- Sega, what have you done?Sonic the Hedgehog; a name that even the beginners in video games can recognize. It was the very first game I played, and it shaped the way I played video games. It impressed a lot of critics of that time for its intense speed action, great soundtrack, wacky bonus stages, and a lot of other elements that would shape up the future of the hedgehog's over 15 year career. It was pretty callenging, but with a game like this, you could adapt with the challenge.
Like with many classic games, Sonic spawned several sequels such as "Sonic 2," "Sonic 3," "Sonic & Knuckles," "Sonic 3D Blast," and a lot of other fun games (okay, except for maybe that last one). They were all just as challenging, and some even argue over which is the best one (I'd have to say "Sonic 2" is the best). The original Sonic game was ported into many different versions, and most of them turned out to be quite successful. All of them.... but one.
In an attempt to undo the damage that was caused to Sonic in "Sonic the Hedgehog" for the Xbox 360 and PS3 (often known by "Sonic Next-Gen"), Sega decided to port the original Sonic game to the GBA. This port, titled "Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis," was released for an on-the-go experience of the classic game and, like I said in the aforementioned statement, was an attempt to cover up what was done to Sonic in his next-generation console debut. Did it succeed?
No, it did not.
There are so many flaws and glitches in this version that it isn't even funny! What are these flaws, you may ask? Well, where do I begin....
I guess I should start with the "Anniversary Mode" that was ported along with this version. The spindash (which debut in "Sonic 2") was added to the AM, which I think was pretty cool, but.... THAT'S ALL THEY ADDED! Otherwise, it's just the same thing. Another thing that bothered me was the fact that the top and bottom were cut off, leaving absolutely no caution of an aerial attack. This flaw is especially fatal in the Springyard Zone.
The glitches; holy cow! You can die in the stupidest ways in this version! For example, in the Star Light Zone, when the platforms let down as a staircase (you should know what I'm talking about), if you're in between the steps, you'll get crushed. I mean, this game's glitches can be extremely fatal if you're not careful.
The music; many versions have tried to revive the great music of this game, and while most are pretty close, they are still not as great as the Genesis version. But come on! The music in this version is horrible. Especially in the Springyard and Labyrinth Zones, and those are two of my favorite music tracks! The GBA can support the music more than the Genesis could, and in some cases, the GBA should be superior to the Genesis. But this game has proved many people wrong.
The sound effects; there were a variety of sounds when you were destroying things. But in this version? It's just the same stupid "bwop" noise (or at least, that's what it sounds like to me). Absolutely unoriginal. When you destroy Robotnik, it's not the cool "boom, boom, boom!" noise anymore. It's this annoying "bwomp, bwomp, bwomp" noise. Even the air bubble effect is ruined too. It goes from a "wha at!" noise to a "da di!" noise. It's so horrible, though, that it's hilarious!
Graphics; okay, I'll have to admit that the graphics are near perfect, but there are some flaws in it as well. For example, in the Labyrinth Zone, the robotic jaws fish are purple in this version, when in the original, they were red. Also, the springs. You'd think that because the sun was shining on top of them, the top of the springs would be bright. But it's completely switched! The top is shadowed and the bottom is brightened.
*Sighs* I just can't believe it. How could Sega ruin their own masterpiece like this? What was to be Sonic the Hedgehog on the go turned into a complete and utter disaster for the fans of the world to see. Overall, if you want the true version of this game, then get the one and only Sonic the Hedgehog. You can also get the Sonic Mega Collection version, but Sonic doesn't go as fast as he does in the Genesis version (which is completely opposite to the GBA version, in which he goes very slow!).
Other than that, avoid this at all cost. It isn't worth your time!
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