Sonic the Hedgehog

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Sonic the Hedgehog
SonicSeriesLogo.png
developer mainly Sonic TeamJapanJapan
Publisher JapanJapan Sega
First title Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Last title Team Sonic Racing (2019)
Platform (s) Sega Mega Drive , Sega Master System , Sega Game Gear , Sega Mega-CD , Sega 32X , Sega Pico, Sega Saturn , Sega Dreamcast , Game.com , Neo Geo Pocket Color , Nintendo GameCube , Game Boy Advance , PlayStation 2 , Xbox , Nokia N-Gage , Gizmondo , Leapfrog Leapster, Nintendo DS , PlayStation Portable , PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360 , Leapfrog Didj, Nintendo Wii , Nintendo 3DS , PlayStation Vita , Wii U , Oculus Rift , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch , Virtual Console , Xbox Live Arcade , PlayStation Network , Ouya , Windows , Steam , iOS , Android , Arcade
Genre (s) Mainly: Jump 'n' Run
In Spin-offs also: racing game , skill game , action adventure , puzzle , sports simulation , beat 'em up , RPG , party , educational game

Sonic (including Sonic the Hedgehog , Sonic the Hedgehog , Jap. ソニック·ザ·ヘッジホッグ , Sonikku za hejjihoggu ) is a computer game series of the Japanese publisher Sega .

It has existed since 1991 with the publication of the game of the same name and has since continuously brought out new offshoots for all video game systems. The first four games of the mother series for the Sega Mega Drive are considered to be the highlights of the series and have already been republished dozens of times on collections, online offers and mobile markets.

Games

After the long development phase of the Sega mascot Sonic , it celebrated its video game debut in the arcade game Rad Mobile in 1991 with a cameo appearance . Only a short time later in the same year did the game Sonic the Hedgehog appear for the Sega Mega Drive, in which the eternal adversary Dr. Ivo Robotnik , whose name became Dr. Eggman was unified to make his debut. The game knew how to please with its impressive, smoothly running game speed, simple playability and graphically attractive stages and was thus also a commercial success, only the small size of the game was criticized. This was followed by 8-bit conversions of the same name for the Sega Master System and the Sega Game Gear , before the successor Sonic the Hedgehog 2 finally appeared in 1992 after the Japan-exclusive puzzle game Sonic Eraser . It was the debut of the new character Miles "Tails" Prower, a two-tailed fox who accompanied Sonic every step of the way. A multiplayer mode via split screen was built in and the scope increased from six to eleven regular zones. Collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds through the Special Stages was rewarded for the first time with the unlocking of the golden, faster and invulnerable Super Sonic . For many, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is still considered the best Sonic game in the entire franchise to this day. An 8-bit implementation of the same name for the Game Gear and the Master System was also released for this game .

For the Sega Mega-CD , the CD attachment for the Sega Mega Drive, Sonic the Hedgehog CD was released in 1993 . Developed by another in-house development team, the hedgehog lady Amy Rose and Sonic's robot image Metal Sonic made their debut in this game . The level design is less mature, but you can travel to a past and a future version of the zone within a stage and explore them in a different way. In addition to a slot machine called Sega Sonic the Hedgehog , Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine two spin-offs each for Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear. The last two 8-bit systems mentioned received a few more Sonic titles in the following years: In addition to 2D jump 'n' runs such as Sonic Chaos , Sonic Triple Trouble or Sonic Blast , spin-offs such as Sonic Drift 1 and 2, Sonic Labyrinth or two games with Tails in the eponymous lead. In addition, two games were released for the Sega Pico .

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for the Sega Mega Drive should top its highly acclaimed predecessor again in 1994. But even graphically more impressive and larger levels were in the game in which Knuckles the Echidna appeared for the first time, only to be achieved at the expense of a smaller number of levels. Sega's ultimate plan was to release the song Sonic & Knuckles later in 1994 . It was a so-called lock-on cartridge, so that other Sega Mega Drive games could be plugged into the Sonic & Knuckles module and thus connected. Incompatible with most Sega games, you could unlock additional content with the first main titles and the lock-on cartridge. The combination of Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles with the name Sonic 3 & Knuckles , which unites all zones of the two games, finally represents the supposedly ultimate Sonic game originally intended.

