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{{Short description|Platform game by Sega}}
{{Featured article}}
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{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Sonic the Hedgehog Next-Gen Box Art.JPG
| alt = The game's box art depicting the Sonic the Hedgehog running. The game's logo is shown in the middle of the box.
| developer = [[Sonic Team]]
| publisher = [[Sega]]
| engine = <!--wikidata override -->
| series = ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
| platforms = {{unbulleted list|[[Xbox 360]]|[[PlayStation 3]]}}
| released = {{collapsible list|title=November 14, 2006|'''Xbox 360'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 14, 2006|EU/AUS|November 24, 2006|JP|December 21, 2006}}'''PlayStation 3'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 21, 2006|NA|January 30, 2007|EU/AUS|March 23, 2007}}}}
|
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| director = [[Shun Nakamura]]
| producer = Masahiro Kumono
| artist = Akira Mikame
| designer = {{ubl|Shun Nakamura|Atsushi Kanno}}
| programmer = {{ubl|Yoshitaka Kawabata|Makoto Suzuki}}
| writer = {{unbulleted list|Kiyoko Yoshimura|Shiro Maekawa}}
| composer = {{unbulleted list|Hideaki Kobayashi|[[Tomoya Ohtani]]|Mariko Nanba|Taihei Sato|[[Takahito Eguchi]]}}
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Sonic the Hedgehog''''',|ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ|Sonikku za Hejjihoggu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} commonly referred to as '''''Sonic '06''''', is a 2006 [[platform game]] developed by [[Sonic Team]] and published by [[Sega]]. It was intended as a [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] of the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]]'' franchise for [[Seventh generation of video game consoles|seventh-generation video game consoles]]. Players control [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]], [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], and the new character [[Silver the Hedgehog|Silver]] as they seek to defeat Solaris, an ancient evil pursued by [[Doctor Eggman]]. Each character has his own campaign and abilities, and must complete [[level (video gaming)|levels]], explore [[hub level system|hub worlds]] and fight [[boss (video gaming)|bosses]] to advance the story. In [[multiplayer]] modes, players can work cooperatively to collect [[Chaos Emeralds]] or race to the end of a level.
The development began in early 2005, led by ''Sonic'' co-creator [[Yuji Naka]]. Sonic Team sought to create an appealing game in the vein of [[superhero film]]s such as ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005), hoping it would advance the series with a realistic tone and multiple gameplay styles. While it received praise from video game journalists during pre-release showings, problems developed after Naka resigned to form his own company, [[Prope]], and the team split to work on the [[Wii]] game ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' (2007). Sonic Team rushed the later stages of development, cutting numerous features and scrapping plans for [[porting|ports]] to the Wii and [[Windows]].
Sega insisted on shipping ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' in time for the 2006 [[holiday shopping season]] and released it unfinished to coincide with the franchise's 15th anniversary. It was released for the [[Xbox 360]] in November 2006 and [[PlayStation 3]] that December. The game received [[List of video games notable for negative reception|strongly negative reviews]], with criticism for its load times, [[Virtual camera system|camera]], story, [[voice acting]], glitches, and [[game controller|controls]]. It is widely considered the worst ''Sonic'' game and severely damaged the franchise's reputation. In 2010, Sega delisted ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' from retailers, following its decision to remove all ''Sonic'' games with below-average [[Metacritic]] scores to increase the value of the franchise.
==Gameplay==
[[File:Sonic the Hedgehog Mach Speed.png|left|thumbnail|alt=Screenshot of the mach speed section in the Kingdom Valley stage of Sonic the Hedgehog; this particular screen shows Sonic running at full speed while dodging obstacles. The text on the left-hand side of the screen shows the timer, the number of lives the player has, and the player's score. The meter on the right side shows how much power the player has in order to perform special abilities.|Gameplay screenshot taken during the stage "Kingdom Valley", where Sonic is running at full speed]]
''Sonic the Hedgehog'' is a [[3D platformer]] with [[action-adventure game|action-adventure]] and [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]] elements.<ref name="1up-review"/> Like ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998), the player navigates open-ended [[hub level system|hub worlds]] where they can converse with townspeople and perform missions to advance the story.<ref name="avclub25" /> The main gameplay takes place in linear [[level (video gaming)|levels]] that become accessible as the game progresses. The main playable characters are three [[hedgehog]]s: [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]], [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]], and [[Silver the Hedgehog|Silver]], who feature in separate campaigns.<ref name="GSreview"/> A bonus campaign, which involves all three hedgehogs and concludes the storyline, is unlocked upon completing the first three.<ref name="GIreview"/><ref name=":6">{{cite book|title=Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3, 360) (Prima Official Game Guide)|last1=Black|first1=Fletcher|date=November 14, 2006|publisher=Prima Games|isbn=0761555102}}</ref>
Sonic's gameplay focuses on the speed-based platforming seen in previous ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]]'' games, with some sections having him run at full speed while dodging obstacles or riding a [[snowboard]].<ref name="GSreview" /> Another character, Princess Elise, must be escorted in some stages, and she can use a special barrier to guard Sonic.<ref name="manual"/>{{rp|13}} Shadow's sections are similarly speedy, albeit more combat-oriented, with some segments having him ride vehicles.<ref name="1up-review"/> In contrast, Silver's levels are slower and revolve around his use of [[telekinesis]] to defeat enemies and solve puzzles. In certain areas, control is switched to one of several friend characters,{{efn|The friend characters include [[Tails (character)|Tails]] or [[Knuckles the Echidna]] for Sonic, [[Rouge the Bat]] or [[E-123 Omega]] for Shadow, and [[Amy Rose]] or [[Blaze the Cat]] for Silver.}} with their own abilities.<ref name="GSreview" /><ref name="IGNreview" /><ref name="PMreview360">{{cite web|last1=Halverson|first1=Dave|title=Sonic the Hedgehog|url=http://www.playmagazine.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.showGamePage&Game_ID=425&page=1|website=Play Online|publisher=Play Magazine|date=November 2006|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123192024/http://www.playmagazine.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.showGamePage&Game_ID=425&page=1|archive-date=January 23, 2009}} Only the first page of the review is archived.</ref><ref name="eurogreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/eg_rev_son_360|title=Sonic The Hedgehog|last1=Fahey|first1=Rob|date=November 24, 2006|website=Eurogamer.net|publisher=Gamer Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301125751/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/eg_rev_son_360|archive-date=March 1, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref>
Although each character traverses the same levels, their unique abilities allow the player to access different areas in each stage and prevent them from accessing certain items. Scattered through each level are golden rings, which serve as a form of [[health (game terminology)|health]]. The rings can protect a character from a single hit by an enemy or obstacle, at which point they will be scattered and blink before disappearing. The game begins with Sonic, Shadow, and Silver each assigned a limited number of [[life (video games)|lives]]. These lives are successively lost whenever, with no rings in their possession, the characters are hit by an enemy or obstacle or encounter other fatal hazards. The game ends when the player exhausts the characters' lives.<ref name="GSreview" /><ref name="PMreview360"/><ref name="eurogreview" /> Scattered around certain areas in levels and hub worlds are Silver Medals, silver coins which players get to collect throughout the adventure.<ref name=":6" /> Every few levels, players will encounter a [[boss (video gaming)|boss]] stage; to proceed, they must defeat the boss by depleting its health meter.<ref name="dlc"/>
Upon completion of a level or mission, players are given a grade depending on their performance, with an "S" rank being the best and a "D" rank being the worst. Players are given money for completing missions; more money is given to higher ranks. This money can be used to buy upgrades for the main player character. Certain upgrades are required to complete the game.<ref name="manual">{{cite book|title=Sonic the Hedgehog instruction manual|date=November 14, 2006|publisher=Sega}}</ref>{{rp|8–11}} The game also features two [[multiplayer]] modes: "Tag", a cooperative mode where two players must clear levels together and gain [[Chaos Emerald]]s, and "Battle", a [[player versus player]] mode where two players race against each other.<ref name="GSreview"/>
==Plot==
{{further|List of Sonic the Hedgehog characters}}
<!-- Please do not expand the plot beyond this. Thank you. -->
[[Doctor Eggman]] kidnaps Princess Elise of Soleanna in the hopes of harnessing the Flames of Disaster,{{Efn|The Flames of Disaster is also known as Iblis.|group=|name=Iblis' names}} a destructive power sealed inside her. Aided by his friends Tails and Knuckles, Sonic works to rescue Elise from Eggman. Meanwhile, Shadow, his fellow agent Rouge, and Eggman accidentally release an evil creature, Mephiles. The creature transports the agent duo to a [[post-apocalyptic]] future ravaged by a demonic monster, Iblis.{{Efn|name=Iblis' names}} When Mephiles meets survivors Silver and Blaze, he fools them into thinking Sonic is the cause of the destruction, and sends them to the present to kill him.
