Assertion: Sonic 1 (8-bit) is a better game than Sonic 1 (16-bit). Contains GIFs.

[archenemy]

Yes, but where are the loops?

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THIS is the only legitimate rebuttal of OP's arguments.

I played the Master System version first, nobody that I knew got a Megadrive until much, much later, so... while the MD version is a technical prodigy for its time, the Master System version is the one that I will remember forever.

 

[Kapryov]

I haven't actually played it, so I can't comment fully, but I do have to mention: Sonic is largely about the physics to me, the 8-bit games could never replicate the actual feel the originals had. They felt unfun to play, and had to use gimmicks to make up for it.
It's probably a great platforming game though! I played Sonic 2 to 100% completion on the GG, it's also a good game, but not a good Sonic game, if you get my meaning.

 

['3y Kingdom]

While I can appreciate the enthusiasm and effort, the first half of the OP seems to be based on premises that are either false or that only a masochist would use as evidence of 8-bit Sonic's superiority.

 

[Zephy]

As a kid I often saw the Master System version in used games shops and assumed it was like, the original game which had been later remade for Genesis. Or maybe it was a simultaneous release and simply was the same game with worse graphics.

Since then, I never really thought about this again, and never even knew I was wrong until I read this thread. Thanks OP for teaching me something.

 

[captmcblack]

I don't agree with this...but 8-bit Sonic 1 is quite good though.

 

[Jimnymebob]

I prefer MD Sonic 1, mainly because go to hell Jungle Zone Boss, but the soundtrack is phenomenal. Bridge Zone is my second favourite Sonic track behind PAL Starlight Zone.

Sonic 2 MS is way better than Sonic 1 MS though, and is probably one of my favourite in the series/of all time.

I think the real talk in terms of Master System games is that Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is legit the best Shinobi game.

 

[Deleted member 5621]

Here's a quick anecdote: I only ever played the Master System version (only game I had), did not know it was different from the Mega Drive one until a couple of years ago. Decided that probably was the reason why everybody praises so much a game that was my childhood but never felt that good.

It's also why I never feel comfortable with most, though not all, Sonic games (or clones, like Freedom Planet) that the majority of the fans like. They all follow a pretty different level design that I never got familiar with - or have not pinball inspired special stages, wtf, they are far better than any other iteration.

Aaaaand fuck the jungle stage boss. The bane of my kid self.

 

[Xtortion]

Based Labyrinth Zone

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

You're a good person, OP. You're a good person. I wouldn't necessarily put it above MD Sonic 1, but it's a damn fine game and I absolutely understand that opinion. There are things it does better. Master System Sonic 1 is one of the most overlooked games in the franchise and honestly there are few 8-bit games at all that I'd rank higher than it.

I remember getting Sonic Mega Collection Plus and being so excited to finally play this game again. Ok it's the Game Gear version but still yay! Then I was like......was the screen always this small? No. No it was not. Game Gear version really butchers the game with how much you can actually see. People judging 8-bit Sonic based on the GG version don't understand what they're missing.

 

[Deleted member 17210]

I think the real talk in terms of Master System games is that Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is legit the best Shinobi game.

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The only things that hold it back are being quite short and easy.

 

[Cudpug]

Never played it but I can buy this argument. The world map is cool, I like how the chaos emerald system seems to work and the narrative seems much easier to follow. Always assumed this was just a lite version of the Genesis game - how wrong I was! Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

I prefer MD Sonic 1, mainly because go to hell Jungle Zone Boss, but the soundtrack is phenomenal. Bridge Zone is my second favourite Sonic track behind PAL Starlight Zone.

Sonic 2 MS is way better than Sonic 1 MS though, and is probably one of my favourite in the series/of all time.

I think the real talk in terms of Master System games is that Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is legit the best Shinobi game.

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I'm ashamed so say Shinobi World is the only Alex Kidd game I didn't play. I wish Sega would re-release it.

