16-Bit Sonic - Mainline Review Compilation

This is for those of you who request longer episodes on similar topics. Here we look at the 4 mainline Sonic games for the Sega Genesis.
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Opening "Sega" jingle is from Astal for the Sega Saturn.
Ending Music during the credits is from Batman for the Sega Genesis.
SLX Logo
By: Jan Neves
KZbin Page - / jan3d
Intro by Evan S.
portfolio.tsestudios.com/
Outro Animation by Kevin Bhall
KZbin Page - / nigh11
Episode Notes:
1. Captured on the Mega SG.
2. Now in 4K with some fixes to the aspect ratio and audio.
3. I considered adding the other 16-bit Sonic games but I really wanted to keep this the main series.
4. You can play these on the Saturn thanks to Sonic Jam - or you can pick up the modern version of Sonic Origins.
5. This compilation covers content done over the course of 4 years. Each review was done with a different microphone and pacing changes I implemented in my narration.

[@thechosenone2123]

Sonic 1 is what propelled the Genesis into the stratosphere. Before Sonic, the Genesis console was doing just ok, but once Sonic came into the scene, the Genesis's success blew up. And even though Sonic 2, 3 and K were better than Sonic 1 from a gameplay perspective, I still hold to the statement that Sonic 1 is one of the most important games of all time.

[@viewerguy10]

Great point, Can’t disagree with that.

[@LanDi2006]

I agree

[@YokiBrewster]

Sonic 1 is the best… until you put in part 2… then you put in part 3!!!! 🤯🤯 then you go back to Sonic 1 and appreciate it more🙆🏻‍♀️

[@ShadowEl]

I recently played a bunch of Genesis games in chronological order and although there are some obvious early greats, Sonic 1 is just a revelation. It's easy to miss from a modern perspective how its graphics and sound were like nothing before on the console to that point, and Green Hill Zone was a perfect showcase for the speedy, physics based gameplay.

[@dwightdixon8508]

Took the words right out of my mouth. Sonic 1 holds a special place in my memories and I still own my CIB Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis bundle from way back then.

[@nothanksnoname7567]

Just be thankful you Americans had these games running at 60 hz.

[@jaredwhite200]

The original 4 Sonic games will always be some of my favorite games ever. I still play them to this day

[@irasimpson1465]

So do I good brother so do i.if a device I have is capable of having a genesis emulator on it, best believe I have ALL 4 of the mainline genesis sonics ready to play at a moments notice.that is INCLUDING my current phone im typing this on,the galaxy s24 ULTRA.

[@happyspaceinvader508]

Same… with the exception of Sonic Mania, all other Sonic games leave me cold.

[@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane]

*3. It's the original 3 Sonic games. Sonic 3 was split into 2 parts due to time constraints.

[@chivalrous_chevy1163]

Factz

[@jaredwhite200]

@@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane I put Sonic CD as one of the original 16 bit Sonic games. I do agree that Sonic 3 & Sonic & Knuckle is one game as well

[@BigSnipp]

It's Friday night, beer in hand, pizza on the way. Now I can settle into a nice, long SLX video.

[@SegaLordX]

Thanks for the kind words, my friend.

[@BigSnipp]

@@SegaLordX Cheers!

[@bleedingpepper]

Regarding Michael Jackson, it was confirmed by Yuji Naka more recently (around 2-3 years ago I think) that they definitely did work together on the music for Sonic 3.

[@happyspaceinvader508]

I sometimes think that if all those internet sleuths hadn’t investigated this, the latest releases of Sonic 3 would still have the original music. 😢

[@dennisveneman9469]

@@bleedingpepper 2

[@thechosenone2123]

@@dennisveneman9469 REPORTED

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Stranger in Moscow came out after Sonic 3

[@jaysherman2615]

​@@shadowopsairman1583 Yes, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't being recorded and being produced prior to Sonic 3.

[@kevinramsey417]

As a Nintendo kid, I never appreciated the Blue Bomber back in the day. I played Sonic but never owned it as I never owned a Genesis, but as I've come to discover the Sega Genesis through retro gaming, I've grown to appreciate him and the Sonic games have become some of my favorites. Mario is still my homeboy, but Sonic and his crew of furries can come hang out with us any time.