Throughout the story, Sonic and friends travel between the past, present, and future in their efforts to stop Mephiles and Iblis and protect Elise from Doctor Eggman. Though at first Silver stalks Sonic and impedes his attempts to save Elise, Shadow reveals to him that Sonic is not the cause of his world's suffering, but rather Mephiles, who is trying to change the past for his own evil purposes. They travel ten years in the past and learn that Mephiles seeks to bond with Iblis, who was sealed within Elise as a child, as they are the two halves of Soleanna's omnipotent god, Solaris. Mephiles eventually succeeds after killing Sonic to make Elise cry over his death, releasing her seal on Iblis and merging with him with the use of Chaos Emeralds to become Solaris, who then attempts to consume time itself. The heroes and Elise respectively collect and use the power of the Chaos Emeralds to revive Sonic, and he, Shadow, and Silver transform into their [[Sonic the Hedgehog#Gameplay|super forms]] to defeat Solaris. Sonic and Elise are brought to the past and extinguish Solaris' flame, removing the god from existence and preventing the events from ever occurring.<ref>{{cite video game|quote='''Elise:''' This is where everything began. Who knew such a tiny flame could bring such devastation? If we put out this flame, Solaris will never exist, And then we'll never have to worry about the Flames of Disaster, right? But our encounter... You and I will never meet. It will never have happened.|scene="Elise Puts Out the Flames"|title=Sonic the Hedgehog|developer=Sonic Team}}</ref> Despite this, Sonic and Elise show faint signs of recalling their encounter afterwards.
==
===Conception===
[[File:Yuji_Naka_Tokyo_Game_Show_2008_cropped.jpg|thumbnail|209x209px|[[Yuji Naka]] led ''Sonic the Hedgehog''{{'s}} development until he left the project in early 2006 to start [[Prope]]]]
[[Sonic Team]] began planning what would become ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' after finishing the 2003 games ''[[Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg]]'' and ''[[Sonic Heroes]]''.<ref name="SChan">{{cite web|title=Sonic Channel / Creator's Interview / 010: Shun Nakamura |url=http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannelOld/creators/010/index.html |website=Sonic Channel |publisher=Sega |language=ja |access-date=March 20, 2017
|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029143505/http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannelOld/creators/010/index.html |archive-date=October 29, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="HistoryOfSonic">{{cite book |last1=Petronille |first1=Mark |last2=Audureau |first2=William |title=The History of Sonic the Hedgehog |year= 2013 |publisher=Pix'n Love |isbn=978-1926778563 |pages=82–84}}</ref> They began outlining a game with a realistic tone and [[physics engine]]; it was initially unrelated to ''Sonic'', but became a ''Sonic'' game after [[Sega]] asked Sonic Team to start working on one.<ref name="silver" /> ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was conceived for [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|sixth-generation]] consoles, but Sonic Team realized its release would coincide with the franchise's 15th anniversary and decided to develop it for [[Seventh generation of video game consoles|seventh-generation]] consoles such as the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]].<ref name="TXboxInter">{{cite web |last1=Eddy |first1=Andy |title=E3 2006: Sonic Team Interview |url=http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1590/E3-2006-Sonic-Team-Interview/p1/ |website=[[TeamXbox]] |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022085249/http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1590/E3-2006-Sonic-Team-Interview/p1/ |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |pages=1–3 |date=May 24, 2006}}</ref> According to ''Sonic''{{'s}} co-creator [[Yuji Naka]], the head of Sonic Team at the time, Sonic Team received specifications for the seventh-generation consoles in late 2004 and began developing [[tech demo]]s when they obtained [[software development kit]]s in early 2005.<ref name="HistoryOfSonic" />
Naka wanted the first ''Sonic'' game for seventh-generation systems to reach a wide audience. He noted the success of [[superhero film]]s such as ''[[Spider-Man 2]]'' (2004) and ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005): "When [[Marvel Entertainment|Marvel]] or [[DC Comics]] turn their characters into films, they are thinking of them as blockbusters, huge hits, and that's what we were trying to emulate."<ref name="wrong">{{cite magazine|last1=Shea|first1=Brian|title=Where Sonic Went Wrong|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/11/14/where-sonic-went-wrong.aspx?PageIndex=2&PostPageIndex=3|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|access-date=August 7, 2017|date=November 14, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808033442/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/11/09/where-sonic-went-wrong.aspx?PageIndex=2&PostPageIndex=3|archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Sonic Team used the same title as the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' (1991)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/17/tgs-2005-sonic-ps3-named|title=TGS 2005: Sonic PS3 Named|last=Dunham|first=Jeremy|date=September 17, 2005|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624145032/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/17/tgs-2005-sonic-ps3-named|archive-date=June 24, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=January 8, 2013}}</ref> to indicate that it would be a major advance from the previous games.<ref name="SChan" /> Sonic Team saw ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' as a "rebirth" of the franchise,<ref name="HistoryOfSonic" /> so sources commonly describe it as an attempted [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]].<ref name="HGColorsUltimate" /><ref name="GIRebootReport" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/12/11/sonic-p-06-unity-pc-fan-remake/|title=One fan's struggle to fix the worst game in Sonic history|last=Summers|first=Nick|date=December 11, 2019|website=[[Engadget]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212152919/https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-11-sonic-p-06-unity-pc-fan-remake.html|archive-date=December 12, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Peppiatt |first1=Dom |title=Sonic 06 is back on Xbox Store and is £3.39 more than it's worth |url=https://www.vg247.com/sonic-06-xbox-marketplace-relisted |website=[[VG247]] |access-date=August 31, 2023 |date=May 25, 2022}}</ref> [[Shun Nakamura]] served as director.<ref name="prev" />
===
[[File:SilverConceptScetch.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Concept art for the character who would eventually become Silver the Hedgehog. More that fifty designs were made for the character before settling on his final appearance.|Concept art of Silver the Hedgehog, who was conceived to take advantage of the [[Havok (software)|Havok]] engine]]
Sonic Team used the [[Havok (software)|Havok]] physics engine, which they first used for their [[PlayStation 2]] game ''[[Astro Boy (2004 video game)|Astro Boy]]'' (2004).<ref>{{cite web|title=Sega's Yuji Naka Talks! |url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/articles/654/654750p2.html |website=[[GameSpy]] |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=September 30, 2005|access-date=November 19, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223003348/http://xbox.gamespy.com/articles/654/654750p2.html |archive-date=February 23, 2017 }}</ref> The character artist Yoshinari Amaike said it allowed Sonic Team to create expansive levels impossible on earlier consoles with detailed objects and varied gameplay.<ref name="silver" /> In addition, the engine also enabled Sonic Team to experiment with aspects such as [[global illumination]], a night-and-day system, and giving Sonic new abilities like using ropes to leap into the air.<ref name="prev">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/17/tgs-2005-eyes-on-sonic-next-gen|title=TGS 2005: Eyes-on Sonic Next-Gen|last=Gantayat|first=Anoop|date=September 17, 2005|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201210525/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/17/tgs-2005-eyes-on-sonic-next-gen|archive-date=December 1, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=January 8, 2013}}</ref>
Sonic Team chose a more realistic, Japan-inspired setting than those of previous ''Sonic'' games.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Bryn|title=GameSpy: Sonic the Hedgehog|url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/704695p1.html|website=[[GameSpy]]|publisher=[[IGN]]|access-date=August 19, 2017|date=May 4, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011142241/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/704695p1.html|archive-date=October 11, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> They redesigned Sonic and Doctor Eggman to better suit this updated environment: Sonic was made taller, with longer quills, and Eggman was made slimmer and given a more realistic appearance.<ref name=":1" /> Nakamura and the producer Masahiro Kumono reasoned this was because the characters would be interacting with more humans, and felt this would appeal to older players.<ref name="TXboxInter"/> At one point, Sonic Team considered giving Sonic realistic fur and rubber textures.<ref name="prev" />
While Sonic Team focused significantly on the visuals, they considered their primary challenge creating a game that was as appealing as the original [[Sega Genesis]] ''Sonic'' games.<ref name=":1" /> Naka said Sonic Team wanted to retain ''Sonic''{{'s}} traditional elements while adding new elements to appease both old and new players.<ref name="HistoryOfSonic" /> They felt ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'' (2003) and ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' (2005) had veered into different directions and wanted to return the series to its speed-based roots in new ways. For example, they wanted to include multiple paths in levels, like the Genesis games had, a goal the realistic environments helped achieve. Sonic Team sought to "aggressively" address problems with the [[virtual camera system]] from earlier ''Sonic'' games, about which they had received many complaints.<ref name="TXboxInter"/>
Silver the Hedgehog's gameplay style originated from Sonic Team's desire to take advantage of Havok's capabilities. The first design concept for Silver's character was an orange [[mink]]; he attained his final hedgehog look after over 50 design iterations.<ref name="silver">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/26/creating-silver-the-hedgehog|title=Creating Silver the Hedgehog|last1=Amaike|first1=Yoshinari|website=IGN|date=September 26, 2006|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605131022/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/26/creating-silver-the-hedgehog|archive-date=June 5, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref> In designing Shadow's gameplay, the developers abandoned the concept of firearms previously used in ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' (2005) in favor of combat elements to differentiate him from the other characters. Shadow's gameplay was further fleshed out with the addition of vehicles; each vehicle uses its own physical engine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Soleanna communication: Shadow's story|url=http://sonic.sega.jp/sonic/soleanna/004/index.html|website=Sonic Channel|publisher=Sega|access-date=September 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329065935/http://sonic.sega.jp/sonic/soleanna/004/index.html|archive-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> The [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] [[cutscene]]s were produced by [[Blur Studio]]. Animation supervisor Leo Santos said Blur faced challenges animating the opening scene due to the placement of Sonic's mouth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.di-o-matic.com/press/success/blur-sonic.html|title=Blur Studio: Bring Sonic to Life With Morph-O-Matic|website=Di-O-Matic.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408191405/http://www.di-o-matic.com/press/success/blur-sonic.html|archive-date=April 8, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref>
===
The English cast of the ''[[Sonic X]]'' anime series reprised their voice roles for ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', and actress [[Lacey Chabert]] supplied the voice of series newcomer and [[damsel in distress]] Princess Elise.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://uk.ps3.gamespy.com/playstation-3/sonic-the-hedgehog-next-gen/737698p2.html/|title=GameSpy: Sonic the Horndog |page =2|author=Greg Edwards|date=October 6, 2006|website=[[GameSpy]]|publisher=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526005444/http://ps3.gamespy.com/playstation-3/sonic-the-hedgehog-next-gen/737698p1.html|archive-date=May 26, 2012}}</ref> The score was primarily composed by [[Tomoya Ohtani]] along with [[Hideaki Kobayashi (composer)|Hideaki Kobayashi]], [[Mariko Nanba]], Taihei Sato, and [[Takahito Eguchi]].<ref name="VGMOInter"/><ref name="credits">{{cite video game|title=Sonic the Hedgehog|date=November 14, 2006|developer=Sonic Team|publisher=Sega|level=Credits}}</ref> It was the first ''Sonic'' game that Ohtani, who had previously contributed to ''Sonic Heroes'' and ''Shadow the Hedgehog'', worked on as sound director.<ref name="VGMOInter">{{cite web |last1=Chris |first1=Greening |title=Tomoya Ohtani Interview: Sonic Music for a New Generation |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/tomoyaohtaniinterview/ |website=Video Game Music Online |access-date=August 22, 2018 |date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218113222/http://www.vgmonline.net/tomoyaohtaniinterview/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The main theme, the fantasy-rap song "His World", was performed by [[Ali Tabatabaee]] and [[Matty Lewis]] of the band [[Zebrahead]].<ref name="official"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Chris|title=How does Sonic Forces' main theme measure up to past games?|url=https://www.destructoid.com/how-does-sonic-forces-main-theme-measure-up-to-past-games--425543.phtml|website=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|access-date=September 5, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331040031/https://www.destructoid.com/how-does-sonic-forces-main-theme-measure-up-to-past-games--425543.phtml|archive-date=March 31, 2017|date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> [[Crush 40]] performed Shadow's theme, "All Hail Shadow",{{Efn|"All Hail Shadow" was first featured in [[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|''Shadow the Hedgehog'']], instead performed by the band [[Magna-Fi]].}} while vocalist Bentley Jones (previously known as Lee Brotherton) sang Silver's theme, "Dreams of an Absolution".<ref name="originalsndtrk"/> [[R&B]] artist [[Akon]] performed a remix of the [[Dreams Come True (band)|Dreams Come True]] song "Sweet Sweet Sweet", a song previously used as the ending theme to ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' (1992).<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Sega|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2 Japan – Dreams Come True|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201110/12051735.html|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=Famitsu Japan|access-date=September 5, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075949/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201110/12051735.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|date=October 12, 2011}}</ref><ref name="official">{{cite web|title=''Sonic the Hedgehog'' |url=http://sonic.sega.jp/sonic/ |publisher=Sega|access-date=September 29, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004175750/http://sonic.sega.jp/sonic/ |archive-date=October 4, 2006 }}</ref> [[Donna De Lory]] sang Elise's theme, "My Destiny".<ref name="originalsndtrk" />
Because ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was the first ''Sonic'' game for seventh-generation consoles, Ohtani "aimed to emphasise that it was an epic next-generation title".<ref name="VGMOInter"/> [[Masato Nakamura]], who composed the music for the first two ''Sonic'' games, supervised ''Sonic the Hedgehog''{{'s}} soundtrack.<ref name="HistoryOfSonic" /> Two soundtrack albums were released on January 10, 2007, under Sega's [[Wave Master]] label: ''Sonic the Hedgehog Vocal Traxx: Several Wills'' and ''Sonic the Hedgehog Original Soundtrack''.<ref name="official"/><ref>{{cite web|author1=Sega|title=Sonic Series: Game Music/Animation/Soundtrack/Movie/Miscellaneous|url=http://www.wave-master.com/ent/ctg_05.html|website=Wave Master|publisher=Wave Master, Co.|language=ja|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331103347/http://www.wave-master.com/ent/ctg_05.html|archive-date=March 31, 2016|date=January 10, 2007}}</ref> ''Vocal Traxx: Several Wills'' contains seven songs; four are from the game, while the remaining three are remixes, including a version of "His World" performed by Crush 40.<ref>''Sonic the Hedgehog Vocal Traxx: Several Wills'' booklet, pp. 1–2.</ref> ''Original Soundtrack'' includes all 93 tracks featured in ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', spanning three discs.<ref name="originalsndtrk">(January 10, 2007) ''Sonic the Hedgehog Original Soundtrack''. Sega.</ref>
===Production problems===
As development progressed, Sonic Team faced serious problems. In March 2006, Naka resigned as head of Sonic Team to form his own company, [[Prope]],<ref name="rocky"/><ref name="redbull">{{Cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/int-en/how-sega-can-fix-sonic-mania-red-bull-games|title=How Sega can save its mascot with Sonic Mania|last=McFerran|first=Damien|date=September 14, 2016|website=Red Bull|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729224939/https://www.redbull.com/int-en/how-sega-can-fix-sonic-mania-red-bull-games|archive-date=July 29, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=June 14, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="tenyears">{{cite web|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/11/ten-years-ago-sonic-the-hedgehog-was-at-its-worst/|title=Ten Years Ago Sonic The Hedgehog Was At Its Worst|last1=Fahey|first1=Mike|date=November 15, 2016|website=Kotaku Australia|publisher=Gawker Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117022037/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/11/ten-years-ago-sonic-the-hedgehog-was-at-its-worst/|archive-date=November 17, 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref> as he wanted to focus on original properties instead of ''Sonic''.<ref name="rocky">{{cite web|last1=Hester|first1=Blake|title=Sonic the Hedgehog's long, great, rocky history|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/8/10756318/sonic-the-hedgehog-great-rocky-history|website=Polygon|date=February 8, 2016|access-date=March 27, 2018|archive-date=June 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615135052/https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/8/10756318/sonic-the-hedgehog-great-rocky-history|url-status=live}}</ref> With his departure, "the heart and soul of Sonic" was gone, according to former Sega of America CEO [[Tom Kalinske]].<ref name="wrong" />
