Sonic the Hedgehog: Genesis

 Game Boy Advance
User Score
2.4

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 120 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 120
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 120
  3. Negative: 95 out of 120
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  1. BassDrop001
    Dec 17, 2017
    0
    This is one of the worst game ever, i don't understand how some people can enjoy it.
    Everything is wrong with it, extreme lag, bad music, bad sound and bad collision detection.
  2. PacMax
    Oct 25, 2018
    1
    Bad music, bad framerate, bad everything, there is no excuse for this game to call itself a port of an alright game if it ruins it completely.
  3. Krossbone
    Jan 29, 2020
    0
    I find it absolutely hilarious that people have the gall to call Sonic '06 the "worst Sonic game of all time" or "one of the worst games of all time" when this absolute monstrosity of a game exists.

    There are so many things wrong with this game, it's hard to describe; it's glitchy, it's got horribly ported music, momentum in this game is ridiculously wonky, the slow down is SO bad it    I find it absolutely hilarious that people have the gall to call Sonic '06 the "worst Sonic game of all time" or "one of the worst games of all time" when this absolute monstrosity of a game exists.

    There are so many things wrong with this game, it's hard to describe; it's glitchy, it's got horribly ported music, momentum in this game is ridiculously wonky, the slow down is SO bad it feels like you're running through water when you're in air (can't even think of how to describe running through water feels like... it's just bad). Not to mention pretty much all the sound effects from the original are completely butchered, nowhere near as satisfying to land hits on enemies. Everything sounds off.
    Not exaggerating when I say this, this game feels like a bootleg. Which is just horrid.