[@ggmedia]

Mega Man is the Blue Bomber. Sonic is the Blue Blur.

[@professorpenne9962]

sonic 3 and knuckles is way up there with peak 16 bit gaming fun, it's still awesome. I was a genesis kid and I also give respect to super mario world, that game is legendary. plus link to the past and mega man x made me jealous of people who had an snes. both systems are solid.

[@MrFelo17]

Love the 16-Bit Sonic trilogy. Right now I'm trying to collect the super emeralds to become Hypersonic 💎

[@francisvebert5830]

This game change my childhood forever.

[@Jokerwolf666]

2 was the first one I played as a kid and it blew my mind.

[@YokiBrewster]

The first time I seen it was the first time I seen a sega genesis… I was a 6 year old kid tripping out about how big the controllers were with its three buttons and the first time I ever seen Sonic was on starlight zone and I was tripping because I thought the music sounded just like Bobby brown 😅😅

[@francisvebert5830]

@@YokiBrewster the starlight zone soundtrack was like a dream in my hears . It was in 1992 when i first get my GENESIS.

[@slickrat]

I like Sonic 3 & Knucles better than even Sonic Mania, but Sonic Mania is "close second". The Death Egg history arc was just too good.

[@professorpenne9962]

sonic mania is obviously a nostalgia homage but, one that's done extremely well. it's got the original levels too, press garden goes so hard.

[@JoeyJ0J0]

Sonic 3 and Knuckles is my favorite of the Genesis games but 2 is really close. 1 had iffy level design

[@Haulinbassracing]

urkle will always be sonics voice in my head

[@socialistprofessor3206]

I had a poster of Urkel from 1991 or 1992 (bought as a gag) that I recently rediscovered when searching through our childhood house. We had a good laugh 😅

[@irasimpson1465]

I second that notion great sir. Urckle (Jaleel White) DID in fact voice the first 3 sonic television series as Sonic and for the third, (sonic underground) he voice ALL THREE MAIN CHARACTERS! Sonic, Sonia, and Manic😅 (it does sound kind of silly but still amazing at the same time)

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Jaleel White, he loaned his voice to Blue Core Studios' Sonic in 2013

[@RedTabletTalk]

Thus Sonic is Black!

[@Haulinbassracing]

@@RedTabletTalk lol sure if you want him too be, I bet your a delight to be around and for sure your making the world a better place. He's a star and trophy for last place kid your special

[@William5000000]

The mainline 2D pixel "Sonic" games (including "Sonic Mania (Plus)") will always be the golden era of the blue hedgehog!

[@niemand7811]

Sonic Mania doesn't count. Sonic 2 is where its at when it comes down to the best classic Sonic game.

[@William5000000]

@@niemand7811 Your (weird) opinion.

[@clintonfox3808]

Keep up the great content, my son and myself watch your channel and it reminds me of when I was a kid!

[@SegaLordX]

Thanks for watching!

[@sobemunky]

Getting a Model 1 Genesis with StH 2 for Xmas of ‘92 was one of the core memories of my life that I will forever cherish. ❤

[@Gametester110-qf8vs]

*Sonic 1 and Sonic CD* are my favorite Sonic games in the 16-bit era.

[@peterkaapcke7790]

When I first saw Sonic as a kid on the sleek looking Genesis with the speed / grafix's, I was like, "Mario Who"! blew that plumber out the water. Iv been a Sega fan ever since. 😵🙅

[@Swordslinger-hb1ns]

Speaking from personal experience, the first Sonic game that played was actually on Sega’s Game Gear. The Sonic games on that handheld console were more about exploration more than anything unlike its Genesis counterparts.