Further problems developed after Sonic Team received development kits for [[Nintendo]]'s [[Wii]], which was less powerful than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was originally intended for release on all major seventh-generation consoles as well as [[Windows]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Sonic Riders instruction manual (UK)|date=March 17, 2006|publisher=Sega|page=36|language=en}}</ref> but Sega believed [[porting]] it to the Wii would take too long. Sonic Team designed an original game that would use the [[motion detection]] function of the [[Wii Remote]],<ref name="blue" /> so the team was split in two:<ref name="tenyears" /> Nakamura led one team to finish ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, while the producer Yojiro Ogawa led the other to begin work on ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'' (2007) for the Wii.<ref>{{cite web|last=Burman|first=Rob|date=February 6, 2007|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/761/761723p1.html|title=Lifting the lid on Sonic's Secret Rings|website=IGN|access-date=November 9, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216131551/http://wii.ign.com/articles/761/761723p1.html|archive-date=December 16, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="blue">{{cite magazine|title=New Blue|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|last=Thomason|first=Steve|issue=213|pages=32–36}}</ref>
Pressured by Sega to finish in time for the 2006 [[holiday shopping season]], Sonic Team rushed the final stages of development, ignoring control problems and [[software bug|bug]] reports from Sega's quality assurance department.<ref name="avclub25" /><ref name="tenyears" /><ref name="wrong" /><ref name="Kikizo">{{cite web|url=http://games.kikizo.com/features/sega_sonicteam_interview_feb07_p3.asp |title=Sonic Wii Interview with Yojiro Ogawa, page 3 |publisher=Games.kikizo.com |date=February 20, 2007 |access-date=December 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227193846/http://games.kikizo.com/features/sega_sonicteam_interview_feb07_p3.asp |archive-date=December 27, 2008 }}</ref> They cut several features, including a day-and-night cycle and an [[online multiplayer]] mode.<ref name="HistoryOfSonic" /> Ogawa said the final period proved to be a large challenge for the team. Not only was the Xbox 360 release imminent, but the PlayStation 3 launch was scheduled not long afterwards. This put tremendous pressure on the team to develop for both systems.<ref name="Kikizo" /> The producer [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] said: "We didn't have any time to polish and we were just churning out content as quick as we could."<ref name="wrong" /> Sonic Team was unable to finish ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' by its deadline, but Sega decided to release the unfinished game anyway to coincide with ''Sonic''{{'s}} 15th anniversary.<ref name="HistoryOfSonic" />
==
''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was announced in a closed-doors presentation at the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] (E3) in May 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/19/e3-2005-sega-hits-the-next-level|title=E3 2005: SEGA Hits the Next Level|last=Clayman|first=David|date=May 18, 2005|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929132131/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/19/e3-2005-sega-hits-the-next-level|archive-date=September 29, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=January 8, 2013}}</ref> Later that year, at TGS in September, Naka revealed the title and said its release would correspond with the series' 15th anniversary.<ref name=":0" /> A demo version was playable at E3 2006.<ref name=":1" /> A second demo, featuring a short section of Sonic's gameplay, was released via [[Xbox Live]] in September 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/07/sonic-hd-tour|title=Sonic: HD Tour|last1=Castro|first1=Juan|website=[[IGN]]|date=November 7, 2006|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128175803/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/07/sonic-hd-tour|archive-date=January 28, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref> Sega released several packages of [[desktop wallpaper]] featuring characters from the game,<ref name="official" /> and American publisher [[Prima Games]] published an official strategy guide, written by Fletcher Black.<ref name=":6" /> Sega also made a deal with [[Microsoft]] to run advertisements in [[Windows Live Messenger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/12/04/microsoft-and-sega-create-new-deal-to-promote-sonic-rivals/|title=Sega and Microsoft create new deal to promote Sonic Rivals|last1=Yoon|first1=Andrew|date=December 4, 2006|website=Engadget|publisher=Oath, Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801035635/https://www.engadget.com/2006/12/04/microsoft-and-sega-create-new-deal-to-promote-sonic-rivals/|archive-date=August 1, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=July 31, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The Xbox 360 version was released in North America on November 14, 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog-2007/xbox-360-749072|title=Sonic the Hedgehog - Xbox 360|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104200510/http://www.ign.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog-2007/xbox-360-749072|archive-date=November 4, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> followed by a European release on November 24.<ref name="EuroR">{{cite web|title=Sonic the Hedgehog (Xbox Live Arcade) |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/games/sonic-hedgehog |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=May 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318081144/http://www.eurogamer.net/games/sonic-hedgehog |archive-date=March 18, 2017 }}</ref> Both versions were released in Japan on December 21.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Sonic Team |title=Xbox 360 |url=http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Xbox360.html |website=Sonic Channel |publisher=Sega |access-date=May 26, 2017 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084203/http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Xbox360.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Sonic Team |title=PlayStation 3 |url=http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Playstation3.html |website=Sonic Channel |publisher=Sega |access-date=May 26, 2017 |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025134543/http://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Playstation3.html |archive-date=October 25, 2016 }}</ref> The PlayStation 3 version was released in North America on January 30, 2007,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog-2007/ps3-770960|title=Sonic the Hedgehog - PlayStation 3|website=[[IGN]]|publisher=Ziff Davis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209070725/http://www.ign.com/games/sonic-the-hedgehog-2007/ps3-770960|archive-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> and in Europe on March 23 as a [[launch title]] for the PS3 which was released in Europe and Australia that same day.<ref name="EuroR" /> The game is often referred to by critics and fans with colloquial terms that reference its year of release, such as ''Sonic 2006'' or ''Sonic {{'}}06''.<ref name="super" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sterling|first1=Jim|title=Nipples discovered in Sonic 2006: OH THE SCANDAL!|url=https://www.destructoid.com/nipples-discovered-in-sonic-2006-oh-the-scandal--131636.phtml|website=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|access-date=August 17, 2017|date=May 10, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202408/http://www.destructoid.com/nipples-discovered-in-sonic-2006-oh-the-scandal--131636.phtml|archive-date=March 3, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
In 2007, Sega released several packages of [[downloadable content]] that added features to single-player gameplay.<ref name="dlc" /> These include a more difficult single-player mode and a continuous battle mode with all of the bosses back-to-back.<ref name="dlc" /><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Arendt|first1=Susan|title=Sonic Boss Fights Downloadable from XBL|url=https://www.wired.com/2007/03/sonic_boss_figh/|magazine=Wired|publisher=Condé Nast|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210013432/https://www.wired.com/2007/03/sonic_boss_figh/|archive-date=February 10, 2016|date=March 22, 2007}}</ref> One downloadable addition, "Team Attack Amigo" mode, sends players through a multitude of levels, changing to a different character every two or three levels and culminating in a boss fight.<ref name="dlc">{{cite web|url=http://sonic.sega.jp/sonic/downloadcontents/ |title=ダウンロードコンテンツ | Sonic the Hedgehog |publisher=Sega |language=ja |access-date=December 12, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204205923/http://sonic.sega.jp/sonic/downloadcontents/ |archive-date=February 4, 2012 }}</ref> The PlayStation{{nbsp}}3 version was delayed to allow more time to incorporate the downloadable content, and thus launched alongside it.<ref name="delay">{{cite web|last1=Doerr|first1=Nick|title=Sonic for PS3 delayed -- it's like rain on your wedding day|url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/11/09/sonic-for-ps3-delayed-its-like-rain-on-your-wedding-day/|website=Engadget|date=November 10, 2006 |publisher=Oath Inc.|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902123336/https://www.engadget.com/2006/11/09/sonic-for-ps3-delayed-its-like-rain-on-your-wedding-day/|archive-date=September 2, 2017}}</ref>
