Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis/Comparisons

Back to: Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis.

While the game would like you to think otherwise, Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis is a very loose adaption of the original game. To help illustrate this, some comparisons:

General comparisons

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

Most static screens have been optimised for the Game Boy Advances' hardware. After health and safety warnings and a "licensed by Nintendo" screen, a simpler (albeit similar) Sega screen shows up.

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

Sonic Team had no official logo in 1991. By 2006, they did.

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

The title screen has been re-drawn for the smaller display. While the background is essentially the same but smaller, it has fewer layers of parallax scrolling. "PRESS START" flashes on the screen.

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

The level select is no longer hidden. Genesis offers a battery back-up save feature, and levels are unlocked as you progress.

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

All title cards have been re-drawn.

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

In-game graphics are same as on the Mega Drive, save for the heads-up display. Because of this, the action is zoomed in, making it more difficult to see what lies ahead.

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

Ending cards are also different.

Gameplay comparisons

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

Pause the game and Sonic will disappear, being replaced by a simple menu. All other objects remain on-screen.

Graphics comparisons

Game Boy Advance

Mega Drive

All horizontal springs in the game are drawn upside down.

Level comparisons

• Green Hill Zone
• Marble Zone
• Spring Yard Zone
• Labyrinth Zone
• Star Light Zone
• Scrap Brain Zone
• Final Zone
• Special Stage