Episode 31: Sonic the Hedgehog
Retro Spectives9 Mar 2020

Episode 31: Sonic the Hedgehog

When Sonic the Hedgehog was first released in 1991 it blew everyone's minds. Featuring gorgeous graphics, fast paced gameplay and an iconic mascot, Sega finally had a title that could compete with Mario. Sonic the Hedgehog was the reason to own a Sega Genesis, on a console that had otherwise failed to impress.

But how well has the original Sonic held up by today’s standards? We’ve made vast strides in refining 2D platformers in the past 30 years, not only in the Sonic franchise, but across the board. Can the original really stand up to the test of time? Is Sonic The Hedgehog still a game worth playing today?

On this episode, we discuss:

  • Just how fast do you actually go in this game? While it’s theoretically possible to reach ludicrous speeds, levels are filled with trolls and traps. Can a new player have any reasonable expectation of going fast?
  • Which is the more enjoyable platforming experience? Using memorisation to perfectly navigate a level? Or relying on reaction speeds to deftly thread the needle?
  • Sonic was originally designed to be played from start to finish with no checkpoints or saving. Modern iterations and ports, however, have both. Is having saving a strict improvement, or is there some merit to the iron mode of original Sonic?

We answer these questions, and many more, on the 31st episode of the Retro Spectives Podcast!

---
If you enjoyed the episode and are in need of more Retro Spectives, then head on over to our website for more episodes and articles, or you can tell us directly what you think of Sonic on our text based community discord server!

Episoder(141)

E131: Ico

E131: Ico

Director Fumeto Ueda has been hailed by many as somewhat of an auteur of the gaming landscape. A creative whose style embraces minimalist desolation. Known best for his work on Shadow of the Colossus,...

19 Jun 20251h 21min

E130: Vanquish

E130: Vanquish

Third person cover based shooters were all the rage in the late 2000s.  Unveiled in 2003 in Killswitch  and later popularised with Gears of War, they became an essential part of most third person acti...

23 Mai 20251h 17min

E129: Recettear

E129: Recettear

Video games usually place you in the role of the plucky adventurer.  You are the wizard, the warrior, or the rogue, and it's your duty (and often destiny) to save the world.  On your journey, one of t...

25 Apr 20251h 17min

E128: Baldur's Gate

E128: Baldur's Gate

In 1998 Bioware changed the gaming landscape with Baldur’s Gate, a Dungeons and Dragons inspired adventure.  Taking cues from second edition D&D and the many stories written about it, Bioware wrote a ...

20 Mar 20252h 45min

E127: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

E127: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

The Ace Attorney games were an insane success, far beyond what Capcom could have predicted.  After 4 mainline games in the series though, it was time for something new, and creator Shu Takumi refused ...

11 Feb 20251h 26min

E126: Tachyon: The Fringe

E126: Tachyon: The Fringe

Space Sims used to be a vibrant and well populated genre.  Back in the 90s they command shelf real estate, right next to the latest and greatest RTS and Point and Click Adventure games.  Coming at the...

20 Jan 20251h

E125: Mailbag 6

E125: Mailbag 6

With another year done and dusted, Pat and James crack open another batch of listener questions. After curveballs like Killer 7 and Deadly Premonition, these should be a breeze.Right..? On this episod...

29 Des 20242h 54min

E124: Crysis

E124: Crysis

But can it run Crysis?  This was the motto that surrounded every single PC build for literal years after the release of the game in 2007.  Crytek were not satisfied with what they had achieved with Fa...

9 Sep 20241h 15min

Populært innen Fritid

rss-spartsklubben
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
mil-etter-mil-en-podcast-om-bil
nerdelandslaget
interiorradet
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
rss-gatebilpodden
jakt-og-fiskepodden
jegerpodden
rss-avskiltet
0-100-med-broom-mats-og-remi
rss-jegerpodden
level-backup
klokkepodden
villmarksliv
hagespiren-podcast
rss-jeg-fikser-vin
fjellsportpodden
grontpodden
rss-var-forste-kaffe