Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis

Sega's faster, edgier answer to Nintendo's series of Super Mario Bros. games, Sonic the Hedgehog created a blue, spike-haired mascot for the company and propelled the Genesis ahead of the Super NES during the highly competitive Christmas season of 1991. Players guide the running, jumping, spinning, enemy-pouncing title character through six colorful, beautifully illustrated zones (including the Spring Yard Zone and the Labyrinth Zone), zipping through them with reckless abandon, or exploring them a little more slowly in hopes of finding hidden rings, lives, power sneakers, and other goodies. The bad guys (such as Caterkiller and Dr. Robotnik) are memorable, there are cool obstacles to avoid (including spikes and lava) and fun bonus levels to play, and gameplay is butter smooth and nice and easy (probably too easy). The game that invented the "fast-scrolling, character-with-an-attitude" sub-genre, Sonic the Hedgehog is easily the most important cartridge ever released for the Sega Genesis. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide