Was I the only one who was able to play both Sonic and Mario games in the '90s, shamelessly and without interpersonal conflict?
Sonic's 20th Anniversary Special
Come celebrate Sonic's anniversary by sharing your memories of the series alongside the PixlBit staff!
Nick DiMola's Memories
I think it was hard to dislike Sonic back in the day. I was a Nintendo gamer through and through, but Sonic held a unique appeal that was quite unlike anything on Nintendo's system. Despite the fact that Sonic and Mario were inextricably linked due to the fierce competition of their respective platforms, I think they have always stood apart as two unique experiences. As a Nintendo fanboy, I'd never admit how much I loved Sonic or that it had even held a candle to Super Mario. I couldn't forfeit an inch to those screaming Sega fanboys.
Truth is, any time I had the opportunity to play Sonic, I did. Thankfully, roughly half of my friends had a Genesis while the other half had an SNES like me. We'd all take turns when I went over there and work our way through the various Sonic games. It was the one series that made me crave a Genesis. Funny enough, Sonic Spinball probably held a greater appeal to me, for whatever reason. It was pinball, but an adventure! It reminded me of Kirby's Pinball Land, which I did have on my Gameboy, but it was so much better.
Years later in college, I picked up a Genesis and a few of the games. Spinball was one of my first purchases, alongside Sonic 2, my personal favorite. I just recently grabbed Sonic 3, rounding out my cartridge collection of the original games. I look forward to playing the games with my son when he gets a bit older. Unlike me, he'll get to love both Mario and Sonic, without ever having to hold down the fanboy fort.
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