[@mxggo9046]

Sonic the Hedgehog was awesome. I never felt that speed was the main reason for me to play. Exploration was the key. At least to me. Not to say that speed did not make it enjoyable. For example,..On the second zone...when you are trying to run away from the lava that is coming up behind you. Or on the third zone when you drop down so fast, Sonic actually drops off the screen, just to then run up the other end of the screen. I would press down which makes Sonic turn in to a ball -- now your 2d stage has just morphed into a pinball game.... I would make Sonic go up and down up and down and would try to get as much air as possible. It was breathtaking the first time I found this area. I even enjoy the crazyness of Laborynth Zone....When I finally beat it..I felt so good. Starlight and Scrapbrain...I loved all of it. Not to mention all of the hidden rings through the levels. The special stages.... It just got better and better. Little by little I would get better and better...I would get further in the game and loving every moment. This was so much easier for me than the originial super mario bros. on the NES had ever been. Sound, Beauty, Ease of Use.. Wish you could play this game with the mindset of exploring the levels, finding all the hidden rings, getting to the end with as many rings without getting hit, enjoying the beauty in the artwork....I think thats the best way to play this game.

[@SegaLordX]

I found the level design itself off putting, the speed was just one factor. The lack of enemies, the waiting for stage mechanics to play out so you could move forward, it was exhausting. The underwater areas actually slowed you to a crawl, making traversal even more mind numbing. Sonic 1 still has a lot of great memories for me but the other 2D games on the Genesis are so much better paced.

[@happyspaceinvader508]

@@SegaLordXHmmm… I do get it, but I’m with the other guy. I savoured every moment of the original Sonic when it was released, and replayed it over and over. However, it might have been due to the fact I was 19 years old, at university… and therefore certain substances were involved. 😂

[@mxggo9046]

@@SegaLordX I dont know if the slowdown in Labrinth Zone was intentional or not...But, to me, back in the day i mean, it was intentional. Meaning...just like in real life, you can't move as fast as you normally can when you're underwater--so it becomes harder for Sonic to move fast underwater. But, again, reaching the end of each level, after having to find your way out..that was very exciting and satisfying for me. Anyway..,the one thing I have said over and over, was that I wish they would have remastered this game or something very similar to it for either the 32x or Saturn. I mean, a 32bit 2d Sonic game with more colors throughout for either of those two systems. Or both actually. A 'Special Edition' for 32x and a 'Saturn Edition' for Saturn. But, I know thats a topic for another day.

[@YokiBrewster]

Ahhh, the days when Dr Robotniks theme was MENACING. Nowadays Sonic music is too cheery 🎉🎉🎉 one exception* the boss encounter music in Sonic frontiers is BOSS

[@ChaosAngelZero]

The most famous hedgehog in the world.

[@g.l.vstudios3104]

I'm getting back into Sonic. Just playing Sonic frontiers for the first time

[@Kokomadeta]

That's a good one. The Sonic Symphony helped me remember just how good that game is.

[@Boogie_the_cat]

Is that the open world one? I hear it was pretty good, better than the promo videos made it look...

[@kevinmcqueary7395]

actually, he had 2 tv shows; one which was called SatAM, with Freedom Fighters, and one with Scratch and Grounder.

[@ToshisGarden]

He had a third one called "Sonic Underground", which starred Sonic and his siblings Sonia and Manic

[@starstarstar4643]

​​​​@@ToshisGarden just to clarify the comment you're responding to - Sega Lord X was referring to the early 90s cartoon during the peak popularity of Sonic but he forgot or didn't know about the 2nd cartoon that aired at the same time - the 2 cartoons, one was a goofier show that came on during weekdays and the 2nd one came on every Saturday morning and it was bit more serious and more dramatic, because of this we got Sonic 6 days a week.....that was the significance of his comment, it wasn't to point out all the Sonic cartoons in the 90s... But yeah, the Sonic cartoon you're talking about is the one where he was in a band or something that came out much later in 1999

[@TiNRiB]

My first 1st sonic was Sonic 1 on Master system. Can you imagine how my mind was blown when got Sonic 2 boxed in with my MegaDrive!?

[@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane]

The classic Mega Drive trilogy is one of my favorite Sonic games on the Mega Drive. The first Sonic game is good, the second game is better, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the best Sonic game on Mega Drive to me. I'm glad to have all 3 games on the Mega Drive.

[@BlackMoore82]

Regarding the music, my favorite theme is Marble Zone from the 1st game.

