How Did Sega’s ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ End Up on Nintendo’s Switch?
Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years.
Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire.
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Key Takeaways
- Nintendo is adding Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 games—including Sonic!—to its Switch online service.
- You’ll also be able to buy wireless versions of the N64 and Genesis controllers.
- The first games launch in October.
Soon, you’ll be able to play Sega Genesis games on your Nintendo Switch. Yep, you read that right.
With its newly announced Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, Nintendo will add games from its one-time arch-rival Sega to its Switch console. You’ll also be able to play a bunch of Nintendo 64 games and buy Switch versions of the N64 and Genesis controllers.
This new “expansion pack” almost certainly will require another payment on top of the existing Nintendo online subscription, but who cares? For 1990s-era gaming nerds, It’s going to be worth it to play Sonic on a handheld after all these years.
What Happened to Sega?
Back in the 1990s, Sega was hot stuff. The 16-bit Genesis console (known as the Mega Drive everywhere except North America) launched in 1988, but went stratospheric in 1991 with the original Sonic The Hedgehog game release. Thanks to a cool image and fast-paced games, the Genesis more than held its own against the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
“When it comes to the differences between Sega and Nintendo, I remember those early console wars, and I think it came down to a difference in persona. At that time, Nintendo was the big kid on the block. It was the system with the best franchises, which had saved the video game industry and brought it back to life after the fall of Atari,” ’90s gaming nerd, self-described “huge Sega fan” (plus author, poet, and attorney) R. M. S. Thornton told Lifewire via email.
“Sega, on the other hand, was the up-and-comer and kind of portrayed itself as the rebel, sort of like Apple did back in the day. It was there to take down the video game establishment. This is evidenced in the fact that they changed their mascot from the relatively non-offensive and mundane Alex the Kid to Sonic, the blue fast hedgehog with attitude. It was a stark contrast to Mario, the slow plumber.”
“Long time Sega lover” (also writer and filmmaker) Daniel Hess agrees.
“Sega was always the more edgy grown-up system to Nintendo’s more family-friendly approach. For me, Sega was sort of like that cool older brother that would show you R-rated movies when your parents weren’t around,” says Hess.
Then things went downhill fast, like a rolling blue hedgehog. Sega’s follow-up consoles were impressive but failed to sell. Its successor, the Saturn, went up against Sony’s Playstation and lost. Sony used the same ‘rebel’ schtick to sell the Playstation, with risqué ads, and even pavement-spraying ad campaigns in the UK. In 2001, Sega stopped console development and focussed on making games.
Nintendo vs Sega
For 1990s-era games fans, the idea of Sonic on a Nintendo console is as crazy as the idea of modern-day Apple licensing macOS for PCs. And yet here we are.
Nintendo will launch the new plan in October. Genesis games include Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Ecco the Dolphin, Streets of Rage, Phantasy Star IV, and more.
Nintendo 64 games include Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Coming later are The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, F-Zero X, and Paper Mario. Sadly, the best N64 game of all —Goldeneye—isn’t on the list. These games will also feature four-player online multiplayer, where appropriate.
The hardware also looks great. Nintendo made a SNES-a-like controller for its online Super Nintendo games, which sold out. Like that controller, the new Genesis and N64 Switch controllers will only be available to Nintendo online members. If you want one, you might want to act fast.
The Switch might not be the most powerful console, but, like all Nintendo consoles and games throughout its history, it is the most fun. Exhibit A is Zelda: Breath of the Wild aka the best video game ever made. But while Zelda is best played on the big screen for a fully immersive experience, Sonic 2 is going to be just fantastic in handheld mode. We can’t wait.
Sonic Superstars Nintendo Switch
Retrouvez nos bons plans et Offres pour acheter au meilleur prix Sonic Superstars sur Nintendo Switch :
Disponible prochainement sur :
Utilisez les Emerald Powers pour affronter le Dr. Eggman et l’empêcher de transformer les animaux des îles en Badniks avant qu’il ne soit trop tard ! Une nouvelle vision des jeux Sonic classiques en 2D avec une toute nouvelle apparence, de nouveaux pouvoirs, de nouveaux mondes à explorer, une coopération à 4 joueurs, et plus encore pour toutes les générations de fans de Sonic !