''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was digitally rereleased via the [[Xbox Live Marketplace]] on April 15, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Sega |title=Sonic the Hedgehog |url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/SONIC-THE-HEDGEHOG/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802534507d6 |website=Xbox Live Marketplace |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=March 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106055355/http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/SONIC-THE-HEDGEHOG/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802534507d6 |archive-date=November 6, 2016 }}</ref> The following October, various ''Sonic'' games with average or below average scores on the [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]], including ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', were delisted from retailers. Sega reasoned this was to avoid confusing customers and increase the value of the brand, following positive prerelease responses to ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I]]'' and ''[[Sonic Colors]]'' (both 2010).<ref>{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Sega Doesn't Want Sub-par Sonic Games On Shelves Anymore |url=https://kotaku.com/5658415/sega-doesnt-want-sub-par-sonic-games-on-shelves-anymore |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=October 7, 2010 |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104013903/https://kotaku.com/5658415/sega-doesnt-want-sub-par-sonic-games-on-shelves-anymore |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was relisted on the Xbox 360 Marketplace in select countries on May 24, 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.destructoid.com/infamous-sonic-06-has-been-relisted-on-xbox/ | title=The infamous Sonic '06 has been relisted on Xbox | date=May 26, 2022 }}</ref>
==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 46/100<ref name="MCX360">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-the-hedgehog-2006/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360|title=Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) for Xbox 360 |website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=January 18, 2024|archive-date=April 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429115644/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog|url-status=live}}</ref> <small>(X360)</small><br />43/100<ref name="MCPS3">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-the-hedgehog-2006/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3|title=Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) for PlayStation 3 |website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=January 18, 2024|archive-date=January 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107014439/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/sonic-the-hedgehog|url-status=live}}</ref> <small>(PS3)</small>
| 1UP = C<ref name="1up-review">{{cite web|last=Bettenhausen|first=Shane|date=November 15, 2006|url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog|title=Reviews: Sonic the Hedgehog for Xbox 360|work=[[1UP.com]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719063038/http://www.1up.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog|archive-date=July 19, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> <small>(X360)</small>
| EuroG = 2/10<ref name="eurogreview"/> <small>(X360)</small>
| Fam = 30/40 <small>(X360)</small><br />29/40<ref>{{cite web|author=Famitsu |year=2006 |title=Sonic the Hedgehog – Famitsu Scores Archive |url=http://fs.finalfantasytr.com/search.asp?query=sonic+the+hedgehog |access-date=October 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227051138/http://fs.finalfantasytr.com/search.asp?query=sonic%20the%20hedgehog |archive-date=December 27, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <small>(PS3)</small>
| GI = 6.75/10<ref name="GIreview">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/D8622574-646A-452C-BE5D-E4C92836A238.htm |title=''Sonic the Hedgehog'' for Xbox 360 Review from Game Informer |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=January 2007 |last=Vore |first=Bryan |access-date=September 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129162814/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/D8622574-646A-452C-BE5D-E4C92836A238.htm |archive-date=November 29, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <small>(X360)</small>
| GSpot = 4.4/10<ref name="GSreview"/> <small>(X360)</small><br />4.2/10<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gerstmann |first1=Jeff |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/1900-6162205/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 22, 2017 |date=February 2, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620174637/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/1900-6162205/ |archive-date=June 20, 2016 }}</ref> <small>(PS3)</small>
| GSpy = {{Rating|1.5|5}}<ref name="gsspyreview">{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/747593p1.html |title=GameSpy:Sonic the Hedgehog Review |website=GameSpy |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=July 20, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920090946/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/747593p1.html |archive-date=September 20, 2008 }}</ref> <small>(X360)</small>
| GRadar = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leeper |first1=Justin |title=Sonic The Hedgehog review |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/ |website=GamesRadar |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=March 22, 2017 |date=November 21, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081904/http://www.gamesradar.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref>
| GameZone = 4.5/10<ref name="gamezonereview">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2007/01/04/sonic_the_hedgehog_360_review |title=''Sonic the Hedgehog'' – 360 – Review |publisher=GameZone |date=January 5, 2007 |last=Sandoval |first=Angelina |access-date=December 4, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185502/http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2007/01/04/sonic_the_hedgehog_360_review |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref> <small>(X360)</small>
| IGN = 4.8/10<ref name="IGNreview" /> <small>(X360)</small><br />4.2/10<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dunham |first1=Jeremy |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/07/sonic-the-hedgehog-review |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=March 22, 2017 |date=February 7, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325120055/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/07/sonic-the-hedgehog-review |archive-date=March 25, 2016 }}</ref> <small>(PS3)</small>
| OXMUK = 6/10<ref name="OXMUKreview">{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Andrew|title=Xbox Review: Sonic The Hedgehog|url=http://www.oxm.co.uk/114/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review|website=Official Xbox Magazine UK|publisher=Future Publishing|access-date=March 22, 2017|date=May 31, 2007|archive-date=July 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729050229/http://www.oxm.co.uk/114/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref> <small>(X360)</small>
| Play = 5.5/10<ref name="PMreview" /> <small>(PS3)</small><br />8.5/10<ref name="PMreview360"/> <small>(X360)</small>
| PSM3 = 4.7/10<ref name="PSM3review">{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Andy|title=Sonic The Hedgehog Review|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/160528/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/|website=Computer and Video Games|publisher=Future Publishing|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108193749/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/160528/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/|archive-date=January 8, 2013|date=March 23, 2007}}</ref> <small>(PS3)</small>
| TX = 6/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1269/Sonic-The-Hedgehog/p1/ |title=Sonic The Hedgehog Review (X360) |last=Haught |first=Jeb |publisher=[[TeamXbox]] |date=November 29, 2006 |access-date=April 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304105923/http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1269/Sonic-The-Hedgehog/p1/ |archive-date=March 4, 2012 }}</ref> <small>(X360)</small>
| rev1 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev1Score = D−<ref name="avclub">{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-1798210672 |title=Sonic the Hedgehog |last=Mastrapa |first=Gus |newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=February 12, 2007 |access-date=October 27, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185047/http://www.avclub.com/articles/sonic-the-hedgehog%2C7971/ |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref>
}}
