the end of that particular Zone.

Though entirely optional in a standard runthrough of the game, there is another element to the Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay experience. With the exception of the Scrap Brain Zone, at the end of the first two Acts of each Zone, a Giant Ring will appear to the right of the ending Signpost if a player is able to complete the Act with at least 50 rings. Floating silently just as the standard rings do, if Sonic jumps into the ring in time, he will be transported to the Special Stage, a maze rotating 360 degrees. If traversed correctly, the player will be rewarded with a Chaos Emerald. Collecting all six emeralds is the only way to witness the true ending to the game. Failing to do so, Eggman will taunt the player at the end, juggling the missing emeralds, asking you to "try again".

Scoring

Hitting Bumpers: 10 points for each of the first ten hits on any given bumper; after that no more points can be gained from that bumper

Hitting enemies :

  • First Enemy = 100
  • Second Enemy = 200
  • Third Enemy = 500
  • Fourth through Fifteenth Enemies = 1000 each
  • Sixteenth and all Subsequent Enemies = 10000 each

(A "chain" refers to all enemies destroyed until the next time Sonic lands on some form of ground, or stops spinning.)

Dr. Eggman Boss: 1000 points each

End Level Ring Bonus: 100 points for each ring held

End Level Time Bonus:

  • 0:29 or less = 50000
  • 0:30 to 0:44 = 10000
  • 0:45 to 0:59 = 5000
  • 1:00 to 1:29 = 4000
  • 1:30 to 1:59 = 3000
  • 2:00 to 2:59 = 2000
  • 3:00 to 3:59 = 1000
  • 4:00 to 4:59 = 500
  • 5:00 or more = 0

End-of-level flags: Where the Signpost stands, there are sometimes flags you can trigger. These flags are hidden, but if you hit them they will appear and show either 100, 1000, or 10000. The flags that say "100" are really only worth 10 points each, but the 1000 and 10000 flags report their values accurately. There are no flags in Scrap Brain Zone Act 2.

Special Stage: 100 points for each ring held

Music and sound

Utilizing the onboard Zilog Z80 microprocessor, Yamaha YM2612 synthesizer and Texas Instruments SN76489 PSG sound chips, Sonic the Hedgehog was able to create a sound that was also unique, with the jumps, springs, and ring collecting sounds being an intergral part of the Sonic experience. These audio effects created by the sound team would be reused in subsequent entries, the classic ring sound still being heard with each new Sonic game. The music to the game, composed by Dreams Come True artist Masato Nakamura, also became a highly praised game soundtrack. Instead of treating it as a video game, Nakamura went into the project with the same mindset he would have if he were to compose the music to a feature length film. The first two songs written, the Green Hill Zone theme and the title screen jingle, would be alluded to in subsequent games, becoming the quintessential score of Sonic the Hedgehog. The popularity of the soundtrack has also made it a standard in live videogame music performance tours such as Video Games Live and Play! A Video Game Symphony.

Sound test

The level select to Sonic the Hedgehog, also containing the sound test.

Below is a listing of the songs available to played through the sound test within the game, accessible through the level select code:

Graphical style

The graphical style of Sonic the Hedgehog was extremely impressive for its time, especially for the Mega Drive hardware (the Super Nintendo being technically superior in terms of graphic capabilities). With a color pallette expanded beyond what 8-bit systems could do, each zone was given a unique and rich look. The graphical style was inspired by the then-new world of "computer generated" graphics, the visuals of the Green Hill Zone being the most prime example. Even the sprites of Sonic, Eggman, the enemies, and the rings reflected on this, each richly animated object jumping out of the screen. While other games of the era can look dated, Sonic the Hedgehog has been able to maintain a timeless feel, emphasized by the visual work of Naoto Ohshima and the fact that the original game still sells, albeit on modern hardware.

History

Sales data

Unless otherwise specified, it is not known whether these figures include sales of Mega Drive/Genesis bundles containing the game.

Copies sold Date Platform(s) Regions Cumulative sales References Notes
2,000,000 1991-12-31
Sega Mega Drive
WW 2,000,000 [21]
1,700,000 1992-10
Sega Mega Drive
WW 3,700,000 [22]
10,300,000 1997-06-11
Sega Mega Drive
WW 14,000,000 [23][24] By this point, the game had sold over 14 million copies.
1,000,000 2009-02-17
Sega Mega Drive
WW 15,000,000 [25][26] The figure specifically refers to sales of Mega Drive/Genesis consoles that included the game as a pack-in title. This number makes Sonic the Hedgehog the system's best-selling game.