Fonctionnalités principales :
- Une évolution de la plateforme 2D de Sonic
- Les jeux de plateformes Sonic classiques en 2D ont été réinventés pour les plateformes de la génération actuelle avec de nouvelles zones, de nouvelles musiques, un nouveau gameplay et une apparence UHD moderne uniquement possible avec des graphismes 3D. Les mouvements, la physique et les commandes de Sonic évoquent des sensations familières et plairont aux joueurs les plus récents comme aux plus anciens.
- Incarne Sonic, Tails, Knuckles et Amy Rose pour affronter le Dr. Eggman qui s’est associé à un ancien adversaire nommé Fang et déjouez leurs plans machiavéliques. Le designer de Sonic, Naoto Ohshima, est également de retour avec un nouveau personnage que Sonic et ses amis devront affronter.
- Utilisez les pouvoirs des sept Chaos Emeralds pour obtenir de nouvelles capacités, comme créer des clones, gravir des chutes d’eau, gagner en puissance et bien plus encore !
- Sonic Superstars offre la possibilité de coopérer à 4 joueurs en local. Il est ainsi possible de jouer seul ou de collaborer avec des amis durant toute l’histoire du jeu !
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Now retrieving an image set.
Every Sonic Game On Nintendo Switch, Ranked
Sonic and Nintendo haven’t always gotten along, but with many games in the series now available on Switch, let’s see what comes out on top.
There was once a time when Nintendo and Sega were the biggest video game companies on the planet — before Sony and Microsoft began manufacturing hardware — and relentlessly competed against each other to see who would come out on top. One of Sega’s boldest strategies during this era was to create a character that would make Mario look outdated, and they eventually revealed Sonic the Hedgehog as its mascot.
It was hard to imagine Sonic appearing on Nintendo consoles back then, but now that Sega has bowed out of the console-making business, it’s become common to see the blue hedgehog show up on most of Nintendo’s hardware. There are currently a handful of Sonic the Hedgehog games on the Nintendo Switch, but some are much more exciting and fun than others.
Sonic Forces
Sonic Forces was developed to help commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series and seemed to have many of the right ideas, but it couldn’t turn them into a cohesive or fun video game. It featured 2D and 3D stages, a character creator, and much more, but it was held back by its technical issues and consistently confusing level design.
One of Sonic Forces’ biggest missteps was that it launched in the same year as the highly-acclaimed Sonic Mania. While the latter impressed audiences with its visual flair and flawless platforming, Sonic Forces stumbles every time it begins to gain momentum despite the interesting design at its core.
Mario Sonic At The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Not only does Sonic appear on Nintendo consoles now, but he even appears with Mario in a bunch of games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Sonic At The Olympic Games. The first time the two mascots competed against each other was on the Wii, and they’ve gotten together every couple of years to do it again since then.
Mario Sonic At The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is easily the most polished and fun the series has been so far and features plenty of Super Mario and Sonic characters to play as. You can compete in classic events such as Javelin Throw, Boxing, and Fencing, and some of them can even be played using the original 8-bit character sprites.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate
The seventh generation of video game consoles — Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and the Wii — may have been the worst era for Sonic the Hedgehog. From the self-titled Sonic the Hedgehog in 2006 to Sonic Lost World for the Wii U, many of the Blue Blur’s adventures were poorly received by fans and critics alike.
One of the few exceptions was Sonic Colors, a Wii and DS game from 2010. It felt more focused than previous titles and benefited from prioritizing gameplay over narrative. The Wii version of the game was remade into Sonic Colors: Ultimate in 2021 and was released on nearly every platform, allowing more fans to enjoy this surprisingly good platformer.
Team Sonic Racing
Like Mario, Sonic and his friends have starred in a series of spin-off games that allows them to take a break from saving the world. Nearly every genre has been explored with games like Sonic the Fighters to Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, but the most popular spin-off is the recent handful of racing titles developed by Sumo Digital.
It might not be as polished as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but Team Sonic Racing is one of the best alternative kart-racing games on the Switch. It includes a narrative-driven campaign, 15 playable characters from the Sonic universe, and enough gameplay changes to make it feel different from anything else in the genre in the best way possible.
