SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

General
Title: Sonic the Hedgehog
Format: Master System
Developer: Sonic Team, Ancient
Genre: Platform
Cart Size: 256kb (2Mbit)
Release Dates
Japan: 28th Dec. 1991
Europe: Dec. 1991
N. America: Dec. 1991
S. America: 25th Oct. 1991


Story (from European & N. American instruction manuals):
Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the mad scientist, is snatching innocent animals and turning them into evil robots! Only one tough dude can put a stop to the demented scientist's fiendish scheme. It's Sonic, the real cool hedgehog with the spiked haircut and power sneakers that give him super speed.

Help Sonic fight hordes of metal maniacs and do the loop with the super sonic spin attack. Speed down twisting tunnels and swing over dangerous booby traps. Leap across lava pits and dodge burning rocks. Then splash through the chilling waters in an underground cavern. And if you're lucky, you can warp to the Special Stage where you jump from springs and bounce off bumpers as if you're in a real pinball machine! Your greatest challenge lurks in a flying blimp where you come face-to-face with Dr. Robotnik himself!

Spin through space, loop 'til you're dizzy, save the animals and become the super hero. Be Sonic! Be atomic!

Story (from Japanese instruction manual):
The malevolent gifted scientist, Dr. Eggman, prepares his bad intentions again: "Sonic... This impertinent, this contrary hedgehog; he hopes that my bigger projects are always annihilated. But this time, my strength that resides in my intellect will crush him! Ha ha ha ha..."

South Island is a treasure of jewels and ruins, including the "Chaos Emeralds" that sleep buried somewhere within the island. These stones deal to all life a terrific energy. New techniques basing themselves on nuclear weapons and laser radii are then possible. But, they are not necessary should these stones fall between bad hands that don't understand their power. Also, since South Island is an island with a circular movement, the island started forming a interdimensional torsion in which the Chaos Emeralds wander.

One day, something horrible presented himself on the island. Dr. Eggman and his army set foot there. "Ha ha!. Even though it is necessary to transport every particle of this island, I will have the Chaos Emeralds!!". Then, Dr. Eggman undertook the development of an enormous fortress in an angle of the island.

"Eggman, not again him?!!! Hearing rumors circulating on South Island, Sonic ran. Dr. Eggman thinks that Sonic is his deadly enemy, but Sonic does not really account of his adversary. However when Sonic arrived on South Island, a strange spectacle was held before Sonic. "Look Sonic, this time the situation is totally different! ALL the animals of the island have been transformed into robots!"
"E... everybody!"
"These individuals act henceforth under my unique control. In short, all the island is now your enemy! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha.. This time, the whole world will be mine!"
Difficult! But go for it! As Sonic the Hedgehog, everybody waits for your help.

Translation by Mary Yamasaki

Green Hill Zone
Tumble down rolling hills and splash through the chilling waters in an underground cavern. Bounce on springboards but not on spikes. Ouch!
Bridge Zone
Quickly cross the bridges before they crumble, or else you'll end up in the bottom of the lake! Jump from seesaws to reach high cliffs. Good timing is the key to success.
Jungle Zone
Wild flowers and exotic plants surround you in the damp, dark jungle.
Labyrinth Zone
Explore an intricate maze filled with water. A countdown begins to let you know when you are running out of oxygen. Breathing air bubbles keeps you from drowning.
Scrap Brain Zone
Soar past shimmering city lights. Then dash into a metal labyrinth that's full of dangerous booby traps. The conveyor belts are slippery - watch out!
Sky Base Zone
Fend off deadly laser beams and lethal missile shots. Now you've reached Dr. Robotnik's hideout - the blimp. Face him and erase him!

European
Box cover
Manual cover
Cartridge
 
Japanese
None yet
N. American
None yet
   

Ending
After beating Robotnik, Sonic returns to Green Hill Zone to destroy Robotnik once and for all. If you've collected all the Chaos Emeralds, you see an extra sequence where the Emeralds float into the air and clean up a cloud of pollution over the island.
Map Screens
The 8-bit version of Sonic has a nice extra feature which the Megadrive version doesn't: pre-level map screens. The maps show Sonic's progress across the island.



Soundtrack (VGM format)