10 Video Games You Bought CONSOLES To Play
8. Sonic The Hedgehog (Sega Mega Drive)
Having an iconic character is a sure fire way to get gamers excited for your console and this was a lesson SEGA was all too familiar with.
The Master System hadn't done all that well in the eighties, so when it came to the next console, the company went all in with a character designed to directly challenge Nintendo's wildly popular plumber.
The debut of one of the most popular and recognisable video game characters in history, Sonic the Hedgehog from 1991 anchored the launch of SEGA's Mega Drive and in doing so, ignited a raging console war that would continue for the next decade.
Sonic built his name on thing: speed, and from the moment gamers booted up Green Hill Zone Act 1, they knew SEGA was not content to rest on its laurals. The multiple routes through the level, dazzling graphics and highly replayable gameplay made its rivalry to Super Mario legitimate.
It went on to show through sales too as the Mega Drive outsold the Super Nintendo Entertainment System two to one from 1991 to 1992, commanding a 65% share of the North American market. While SEGA couldn't maintain this momentum forever, Sonic's impact on it fortunes can't be overstated enough.