Sonic the Hedgehog

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This article is about the video game series. For the first game in the series, see
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game). For the character, see Sonic the Hedgehog
(character). For other uses, see Sonic the Hedgehog (disambiguation).
Sonic the Hedgehog
SonicSeriesLogo.png
Genre(s) Platform
Developer(s)
Sonic TeamSegaDimpsTraveller's TalesSIMS Co.Backbone EntertainmentBioWareSumo
DigitalHardlightAspectGameloft
Publisher(s) Sega
Creator(s)
Yuji Naka
Naoto Ohshima
Hirokazu Yasuhara
Artist(s)
Naoto Ohshima
Yuji Uekawa
Platform(s)
List[show]
First release Sonic the Hedgehog
June 23, 1991
Latest release Team Sonic Racing
May 21, 2019
Spin-offs Sonic Boom
Sonic the Hedgehog is a media franchise owned by Sega, centering on a series of
high-speed platform games. Sonic, the protagonist, is an anthropomorphic blue
hedgehog with supersonic speed. Typically, Sonic must stop antagonist Doctor
Eggman's plans for world domination, often helped by his friends, such as Tails,
Amy, and Knuckles.

The first Sonic the Hedgehog game, released in 1991, was conceived by Sega's Sonic
Team division after Sega requested a new mascot character to replace Alex Kidd and
compete with Nintendo's mascot Mario. Its success spawned many sequels and helped
Sega become one of the leading video game companies during the 16-bit era of the
early 1990s. The first major 3D Sonic game, Sonic Adventure, was released in 1998
for the Dreamcast. Spin-offs have explored other genres, including racing games
such as Sonic R (1997) and sports games such as Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
(2007).

By March 2011, the series had sold over 89 million physical copies,[n 1] and
grossed over $5 billion by 2014.[1] As of 2018, the series has shifted 800 million
copies, including free-to-play mobile game downloads.[2] Several Sonic games are
often included in lists of the greatest games of all time. Along with video games,
the Sonic franchise has also crossed over into a variety of different media,
including animation, comic books, and a Hollywood film.

Contents
1 History
1.1 Sega Genesis (1991�1996)
1.2 Sega Saturn (1996�1998)
1.3 Dreamcast (1998�2001)
1.4 Move to non-Sega systems (2001�2006)
1.5 Seventh generation consoles (2006�2013)
1.6 Eighth-generation consoles (2013�present)
2 Characters
3 Common features
3.1 Rings
3.2 Chaos Emeralds
3.3 Special Stages
3.4 Super transformation
3.5 Item boxes
3.6 Giant Rings
3.7 Checkpoints
3.8 Springs
3.9 Animals
4 Music
5 Other media
5.1 Television
5.1.1 Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
5.1.2 Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)
5.1.3 Sonic the Hedgehog (OVA)
5.1.4 Sonic Underground
5.1.5 Sonic X
5.1.6 Sonic Boom
5.1.7 Sonic Mania Adventures
5.2 Film
5.3 Comics and manga
6 Reception and legacy
6.1 Sales
7 See also
8 Further reading
9 Footnotes
10 References
11 External links
History
Sega Genesis (1991�1996)
See also: List of Sonic the Hedgehog video games

Sonic runs through Green Hill Zone, the first zone of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The first Sonic game, Sonic the Hedgehog, is a platform game released in 1991.[3]
Players control the anthropomorphic blue hedgehog Sonic, who can run and jump at
high speeds using springs, ramps, and loops.[4] Sonic must stop Dr. Robotnik from
taking over the world using the Chaos Emeralds.[4] Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)[5]
increased the overall size and speed of the series' gameplay[6] and was the second
best-selling Genesis game.[7] It introduced Sonic's sidekick and best friend, Miles
"Tails" Prower, who followed Sonic throughout the game, and allowed a second player
to control him in a limited fashion.[6] This game also introduced Sonic's "spin
dash" maneuver, an ability which allows Sonic to burst forwards quickly from a
complete standstill, unlike the previous game, where Sonic could only gain speed
with momentum.[6] Sonic 2 was followed in 1993 by an arcade game, SegaSonic the
Hedgehog, featuring new characters Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying
Squirrel.[8]

The next console game, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, was released in 1994.[9] The game
introduced a temporary shield maneuver, often called the "insta-shield",[10] added
new shield types to the series,[11] and allowed Tails to be completely playable
under a second player's control, as well as adding the option for players to
utilize Tails' flying ability in levels.[11] It also introduced the character,
Knuckles the Echidna, who served as an additional antagonist with Doctor Robotnik
for the game.[11]

Sonic & Knuckles, another platform game in the Sonic series, was released later in
1994.[12] The game featured Knuckles as a playable character with gliding and wall
climbing abilities[12] and allowed gamers to plug in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to the
top of the Sonic and Knuckles cartridge as part of the game's "lock on"
functionality. This allowed gamers to play the game as it was originally intended;
[12] the games were intended to be one game, but were split due to cartridge space
and time constraints.[13][14]

