With almost 80 games in total, this speedy critter has entertained children and adults alike for hours on end and is one of the biggest game franchises to ever have existed. Of course, of those 70+ games there are certainly some we'd rather brush under the rug, but what about those we'd happily break out our dusty old consoles to play? Here is our list of the best Sonic games to ever have been produced.
Sonic The Hedgehog
We couldn't start this list with anything other than the very first Sonic game to ever hit the gaming market. Sonic The Hedgehog was an instant hit after creator Yuji Naka finally developed what was to be Sega's new mascot and the accompanying game. Of course, Sonic had quite the competition, with the success of Super Mario Bros and it's multitude of successful sequels dominating the market, but it battled hard and it battled well and now Sonic sits high up in the rankings right beside it's plumbing competition.
The bright colours and the fast style of gameplay were innovative at the time, and even today we find ourselves celebrating with a wealth of merchandise. Unfortunately, if you want to try your hand at this original, you'll have to cough up around $494.99 for a mint condition copy!
Sonic 2
Arguably better than its predecessor, Sonic 2 offers smarter game play and a unique design that rivalled even that of Super Mario. This game gave you the perfect opportunity to just keep going, and to keep going fast. While the original game of course had the speed we know and love, you often found yourself being stopped dead in your tracks. The clever design of well-loved levels such as Casino Night Zone made sure that this wasn't an issue in the sequel.
Instead, gamers got the opportunity to keep running, even when they came to face consequences. You could build up momentum and keep it, which was something that later games certainly learned from. It wasn't quite an origin story, but that was certainly part of the charm. You could finally enjoy the game with a much-loved character without worrying about a backstory you had to learn.
Sonic CD
Poor old Sonic CD certainly has its troubles and much of it can be put down to the console. However, the game itself was one worthy of attention and so attention we are giving it. Despite its hiccups, the concept behind the game certainly made it worthy of its later revamp, but its initial failings unfortunately meant that gems that allowed time travel weren't given the run that they needed to launch the game into the success it needed.
Despite the lack of initial success, it was the facelift it received that truly helped show off the potential behind the game. Fresh graphics brought it into a modern light and with better options for gameplay now available, there's no longer anything stopping it from getting the play it truly deserves.
Sonic Rush Adventure
As different as two games can be, Sonic Rush and Sonic Rush Adventure were both flying off the shelves. However, Sonic Rush Adventure seemed to be the more favoured of the two and while it had the same unique approach to the merging of 2D and 3D design as its predecessor, the 'Adventure' version of this game offered some incredible boss battles that fans were certainly grateful for. Oh, and we can't forget Sonic's snowboard that served to round the entire game off.
Sonic Rush Adventure had its storylines, of course, but with the subtle integration compared to other Sega offerings, it was popular among those searching for more action than adventure. With the fun design and even faster gameplay, players could definitely forgive the storylines when they did come to the forefront. Oh, and did we mention that this game is compatible with the 3DS?
Sonic 3
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 was quite possibly the most adventurous of all the Sonic games, attempting to bring a whole new level of life to the already much-loved game. With its predecessors launching Sega to its highest point yet, this game had a lot of expectation surrounding it and it definitely didn't disappoint. Granted, Sonic 3 didn't stay as Sonic 3 for long. The game was huge, expanding too far for the capabilities of the time, and thus Sonic And Knuckles was born as a sequel to the game. It may have been released as two separate games, but fans often regard the two as the same game altogether, and one of the biggest and best that Sega have ever produced. However, Sonic 3 also brought about a sad sort of feeling at the time. While this game was certainly incredible, it was also the last to follow the main storyline until four years later.
Sonic has a special place in our hearts - that much is certain - and while it may be difficult to get our hands on some mint condition classic Sega games without a hefty bank balance, there are plenty of second hand options available at a much more affordable price and sometimes even completely for free. Better yet, the franchise is still going strong, so Sonic fans old and new can easily get their hands on plenty of worthy offerings from the constantly growing collection.
Comments
No comments have been posted in response to this Blog post.