Versions

Shortly after the original release of the game (known as REV00), Sega reissued the game (REV01) with various enhancements, bug-fixes and general tweaks. REV01 added extra layers of scrolling to most parallax backgrounds where many had been flat before, added moving clouds (Green Hill Zone), rippling water (Labyrinth Zone), corrected the level select screen's arrangement, among other minor changes. REV01 is most commonly found on Japanese cartridges, where the game was released slightly later than in Europe and North America, and was also made available in later production runs internationally.

A complete list of changes between REV00 and REV01 was compiled by Hivebrain, by disassembling both versions and comparing the resultant code.

  1. "clr.l" used instead of "move.l #0" in ClearScreen.
  2. Garbage removed from CalcSine.[27]
  3. "TM" on Sega screen is hidden if the console is Japanese.
  4. "TM" on title screen isn't loaded if the console is Japanese.
  5. AddPoints gives you an extra life for every 50000 points if the console is Japanese.
  6. Level select stage order is correct.
  7. Level select code is UDDDLR (instead of UDLR) if the console is Japanese.
  8. Moved restart level flag check in Level_MainLoop.
  9. Added background scroll check to LZWaterFeatures.[28]
  10. d2 is cleared in a slightly different way in MoveSonicInDemo.
  11. Added gamemode check in SS_MainLoop.
  12. Tidied EndSTH (obj89).[29]
  13. Layer scrolling changed.
  14. Tile drawing changed.
  15. Stuff added to DLE_MZ1.
  16. Blank frame added to rings mappings.[30]
  17. Added check in monitor contents item to prevent interruption of drowning music.[31]
  18. Lamppost time is cleared after game over (obj39).[32]
  19. Tidied MarbleBrick (obj46).[33]
  20. Tidied FloatingBlock (obj56).[34]
  21. Minor change to DrownCount (obj0A).[35]
  22. Changes to Caterkiller (obj78).[36]
  23. Minor change to Labyrinth boss (obj77).[37]
  24. Minor changes to Final boss (obj85), including 1000 point bonus for killing it.[38]
  25. Ending sequence debug list changed.
  26. Some unneeded things removed from Pattern Load Cues.
  27. Sega logo graphics and mappings slightly different.
  28. Unused graphics data removed.
  29. MZ & SBZ 256x256 tiles modified.
  30. SS5 & SS6 layouts modified.
  31. SYZ background modified.
  32. Minor change to SolidObject subroutine.[39]

A final modification was made to the original game by Sega for the 2002 compilation Sonic Mega Collection, which revised the spike damage behavior to be like that of later titles. This version is referred to as "JP2" in the game's menu, and is actually REV01 with extra code patched directly onto the ROM file.

Rereleases and ports

The success of Sonic the Hedgehog has led to the game being released for numerous systems, and included in most compilations of Mega Drive games. The 2000s also saw the game sold through a number of download services.

Standalone cartridges, sold in bundles:

Direct ports from source code, sold individually:

Direct ports from source code, sold in compilations:

Emulated, sold individually:

Emulated, sold in compilations:

Recreated from scratch:

Superficially similar:

Production credits

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main article: sega:Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive)/Production credits

Manuals

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)/Manuals

Promotional material

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)/Promotional material

Artwork

Physical scans




Sega Mega Drive
83 Sonic Retro Average
Based on 1 review
Publication Score Source
Famitsu (JP) 83
Mega Drive, JP
Sonic1 box jap.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, US
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Cover
Mega Drive, US (Not for resale; Genesis seal)
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Cover
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Cart
Mega Drive, US (Not for resale; Sega seal)
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Cover
Mega Drive, US (Classic; K-A rating)
Sonic1 md us classic cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, US (Classic; GA rating)
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Cover
Mega Drive, EU (Made in China cover)
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Cover
Mega Drive, EU (Made in Japan cover)
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Cover
Mega Drive, EU (Made in Malaysia cover)
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Cover
Mega Drive, EU (Made in Thailand cover)
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Cover
Mega Drive, EU (?)

Sonic1 MD EU p22 pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, EU (?)