[@Fabiano.Bittencourt]

Thank you! Your review of Sonic 1 is spot on! Cheers from Brazil. :D

[@SegaLordX]

Glad you enjoyed it. It amazes me sometimes how people listen to my opinion of Sonic 1 and come away thinking I hated it. I had critiques and the other games were so much better. I don't think that's hard to understand at all.

[@zabustifu]

@@SegaLordX Sega experimented a lot with Sonic 1. They naturally had to come up with Sonic's design, thought of a damsel in distress then dropped her (good call, imo), and kept reworking the game quite a bit. That's why the game seems to become worse and worse as it progresses, as Sega just ran out of time and had to wrap things up. With Sonic 2, everything was just so much better because they could build on top of everything they laid with Sonic 1. On its own, Sonic 1 really was innovative, but it was also a lot of style without all that much substance.

[@godvandamme9921]

I think we're similar in age. I lived in gitmo cuba around when this came out so I didn't even know it existed. One kid on my block had an snes and i had an nes. It wasn't till i moved to Florida and saw sonic 2 and i was blown away by the way it looked. I wonder if reviewers at the time only played the first few levels. I always appreciate your videos and the quality.

[@bigdoggy6650]

Sonic made Sega into what it is!

[@fidget18s48]

Man, That Ice Cap music is amazing. Miss it so much when playing this on my PS5.

[@TheBeird]

No kidding, seeing Green Hill zone for the first time is one of my first memories I can recall. These games have stuck with me for thirty odd years 😮

[@niemand7811]

Sonic was maybe not the best idea about blast processing. But Sonic 2 was all the better for it. Each level had multiple routes for different player skills. The upper level for the speed demons with twitch reflexes. The second route for good and advanced players. And finally the lower levels for the slowpokes.

[@Monhamd1000]

A true classic collection that will live on for more generations!

[@TheDumontShow]

Sonic 3 Complete is one of the greatest platformers ever made. I remember getting it at launch and beating it multiple times. Then to find that it had a second part to it was wild back then. There has never been a 2D Sonic better than it to me. Sonic Mania was alright. The graphics were better but it felt like a bunch of the old stages just slapped together for no rhyme or reason. What made Sonic 3 great was how each stage that flows into one another due to the story being told. Sonic Mania just felt slapped together to me. His assessment on Sonic 3's soundtrack is bogus to me. Hands down. Marble Garden, Launch Base Zone, Angel Island, Ice Cap are amazing soundscapes that blow anyway anything in Sonic 2. Take Sonic and Knuckles into account with Mushroom Hill and both final boss themes are the best in the trilogy as well. That soundtrack was the best in the trilogy.

[@professorpenne9962]

the fact they are still all respected and are still replayable all these years later shows just how good they are. I can still pick up and re play s3k and have fun playing it. awesome games.

[@djmobman1727]

Sonic 1 is so slick looking combined with nothing like this at all being on the market. No indie developers pumping out undertales. And sega had a guranteed mario killer on their hands. Plus the tracks on this are what made sega and sonic go above and beyond anything hitting Mario levels of fame

[@Boogie_the_cat]

🎤 "i am the Eggman / i am the walrus / coo coo catchoo 🎤

[@kakhome1]

I rank Sonic 3 & Knuckles (the full game) > (Sonic Mania - similar enough I include it in the ranking even though it isn't 16 bit) > Sonic 2 = Sonic 3 > Sonic & Knuckles > Sonic CD > Sonic 1

[@Harp00nX]

Sonic 1 will always be the slowest fast game in existence. Absolute marketing bs that everyone swallowed, Sonic 2 far superior.

[@jaAYnuMbeR5]

my first exposure of the Sega Genesis was when it came with Altered Beast =)

[@aaronsnowden6311]

I must have got my Genesis before this because mine came with Altered Beast. Loved the video.

[@SegaLordX]

Yup. Sega packed in Altered Beast for 2 years before Sonic 1 showed up.

[@RobsonRoverRepair]

You know I always think of Sonic 1 as incomplete. I adore it with all my heart but I feel there was 2 zones missing that would have given that transition from speed to puzzle speed. I think it would have went Green Hill Zone Missing Zone 1 Spring Yard Zone Star Light Zone Missing Zone 2 Marble Zone Labyrinth Zone Scrap Brain Zone

[@zusk8556]

I actually strongly prefer Sonic 1 over the others, even to this day. Sonic 1 has the absolute best rom hacks of all 4 games, it's not even close. The fans have absolutely perfected that game. Even vanilla is still extremely fun to me. I love every zone, including Labyrinth.