''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was well received during prerelease showings.<ref name="riseandfall"/><ref name="gamespypre"/> Reception to the prior games ''Sonic Heroes'' and ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' had been mixed; after a number of well-received showings and demos, some felt ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' could be a return to the series' roots.<ref name="riseandfall"/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' said it "showed a considerable amount of promise" after playing a demo at E3 2006,<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last1=Torres |first1=Ricardo |title=E3 06: Sonic the Hedgehog Preshow Report: Sonic Goes Next-Gen |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-06-sonic-the-hedgehog-preshow-report-sonic-goes-next-gen/1100-6149215/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=May 8, 2006|access-date=March 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425133504/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-06-sonic-the-hedgehog-preshow-report-sonic-goes-next-gen/1100-6149215/ |archive-date=April 25, 2015 }}</ref> and ''[[GameSpy]]'' praised its graphics and environments.<ref name="gamespypre">{{cite web|last1=Alfonso|first1=Andrew|title=Sonic the Hedgehog|url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/735011p1.html|website=GameSpy|publisher=IGN|access-date=August 19, 2017|date=September 24, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306101548/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/sonic-the-hedgehog/735011p1.html|archive-date=March 6, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''[[GamesRadar]]'' said that it had looked "amazing" before its release.<ref name="riseandfall">{{cite web|last1=Elston|first1=Brett|title=The rise, fall and deafening crash of Sonic the Hedgehog|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-rise-fall-and-deafening-crash-of-sonic-the-hedgehog/4/|website=GamesRadar|publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=June 9, 2017|page=4|date=April 9, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018174852/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-rise-fall-and-deafening-crash-of-sonic-the-hedgehog/4/|archive-date=October 18, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
''Sonic the Hedgehog'' received [[List of video games notable for negative reception|widespread negative reviews]].<ref name="gTM article" /><ref name="wrong"/><ref name="GRlist" /> Metacritic classified both versions' reception as "generally unfavorable".<ref name="MCX360" /><ref name="MCPS3" /> Sega reported that the game sold strongly, with 870,000 copies sold in the United States and Europe within 4 months.<ref>{{cite web|title=Full Year Results|url=https://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/ir/library/pdf/settlement/2007/e_200703_4q_pre.pdf|publisher=[[Sega Sammy Holdings]]|date=May 14, 2007|access-date=June 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729222445/http://www.segasammy.co.jp/english/ir/library/pdf/settlement/2007/e_200703_4q_pre.pdf|archive-date=July 29, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Xbox 360 version was branded under the [[Platinum Hits]] budget line.<ref name="grboxes">{{cite web|title=Sonic the Hedgehog Box Shots and Screenshots for Xbox 360|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/929717-sonic-the-hedgehog/images.html|website=GameRankings|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012809/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/929717-sonic-the-hedgehog/images.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Critics were divided on the presentation.<ref name="IGNreview"/><ref name="GSreview"/> ''[[IGN]]'' called its [[video game graphics|graphics]] and audio "decent" and felt its interface and [[menu (computing)|menu]] system worked well but lacked polish,<ref name="IGNreview"/> but ''GameSpot'' said the graphics, while colorful, were bland and only a small improvement over sixth-generation games,<ref name="GSreview"/> a sentiment echoed by ''[[1UP.com]]''.<ref name="1up-review"/> ''[[Game Informer]]'' and ''[[Eurogamer]]'' noted several graphical glitches.<ref name="wrong"/><ref name="eurogreview" /> ''Eurogamer'' also criticized the decision to continue the ''Sonic Adventure'' style of gameplay, believing that Sonic Team had learned nothing from the criticisms of past games.<ref name="eurogreview" />
Reviewers criticized the camera system, loading times, controls, level design and glitches.<ref name="IGNreview" /><ref name="eurogreview" /> ''GameSpot'' said the level design was worsened by the frustrating camera system,<ref name="GSreview" /> and ''Game Informer'' criticized the high difficulty, citing the camera as causing most deaths.<ref name="GIreview"/> Some reviewers were unhappy that the majority of the game was not spent playing as Sonic; ''GameSpot'' found playing as Tails boring.<ref name="GSreview" /> ''Eurogamer'' found the supporting cast annoying, and considered the camera system the worst they had ever seen.<ref name="eurogreview" /> ''1UP'' felt that despite the control and level design problems, the game still played like a ''Sonic'' game.<ref name="1up-review" />
The plot was criticized as confusing and inappropriately dark.<ref name="GSreview" /><ref name="gTM article" /><ref name="GRlist" /> ''GamesRadar'' considered it overwrought<ref name="gamesradar1">{{cite web|author1=GamesRadar US |title=GamesRadar's Anti-awards 2006 |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/gamesradars-anti-awards-2006/17/ |website=GamesRadar |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=March 22, 2017 |page=17 |date=January 17, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917044951/http://www.gamesradar.com/gamesradars-anti-awards-2006/17/ |archive-date=September 17, 2016 }}</ref> and "conceptually challenged",<ref name="gamesradar2">{{cite web|author1=GamesRadar US |title=The absolute worst Sonic moments |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/ |website=GamesRadar |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=March 22, 2017 |date=April 23, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306194208/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-absolute-worst-sonic-moments/ |archive-date=March 6, 2016 }}</ref> and ''Eurogamer'' found its voice acting painful and its cutscenes cringeworthy.<ref name="eurogreview" /> Some reviewers unfavorably compared the story to an [[anime]] or ''[[Final Fantasy]]''.<ref name="GSreview" /><ref name=":4">{{cite web|last1=Sterling|first1=Jim|title=The 10 worst Sonic friends|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-10-worst-sonic-friends/|website=GamesRadar|date=January 19, 2011|publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101120757/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-10-worst-sonic-friends/|archive-date=November 1, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The romance between Sonic and the human Princess Elise was especially criticized;<ref name="gTM article">{{cite journal|date=November 2009|title=10 Videogame Franchies that Lost their Way|journal=GamesTM|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|issue=90|pages=156–7}}</ref><ref name="gamesradar1" /><ref name="gamesradar2" /><ref name=":3">{{cite web|last1=Klepek|first1=Patrick|title=Remember When Sonic Kissed A Woman?|url=http://kotaku.com/remember-when-sonic-kissed-a-woman-1731219760|website=Kotaku|publisher=Gawker Media|date=September 17, 2015|access-date=June 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128194335/http://kotaku.com/remember-when-sonic-kissed-a-woman-1731219760|archive-date=January 28, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/8-wrongest-romances-video-games/|title=The 8 wrongest romances in video games|last=Meikleham|first=Dave|date=February 11, 2015|website=GamesRadar|publisher=Future Publishing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206033514/http://www.gamesradar.com/8-wrongest-romances-video-games/|archive-date=December 6, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=May 31, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> for ''[[GamesTM]]'', it marked the point "the [''Sonic''] series had veered off into absolute nonsense".<ref name="gTM article" />
''GameSpot'' wrote that ''Sonic'' was "a mess from top to bottom" that "only the most blindly reverent ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' fan could possibly squeeze any enjoyment out of".<ref name="GSreview">{{cite web|last1=Gerstmann |first1=Jeff |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/1900-6162205/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=March 21, 2017 |date=November 21, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620174637/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-review/1900-6162205/ |archive-date=June 20, 2016 }}</ref> ''IGN'' said that it had some redeeming qualities, with brief segments of gameplay that demonstrated how a next-generation ''Sonic'' game could work, but found it "rips them away as soon as it shows them" and concluded that the game failed to reinvent the series.<ref name="IGNreview">{{cite web|last1=Castro |first1=Juan |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/01/sonic-the-hedgehog-review-2 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=March 21, 2017 |date=November 30, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017200757/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/01/sonic-the-hedgehog-review-2 |archive-date=October 17, 2016 }}</ref> ''Eurogamer'' believed the mistakes would have been noticed even if it had been released in 1996.<ref name="eurogreview" />
''Game Informer'' and [[Dave Halverson]] of ''[[Play (US magazine)|Play Magazine]]'' defended the game.<ref name="GIreview"/><ref name="PMreview360"/> ''Game Informer'' described it as ambitious and praised the graphics, story, amount of content and [[replay value]], but believed only ''Sonic'' fans would enjoy it.<ref name="GIreview" /> Halverson initially gave the Xbox{{nbsp}}360 version 9.5/10, praising each character's controls and abilities and calling it the best 3D ''Sonic'' game yet. In the following issue, Halverson reassessed it as 8.5/10, writing that he had been told that the load times and glitches in his review copy would not be in the final version.<ref name="PMreview360"/> In a later review of the PlayStation{{nbsp}}3 version, Halverson was frustrated that the problems had still not been corrected and that the performance was worse despite the extra development time; Halverson gave this version a 5.5/10.<ref name="PMreview">{{cite journal|url=http://www.playmagazine.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.showGamePage&Game_ID=451|title=PS3 : ''Sonic the Hedgehog''|journal=[[Play (US magazine)|Play Magazine]]|date=February 2007|last=Halverson|first=Dave|access-date=October 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204021433/http://www.playmagazine.com/index.php?fuseaction=SiteMain.showGamePage&Game_ID=451|archive-date=February 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' said in 2016 that despite the game's poor quality, the soundtrack has some "genuine rippers".<ref name="avclub25"/>{{clear}}