Knuckles explores Flying Battery, the second zone of Sonic & Knuckles (1994). The
use of shields, checkpoints, and these basic level design and graphical assets were
typical of the Sonic series' early years.
There were several Sonic games for the Genesis that were not 2D platform games.
Sonic Spinball, released in 1993, was a pinball simulation modeled after the Spring
Yard and Casino Night Zones from the first two Sonic games.[15] The game, unlike
general pinball simulations, had an overall goal of collecting all the Chaos
Emeralds in each level and defeating the levels' bosses.[15] It was one of the few
video games that had elements from the cartoons Sonic the Hedgehog and Adventures
of Sonic the Hedgehog. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine was a puzzle game similar
to Puyo Puyo[16] that was set in the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog universe.
Sonic 3D Blast, an isometric, 2.5D platform game[17] released in 1996 and developed
by Traveller's Tales,[18] featured Sonic running through pseudo-3D environments
while trying to rescue Flickies from Doctor Robotnik.[17]

The Sega Genesis had "add-on" systems that incorporated Sonic games. Sonic CD,
released for the Sega CD, was a 2D platform game[19] released in 1993.[20] The game
introduced the characters Amy Rose[21] and Metal Sonic and featured levels that
differed depending upon whether Sonic was in the past, present, or future time
frames.[19] Knuckles' Chaotix, a spin-off released in 1995 for the Sega 32X,[22]
featured Knuckles and a new group named Chaotix fighting against Dr. Robotnik.[23]
The game featured a two-player cooperative system in which the on-screen characters
were connected by magic rings.[23] There was also Sonic Eraser, a puzzle game
released exclusively on Sega Game Toshokan in 1991.

Due to the success of Sonic games on the Sega Genesis, the series was introduced to
the Master System and the Game Gear. Sega began by releasing Sonic the Hedgehog, a
2D platform game, in 1991.[24] The game featured Sonic's ability to run and to jump
at high speeds like its Mega Drive/Genesis counterpart but with notably different
level designs and music.[25] Sega later released Sonic the Hedgehog 2, another 2D
platform game, in 1992. The game differed from its Genesis counterpart with
different levels and music and by not including a "spin dash" maneuver. It also
featured a different storyline in which Doctor Robotnik kidnaps Tails, who is non-
playable in the Master System/Game Gear version.[26] Sonic Chaos/Sonic and Tails
(Japan), released in 1993,[27] was similar to the earlier two Sega Master
System/Game Gear Sonic games, but featured Tails as a playable character.[28] A
sequel, Sonic Triple Trouble/Sonic and Tails 2 (Japan), a 2D platform game, was
released in 1994[29] for the Game Gear and introduced a new character, Nack the
Weasel, who, along with Knuckles and Doctor Robotnik, raced to collect the Chaos
Emeralds. One of the last games for the Sega Game Gear, Sonic Blast, was released
in 1996[30] and featured prerendered sprites.

Several spin-off Sonic games that were not 2D platform games were also released.
Sonic Labyrinth, released for Game Gear in 1995,[31] featured an isometric view and
slower exploration-based gameplay that resulted from Robotnik's replacing Sonic's
shoes with "Speed Down Boots." Sonic Drift was a kart racer released in 1994.[32]
It later had a sequel, Sonic Drift 2, which was released in 1995.[33] Tails also
received two spin-offs. Tails' Skypatrol, released in 1995,[34] allowed players to
control an always-flying Tails. Tails Adventure, released in 1995,[35] featured a
mix of platforming and RPG elements.

Sega Saturn (1996�1998)

Few Sonic games were released for the Sega Saturn, and none were a standard
platform game originally made for the system. Sonic 3D Blast was released in
1996[36] alongside the Genesis version. Like its Genesis counterpart, the Saturn
edition used isometric, 2.5D graphics, but it added FMV cut-scenes, enhanced music
and visual effects,[37] and a real-time 3D special stage.[38] Sonic Jam, a
compilation released for the Saturn in 1997, contained the original Sonic the
Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles, as well
as a "Sonic World" mode, which allowed the player to control Sonic in a small 3D
world.[39] The Sonic World was mainly a means of accessing the disc's multimedia
features, which included character artwork, the soundtrack, and Japanese Sonic
videos.[40] Sonic R, a foot racing spin-off and also the Sonic series' first fully
3D game,[41] was released in 1997 for the Saturn[42] and ported to the PC in 1998.
[43]

The Sega Technical Institute attempted to develop a Sonic game for the Saturn
called Sonic X-treme. It was originally intended to compete with Nintendo's Super
Mario 64 and Sony's Crash Bandicoot. However, due to time constraints and issues
between STI, the Japanese division of Sega, and Sonic Team, the project was
canceled in late 1996.[44]

Dreamcast (1998�2001)

Sonic grinds a rail in City Escape, the first level of Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure, a launch game for the Dreamcast, was released in 1998 in Japan and
1999 in North America.[45] The game was re-released for the GameCube and PC as
Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut in 2003[46] with some graphical and gameplay
tweaks,[47] and, in late 2010, ported to Xbox Live Arcade[48] and PlayStation
Network.[49] Its sequel, Sonic Adventure 2, was released for the Dreamcast in 2001,
and was the last game in the series to be released for the Sega platform.[50] In
2002 it became the first game in the series to appear on a Nintendo platform when
it was ported � with several enhancements � to the GameCube as Sonic Adventure 2:
Battle,[51] and in October 2012 it was ported to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation
Network with a version released on Steam in November the same year.