[@ridensroom6957]

Sonic The Comic. Best comic ever. And please do an 8 bit compilation too

[@kingstarscream3807]

Thank you, Yuji Naka!

[@JamesJohnson-tr1gu]

There was a debug code for Sonic 2 also. For me, that alone added another layer of re-playability

[@RockstarMazy]

I still remember it until this day lol. the level select one too

[@eponymous7910]

19 65 09 17 reset hold a press start

[@RockstarMazy]

@@eponymous7910 then 04 01 02 06 hold A press start. and 19921124

[@thecunninlynguist]

Amazing 16 bit games. 2 is still my fave

[@melvinburchett]

I'll never understand the hate Sonic 1 gets, it's so damn good. Maybe that's nostalgia (eww) talking, but I always enjoyed this game quite a bit. I played it so much back in the day that when it came to Xbox 360 Arcade, I damn near got every achievement first playthrough.

[@socialistprofessor3206]

I have always liked the idea and iconography of Sonic more than I've liked the execution. That said, I'm sure I'll keep buying and playing them.

[@Kokomadeta]

You should do a Sonic the Hedgehog compilation review. Everything from Sonic Jam to Sonic Jam on Gamecom to Sonic Origins collection.

[@elone3997]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with you on Sonic 1. The opening stage is pretty much a perfect plaforming experience..and then things start changing..! I still have a very big soft spot for it though, having bought it on pretty much every platform I've owned and I still think it has one of the greatest gaming soundtracks ever made. The chrous hooks and melodies are brilliant, though in later life I've realised that there are some quite close homages to other parts of other music that the Sonic soundtrack was influenced by in parts. (I need to watch the rest of your video now..!)

[@ChknHugga]

Maybe I’m slightly younger and in the UK, but I always knew it as a platformer with some fast parts. I used to sit in my neighbours house while they were on holiday and just listen to the music. When I was a kid, there were no faults

[@elone3997]

Did your neighbours ever figure out that you found the key to their house under that plant pot out front? 😉

[@leighdappa]

❗️My Timestamps: 1:38 "The question is, is Sonic even a good game?" -YES! Next Video please.

[@macdox69]

Sonic 2 was the pinnacle for me. Sonic 3 was always frustrating with enemies blending too easily within backgrounds. Watching here I think it might be time to give Sonic 3 and Knuckles a second longer look.

[@mrsquirrel8079]

Yea... Sonic is what originally turned me torwards Sega as a whole.

[@mrsquirrel8079]

NiGHTs is what turned me towards the sega Saturn

[@jahdorose8659]

Cool

[@Ignignokt42]

I would honestly say, Sega Saturn backwards compatibility. I know it wasn't a big thing yet back then, but the PS2 had it, so I feel like Sega should as well

[@dunkinheinzgruber757]

Ice Cap Zone - Jetzons Hard Times.

[@ericl7519]

I was fortunate to get Sonic 2 for free with mail in for buying a Genesis. Smart move for Sega!

[@gorofujita5767]

Where's Sonic CD?

[@happyspaceinvader508]

It never really occurred to me how much the first Sonic game slows down in levels 2-4 and 6 until I watched this review. Back in the day, I loved every minute of it, as each level brought new graphics, music and its own unique challenge. Yes, Labyrinth Zone was challenging and frustrating, but I was never not enjoying it. When I bought the Japanese import back then, I wasn’t following any magazines, and it wasn’t advertised on TV in the UK… so I hadn’t seen any of the pre-release hype… I just saw someone playing it in my local games store and thought it looked good. I had no expectations of the whole game being about speed; I just expected a platform game, and the only platform games I had played by that point were Jet Set Willy (ZX Spectrum), Shinobi (Master System), Altered Beast and Strider (Mega Drive).