    Sonic Team can put out some great stuff, but this game really serves to tarnish their name, because people will forever hold it over their heads. Hope they learned their lesson with rushing games with how this game was received. Anyways, I'm off to play 06, a MASTERPIECE in comparison to this piece of ****.    … Expand
  4. CrossoverMovie2
    Nov 19, 2022
    0
    WORST GAME OF ALL TIME! I can’t stand the controls, the bugs, and the screen crunch!
  5. Zilcell
    Nov 11, 2011
    6
    This version of Sonic the Hedgehog is too easy and the controls are terrible. I especially didn't like the new sound effects which removed the feel of Sonic that I liked from the original.
  6. Sonic45X
    Nov 12, 2014
    0
    Wow! Is it even appropriate to consider this "THING" a game. I mean It makes Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) look like Super Mario Galaxy 2. Even if your a GBA/DS owner who is a huge Sonic the Hedgehog fan, I recommend you don't get this game unless you plan on getting every single Sonic game possible.
  7. Robinson2511
    May 28, 2014
    1
    Oh god, what the hell happened here, how can transform one of the best platformers ever made, into a travesty that can't even support moving text without lagging like hell, not to mention glitches that put Sonic 06 to shame, a frame rate like a PowerPoint presentation running at half-speed, and music that makes Shadow the Hedgehog sound like a masterpiece in sound design, hugely disappointing!
  8. SonicKlonoa216
    Aug 3, 2011
    1
    Oh man I can't believe I have to Review on this. Every Sonic Fan weather it is the Classic or Modern Sonic Fans, It is really bad. The positive is the Spin Dash, a Save Feature and the Concept. Everything Else fails badly. Loads of Glitches, Bad Sound like Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, The Jonas Bros and Rebbecca Black, Awful Controls and Abysmal Gameplay. End of Story. Do not buy this gameOh man I can't believe I have to Review on this. Every Sonic Fan weather it is the Classic or Modern Sonic Fans, It is really bad. The positive is the Spin Dash, a Save Feature and the Concept. Everything Else fails badly. Loads of Glitches, Bad Sound like Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, The Jonas Bros and Rebbecca Black, Awful Controls and Abysmal Gameplay. End of Story. Do not buy this game instead get Sonic Classic Collection for the DS or SEGA Genesis Collection for the PSP.… Expand
  9. JacobM
    Feb 14, 2009
    7
    I don't understand why everybody hates this! Sure, it's laggy and glitchy, but I think the save system and Spin Dash are great additions! You should give it a shot, even if you're not a Sonic fan.
  10. gamernicolas1
    May 19, 2014
    0
    this game is very bad and i fell aleep while playing very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very bad
  11. Loki
    Aug 28, 2009
    0
    I can't understand how this game managed to get released... Worst Sonic game ever! How could Sega and Sonic Team let this disgraceful, horrible excuse for a port see the? light of day? On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 0. Although, on the bright side, I was so outraged by this game that I went on eBay and bought Sonic Jam. Not to mention it got me interested in the series again. But still....
  12. MaxP.
    Feb 27, 2007
    1
    Horrible lag and small screen make this game totally unplayable. Get the original or the mega collection instead.
  13. MatC.
    Jul 18, 2007
    0
    Just terrible. Lag, glitches, and screen size render this game almost unplayable.
  14. JoeS
    May 21, 2008
    1
    A true disappointment if ever there was one. I grew up with the original Sonic game. It was the first Genesis game I ever played. How they could have botched the translation so terribly is beyond me. The addition of the spin dash and the slightly higher jump is cool, but what is with all the lag? The lag makes the whole thing unplayable! Whoever did the port on this one deserves to be fired.
  15. SANICHEDGE
    Jan 1, 2018
    0
    If you thought Sonic 2006 was bad, (which I don't) this game is TERRIBLE. The music has been downgraded (even though that's expected from a GameBoy Advance), the physics are terrible, and Labyrinth Zone has been made worse than it was in the original Mega Drive / Genesis version. Also, the "Secret Zones," aka, Special Stages, suck even MORE.
  16. Frazo
    Sep 23, 2017
    0
    Easily one of the worst Sonic games i've ever played. Horrible control, screen crunch like you wouldn't believe, terrible GBA versions of the music and sound effects, slowdown all over the place and glitched physics are only a taste of the problems contained within this sundae of garbage that is Sonic Genesis.
  17. conserd
    Oct 3, 2013
    3
    You'll be surprised how atrocious this port is it has horrendous sound terrible sound and loaded with bugs not only is the GBA more powerful than the Genesis and this was released in 2006! when the DS was released! Just pretend this game doesn't exist and your life will be better.
  18. SqueM.
    Nov 5, 2007
    0
    The game sucks and should have never be released on the GBA. Next, try to port it on a stronger system. For a 32-bit system with a 16-bit game, I've learned that even 32-bit system can't even handle this crappy port. SEGA, try to port it on a stronger system than the GBA, it seems the GBA can't even handle a Genesis game.
  19. StevenV.
    Oct 15, 2009
    8
    I didn't find this game so bad. The only thing I found that is bad is that the game is slow at times. Other than the slow parts, I enjoyed Sonic the Hedgehog on Game Boy Advance. I think it's good, but could have been better without the slow parts.
  20. TyF.
    Nov 22, 2007
    1
    This is why Sega now is a piece of garbage, they are really rushing Sonic games and this is one of them! Sega, how dare you!! How dare you not putting Sonic in the same care that Nintendo did with Mario. Sega, you are nothing more then a company with no heart.
  21. Luigibarqs
    Nov 13, 2010
    1
    There is only one word that describes this game, "BROKEN".
    Almost everything that made the original game a masterpiece is loss in this portable remake.
    The physics are a disaster, the lag is unacceptable, the audio is poor quality at best, graphics tend to freak out and act strangely from time to time, resolution is so awkward its next to impossible to see what is going on around you,    There is only one word that describes this game, "BROKEN".
    Almost everything that made the original game a masterpiece is loss in this portable remake.
    The physics are a disaster, the lag is unacceptable, the audio is poor quality at best, graphics tend to freak out and act strangely from time to time, resolution is so awkward its next to impossible to see what is going on around you, glitches related to poor programing are quite literally everywhere, the spindash does not even work correctly and there are even a few spelling errors in the sound test menu. The only bonus features are save feature, a level select (you need to unlock each stage manually by reaching it) feature and a sound test feature (unlocked by game completion most likely). Due to absurd amounts of lag and wonky physics, it is incredibly difficult to complete Labyrinth Zone Act 3 and sometimes if you are killed during the boss in this stage you are respawned at a checkpoint stuck underwater with no way to escape but waste your lives on drowning or quitting and returning to the title screen. The game is awful and nobody should waste their hard earned money on this rushed and broken nearly unplayable mess of a game.    … Expand
  22. MrSonicFan
    Jan 19, 2014
    0
    A god awful and down right offensive port of a great game. It's glitchy, laggy, It sounds and sounds horrible.

    The story is exactly the same as sonic 1, so I do not have any problems here. The gameplay is awful, when you start up the game you have two options, Original and Anniversary, the only difference between the two is that in anniversary mode you have a spin dash. Which works I    A god awful and down right offensive port of a great game. It's glitchy, laggy, It sounds and sounds horrible.

    The story is exactly the same as sonic 1, so I do not have any problems here.

    The gameplay is awful, when you start up the game you have two options, Original and Anniversary, the only difference between the two is that in anniversary mode you have a spin dash. Which works I guess. But the levels in Sonic 1 were not design with the spin dash in mind, so I find it to be a pointless addition. The game itself is too zoomed in, the screen focuses to much on sonic. The game also lags like crazy. even when nothing is happening on screen, it will just slow down. The game is also glitchy, you die from standing on platforms occasionally. And the collision detection is wonky as all hell. and that is only a small portion of the glitches you will run into.