 

[ChilliConCarnage]

Wholeheartedly agree with this opinion for pretty much the same reasons posted but I also enjoy the Master System Sonic 2 more than the Mega Drive version and I love Sonic Chaos so I'm probably crazy, but I am incredibly biased due to the fact that I grew up playing the Master System trilogy for years before moving on to the Mega Drive, and when I did get a Mega Drive I ended up playing the MD games in a whacked out weird order, being Sonic & Knuckles 1st then Sonic 2 (Where I was incredibly disappointed to find that Tails could not fly like in Sonic Chaos), borrowed Sonic 3 (swapped it for S&K so didn't know about the lock on as I didn't own both until years later) and then finally Sonic 1 as the final 2D Sonic game so MD Sonic 1 never really stood a chance

Its also the same reason why I prefer the Master System Jurassic Park & Castle of Illusion over their 16 bit counterparts

Nostalgia beats all

 

[Qwark]

I had no idea the games were that different, some of those changes are pretty cool. The world map definitely gives me a Crash Bandicoot vibe.

 

[Deleted member 48897]

Never played it but I can buy this argument. The world map is cool, I like how the chaos emerald system seems to work and the narrative seems much easier to follow. Always assumed this was just a lite version of the Genesis game - how wrong I was! Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

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Most of the Sonic master system games seem to loosely map onto the Genesis series. Sonic 1 shares a few level aesthetics between the two games. Sonic 2 for Master System is loosely analogous to Sonic CD (right down to having a plot of Robotnik taking one of Sonic's friends hostage and shares CD's main theme as level music). Sonic Chaos is roughly comparable to Sonic 2 Gen and Triple Trouble with Sonic 3; Sonic Blast is a horrifying attempt to do Sonic & Knuckles with pre-rendered 3D sprites on hardware barely able to display more than 32 colors at a time. Sonic Labyrinth and Sonic 3D Blast (Flickies' Island) share more similarities than Sega wanted to admit at the time.

 

[Silvergun-Blue]

Better than MD Sonic 1? No, no in my opinion. Underrated? Absolutely. I mean they did a good enough job with it that Sega entrusted Team Ancient with rather important sequel, a little known game called Streets Of Rage 2 and that's only one of the best games ever to grace a Sega console,

 

[Deleted member 48897]

I'm ashamed so say Shinobi World is the only Alex Kidd game I didn't play. I wish Sega would re-release it.

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It regularly frustrates me that Sega won't put in half the time they give their Genesis/MD stuff to more of their Master System catalog, because there are a lot of great little gems hidden throughout the library. At least we're getting stuff like Phantasy Star on Switch and that multiplat remake of Wonder Boy 3 by the SMSPower guys

 

[Goddo Hando]

All the game gear Sonics were dope.

Was the master system version a limited release? I never even knew that existed until a few years ago

 

[RandomTiger]

Amazing post OP, you make some really good points. Overall I can't agree with your conclusion as the things it has that you like so much like precise platforming I like less than fantastic level of control I get on the 16bit version. However you've convinced me to prioritize replaying them again so hopefully that's a win in your book.

 

[Thomasmaurits]

Amen! Don't forget the music, another aspect that could be considered superior to the MD version

 

[Meriadock]

This. Master System Sonic = Best Sonic

 

[Deleted member 48897]

Was the master system version a limited release? I never even knew that existed until a few years ago

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I believe they were only released in Europe. By the time Sonic was out the Master System was on its last legs. It's a wonder to me that Sonic Spinball actually got a Master System release in 1995(!) but -- and keep in mind it's basically identical to the Game Gear version but with more screen space -- it's a rather poor attempt to replicate the original Genesis version. Sadly, I can't say I'm a fan

 

[Deleted member 8861]

I didn't even know this was a thing and I wanna play it now

 

[Deleted member 17210]

I'm ashamed so say Shinobi World is the only Alex Kidd game I didn't play. I wish Sega would re-release it.

