10 Video Games That Were Never Better Than Their First Levels

While his titles may have varied somewhat in quality over more recent years, there’s no denying that Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the biggest icons in gaming history. His first adventure was released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in 1991, and just like Bayonetta, it made its modus operandi completely clear right from the start.

Whereas Mario’s equally legendary platforming adventures had a more sedate pace, Sonic was all about speed. The spins, the loop-the-loops, the split second to react to an enemy before they spilled your rings all over the floor like a careless child with a box of Cheerios… this is what Sonic was all about, and it was a real thrill ride.

Needless to say, it’s the much-beloved Green Hill Zone (the first stage set there, more specifically) that has become etched on gamers’ minds forever. That classic music has become the essence of Sonic and everything he stands for, and the level was perfectly designed to teach the player everything they’d need to know. Not only that, but it did so in the best possible way. Green Hill Zone was a playground, essentially, for us to experiment and get to grips with everything the blue blur was capable of back in the day.