The only other Dreamcast Sonic game was Sonic Shuffle, which was released in 2000
and featured cel-shaded graphics and a board game concept similar to that of the
Mario Party series.[52] Dreamcast sales began to decline after the launch of the
PlayStation 2,[53] and therefore few Sonic games were released for the system.

Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure was also released on SNK's Neo Geo Pocket Color
portable console, made in the same style of the Genesis/Mega Drive era of games.

Move to non-Sega systems (2001�2006)

After the commercial failure of the Dreamcast, Sega ceased producing its own video
game hardware, focusing solely on manufacturing software for the GameCube, followed
by releases for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

Sonic's transition to the Game Boy Advance was completed with Sonic Advance, the
first original Sonic game released for a Nintendo console. The game featured 2D
platforming, similar to the original Genesis games, and new gameplay mechanics from
more recent Sonic games as well, such as grinding on rails.[54] It was released in
late 2001 in Japan and early 2002 elsewhere,[55] and ported to Nokia's N-Gage on
October 7, 2003, as SonicN.[56] Two sequels, Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Advance 3,
followed in March 2003 and June 2004, respectively.

Between Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Advance 3, two other Sonic games were released:
Sonic Battle,[57] a 3D fighting game, and Sonic Pinball Party,[58] a pinball
simulation. The last Sonic game that was released for the Game Boy Advance is Sonic
The Hedgehog Genesis on 2006, which features the original Genesis game and the 15-
anniversary mode with the Spin Dash.
The first game released for the GameCube was Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, followed by
Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, each ports from the Dreamcast. Sega later
released Sonic Heroes,[59] the first Sonic game made for the GameCube, PlayStation
2, and Xbox. It was released on all three systems on December 30, 2003 in Japan,
with American and European releases following soon after. The game was similar to
that of the Adventure games, although the player now controlled the lead character
of a team of three, with the other two following behind. The player could then
switch to a new leader at any time in order to use that character's special
abilities.

Shadow the Hedgehog was released in late 2005 in North America. It was built on a
more advanced version of the engine used for Sonic Heroes. It focused on Shadow the
Hedgehog as he tried to uncover his past. The game contained multiple paths and
endings, as the player chose to take good or evil paths for each level. It also
added wielding weapons and driving vehicles to 3D platforming.[60][61]

Sonic Riders was the first Sonic racing game since Sonic R; in contrast to the
previous game, the characters used hoverboards, bikes, and skates rather than
racing on foot. It was the last game for GameCube & Xbox.[62]

Due to the extended life cycle of the PlayStation 2, it also received ports of
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity[63][64] and Sonic Unleashed.[65][66] Two Sonic games
appeared on the PlayStation Portable: Sonic Rivals and its sequel, Sonic Rivals 2.
Both games were 2.5D style games.

Seventh generation consoles (2006�2013)

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There were a number of different Sonic games released for the Nintendo DS. The
first was Sonic Rush, released in 2005, featuring gameplay similar to the Sonic
Advance series. It received a sequel, Sonic Rush Adventure, in 2007, which featured
some additional new elements, such as the driving of jet skis and submarines. Along
with the Wii, the Nintendo DS saw the beginning of the Mario and Sonic crossover
games. The first, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, was released in late 2007,
and featured characters from both series competing in Olympic-themed mini-games.
Its sequel, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, was released in October
2009, and featured an emphasis on winter-based sports. Sonic Chronicles: The Dark
Brotherhood, a spin-off released in September 2008, was a turn-based role playing
game developed by BioWare.

During this timeframe, Sega took the franchise in a number of different directions.
The first was Sonic the Hedgehog, which was released in November 2006 for the Xbox
360 and December 2006 for the PlayStation 3. It continued in the Sonic Adventure
direction, but was critically panned as a result of its glitches and rushed
release. Sonic Unleashed was released in 2008 for the Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2
and PlayStation 3. While possessing the same name and rough themes, the Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3 versions were markedly different games from the Wii and
PlayStation 2 versions.

While the prior game in the era continued the use of numerous playable characters
and play styles, the following games would return to only have Sonic playable.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, an episodic high-definition 2D game akin to the
16-bit Sonic games, was developed for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade,
and WiiWare. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II was released in 2012 for PlayStation
Network, Xbox Live, Android, iOS, and Windows Phones. Sonic Colors, a game for the
Wii and Nintendo DS, was released in November 2010. It introduced a power-up system
in the form of alien beings called "Wisps". Sonic Generations was developed by
Sonic Team for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and Dimps for Nintendo 3DS which was
released in November 2011, featuring both modern and classic interpretations of
Sonic.[67]

During this time, the franchise also moved into several new spin-off series. The
Storybook series, which combines Sonic gameplay with the story and setting of
famous books, comprises two games only released for the Wii: Sonic and the Secret
Rings (released in 2007) and Sonic and the Black Knight (released in 2009).