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It was on Wii Virtual Console. Hopefully they will give it another release.

I believe they were only released in Europe.

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The first SMS Sonic came out in North America but in limited quantities.

 

[Deleted member 48897]

Huh. I wonder if it used different packaging from the EU release or not. My guess is not?

EDIT: checked SMSPower. Yeah, it's just the EU with a sticker on it, it looks like. It was designed to run at 60Hz so I'm not surprised.

 

[Deleted member 42686]

I aways though that. Thank you OP for a clearly and detailed post.

One of my main reasons for that its the fact that you don't need tricky special stages for emeralds. They're there, you have to find them and pick them(which can be difficult depending on the position of the emerald). The boss stages are something that teachs you to survive as the game progress, learning from mistakes and observing Robotnick attack paterns.

But one of the things I like pretty much is the music(pretty amazing for 8 bit game) and the bonus stages. It's so fun to just play them and get the most of the rings, theres no "losing" there.

I would to like to add Sonic 2 for Master-system as well. The game is so good and yet so hardcore. And one thing I find good is that in the game Robotnick never really faces you, only as the last boss. Also, the emeralds have a good purpose. The only way to save Tails and reach the later levels is collecting all the emeralds. Fail to do so, you got the "bad" ending.
The fact that the game over triggers even when you save Tails is a nice thing too. Because you if think, you kinda trade the emeralds for Tails.

 

[xEik]

I remember playing the Master System version at a friend's house after having already played my Mega Drive version and all I could think was that the physics were shit and not fun at all.

 

[Professor Beef]

Isn't this version on the 3DS eShop? If the price is right I might pick it up later this month just to give it a proper try.

 

[Deleted member 17210]

Huh. I wonder if it used different packaging from the EU release or not. My guess is not?

EDIT: checked SMSPower. Yeah, it's just the EU with a sticker on it, it looks like. It was designed to run at 60Hz so I'm not surprised.

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Yeah, the only way to identify it as American or Canadian is the barcode. Collectors pay crazy money just to have the US sticker.

 

[Spinluck]

They're both pretty solid.

But Sonic 1 still is the best of the 2D Sonic's when it came to platforming to me.

Sonic 2-3 were better in other ways, but I really loved Sonic 1 16-bit's levels.

 

[Deleted member 27921]

Sure, but does it have Spring Yard Zone theme?

Check mate.

 

[ghibli99]

I'll have to look into this. I just assumed they were straight ports, but this opened my eyes. Thanks OP!

 

[CoolestSpot]

I mean sonic 1 sucks in retrospect so sure.

Where does this fit in the sonic timeline tho? Is it a twin snakes retelling? Or seperate adventure?

 

[Deleted member 1413]

Played a little on 3DS on a couple of the game gear games and none of them are any good.
Imagine they're better on the master system but I can't vouch for them.

Sonic 1 on genesis isn't very good, tho.
Taxman port is pretty good

 

[Kapryov]

I mean sonic 1 sucks in retrospect so sure.

Where does this fit in the sonic timeline tho? Is it a twin snakes retelling? Or seperate adventure?

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I'd like to think of it as somebody else's interpretation of the same events.

 

[andymcc]

I mean sonic 1 sucks in retrospect so sure.

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lmao no it doesn't.

 

[Davey Cakes]

The game actively punished momentum, where the Genesis one encouraged it. That said, I still got a kick out of the experience. Played on Wii.

 

[qq more]

I actually really like this version of Sonic 1 a lot. Dunno if it's my preferred version (but its Labyrinth Zone >>>>>> Genesis's Labyrinth Zone) but I appreciate how different of a Sonic platformer it was. That and Triple Trouble are the best handheld Sonic titles IMO

 

[Angst]

Damn I really want to give this a try now.

 

[Animus Vox]

I played these on GG before l played 16bit so they hold a special place in my heart. I actually preferred the hunt for the hidden emeralds within the levels over playing a mini game. It never occurred to me that these games were developed by another company.

