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Sonic the Hedgehog

16 May 2013
Glitchwave rating
3.11 / 5.0
0.5
5.0
 
 
23 Ratings /
#2,108 All-time
#20 for 1991
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I think I've been a Sonic fan since I ever knew video-games were a thing. Like, I think the very first games I played were Sonic games (along with Mario games too). Though it took me a while to play this game, and I think the very first times I beat it I heavily used savestates. This is my first time actually beating the game without abusing them, though I did use the Android feature that saves your progress after every Act you beat.

I'm somewhat conflicted on this game. I genuinely loved some moments of it, but I feel for most of the game I was just frustrated. The problem is that it feels like most of the game wasn't designed with the speed of Sonic in mind. It makes sense, this is the very first game of the series, they were just attempting stuff for the first time and seeing what sticks. But sadly not much stuck.

The first level, Green Hill Zone, is definitely the best one here and I don't think that's a controversial opinion. I feel most people would agree. It's genuinely well designed, genuinely letting you catch speed with all the loops and other terrain elements. There are some annoying moments here and there (like that one section in the 2nd act with the platforms that rise and lower with the spikes at the bottom), but it's mostly good. The problem is that the game has a quality dive for the rest of the game.

Marble Zone takes away all of the speed of the previous level and instead expects you to take it very slow. It's much more blocky, and it feels like it was designed with a typical 2D platformer character in mind, which is a problem because Sonic is not that. Sonic just doesn't fit this level. There's not a problem with stopping here and there, maybe solving some simple puzzles; Green Hill did a bit of it, but there it didn't feel like it was taking away the speed, it was just alternate paths that you could decide to take if you wanted to explore a bit more. On Marble, it's completely forced on you, and it isn't very fun.

Spring Yard Zone does get faster but not in a fun way. It basically takes a lot of control away from you, and becomes very frustrating because of it. Labyrinth Zone is probably the worst level on here, with the water slowing you down way too much, and while the drowning mechanic isn't bad by itself, a lot of the times it felt like I drowned for no fault of my own, only because the game decided to not generate air bubbles for me to breathe. Also the enemy placement in this stage just sucks and takes even more the fun away from it.

Star Light Zone picks up the speed a bit, which is good, but sadly the stage isn't as great as Green Hill. It isn't as visually interesting as Green Hill is and the enemies are not very fun to deal with (you can't even beat any of them without invincibility). It is ok but not nearly enough after how annoying the previous stages were. Scrap Brain Zone is the final stage and it's very tough, and it's probably the only stage that feels appropiately designed besides Green Hill. Maybe that is a controversial opinion but I kinda like it; could be better for sure but I don't mind the annoying stuff of this stage nearly as much as in other stages. Of course I'm not including the 3rd act which for some reason decided to bring back the design of Labyrinth Zone of all stages... It's short but still... why??

The Final Stage is just the final bossfight, and I guess it's time to talk a bit about the bosses... I didn't care for them honestly. They're not bad (besides Labyrinth's not really being a bossfight and Star Light's being a bit annoying to deal with), but I'm not too into any of them. Probably the worst offender is the final boss, which is honestly not hard at all, just frustrating to deal with for how long it takes to beat. And if you mess up... you have to do it all over again. Most of the time with the bosses I just want to be done with them as fast as possible so that I can actually play the levels again.

The Special Stages are basically the last gameplay-related thing to talk about. First of all, I don't like the way you get to them too much. Besides the first zone in which is genuinely fun, trying to keep 50 rings and getting to the end just ends up making the levels even less enjoyable, with me now having to be even more slow and careful to not get hit on this levels that were already forcing me to be slow. It was very frustrating to me to lose all of my rings because of an annoying enemy or hazard placement. I feel like they could've found better ways of accessing them. And then the stages themselves... they're not fun. I really dislike how they visually look, and gameplay-wise they're very annoying to go through. You have very little control of the character besides jumping and the direction you're heading, the latter which doesn't really matter when gravity and the bumpers are already forcing you in a certain direction anyways. It's very unenjoyable for me, and I feel a playthrough of this game would just be better if you completely ignored the emeralds. Sure you'll get the "bad ending" but, idk the endings are barely different anyways and you aren't missing anything worthwhile by not trying to get them.

