10 Secret Origins Behind Iconic Video Game Features

10. Sonic Can't Swim Because The Creator Thought Real Life Hedgehogs Can't Too

It's an understatement to say the underwater level, Labyrinth Zone, in Sonic the Hedgehog is difficult. Sonic can’t swim, so players are forced to venture the ominous level while the usually lightning-fast character is reduced to walking pace. The worst part, however, is that he can only survive for a short time before dying with a realistic animation.

Apparently, the reason behind the creation of this level was designer Yuji Naka’s lack of understanding regarding the animal world. Naka assumed that hedgehogs would be terrible around water because they can’t swim.

It was long after the franchise gained its fame and success that Naka realised his mistake. During a trip to Germany, he saw a picture of a hedgehog swimming and realised that contrary to his assumption, hedgehogs can actually swim although they often find difficulties climbing out of water.

In his defence though, if I were a hedgehog trapped in an underwater ruin carrying a lot of metallic rings, my ability to swim wouldn’t help much.