Sonic1 MD EU f pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, PT
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Cover
Mega Drive, PT (alt)

Mega Drive, PT (alt 2)

Mega Drive, BX
Sonic1 MD BX Box.jpg
Cover
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Cart
Notavailable.svg
Manual
Mega Drive, SE (rental)

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Cart
Mega Drive, GR (Zegetron)

S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CZ (Datart)

S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
Cart
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Manual
Mega Drive, LT[40]
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Cover
S1-md-eu-cart.jpg
Cart
Notavailable.svg
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

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Cart
Mega Drive, AU (Horizontal manual)
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Cover
Mega Drive, AU (Horizontal manual; "SPO1")
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Cover
Mega Drive, AU (Vertical manual)

Mega Drive, BR/AR/UY
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Cover
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Cart
Mega Drive, BR (newer)
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Cover
Mega Drive, CA
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Cover
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Cart
Mega Drive, CA (Not For Resale)
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Cover
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Cart
Mega Drive, KR
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Cover
Mega Drive, KR (Gold)
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Cover
Sonic1 MD KR gold cartback.jpgSonic1 MD KR gold cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, KR (Gold, alt)
Sonic1 MD KR gold alt cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, KR (newer)
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Cover
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Cart
Mega Drive, AS
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Cover
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Cart
Mega Drive, IN
Sonic1 MD AS cover.jpg
Cover
Sonic1 MD AS cart.jpg
Cart
Sonic1 MD IN SWC label.png
Shaw Wallace seal
Mega Drive, ZA

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 f9394e97
MD5 1bc674be034e43c96b86487ac69d9293
SHA-1 6ddb7de1e17e7f6cdb88927bd906352030daa194
512kB 1991-04 Cartridge (US/EU) REV00
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 afe05eee
MD5 09dadb5071eb35050067a32462e39c5f
SHA-1 69e102855d4389c3fd1a8f3dc7d193f8eee5fe5b
512kB 1991-04 Cartridge (JP) REV01
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 6382b2c5
MD5 c6c15aea60bda10ae11c6bc375296153
SHA-1 95b6aac7e11bb2d908aafa06973ffeb45817a992
512kB 1991-04 Sonic Mega Collection disc JP2
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 917c9ca9
MD5 b06578c3412de1c5be765a59dec5ff1f
SHA-1 0b38a66d5e2ffa2394fccb41e4871419cd0a077d
512kB 1989-01 EPROM cartridge[41] Download.svg (269 kB) (info) Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 7a093f0b
MD5 e5e4eea000240b7bc675cf148b5b897b
SHA-1 ad7502fa15b1819eeb4089783b4a850d898bc71e
512kB 1991-04 Cartridge (pirate) Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p5][!].bin
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 2ad86af1
MD5 0b5cc06bcce7f2b7907b7357266bbfa7
SHA-1 a56c2f98d891eb6aa69c8169d806acf996325810
512kB 1991-04 Cartridge (pirate) Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p4][!].bin
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 964e15de
MD5 fced4cdb489c59300ae1b1330ff265cb
SHA-1 6a90e740a96d413d8bc01e9b6fbe990316a93380
512kB 1991-04 Cartridge (pirate) Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p3][!].bin
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 5ce8f5cf
MD5 0ec2d91d212bb486f6d7e80cf7767fa5
SHA-1 d1f80dbf4083273b7de427ca50b69399d5b7e6d8
512kB 1991-04 Cartridge (pirate) Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p2][!].bin
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 0d770284
MD5 4dc697b98100a9ba6b8d99d9b471ea74
SHA-1 4c3b606bec697b0b934ba2f650a8b83c0e3b77c7
512kB 1991-04 Cartridge (pirate) Sonic The Hedgehog (W) (REV00) [p1][!].bin

ROM hacking

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Main page: SCHG:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

During the 1990s and early 2000s, modifying Sonic the Hedgehog involved directly editing the ROM file with tools such as hex editors and Tile Layer Pro. Such efforts were somewhat crude by today's standards, and generally only produced straightforward changes to the game's data (graphics, levels etc.). In 2004 the first disassembly was produced, which allowed code and data to be restructured in any conceivable way, and then recompiled into a fully working ROM file. Subsequent years of refinement has produced a completely labelled and commented disassembly, which is hosted on GitHub.

Emulation

At present, Sonic the Hedgehog is emulated perfectly by all major Sega Mega Drive emulators. Older emulators such as Genecyst suffered a visual bug on the game's title screen. The Mega Drive could only display a limited number of sprites per scanline, and the game's programmers had placed dummy sprites on the title screen to exploit this weakness. The dummy sprites were intended to make Sonic appear to be behind the logo by rendering him partially invisible. Genecyst doesn't emulate this limitation, and so Sonic appears in front of the logo.Media:Sonic1 title Genecyst bug.png[42]

See also

  • Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic - A three volume comic released in Japan used to advertise the game. Contained in the narrative are elements there were eventually changed or removed from the final product.
  • Sonic the Hedgehog (promotional comic) - A standalone story commissioned by Sega of America using the westernized story no longer considered canon.