Another spin-off series resulted from Sega's collaboration with Nintendo and their
Mario series of video games. In the Mario & Sonic games, characters from the Sonic
and Mario universes compete in Olympic Games-themed minigames. Separately from that
series, Sega also collaborated with Nintendo to include Sonic in their 2008 Wii
fighting game Super Smash Bros. Brawl.[68]

Sonic Colors, released in November 2010, expanded further on the Rush series
gameplay with the addition of the use of "Wisps", which gave Sonic various new
power-ups and gimmicks. Sonic Free Riders was released in November 2010 as a
follow-up to the Sonic Riders series, and was developed exclusively for Xbox 360's
Kinect system. Later on, Sega Superstars Tennis for the Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation
3, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS was released in 2008 and Sonic & Sega All-Stars
Racing for the Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, PC and iOS was released
in 2010, followed by a sequel in 2012.

Even early in the system's life cycle, a number of Sonic games were announced for
the Nintendo 3DS. At E3 2010, an untitled Sonic game was announced for the system,
which later turned out to be a portable version of Sonic Generations. A third
installment of the Mario & Sonic crossover series, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012
Olympic Games was also released for the Nintendo 3DS.[69] Sonic & All-Stars Racing
Transformed was released for the Nintendo 3DS in February 2013, and for the
PlayStation Vita in November 2012.[70] In October 2012, Sonic Jump was released on
iOS, and in March 2013, Sonic Dash was released.[71]

Eighth-generation consoles (2013�present)

In May 2013, Sega announced a partnership with Nintendo, which established that the
next three Sonic games would be developed exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii
U, with Nintendo publishing the games in Europe and Australia. The first game to be
released was Sonic Lost World in 2013,[72] followed by Mario & Sonic at the Sochi
2014 Olympic Winter Games by the end of the year. Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for the
Wii U, and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for the Nintendo 3DS, based on the new
Sonic Boom franchise, together formed the final installment(s) in the exclusivity
agreement.[73][74] At the end of 2014, Sonic also returned as a fighter in both
installments of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.[75] Sonic was added
as a playable character in the Lego video game, Lego Dimensions, in November 2016;
he is distributed via a "Level Pack" that includes an additional Sonic the
Hedgehog-themed level and vehicles.[76][77]

Two Sonic games were revealed at the Sonic 25th Anniversary Event during San Diego
Comic-Con 2016. The first game was Sonic Mania, which emulates the gameplay and
visuals of the original Sega Genesis games, and was released in August 2017 to
critical acclaim, with critics hailing it as a return to form for Sonic.
Development was done by PagodaWest Games, Christian Whitehead, and Headcannon's
Simon Thomley. The second game, Sonic Forces, was developed by Sonic Team and
released in November 2017. Sonic Forces brings back the dual gameplay of Sonic
Generations, along with a third gameplay style featuring the "Avatar", a
customizable third character who uses special gadgets called Wispons. Both games
were released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft
Windows.

At SXSW in March 2019, series producer Takashi Iizuka confirmed a new mainline
Sonic title was in development, although he did not confirm any details.[78]

Characters
Main article: List of Sonic the Hedgehog characters
The Sonic series has a great many characters; the most frequently appearing are
titular protagonist Sonic the Hedgehog, a blue hedgehog able to run at supersonic
speeds, and recurring villain Dr. Eggman, an evil scientist whose ambition is to
conquer the world. Among Sonic's many allies, the most well-known include: Miles
"Tails" Prower, a twin-tailed, highly intelligent yellow fox who is Sonic's
sidekick and best friend; Amy Rose, a pink hedgehog who is Sonic's self-proclaimed
girlfriend and a hero in her own right; Knuckles the Echidna, a coolheaded red
echidna who is the guardian of the Master Emerald; Shadow the Hedgehog, an anti-
heroic doppelg�nger of Sonic with a dark past; and Metal Sonic, a robotic clone of
Sonic, built by Doctor Eggman with a sole purpose of destroying Sonic.

Common features
Rings

Rotating rings, similar to those used in the series

One distinctive feature of Sonic games are collectible golden rings spread
throughout the levels. This gameplay device allows players possessing at least one
ring to survive upon sustaining damage from an enemy or hazardous object; instead
of dying, the player's rings are scattered. In most Sonic games, a hit causes the
player to lose all of the rings, although in certain games a hit only costs a set
number of rings such as ten or twenty.[79][80] When the rings are scattered, the
player has a short amount of time to re-collect some of them before they disappear.

