Sonic The Hedgehog

Sega's answer to Mario — in your pocket

Sonic The Hedgehog on Game Gear is the 8-bit handheld version of the phenomenon that propelled Sega against Nintendo in 1991. Contrary to what one might think, it is not a simple port of the Mega Drive version: developed from scratch by the studio Ancient, founded by the legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro, it is a game entirely rethought for the 8-bit hardware. Six zones, including three original ones (Bridge Zone, Jungle Zone, Sky Base Zone), are added to the classic Green Hill, Labyrinth and Scrap Brain. The Chaos Emeralds are hidden within the levels themselves rather than in bonus stages. The soundtrack, by Koshiro, is considered by many to be superior to the Genesis version on some zones. An iconic Game Gear launch title in Europe, it proved that Sega's handheld could rival the Game Boy visually — in colour, no less. Re-released on Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2013 and included in Sonic Origins Plus (2023).