External links

References

  1. @U1_Toyama on Twitter (archive.today)
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/ (Wayback Machine: 2023-03-06 07:18)
  3. File:Sonic1 box jap.jpg
  4. 4.0 4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
  5. 5.0 5.1 http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_sonic/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-02-09 19:24)
  6. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/paAgJy9q1dA/m/geqhMS8zzNIJ (Wayback Machine: 2022-04-24 21:48)
  7. [vgce, issue 29, page 32 vgce, issue 29, page 32]
  8. [ctw, issue 343, page 17 ctw, issue 343, page 17]
  9. [raze, issue 11, page 76 raze, issue 11, page 76]
  10. [segapower, issue 22, page 11 segapower, issue 22, page 11]
  11. [ag, issue 4, page 22 ag, issue 4, page 22]
  12. 12.0 12.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/KxiDSMn_ADYC1Vd30TP-FW3yf8Byxwwu (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:19)
  13. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/01.html (Wayback Machine: 2017-11-23 05:03)
  14. 14.0 14.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/sonic_the_hedgehog (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-08 00:20)
  15. http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19772&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-03-28 00:58)
  16. http://games.real.com/allgames.php?mode=spnav (Wayback Machine: 2004-08-02 23:32)
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 https://steamdb.info/app/71113/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-16 22:42)
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 http://steamdb.info/app/71113/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:19)
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.7 19.8 19.9 https://steamdb.info/app/71113/history/?changeid=5749722
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 http://steamdb.info/app/71113/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-16 22:42)
  21. "Naka was just 25 years old in 1991 when he created “Sonic the Hedgehog” [...] The game sold 2 million copies the year it was released[.]", https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-13-tt-45191-story.html (archive.today)
  22. File:MeanMachinesSega02UK.pdf, page 12
  23. File:SSM UK 21.pdf, page 36
  24. File:SSM UK 22.pdf, page 68
  25. "We gave Sonic away, eventually, to over 15 million households with our hardware system.", https://youtube.com/watch?v=7mFs2v7XM4o&t=81s (Ghostarchive)
  26. "We gave Sonic away, eventually, to over 15 million households with our hardware system.", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-ij_RcEzcI&t=760s (Ghostarchive)
  27. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/sub%20CalcSine.asm
  28. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_inc/LZWaterFeatures.asm
  29. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/89%20Ending%20Sequence%20STH.asm
  30. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_maps/Rings%20(JP1).asm
  31. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/2E%20Monitor%20Content%20Power-Up.asm
  32. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/39%20Game%20Over.asm
  33. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/46%20MZ%20Bricks.asm
  34. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/56%20Floating%20Blocks%20and%20Doors.asm
  35. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/0A%20Drowning%20Countdown.asm
  36. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/78%20Caterkiller.asm
  37. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/77%20Boss%20-%20Labyrinth.asm
  38. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/85%20Boss%20-%20Final.asm
  39. https://github.com/sonicretro/s1disasm/blob/master/_incObj/sub%20SolidObject.asm
  40. Mickey Mouse #35 "1/1996" Puiki naujiena Sega gerbejams!
  41. Hidden Palace: Sonic the Hedgehog (Prototype)
  42. File:Sonic1 title Genecyst bug.png


Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)
Sonic1 title.png

Main page (Gen|2013|3D|Ages)
Comparisons (Gen) (2013)
Maps (2013)
Achievements
Credits


Manuals
Promotional material
Magazine articles (Gen)
Video coverage
Reception (Gen)
Merchandise


Development
Hidden content (Gen) (2013)
Bugs (Gen)
Region coding
Hacking guide
Bootlegs

Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems
Sega Mega Drive

Sega Mega-CD
Sega 32X
 1991  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Eraser     1992  Sonic the Hedgehog 2     1993  Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Spinball     1994  Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic & Knuckles     1995  Chaotix | Sonic Classics     1996  Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island    
Steam
 2010  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Spinball | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island | Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing     2011  Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles | Sonic Adventure | Sonic Generations     2012  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II | Sonic Adventure 2     2013  Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed     2015  Sonic Lost World     2017  Sonic Mania | Sonic Forces     2019  Team Sonic Racing     2022  Sonic Origins | Sonic Frontiers     2023  Sonic Colours: Ultimate | The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Superstars     2024  Sonic X Shadow Generations    
filler
Mac OS X

Mac App Store
Steam OS X
 2013  Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing     2019  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic Spinball | Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Racing     2022  Sonic Speed Simulator     2023  The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Dream Team    
Wii Virtual Console
WiiWare
 2006  Sonic the Hedgehog | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine     2007  Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic Spinball | Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island     2008  Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit) | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)     2009  Sonic Chaos | Sonic & Knuckles     2010  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I