I guess that's all the gameplay stuff I wanted to say. On how it visually looks, I think it's mostly amazing, with only Star Light looking a bit bland. All of the game looks visually excelent, and I also like how it fits the theme of the game of "nature vs. industrialization", with the closest you get to Dr. Robotnik/Eggman's base the more polluted and less natural the levels look (with the exception of Spring Yard which is a bit weird). The music is also great, though once again Star Light dissapoints a bit by the music not really fitting the theme of the level (it's supposed to be a polluted city in construction right before the even more polluted and industrialized Scrap Brain, not just a relaxing walk in the city at night). Overall I don't have much complains in that area.

I know I've been mostly negative on this but I actually still somewhat enjoy the game. Sure it's genuinely frustrating at times but I can't say I hate it, because what's good here it's good and fun. I appreciate those moments from the game. Even if the game is heavily flawed at times, I still feel like it's mostly ok, and a fine first attempt at a Sonic game.
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Moona202 2022-06-03T15:42:28Z
2022-06-03T15:42:28Z
5.5 /10
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This is my first game review. Sorry if it's not very well written, I'm a little bit bad at putting my thoughts on text. (I'm also not sure if it's ok to put this sort of stuff in here hehe).
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Catalog

MilesTaco Sonic the Hedgehog 2024-03-13T03:02:35Z
Android
2024-03-13T03:02:35Z
3.0
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
bobos808 Sonic the Hedgehog 2024-02-11T10:51:35Z
Android
2024-02-11T10:51:35Z
3.0
1
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
GMMASTER Sonic the Hedgehog 2023-09-10T08:29:18Z
Android
2023-09-10T08:29:18Z
3.0
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FinleyUnreleased Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-11-05T18:01:29Z
Android
2022-11-05T18:01:29Z
3.0
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
MegaDriveGirl Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-07-28T03:24:12Z
Android
2022-07-28T03:24:12Z
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
Moona202 Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-06-03T15:42:28Z
Android
2022-06-03T15:42:28Z
5.5 /10
1
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
skellygore Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-05-31T12:51:09Z
Android
2022-05-31T12:51:09Z
2.5
1
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
pavlig Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-05-30T10:30:29Z
Android
2022-05-30T10:30:29Z
2.5
1
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
Mozz_ Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-05-29T16:33:07Z
Android
2022-05-29T16:33:07Z
3.0
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
Sylfaen Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-05-27T14:21:44Z
Android
2022-05-27T14:21:44Z
1
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
QuintinPlays Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-05-25T02:54:40Z
Android
2022-05-25T02:54:40Z
3.5
In collection Want to buy Used to own  
JTansley Sonic the Hedgehog 2022-03-11T11:51:42Z
Android
2022-03-11T11:51:42Z
3.0
In collection Want to buy Used to own  

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  • Previous comments (33) Loading...
  • omo_ree 2023-08-18 03:52:09.710033+00
    i might be a psychopath but i think labyrinth is one of the best levels in this game,on top of being easier than marble zone(the boss can be a bit troubling bcz of no rings tho)
    reply
    • mickilennial 2024-01-01 12:55:31.185442+00
      I think visually its always been the best one.
    • Revolverpsychedlic 2024-01-21 08:38:12.735841+00
      I’ve always really liked Labyrinth zone ever since I was a little kid. Amazing music as well.
    • Revolverpsychedlic 2024-01-21 08:39:00.079479+00
      Very disappointing rating.
    • More replies New replies ) Loading...
  • _Ryu 2023-10-14 14:07:56.824484+00
    Sonic haters in the 90s: This game sucks because it's too easy I can just hold right and beat all of it just like that

    Sonic haters in the 2020s: This game sucks because it doesn't let me just hold right to beat all of it
    reply
    • Joe_Kloos 2023-10-22 18:39:12.778215+00
      The way the bell tolls I guess.
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  • Revolution666 2023-11-04 13:38:36.274843+00
    wtf is this rating???
    reply
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  • MouthfulofPaste 2023-12-04 23:50:24.412645+00
    As a first-time player, the whiplash going from Green Hill Zone to Marble Zone is actually insane
    reply
    • MouthfulofPaste 2023-12-04 23:50:41.109367+00
      And not in a good way
    • More replies New replies ) Loading...
  • tonitaste 2024-03-23 22:58:15.652238+00
    Level design sucks, especially in labyrinth zone, but the boss fights are well made.
    reply
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  • renegadexavier06 2024-03-26 18:07:53.824443+00
    "Don't just sit there and waste your precious time. When you want to do something, do it right away. Do it when you can. It's the only way to live a life without regrets." - Sonic 1 JP boxart
    reply
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