Sonic Frontiers
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild had an immeasurable impact on the gaming industry and has helped inspire countless games with its aesthetic and mechanics. Sonic Frontiers may seem like another attempt to recreate Breath of the Wild’s success on the surface, but it does a surprisingly great job of adapting Sonic’s unique skills and making them work in an open environment.
After years of releasing formulaic and unsurprising Sonic games, Sonic Frontiers feels like the most refreshing entry since Sonic Adventure was released in the late 1990s. Running around as Sonic feels phenomenal, and its story is full of surprises. It might not be perfect, but Sonic Frontiers is a bold new direction for the series that is worth checking out if you’ve ever been a fan of the character.
Sonic Origins
There are plenty of ways to play the original Sonic the Hedgehog games — including through the Sega Ages versions also available on Switch — but Sonic Origins is the definitive way to play the first four platformers in the series. Sonic Origins includes remastered versions of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Knuckles.
Each title has been improved significantly with new widescreen modes, the ability to play as either Knuckles or Tails in almost any game, and new animated cutscenes that are incredibly charming. It also has an in-game museum that you can fill with collectibles earned by completing achievements or spending the coins you earn between levels.
Sonic Mania
Around the same time Sega announced that it would no longer be manufacturing hardware, there was an almost immediate dip in quality in the Sonic series. Maybe it’s because Sega was developing games for multiple consoles at once, but a majority of Sonic games remained less than fantastic for over a decade before Sonic Mania helped rejuvenate the series with the creative boost it had been missing for so long.
Released the same year as Sonic Forces, Sonic Mania finally gave fans what they had been asking for. Dynamic stages, beautiful graphics, and a phenomenal soundtrack are just a few of the standout features in this throwback platformer that helped reestablish Sonic as one of the greatest mascots of all time.
The Best Nintendo Switch Games to Play in 2023
All the best games you need to play on Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch has a world-class library of games
Despite being a little older now, the Nintendo Switch is still arguably the best video game console on the market. With PS5 and Xbox Series X shortages still an issue, the Switch is the most easily accessible console out there.
The Switch OLED is our pick of the bunch, but the Nintendo Switch Lite is also available if you’re so inclined.
The Nintendo Switch has one of the best, most varied and deepest libraries of any console out there. In short: There’s a lot to choose from.
Here are our choices for the best games on Nintendo Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Following Breath of the Wild.- in many people’s eyes the best video game ever made.- was always going to be nigh on impossible. But Nintendo has done it. A completely brand new game, with multiple quality of life improvements and some revolutionary departures, Tears of the Kingdom is another slam dunk. It could be even better than Breath of the Wild. Almost certainly the best game of 2023 so far.
Metroid Prime
This is the game. The best video game. In 2002, when Metroid Prime was first released, it felt like a game air dropped from the future. In 2023, with this incredible new remaster, it somehow still feels futuristic.
The upgraded visuals are subtle, but worthwhile. The all-new controls are simply phenomenal. For me, personally, Metroid Prime is one of the greatest video games ever made. It’s so exciting that folks get to experience it all over again.
Super Mario Odyssey
Here is a list of trash words that don’t come close to describing Super Mario Odyssey : inventive, dazzling, Smart, seamless, joyful, creative.
Super Mario Odyssey is a Nintendo game that continues in the spirit of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. All bets are off, everything you thought you knew about Mario has been reinvented. But here’s what remains: perfectly tuned, precision gameplay that feels incredible every second your hands are on the controller.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild was only the consensus best game of 2017. The game many believe is the best ever made. The game that somehow managed to actually outsell the Nintendo Switch itself on launch.
Still no idea how that actually happened, but it did.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a legitimate masterpiece that strips back the open-world genre to its core elements and rewrites its DNA for pure adventure.
It’s a world alive with surprise and dense with detail. An incredible, milestone achievement.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
It’s not quite as good as Pokémon Arceus, but Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is still pretty damn good. It’s a more traditional Pokémon title, and struggles on the aging Nintendo Switch hardware, but if you can get past those failings, you’ll love it.
Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope
The first Mario Rabbids was a shockingly good, massively successful turn-based strategy game. For a genre that’s traditionally been quite impenetrable, particularly for younger audiences, that was quite the feat.
But Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope outperforms its predecessor in almost every way. It’s legitimately one of the best new games released on the Nintendo Switch.