When Sega tried again in 1995 with the Sega 32X to upgrade their most successful home console, they brought out Knuckles' own game Knuckles Chaotix for this system , in which the Chaotix team , consisting of Espio , Vector and Charmy , made its debut and Knuckles in the fight against Metal Sonic assisted. This was followed in 1996 by the arcade machine Sonic the Fighters ( Sonic Championship in the USA), which shows the Sonic characters as impressive 3D polygons at the time. Unlike the Sonic 3D Flickie's Island ( Sonic 3D Blast in the USA) published in the same year for Sega Mega Drive, Sega Saturn and PC, which is based on three-dimensional control, but on a fixed, isometric camera view. In 1997 Sonic Jam was able to display actual, three-dimensional 3D on the Sega Saturn, but had hardly any playful content and looked more like a tech demo for the later Sonic R , which used this technology and polygons for a simple racing game with idiosyncratic controls.

The first really big 3D Sonic title was only released at the end of 1998 for the Sega Dreamcast , Sega's last home console: Sonic Adventure had six storylines of characters in the fight against Dr. Eggman and his monster mess . Each character also set a different gameplay focus: Sonic speeds through the levels as usual, Tails competes, Knuckles has to search the zones intensively for the Chaos Emerald splinters, Amy wants to shake off her pursuer, Big is always fishing in search of his friend Froggy and Robot E-102 shoot their way through their missions. The complete story and its connections can only be found out by playing through all the stories and only then unlocks the finale with Super Sonic. After the moderate party game Sonic Shuffle , Sonic Adventure 2 was the third and last Sonic game for the Sega Dreamcast. In the debut of Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat , the player could choose between two story lines: Either you played the heroes Sonic, Tails and Knuckles or the malicious side around Shadow, Dr. Eggman and Rouge. In the finale, all the protagonists stuck together to see the imminent end of the world caused by the grandfather Dr. Eggmans, Dr. Gerald Robotnik, to prevent.

With Sega's exit from the console hardware business, the group initially announced that Sonic games would be released exclusively for Nintendo consoles in the future. In addition to a largely identical implementation of Sonic Adventure 2 on the Nintendo GameCube called Sonic Adventure 2 Battle , in which a multiplayer mode and, for the first time, the Chao breed were built in, a 2D jump followed with Sonic Advance for the Game Boy Advance . n 'Run, based on Sonic's origins. Exactly these origins were soon pressed onto a GameCube disc and published as the Sonic Mega Collection . Positively surprised by the comparatively commercial success of these games, Sega turned it up and, in addition to Sonic Advance 2, also released the first Sonic Adventure for the GameCube under the title Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut , as well as two spin-offs for the Game Boy Advance called Sonic Pinball Party and Sonic Battle . At the end of 2003, Sega finally announced that it would no longer limit Sonic to Nintendo systems. Thus, Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut released for the PC and for Nokia's mobile handheld hybrid Nokia N-Gage appeared with Sonic N is a Sonic Advance port.

Subsequently, Sonic Heroes, the first major multi-platform Sonic game for Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox was published. You control a team of three characters with the individual strengths of speed, flight skills and combat strength and you have to change fluently within the level to the respective situation to the corresponding character. Team Chaotix and Metal Sonic celebrated a comeback in the series. After Sonic Advance 3 and an appearance in Sega Superstars for PlayStation 2, the Sonic Mega Collection Plus appeared for PlayStation 2, Xbox and later PC, which compared to the GameCube version contained even more Mega Drive original games. This was followed by a Sonic Heroes port for the PC, Sonic for Sega Classics for the handheld Gizmondo and the Sonic Gems Collection for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, which in addition to Game Gear classics, above all the three titles Sonic the Hedgehog CD , Sonic the Fighters and Sonic R that were not previously found on any other collection.

In 2005, Sonic Rush was a new, successful 2D platformer for the Nintendo DS , while Shadow the Hedgehog with the main character of the same name , published for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox, garnered rather negative reviews. In early 2006, the spin-off racing game Sonic Riders appeared for the same systems , until the 15th anniversary of the franchise with Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis, a port of the first game for the Game Boy Advance. However, this suffered from a catastrophic technical implementation. All hope was therefore on the anniversary game for the brand new consoles PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 , which should initiate a restart of the series and help to bring it to old fame. First trailers promised great things, but since Sega insisted that the game had to be released in 2006 due to the anniversary, it was given the simple name Sonic the Hedgehog (often Sonic the Hedgehog '06 or Sonic '06 for short to better distinguish it from the original published hastily and unfinished in November 2006. The high expectations of the fans were disappointed, instead of a glorious new beginning, Sonic 2006 hit a new low. Untimely bugs, gameplay-hindering glitches and absurdly long loading times severely gnawed at the image of the Sega mascot.

