Sonic the Hedgehog is a platform game for the Sega Genesis where players control Sonic, a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog. Released in 1991, it introduced high-speed gameplay, with Sonic racing through levels to collect rings and defeat enemies. The game features vibrant, colorful graphics and memorable music, emphasizing speed and momentum while navigating loops, jumps, and hazards. As Sega's mascot, Sonic's quest to save the animals of South Island by stopping the evil Dr. Robotnik set a new standard for the platformer genre in the 16-bit era.