Some causes of death cannot be prevented by holding a ring, including being

crushed, falling into a bottomless pit, drowning, and running out of time.[79]

In many games, collecting 100 rings usually rewards Sonic or any other playable
character an extra life.[81] Certain games in the series often reward the
collection of 50 rings with Chaos Emeralds, access to the Special Stages in which
the Chaos Emeralds may be obtained, or utilization of a character's super
transformation.[82]

Rings have had other uses in various games as well, such as currency (Sonic
Adventure 2), restoring health bars (Sonic Unleashed), or improving statistics
(Sonic Riders).

Chaos Emeralds

The seven Chaos Emeralds

The Chaos Emeralds are, in most games, seven emeralds with mystical powers; they
are a recurring feature of Sonic games. The emeralds can turn thoughts into power,
[83] warp time and space with a technique called Chaos Control,[84][85] give energy
to all living things and be used to create nuclear or laser based weaponry.[86]

They are the basis of many of the games' plots, and the player is frequently
required to collect them all to fully defeat Doctor Eggman and achieve the games'
good endings, super forms, or both. The methods used to acquire the Emeralds and
the end-results after collecting them differ between games in the series. Most
early games require the player to find the emeralds in Special Stages,[82] while
some modern games implement the emeralds as a plot element. In certain games, such
as Sonic R and the 8-bit versions of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2,
the player is required to find the Chaos Emeralds within the zones themselves.

The Master Emerald was introduced in Sonic & Knuckles as a plot element. It resides
in a shrine on Angel Island and is guarded by Knuckles the Echidna, as only those
of the Echidna Tribe are able to control it.[87] The power of the Master Emerald is
what keeps Angel Island afloat in the sky.[88] It can control the power of the
Chaos Emeralds,[83] including neutralizing or amplifying their energies. In both
Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2, the Master Emerald becomes shattered,
requiring Knuckles to find the scattered pieces during his levels.[89]

Special Stages
Usually, Special Stages were employed as a means of earning Chaos Emeralds.[82]
Special Stages usually take place in surreal environments and feature alternate
gameplay mechanics to the standard platforming of the main levels. The 16-bit Sonic
the Hedgehog consisted of a giant rotating maze, which many considered a major
technical achievement.[90] The most common special stages, however, were segments
with the character running through a long tunnel to collect certain items. 3D
"collect item" levels, as in Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, used the same
perspective but had Sonic collecting all the blue-colored orbs on the surface of a
giant sphere. Finally, Sonic Advance 2 employed a 3D ring-collecting stage, and
Sonic Chaos (Sonic and Tails in Japan) used a variety of gimmicks for its levels.
Since Emeralds of the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog were hidden in the main
stages, the game's spring-filled Special Stages were merely used as a means of
adding variety, increasing score and earning continues. Similarly, Sonic 3 &
Knuckles, in addition to the main Special Stages, featured entirely optional bonus
stages, one of which combined the rotating maze of Sonic the Hedgehog with the
pinball gambling of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Sonic Heroes contained an alternate
Special Stage for a chance of earning additional lives.

Super transformation
A super transformation is a state certain characters go into that gives them
incredible speed, near-invincibility and a change in color. In some games,
characters are still vulnerable to being crushed, drowning, falling into a pit or
running out of time. Depending on the type of transformation, the condition to
attain such a form is an individual making contact with all of the Chaos Emeralds,
the Sol Emeralds, or the Master Emerald.

Super transformations first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where Sonic

transforms into Super Sonic if all seven Chaos Emeralds and fifty or more rings are
held at the same time. While in Super Sonic form, Sonic gains invincibility (except
from instant-kill obstacles) and has greatly increased speed. One ring is lost for
every second that passes, and Sonic reverts to normal if the number of rings drops
to zero. In Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Tails can also transform after gaining all seven
Chaos Emeralds and Super Emeralds. Sonic and Knuckles can also transform into their
hyper counterparts with the Super Emeralds. Hyper Sonic, Hyper Knuckles, and Super
Tails all have unique abilities aside from invincibility and increased speed.

In most 3D Sonic games starting with Sonic Adventure, Chaos Emeralds are collected
in non-interactive cut scenes as part of the story, with Super Sonic and other
super characters only appearing in the final boss fights. Most 2D Sonic platform
games, like the Advance and Rush series, have retained the gameplay-based emerald
collecting, but still have Super Sonic only playable in the "Extra" boss battles.
Recent games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, and
Sonic Lost World once again allow players to play as Super Sonic during normal
stages, provided they have all the Chaos Emeralds.[91][92]

Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Metal Sonic, Shadow, Blaze, and Silver are the characters
that are known to be able to perform super transformations. Metal Sonic can also
use the Master Emerald or Chaos Emeralds to turn Super, and Blaze, instead of using
the Chaos Emeralds, uses the Sol Emeralds (her dimension's equivalent).

