Extremely Confused Sonic The Saturn years 1996-1997 Image: SEGA The promise of a future Sonic probably sold Saturns, which is a bit of a shame considering it never got one. Until Sonic Chaos and, that is, at which point they, erm, locked them behind Special Stages again. While still speedy, the focus in 8-bit and has been shifted to more linear, precision based platforming an approach brought into focus by the series’ MacGuffin, the Chaos Emeralds here, hidden in an obtuse location in each zone rather than locked behind Special Stages. 8-Bit Sonic The Master System Game Gear years 1991-1996 Image: SEGA It would be remiss of us not to acknowledge the rather underrated 8-bit Sonic games, especially their Master System incarnations which we'd argue are, at the very least, thoroughly playable and aurally (or should that be sonically) wonderful. It’s telling, we think, that it took a direct lift of these classics in for the series to achieve unanimous critical acclaim again following its early-'90s heyday.

The original Sonic the Hedgehog and its two-and-a-half sequels ( only sort of counts as a full game) still look and play great to this very day, hence the excitement for the upcoming – which also includes misunderstood masterpiece Sonic the Hedgehog CD. 2D platforming utilising momentum that’s never been equaled, or even convincingly imitated. Proper Sonic The Mega Drive years 1991-1996 Image: SEGA Now, some will dispute the assignment of the label “proper Sonic” to this little lot, but they are all wrong – this is Sonic at the very apex of his powers. We begin with a draught of the genuine article the only Sonic that pleases the 'purists'. Having looked at in honour of the gorilla's 40th anniversary, the recent – and typically catalysing - release of in the hedgehog's 30th anniversary year seems as opportune a time as any to have a look at a selection (although not quite the full gamut) of Sonics. One has to wonder what on earth got him in such a hurry, but given the patchy quality of the series as a whole we suspect he might be trying to outrun himself. Sega’s great blue hope seems to go through incarnations like he must wear through pairs of socks.

Today self-described 'long-suffering Sonic veteran' Stuart Gipp takes a chronological look back over the entire series 'til now. and that's just the tip of the Green Hill. You've got your 2D purists, your handheld advocates, your 3D defenders, your Werehog worriers, your people who say the 8-bit games were better than the 16-bit ones. The type of fan you are often depends on where you jumped aboard the platforming franchise. 30 Years Of Sonic The Hedgehog - The Many Faces Of Mario's Biggest Rival Nintendo Life The personal recap of the fastest thing alive by Share: Image: Nintendo Life / SEGA Over the last three decades, many types of Sonic fan have emerged and evolved.

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