[@WWammyy]

Hmm Sonic 1 we are coming from different places. I had a Master System at the time and bought Sonic for it. I liked the game and Music. When I played Sonic 1 in a kiosk at a local electronics store called comet. I was literally blown away at the graphics, music and sound. It was like the Sonic I had but on steroids. Also the Master System game had no loop de loops I was so used to the Master System version that every single level on the Mega Drive version was extremely interesting to me. I loved them all except for Labyrinth Zone which had a nice atmosphere and music but it was slow and underwater. Spring Yard Zone was fantastic to me as the Springs made it feel fast. Pinball was interesting to me back then not so much now. Your criticisms of slow levels like (marble zone) is valid but as a kid I didn't see it like that it was just the next level to beat and the next challenge to overcome. I must have been around 8 years old at the time. I didn't see any of what you mentioned as bad level design I just saw a much better game than what I had played on the Master System.

[@adamofgrayskull7735]

Ohh hell yeah.WE HAVE THE POWER.🤘😆🤘

[@sandman8920]

Sega ❤

[@ToshisGarden]

Downloading this video now so I can watch it without phone service! Also, SLX, I know you're no fan of Disney, but is there any chance we can expect you to do a video on Sega World, the old Epcot attraction that was part of Innoventions?

[@silvervalver]

Never really understood the criticism of the first game. It is enjoyable and varied

[@dwightdixon8508]

Huh, the stiff looking Revenge of Shinobi character with its super slow pace and broken mechanics double jump didn’t do it for me but when I tried the Sonic the Hedgehog demo at local electronics store in 1991 it was an instant Sega Genesis console & Sonic the Hedgehog purchase for me. Cheers!

[@jamesbrassfield8409]

What's up everyone 😊

[@patrickholt8782]

Love me some sonic 1. I can beat it with all chaos emeralds. But holy smokes does sonic 2 blast it out of the chili dog stand with an laser guided missile. Can’t go wrong with genesis. And can’t go wrong with a sonic game in it.

[@laurenced2916]

God I'm getting old. My and my friends used to play Sonic when we were kids in the early 90s

[@jm2621]

I didn’t get a Sega Genesis until I was 10 years old almost 11 Christmas of 92’ I got the system with sonic 1 as the pack-in game as well as Batman returns since I was a big Batman fan. I played the hell out of part one and and two because a friend had it. When part 3 came out I believe I or my friend rented it but by then I was playing more fighting games that were out at that time, sonic and knuckles was treated the same way, so I did t really play part 3 and knuckles all that much. 94’ was the year when SNES were releasing banger after banger so I mainly played that system until the Saturn and PS came out.

[@JWS1985]

Hmmm... I completely understand the Sonic 1 review... But I still loved it anyway.

[@maroon9273]

Sonic mania is the greatest sonic game of all times. During the 16-bit era sonic 3 and knuckles will be the best sonic port back then with sonic 2 following behind.

[@emanuelferreira6875]

Well overdued. 😅

[@Marzimus]

7:11 Not. Even. Fair. Remember these moments from chuldhood but the music in Starlight made up for it. Great way to look at 1 with new eyes. Odd they'd slow it down but completely on point given the subject of length to dollar value. Replayability was key back then...something something Dreamcast Cannon Spike and Die Hard Arcade..

[@StrelokBoggard]

3 with knuckles is the definitive Sonic experience for me,I mean 2 is awesome but I see it like 1 but functional,I never to this day power through 1 cause I simply couldn’t care after the first zone. But 3 I truly loved, it was hype by McDonald’s and when I powered on the game it looked mature, the level graphics were saturated with detail (in a good way) and it felt refined. I play knuckles by itself in a friend house but when I finally locked in with 3 I saw how much each game changed by being together, it wasn’t just adding levels, the content itself became different… like complete and I never saw it as a different purchase. I saw it as magic, something special that didn’t come every day. Sonic 3 with knuckles is my middle school years distilled, with friends and surrounded by loved ones. Dear God,I love video games

[@ClaudioFirsoff]

Your critics about Sonic 1 are valid at some point, if you LEARN how to play the game, all the stages could be run by real fast...

[@adamofgrayskull7735]

why are so many channels doing compilations

[@SegaLordX]

Viewers ask for them and its a great way to get dead content back in the spotlight.