Along with Sonic, Mega Man (fused with the Rush Adaptor) achieved the Super
transformation in the Archie Comics crossover Worlds Collide so that the two could
restore the damage to their worlds done by Doctor Eggman and Dr. Wily.[93]

Item boxes

A typical item box, similar to those used in the series

These are containers that hold power-ups and appear frequently throughout the
stages. An icon on each box indicates what it contains, and the player releases the
item by destroying the box. In the early games, item boxes resembled television
sets and could only be destroyed with an attack; in later games, they became
transparent capsule-like objects easily destroyed with one touch. Common items in
boxes include rings, a barrier (or shield), invincibility, high speed (or power
sneakers) and 1-ups.

The barrier is a spherical energy shield which surrounds and protects the player's
character from one attack; when hit, the barrier is lost instead of rings or a
life. In Sonic 3, additional barriers were introduced which gave the player special
abilities, such as the ability to magnetically attract rings and double jump,
breathe underwater, or resist fire.

Invincibility temporarily protects against damage done by enemies and obstacles,

and allows the player to destroy enemies by touching them and not lose any rings.
Death from crushing, falling, drowning and time-ups, however, are still possible.

High speed boxes give the player character enhanced speed for a limited time.

1-up boxes display the face of the player's character and give the player one extra
life. In the event that a player loses a stage, this enables the player to restart
the level at the starting point, or, if one has been passed, close to the last
checkpoint. Multiple lives can be collected, generally up to 99.

Other item boxes featured include a box with Robotnik's face on it, which cause
damage to whoever opens it, a "teleport box" (Sonic 2's 2-player mode only), which
swapped both players' positions, and a skateboard box (Sonic Generations only),
which allows the player to ride a skateboard for a short time.

Giant Rings
Giant rings (Warp Rings) were featured in a few Sonic games, mainly from the 16-bit
era. Rather than collecting them, as is the case with the smaller ones, they served
as a portal to enter a Special Stage, where the player could collect one of the
Chaos Emeralds. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, if all Emeralds have already been found,
touching them rewards the player fifty rings. In most games since Sonic Adventure
2, these giant rings serve as the end level marker, which ends the level upon
touching it.

Checkpoints
Checkpoints are items placed throughout the stages in Sonic games which serve
mainly as progress markers. If the player runs through one, their progress through
a level is "saved". If the player then loses a life on the same stage, they will
start over at the last checkpoint passed. Checkpoints also serve other uses in
various games, such as entering Special Stages in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and
leveling up in Sonic Heroes. In the 2D games, checkpoints take the appearance of
posts, while in 3D games they are either small gates or pads on the ground.

Springs
Springs are a staple in the Sonic series. They are scattered throughout the levels
and serve to catapult the player at high speeds in a particular direction.
Sometimes they allow the player to proceed further in the level, while other times
they are used to hinder the player, usually by sending Sonic towards a dangerous
area. Sonic Unleashed in particular features springs with Dr. Eggman's face on them
that launch Sonic towards danger or hinder his progress. Springs serve as one of
Sonic's special moves in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Animals
In addition to anthropomorphic animals, the Sonic universe is also populated with
more conventional animals. These small animals are often used by Dr. Eggman as
"organic batteries" to power his robot armies. The trapped animals can usually be
freed by hitting the robot and destroying its metal case. In Sonic Adventure and
Sonic Adventure 2, the small animals can be given to Chao, altering their
appearance and attributes.

A Flicky is one of the most prominently used animals in Eggman's experiments. This
small bird's first appearance in a game predates Sonic. Flicky and its respective
game were alluded to in Sonic 3D Blast.

Music
Numerous composers have contributed music to the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Masato
Nakamura of J-pop band Dreams Come True was responsible for the music from the
first two 16-bit games. Ys/Streets of Rage composer Yuzo Koshiro composed the tunes
inspired by the first 8-bit game, except for what was retained from the 16-bit
version. Sega's in-house music division, Sega Digital Studios, formerly known as
Wave Master, have composed the majority of the music in later games. Jun Senoue, a
member of the band Crush 40 and sound director of the series, has written and
performed the main theme tunes of both of the Sonic Adventure games, Sonic Heroes,
Shadow the Hedgehog, and Sonic and the Black Knight. Since the mid�2000s, the
overall sound direction of the series has been handled by Tomoya Ohtani, who has
served as the lead composer on Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors,
Sonic Lost World, and Sonic Forces.

On several recent games, other non-Sega musicians have contributed music to the
series. For example, Bowling for Soup lead singer Jaret Reddick performed the main
theme of Sonic Unleashed, "Endless Possibilities"; and former Megadeth guitarist
Marty Friedman played on "With Me", the final boss theme for Sonic and the Black
Knight. Cash Cash lead singer Jean-Paul Makhlouf performed the opening theme to
Sonic Colors, "Reach for the Stars", as well as the ending theme, "Speak With Your
Heart". Hoobastank frontman Doug Robb performed and wrote the lyrics to the main
theme of Sonic Forces, "Fist Bump".[94] The music of electronic dance music (EDM)
group Hyper Potions has contributed music to trailers of games in the series, as
well as for the soundtracks in Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing.

