Important to note that the GBA actually doesn't have a sound chip, and that may explain why the sound is so awful in Sonic 1 GBA when you consider its already rushed nature. Lots of other games on the GBA have awesome music, though... So no mercy for you, SEGA.

Sonic fanboy : sonic 4’s physics are the worst Sonic genesis gba: hold my chilli dog

I knew exactly what was going to happen with that “into the fire” bit and I still lost it when the cart pinged off the glass

I remember reading that Sega contracted a small dev team in North America to make this port in under a year, and that Sonic Team is only credited as it was shown in the original Genesis release. There isn't a lot of information on this port, regardless I am all but certain Sonic Team had nothing to do with this conversion, as everyone in that studio was working on getting Sonic 06 released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 during that time.

Fun fact: the gba doesn't actually have a sound chip. The CPU handles everything.

8:40 Ironically Sonic 1 is on Java phones. The physics are closer to the real deal.

I got this game for free from a friend... ... I still want a refund...

Did you know that you can drastically reduce the amount of lag you experience in-game... by going into the options and turning off the music? No joke, it actually causes a major performance boost. Turning off sound effects won't improve it as much, but still adds even more of a performance benefit... doesn't fix the port's other glaring flaws though. EDIT: The new title cards also come from the game's ~J2ME~ Japanese flip phone ports. Pretty neat fact, huh? EDIT 2 3:48: Blueora blurialis? EDIT 3 4:12: In Anniversary Mode you can reach this with a spindash and a well-timed jump from under the loop. I did this at one point to grind for lives.

Did you seriously make a FULL REVIEW for an APRIL FOOLS JOKE? Really?

It looks to me like calculation of the physics is being tied to the framerate, which would explain why when the framerate increases (like when you jump out of the water) the physics go so far in the other direction, the calculation has increased significantly due to the difference in time between frames.

Well, at this point we confirm that 2006 was Sonic's worst year...

Comments section, want to know the exact reasons why this port is so atrocious along with some more info? The GBA port is actually based on the J2ME port. The J2ME port was pretty good all things considered, the physics were more authentic and the port was based on the original source code (in simple terms, it was based on the original game’s guts). Some versions even have MIDI music! This MIDI music is also what the GBA version uses, but played with an awful soundfont based on GS Wavetable of all things. The GBA port also has massive issues due to various other awful porting issues. Strangest part is that it should’ve been impossible to muck up this badly. Want proof? Check the iPod Classic port which was made with similar conditions to the GBA port (based on source code, made for a portable machine) and is a faithful port of the original Genesis game with additional features.

*looks at thumbnail* we have been tricked, backstabbed and quite possibly bamboozled.

Gotta love that Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth music.

I actually kinda like Marble Zone's music on this port It gives it a more... mystical tone to it? I don't know.

Expectations from avatar: Kid shouting into low-quality microphone Reality: Professionally-edited video

3:48 Aurora Borealis?

This is probably even worst than sonic 06. And don't waste your wood just chuck this in the fire where it belongs. The physics are horrible the game slows down and it's unplayable. Eggman can be cheesed easily. The music is horrible and ear grading and I tell you this is a really bad game. Labyrinth zone is impossible. Don't attempt. Just don't.

My memories of this game: After buying it when I was done with a proofreading project, I played it for a bit on my DS. After realizing how terrible it was, I went on eBay, bought Sonic Jam for the Saturn, & sold this one as soon as I was able.

This has been in the making since the Sonic Mania April Fools' video came out, and the wait was worth it!

I actually thought this game was a bootleg the first time I saw it.

Apparently the soundtrack doesn’t just sound like something from an old Nokia, it actually comes from the J2ME port of Sonic 1, which was released for flip-phones a few years earlier. The title card font comes from this too, and it seems like this version was ported from this old Java version. Bizarrely though, from what I’ve seen it actually plays even worse than that version. Unfortunately I don’t think we’ll ever know the true story of this monstrosity, but I expect it wasn’t a Sonic Team project, they were extremely busy at the time making 06 and Secret Rings, and Sonic Team were already small at this time, SA2’s Sonic Team only had 11 members. If it was a Sonic Team project, that would somewhat explain the quality, even without being rushed to release alongside 06 such a small team would struggle to get it done decently.

I remember when I got this. I was 7. I(despite the ungodly music and screencrunch and abundance of other issues) was actually enjoying it. I also had mega collection, so I was used to sonic 1, but playing it on the go was awesome. .... Then, I got to labyrinth zone. Oh my god, labyrinth zone. I couldn't. Literally couldn't.

What baffles me is that the entire Sonic Advance trilogy came before this, and they all played fine!

0:51 - "It's that bad, it's universally hated and it's one of the subjects that nearly, I say nearly, that all Sonic fans can agree on." One of the fans that actually disagrees with the hate and likes this game would be Mariotehplumber lol

This actually was my introduction to sonic as a kid and honestly without experiencing the original I couldn’t complaint

5:16 i'm impressed you got 110 rings in this version of the game

love how the ds was already out, so they couldve ported it there, i mean they did in the sonic classic collections but it worked

Played a few minutes of this on RetroArch this evening. Got as far as Act 2 of Green Hill Zone before I gave up. It's absolutely horrendous. It's like a late 90s/early 2000s Flash game. Pity as the Sonic Advance games were very good. I got the Sonic Classic Collection for DS one Christmas and that was a brilliant port of the original games and it even had a save feature!

Omg I actually really fell in love with your channel just by seeing this. As soon as I heard your voice and comedy style I just instantly got super interested. I’ve always seen your channel but I’ve never liked it for some reason but this has made me subscribe.

Great conet my guy. Gave up on another Sonic-Tuber recently after his content got stale, and I've really needed something great and Sonic themed for months. This is what I needed!

Quite a blast from the past to see you on my suggestion list. Loved the review and the energy!

Fun fact: the original Genesis (or Mega Drive if you’re not American like me) version of Sonic 1 was actually meant to have “Press Start Button” on the title screen. The Sega splash screen was added later, and uses the same section of code. Since that section isn’t cleared properly, the text never appears in the finished game.

*I realized that it was actually not even developed by the Sonic Team...*

1:44 the DS was already out for 2 years by 2006, and the GBA quickly was losing the spotlight for portable games. Why they didn't release this for the DS, I will never know.

Getting a terrible port of your debut on your anniversary is like getting a cake made of dirt with sludge icing and broken glass and nail toppings, being forced to eat it and then being called worthless for your birthday.

Figured I'd mention this since you mentioned the sound being like old Nokia phones: This port is actually based on a J2ME port. As in, Mobile Java for phones before smartphones were all the rage. MIDI is very forgiveable on such a port due to the resource limitations of the mobile hardware at the time. And the weirdest thing? The mobile port, at least for phones able to run it (most feature phones runs it perfectly, I remember playing it on an old LG fliphone), runs *better* than the GBA port. Most phones' MIDI instruments doesn't mangle the sound nearly as badly as the GBA did, and the bizarre physics are far closer to the Genesis port. However, it lacked the special stages and the spindash option. I'd still make the trade any day.

The first thing that got me when I tried this, other than being shocked that I couldn't get the extra life and speed shoes at the start of Spring Yard, is the fact the waterfalls aren't animated in the title screen.

Sonic 1 gba: At least I'm safe with that other game taking attention away from me

This was my first Sonic game and I thought it was a masterpiece lmao

"This game proves Sonic never worked in 2D!" Funny how these pop media critics never say that... But yeah, this game proves that SEGA needed to sort out their management, not throw away the direction of the Sonic series.

I got this game when I was in second grade, and I was stuck on marble zone for two years, and I finally beat it in fourth grade.

"Can I have Sonic the Hedgehog?" "We have Sonic the Hedgehog at home." Sonic the Hedgehog at home:

Labyrinth zone literally sounds like Sonic’s high pitch farting underwater. Must be Sonic Genesis’s logic on where air... Gas bubbles come from then. 💨 😂

6:20 Uh...Sonic...I don't know if you've noticed, but you're FLOATING.

does sonic 1 GBA work on real hardware? Sega: I dunno me: Partially bordering on no

Not only was this my first sonic game, but it was my first video game as well

Sonic 1 GBA: *Exists* Me: Meh,ignore the port and play the Stealth version.

I remember buying this game at a flea market. I returned it because I thought it was a bad bootleg. Feels weird knowing this is the official gba release.

Love that moment with throwing the cartridge to the fireplace :) Well, seems that Sonic Riders is only Sonic game from 2006 worth to play. Which is not bad option, I didn't like it first (not the most intuitive game), but when I've learned a bit how to play it, it's actually quite fun game.

I like the “twinkling” sound in Spring Yard’s music

I know many hate it. But this was the first video game i ever owned and beat in my whole life. I love it and it will always have a special place in my heart.

Sega has no excuse for butchering this port. Stealth was able to perfectly recreate ghz by himself Ps There’s a theory that the game was built on the advance engine.

I see where they got classic sonic's physics for forces from

Remind you that this was not only released when Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) was out, but when there was a better handheld platform for the game to be put on.

You've won April Fools by reminding us of the biggest joke of all.

Stealth wanted to make Sonic Jam Advance with near perfect emulation of 1,2, 3, & Knuckles and he offered several times to make it for Sega.

6:55 Jesus Christ, my ears are getting OCD by listening to that.

i was introduced to Sonic with the Gamecube era from games like Riders and SA2B but i never played the originals- until i saw Sonic 1 GBA available to order in my school’s bookfair catalogue. finally time to see what all the hype was about. my favorite video game franchise’s beginnings. i fucking hated it. hated it for every reason everybody has ever described. it made me wonder, “wow, how did this franchise ever keep going?!” fortunately i found out it was just a garbage port lol

7:44 Sonic’s air bubble must have gone down the wrong path

I do remember seeing this saved up all my money, ended up getting disappointed

I died when you threw the cartridge at the glass of the fire lol 1:12 By the way where did you get the name "RedHotSonic"? Did you get the name from "Red Hot Chilli Peppers"? 😂😂😂

It's interesting to note that the GBA was still the target console for the Sonic port in 2006, despite the Nintendo DS being out since 2004, the GBA running on 2001 hardware was still the most popular portable, despite it being very old tech by then. The original fat DS wasn't actually very popular, atleast until the NDS Lite came out in mid 2006 with massive improvements that it started picking up popularity. Its very likely if it was released on the DS it would have been far better with much more system resources available.

The only praise this game gets from me is that this version of the BGM for Labyrinth Zone accurately captures the feel of slogging through it...great idea on paper, but in practice not so much

This is the first time I've ever watched your videoes, and I barely even knew that this game even existed but looking at the footage you made from it already told me that *e v e r y t h i n g i s w r o n g*

The music conversion issue is even MORE apalling when you listen to some of the music in the original Sonic Advance, which actually had remakes of the Starlight Zone, Scrap Brain Zone, and Eggman Battle themes in it- all of which were superior to this port, which was released AFTER Sonic Advance. Actually, f--- it, I say that this should have just been a Sonic Advance game with Sonic 1's levels, and it would have been better! You already had the game engine and had used it for 3 titles already, Sega!

The beggining of the video sums up the question in the thumbnail

The physics and a portion of the sound effects reminds me of the Game Gear games for Sonic.

"there's slowdown everywhere" Double Dragon Arcade: Oh hey, you called?

The DS came out in 2004 and they thought this needed to exist.

I like the GBA port, because of how easy it is to get an emerald and how easy you can beat the first zone But I respect your opnion 100% too

The labyrinth music is kinda good!

6:40 No, the GBA doesn't have a "better soundchip" than the Genesis. In fact, it doesn't have a soundchip AT ALL.

Sonic Genesis was probably the first version of Sonic 1 I've ever played. I didn't mind it. Playing the true Sonic 1 felt like a new experience to me and going back to the GBA felt weird. Does anyone else have a problem where your entire game save is sometimes erased? Also, the sticker on the cartridge on mine is different. Sonic from the box art is featured on it.

Finally u upload know u never upload since 2018

Thanks for the uploads

2:31 Actually Sonic 1 on the genesis had to have the press start text but it never showes. This is because the "sonic team" text overrite the sprites of the press start text and developers didn't fix the issue.

Warning be like ⚠WARNING, FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY, PLEASE REMOVE THE CARTRIDGE AND SNAP IT IN HALF

I actually grew up with this game it was my first sonic until i got sonic mega collection for the game cube i always did wonder what the difference was but now i see...i still got my mega collection but i lost my gba sonic the hedgehog game though it wouldn't be much use as my OLD gamestop gba advance no longer works properly as it uses the frist frame that's on screen but still plays the game in the background i still have it as its something i kept from my childhood anyways i liked this video it did clear up questions i had since i was a kid and i wish you luck on your future videos

This was the 1st sonic game I played and I beat it, use to love this more than life itself

5:58 - "NO BIG RING FOR YOU, GET LOST!"

How this game got to be as bad as it was is still a mystery.

Stealth's Sonic 1 Port was kinda Satisfying to see after all that mess.

Nice easter egg with the FTW going to FTL in the background!

GBA sonic 1, It’s the “best” game ever, I played it with all chaos emeralds becaaaaause it’s the best, it’s awesome and it’s better then 16 but port

the GBA is like a SNES, and we all know the SNES lacks some BLAST processing....

Thumbnail: "Is Sonic Genesis GBA really that bad?" *Clicks video* Video: "YESSS!" Oh, well that was quick and to the point.

The sound of the colors changing on the diamond thing in the special stage made me think my phone charger was acting up 💀

This video is physically "how Sonic Genesis GBA triggers you" 😆

0:32 no its my b day

Sonic GBA: Who are you!? Sonic Genesis: I'm you, but better

As a kid, I experienced the Genesis Sonic games through my flip phone. I never thought I’d be grateful for that

SEGA after sonic 06: how can we make a bigger flop? Sonic team: yes

Sonic the hedgehog on GBA: exist Sonic the hedgehog on sega genesis portable: am I a joke to you

I'm gonna be real. This was my first Sonic 1 experience. I just thought this was how the game was until a little later when I got Mega Collection for PS2.

Red hot sonic, a oc nobody thought of before him! lol

4:54 wtf?

Sonic genesis used the sonic advanced engine which has TOTALLY different sprite and animation and also Sega rush this game out with 0’6

As someone who actually owns this game, I’m glad someone did a review on this game so I didn’t have to finish it

When we were young, my sister and I got a Gameboy advance game for doing such a good job at cleaning. I got Mario Kart Super Circuit while she got Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis. Back then I was really jealous because I'm a Sonic fan. But, nowadays I realized that she must've suffered playing this game.