Now that I am looking back over the years, researching different "timeless" video game stars, there are few characters are as iconic or as beloved as the little blue blur known as Sonic the Hedgehog. He is memorable and stood the test of time. Bursting onto the scene in 1991 as the flagship title for the Sega Genesis console, Sonic revolutionized the platformer genre and solidified Sega's position as a major player in the fiercely competitive video game market of the early '90s. Decades later, Sonic's influence still reverberates through gaming culture, and the first release of the series remains a cherished artifact among retro video game collectors and enthusiasts.