The originally planned Sonic 2006 implementation for Wii with motion control has been converted into a separate game called Sonic and the Secret Rings with a strong focus on motion control. Sonic Rivals and Sonic Rivals 2 were released for the PlayStation Portable , and Sonic Rush Adventure was released for the Nintendo DS . Subsequently, a cooperation between Nintendo and Sega caused a sensation: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games appeared in 2007 for Wii and DS and created a crossover of the Super Mario universe with the Sonic franchise for the sporting competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and was also a role model for sporting behavior among the former arch rivals. For the following Olympic Winter and Summer Games in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2020, video game adaptations with Mario & Sonic were developed for the latest Nintendo consoles. In early 2008, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity was released for Wii and PlayStation 2.

Sonic appeared in the 2008 Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii after a trailer was released specifically for this character performance. It was the first non-Nintendo internal character to join the Super Smash Bros. Fighting Wars. -Series joined. After Sega Superstars Tennis for five current game systems and the RPG Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the Nintendo DS, Sonic Unleashed ( Sonic World Adventure in Japan ) appeared at the end of 2008, the next main title in the series, which, after Sonic 2006, returned to normal quality standards. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 HD versions differed greatly from the technically weaker versions for Wii and PlayStation 2. In 2009, Sonic and the Black Knight for Wii, the successor to Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing was released in 2010.

Sonic Generations logo

While the Sonic Classic Collection for Nintendo DS, released in 2010, combined the famous beginnings of Sonic 1 to 3 on one module, a planned sequel was released in October 2010 with Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. Contemporary graphics with the gameplay of the classics was the recipe, but it caused mixed opinions. A little later, with Sonic Colors , a modern jump 'n' run appeared for the first time, which repeatedly switches between 2D and 3D passages. This and the introduced “Wisps” and their capabilities established themselves in the series from then on. After the Xbox 360-exclusive Sonic Free Riders with a focus on Kinect , Sonic Generations , which was released for the 20th anniversary for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo 3DS , expanded these properties by switching between “Classic Sonic” and “Modern Sonic ”, who met in the game through time travel, changed. The levels in the game were like a best of compilation of the most significant games to date and characters from all eras of the hedgehog came together in this adventure. Sonic Generations is considered by many to be the best Sonic game in recent history. In 2012, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Steam , which again divided the opinions of the community. The third episode, initially planned, was ultimately canceled. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was released in late 2012 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita , Xbox 360, Wii U , Nintendo 3DS and Steam.

In 2013 Nintendo and Sega negotiated a contract according to which the next three upcoming Sonic games could only appear exclusively for Nintendo systems. First Sonic Lost World was published for Wii U and 3DS, the game concept of moving largely on cylindrical levels, was viewed critically. The latest Olympic adaptation, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 for Wii U, was also part of this agreement. In 2014 Sega announced the “Year of Sonic”, in which a redesign of the characters, new games and a new TV series as well as advertising and merchandise offensives should bring a breath of fresh air. In November 2014, after Sonics re-released two more Sonic games for Wii U and 3DS, which finally fulfilled the said contract. While Sonic Boom: The Broken Crystal for 3DS, developed by the “Sanzaru Games” development team, was an average to below average 2D platformer, Sonic Boom: Lyrics Aufstieg for Wii U in particular made negative headlines. This game developed by “Big Red Button” was unfinished, bugged and in some places even published unplayable. Sonic Boom: Lyrics Aufstieg experienced historic lows from the media and the trade press and was even able to undercut the previous low of Sonic 2006. When Sega later published Sonic Lost World , which was to remain exclusively Nintendo-exclusive by contract, for Steam, internal differences with Nintendo were added.

The series' image had suffered from the failure of Sonic Boom . Although the associated TV series was viewed positively, concerns about Sonic's video game future were justified. In 2015, attempts were made to increasingly conquer the mobile game market for Sonic: After numerous ports or mini spin-offs for smartphones had already appeared, the new Sonic Runners was supposed to inspire after successful titles such as Sonic Dash or Sonic Jump , but could not appeal to the To build on the success of the games mentioned. In 2016 only Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice was released , which was developed by Sanzaru Games for the Nintendo 3DS and was perceived slightly better than its predecessor Sonic Boom: The Broken Crystal . In 2017, Sonic Mania, a 2D platformer in the classic 16-bit look of the Sega Mega Drive games and the latest main title, was released for the current PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch and Steam systems the series called Sonic Forces , in which Sonic is again accompanied by “Classic Sonic” from Sonic Generations, but also by an individually customizable main character.

In 2018, Sonic Mania Plus was added , which expanded Sonic Mania from the previous year to include the long-forgotten characters Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel, as well as some game modes. In 2019, Team Sonic Racing was followed by a new fun racer for all common systems. Sega has already announced that new releases are expected as part of Sonic's 30th anniversary in 2021.

