Green Hill Zone | |
---|---|
Sonic the Hedgehog location | |
First appearance | Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) |
Created by | Naoto Ohshima, Jina Ishiwatari, Hirokazu Yasuhara [1] |
Genre | Platform |
Characters | Sonic the Hedgehog, Doctor Eggman |
Green Hill Zone [a] is the first level of the platform game Sonic the Hedgehog , which released for the Sega Genesis in 1991. The level is grassy and lush, with environmental features such as palm trees, vertical loops and cliffs, and is the home of numerous forest animals. Like the game's other levels, Green Hill Zone comprises three acts; in the third, Sonic fights antagonist Doctor Eggman before moving to the second level, Marble Zone. It was constructed by level designer Hirokazu Yasuhara with its musical theme by Masato Nakamura.
Green Hill Zone is considered to be a classic video game level, akin to the first stage of Super Mario Bros. , World 1-1. The level and its music have also received positive opinions from critics. It has appeared in other games in the series, such as Sonic Adventure 2 , Sonic Generations , Sonic Mania , Sonic Forces , and Sonic Frontiers . Critics have noted a Green Hill Zone-like aesthetic in levels of other games.
Green Hill Zone is the first level of Sonic the Hedgehog . Located on South Island, [2] : 4 it is a lush, grassy stage with unique features like droopy palm trees [3] and crumbling cliffs. [2] : 7 In addition, as with later levels in the game, Green Hill Zone has environmental features and obstacles like ramps, [3] vertical loops, tunnels, spring-boards, spikes, [2] : 7 and checkpoints. [2] : 5 It is normally populated by woodland creatures, but antagonist Doctor Eggman imprisons them inside robots known as Badniks prior to the events of the game, so the player must destroy them to free the animals. [2] : 2 Green Hill Zone consists of three acts, and the end of Act 3 features a boss battle with Robotnik. [2] : 10 After beating Robotnik, Sonic moves on to the second level, the lava-themed Marble Zone. [2] : 7
Sonic the Hedgehog was created by the newly formed Sonic Team, a 15-member Sega subsidiary formed to create a character that could compete with Nintendo's Mario. The game's level design was handled by Hirokazu Yasuhara, [4] and the musical theme was composed by Masato Nakamura from the Japanese band Dreams Come True. [5] In designing Green Hill Zone, Yasuhara was inspired by the U.S. state of California, while the game's color scheme in general was influenced by the work of pop artist Eizin Suzuki. [6]
The game's programmer, Yuji Naka, stated that it took him almost a year to create Green Hill Zone and that it was created and destroyed multiple times before arriving at the final version. [7]
While the original game was a 2D side-scroller, Green Hill Zone was remade in full 3D as a secret level in the 2001 game Sonic Adventure 2 ; the player unlocks it after collecting all 180 of the emblems found by completing the game's many objectives. [8] The 2011 game Sonic Generations , a title that revisits past entries in the Sonic series, features both 2D ("Classic") and 3D ("Modern") versions of Green Hill Zone, as well as of numerous other Sonic levels. [9] A reinterpretation of the level appears in the 2017 title Sonic Mania . [10] Green Hill Zone reappears in Sonic Forces , having partially turned to desert due to resource depletion by Eggman's industries. [11] Digital recreations of Green Hill Zone appear in the 2022 game Sonic Frontiers as part of the game's Cyber Space levels. [1]
In addition, Green Hill Zone appears as a stage in the 2.5D fighting game Sonic Battle , [12] in the tennis video game Sega Superstars Tennis , in the sports video game Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games , in the mobile title Sonic Dash , in the crossover adventure game Lego Dimensions , and in the crossover fighting games Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax and the Super Smash Bros. series. [13] [14] In the 2020 live-action film adaptation Sonic the Hedgehog , Green Hill Zone is depicted as Sonic's original home. [15] The film series also features Sonic and friends living in a small town in Montana named Green Hills. [16]
A Lego Ideas set based on the level was released on January 1, 2022. [17] [18] [19] [20] It received mixed reception from Alice Clarke of Kotaku , who called it "not the most thrilling build", remarking that its price was high, but that Sonic fans would love it. [21]
Green Hill Zone has been recognized by critics as a classic, well-known video game level. It has been described as "classic" by Samit Sarkar of Polygon and by Jim Sterling and Chris Carter of Destructoid . [22] [23] [24] Comparably, Joe Skrebels of Official Nintendo Magazine called it "nostalgic", [25] while Christopher Grant from Joystiq considered it to have a place "in the center of your retro-gaming shrine". [26] Kevin Wong of Complex stated that the game's and level's popularity were such that "even if you didn't have a Genesis, this was the level you played at the department store while your parents went shopping." [27] Craig Snyder at MakeUseOf named the level as one of the five best levels in video games, calling it "a great way to prepare for what’s to come". [28]
The level's background music was particularly noted as memorable. Andy Kelly from Computer and Video Games called the Green Hill theme a "monumental slice of Sega nostalgia", [5] and GamesRadar writer Justin Towell also referred to it as classic. [29] Game Informer 's Tim Turi found the level's music "catchy", [30] and Wong ranked it as the thirteenth greatest piece of gaming music from the 16-bit era. [27]
Later Sonic games often included callbacks to Green Hill Zone. Turi noted that Emerald Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , Mushroom Hill Zone from Sonic & Knuckles , and Seaside Hill Zone from Sonic Heroes all fit the same general mold as Green Hill Zone, claiming that "gamers have played Green Hill Zone dozens of times." However, he opined that the Sonic Generations version of the original Green Hill Zone "trounces them all" in both its 2D and 3D incarnations. [30] Justin Baker of Nintendo World Report and Skrebels both analogized Windy Hill Zone from Sonic Lost World to Green Hill Zone, [31] [25] while Carter thought similarly of The Legend of Zelda downloadable content levels. [22] The decision to include Green Hill Zone in other games in the series, such as Sonic Forces , has been a source of debate among some fans, who believe that Sega has overused the stage since its debut. [32]
The version of Green Hill Zone featured in Sonic Mania became one of that game's most "hotly contested" speedrun courses due to its added complexity in comparison to the original. The fastest route through the level was noted as constantly shifting between the top, middle, or bottom segments as speedrunners further optimized the path. Trihex, a notable speedrunner, called the level "a monster" due to its difficulty, including timed platforms. [33]
To mark Sonic's fifteenth anniversary in 2006, Sega released a papercraft version of Green Hill Zone as a PDF on its website. [26] In 2011, not long after the release of Sonic Generations, Sega held a contest inviting gamers to upload YouTube video playthroughs of the game's 3D version of Green Hill Zone completed in less than one minute and fifty seconds; winners were eligible for Sonic merchandise. [34]
During the 30th anniversary of Sonic, Nakamura and Dreams Come True released "Tsugi no Se~no! De - On The Green Hill - DCT version", a single of the Green Hill Zone theme which introduced lyrics to the theme for the first time was released on July 7, 2021. A music video followed just a few months after the single's release in September of that year. [35] [36] An alternate version of the track with more Genesis/Megadrive sounding instruments was released sometime after the single and was titled the "Masado & Miwasco version". [37]
Sonic the Hedgehog is a character created by the Japanese game developers Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima. He is the star of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and the mascot of the Japanese video game company Sega. Sonic is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speed. He races through levels, collecting rings and avoiding obstacles, as he seeks to defeat his archenemy, Doctor Eggman. He is accompanied by supporting characters, such as his best friend and sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower, self-proclaimed girlfriend Amy Rose, and friendly rival Knuckles the Echidna.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 1991 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Genesis/Mega Drive. It was released in North America on June 23 and in PAL regions and Japan the following month. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog, who can run at near supersonic speeds; Sonic sets out on a quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik, a scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and seeks the powerful Chaos Emeralds. The gameplay involves collecting rings as a form of health, and a simple control scheme, with jumping and attacking controlled by a single button.
