Summer 1989.
Tim Burton's Batman exploded the modern era of the merchandised franchise. The Ghostbusters hit the big screen a second time. The NES ruled people's home as Mario and Link captured everyone's imaginations. The Commodore 64 was a hugely popular home computer, everyone I knew had one.
If there is one magical element about the video game industry in the 1980's, was the radical developments in arcade/home console/portable gaming technology. Things just got bigger and more impressive. The 8-bit era from the Atari 2600 to the NES and Sega Master System where awesome gaming machines.
Then in the summer of 1989, Sega would launch the 16-bit Genesis in North America. Never before had a video game console delivered a near arcade perfect experience at home. Oh, yes I remember playing Altered Beast, Afterburner, Outrun and Golden Axe many a time at friends houses. We where blow away by its power. The games where awesome. Mickey Mouse's Castle of Illusion and Michael Jackson's Moonwalker kicked ass.
Then Sonic arrived. Everything changed. The heated 16-bit wars began in all their awesome glory.
Summer 1991. Sonic The Hedgehog blew my mind. Before him, everything was slow. Nothing had ever been as fast, shiny, colourful nor as majestic as him.
I still remember playing the game for the first time. I went over to my buddy's house for lunch one hot summer day. Dave had a Sega Genesis and fairly decent collection of titles. He had just got Sonic The Hedgehog and I was excited to play it.
The advertising for Sonic was huge. Televisions commercials, print adds and word of mouth where impressive. I was pumped up to play it my first time, to say the least.
We fired up the television and entered Sonic's world.
Wow!
What an experience. The speed blew me away. It played fresh, new and most importantly, fun.
Oh nostalgic memories. The glory of exciting new times indeed. Thanks Sega for some of the most memorable of good times!