[@joshoshea3194]

For whatever reason, Labrinth Zone was the 3rd area here in the uk, not Springyard? Localisation is a strange mistress?

[@neilold7291]

I thought you would have done a review on the Dreamcast metal slug

[@SegaLordX]

I'm working on it.

[@neilold7291]

Cool ​@@SegaLordX

[@mjdf122]

Sega Lord X Genesis and Sonic time

[@NinjaRunningWild]

*Re : Sonic 1 (& 2 & 3)* : Running fast gets old quick. The _exploration of the levels is what made Sonic fun._ Sounds like you were hung up on just one game mechanic; Running. Sonic is much more than that. It was the mascot platformer age. Having a good one could push consoles the way Mario did for Nintendo. NEC did the same with Bonk & later Air Zonk, but it never caught on the same way, in part due to misunderstandings about the 8-bit CPU having no bearing on the game graphics (which were 16 bit). Clearly you got in your head an idea “Sonic is about speed”, which is a non-sequitur, you worked from that premise, found it was indeed not about speed, & came to even more non-sequiturs about it “not living up to the hype”. The problem wasn’t the hype or the speed not being the focus. It was _your idea_ that those things were important & dismissing it because they didn’t live up to a completely fabricated notion you concocted. It’s honestly kind of ridiculous.

[@SegaLordX]

And yet you failed to consider that I found the other Sonic games infinitely better in design. Plenty of exploration in Sonic 2, 3, and Knuckles. It was also about stage design, not just speed.

[@elone3997]

Any review boils down to it being opinion based, and as we all know, opinions vary widely. Everyone is entitled to expressing an opinion, even if you don't agree with it, so calling his interpretation of it as 'ridiculous' is actually rather ridiculous in itself.

[@zusk8556]

Most people strongly prefer Sonic 2 & 3 over Sonic 1, that's just the general consensus. I personally prefer the original, but with the caveat of using rom hacks that add the spindash, new characters, abilities, level layouts, etc. Sonic 2 & 3 are fairly objectively better games though.

[@NinjaRunningWild]

@@elone3997 That’s a tu quoque fallacy. Nice try. D-

[@NinjaRunningWild]

@@SegaLordX Moving the goalposts fallacy. What you said was quite clear.

[@starstarstar4643]

Sonic 3 has the best music, Hydrozone act 2 music sounds better anything on Sonic 1 and 2

[@iMichael123S]

I think the general rule of Sonic games is that the first level is always good and memorable however anything after that is debatable whether or not it was even required or not.

[@ostiariusalpha]

Pretty sure there are many later zones that are considered better than the introductory zone in all the 16-bit Sonic games. Usually not the underwater zones though.

[@noahkirkpatrick8912]

What do you think of EmuVR?

[@mekman4]

I loved Sonic 1, but I understand. I loathed the padding in Breath of Wild by way of the guardians. The game was frustrating and sadistically implemented. It was not worthy of the praise it had garnered from the media and _pick me_ commenters, seeking approval for liking a thing mass media claimed to be good. It was not. In fact the guardians were completely absent in the sequel which I nearly 100% and got the most out of. In reality without the barriers of padding to disguise the gameplay, Breath of the Wild is just a run of the mill Zelda game. Nintendo needs to do better. It doesn’t help that I played Genshin Impact before Breath of the Wild too, which had zero of the b$ found in Breath of the Wild, which the game is modeled after. It’s just has a gotcha. Great Stuff, as always!

[@YokiBrewster]

Can I just say as a member of the Retro Gaming YT Community… my days just aren’t the same if I don’t hear the classic “Seggggaaaa” in SegaLordX’s intro 🙆🏻‍♀️🙆🏻‍♀️

[@starby1243]

You know for a fact he used the level select cheat his continue are always 3 😅. Man I was like 9 years old bought Mega Drive 2 with my own money and finished the game with all chaos emeralds until one day came across a game cheat code book and how shocked I was. I didn't know there was cheats hahaha.

[@richlong4119]

I liked sonic and owned it but i was about SNES at the time.