Splatoon 3
Splatoon rules. It’s ruled since day one, and the latest sequel, Splatoon 3, is no different. Not much has changed in the series, but the high concept is still intoxicating. It’s a first-person shooter with a twist: You can shoot your opponents, sure, but to win the game you have to shoot the environment. With paint! It’s a great, slightly less violent entry point for kids. But it’s fun for adults as well!
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Imagine Breath of the Wild crossed with Pokémon and that’s pretty much Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It’s the first properly open world Pokémon game fulfilling the wishes of many a fan. The visuals.- both the aesthetic and the execution.- are pretty lackluster, but there’s something incredibly compelling about Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It’s different, and a unique leap forward for the series.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is very, very good. Featuring the biggest lineup of characters yet (hence the “Ultimate”), it also has almost certainly the best single-player “campaign” mode of any Smash Bros. game to date. Also.- it’s Smash Bros.
How are you going to own a Nintendo Switch and not pick up this game?
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 was initially released on the Wii U. It was great then. It’s even better now with all the additional content.
Not too much has changed, but Mario Kart 8 is about as definitive as it gets. It’s stacked with playable characters, inventive tracks and brand new features. It remains the most compelling multiplayer game on the Nintendo Switch.
Neon White
Neon White is maybe the strangest genre mashup ever. A first-person speed runner with card-game elements, it’s a game that shouldn’t make sense on paper, but in practice it’s already one of the best games of 2022. If you’re looking for something extremely cutting edge, unlike anything you’ve ever played, you need to check out Neon White.
Portal: Companion Collection
This brand new collection pairs up the first two Portal games into one collection. If you haven’t played either of these games, head directly to your Nintendo Switch and buy them immediately.
Both are peerless classics, but Portal 2, especially, is one of the best video games ever made. It might even be the best, period. A mind-bending puzzler with genuinely hilarious comedy elements, this is as good as video games get.
Unpacking
A game about unpacking boxes and moving into a series of new house and apartments doesn’t sound like game of the year material, but it somehow is. Unpacking is brilliantly made and perfectly executed. It’s also. surprisingly emotional. Get on it.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Folks, in these dark and troubled days, it’s time to disappear into a new world, get a virtual mortgage and work your ass off to pay that sucker off quick Smart.
Metroid Dread
It’s not every day.- or even every year.- we get a brand new Metroid game, so we need to appreciate Metroid Dread for the unicorn it is.
A continuation of the 2D Metroid Canon that includes classics like Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread is a fantastic entry into a legendary franchise. It looks especially slick on the new OLED Switch. Get on it!
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight might be one of the best games available on the Nintendo Switch. It’s a disturbingly well-designed platformer in the vein of Super Metroid. But it’s more than that. The atmosphere, the audio design, the visuals.
Dear Lord, this game is a stone-cold classic. Play it now.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is the most recent game from Lucas Pope, the man behind Papers, Please.
It’s a genuine, proper masterpiece. An investigation story, essentially.- you arrive on the Obra Dinn, a ship where almost all the crewmates have died. Via flashbacks you try to piece together the story of what happened. It’s strange, innovative and completely unforgettable.
Super Mario 3D World Bowser’s Fury
In my humble opinion, Super Mario 3D World is probably the greatest game for young kids ever made. Particularly if you’re a parent who wants to play alongside them. It’s simple, no reading required. The levels are well designed, open and forgiving.
It also rules in every possible sense.
But when you add Bowser’s Fury.- an experimental Mario title that could give us an insight into where Nintendo will take the series next.- this package is unbeatable. Play Super Mario 3D World with your kids, play Bowser’s Fury when they go to bed. Perfect.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Luigi’s Mansion 3 was one of the best games of 2019. It is a video game clearly made with love: gorgeous environments, pitch-perfect animations. Everything about it feels tactile and precise. Maybe the best Nintendo-made game of the year.
Celeste
Celeste is a video game that makes you want to lodge your controller in your TV.- in a good way.
Featuring incredible level design and flawlessly tuned precision platforming, Celeste is one of the best games of its type ever released. It’s Smart, charming and dense with content.
It’s also perfect for the Nintendo Switch. You’ll be hurling obscenities at this game on public transport, and you’ll love every second of it.
Into The Breach
A very good turn-based strategy game by the creators of Faster Than Light. An intricate, intelligent creation that demands problem solving from the player in interesting ways.