Other media
Television
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
DIC Entertainment's Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is an American animated
television series that was first broadcast in September 1993, and ran in cartoon
syndication for a number of years afterward. It follows the escapades of Sonic and
Tails as they stop the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his array of vicious robots from
taking over the planet Mobius.

Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)

DIC and the Italian studio Reteitalia[95] also produced a second cartoon series
simply titled Sonic the Hedgehog, which originally aired from September 1993 to
June 1995. This adaptation follows Sonic and his fellow 'Freedom Fighters' who
attempt to liberate Mobius from the grip of Robotnik, who plans to take over the
planet. The Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series by Archie Comics uses several
characters from this series.

Sonic the Hedgehog (OVA)

A two-episode OVA adaptation was released in Japan in 1996. It was released in
North America in 1999 under the name Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie.[96]

Sonic Underground
The cartoon Sonic Underground ran for 40 episodes[97] in 1999. The last Sonic
series from DIC Entertainment, produced by Les Studios Tex, the show follows Sonic
and his two siblings Manic and Sonia, who use the power of music to fight against
Robotnik and eventually reunite with their mother.

Sonic X
Sonic X, an anime television series produced by TMS Entertainment, is the longest-
running animated series based on Sonic to date, spanning a total of 78 episodes.
Bearing much more similarity to the video game franchise, the series revolves
around Sonic, his companions, and his enemies, being warped to the human world,
where Sonic meets a boy named Chris Thorndyke, who helps him and his friends fight
against Eggman. The series originally aired in Japan between 2003 and 2004,
spanning 52 episodes, though an additional 26 episodes aired in France as early as
2005, and was licensed in North America and most other countries by 4Kids
Entertainment. Saban Brands later claimed the license in 2012, but it was dropped
in 2014.

Sonic Boom
In October 2013, Sega announced on its blog that a new computer animated series,
Sonic Boom, is produced by OuiDo! Productions and will begin airing 11-minute
episodes on Cartoon Network in Fall 2014.[98] On February 6, 2014, Sega announced
that Sonic Boom will become a separate franchise in the Sonic the Hedgehog
universe.[74] The new franchise includes two new Sonic Boom video games to preclude
the TV series, and it uses redesigns of all the major characters exclusively within
the franchise.[74][99] Cartoon Network began to air the series starting from
November 8, 2014.

Sonic Mania Adventures

Sonic Mania Adventures is a five-part series of animated shorts released on the
Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube channel between March 30 and July 17, 2018, promoting
the release of Sonic Mania Plus.[100] The series depicts Sonic's return to his
world following the events of Sonic Forces, teaming up with his friends to prevent
Eggman and Metal Sonic from collecting the Chaos Emeralds and Master Emerald.[101]
The shorts are written and directed by Tyson Hesse, with animation production by
Neko Productions and music by Tee Lopes.[102]

Film
Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog (film)
In August 1994, Sega of America signed a deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Trilogy
Entertainment to produce a live-action animated film based on Sonic the Hedgehog,
which would tie in with Sonic X-treme. In May 1995, screenwriter Richard Jeffries
pitched a treatment to Sega titled Sonic the Hedgehog: Wonders of the World. The
treatment saw Sonic and his nemesis Dr Robotnik escaping from Sonic X-treme into
the real world; Sonic would team up with a boy to stop Robotnik. The film was
cancelled as none of the companies could come to an agreement. Jeffries, with
permission from Sega, pitched his treatment to DreamWorks, but was rejected.[103]

On June 10, 2014, Sony Pictures originally announced a new live-action/CGI hybrid
film based on the Sonic the Hedgehog series.[104] It is being produced by Neal
Moritz on his Original Film banner alongside Takeshi Ito and Mie Onishi. Toby
Ascher is executive producing, and the film is being written by Evan Susser and Van
Robichaux. With Terminator: Dark Fate and Deadpool director Tim Miller being the
producer, and Jeff Fowler directing.[105] But on October 2017, Paramount announced
that they had picked up the rights after Sony Pictures (Columbia Pictures) put the
film into turnaround. However, most of the production team remained unchanged.[106]
It is being produced as a joint venture between Paramount Pictures, Original Film,
Sega, Paramount Animation, Marza Animation Planet, and Blur Studio. The film was
originally set for release on November 8, 2019[107][108][109], but was pushed to
February 14, 2020 after backlash due to Sonic's character design in the film. Ben
Schwartz will voice Sonic in the film,[110][111][112], while Jim Carrey will play
the role of Doctor Eggman.[113] Other actors in the film include James Marsden,
Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell.[citation needed]

Sonic, Tails and Eggman appear in the 2012 Disney animated film Wreck-It Ralph. In
the movie, Sonic has a small speaking role and Tails briefly appears as an image,
while Eggman makes a non-speaking appearance. Sonic also has a small cameo in the
2018 film Ready Player One as a character avatar,[114] and returned in 2018's Ralph
Breaks the Internet.[115]

Comics and manga

Further information: List of Sonic the Hedgehog printed media
The Sonic the Hedgehog manga series, published in Shogakukan's Shogaku Yonensei was
written by Kenji Terada and illustrated by Sango Norimoto. The manga, which started
in 1992, was about a hedgehog boy named Nicky who can turn into Sonic the Hedgehog.
Sonic fights Eggman, with Tails tagging along to help him.

