This sets the benchmark for platform games, and few others can beat it.
User Rating: 10 | Sonic the Hedgehog SMS
If you have never played the 2D Sonic games from the 80's and 90's, firstly, you cannot be regarded as a true fan. Secondly, play them! They are much better than anything with Sonic in them this side of the millenium. Sonic the Hedgehog was released simultaneously on Mega Drive and Master System, both are vaguely similar in theme but really they are seperate games in their own right. I actually prefer the Master System version, I like the levels more, the bosses, the sprites, the gameplay difficulty, music just everything really. The Master System version is much more difficult than the Mega Drive version; perhaps because other games on the system are harder, but I think this adds value to the game - you can't just walk through the game with ease, especially in the later levels Labyrinth, Scrap Brain and Flying Fortress (my favourite level). The later levels remind me of Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles because of the Flying Fortress and Sky Base zones; something that is sorely lacking from the Mega Drive version of the game. If you get the chance to play this game, give it some time to get used to it, and you will not be disappointed; it has the original story line and it doesn't over complicate the game like Sonic Adventure etc with all the extra characters and humans and cities. It's just what Sonic should be like. Play it. 
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