Dead Cells
The traditional words used to describe Dead Cells are “rogue-like” and “metroidvania.” Both common genres, but Dead Cells is a game with a unique conceit: You will play, you will die. But in Dead Cells you get to keep your upgrades and then restart with those upgrades, meaning you slowly progress through the game more easily as you play. Very cool.
Hades
Hades, an isometric rogue-like from Supergiant Games, came out of nowhere in 2020 and was a very strong contender for game of the year.
Why? Part of it is the combat.- which is fluid, weighty and tactile.- but its evolving storyline, which ties the idea of constant death into Hades’ narrative, really pushes it over the edge. This is a rogue-like that people who don’t like rogue-likes can enjoy.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Ever wanted to swallow a car and then.- as a result.- transform into that car and absorb the abilities of a car? Boy, do I have a video game for you.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a recent addition to this list. It rules. It’s the first game to feature 3D gameplay and it might be the best Kirby game ever? Definitely worth checking out. A great game for young kids especially.
Untitled Goose Game
Untitled Goose Game is a game about being a goose.
And not just any goose, a horrible goose. An asshole goose that makes life extremely difficult for everyone around it. Untitled Goose Game has absolutely taken the world by storm. Even Chrissie Teigen got obsessed with it.
But is it good? Yes. Very good. This one should absolutely be on any and all Nintendo Switch consoles.
Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game that will break every part of your brain. It’s a puzzle game that forces you to literally rewrite the rules of the game in order to complete tasks.
If that sounds complicated, it’s because it is complicated. In a good way.
It’s also the kind of game that will haunt you, sort of like The Witness. You will be thinking about puzzles while you do the dishes, while you’re driving the car. You’ll scream “eureka!” Then maybe break a dish or crash your car.
This game is dangerous for your health.
OlliOlli World
The OlliOlli series has been low-key fantastic for years now, but OlliOlli World is its final form. 2022 was a fantastic for video games, and OlliOlli World was up there with the best of them.
Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise is perhaps the most accessible Monster Hunter yet. It’s also very good.
And at this point, the game is only available on Nintendo Switch. Get on it.
Eastward
Enjoy games like Zelda: A Link to the Past and Earthbound? Of course you do. You’re a reasonable adult with great taste.
In that case you have to try Eastward, a new top-down game in the vein of every 16-bit RPG you ever loved. It’s slow-paced and takes a while to get going, but it’s well worth the investment.
The Messenger
A quirky 2D slasher game with a retro aesthetic. But here’s the twist: The Messenger begins as a simple hack and slash game in the 8-bit style, but later you get to travel to the future, where the game evolves into a 16-bit style metroidvania.
Pokémon Sword Shield
Look, regardless of controversy, Pokémon is Pokémon, and Pokémon Sword Shield is a good Pokémon.
Don’t believe the online hype: This is one of the best games in the series. It’s also great to see Pokémon being available on Nintendo’s premium console. Definitely check it out.
Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 doesn’t quite feel made for the Nintendo Switch in the way it was perfect for the Wii U, but it’s still a fantastic piece of software. It makes level design accessible for everyone and has a massively beefed-up single-player mode.
That’s not to mention the endless replay value that comes with the insane user-created levels. Check Super Mario Maker 2 out for sure.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
It’s overpriced, but if you love Zelda, and you loved Link’s Awakening. you have to play this faithful, lovingly adapted remake. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done.
Paper Mario: The Origami King
If you’ve played a Paper Mario game before, you probably know the drill. The series is set in a 2D “paper” version of Mario, a theme used to create all sorts of Hyper-stylized mechanics and slick visual elements. It’s all laced up with a self-awareness and charm that make the series irresistible to Nintendo fans.
Paper Mario: The Origami King is no exception. Well worth a look.
Mario Tennis Aces
Mario is pretty good at sport. As is Nintendo when it puts its mind to it. Mario Tennis Aces gives us what we haven’t had for a remarkably long time.- a good tennis game.
Sonic Mania
I mean, imagine being an adult, growing up with Sonic. They announce a new game, and you expect it to be bad because Sonic has been bad for like 20 years.
Then they drop Sonic Mania. A game that takes everything good about Sonic, preserves it and then updates it perfectly in a seamless modern interpretation that has no right being this good.