Sonic Adventure 2 is a 2001 platform game developed by Sonic Team USA and published by Sega for the Dreamcast. It features two good-vs-evil stories: Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Knuckles the Echidna attempt to save the world, while Shadow the Hedgehog, Doctor Eggman, and Rouge the Bat attempt to conquer it. The stories are divided into three gameplay styles: fast-paced platforming for Sonic and Shadow, third-person shooting for Tails and Eggman, and action-adventure exploration for Knuckles and Rouge. Like previous Sonic the Hedgehog games, the player completes levels while collecting rings and defeating enemies. Outside the main gameplay, they can interact with Chao, a virtual pet, and compete in multiplayer battles.
SegaSonic the Hedgehog is a 1993 arcade game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series by Sega. Controlling Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel, the player must escape an island after they are kidnapped by the villain, Doctor Eggman. The game uses an isometric perspective. Players use a trackball to move the characters while dodging obstacles and collecting rings. The game was developed by Sega's arcade division, Sega AM3. It is one of four Sonic games with the SegaSonic name and was inspired by the 1984 game Marble Madness.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2006 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It was produced in commemoration of the Sonic series' 15th anniversary and as a reboot for seventh-generation video game consoles. Players control Sonic, Shadow, and the new character Silver, who battle Solaris, an ancient evil pursued by Doctor Eggman. Each playable character has his own campaign and abilities, and must complete levels, explore hub worlds and fight bosses to advance the story. In multiplayer modes, players can work cooperatively to collect Chaos Emeralds or race to the end of a level.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game series and media franchise created by the Japanese developers Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, and Hirokazu Yasuhara for Sega. The franchise follows Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battles the evil Doctor Eggman, a mad scientist. The main Sonic the Hedgehog games are platformers mostly developed by Sonic Team; other games, developed by various studios, include spin-offs in the racing, fighting, party and sports genres. The franchise also incorporates printed media, animations, feature films, and merchandise.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 1992 platform game developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) for the Sega Genesis. Players control Sonic as he attempts to stop Doctor Robotnik from stealing the Chaos Emeralds to power his space station. Like the first Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), players traverse side-scrolling levels at high speeds while collecting rings, defeating enemies, and fighting bosses. Sonic 2 introduces Sonic's sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower and features faster gameplay, larger levels, a multiplayer mode, and special stages featuring pre-rendered 3D graphics.
Doctor Ivo"Eggman"Robotnik is a character created by the Japanese game designer Naoto Ohshima. He is the main antagonist of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Eggman is a mad scientist who seeks to steal the mystical Chaos Emeralds, defeat Sonic the Hedgehog, and conquer the world. Eggman and his "Badnik" brand of military robots serve as bosses and enemies in the Sonic platform games. His distinctive characteristics include his red-black-yellow clothing, baldness, pince-nez sunglasses, and large mustache.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I is a 2010 platform game developed by Dimps, with assistance from Sonic Team, and published by Sega. It is a sequel to Sonic & Knuckles (1994), following Sonic as he sets out to stop a returning Doctor Eggman. Like the Sonic the Hedgehog games released for the Sega Genesis, Episode I features side-scrolling gameplay, with movement restricted to a 2D plane. The player races through levels collecting rings while rolling into a ball to attack enemies. The game also features special stages in which the player collects Chaos Emeralds and online leaderboards comparing level completion times and high scores.
Sonic Colors is a 2010 platform game published by Sega. It follows Sonic's quest to stop his nemesis Doctor Eggman from enslaving an alien race and taking over the world. The gameplay is similar to prior Sonic games, with players collecting rings and defeating enemies; the camera perspective often switches from third-person to side-scrolling perspectives. The game also introduces Wisps, power-ups the player can use to increase attack power and reach new areas.