[@Adamtendo_player_1]

It’s sequels are vastly superior but original Sonic The Hedgehog wasn’t just the important game for the Mega Drive game but it was the most important game of the 16 bit era and especially for Sega as it was pretty much make or break as the Mega Drive (Genesis) which was doing just ok and the NES was still dominant and the original Sonic changed everything.

[@autobotstarscream765]

I think Sonic 2 was also very important, as it refined what makes Sonic Sonic as opposed to the competition and introduced Tails, with the blitzkrieg of marketing that swept Sonic 1 and the Genesis into homes across America being largely based on Sonic 2, which was already in development and thus could be drawn from by all those cartoons, comics, books, etc.

[@superpachucho]

Love your videos, congratulations on such an amazing channel, and I really appreciate how honest and respectful you always are. About the Sonic games on Genesis/Mega Drive, a bit of an opposing opinion perhaps. I'm surprised you only mention the poor level design on Sonic 1, while it only gets worse and worse on 2 and 3. Oil Zone in Sonic 2 is one of the worst level designs I've ever experienced/suffered. Nothing makes sense, it is never clear what elements of the level are interactive or just part of the background. And there isn't a moment where you know where you are meant to go, since the usual 'going right' doesn't really help. And Sonic 3 level design doesn't get much better. In terms of level design, for me, the only game that was actually good was Master System's Sonic 1, which is often forgotten. Sonic always had a problem finding the right balance between trying to go fast and the quality of their level designs. And it even struggled more when going to 3D... But that's a bit of a different discussion. In any case, just different views, and that's perhaps the most fun part of talking about video games!

[@Venison_0904]

I was probably around 10 years old when enjoying the first Sonic games (Master System and Mega Drive) and I am hugely triggered by your 16 year old scathing review of it 😅 To me, it's pure art form...still is...and Sonic 2 was the magnum opus back then!!

[@youuuuuuuuuuutube]

You claim that Sonic played nothing like Mario, but actually those 2 games have something in common that separate those games from the pack: they have physics including inertia, acceleration, slowing down etc. Sonic does it even better than Mario but Mario absolutely has it.

[@BluesElwoo2]

So much to be said about the Genesis Sonic games. But growing up, Sonic 2 was my favorite. It felt so epic by the end of it. Sonic 3 was pretty good, but I didn't like it as much. S&K, back then, felt to me to be this quick cash grab shortly after S3 was released. I didn't play them back then locked together. Through emulation, I finally played S3&K, and all together, that game is easily the most epic of the original Sonic games. Too bad it wasn't released together, but man oh man does S3&K have a narrative that has to best everything else on the console at the time. S1 music was good. S2 music was better. S3 music was different, but overall better in my opinion, and even felt like Sega was ripping off the King of Pop. Come to find out, he actually worked on it. I was able to pick it out back then. Hydrocity Zone part 1 and 2 so freaking great! S&K music loses the MJ influence, but has some freaking amazing music nonetheless. Sky Sanctuary anyone? It felt so epic at that point in the story of the game. Do yourself a favor and play these 3 games (I consider S3&K the third). They are a major footnote in video game history.

[@ando8262]

@7:18 im so sorry bro.

[@happyspaceinvader508]

Although I enjoyed Sonic 3 back when it was released, I never liked it as much as the previous games. I always preferred the very simple, abstract graphics of the original Sonic, and I felt each game moved further and further away from that. I find Sonic 3’s graphics too “busy” and distracting. And I didn’t think the music was anywhere near as good as the previous games… save for the 2 tracks Sega has now had to replace in subsequent releases (presumably due to copyright reasons) which were by far the best. I’d really like to see you cover Sonic & Knuckles, as this was (in my opinion) much better than Sonic 3.

[@JPWestmas]

The franchise suffers from non-creative enemy attacks. I got bored after a few playthroughs but man I wanted to play it as a 13 year old kid!

[@marcnimrodMD]

1st game.i finished for the genesis. Sonic The Hedgehog

[@RobertLewis85]

I'm COVID Lord X and I WILL catch you next time

[@Jokerwolf666]

You can tell that Sonic 1 was rushed, still a fun game though all things considered.

[@spencerstevens2175]

I've always wanted to like sonic but it's always come off as "meh" to me. Thanks for the video, as always