Sonic The Hedgehog Gaming History
We take a look back at some of the best Sonic the Hedgehog video games you need to revisit…
Mario & Sonic At the Olympic Games
After years of rivalry, Sonic finally appeared in a game with Mario – and they decided to get all of their mates together in the spirit of friendly Olympic competition. It is a pretty good party game featuring the usual array of track and field events, and it sold millions despite most Wii owners already having Wii Sports. The series has continued with summer and winter versions to accompany every competition except 2018.
Sonic And The Secret Rings
The first game in Sonic’s short-lived storybook spin-off series sees him transported to the world of Arabian Knights, with regulars like Knuckles and Tails playing roles such as Sinbad and Ali Baba. This platformer has an unusual on-rails style that manages to avoid the camera issues common to prior 3D Sonic games (at the cost of curtailing freedom) and implements an interesting but ultimately flawed upgrade system. The game did receive a sequel, Sonic & The Black Knight, which was based on Arthurian legends.
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Plot has never been a particularly strong suit for the Sonic series, so the announcement of an RPG starring Sonic was something of a surprise- but bigger still was the surprise that BioWare was to develop it. The young potential audience required a lightweight story and easy progress, but the RPG specialists delivered a decent experience in spite of these shortcomings. This game didn’t get a sequel, most likely due to EA’s acquisition of BioWare, so it ends on a cliff-hanger that is unlikely to be resolved.
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
Designed to appeal to long-time fans of Sonic’s classic Mega Drive outings, this is a 2D platformer that revisits old level archetypes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite manage to live up to the quality of the games that inspired it. Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 features derivative level designs that veer into tribute act territory, and Sonic’s physics are bizarre and somewhat broken. Episode II, released in 2012, resolved some of the problems seen in the first episode, and reintroduced Tails with some new co-operative moves.
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic needed a new direction, and Sonic Unleashed was the result. The new platforming template adopted the boost mechanic from Sonic Rush but transitioned between 2D sections and high-speed 3D ones. Combined with some of the best graphics the series has ever had, the game was capable of delivering some truly thrilling moments, even with some wonky controls and the abundance of bottomless pits. Things slowed down considerably due to an item-based progression system and the night-time stages starring the Werehog, a monstrous form of Sonic whose stretchy limbs were used for repetitive 3D beat-‘em-up sections. Its best bits are thrilling, but it is too uneven to achieve classic status.
Sonic Rivals
Developed by Backbone Entertainment, Sonic’s PSP debut used the graphical power of Sony’s handheld to deliver some nice 3D environments, albeit ones designed to host the classic 2D platforming template. The twist to this game is that it is a competitive endeavour, pitting Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow and Silver against each other in one-on-one races, with offensive and defensive power-ups to match. It is reasonably fun, but the level design isn’t up there with the series’ best. Sonic Rivals 2 followed in 2007, again for PSP.
You can find discounted Nintendo gift cards over at our online store here, PlayStation gift cards here, Xbox gift cards here, and a wide variety of other gift cards here.
Keywords: Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog, Gaming, Videogames, Nintendo.