Sonic Generations is a 2011 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, and Nintendo 3DS. Produced in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game follows Sonic and his sidekick Tails as they form an alliance with their past selves and travel through levels from previous Sonic games. It features two gameplay styles: "Classic", which plays from a side-scrolling perspective like that of the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, and "Modern", 3D levels similar to those in Sonic Unleashed (2008) and Sonic Colors (2010).
Sonic Lost World is a 2013 platform game developed by Sonic Team. It is part of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, and was released in October 2013 for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in PAL regions by Nintendo and by Sega in North America and Japan. A port of the Wii U version for Windows was later released in November 2015.
Sonic After the Sequel is a 2013 platform video game created by Brazilian student Felipe Daneluz (LakeFeperd). It is an unofficial game based on the Sonic the Hedgehog series and set between the official games Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Daneluz's second Sonic game, it follows Sonic Before the Sequel, which is set between the original Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Like its predecessor, After the Sequel stars Sonic the Hedgehog and his sidekick Tails in a quest to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds from Doctor Eggman.
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric is a 2014 action-adventure platform video game developed by Big Red Button and published by Sega for the Wii U. Along with Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal and Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice for the Nintendo 3DS, it is a spin-off of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series and part of the Sonic Boom franchise, which consists of an animated television series, which the games serve as a prequel to, a comic series by Archie Comics, and a toyline by Tomy. The story follows Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy, who, after Sonic accidentally awakens Lyric, the last Ancient, from his thousand-year imprisonment, must stop him from acquiring the Chaos Crystals, which he plans to use to power a robot army and wipe out all organic life, while battling Doctor Eggman, Metal Sonic, and Shadow.
Sonic Dreams Collection is a 2015 art game developed by Arcane Kids for OS X and Windows. It is an unofficial game based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise that compiles four minigames presented as unfinished Sonic games, but the game as a whole later reveals itself to be a psychological horror game satirizing the then-modern Sonic fandom, known for its peculiarities. They include the character creator Make My Sonic, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Eggman Origin, the adventure game Sonic Movie Maker, and the virtual reality (VR) game My Roommate Sonic. They are described in-game as having been developed by a nonexistent Sega studio for the Dreamcast in the late 1990s.
Sonic Mania is a 2017 platform game published by Sega for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. Produced in commemoration of the Sonic the Hedgehog series' 25th anniversary, Sonic Mania pays homage to the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, featuring speedy side-scrolling gameplay. It takes place over 13 levels, including several redesigned from past games. The story follows Sonic, Tails and Knuckles as they venture to defeat Doctor Eggman and his robotic henchmen, the Hard-Boiled Heavies.
Sonic Forces is a 2017 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It was produced in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. The plot focuses on Sonic the Hedgehog joining a resistance movement formed by his friends, alongside its rookie and his misplaced past self. Together, they must stop Doctor Eggman, who has conquered most of the world alongside Infinite, his newest lackey who has been empowered by the Phantom Ruby. It features three gameplay modes: "Classic", side-scrolling gameplay similar to the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, "Modern", 3D gameplay similar to Sonic Unleashed (2008) and Sonic Colors (2010), and a mode featuring the "Avatar", the player's custom character.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a Japanese video game series and media franchise created and owned by Sega. The franchise began in 1991 with Sonic the Hedgehog, a side-scrolling platform game, and has expanded to include printed media, animations, feature films, and merchandise. The music of Sonic the Hedgehog has been provided by a number of composers, ranging from Sega sound staff to independent contractors and popular bands. It covers a wide array of genres, including pop, funk, rock, metal, ska, punk, hip hop, R&B, jazz, electronica, trance, breakbeat, drum and bass, disco, ambient, world, orchestral, and lo-fi.
Lego Sonic the Hedgehog is a Lego theme based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series created by Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima and Hirokazu Yasuhara. It is licensed from Sega. The theme was first introduced in 2023.
Caption: Extra Stage: Green Hill
Description: MAP: GREEN HILL
Description: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: GREEN HILL ZONE
Description: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG: GREEN HILL ZONE