Sonic the Hedgehog’s Anniversary Cartridges made me nostalgic for someone else’s childhood
I wasn’t even born yet when Sonic the Hedgehog first came out for the Sega Genesis in 1991. Because of this, I missed out on the grand unveiling of this brand new game, one that was instantly met with acclaim and spawned the historic series people are still playing today. And as the child-version of me was fixated almost solely on a certain pocket-monster catching simulator, I continued to ignore this franchise that gamers have now been raving about for more than thirty years.
Younger me never got to experience just what made Sonic the cultural landmark it is now. Which is why it was such an honor when I got to visit the iam8bit studios to enjoy Sonic the Hedgehog the way it was meant to be played: in a cartridge, on a Sega Genesis.
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iam8bit is an LA-based studio that understands the importance of physical media. They make vinyl records of game soundtracks, jaw-dropping artwork for indie projects, and, as I was lucky to enough to personally experience, recreations of the classic cartridges that are virtually extinct today. They welcomed me into their space to try out physical copies of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, games that I’ve never played in any iteration and that I was looking forward to trying out.
It’s hard to describe the excitement I felt as I sat down, inserted the cartridge, and heard the lilting ‘Segaaaaaaa’ soundbite welcome me to this foreign game. Holding the controller in my hand for the first time…it reminded me of the utter joy I’d experienced selecting Torchic as my starter in Pokémon Sapphire, with little Joel gripping his Game Boy tighter than should have been possible, impatiently thrilled over the adventure that he was about to start.
I felt this sensation again as I sat down in the iam8bit office. Only now, I was excited over a blue hedgehog, not a fire chicken. And as I was learning the controls, I finally realized what I was feeling.
I was nostalgic for a childhood that I’d never gotten to experience.
And then the actual game began, and as I raced across green hills and avoided toxic vats, I realized why this game had bewitched children and adults alike for numerous generations. Because even more than three decades later, Sonic the Hedgehog still offers an addictive gameplay loop that will have you laughing and screaming in equal measure!
The controls were deceptively easy, making me feel free to zoom around stages and twist through the air, annihilating any monster unlucky enough to touch my sparking form. They gave me an exciting sense of invincibility — and then I landed on a spike. And I had to watch in horror as all of my precious rings spewed from Sonic’s befuddled form, and I was forced to start over.
Thus began my hour playing both the first and second Sonic games, struggling to master the small blue sprite so that I could dash through enemies while keeping my precious gold hoops safe. I gasped when I saw the infamous Dr. Eggman hover onscreen, with the iam8bit staff laughing as I furiously mashed buttons to defeat him (for now) and advance to the next stage.
All of this showed me firsthand why Sonic the Hedgehog continues to bewitch gamers with its thrill-seeking mechanics. It’s a kind of fun that I’m sure wouldn’t be greatly reduced if played on a more modern, less tangible interface. But it’s undeniable that my excitement was enhanced by the fact that this game was on a cartridge, and that it required a bulky controller I was able to grip worryingly hard in my hands. This gave a tangibility to the experience, as with the game and all of its components being present, I was constantly reminded that the happiness I was feeling had a physical presence outside of just myself.
That’s why, if you’re able to, I highly recommend playing Sonic the Hedgehog the way it was meant to be played: using a physical cartridge in a Sega Genesis. I know it’s an experience that I’ll always cherish. One that didn’t just offer some great gameplay, but connected me to a whole generation of gamers who came before.
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