    The graphics, if you are looking at a still frame. Look fine, but as soon as you see it moving it really unpleasant, due to the slowdown.

    The music is horrid, and it is not the GBA's fault, Sonic Advance showed us that the GBA could have good remixes of Sonic 1 tracks. So what the hell happened here?

    Overall this is the worst version of sonic 1 you could possibly play, if you want sonic 1 with the spindash go get a rom hack off of sonic retro. or if you want to be official, buy the Sonic Jam compilation on the Sega Saturn. Don't play this version.

    OVERALL-
    0/10    … Expand
  23. Longanimals
    Sep 23, 2015
    0
    The only game besides Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis that gave me a headache. I played Green Hill Zone, lay down for an hour, and turned it back in. How did this get past Sega quality control and onto the GBA.
  24. SonicDude
    Mar 25, 2015
    9
    I agree the game has its flaws but that doesn't mean it's a bad game. The game can be slow and a little bad but still I like the game . This game has the spin dash and it is just like sonic from the Sega genisis kinda
  25. Steve
    Oct 11, 2009
    6
    I got Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis after seeing the bad reviews, and I disagree with them. The game does have slow downs and a different feel, but I still got some enjoyment out of playing this game. In my opinion, it is an ok game.
  26. JacobJ.
    Mar 11, 2007
    9
    Absolutely awesome! Sure, it has lag here and there, but the rest is awesome. It actually improved the jump hight!
  27. WizardMinecraft
    Jun 17, 2018
    10
    Its awsome ok? its fine its great its everything about sonic 1 put on gba form
  28. KendylKlownfish
    May 3, 2011
    3
    An effortless port that could turn off newcomers faster than the hedgehog himself. Pros: Alright for a quick Sonic run or two; the additional Spin Dash and save system are helpful. Cons: A lot of glitches and slowdowns; unresponsive controls; horrendously redone soundtrack and cheap audio; it's lousy next to ports like Mario and Zelda.
  29. ShadowUchiha73
    Feb 1, 2016
    1
    A god awful remake with extreme lag, slow frame rate, ridiculously inconsistent collision detection, and some of the worst glitches I have ever seen. The Spin dash can't save me from all of the other problems this game produced. This is easily the worst Sonic game of all time.
  30. Mppleader
    Dec 17, 2015
    1
    I only find Sonic 1 an okay game but this is the worst Sonic game I've ever played. This is coming from someone who loves the Mario Advance & the DKC remakes & finds them the best versions of said games. You're welcome to not include this as one of the worst sonic games & argue that games like every 3D Sonic game are the worst. The only good thing about it is that I find the regularI only find Sonic 1 an okay game but this is the worst Sonic game I've ever played. This is coming from someone who loves the Mario Advance & the DKC remakes & finds them the best versions of said games. You're welcome to not include this as one of the worst sonic games & argue that games like every 3D Sonic game are the worst. The only good thing about it is that I find the regular soundtrack better than the original except for Marble zone & the final boss theme. But it should sound better. Everything else is bad. The screen crunch is absolutely atrocious as is the frame-rate & the slowdown. the Spindash would be good if the camera wasn't horrible. The save feature is also atrocious because it's only good for a quick save. If people can consider a spin-off game that wasn't even made by Sonic Team the worst then I can consider a horrible remake of a beloved game made by Sonic Team themselves that's apparently being run on the Sonic Advance engine. Lastly a little complaint. Why was it released on the same day as Sonic 06? The first Sonic game on the DS Sonic Rush had been out for a year & the first of the Sonic Rivals games was released on the PSP that same year. as a certain reviewer on Youtube that I love once said "people are welcome to criticise the Super Mario Advance remakes & the Donkey Kong Country remakes but at least they were competent if not as good as or surpassing the originals" But this is the worst remake I've ever played.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
33

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 5 out of 6
  1. AceGamez
    20
    I truly am blown away by how terrible this port turned out to be.
  2. Nintendo Power
    60
    Considering that "Sonic Mega Collection" for GCN already boasts a perfect version of the original Sonic, this game is a bit of a tough sell, but at least the inclusion of the 'hogs trademark Spin Dash adds some appeal. [Jan. 2007, p.112]
  3. Play Magazine
    40
    There are a few minor twists in the Anniversary Mode, such as the ability to use the Spin Dash that was introduced later in the series, but none of it matters when the fundamentals are so thoroughly screwed. [Dec. 2006, p.92]
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