10 Things Sega Wants You To Forget About Sonic The Hedgehog

9. Sonic Was Originally Going To Have A Human Girlfriend

As discussed previously Sonic was Sega's answer to Nintendo's mascot Mario, as such, Sega thought of ways to make Sonic initially similar to Mario in order to attract a wider audience. Just as Mario had Pauline in Donkey Kong, it was originally planned that Sonic would have a girl of his own in the form of a curvaceous blonde called Madonna. The initial idea was for her to follow Sonic around adoringly, much as Amy Rose does in Sonic Adventure and other games.

This idea was dropped, mainly due to the input of a Sega employee known as Madeline Schroder. She was attempting to soften the game in order to appeal to U.S audiences, and thought the idea of an over-sexualized blonde lusting after an anthropomorphic hedgehog was 'too Japanese'. This comment is certainly valid, as the element of sexuality may have repelled parents and prevented the Sonic the Hedgehog series from taking of. Sega would prefer Madonna's almost existence be forgotten about, as it bears a resemblance to their later ideas for Sonic's love life.