My Friend Sonic the Hedgehog

For better or worse, the Sega Genesis was one of my main companions during the core years of my childhood. From 1992 to 1996, that bulky 16-bit console was my go-to way to pass the time—mornings, afternoons, before and after snack time, whenever I didn’t have homework to do.

My dad bought it in June 1992 as a reward for my good grades that year. End-of-year gifts were a special incentive back then, though they eventually stopped. Still, I have nothing to complain about when it comes to my parents. Quite the opposite. They taught me that the real reward for good grades was the satisfaction of a job well done.

The Sega Genesis came with a game I’d already heard about: Sonic the Hedgehog. A blue hedgehog who had to defeat the evil Dr. Robotnik, a tyrant who had taken over the peaceful land where animals lived, turning them into robots. So Sonic sets out to find Robotnik, while the villain’s robot minions try to stop him. My parents especially liked one detail: Sonic doesn’t kill anyone—he jumps on the robots, freeing the animals trapped inside. The three buttons on the controller all did the same thing: jump. And go really fast.

Sonic quickly became my friend. Together, we tried to fulfill his destiny. His mission suddenly became mine too. The next year, Sonic 2 came out. Then the Game Gear (Sega’s handheld console), along with its own Sonic game. The year after that, Sonic 3, and Sonic 2 for the Game Gear. And finally, Sonic & Knuckles.

Different versions, same mission: jump, run, jump, run, defeat Robotnik and his lackeys. I especially remember buying Sonic 3. I’d saved up for a long time just to buy the game the day it came out. I was at English class, waiting for my dad to pick me up so we could go to the video game store—half the class was planning to do the same thing. It was huge.

My obsession with the blue hedgehog got so bad that when an animated series based on the character started airing on cable in the afternoons, I never missed an episode—even though the show was terrible. I’d been through so much with Sonic, fought so many battles alongside him, that he felt like part of my life.

Sonic moved on to other consoles, like the Dreamcast, and eventually jumped to Nintendo, while I followed my own path. We grew apart once the Sega Genesis stopped being my go-to afternoon entertainment.

Nowadays, with emulators like Retroarch available for download, I can replay any of Sonic’s adventures in minutes. Sometimes, when I need a break from the constant mental demands of my career, Sonic’s still there, waiting for me. Because Sonic is a direct link to my childhood—a nonstop ticket back to my early years. For better or worse.

Related Posts: Max Payne 1 – When You Have Nothing Left to Lose