Sonic the Hedgehog was an American comic series published by Archie Comics, which
has spawned sister series Knuckles the Echidna (discontinued) and Sonic Universe.
All of Archie's Sonic-related publications take place in the same fictional
universe, which incorporates aspects of the video games and Sonic the Hedgehog: the
Animated Series in addition to elements unique to that comic universe. Archie
Comics also published a Sonic X comic book that supplemented the animated series of
the same name. It began in November 1992 and was originally meant to be a four-part
series; however, due to the positive reaction to the series' announcement, it was
extended to ongoing status before the first issue premiered. The comic borrowed
elements from the animated series' first two seasons and characters from the Sonic
Adventure storyline. Some comics were published in the Jetix Magazine, in UK, Italy
and Poland.[116] In July 2017, Sega announced that they had ended their partnership
with Archie, ending the series of comics after 24 years.[117] Two days later, Sega
announced that IDW Publishing would be releasing a new series of Sonic comics,
starting in April 2018.[118][119]

Sonic the Comic was a British comic published by Fleetway Editions between 1993 and
2002. Labeled "The UK's official Sega comic", in addition to Sonic the Hedgehog
stories it also included comic strips based on other Sega games such as Ecco the
Dolphin and Decap Attack. The main series of Sonic stories had their own unique
storylines and characters in comparison to other Sonic media.

Reception and legacy

Aggregate review scores
As of 2017.
Game Metacritic
Sonic the Hedgehog (X360) 77[120]
(GBA) 33[121]
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (X360) 82[122]
(iOS) 60[123]
Sonic CD (iOS) 93[124]
(X360) 82[125]
(PS3) 80[126]
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 �
Sonic & Knuckles (X360) 69[127]
Sonic 3D Blast �
Sonic Adventure (GC) 57[128]
(PS3) 50[129]
(X360) 48[130]
Sonic Adventure 2 (DC) 89[131]
(GC) 73[132]
(PS3) 65[133]
(X360) 60[134]
Sonic Advance (GBA) 87[135]
Sonic Advance 2 (GBA) 83[136]
Sonic Heroes (Xbox) 73[137]
(GC) 72[138]
(PS2) 64[139]
(PC) 66[140]
Sonic Advance 3 (GBA) 79[141]
Sonic Rush (NDS) 82[142]
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (X360) 46[143]
(PS3) 43[144]
Sonic Rush Adventure (NDS) 78[145]
Sonic Unleashed (PS2) 66[146]
(Wii) 66[147]
(X360) 60[148]
(PS3) 54[149]
Sonic 4: Episode 1 (Wii) 81[150]
(PS3) 74[151]
(X360) 72[152]
(iOS) 70[153]
Sonic Colors (NDS) 79[154]
(Wii) 78[155]
Sonic Generations (X360) 77[156]
(PC) 77[157]
(PS3) 76[158]
(3DS) 66[159]
Sonic 4: Episode 2 (iOS) 66[160]
(PS3) 63[161]
(X360) 61[162]
(PC) 54[163]
Sonic Lost World (Wii U) 63[164]
(3DS) 59[165]
Sonic Mania (PS4) 86[166]
(NS) 86[167]
(PC) 84[168]
(XONE) 83[169]
Sonic Forces (XONE) 62/100[170]
(PC) 58/100[171]
(PS4) 58/100[172]
(NS) 57/100[173]
The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise was awarded seven records by Guinness World
Records in Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008. The records include "Best
Selling Game on Sega Systems", "Longest Running Comic Based on a Video Game" and
"Best Selling Retro Game Compilation" (for Sonic Mega Collection). In the Guinness
World Records: Gamer's Edition 2010, the Sonic the Hedgehog series was listed
number 15 out of the top 50 video game franchises. In September 1996, Next
Generation ranked the Genesis installments of the series (but not the Game Gear or
Sega CD entries that had been released up to that time) collectively as number 20
on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", calling them "the zeitgeist of the 16-bit
era".[174] In December 2006, IGN ranked Sonic the Hedgehog as the 19th greatest
series of all time, claiming that "although recent 3D entries in the series have
been somewhat lacking, there is no denying the power of this franchise."[175]
Neuroscientists studying the development of the embryonic neural system named a
specific set of proteins, in charge of the differentiation of neural tube cells,
after the main character of the game franchise.[176][177]

A common criticism has been that the variant gameplay styles found in recent 3D
games have strayed from the formula of the original series.[178] Specifically, the
series' jump to 3D has been noted as a declining point.[179] In late 2010, Sega
delisted several below-average Sonic games, such as the notoriously disliked 2006
game Sonic the Hedgehog, to increase the value of the Sonic brand after positive
reviews for the games Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Sonic Colors.[180]