==
''[[GameTrailers]]'' and ''GamesRadar'' considered ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' one of the most disappointing games of 2006.<ref name="gamesradar1"/><ref>{{cite web|author1=GameTrailers|title=Top 10 Disappointments of the Decade|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JWBQ3_nN20|website=YouTube|publisher=Alphabet|access-date=September 22, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407030327/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JWBQ3_nN20|archive-date=April 7, 2017|date=May 19, 2016}}</ref> ''GamesTM'' singled out the game when it ranked the ''Sonic'' franchise at the top of their list of "Video Game Franchises That Lost Their Way".<ref name="gTM article" /> ''The A.V. Club'',<ref name="avclub25">{{Cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/best-worst-and-weirdest-games-25-years-sonic-hedge-238023|title=The best, worst, and weirdest games from 25 years of Sonic The Hedgehog|last=Lee|first=Patrick|date=June 23, 2016|website=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117193101/http://www.avclub.com/article/best-worst-and-weirdest-games-25-years-sonic-hedge-238023|archive-date=January 17, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=May 31, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''Kotaku'',<ref name="tenyears" /> ''Game Informer'',<ref name="super">{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/02/19/super-replay-the-worst-sonic-the-hedgehog-ever.aspx|title=Super Replay – The Worst Sonic The Hedgehog Ever|last=Reiner|first=Andrew|date=March 12, 2017|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|language=en|url-status=dead|access-date=March 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313214910/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/02/19/super-replay-the-worst-sonic-the-hedgehog-ever.aspx|archive-date=March 13, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and ''[[USgamer]]'' called the game the worst in the ''Sonic'' series,<ref name="usg">{{cite web|author1=USgamer Team|title=Gotta Go Fast: Ranking All of The Sonic The Hedgehog Games|url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gotta-go-fast-ranking-all-of-the-sonic-the-hedgehog-games|website=USgamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=August 21, 2017|date=August 18, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821165925/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/gotta-go-fast-ranking-all-of-the-sonic-the-hedgehog-games|archive-date=August 21, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and the staff of ''GamesRadar'' named it among the worst video games of all time.<ref name="GRlist">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/worst-games-all-time/6/|title=The 100 worst games of all time|date=December 2, 2015|website=GamesRadar|publisher=Future Publishing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202054927/http://www.gamesradar.com/worst-games-all-time/6/|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=May 31, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The game remains popular for "[[Let's Play]]" walkthroughs, with players showing off its glitches.<ref name="avclub25"/><ref name="usg"/> In 2019, a video gained popularity in which a group of voice actors dub over the game's cutscenes in a single take, creating a nonsensical, improvisational storyline about [[video game culture]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Sage |date=May 9, 2019 |title=Voice actors overdubbed the worst 'Sonic' game to make it the best 'Sonic' game |url=https://mashable.com/article/sonic-the-hedgehog-real-time-fan-dub |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=[[Mashable]]}}</ref> The official ''Sonic'' [[Twitter]] account also mocks the game.<ref name="avclub25" />
''Sonic the Hedgehog''{{'s}} critical failure had a lasting effect on the franchise. ''Hardcore Gamer'' wrote that following it, "Sonic Team struggled to land on a consistent vision for ''Sonic'', releasing game-after-game with wildly different concepts."<ref name="HGColorsUltimate">{{cite web |last1=Dunsmore |first1=Kevin |title=Review: Sonic Colors: Ultimate |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-sonic-colors-ultimate/409882/ |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=August 31, 2023 |date=September 1, 2021}}</ref> In particular, Sonic Team sought to avoid its serious tone,<ref name="GIRebootReport">{{cite magazine |last1=Shea |first1=Brian |title=The Video Game Reboot Report Card |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/11/05/the-video-game-reboot-report-card.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106040428/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/11/05/the-video-game-reboot-report-card.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=November 6, 2015 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=August 31, 2023 |date=November 5, 2015}}</ref> beginning with the next main ''Sonic'' game, ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' (2008). With ''Sonic Colors'', ''The A.V. Club'' wrote that "the series rediscovered its strength for whimsical tales with light tones."<ref name="avclub25" />
''Sonic the Hedgehog'' introduced Silver the Hedgehog, Princess Elise, Mephiles, and Iblis to the franchise.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="burn">{{cite magazine|last1=Shea|first1=Brian|title=More Burning Questions About The Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise Answered|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/06/10/more-burning-questions-about-the-sonic-the-hedgehog-franchise-answered.aspx|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|access-date=August 7, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808073131/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/06/10/more-burning-questions-about-the-sonic-the-hedgehog-franchise-answered.aspx|archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Schroder|first1=Ben|title=Wot, no Robotnik?|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/wot-no-robotnik/|website=GamesRadar|publisher=Future Publishing|access-date=August 7, 2017|date=October 12, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808034557/http://www.gamesradar.com/wot-no-robotnik/|archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> While most have made few appearances since,<ref name=":3" /><ref name="burn"/> Silver would go on to be a fixture of the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' supporting cast. He was re-introduced in the main chronology as a playable character in ''[[Sonic Rivals]]'' (2006), and would be further playable in ''[[Sonic Rivals 2]]'' (2007),<ref>{{cite web|last1=Castro |first1=Juan |title=Sonic Rivals Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/22/sonic-rivals-review |website=IGN |publisher=News Corporation |date=November 22, 2006|access-date=May 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415075427/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/22/sonic-rivals-review |archive-date=April 15, 2016 }}</ref> ''[[Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity]]'' (2008),<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity dives into stores|url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/sonic_riders_zero_gravity_dives_into_stores|website=GameZone|date=January 8, 2008|access-date=June 20, 2017|archive-date=July 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726182847/http://www.gamezone.com/news/sonic_riders_zero_gravity_dives_into_stores|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]'' (2009) and its follow-ups,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mazique |first1=Brian |title='Mario & Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games' Review: This Is Really Fun |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2016/07/03/mario-sonic-at-the-rio-2016-olympic-games-review-this-is-really-fun/#62572f381856 |website=Forbes |date=July 3, 2016|access-date=May 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703141046/http://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2016/07/03/mario-sonic-at-the-rio-2016-olympic-games-review-this-is-really-fun/ |archive-date=July 3, 2016 }}</ref> and ''[[Team Sonic Racing]]'' (2019). He is also a minor character in the [[Nintendo DS]] version of ''[[Sonic Colors]]'' (2010), and in ''[[Sonic Forces]]'' (2017).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sterling|first1=Jim|title=Review: Sonic Colors DS|url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-sonic-colors-ds-187744.phtml|website=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming| date=November 14, 2010|access-date=June 20, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828015310/https://www.destructoid.com/review-sonic-colors-ds-187744.phtml|archive-date=August 28, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Meister|first1=Rich|title=Sonic Forces story trailer shows a world ruled by Eggman|url=https://www.destructoid.com/sonic-forces-story-trailer-shows-a-world-ruled-by-eggman-462738.phtml|website=Destructoid|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=November 26, 2017|archive-date=November 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122042322/https://www.destructoid.com/sonic-forces-story-trailer-shows-a-world-ruled-by-eggman-462738.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> He also appeared in the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' [[comic book]] series published by [[Archie Comics]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Flynn|first1=Ian|title=The Complete Sonic the Hedgehog Comic Encyclopedia|date=October 10, 2012|publisher=Archie Comics|isbn=978-1-936975-25-9}}</ref>