Gameplay

Rings like these are collected in the Sonic games.

The classic main offshoots of the series are characterized by fast 2D jump-'n'-run passages. There you control the blue ultrasonic hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog through so-called “zones”, which are divided into individual “acts”. At the end of a zone, Sonic is usually hit by his main adversary, Dr. Robotnik (whose name was standardized on Dr. Eggman from 1999 ) expected for the boss fight. In Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , Sonic's sidekick Miles Prower, nicknamed Tails , was introduced as a constant companion. In the third part, Knuckles the Echidna was added, a character initially created by Dr. Robotnik was manipulated and raised against Sonic and Tails, in the fourth game Sonic & Knuckles, however, recognizes who is good and who is bad and has since had a rival but friendly relationship with Sonic. If available, you can also play with Tails or Knuckles.

In all Sonic games, rings are collected that the main character loses on contact with the enemy. If he is hit without rings, you lose an extra life. After all extra lives and continues have been used up in the classic main games, after a game over, you have to start all over again, only Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has a memory system. Many Sonic titles on the Sega Master System , Sega Game Gear or later the Sonic Advance trilogy on the Game Boy Advance or games for Nintendo DS work very similarly. There are various ways to get to Special Stages in which the magical Chaos Emeralds can be found. If there are only a maximum of six Chaos Emeralds in the first Sonic adventure, from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 you will find seven and you can transform yourself into an even faster and invulnerable Super Sonic with all seven Chaos Emeralds . In Sonic & Knuckles , Knuckles can also become Super Knuckles , the game Sonic 3 & Knuckles , which can be created through “lock-on” , also has other super and hyper forms.

Sega tried the leap into the third dimension with her mascot very early on. Even the special stages in the first games were called "3D", in 1996 Sonic 3D Flickie's Island was released for Sega Mega Drive and Sega Saturn , but which had a fixed, isometric camera view. Sonic Jam for Sega Saturn represented the world and characters vividly and can be described as Sonic's first 3D game, although it felt more like a tech demo with no real content or goals. Only Sonic Adventure on the Sega Dreamcast was a complete 3D adventure. In this game and in Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes , the player chooses between different characters, the styles of which differ greatly. However, since the storylines overlapped, you have to play through every "story" to unlock the finale. Later Sonic titles play each other in a similar way, since Sonic Colors in 2010, 2D passages have been increasingly implemented in 3D games and the so-called "Wisps", whose skills are acquired in the middle of a level and should be used depending on the situation, have always appeared since then back in the Sonic games.

Sonic outside of video games

In 1996, a cartoon for the well-known video game Sonic the Hedgehog was produced in Japan , which was only released in Japanese and English. From 1999 he was also seen outside of Japan. The theme of the film, which is divided into two 30-minute episodes, is the rescue of the old archenemy Dr. Robotnik kidnapped president. However, there are no big surprises on the part of the characters or the story, instead the film adaptation is very much linked to the video game.

Another film, again titled Sonic the Hedgehog , hit theaters in 2020. This time as a real film adaptation with a CGI-animated Sonic and for example Jim Carrey in the role of Dr. Robotnik. The special feature here is that the enormous criticism of Sonic's external appearance in the first trailer meant that the film had to be revised and therefore postponed from 2019 to 2020. The production cost for the entire film was 85 million dollars, in the first week already over 111 million dollars were raised worldwide.

In addition, several Sonic - cartoons published:

Sonic X was produced in Japan and post-processed in the United States because it was supposedly unsuitable for children. The American version is also broadcast in Europe.

Several Sonic comics have appeared. The longest comic series are the Archie comics, which were discontinued in 2017. Although it occasionally picks up individual elements from the games, for the most part it follows its own plot. In April 2018 IDW Publishing will publish a new comic in the United States, which will take up some of the Archie comics authors. There was also a comic series from the British publisher Fleetway called Sonic the Comic , which was discontinued in 2002 and is now being continued by fans as a webcomic .

There is also a large number of merchandise products from bath towels and trainers to various pasta dishes and even their own jam. A version of the Hedgehog gene was named "Sonic Hedgehog" by scientists based on Sonic.

In the 2012 Disney movie Ralph Enough (English "Wreck-It Ralph") Sonic and Dr. Eggman, the series' main villain, made guest appearances. In return, the main character from the film, Wreck-It Ralph, appears as a playable character in the multi-platform racing game Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed , which was released at the same time .

See also

Web links

Commons : Sonic the Hedgehog  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sonic Hedgehog.  In: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man . (English)