Is looking down helping here? Seems like a totally blind fall.

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For a lot of the emeralds in both 1 and 2 you kind of just had to know or discover by sheer luck. In Sonic 2 for example there's a sky level where in order to reach the emerald you had to get to a spring board hidden in a specific cloud (of which there were many) and if you missed it you fell to your death.

 

[Quinton]

I love 2 and especially 3&K, but I have felt the same about 1. And hell, it was the first video game I ever played as well as the first I ever beat, so if I was going to be swayed by nostalgia I think it would have happened here.

By contrast, your preferred version sounds pretty cool, OP. I might hunt it down someday. Awesome post, btw. I enjoyed the read. :)

 

[Laxoon]

I really appreciate the attempt to elevate Sonic 1 MS, it's great for sure but like many itt I don't agree with the comparison.

Sonic 1 already gets shit on enough for no reason and it's tiring to see people finding any excuse to dog pile on it. Sonic 1 MD isn't even lesser to its sequels imo, it still stands great on its own.

 

[Deleted member 135]

Are the GameGear and Master System versions of these games not the same? I thought that they were interchangeable.

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

Incredible thread Mama Robotnik

While I may never come around to the same conclusion as yourself, I'm inclined to believe that's partly a result of the 16-bit Sonic being my first exposure to the franchise and being so intrinsically linked to my love of the hobby.

In other words. Nostalgia goggles. I also never played the Master System version as I replaced my Master System with a Megadrive around the time Sonic came out.

But I did play the Game Gear version. Was that the same? I feel like maybe I'd appreciate 8-bit Sonic more now than I did back then.

This thread is urging me to go back and give it another go.

 

[andymcc]

I'd like to think of it as somebody else's interpretation of the same events.

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they probably started development around the same time, using the development documents of the Genesis Sonic 1 and basically didn't really interact with the Genesis development team.

 

[Mikebison]

Is it better than Sonic 2 Game Gear? Because that game frustrated me to no end.

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This gif has brought horrendous flashbacks on. Sat on my bedroom floor with the lights off playing this on gamegear. It nearly killed me.

 

[ChilliConCarnage]

For a lot of the emeralds in both 1 and 2 you kind of just had to know or discover by sheer luck. In Sonic 2 for example there's a sky level where in order to reach the emerald you had to get to a spring board hidden in a specific cloud (of which there were many) and if you missed it you fell to your death.

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The Sonic 2 Chaos Emeralds were so Devilishly evil I love it

Underground Zone - Blind jumps from spring to spring with lava all around, Not bad really
Sky High Zone - Either find the hidden spring in the cloud or learn how to hang glide like a pro (I did the latter because I didn't even know that spring existed until recently)
Aqua Lake Zone - As your zipping along a blind pipe system you have a choice, Left or Right, you'd better pick correctly as you can't get back in the pipe (This came back as a Sonic Chaos Special Stage)
Green Hills Zone - A return of the blind spring jumps from Underground Zone, except this time you can go too fast and completely overshoot the platform its on and won't even realize it was there at all
Gimmick Mountain Zone - Blindly jump at a random specific wall that has no collision and no indication that you can even jump through it
Scrambled Egg Zone - Beat Silver Sonic with all 6 Emeralds, if you missed any from the previous zones you don't get it so you end up thinking it's in the previous level somewhere except it's not, good luck searching the hardest level in the game for it over and over again for no reason

 

[Sapiens]

Yes, OP, it's also better than most of the best NES games.

 

[DonMigs85]

I actually agree from a gameplay standpoint. I'd like to hear your opinion on Sonic 2 on MS/GG next though. That could be really really hard, especially the bosses.

 

[CoolestSpot]

lmao no it doesn't.

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I mean that why play sonic 1 when 2, 3, CD, and Mania exist. It created the formula but its been expanded on so well its pointless to play again my eyes. Same with Mario 1, which I know will get me that sweet heat.