During Sonic the Hedgehog's 16-bit golden age a string of lesser known games also released in tandem for SEGA's 8-bit Game Gear and Master System systems. The first of these oft-forgotten games is the aptly titled 'Sonic the Hedgehog' (or 8-bit Sonic 1, as I like to call it). Released a few months after it's Mega Drive counterpart, I think it's stood the test of time as the best of the 8-bit bunch.
Spoiler alert: the fast paced, speedy gameplay that became Sonic's USP never really translated to the 8-bit realm. On the Master System, Sonic felt a little more sluggish to control and the smaller amount of screen real estate and less sophisticated graphics severely limited the scope and scale of zones. With this in mind, 8-bit Sonic 1 doesn't just try and unsuccessfully ape it's 16-bit older brother. Instead, it plays more like a conventional platforming game with more of an emphasis of challenging the player's jumping acumen. Bridge Zone Act 2, for example, is an obstacle-laden auto-scroller and Jungle Zone is full of tight, punishing jumping sequences. This style of gameplay works and actually makes this game significantly trickier than any of the Mega Drive titles. Is it as fun as the Mega Drive's Sonic 1? No, I don't think so but I think SEGA did the best they could with the Master System's hardware limitations.
Ultimately, I think 8-bit Sonic 1 is a pretty neat little game and it's definitely elevated by it's cute visuals and a surprisingly solid soundtrack. It's well worth a play, all the more so because things would immediately go downhill from here.
Spoiler alert: the fast paced, speedy gameplay that became Sonic's USP never really translated to the 8-bit realm. On the Master System, Sonic felt a little more sluggish to control and the smaller amount of screen real estate and less sophisticated graphics severely limited the scope and scale of zones. With this in mind, 8-bit Sonic 1 doesn't just try and unsuccessfully ape it's 16-bit older brother. Instead, it plays more like a conventional platforming game with more of an emphasis of challenging the player's jumping acumen. Bridge Zone Act 2, for example, is an obstacle-laden auto-scroller and Jungle Zone is full of tight, punishing jumping sequences. This style of gameplay works and actually makes this game significantly trickier than any of the Mega Drive titles. Is it as fun as the Mega Drive's Sonic 1? No, I don't think so but I think SEGA did the best they could with the Master System's hardware limitations.
Ultimately, I think 8-bit Sonic 1 is a pretty neat little game and it's definitely elevated by it's cute visuals and a surprisingly solid soundtrack. It's well worth a play, all the more so because things would immediately go downhill from here.