The main theme of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' and the theme of Sonic, "His World", was sampled in [[Drake (musician)|Drake]]'s 2017 song "[[KMT (song)|KMT]]".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bychawski|first1=Adam|title=Drake's More Life: Here are the full credits and samples, from Sonic the Hedgehog to Lionel Ritchie|url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/03/18/drake-more-life-samples-producers/|website=Fact Magazine|access-date=October 27, 2017|date=March 18, 2017|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130032417/https://www.factmag.com/2017/03/18/drake-more-life-samples-producers/|url-status=live}}</ref>
To celebrate the ''Sonic'' franchise's 20th anniversary in 2011, Sega released ''[[Sonic Generations]]'', which remade aspects of past ''Sonic'' games. The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows versions feature a remake of ''Sonic the Hedgehog''{{'}}s "Crisis City" level,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vg247.com/2011/10/07/sonic-generations-video-shows-crisis-city-rooftop-run-and-planet-wisp-levels/ |title=Sonic Generations video shows Crisis City, Rooftop Run, and Planet Wisp levels |website=VG247 |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=December 12, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211044633/http://www.vg247.com/2011/10/07/sonic-generations-video-shows-crisis-city-rooftop-run-and-planet-wisp-levels/ |archive-date=December 11, 2011 }}</ref> and every version, including the [[Nintendo 3DS]] version, includes a reimagined version of the boss battle with Silver. The decision to include ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' stages and bosses in ''Sonic Generations'' was criticized by critics; [[James Stephanie Sterling]] of ''[[Destructoid]]'' referred to the Silver boss fight as the "catch" of the otherwise high-quality game.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gilbert |first1=Henry |title=Sonic Generations bosses trailer shows some of the jerks you'll be jumping on |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/sonic-generations-bosses-trailer-shows-some-jerks-youll-be-jumping/ |website=GamesRadar |publisher=Future Publishing |date=October 14, 2011|access-date=March 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124213057/http://www.gamesradar.com/sonic-generations-bosses-trailer-shows-some-jerks-youll-be-jumping/ |archive-date=November 24, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="destructoid-silver">{{cite web|last1=Sterling |first1=Jim |title=BARF: Silver the Hedgehog is in Sonic Generations |url=https://www.destructoid.com/barf-silver-the-hedgehog-is-in-sonic-generations-213477.phtml?s=50 |website=Destructoid |publisher=Enthusiast Gaming |access-date=March 22, 2017 |date=October 11, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073917/http://www.destructoid.com/barf-silver-the-hedgehog-is-in-sonic-generations-213477.phtml?s=50 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 }}</ref>
In 2015, a fan group, Gistix, began developing a [[Video game remake|remake]] for Windows using the [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] engine.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Johnson |first1=Leif |title=Some Modders Have Spent Over a Year Remaking the Worst 'Sonic' Game for PC |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/sthe-worst-sonic-game-remade-for-pc/ |website=Motherboard |publisher=Vice |access-date=January 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109024843/http://motherboard.vice.com/en_au/read/sthe-worst-sonic-game-remade-for-pc |archive-date=January 9, 2017 }}</ref> A [[Game demo|demo]] was released in January 2017, and was positively received by journalists.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Workman |first1=Robert |title=A Revamped Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 Demo Has Arrived…And It Doesn't Suck |url=http://wwg.com/2017/01/11/a-revamped-sonic-the-hedgehog-2006-demo-has-arrived-and-it-doesn/ |website=WWG |publisher=ComicBook.com |date=January 10, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2017 |archive-date=May 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530235736/http://wwg.com/2017/01/11/a-revamped-sonic-the-hedgehog-2006-demo-has-arrived-and-it-doesn/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Daniel|title=[Watch] Sonic The Hedgehog 2006 has been remade into a game that doesn't suck|url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/watch-sonic-the-hedgehog-2006-has-been-remade-into-a-game-that-doesn-t-suck-3447426|website=GameZone|access-date=August 8, 2017|date=January 10, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808034016/http://www.gamezone.com/news/watch-sonic-the-hedgehog-2006-has-been-remade-into-a-game-that-doesn-t-suck-3447426|archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A second demo was released in late 2017, which ''Eurogamer'' called ambitious.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Linneman|first1=John|title=How community coders are remaking the best - and the worst - Sonic games|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-the-best-and-worst-sonic-games-are-getting-hd-remarkes|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=March 31, 2018|date=October 8, 2017|archive-date=April 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401075315/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-the-best-and-worst-sonic-games-are-getting-hd-remarkes|url-status=live}}</ref> A second team of fans, led by ChaosX, began developing a separate PC remake in Unity, ''[[Sonic P-06]]'', releasing multiple demos from 2019 onward.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Horti|first1=Samuel|title=You can now play the terrible Sonic '06 on PC thanks to this Unity remake|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-now-play-the-terrible-sonic-06-on-pc-thanks-to-this-unity-remake/|website=PC Gamer|access-date=April 21, 2019|date=July 15, 2019|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428144017/https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-now-play-the-terrible-sonic-06-on-pc-thanks-to-this-unity-remake/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The game is referenced by the television series [[Knuckles (TV series)|''Knuckles'']], which is set within the continuity of the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (film series)|''Sonic'' film series]]. In the fourth episode, "[[The Flames of Disaster (TV episode)|The Flames of Disaster]]", Knuckles' backstory is depicted in the form of a low-budget [[rock opera]], in which he fights and defeats a creature resembling the antagonist Iblis.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-26 |title=The Knuckles TV Show Has A Wild Reference To Sonic '06 |url=https://kotaku.com/knuckles-paramount-sonic-06-iblis-flames-of-disaster-1851427520 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Aidan |date=2024-05-01 |title='Knuckles' Has a Deep Cut Easter Egg From One of the Worst 'Sonic' Games |url=https://collider.com/knuckles-easter-egg-sonic-iblis/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> Within the series, the Flames of Disaster is depicted as a power possessed by Knuckles that allows his fists to burst into flames, rather than another name for Iblis as was the case in the game.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Erdmann |first=Kevin |date=2024-12-20 |title=35 Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Easter Eggs & Video Game References Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-easter-eggs-references-explained/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>
In the 2024 video game ''[[Shadow Generations]]'', Kingdom Valley, a level from the game, reappears. Mephiles also returns as a boss fought by Shadow, who has no memory of him due to the game's events being erased from the timeline. Mephiles attempts to take advantage of the time rift to restore himself to the timeline, but is defeated by Shadow.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hagues |first1=Alana |date=July 30, 2024 |title=Sonic X Shadow Generations Continues To Show Love For Sonic 06 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/07/sonic-x-shadow-generations-continues-to-show-love-for-sonic-06 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=[[Nintendo Life]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Hagues | first=Alana | title=Maria & Mephiles Feature In New Sonic X Shadow Generations Trailer | website=Nintendo Life | date=September 24, 2024 | url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/09/maria-and-mephiles-feature-in-new-sonic-x-shadow-generations-trailer | access-date=October 20, 2024}}</ref>
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://sonic.sega.jp/sonic/index.html}} {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(2006_game) ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (2006 game)] on Sonic Retro, for character stats and additional plot details
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/sonic-the-hedgehog_ Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)] on [[MobyGames]]
{{Sonic the Hedgehog}}
{{Sonic Team}}
{{Authority control}}
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