In recent years, Sonic the Hedgehog has gotten buddy-buddy with his former rival Mario and Nintendo. Now, many Sega Genesis games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online, but the library is missing a major Sonic the Hedgehog title.
At the recent Nintendo Direct, it was announced that classic Sega Genesis titles were coming to Nintendo Switch Online. Fans have been awaiting the expansion of the Nintendo Switch Online service, as it has seemingly replaced Nintendo's Virtual Console. During the Wii and Wii U eras, players could simply purchase retro video games off the Nintendo eShop and go from there, including Sega Genesis and Master System titles as well. Since these classic titles are no longer being sold, it makes sense then that Nintendo would bundle them somehow into Nintendo Switch Online.
Nintendo Switch Online's collection of Genesis games is a fine start for the service. There are Sega classics like Golden Axe and Ecco the Dolphin, and some from ongoing franchises like Castlevania: Bloodlines and Streets of Rage 2. One would think that Sega's mascot would have a fine showing on the platform, it being easily one of its most popular franchises. Sadly, the Blue Blur only has one game at the start of the service: Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Where is the Original Sonic the Hedgehog?
Before there was Tails and seven Chaos Emeralds, there was Green Hill Zone, six Chaos Emeralds, and the original Sonic the Hedgehog. This title catapulted the anthropromorphic hedgehog into overnight stardom, going head-to-head with Nintendo's Mario in a race that has been running for 30 years now. Some would argue that the race ended 20 years ago, but that is besides the point: Sonic the Hedgehog's Genesis titles, and especially the original, laid the foundation for the rest of the series.
In the first Sonic game, Sega immediately understood the strengths of Sonic's character and how it can make for entertaining gameplay. Many of the 3D Sonic games are based on the boost-formula, where Sonic blazes across the screen, destroying everything in his path, while the player holds down a button. This interpretation works in the modern era, but in the Genesis titles, Sonic's speed does not come at the press of a button — it is a rewarded to the player for smart platforming, learning level layouts, and understanding how Sonic's momentmum works.
What's more, this is where many of the series' hallmarks originated from. Collecting rings, hitting checkpoints, bouncing off springs and avoiding spike traps, the Chaos Emeralds, and most importantly, Dr. Eggman (or Dr. Robotnik) all started in this game. Sonic 1's Green Hill Zone is arguably one of the most iconic levels of all time, and is constantly referenced by the series still to this day. There is so much history to be had in this one game, that its vacancy from the Nintendo Switch Online collection just feels strange.
Now, it is certainly possible that the original Sonic the Hedgehog will be added to Nintendo Switch Online as the service progresses. Nintendo announced that more Nintendo 64 games would be coming to Nintendo Switch Online in the future, but did not explicitly say the same for its Genesis offerings. Sega has been making compilations of its games for years, and the first two Sonic the Hedgehog titles are practically guaranteed to be a part of each one. For Nintendo Switch Online to only have Sonic the Hedgehog 2 though, means there's a giant Sonic 1-sized hole in its library.
Sonic the Hedgehog is available on Switch, iOS and Android.