Sonic the Hedgehog

Maybe I'm not as entranced by Sonic the Hedgehog as I used to be, but I can't knock what is a faithful port of Sonic's debut.

Familiarity does breed contempt, but Sonic's first game remains a classic despite the number of times we've played it. Sure, the sequel may be the better outing and both Sonic Mania and Sonic CD are arguably superior releases, but there's a pureness to this title that makes it worth a look, even in 2018. The only complaint that can be raised against the Switch version is that, like a great many of the upcoming Sega Ages Mega Drive titles, it could end up being surplus to requirements when the Sega Mega Drive Classics collection arrives; a slightly lower price might have made this easier to wholeheartedly recommend, but we know this very minor complaint will fall on deaf ears if you're a diehard Sega fan.

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.

You've probably either played Sonic the Hedgehog back when it released on the Sega Genenis/Megadrive, but you've never played a version quite like the one available in the SEGA AGES series. The inclusion of the Mega Play from the arcade version, as well as other things such as Ring Keep mode and an online ranking leaderboard make this the most complete and definitive version of this 2D classic.

If you want an accurate port of Sonic the Hedgehog on your Switch, then this is your ticket! It’s fun to play on the go or at home on the TV and there are enough little bells and whistles added in to make it worth your while – even if this is your tenth time buying the game!

It turns out that Sonic the Hedgehog is still a fun game and, thanks to M2’s input, this is one of the better versions out there. Sure, you could argue the hedgehogs’ best days were yet to come – its three Mega Drive sequels improving on the original in many ways. However, if you’ve yet to experience this classic or fancy a trip down memory lane this is a great way to go about it.

The addition of the newer dash moves brings it closer to the more recent Sonic games in feel, but if you want speed, Sonic Mania would be a better pick. Still, M2 did phenomenal work on bringing this game to the Switch in a way that doesn't feel stale. If you want to see where Sonic came from and are interested in how the new features enhance this classic game, there's no reason to stay away.