Why Sonic the Hedgehog should be at the top of any “best video game characters” list is quite simple – his loyalty. As one of the best video game characters, Sonic has an admirable decades-long friendship with the forgotten game genre, the platformer. Despite the various styles of platformers that exist out there, none come close to being as iconic as the loops and spins of the Sonic games.
90s gamers remember how the arguments about the best video game characters got started. Back then, gamers preferred solving puzzles to headhunting in a first-person shooter (FPS). Strange to think about, but we should be thankful that 90’s gamers embraced their inner nerd rather than warrior. Once Sonic hit the scene, SEGA would soar. Despite that, people are still fighting about the best video game characters when one of them is clearly Sonic.
How the Best Video Game Characters Convo Got Started
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Because of Nintendo’s success with Mario, other gaming companies tried to find their own leading mascot. Props to Mario, however, who gave a quick reminder as to why he’s also ranked in various “best video game characters” lists in his own right. Unfortunately, Nintendo’s dominance over the gaming industry didn’t last long as Sonic the Hedgehog would throw down the gauntlet, giving Mario real competition for the first time.
Furthermore, the Sonic games brought something fresh to the table that other platformers didn’t – speed runs. Indeed, Sonic stood out as one of the best video game characters simply because of his speed and SEGA built their games around it. With their advanced system and graphics, SEGA developers successfully modified their level designs to allow players to make the most of Sonic’s speed.
The Need for Speed, Speed, and More Speed
To say SEGA hit the jackpot with Sonic the Hedgehog is putting it lightly. Still, the success around Sonic games isn’t too surprising for 90’s gamers. How many platformers do you remember playing back then that focused on speed? Of course, the Sonic games would have SEGA fans running (no pun intended) to play their games as the super-speed gameplay provided a rush that was highly addictive and unmatched.
Zipping through looped and twisted obstacles at super-fast speeds makes Sonic stand out. As if under hypnosis, SEGA fans everywhere felt great as the speeding bright colors blasted through the screen. And what’s better? With the many hidden paths and power-ups you can uncover, the Sonic games are outright urging you to run faster and faster at every level.
So, Who’s the Best Video Game Character, Really?
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Who could’ve known that the massive success of Nintendo’s Mario would have a snowball effect on the entire gaming industry? Since other gaming companies couldn’t develop characters to rival Mario, they were failing fast. Thankfully, SEGA had the idea of a speedy blue hedgehog and decades later, Sonic and Mario continue to compete in the “best video game characters” ranking in a friendly, yet epic rivalry.
Just like platformers, SEGA relied on a strategy to come out on top. When creating Sonic the Hedgehog, they focused more on their main fan base, teenagers. Who else to model your mascot after than teenagers who run the “best video game characters” fan pages? To compete against Nintendo, all SEGA had to do was create a character with witty catchphrases and a rebellious attitude. What they did was positively brilliant!
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