Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog

 Switch
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24

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  1. daWernz
    Sep 24, 2018
    8
    We all are tempted to wait for the SEGA Genesis Classics Collection on Nintendo Switch. But this SEGA AGES version scores with impressing emulation quality:
    It features the spin dash and the drop dash! Both moves were not present in the original game; but here they improve greatly the move momentum of Sonic: It truly feels like the controls in Sonic 2.
    The gamer is taken seriously and is    We all are tempted to wait for the SEGA Genesis Classics Collection on Nintendo Switch. But this SEGA AGES version scores with impressing emulation quality:
    It features the spin dash and the drop dash! Both moves were not present in the original game; but here they improve greatly the move momentum of Sonic: It truly feels like the controls in Sonic 2.
    The gamer is taken seriously and is offered all the important display modes: normal, fit, full screen, dot-by-dot (a great aspect ratio!); fitting frame graphics or just a nice black; unfiltered, smoothed (just the right amount!), scan-lines, vintage (emulates a curved TV)...
    Maybe some players will ask for a 16:9 version of the game (Christian Whitehead version for mobile devices), but be aware: In later stages of Whitehead's wide-screen version, enemies attack earlier, as soon as they are on screen; even platforms start their appear/disappear routine earlier, with Sonic being not close enough to keep up with the platforming.
    Visuals, music and sound effects are perfectly emulated in this SEGA AGES version.
    All in all a classic original Sonic ride - emulated with utmost precision - with improved speed momentum, thanks to the added spin dash!
    The SEGA Genesis Classic Collection on the other hand doesn't have a perfect sound quality or such well crafted display options - and Sonic 1 has no spin dash...    … Expand
  2. rykerrk
    Nov 26, 2018
    9
    With the price you're paying versus the new Sega Genesis collection on Switch, this is a dicey proposition at best; you're paying full VC price for just one game, so it'd have to be an AWFUL excellent reproduction for this to be passable.

    Luckily, I can say this easily fits that bill. The graphics are super crisp, looks like it was made for the Switch screen, and I'm not noticing a    With the price you're paying versus the new Sega Genesis collection on Switch, this is a dicey proposition at best; you're paying full VC price for just one game, so it'd have to be an AWFUL excellent reproduction for this to be passable.

    Luckily, I can say this easily fits that bill. The graphics are super crisp, looks like it was made for the Switch screen, and I'm not noticing a lick of stutter or audio issues; it plays exactly like it did on the Genesis, which I can't say for either of the last two emulation collections, which I would say do "passable" jobs. You get what you pay for in those; cheap price, more titles and mixed results. If this is the level we can expect from the Ages line, I'll happily invest in them further as they release because I think quality reproductions licensed out to modern consoles are worth backing if done well. This brings the familiar and the unfamiliar to the table.

    For all modes, there's now the option lifted with love from Sonic Mania for a "Drop Spin", where hitting jump before you land launches you into a spin dash upon hitting the ground, as well as the now-traditional spindash. Thanks Sega, Very Cool! You can also play either the Genesis or Mega Drive versions of the game at will and choose your stage to start on, or start from scratch. Ring Keep mode starts you out on a fresh life with ten rings, and each time you get hit, you only lose half your rings rounded down, so it takes an AWFUL lot of bad playing to not be able to scum your way through the game. There's a couple Challenge Modes; Time Attack lets you hit the leader boards to see how you fare against the rest of the world, or you can try your hand at the Mega Play mode, a replication of the Arcade version of Sonic that removes extra lives and imposes a time limit on each stage, as well as cutting out some of the chaff stages. Fail once at time or living and it's game over, pretty neat challenge. Also uses a ranking board if you're a competitive Sanic fan.

    Display changes you can make include "Normal", which presents a squared display unstretched; Fit stretches to the vertical screen limits, Full will stretch the game to the horizontal limits and induce vomiting, Dot-by-Dot seems to replicate the game at its native intended resolution (not sure why it's wider than Normal but whatever, it looks good), Vintage applies some smoothing, rounds out the upper and lower limits in a CRT-like bend which actually does a fairly competent job of emulating a CRT video output like you'd have had on your tiny screen in your bedroom when you were 8. Several of these have their own filter options where you can apply a lazy smoothing filter and a not-really-good scanline effect if you desire.

    All in all, highly competent, compelling reasons to lay down some money on Sonic for the 18th time. If you've got a Switch and want some portable Sonic the Hedgehog, pay out. It's worth it.    … Expand
  3. DominicW
    Apr 2, 2022
    9
    It’s a great port of sonic 1, that’s really it.
    Not the most cost effective way to play but they put a lot of work into emulating right.
    It plays like the genesis version, slowdown in all the right places. Crispy visuals with a few extra graphics options and a good save system that works well. Different modes for people who like to speed run or get high scores but nothing too crazy. I    It’s a great port of sonic 1, that’s really it.
    Not the most cost effective way to play but they put a lot of work into emulating right.

    It plays like the genesis version, slowdown in all the right places. Crispy visuals with a few extra graphics options and a good save system that works well. Different modes for people who like to speed run or get high scores but nothing too crazy.

    I wish it came with some cool concept art and videos on the making of the original and its impact and legacy for fans of the series, but what’s here is good.

    As for the game itself, it’s sonic 1, a classic. Great music, level design, visuals, fun and challenging gameplay, but criminally short. Labyrinth and marble worlds are probably my least favorite. Water levels in sonic can get tense trying not to run out of air but your moment is really slow cause you know water. For marble world, the music kind of sucks, and you don’t get to utilize your speed much at all, mostly just slow precise platforming. The rest of the game slaps and I love. If you have a switch and never played sonic 1 you really must if you like platformers or sonic.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Video Chums
    Apr 7, 2019
    80
    On top of Sonic the Hedgehog being a fantastic classic platformer, this Sega Ages version includes many cool new modes and options that make replaying it feel fresh and exciting again.
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  2. Switch Player
    Oct 17, 2018
    70
    You know the score by now. It's Sonic the Hedgehog's maiden voyage, and comfortably his finest. But you might find a more cost-effective way to play it elsewhere.
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  3. Digital Chumps
    Oct 4, 2018
    70
    I do appreciate the Sega Ages titles right now, and look forward to more in the future. I also think that if they start creating more additional modes to these older titles, then the series will be an easy sell. Right now, the modes are decent, especially for younger gamers out there, so they add some value to the titles, but they need a bit more to them, though, to really sell everyone on them.
    Read full review
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