Sonic has been around for ages. Ages and ages...or since the Megadrive/Genesis days, either way. Sega was in a slump when the NES came out. The company had some good games to their name, but the juggernaut we call Nintendo was set to engulf the companies legacy completely. Then there came the Megadrive (or Genesis in America), with BLAST PROCESSING! Oh yeah! Blast processing was, accoring to Sega, the reason "Sega does what Nintendon't", along with a catalog of big name games and superior graphics. For some time, this held true to some extent, and what cemented Megarive's place among the console greats was their new-spangled icon, Sonic the Hedgehog. Their icon for some years had been Alex Kidd, a little hero with odd sideburns and a confident smile. His first game on the Megadrive was a disappointing flop, and Sega had to therefore come with a brandnew mascot, which, as previously mentioned, became the blue hedgehog we all know today.
-What would've happened if this were Sega's mascot today? Not good.
Sonic was something new at the time. Something fast, but instantly familiar at the same time. The gameplay was simple, jump, roll and dash through levels, trying to survive the chaos that is constantly streaming your way. No game at the time was exactly like it. The rush and adrenaline that flows through your veins when bursting through levels at the speed of sound is still exhilarating to this day. The levels yourbuilt for speed, and you had the need...for speed.
-Zoom!
Adding to that is the fact that you always have to be alert. Enemies will appear all of a sudden to take you off balance, and you will need fast reflexes to survive. The games of the Megadrive are tough, and you will need an equal amount of speed and precision to persevere. That is the essence of Sonic games, though unfortunately, they didn't exactly stay to the formula all the time, like in some of the 3D Sonic games. Sad, but the legacy stays the same. Sonic is a true hero, and if project Needlemouse works out, we might get some of the good, old Sonic back in our consoles. Rock on, Sonic!
-Oooooh. Aaaaaah.